
Class/ 0"1 i 

Book'^4ji5 




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Illinois 



HISTORICAL 



Editors : 
NEWTON BATE MAN, LL. D. 
PAUL SELBY, A. M. 




Effingham County 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



BY SPECIAL AUTHORS 

AND CONTRIBUTORS 



ILLUSTRATED 



CHICAGO 

MUNSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

19 10 



EntBied according to Act of Congress, in Die years 

18»4. 1899, 1900 and 1905 by 

Wll, LIAM W. MUNSELL, 

1 the office of the Librarian of ConRress at Washineton 




TERRITORY DRAINKD liV THE ILLINOIS RIVER. 




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PREFACE. 



Why publish this book? There should be many and strong reasons to -warrant such an 
andertaking. Are there such reasons? What considerations are weighty enough to have 
induced the publishers to make this venture? and what special claims has Illinois to such a 
distinction? These are reasonable and inevitable inqi;iries, and it is fitting they should 
receive attention. 

In the first place, good State Histories are of great importance and value, and there is 
abundant and cheering evidence of an increasing popular interest in them. This is true of 
all such works, whatever States may be their subjects ; and it is conspicuously true of Illi- 
nois, for the following, among many other reasons : Because of its great prominence in the 
early history of the West as the seat of the first settlements of Europeans northwest of the 
Ohio River — the unique character of its early civilization, due to or resulting fi'om its early 
French population brought in contact with the aborigines — its political, military, and educa- 
tional prominence — its steadfast loyalty and patriotism — the marvelous development of its 
vast resources — the number of distinguished statesmen, generals, and jurists whom it has 
furnished to the Government, and its gi'and record in the exciting and perilous conflicts on 
the Slavery question. 

This is the magnificent Commonwealth, the setting forth of whose history, in all of ita 
essential departments and features, seemed to warrant the bringing out of another volume 
devoted to that end. Its material has been gathered from every available source, and most 
carefully examined and sifted before acceptance. Esfjecial care has been taken in collecting 
material of a biographical character ; facts and incidents in the personal history of men identi- 
fied with the life of the State in its Territorial and later periods. This material has been 
gathered from a great variety of sources widely scattered, and much of it quite inaccessible 
to the ordinary inquirer. The encyclopedic form of the work favors conciseness and com- 
pactness, and was adopted with a view to condensing the largest amount of information 
within the smallest practicable space. 

And so the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois was conceived and planned in the belief 
that it was needed; that no other book filled the place it was designed to occupy, or fur- 
nished the amount, variety and scope of information touching the infancy and later life of 
Illinois, that would be found in its pages. In that belief, and in furtherance of those ends, 
the book has been constructed and its topics selected and written. Simplicity, perspicuitj^, 
conciseness and accuracy have been the dominant aims and rules of its editors and writers. 
The supreme mission of the book is to record, fairly and truthfully, historical facts ; facts of 
the earlier and later history of the State, and drawn from tlie almost innumerable sources 
connected with that history ; facts of interest to the great body of our people, as well as to 
scholars, officials, and other special classes ; a book convenient for reference in the school, 
tiie office, and the home. Hence, no attempt at fine writing, no labored, irrelevant and 

3 



4 PREFACE. 

long-drawn acconnte of matters, persons or things, which really need but a few plain words 
for their adequate elucidation, will be found in its pages. On the other hand, perspicuity 
and fitting development are never intentionally sacrificed to mere conciseness and brevity. 
Whenever a subject, from its nature, demands a more elaborate treatment — and there are 
many of this chiiracter — it is handled accordingly. 

As a rule, the method pursued is the separate and topical, rather than the chronological, 
as being more satisfactory and convenient for reference. That is, each topic is considered 
separately and exhaustively, instead of being blended, chronologically, with others. To pass 
from subject to subject, in the mere arbitrary order of time, is to sacrifice simplicity and 
order to complexity and confusion. 

Absolute freedom from error or defect in all cases, in handling so many thousands of 
items, is not claimed, and could not reasonably be expected of any finite intelligence ; since, 
in complicated cases, some element may possibly elude its sharpest scrutiny. But every 
statement of fact, made herein without qualification, is believed to be strictly correct, and 
the statistics of the volume, as a whole, are submitted to its readers with entire confidence. 

Considerable space is also devoted to biographical sketches of persons deemed worthy of 
mention, for their close relations to the State in some of its varied interests, political, gov- 
ernmental, financial, social, religions, educational, industrial, commercial, economical, mili- 
tary, judicial or otherwise; or for their supposed personal deservings in other respects. It 
is believed that the extensive recognition of such individuals, by the publishers, will not be 
disapproved or regretted by the public ; that personal biography has an honored, useful and 
legitimate place in such a history of Illinois as this volume aims to be, and that the omission 
of such a department would seriously detract from the completeness and value of the book. 
Perhaps no more delicate and difficult task has confronted the editors and publishers than 
the selection of names for this part of the work. 

While it is believed that no unworthy name has a place in the list, it is freely admitted 
that there may be many others, equally or possibly even more worthy, whose names do not 
appear, partly for lack of definite and adequate information, and partly because it was not 
deemed best to materially increase the space devoted to this class of topics. 

And so, with cordial thanks to the publishers for the risks they have so cheerfully 
assumed in this enterprise, for their business energy, integrity, and determination, and their 
uniform kindness and courtesy ; to the many who have to generously and helpfully promoted 
the success of the work, by their contributions of valuable information, interesting reminis- 
cences, and rare incidents; to Mr. Paul Selby, the very able associate editor, to whom 
especial honor and credit are due for his most efficient, intelligent and scholarly services ; to 
Hon. Harvey B. Hurd, Walter B. Wines, and to all others who have, by word or act, 
encouraged us in this enterprise — with grateful recognition of all these friends and helpers, 
the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, with its thousands of topics and many thousands of 
details, items and incidents, is now respectfully submitted to the good people of the State, 
for whom it has been prepared, in the earnest hope and confident belief that it will be found 
instructive, convenient and useful for the purposes for which it was designed. 




MJ)Mi^ 



PREFATORY STATEMENT, 



Since the bulk of the matter contained in this Tolnme was practically completed and 
ready for the press, Dr. Newton Bateman, who occupied the relation to it of editor-in-chief, 
has passed beyond the sphere of mortal existence. In placing the work before the public, it 
therefore devolves upon the undersigned to make this last prefatory statement. 

As explained by Dr. Bateman in his preface, the object had in view in the preparation 
of a "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois" has been to present, in compact and concise form, 
the leading facts of Territorial and State history, from the arrival of the earliest French 
explorers in Illinois to the present time. This has included an outline history of the State, 
under the title, "Illinois," supplemented by special articles relating to various crises and eras 
in State history; changes in form of government and administration; the history of Consti- 
tutional Conventions and Legislative Assemblies ; the various wars in which Illinoisans have 
taken part, with a summary of the principal events in the history of individual military 
organizations engaged in the Civil War of 1861-65, and the War of 1898 with Spain; lists of 
State officers. United States Senators and Members of Congress, with the terms of each; the 
organization and development of political divisions; the establishment of charitable and 
educational institutions ; the growth of public improvements and other enterprises which 
have marked the progress of the State; natural features and resources; the history of early 
newspapers, and the growth of religious denominations, together with general statistical 
information and unusual or extraordinary occurrences of a local or general State character — 
all arranged under topical heads, and convenient for ready reference by all seeking informa- 
tion on these subjects, whether in the family, in the oflBce of the professional or business 
man, in the teacher's study and the school-room, or in the public library. 

While individual or collected biographies of the public men of Illinois have not been 
■wholly lacking or few in number — and those already in existence have a present and con- 
stantly increasing value — they have been limited, for the most part, to special localities and 
particular periods or classes. Rich as the annals of Illinois are in the records and character 
of its distinguished citizens who, by their services in the public councils, upon the judicial 
bench and in the executive chair, in the forum and in the field, have reflected honor upon 
the State and the Nation, there has been hitherto no comprehensive attempt to gather 
together, in one volume, sketches of those who have been conspicuous in the creation and 
upbuilding of the State. The collection of material of this sort has been a task requiring 
patient and laborious research ; and, while all may not have been achieved in this direction 
that was desirable, owing to the insuflBciency or total absence of data relating to the lives of 
many men most prominent in public affairs during the period to which they belonged, it is 
still believed that what has been accomplished will be found of permanent value and be 
appreciated by those most deeply interested in this phase of State history. 

The large number of topics treated has made brevity and conciseness an indispensable 
feature of the work ; consequently there has been no attempt to indulge in graces of style or 

.5 



6 P K E F A T R Y S T A T E 1\I E N T . 

elaboration of narrative. The object has been to present, in simple language and concise 
form, facts of history of interest or value to those who may choose to consult its pages. 
Absolute inerrancy is not claimed for every detail of the work, but no pains has been 
spared, and every available autliority consulted, to arrive at complete accuracy of statement. 

In view of the important bearing wliich railroad enterprises have had upon tlie extraor- 
dinary development of the State within the past fifty years, considerable space has been given 
to this department, especially with reference to the older lines of railroad whose history has 
been intimately interwoven with that of the State, and its progress in wealth and jjopulation. 

In addition to the acknowledgments made by Dr. Bateman, it is but proper that I 
should express my personal obligations to the late Prof. Samuel M. Inglis, State Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, and his assistant, Prof. J. H. Freeman; to ex-Senator John 
M. Palmer, of Springfield; to the late Hon. Joseph Medill, editor of "The Chicago Tribune"; 
to the Hon. James B. Bradwell, of "The Chicago Legal News"; to Gen. Green B. IJaum, 
Dr. Samuel Willard, and Dr. Garrett Newkirk, of Chicago (the latter as author of the prin- 
cipal portions of the article on the "Underground Railroad") ; to the Librarians of the State 
Historical Library, the Chicago Historical Library, and the Chicago Public Library, for 
special and valuable aid rendered, as well as to a large circle of correspondents in different 
parts of the State who have courteously responded to requests for information on special 
topics, and have thereby materially aided in securing whatever success may have been 
attained in the work. 

In conclusion, I cannot omit to pay this final tribute to the memory of my friend and 
associate, Dr. Bateman, whose death, at his home in Galesburg, elsewhere recorded, was 
deplored, not only by his associates in the Faculty of Knox College, his former pupils and 
immediate neighbors, but by a large circle of friends in all parts of the State. 

Although his labors as editor of this volume had been substantially finished at the time 
of his death (and they included the reading and revision of every line of copy at that time 
prepared, comprising the larger proportion of the volume as it now goes into the hands of 
the public), the enthusiasm, zeal and kindly appreciation of the labor of others which he 
brought to the discharge of his duties, have been sadly missed in the last stages of prepara- 
tion of the work for the press. In the estimation of many who have held his scholarship 
and his splendid endowments of mind and character in the highest admu'ation, his con- 
nection with the work will be its strongest commendation and the surest evidence of its 
merit. 

With myself, the most substantial satisfaction I have in dismissing the volume from my 
hands and submitting it to the judgment of the public, exists in the fact that, in its prepara- 
tion, I have been associated with such a co-laborer— one whose abilities commanded uni- 
versal respect, and whose genial, scholarly character and noble qualities of mind and heart 
won the love and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and whom it had been my 
privilege to count as a friend from an early period in his long and useful career. 




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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

Abraham Lincoln [Frontispiece) 1 

Annex Central Hospital for Insane, Jacksonville 84 

Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, Lincoln 237 

Bateman, Newton (Portrait ) 3 

Board of Trade Building, Chicago 277 

"Chenu Mansion," Kaskaskia (1898), where La Fayette was entertained in 1825 .... 315 

Chicago Academy of Sciences 394 

Chicago Drainage Canal 94 

Chicago Historical Society Building 394 

Chicago Post Office (U. S. Gov. Building) 88 

Chicago Public Buildings 395 

Chicago Thoroughfares 89 

Chicago Thoroughfares , 93 

Chief Chicagou (Portrait) 246 

Comparative Size of Great Canals 95 

Day after Chicago Fire 92 

Early Historic Scenes, Chicago 170 

Early Historic Scenes, Chicago (No. i) 171 

Engineering Hall, University of Illinois 280 

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois 12 

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois — The Vineyard 13 

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois — Orchard Cultivation 13 

First Illinois State House, Kaskaskia (1818) 314 

Fort Dearborn from the West (1808) 246 

Fort Dearborn from Southeast (1808) 247 

Fort Dearborn (1853) 247 

General John Edgar's House, Kaskasia 315 

Henry de Tonty (Portrait) 246 

House of Governor Bond, Old Kaskaskia (1891) 315 

House of Chief Ducoign, the last of the Kaskaskias (1893) 314 

Home for Juvenile Female Offenders, Geneva 236 

Illinois Eastern Hospital for Insane, Kankakee 85 

Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Quincy 438 

Illinois State Normal University, Normal 504 

Illinois State Capitol (First), Kaskaskia 240 

Illinois State Capitol (Second), Vandalia 240 

lUinois State Capitol (Third), Springfield 240 

Illinois State Capitol (Present), Springfield 241 

Illinois State Building, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893 601 

Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet 306 

Illinois State Penitentiary — Cell House and Women's Prison 307 

Illinois State Eeformatory, Pontiac 493 



8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Institution for Deaf and Dumb, Jacksonville 300 

Interior of Room, Kaskaskia Hotel (1893) where La Fayette Banquet was held in 1825 314 

Institution for the Blind, Jacksonville 301 

Kaskaskia Hotel, where La Payette was feted in 1825 (as it appeared, 1893) 314 

La Salle (Portrait) 246 

Library Building, University of Illinois 334 

Library Building — Main Floor — University of Illinois 335 

Lincoln Park Vistas, Chicago 120 

Map of Burned District, Chicago Fire, 1871 276 

Map of Grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893 600 

Map of Illinois Following Title Page 

Map of Illinois River Valley " " " 

McCormick Seminary, Chicago 362 

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 90 

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 206 

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 207 

Natural History Hall, University of Illinois 1'51 

Newberry Library, Chicago 394 

Northern Hospital for the Insane, Elgin 402 

Old Kaskaskia, from Garrison Hill (as it appeared in 1893) 314 

Old State House, Kaskaskia (1900) 315 

Pierre Menard Mansion, Kaskaskia (1893) 314 

Remnant of Old Kaskaskia (as it appeared in 1898) 315 

Scenes in South Park, Chicago 604 

Seiljy, Paul (Protrait) 5 

Sheridan Road and on the Boulevards, Chicago 121 

Soldiers' "Widows' Home, Wilmington 439 

Southern Illinois Normal, Carbondale 505 

Southern Illinois Penitentiary and Asylum for Incurable Insane, Chester 492 

University Hall, University of Illinois 150 

University of Chicago 363 

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings) 540 

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings) 541 

View from Engineering Hall, University of Illinois 281 

View on Principal Street, Old Kaskaskia (1891) 315 

Views in Lincoln Park, Chicago 91 

Views of Drainage Canal 96 

Views of Drainage Canal 97 

War Eagle (Portrait) 246 

Western Hospital for the Insane, Watertown 403 

World's Fair Buildings 605 



PREFACE 

As the title of this volume, "Illinois (Historical), Effingham County (Bio- 
graphical)," implies, the Effingham County department thereof is quite largely 
devoted to a record of the lives and deeds of many whose efforts, in the past, 
have resulted in the splendid conditions now prevailing in the commonwealth. 
The history of Effingham County has also been given reasonable space in the 
publication, prepared from available sources of information and ably supple- 
mented by special contributions from the pens of Hon. William B. Wright, Mr. 
W. H. Engbring, Frank W. Goodell, M. D., Mr. Joseph B. Jones, Prof. J. H. 
Probst, Mr. David L. Wright, Mr. George M. LeCrone, Mr. H. H. Bailey, Dr. 
Thomas J. Dunn, Mr. G. W. Tipswood, Mr. B. F. Kagay, Henry B. Kepley and 
A. F. Jansen, while valued facts have been furnished and co-operation has been 
extended by other friends of the work. 

Occupying a situation in the central part of Southern Illinois, and adjacent 
to the second State Capital, the history of Effingham County is closely identified 
with that of the early settlements of that section of the State, and in the develop- 
ment of which its population have borne an important part. Its genial climate, 
varied surface and fertile soil have attracted to it an enterprising class of citi- 
zens, especially in agricultural lines, and its progress in the more than three- 
quarters of a century of its existence as an independent political organization, 
gives evidence of the industry and thrift of its people and the prosperity which 
has rewarded their efforts. It is fitting that a record of these conditions and 
events, and of the personal history of its citizens, through whose energy and 
enterprise these results have been achieved, should be preserved for the benefit 
of a future generation, and to this end it is believed this work will render a 
valuable service. 

The Publishers. 



INDEX 

CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

Spirit Which Animated Early Settlers in Illinois— Griffin Tipsword the 
First White Settler in Effingham County— Settled Among the In- 
dians in 1814— Original Name and Personal History— Other Early 
Comers and Reminiscences of Frontier Life 617-618 

CHAPTER II. 

COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 

Date of Organization— Counties of Which Effingham Has Formed a 
Part at Different Periods— Area and Boundaries— Topography- 
Streams— Indian Relics— Mineral Resources— Coal, Building Rock 
and Mineral Waters— Ewington the First County Seat— Removal 
to Effingham-Some First Events-First Land Deed, First Marriage 

, „. , c 1 1 618-619 

and First School 

CHAPTER III. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

Conditions and diodes of Life in Pioneer Days-Early Settlements- 
Meetings of Old Settlers' Association— Reminiscences of Some of 
Its Members— Wolf Creek, Green Creek, Limestone Creek, Freeman- 
ton and Elliottstown Settlements— Letters and Speeches— Incidents 
of Local and General County History 619-633 

CHAPTER IV. 

TOWNSHIP HISTORY. 

History of Individual Townships in Effingham County— Early Settlers 
and When They Came— Primitive Conditions— Towns and Villages- 
Schools Churches ^nd Fraternal Organizations— Other Items of 
Local History 633-647 



CHAPTER V. 

EFFINGHAM WAR RECORD. 

Evidence of Effingham County Patriotism — Part Taken by Its Citizens 
in Various Wars — List of Those Who Served in the Black Hawk and 
Mexican Wars — Breaking Out of the Civil War — First Company 
Organized in Effingham County Becomes a Part of the Eleventh 
Regiment — Later Regiments Organized in Part From Effingham 
County — Dr. J. N. Matthew's Reminiscences of War Days in Mason 
\'illage — Treasonable and Unpatriotic Organizations — Some of 
Effingham County's Patriotic Heroes Who Gave Their Lives for 
Their Country 647-652 



CHAPTER \T. 

RAILROADS. 

Lines of Railroad in Effingham County — Dates of Organization and 
Periods of Construction — History of Illinois Central — Vandalia 
Line — Wabash — Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern — Mileage and Sta- 
tions on \'arious Lines Witliin Effingham County 652-654 



CHAPTER VII. 

BANKING INTERESTS. 

History of Banking Enterprise in Effingham County — Early Banks, 
With Names of Promoters and Dates of Organization — List of Pres- 
ent Banks, Location and Officers — Capitalization, Deposits, Etc 654-656 



CHAPTER VIII. 

EFFINGHAM COUNTY BENCH AND BAR. 

Blackstone's Definition of Municipal Law — Importance of Duties Vested 
in Courts — Effingham County Organized — Early Courts and Pre- 
siding Justices — First Practicing Attorneys in the County — Distin- 
guished Citizens Who Have Practiced at the Effingham County Bar — 
List of Later and Present Justices and Members of the Bar 656-658 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 

List of Physicians Who Have Practiced in Effingham County— Date of 
Entrance Into the Profession and Coming to the County— Some 
Prominent Characters and Notable Events 658-672 

CHAPTER X. 

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS. 

The Newspaper Press of Effingham County— The Pioneer of Ewington, 
the First Paper in the County — Changes of Name and Location— It 
Finally Becomes the Democrat — Other Papers of a Later Period — 
The Unionist and the Loyalist of War Time— The Daily Democrat 
Established in 1899— The Effingham Register and Republican- 
Papers at Altamont — German Papers— The Effingham Volksblatt — 
Teutopolis Press- Later Papers Which Have Gone Out of Existence 672-674 

CHAPTER XL 

CHURCHES— SCHOOLS. 

Early Churches of Effingham County — The Methodist Ewington Mis- 
sion — First Local Churches — Date of Organization and First Mem- 
bers — -First Presbyterian Church of Effingham — Its History and 
Principal Pastors — Laying of Corner Stone of New Church Building 
in August, 1909 — St. Mary's Catholic Church — First German Catholic 
Church in Effingham County — Priests Who Have Presided Over St. 
Mary's Church and the Church at Teutopolis — German Catholic 
Schools— Bissell College 674-682 

CHAPTER XII. 

DAIRYING INDUSTRIES. 

Development of Dairying Industries in Effingham County — -Early Condi- 
tions — First Signs of Improvement — Coming of the Jersey Cow^ — 
First Attempt to Establish a Creamery in the County — Other Early 
Creamery Enterprises and Failures — The Oleomargarine Contest — 
Extracts from the "Creamery Patrons' Hand Book" — Later Experi- 
ments and the More Successful Enterprises of the Present Day... 682-685 



CHAPTER XIII. 

COUNTY AND LOCAL FAIRS. 

First Effingham County Agricultural Society Organized in 1856 — First 
Officers and Some Early Fairs — Suspension During the Civil War 
Period — Organization of the County Agricultural, Horticultural and 
Mechanical Society — New County Agricultural Society Organized 
in 1880 — Another Period of Suspension — Fairs at Watson — Altamont 
Agricultural Association Organized in 1905 — Subsequent Fairs.... 685-686 

CHAPTER XIV. 

OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. 

Organization of Effingham County Old Settlers' Association — Founders 
and First Officers — Subsequent Meetings and Later Officers — Popu- 
lar Interest in Annual Reunions — Association in Prosperous Con- 
dition 686-688 

CHAPTER XV. ' 

MASONIC FRATERNITY— AUXILIARIES. 

Masonic Organizations in Effingham County — First Lodge in the County 
Organized at Ewington in 1854 — Removed to Effingham in 1862 — 
Individual History of Later Lodges — Mason, Delia, Edgewood, Alta- 
mont, Prairie City, Watson, Mayo and Beecher City Lodges — 
Dates of Organization, First and Present Officers and Present 
Membership — Auxiliary Organizations — Effingham Chapter R. A. M. 
— Effingham and Golden Lake Chapters of the Eastern Star 688-693 

CHAPTER XVI. 

The Part of Biography in General History — Citizens of Effingham 
County and Outlines of Personal History — Individual Sketches 
Arranged in Alphabetical Order 695-893 



PORTRAITS 



Austin, Calvin 622 

Austin, Edward 626 

Austin, Thomas B '''54 

Austin, William W 634 

Bailey, Harvey H 640 

Bellchamber. Charles E 642 

Brooks. E. W 644 

Buchholz, William F., and Family 646 

Burkhardt, Charles P 650 

Cox, William H 654 

Cox, Mrs. William H 654 

Craver, Alexander 656 

Dante, Harris 65S 

Devore, William C 660 

Devore. Mrs. William C 660 

Diekmann, Henry 663 

Dickmann, Mrs. Henry 662 

Diehl. John H 664 

Diehl, Mrs. John H 664 

Dntv, Charles M 666 

Dunn. John W 668 

Dunn, Mrs. .Tohn W. , 668 

Enffbrinsr. Gerhard 670 

Enfrel, Ida 686 

Ensel, John L 684 

Enfjel, Mrs. .John L 684 

Enjrel, Louis 682 

Engel. Mrs. Louis 682 

Eversman, Henry 688 

Gibson, Robert G 690 

Giesekinfr. William 692 

Giesekin?, Mrs. William 692 

Gillespie. Ambrose D 696 

Gravenhorst, Albert 698 

Gwin, George W 700 

Habing, Joseph G 702 

Hankins, Lewis J 754 

Harrah. Rufus 706 

Harvev, George 710 

Hill, D. Stanley 712 

Hill. J. Leslie 714 

Hirtzel, George J 716 

Hirtzel, Mrs. George J 716 

Holloway, David H 718 

Holloway, Mrs. David H 718 

Jansen, Anton F 720 

Jansen, Elizabeth 720 

Jones, Joseph B 754 

Kagay, Benjamin F., Sr 722 

Kagay, Benjamin F 724 

Kagay. Ben F 726 

Kaufraann, .Tohn 728 

Kaufmann. Mrs. John 728 

Kershner, Emma 732 

Kershner, Jcseph L 730 

Klitzing, Charles F 734 



Klitzing, George 736 

Klitzing. Mrs. George 736 

Klitzing, Minnie S 734 

Kuhn, Leslie A 738 

Laatsch. .John F 740 

Landenberg'er, John T 744 

Landenberger, Mabel 744 

Landenberger, Susan 742 

LeCrone, Byron K 748 

LeCrone, George M 746 

Ludwig, John 750 

Ludwig, John T 752 

Ludwig, Mrs. John T 752 

Ostendorf, Francis J 756 

Parks, Harmon B 758 

Parker, James A 760 

Poorman, George W 762 

Poorman, Mrs. George W 762 

Ramsey, Samuel P 764 

Ramsey, Mrs. Samuel P 766 

Ramsey, William 768 

Ready, Charles M., and Family 770 

Riemann, John C 772 

Riemann. Mrs. John 772 

Ruflfner, Harrison N 774 

tluffner. Mrs. Harrison N 774 

Schwerraan, Joseph P 776 

Schwerman, Mrs. Joseph P 778 

Scott, Jamea R 780 

Shubert, William H 784 

Smith, John H. C 788 

Smith. Mrs. John H. C 788 

Stallings, Henry 754 

Sweazy. David 792 

Taphorn, Henry 796 

Taylor, George F 800 

Topp, William 804 

Topp, Mrs. William 804 

Tucker, Benjamin F 808 

Tucker, Mrs. Benjamin F 808 

Turner, James 812 

Turner, Nathaniel C 816 

Turner, Sarah K "". 816 

Turner, William M 820 

Turner, Mrs. William M 820 

L^pton, Edward N 824 

Wade, George 828 

Wade, Mrs. George 828 

Walker, James H 832 

Wallace, James K 836 

Wallace, Mrs. James K 836 

Wharton. Benjamin F 840 

Woody. Granville G 844 

Woody, John E 844 

Wright, Owen 848 

Wright, William B 852 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Austin Opera House 636 

Baptist Church 674 

Central School Building 678 

Christian Chureli 674 

Court House 618 

Illinois College of Photography 680 

Jefferson Street, EflRngham 638 

Map of Effingham County 616 

Methodist Church 674 

Presbyterian Church 674 

Residence of Edward Austin 630 

Residence of Harvey H. Bailey 640 

Sacred Heart Catholic Chunh 674 

St. Anthony's Catholic Church 674 

St. John's Lutheran Cluirch 674 

St. Paul's Lutheran Church 674 

Van Camp Condensory 638 



Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois. 



ABBOTT, (Lient.-(JoT.) Edward, a British 
officer, who was commandant at Post Vincennes 
(called by the British. Fort Sackville) at the 
time Col. George Rogers Clark captured Kaskas- 
kia in 1778. Abbott's jurisdiction extended, at 
least nominally, over a part of the "Illinois 
Country. " Ten days after the occupation of Kas- 
kaskia, Colonel Clark, having learned that 
Abbott had gone to the British headquarters at 
Detroit, leaving the Post without any guard 
except that furnished by the inhabitants of the 
village, took advantage of his absence to send 
Pierre Gibault. the Catholic Vicar-General of Illi- 
nois, to win over the people to the American 
cause, which he did so successfully that they at 
once took the oath of allegiance, and the Ameri- 
can flag was run up over the fort. Although 
Fort Sackville afterwards fell into the hands of 
the British for a time, the manner of its occupa- 
tion was as much of a surprise to the British as 
that of Kaskaskia itself, and contributed to the 
completeness of Clark's triumph. (See Clark, 
Col. Oeorge Rogers, also, Gibault, Pierre.) Gov- 
ernor Abbott seems to have been of a more 
humane character than the mass of British 
officers of his day, as he wrote a letter to General 
Carleton about this time, protesting strongly 
against the employment of Indians in carrying 
on warfare against the colonists on the frontier, 
on the ground of humanity, claiming that it was 
a detriment to the British cause, although he 
was overruled by his superior officer. Colonel 
Hamilton, in the steps soon after taken to recap- 
ture Vincennes. 

ABINGDON, second city in size in KnoxCounty, 
at the junction of the Iowa Central and the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads; 10 
miles south of Galesburg, with which it is con- 
nected by electric car line ; has city waterworks, 
electric light plant, wagon works, brick and tile 
works, sash, blind and swing factories, two banks. 



three weekly papers, public library, fine high 
school building and two ward schools. Hedding 
College, a flourishing institution, imder auspices 
of the JI. E. Church, is located here. Population 
(1900), 2,022; (est. 1904), 3,000. 

ACCAULT, Michael (Ak-ko), French explorer 
and companion of La Salle, who came to the 
"Illinois Country'' in 1780, and accompanied 
Hennepin when the latter descended the Illinois 
River to its mouth and then ascended the Mis- 
sissippi to the vicinity of the present city of St. 
Paul, where they were captured by Sioux. They 
were rescued by Greysolon Dulhut (for whom 
the city of Duluth was named), and having dis- 
covered the Falls of St. Anthony, returned to 
Green Bay. (See Hennepin.) 

ACKERMAJf, William K., RaUway President 
and financier, was born in New York City, Jan. 
29, 1832, of Knickerbocker and Revolutionary 
ancestry, his grandfather, Abraham D. Acker- 
man, having served as Captain of a company of 
the famous "Jersey Blues," participating with 
"Mad" Anthony Wayne in the storming of Stony 
Point during the Revolutionary War, while his 
father served as Lieutenant of Artillery in the 
War of 1812. After receiving a high school edu- 
cation in New York, Mr. Ackerman engaged in 
mercantile business, but in 1852 became a clerk 
in the financial department of the Illinois Central 
Railroad. Coming to Chicago in the service of 
the Company in 1860, he successively filled the 
positions of Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer, 
until July, 1876, when he was elected Vice-Presi- 
dent and a year later promoted to the Presidency, 
voluntarily retiring from this position in August, 
1883, though serving some time longer in the 
capacity of Vice-President. During the progress 
of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago 
(1892-93) Mr. Ackerman served as Auditor of the 
Exposition, and was City Comptroller of Chicago 
under the administration of Mayor Hopkins 



10 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



( 1893-95). He is an active member of the Chicago 
Historical Society, and has rendered valuable 
service to railroad liistory by the issue of two bro- 
chures on the "Early History of Illinois Rail- 
roads," and a "Historical Sketch of the Hlinois 
Central Railroad." 

ADAMS, John, LL.D., educator and philan- 
thropist, was bom at Canterbury, Conn., Sejit. 18, 
1772; graduated at Yale College in 1795; taught 
for several years in liis native place, iu Plain- 
field. X. J., and at Colchester, Conn. In 1810 he 
became Principal of Phillips Academy at An- 
dover, Mass., remaining there twenty-three 
years. In addition to his educational duties he 
participated in the organization of several great 
charitable associations which attained national 
importance. On retiring from Phillips Academy 
in 1833, he removed to Jacksonville, 111., where, 
four years afterward, he became the third Prin- 
cipal of Jacksonville Female Academy, remaining 
six years. He then became Agent of the Ameri- 
can Sunday School Union, in the course of the 
next few years founding several hundred Sunday 
Schools in different parts of the State. He re- 
ceived the degree of LL. D. from Yale College in 
1854. Died in Jacksonville, April 34, 1863. The 
subject of this sketch was father of Dr. William 
Adams, for forty years a prominent Presbyterian 
clergyman of New York and for seven years (1873- 
80) President of Union Theological Seminary. 

ADAMS, John McGregor, manufacturer, was 
bom at Londonderry, N. H., March 11, 1834, the 
son of Rev. John R. Adams, who served as Chap- 
lain of the Fifth Maine and One Hundred and 
Twenty-first New York Volunteers during the 
Civil War. Mr. Adams was educated at Gorham, 
Me., and Andover, Mass., after which, going to 
New York Cit3', he engaged as clerk in a dry- 
goods house at $150 a year. He next entered the 
office of Clark & Jessup, hardware manufacturers, 
and in 1858 came to Chicago to represent the 
house of Morris K. Jessup & Co. He thus became 
associated with the late John Crerar, the firm of 
Jessup & Co. being finally merged into that of 
Crerar, Adams & Co., which, with the Adams & 
Westlake Co., liave done a large business in the 
manufacture of railway supplies. Since the 
death of Mr. Crerar, Mr. Adams has been princi- 
pal manager of the concern's vast manufacturing 
business. 

ADAMS, (Dr.) Samuel, physician and edu- 
cator, was born at Brunswick, Me., Dec. 19, 1806, 
and educated at Bowdoin College, where he 
graduated in both the departments of literature 
and of medicine. Then, having practiced as a 



physician several years, in 1888 he assumed the 
chair of Natxiral Philosophy, Chemistry and 
Natural History in Illinois College at Jackson- 
ville, HI. From 1843 to 1845 he was also Pro- 
fessor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the 
Medical Department of the same institution, and, 
during his connection with the College, gave 
instruction at different times in nearly every 
brancli embraced in the college curriculum, 
including the French and German languages. 
Of uncompromising firmness and invincible cour- 
age in his adherence to principle, he was a man 
of singular modesty, refinement and amiability 
in private life, winning the confidence and esteem 
of all with whom he came in contact, especially 
the students who came under his instruction. A 
profound and thorough scholar, he possessed a 
refined and exalted literary taste, which was 
illustrated in occasional contributions to scien- 
tific and literary periodicals. Among productions 
of his pen on philosophic topics may be enumer- 
ated articles on "The Natural History of Man in 
his Scriptural Relations;" contributions to the 
"Biblical Repository" (1844); "Auguste Comte 
and Positivism" ("New Englander," 1873), and 
"Herbert Spencer's Proposed Reconciliation be- 
tween Religion and Science" ("New Englander," 
1875). His connection with Illinois College con- 
tinued until his death, April, 1877 — a period of 
more than thirty-eight years. A monument to 
his memory has been erected through the grate- 
ful donations of his former pupils. 

ADAMS, George Everett, lawyer and ex-Con- 
gressman, bom at Keene, N. H., June 18, 1840; 
was educated at Harvard College, and at Dane 
Law School, Cambridge, Mass., graduating at the 
former in 1860. Early in life he settled in Chi- 
cago, where, after some time spent as a teacher 
in the Chicago High School, he engaged in the 
practice of his profession. His first post of pub- 
lic responsibility was that of State Senator, to 
which he was elected in 1880. In 1882 he was 
chosen, as a Republican, to represent the Fourth 
Illinois District in Congress, and re-elected in 
1884, '86 and "88. In 1890 he was again a candi- 
date, but was defeated by Walter C. Newberry. 
He is one of the Trustees of the Newberry 
Library. 

ADAMS, James, pioneer lawyer, was born in 
Hartford, Conn., Jan. 26, 1803; taken to Oswego 
County, N. Y'., in 1809, and, in 1821, removed to 
Springfield, 111., being the first lawyer to locate 
in the future State capital. He enjoyed an ex- 
tensive practice for the time; in 1823 was elected 
a Justice of the Peace, took part in the Winne- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



11 



bago and Black Hawk wars, was elected Probate 
Judge in 1841, and died in office, August 11, 1843. 

ADAMS COUXTY, an extreme westerly county 
of the State, situated about midway between its 
northern and southern extremities, and bounded 
on the west by the Mississippi River. It was 
organized in 183.5 and named in honor of John 
Quincy Adams, the name of Quincy being given 
to the county seat. The United States Census of 
1890 places its area at 830 sq. m. and its popula- 
tion at 61,888. The soil of the county is fertile 
and well watered, the surface diversified and 
hilly, especially along the Mississippi bluffs, and 
its climate equable. The wealth of the county is 
largely derived from agriculture, although a 
large amount of manufacturing is carried on in 
Quincy. Population (1900), 67,058. 

ADDAMS, John Huy, legislator, was born at 
Sinking Springs, Berks County, Pa., July 12, 
1822; educated at Trappeand Upper Dublin, Pa., 
and learned the trade of a miller in his youth, 
which he followed in later life. In 1844, Mr. 
Addams came to Illinois, settling at Cedarville, 
Stephenson County, purchased a tract of land 
and built a saw and gri.st mill on Cedar Creek. 
In 1854 he was elected to the State Senate from 
Stephenson County, serving continuously in that 
body by successive re-elections until 1870 — first as 
a Whig and afterwards as a Republican. In 1865 
he established the Second National Bank of Free- 
port, of which he continued to be the president 
imtil his death, August 17, 1881.— Miss Jane 
( Addams), philanthropist, the founder of the "Hull 
House," Chicago, is a daughter of Mr. Addams. 

ADDISON, village. Du Page County ; seat of 
Evangelical Lutheran College, Normal School 
and Orphan Asylum ; has State Bank, stores and 
public school. Pop. (1900), 591; (1904), 614. 

ADJUTAXTS-GENERAL. The office of Adju- 
tant-General for the State of Illinois was first 
created by Act of the Legislature, -Feb. 2, 1865. 
Previous to the War of the Rebellion the position 
was rather honorary than otherwise, its duties 
(except during the Black Hawk War) and its 
emoluments being alike unimportant. The in- 
cumbent was simply the Chief of the Governor's 
Staff. In 1861, the post became one of no small 
importance. Those who held the office during 
the Territorial period were: Elias Rector, Robert 
Morrison, Benjamin Stephenson and Wm. Alex- 
ander. After the admission of Illinois as a State 
up to the beginning of the Civil War, the duties 
(which were almost wholly nominal) were dis- 
charged by Wm. Alexander. 1819-21; Elijah C. 
Berry, 1821-28; James W. Berry, 1828-39; Moses 



K. Anderson, 1839-57 ; Thomas S. Mather, 1858-61. 
In November, 1861, Col. T. S. Mather, who had held 
the position for three years previous, resigned to 
enter active service, and Judge Allen C. Fuller 
was appointed, remaining in office until January 
1, 1865. The first appointee, under the act of 
1865, was Isham N. Haynie, who held office 
until his death in 1869. The Legislature of 1869. 
taking into consideration that all the Illinois 
volunteers had been mustered out, and that the 
duties of the Adjutant-General had been materi- 
ally lessened, reduced the proportions of the 
department and curtailed the appropriation for 
its support. Since the adoption of the military 
code of 1877, the Adjutant-General's office has 
occupied a more important and conspicuous posi- 
tion among the departments of the State govern- 
ment. The following is a list of those who have 
held office since General Haynie, with the date 
and duration of their respective terms of office: 
Hubert Dilger, 1869-73; Edwin L. Higgins, 
1873-75; Hiram Hilliard, 1875-81; Isaac H. Elliot, 
1881-84; Joseph W. Vance, 1884-93; Albert Oren- 
dorff, 1893-96; C. C. Hilton, 1896-97; Jasper N. 
Reece, 1897—. 

AGRICULTURE. Illinois ranks high as an 
agricultural State. A large area in the eastern 
portion of the State, because of the absence of 
timber, was called by the early settlers "the 
Grand Prairie." Upon and along a low ridge 
beginning in Jackson County and running across 
the State is the prolific fruit-growing district of 
Southern Illinois. The bottom lands extending 
from Cairo to the mouth of the Illinois River are 
of a fertility seemingly inexhaustible. The cen- 
tral portion of the State is best adapted to corn, 
and the southern and southwestern to the culti- 
vation of winter wheat. Nearly three-fourths of 
the entire State — some 42,000 square miles — is up- 
land prairie, well suited to the raising of cereals. 
In the value of its oat crop Illinois leads all the 
States, that for 1891 being §31,106,674, with 3,068,- 
930 acres under cultivation. In the production 
of corn it ranks next to Iowa, the last census 
(1890) showing 7,014,336 acres imder cultivation, 
and the value of the crop being estimated at 
186,905,510. In wheat-raising it ranked seventh, 
althougli the annual average value of the crop 
from 1880 to 1890 was a little less than §29,000,- 
000. As a live-stock State it leads in the value of 
horses (§83,000,000), ranks second in the produc- 
tion of swine (§30,000,000), tliird in cattle-growing 
(§32,000,000), and fourth in dairy products, the 
value of milch cows being estimated at §24,000,- 
000. (See also Farmers' Institute.) 



12 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF. A 

department of the State adniiiiistration which 
grew out of the organization of tlie Illinois Agri- 
cultural Society, incorporated by Act of the 
Legislature in 1853. Tlie first appropriation from 
the State trea.sury for its maintenance was $1,000 
per annum, "to be expended in the promotion of 
mechanical and agricultural arts." The first 
President was James N. Brown, of Sangamon 
County. Simeon Francis, also of Sangamon, was 
the first Recording Secretary ; John A. Kennicott 
of Cook, first Corresponding Secretary ; and John 
Williams of Sangamon, first Treasurer. Some 
thirty volumes of reports have been issued, cover- 
ing a variety of topics of vital interest to agri- 
culturists. The department has well equipped 
oflSces in the State House, and is charged with 
the conduct of State Fairs and the management 
of annual exhibitions of fat stock, besides the 
collection and dissemination of statistical and 
other information relative to the State's agri- 
cultural interests. It receives annual reports 
from all County Agricultural Societies. The 
State Board consists of three general officers 
(President, Secretarj' and Treasurer) and one 
representative from each Congressional district. 
The State appropriates some $30,000 annually for 
the prosecution of its work, besides whicli there 
is a considerable income from receipts at State 
Fairs and fat stock shows. Between $20,000 and 
SS.'i.OOO per annum is disbursed in premiums to 
competing exhibitors at the State Fairs, and some 
$10,000 divided among County Agricultural 
Societies holding fairs. 

AKERS, Peter, D. D., Methodist Episcopal 
clergyman, born of Presbyterian parentage, in 
Campbell County, Va., Sept. 1, 1790; was edu- 
cated in the common schools, and, at the age 
of 16, began teaching, later pursuing a classical 
course in institutions of Virginia and North 
Carolina. Having removed to Kentucky, after a 
brief season spent in teaching at Mount Sterling 
in that State, he began the study of law and was 
admitted to the bar in 1817. Two years later he 
began the publication of a paper called "The 
Star," which was continued for a short time. In 
1821 he was converted and joined the Methodist 
church, and a few months later began preaching. 
In 18;i2 he removed to Illinois, and, after a year 
spent in work as an evangelist, he assumed the 
Presidency of McKendree College at Lebanon, 
remaining during 1833-34; then established a 
"manual labor school" near Jacksonville, which 
he maintained for a few years. From 1837 to 
1853 was spent as stationed minister or Presiding 



Elder at Springfield, Quincy and Jacksonville. In 
the latter year he was again appointed to the 
Presidency of McKendree College, where he 
remained five years. He was then (1857) tran.s- 
ferred to the Minnesota Conference, but a year 
later was compelled by declining health to assume 
a superannuated relation. Returning to Illinois 
about 1865, he served as Presiding Elder of the 
Jacksonville and Pleasant Plains Districts, but 
was again compelled to accept a superannuated 
relation, making Jacksonville his home, where 
he died, Feb. 21, 1886. While President of Mc- 
Kendree College, he published his work on "Bib- 
lical Chronologj-," to which he had devoted many 
previous years of his life, and which gave evi- 
dence of great learning and vast research. Dr. 
Akers was a man of profound convictions, exten- 
sive learning and great eloquence. As a pulpit 
orator and logician he probably had no superior 
in the State during the time of his most active 
service in the denomination to which he belonged. 

AKIN, Edward C, lawyer and Attorney-Gen- 
eral, was born in Will County, 111., in 1853, and 
educated in the public schools of Joliet and at Ann 
Arbor, Mich. For four years he was paying and 
receiving teller in the First National Bank of 
Joliet, but was admitted to the bar in 1878 and 
has continued in active practice since. In 1887 he 
entered upon his political career as the Republi- 
can candidate for City Attorney of Joliet, and was 
elected by a majority of over 700 votes, although 
the city was usually Democratic. The follow- 
ing year he was the candidate of his party for 
State's Attorney of Will County, and was again 
elected, leading the State and county ticket by 
800 votes — being re-elected to the same office in 
1892. In 1895 he was the Republican nominee 
for Maj'or of Joliet, and, although opposed by a 
citizen's ticket headed by a Republican, was 
elected over his Democratic competitor by a deci- 
sive majority. His greatest popular triumph was 
in 1896, when he was elected Attorney -General 
on the Republican State ticket by a plurality 
over his Democratic opponent of 132,348 and a 
majority over all competitors of 111,255. His 
legal abilities are recognized as of a very high 
order, while his personal popularity is indicated 
by his uniform success as a candidate, in the 
face, at times, of strong political majorities. 

ALBANY, a village of Whiteside County, lo- 
cated on the Mississippi River and the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Rock Island 
brancli). Population (1890), 611 ; (1900), 621. 

ALBION, county-seat of Edwards County, 
on Southern Railway, midway between St. Louis 




EXl'KKI.MK.N r FAKM I rilK XINKVAKiM IN I \ lOKSl T V Ul-' 1LLIXUI> 




EXPEUIMEXr I'AltM (OUCIIAUD CULTIVATION) UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



13 



and Louisville; seat of Southern Collegiate In- 
stitute; has plant for manufacture of vitrified 
shale paving brick, two newspapers, creamery, 
flouring mills, and is important sliipping point 
for live stock; is in a rich fruit-growing district; 
has five churches and splendid public schools. 
Population (1900), 1,162; (est. 1904), 1,500. 

ALCORN, James Lusk, was born near Gol- 
oonda, 111., Nov. 4, 1816; early went South and 
held varioxis offices in Kentucky and Mississippi, 
including member of the Legislature in each; 
was a member of the Mississippi State Conven- 
tions of 1851 and 1861, and by the latter appointed 
a Brigadier-General in the Confederate service, 
but refused a commission by Jefferson Davis 
because his fidelity to the rebel cause was 
doubted. At the close of the war he was one of 
the first to accept the reconstruction policy ; was 
elected United States Senator from Mississippi in 
1865, but not admitted to his seat. In 1869 he 
was chosen Governor as a Republican, and two 
years later elected United States Senator, serving 
until 1877. Died, Dec. 20, 1894. 

ALDRICH, J. Frank, Congressman, was born 
at Two River.s, Wis . April 6, 1853, the son of 
William Aldrich, who afterwards became Con- 
gressman from Chicago ; was brouglit to Chicago 
in 1861, attended the public schools and the Chi- 
cago University, and graduated from the Rensse- 
laer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y., in 1877, 
receiving the degree of Civil Engineer. Later he 
engaged in the linseed oil business in Chicago. 
Becoming interested in politics, he was elected a 
member of the Board of County Commissioners 
of Cook County, serving as President of that body 
during the reform period of 1887; was also a 
member of the County Board of Education and 
Chairman of the Chicago Citizens' Committee, 
appointed from the various clubs and commer- 
cial organizations of the city, to promote the for- 
mation of the Chicago Sanitary District. From 
May 1, 1891, to Jan. 1. 1893, he was Commissioner 
of Public Works for Chicago, when he resigned 
his office, having been elected (Nov., 1892) a 
member of the Fifty-third Congress, on the 
Republican ticket, from the First Congressional 
District; was reelected in 1894, retiring at the 
close of the Fifty-fourtli Congress. In 1898 he 
was appointed to a position in connection with 
the office of Comptroller of the Currency at 
Washington. 

ALDRICH, William, merchant and Congress- 
man, was born at Greenfield, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1820. 
His earlj' common school training was supple- 
mented by private tuition in higher branches of 



mathematics and in surveying, and by a term in 
an academy. Until he had reached the age of 26 
years he was engaged in farming and teaching, 
but, in 1846, turned his attention to mercantile 
pursuits. In 1851 he removed to Wisconsin, 
where, in addition to merchandising, he engaged 
in the manufacture of furniture and woodenware, 
and where he also held several important offices, 
being Superintendent of Schools for three years. 
Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors 
one year, besides serving one term in the Legisla- 
ture. In 1860 he removed to Chicago, where he 
embarked in the wholesale grocery business. In 
1875 he was elected to the City Council, and, in 
1876, chosen to repre,sent his district (the First) in 
Congress, as a Republican, being reelected in 1878, 
and again in 1880. Died in Fond du Lao, Wis., 
Dec. 3, 1885. 

ALEDO, county-seat of Mercer County; is in 
the midst of a rich farming and bituminous coal 
region ; fruit-growing and stock-raising are also 
extensively carried on, and large quantities of 
these commodities are shipped here; has two 
newspapers and ample school facilities. Popula- 
tion (1890), 1,601; (1900), 2,081. 

ALEXANDER, John T., agriculturist and 
stock-grower, was born in Western Virginia, 
Sept. 15, 1820; removed with his father, at six 
years of age, to Ohio, and to Illinois in 1848. 
Here he bought a tract of several thousand acres 
of land on the Wabash Railroad, 10 miles east of 
Jacksonville, which finally developed into one of 
the richest stock-farms in the State. After the 
war he became the owner of the celebrated 
"Sullivant farm," comprising some 20,000 acres 
on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad in 
Champaign County, to which he transferred his 
stock intere.sts, and although overtaken by re- 
verses, left a large estate. Died, August 22, 1876. 

ALEXANDER, Milton E., pioneer, was born in 
Elbert County, Ga., Jan. 28, 1796; emigrated 
with his father, in 1804, to Tenne&see, and, while 
still a boy, enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, 
serving under the command of General Jackson 
until the capture of Pensacola, when he entered 
upon the campaign against the Seminoles in 
Florida. In 1823 he removed to Edgar County, 
111., and engaged in mercantile and agricultural 
pursuits at Paris; serving also as Postmaster 
there some twenty-five years, and as Clerk of tlie 
County Commissioners' Court from 1826 to '37. 
In 1826 he was commissioned by Governor Coles, 
Colonel of the Nineteenth Regiment, Illinois 
State Militia ; in 1830 was Aide-de-Camp to Gov- 
ernor Reynolds, and, inl882, took part in the Black 



14 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Hawk War as Brigadier-General of the Second 
Brigade, Illinois Volunteers. On the inception of 
the internal improvement scheme in 1837 he was 
elected by tlie Legislature a member of the first 
Board of Commissioners of Public Works, serving 
until tlie Board was abolished. Died, July 7, 1856. 
ALEXANDER, (Dr.) William M., pioneer, 
came to Southern Illinois previous to the organi- 
zation of Union County (1818), and for some time, 
while practicing his profession as a physician, 
acted as agent of the proprietors of the town of 
America, which was located on the Ohio River, 
on the first high ground above its junction with 
the Mississippi. It became the first county seat 
of Alexander County, whicli was organized in 

1819, and named in his honor. In 1820 we find 
him a Representative in tlie Second General 
Assembly from Pope County, and two years later 
Representative from Alexander County, when he 
became Speaker of the House during the session 
of the Tliird (ieneral Assembly. Later, he 
removed to Kaskaskia, but finally went South, 
where he died, though the date and place of his 
death are unknown. 

ALEXANDER COUNTY, the extreme southern 
county of the State, being bounded on the west 
by the Mississipppi, and south and east by the 
Ohio and Cache rivers. Its area is about 230 
square miles and its population, in 1890, was 16,- 
r)6S. The first American settlers were Tennessee- 
ans named Bird, who occupied the delta and gave 
it the name of Bird's Point, which, at the date of 
the Civil War (1861-6.'5), had been transferred to 
the Mis,souri shore opposite the mouth of the Ohio. 
Other early settlers were Clark, Kennedy and 
Philips (at Mounds), Conyer and Terrel (at Amer- 
ica), and Humphreys (near Caledonia). In 1818 
Shadrach Bond (afterwards Governor), John G. 
Comyges and others entered a claim for 1800 acres 
in the central and northern part of the county, 
and incor|X)rated the "City and Bank of Cairo." 
The history of this enterprise is interesting. In 
1818 (on Comyges' death) the land reverted to the 
Government; but in 1835 Sidney Breese, David J. 
Baker and Miles A. Gilbert reentered the for- 
feited bank tract and the title thereto became 
vested in the "Cairo City and Canal Company," 
which was chartered in 1837, and, by purchase, 
extended its holdings to 10,000 acres. The 
county was organized in 1819; the first county- 
seat being America, which wius incorporated in 

1820. Population (1900), 19,384. 

ALEXLVN BROTHERS' HOSPITAL, located 
at Chicago; established in 1860, and under the 
management of the .Mexian Brothers, a monastic 



order of the Roman Catholic Church. It was 
originally opened in a small frame building, but a 
better edifice was erected in 1868, only to be de- 
stroyed in the great fire of 1871. The following 
year, through the aid of private benefactions and 
an appropriation of $18,000 from the Chicago Re- 
lief and Aid Society, a larger and better hospital 
was built. In 1888 an addition was made, increas- 
ing the accommodation to 150 beds. Onlj' poor 
male patients are admitted, and these are received 
without reference to nationality or religion, and 
absolutely without charge. The present medical 
staff (1896) comprises fourteen physicians and sur- 
geons. In 1895 the close approach of an intra- 
mural transit line having rendered the building 
unfit for hospital purposes, a street railway com- 
pany purchased the site and buildings for $2.50,- 
000 and a new location has been selected. 

ALEXIS, a village of Warren County, on the 
Rock Island & St. Louis Division of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railway, 12 miles east of 
north from Monmouth. It has manufactures of 
brick, drain-tile, pottery and agricultural imple- 
ments; is also noted for its Clydesdale horses. 
Population (1880), 398; (1890), .562; (1900), 915. 

ALGON(Jl'INS, a group of Indian tribes. 
Originally tlieir territory extended from about 
latitude 37° to 53° north, and from longitude 25° 
east to 15° west of the meridian of Washington. 
Branches of the stock were found by Cartier in 
Canada, bj' Smith in Virginia, by the Puritans in 
New England and by Catholic missionaries in the 
great basin of the Mississippi. One of tlie prin- 
cipal of their five confederacies embraced the 
Illinois Indians, who were found within the 
State by the French when the latter discovered 
the country in 1673. They were hereditary foes 
of the warlike Iroquois, by whom their territory 
was repeatedly invaded. Besides the Illinois, 
other tribes of the Algonquin family who origi- 
nally dwelt within the present limits of Illinois, 
were the Foxes, Kickapoos, Miamis, Menominees, 
and Sacs. Although nomadic in their mode of 
life, and subsisting largely on the spoils of the 
chase, the Algonquins were to some extent tillers 
of the soil and cultivated large tracts of maize. 
Various dialects of their language have been 
reduced to grammatical rules, and Eliot's Indian 
Bible is published in their tongue. The entire 
Algonquin stock extant is estimated at about 
95,000, of whom some 35,000 are within the LTnited 
States. 

ALLEN, William Joshua, jurist, was born 
June 9, 1829, in Wilson County, Tenn. ; of Vir- 
ginia ancestry of Scotch-Irish descent. In early 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



15 



infancy he was brought by his parents to South- 
ern Illinois, where his father, Willis Allen, be- 
came a Judge and member of Congress. After 
reading law with his father and at the Louisville 
Law School, young Allen was admitted to the 
bar, settling at Metropolis and afterward (1853) 
at his old home, Marion, in Williamson County. 
In 185.5 he was appointed United States District 
Attorney for Illinois, but resigned in 1859 and re- 
sumed private practice as partner of John A. 
Logan. The same year he was elected Circuit 
Judge to succeed his father, who had died, but he 
declined a re-election. He was a member of the 
Constitutional Conventions of 1803 and 1869, serv- 
ing in both bodies on the Judicial Committee and 
as Chairman of the Committee on the Bill of 
Eights. From 1864 to 1888 he was a delegate to 
every National Democratic Convention, being 
chairman of the Illinois delegation in 1876. He 
has been four times a candidate for Congress, and 
twice elected, serving from 1862 to 1865. During 
this period he was an ardent opponent of the wai 
policy of the Government. In 1874-75, at the 
solicitation of Governor Beveridge, he undertook 
the prosecution of the leaders of a bloody "ven- 
detta" which had broken out among his former 
neighbors in Williamson County, and, by his fear- 
less and impartial efforts, brought the offenders to 
justice and assisted in restoring order. In 1886, 
Judge Allen removed to Springfield, and in 1887 
was appointed by President Cleveland to succeed 
Judge Samuel H. Treat (deceased) as Judge of the 
United States District Court for the Southern 
District of Illinois. Died Jan. 26, 1901. 

ALLE\, WlUis, a native of Tennessee, who 
removed to Williamson County, 111., in 1829 and 
engaged in farming. In 1834 he was chosen 
Sheriff of Franklin County, in 1838 elected Rep- 
resentative in the Eleventh General Assembly, 
and, in 1844, became State Senator. In 1841, 
although not yet a licensed lawj'er, he was chosen 
Prosecuting Attorney for the old Third District, 
and was shortly afterward admitted to the bar. 
He was chosen Presidential Elector in 1844, a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1847, 
and served two terms in Congress (1851-55). On 
March 2, 1859, he was commissioned Judge of the 
Twenty-sixth Judicial Circuit, but died three 
months later. His son, William Joshua, suc- 
ceeded him in the latter office. 

ALLERTOJf, Samncl Waters, stock-dealer and 
capitalist, was born of Pilgrim ancestry in 
Dutchess County, N. Y., May 26, 1829. His 
youth was spent with his father on a farm in 
Yates Covmty. N. Y. . but about 1852 he engaged 



in the live-stock business in Central and Western 
New York. In 1856 he transferred his operations 
to Illinois, shipping stock from various points to 
New York City, finally locating in Chicago. He 
was one of the earliest projectors of the Chicago 
Stock -Yards, later securing control of the Pitts- 
burg Stock- Yards, also becoming interested in 
j'ards at Baltimore, Philadelphia, Jersey City and 
Omaha. Mr. AUerton is one of the founders and 
a Director of the First National Bank of Chicago, 
a Director and stockholder of the Chicago City 
Railway (the first cable Une in that city), the 
owner of an extensive area of highly improved 
farming lands in Central Illinois, as also of large 
tracts in Nebraska and Wyoming, and of valuable 
and productive mining properties in the Black 
Hills. A zealous Republican in politics, he is a 
liberal supporter of the measures of that party, 
and, in 1893, was the unsuccessful Republican can- 
didate for Mayor of Chicago in opposition to 
Carter H. Harrison. 

ALLOUEZ, Claude Jean, sometimes called 
"The Apostle of the West," a Jesuit priest, was 
born in France in 1620. He reached Quebec in 
1658, and later explored the country around 
Lakes Superior and Michigan, establishing the 
mission of La Pointe, near where Ashland, Wis., 
now stands, in 1665, and St. Xavier, near Green 
Bay, in 1669. He learned from the Indians the 
existence and direction of the upper Mississippi, 
and was the first to communicate the informa- 
tion to the authorities at Montreal, which report 
was the primary cause of Joliet's expedition. He 
succeeded Marquette in charge of the mission at 
Kaskaskia, on the Illinois, in 1677, where he 
preached to eight tribes. From that date to 1690 
he labored among the aborigines of Illinois and 
Wisconsin. Died at Fort St. Joseph, in 1690. 

ALLTN, (Rev.) Robert, clergyman and edu- 
cator, was born at Ledyard, New London County, 
Conn., Jan. 25, 1817, being a direct descend- 
ant in the eighth generation of Captain Robert 
Allyn, who was one of the first settlers of New 
London. He grew up on a farm, receiving his 
early education in a country school, supple- 
mented by access to a small public library, from 
which he acquired a good degree of familiarity 
with standard English writers. In 1837 he 
entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, 
Conn., where he distinguished himself as a 
mathematician and took a high rank as a linguist 
and rhetorician, graduating in 1841. He im- 
mediately engaged as a teacher of mathematics 
in the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., 
and, in 1846, was elected principal of the school. 



16 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



meanwhile (1843) becoming a licentiate of the 
Providence Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. From 1848 to 1854 he served as Princi- 
pal of the P*rovidence Conference Seminary at 
East Greenwich, R. I., when he was appointed 
Commissioner of Public Schools of Rhode Island 
— also serving the same year as a Visitor to West 
Point Military Academj'. Between 1857 and 1859 
he filled the chair of Ancient Languages in the 
State University at Athens, Ohio, when he ac- 
cepted the Presidency of the Wesleyan Female 
College at Cincinnati, four years later (1863) 
becoming President of McKendree College at 
Lebanon, 111., where he remained until 1874. 
That position he resigned to accept the Presi- 
dency of the Southern Illinois Normal University 
at Carbondale, whence he retired in 1892. Died 
at Carbondale, Jan. 7, 1894. 

ALTAMONT, Effingham County, is intersecting 
point of the Vandalia, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, 
Baltimore & Ohio S. W. , and Wabash Railroads, 
being midway and highest point between St. 
Louis and Terre Haute, Ind. ; was laid out in 
1870. The town is in the center of a grain, fruit- 
growing and stock-raising district ; has a bank, 
two grain elevators, flouring mill, tile works, a 
large creamery, wagon, furniture and other fac- 
tories, besides churches and good schools. Popu- 
lation (1890), 1,044, 11900), 1,335. 

ALTGELD, John Peter, ex-Judge and ex-Gov- 
ernor, was born in Prussia in 1848, and in boy- 
hood accompanied his parents to America, the 
family settling in Ohio. At the age of 16 he 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth 
Ohio Infantry, serving until the close of the war. 
His legal education was acquired at St. Loms and 
Savannah, Mo., and from 1874 to '78 he was 
Prosecuting Attorney for Andrew County in that 
State. In 1878 he removed to Chicago, where he 
devoted himself to professional work. In 1884 he 
led the Democratic forlorn hope as candidate for 
Congress in a strong Republican Congre-ssional 
district, and in 1886 was elected to the bench of 
the Superior Court of Cook County, but resigned 
in August, 1891. The Democratic State conven- 
tion of 1892 nominated him for Governor, and he 
was elected the foUow^ing November, being the 
first foreign-b<irn citizen to hold that office in the 
history of the State, and the first Democrat 
elected since 18.52. In 1896 he was a prominent 
factor in the Democratic National Convention 
which nominated William J. Brj-an for Presi- 
dent, and was also a candidate for re-election to 
the office of Governor, but was defeated by John 
R. Tanner, the Republican nominee. 



ALTON, principal city in Madison County 
and important commercial and maimfacturing 
point on Mississippi River, 25 miles north of 
St. Louis; sit« was first occupied as a French 
trading-post about 1807, the town proper being 
laid out by Col. Rufus Easton in 1817; principal 
business houses are located in the valley along 
the river, while the residence portion occupies 
the bluffs overlooking the river, sometimes rising 
to the height of nearly 250 feet. The city has 
extensive glass works employing (1903) 4,000 
hands, flouring mills, iron foundries, manufac- 
tories of agricultural implements, coal cars, min- 
ers' tools, shoes, tobacco, lime, etc., besides 
several banks, numerous churches, schools, and 
four newspapers, three of them daily. A monu- 
ment to the memory of Elijah P. Lovejoy, who 
fell while defending his press against a pro-slav- 
ery mob in 1837, was erected in Alton Cemetery, 
1896-7, at a cost of $30,000, contributed by the 
State and citizens of Alton. Population (1890), 
10,294; (1900), 14,210. 

ALTON PENITENTIARY. The earliest pun- 
ishments imposed upon public offenders in Illi- 
nois were by public flogging or imprisonment for 
a short time in jails rudely constructed of logs, 
from which escape was not difficult for a prisoner 
of nerve, strength and mental resource. The 
inadequacy of such places of confinement was 
soon perceived, but popular antipathy to any 
increase of taxation prevented the adoption of 
any other policy until 1827. A grant of 40,000 
acres of saline lands was made to the State by 
Congress, and a considerable portion of the money 
received from their sale was appropriated to the 
establishment of a State penitentiary at Alton. 
The sum set apart proved insufficient,and, in 1831, 
an additional appropriation of $10,000 was made 
from the State treasury. In 1833 the prison was 
ready to receive its first inmates. It was built of 
stone and had but twenty -four cells. Additions 
were made from time to time, but by 1857 the 
State determined upon building a new peniten- 
tiary, which was located at Joliet (see Northern 
Penitentiary), and, in 1860, the last convicts were 
transferred thither from Alton. The Alton prison 
was conducted on what is known as "the Auburn 
plan" — associated labor in silence by day and 
separate confinement by night. The manage- 
ment was in the hands of a "lessee," who fur- 
nished supplies, employed guards and exercised 
the general powers of a warden under the super- 
vision of a Commissioner appointed by the State, 
and who handled all the products of convict 
labor. 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



17 



ALTON RIOTS. (See Lovejoy, Elijah Par- 
rish. ) 

ALTONA, town of Knox County, on C. , B. & Q. 
R. R., 16 miles northeast of Galesburg; has an 
endowed public library, electric light system, 
cement sidewalks, four churches and good school 
system. Population (1900), 633. 

ALTON & SANOAMON RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago & Alton Railroad.) 

AMBOT, city in Lee County on Green River, at 
junction of Illinois Central and C. , B. & Q. Rail- 
roads, 95 miles south by west from Chicago ; has 
artesian water with waterworks and fire protec- 
tion, city park, two telephone systems, electric 
lights, railroad repair shops, two banks, two 
newspapers, seven churches, graded and high 
schools; is on line of Northern Illinois Electric 
Ry. from De Kalb to Dixon; extensive bridge 
and iron works located here. Pop. (1900), 1,826. 

AMES, Edward Raymond, Methodist Episcopal 
Bishop, bom at Amesville, Athens County, Ohio, 
May 30, 1806; was educated at the Ohio State 
University, where he joined the M. E. Church. 
In 1828 he left college and became Principal of 
the Seminary at Lebanon, 111., which afterwards 
became McKendree College. While there he 
received a license to preach, and, after holding 
various charges and positions in the church, in- 
cluding membership in the General Conference 
of 1840, '44 and '52, in the latter year was elected 
Bishop, serving until his death, which occurred 
in Baltimore, April 25, 1879. 

ANDERSON, Galusha, clergj'man and edu- 
cator, was born at Bergen, N. Y., March 7, 1832; 
graduated at Rochester University in 1854 and at 
the Theological Seminary there in 1856; spent 
ten years in Baptist pastoral work at Janesville, 
Wis., and at St. Louis, and seven as Professor in 
Newton Theological Institute, Mass. From 1873 
to '80 he preached in Brooklyn and Chicago; was 
then chosen President of the old Chicago Univer- 
sity, remaining eight years, when he again be- 
came a pastor at Salem, Mass., but soon after 
assumed the Presidency of Denison University, 
Ohio. On the organization of the new Chicago 
University, he accepted the chair of Homiletics 
and Pastoral Theology, which he now holds 

ANDERSON, George A., lawyer and Congress- 
man, was bom in Botetourt County, Va., March 
11, 1853. When two years old he was brought by 
his parents to Hancock County, 111 He re- 
ceived a collegiate education, and, after studying 
law at Lincoln, Neb., and at Sedalia, Mo., settled 
at Quincy, 111., where he began practice in 1880. 
In 1884 he was elected City Attorney on the 



Democratic ticket, and re-elected in 1885 without 
opposition. The following year he was the suc- 
cessful candidate of his party for Congress, which 
was his last public service. Died at Quincy, 
Jan. 31, 1896. 

ANDERSON, James C, legislator, was born in 
Henderson Count}', 111., August 1, 1845; raised on 
a farm, and after receiving a common-school 
education, entered Monmouth College, but left 
early in the Civil War to enlist in the Twentieth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he attained 
the rank of Second Lieutenant. After the war he 
served ten years as Sheriff of Henderson County, 
was elected Representative in the General 
Assembly in 1888, '90, '92 and '96, and served on 
the Republican "steering committee" during the 
session of 1893. He also served as Sergeant-at- 
Arms of the Senate for the session of 1895, and 
was a delegate to the Republican National Con- 
vention of 1896. His home is at Decorra. 

ANDERSON, Stinson H., Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor, was born in Sumner County, Tenn. , in 1800 ; 
came to Jefferson County, 111., in his youth, and, 
at an early age, began to devote his attention to 
breeding fine stock; served in the Black Hawk 
War as a Lieutenant in 1832, and the same year 
was elected to the lower branch of the Eighth 
General Assembly, being re-elected in 1834. In 
1838 he was chosen Lieutenant-Governor on the 
ticket wdth Gov. Thomas Carlin, and soon after 
the close of his term entered the United States 
Army as Captain of Dragoons, in this capacity 
taking part in the Seminole War in Florida. 
Still later he served under President Polk as 
United States Marshal for Illinois, and also held 
the position of Warden of the State Penitentiary 
at Alton for several years. Died,September, 1857. — 
William B. (Anderson), son of the preceding, 
was bom at Mount Vernon, lU., April 30, 1830; 
attended the common schools and later studied 
surveying, being elected Surveyor of Jefferson 
County, in 1851. He studied law and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1858, but never practiced, pre- 
ferring the more quiet life of a farmer. In 1856 
he was elected to the lower house of the General 
Assembly and re-elected in 1858. In 1861 he 
entered the volunteer service as a private, was 
promoted through the grades of Captain and 
Lieutenant-Colonel to a Colonelcy, and, at the 
close of the war, was brevetted Brigadier-Gen- 
eral. In 1868 he was a candidate for Presidential 
Elector on the Democratic ticket, was a member 
of the State Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, 
and, in 1871, was elected to the State Senate, to 
fill a vacancy. In 1874 he was elected to the Forty- 



18 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



fourth Congrftss on the Democratic ticket. In 
1893 General Anderson was appointed bj- Presi- 
dent Cleveland Pension Agent for Illinois, con- 
tinuing in that position four years, when he 
retired to private life. 

ANDRUS, Rev. Reuben, clergyman and edu- 
cator, was born at Rutland, Jefferson County, 
N. Y., Jan. 29, 1824; early came to Fulton 
County. III., and spent three years (1844-47) as a 
student at Illinois College, Jacksonville, but 
graduated at McKemiree College, Lebanon, in 
1849; taught for a time at Greenfield, entered the 
Methodist ministry, and, in 18.50, founded the Illi- 
nois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, of 
which he became a Professor; later reentered 
the ministry and held charges at Beardstown, 
Decatur, Quinoy. Springfield and Bloomington, 
meanwhile for a time being President of Illinois 
Conference Female College at Jacksonville, and 
temporary President of Quincy College. In 1867 
he was transferred to the Indiana Conference and 
stationed at Evansville and Indianapolis; from 
1872 to '7,5 was President of Indiana Asbury Uni- 
versity at Greencastle. Died at Indianapolis, 
Jan. 17, 1887. 

ANNA, a city in Union County, on the Illinois 
Central Railroad, 36 miles from Cairo; is center 
of extensive fruit and vegetable-growing district, 
and largest shipping-point for these commodities 
on the Illinois Central Railroad. It has an ice 
plant, pottery and lime manufactories, two banks 
and two newspapers. The Southern '(111. ) Hos- 
pital for the Insane is located here. Population 
(1890), 2,295; (1900), 2,618; (est. 1904), 3,000. 

AXTHOXT, EUiott, jurist, was born of New 
England Quaker ancestry at Spafford, Onondaga 
County, N. Y., June 10, 1827; was related on 
the maternal side to the Chases and Phelps (dis- 
tinguished lawyers) of Vermont. His early years 
were spent in labor on a farm, but after a course 
of preparatory study at Cortland Academy, in 
1847 he entered the sophomore class in Hamilton 
College at Clinton, graduating with honors in 
1850. The next year he began the study of law, 
at the same time giving instruction i an Acad- 
emy at Clinton, where he had President Cleve- 
land as one of his pupils. After admission to the 
bar at Oswego, in 1851, he removed West, stop- 
ping for a time at Sterling, 111., but the following 
year located in Chicago. Here he compiled "A 
Digest of Illinois Reports"; in 18.58 was elected 
City Attorney, and, in 1863, became solicitor of 
the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (now the 
Chicago & Northwestern). Judge Anthony 
served in two State Constitutional Conventions — 



those of 1862 and 1869-70 — being chairman of the 
Committee on Executive Department and mem- 
ber of the Committee on Judiciary in the latter. 
He was delegate to the National Republican Con- 
vention of 1880, and was the same year elected a 
Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago, and was 
re-elected in 1886, retiring in 1892, after which he 
resumed the practice of his profession, being 
chiefly employed as consulting counsel. Judge 
Anthony was one of the founders and incorpo- 
rators of the Chicago Law Institute and a member 
of tlie first Board of Directors of the Chicago 
Public Library; also served as President of tlie 
State Bar Association (1894-95), and delivered 
several important historical addres-ses before that 
body. His other most important productions 
are volumes on "The Constitutional History of 
Illinois," "The Story of the Empire State" and 
"Sanitation and Navigation." Near the close of 
his last term upon the bench, he spent several 
months in an extended tour through the princi- 
pal countries of Europe. His death occurred, 
after a protracted illness, at his home at Evans- 
ton, Feb. 24, 1898. 

ANTI-NEBRASKA EDITORIAL CONVEN- 
TION, a political body, which convened at 
Decatur, Feb. 22, 1856, pursuant to the suggestion 
of "The Morgan Journal," then a weekly paper 
published at Jacksonville, for the purpose of for- 
mulating a policy in opposition to the principles 
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. Twelve editors 
were in attendance, as foUows: Charles H. Ray 
of "The Chicago Tribune"; V. Y. Ralston of 
"The Quincy Whig"; O. P. Wharton of "The 
Rock Island Advertiser"; T. J. Pickett of "The 
Peoria Republican"; George Schneider of "The 
Chicago Staats Zeitung" ; Charles Faxon of "The 
Princeton Post"; A. N. Ford of "The Lacon Ga- 
zette"; B. F. Shaw of "The Dixon Telegraph" ; E. 
C. Daugherty of "The Rockford Register" ; E. W. 
Blaisdell of "The Rockford Gazette"; W. J. 
Usrey of "The Decatur Chronicle"; and Paul 
Selby of ' 'The Jacksonville Journal. " Paul Selby 
was chosen Chairman and W. J. Usrey, Secre- 
tary. The convention adopted a platform and 
recommended the calling of a State convention 
at Bloomington on May 29, following, appointing 
the following State Central Committee to take the 
matter in charge: W. B. Ogden, Chicago; S. M. 
Church, Rockford; G. D. A. Parks, Joliet; T. J 
Pickett, Peoria; E. A. Dudley, Quincy; W^illiam 
H. Herndon, Springfield; R. J. Oglesby, Deca- 
tur; Joseph Gillespie, Edwardsville; D. L. Phil- 
lips, Jonesboro; and Ira O. Wilkinson and 
Gustavus Koerner for the State-at-large. Abra- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



19 



nam Lincoln was present and participated in the 
consultations of the committees. All of these 
served except Messrs. Ogden, Oglesby and Koer- 
uer, tlie two former declining on account of ab- 
sence from the State. Ogden was succeeded by 
the late Dr. John Evans, afterwards Territorial 
Governor of Colorado, and Oglesby by Col. Isaac 
C. Pugh of Decatur. (See Bloomington Conven- 
tion of 1S56.) 

APPLE RIVER, a village of Jo Daviess 
County, on the Illinois Central Railroad, 21 miles 
east-northeast from Galena. Population (1880), 
636; (1^90), 572; (1900). 576. 

APPLIJ[(JTON, (Maj.) Zeiias, soldier, was born 
in Broome Coimty, N. Y., Dec. 24, 1815; in 1837 
emigrated to Ogle County, 111., where he fol- 
lowed successively the occupations of farmer, 
blacksmith, carpenter and merchant, finally 
becoming the founder of the town of Polo. Here 
he became wealthy, but lost much of his property 
in the financial revulsion of 1857. In 1858 he 
was elected to the State Senate, and, during the 
session of 1859, was one of the members of that 
body appointed to investigate the "canal scrip 
fraud" (which see), and two years later was one of 
the earnest supporters of the Government in its 
preparation for the War of the Rebellion. The 
latter year he assisted in organizing the Seventh 
Illinois Cavalry, of which he was commissioned 
Major, being some time in command at Bird's 
Point, and later rendering important service to 
General Pope at New Madrid and Island No. 10. 
He was killed at Corinth, Miss., May 8, 1863. 
while obeying an order to charge upon a band of 
rebels concealed in a wood. 

APPORTIONMENT, a mode of distribution of 
the counties of the State into Districts for the 
election of members of the General Assembly 
and of Congress, which will be treated under 
separate heads: 

Leoislative. — The first legislative apportion- 
ment was provided for by the Constitution of 
1818. That instrument vested the Legislature 
with power to divide the State as follows: To 
create districts for the election of Representatives 
not less than twenty -seven nor more than thirty- 
six in number, until the population of the State 
should amount to 100,000; and to create sena- 
torial districts, in number not less than one-third 
nor more than one-half of the representative dis- 
tricts at the time of organization. 

The schedule appended to the first Constitution 
contained the first legal apportionment of Sena- 
tors and Representatives. The first fifteen 
counties were allowed fourteen Senators and 



twenty-nine Representatives. Each county 
formed a distinct legislative district for repre- 
sentation in the lower house, with the number of 
members for each varying from one to three; 
while Johnson and Franklin were combined in 
one Senatorial district, the other counties being 
entitled to one Senator each. Later apportion- 
ments were made in 1831, '26, '81, '36, '41 and '47. 
Before an election was held under the last, how- 
ever, the Constitution of 1848 went into effect, 
and considerable changes were effected in this 
regard. The number of Senators was fixed at 
twenty-five and of Representatives at seventy - 
five, until the entire population should equal 
1,000,000, when five members of the House were 
added and five additional members for each 500, - 
000 increase in population until the whole nimi- 
ber of Representatives reached 100. Thereafter 
the number was neither increased nor dimin- 
ished, but apportioned among the several coun- 
ties according to the nimiber of white inhabit- 
ants. Should it be found necessary, a single 
district might be formed out of two or more 
counties. 

The Constitution of 1848 established fifty-four 
Representative and twenty-five Senatorial dis- 
tricts. By the apportionment law of 1854, the 
number of the former was increased to fifty-eight, 
and, in 1861, to sixty-one. The number of Sen- 
atorial districts remained unchanged, but their 
geographical limits varied under each act, while 
the number of members from Representative 
districts varied according to population. 

The Constitution of 1870 provided for an im- 
mediate reapportionment (subsequent to its 
adoption) by the Governor and Secretary of 
State upon the basis of the United States Census 
of 1870. Under the apportionment thus made, 
as prescribed by the schedule, the State was 
divided into twenty-five Senatorial districts (each 
electing two Senators) and ninety-seven Repre- 
sentative districts, with an aggregate of 177 mem- 
bers varying from one to ten for the several 
districts, according to population. This arrange- 
ment continued in force for only one Legislature 
— that chosen in 1870. 

In 1872 this Legislature proceeded to reappor- 
tion the State in accordance with the principle of 
"minority representation," which had been sub- 
mitted as an independent section of the Constitu- 
tion and adopted on a separate vote. This 
provided for apportioning the State into fifty-one 
districts, each being entitled to one Senator and 
three Representatives. The ratio of representa- 
tion in the lower house was ascertained by divid- 



20 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ing the entire population by 153 and each county 
to be allowed one Representative, provided its 
population reached three-fifths of the ratio ; coun- 
ties having a population equivalent to one and 
three-fifths times the ratio were entitled to two 
Representatives ; while each county with a larger 
population was entitled to one additional Repre- 
sentative for each time the full ratio was repeated 
in the number of inhabitants. Apportionments 
were made on this principle in 1872, '83 and "93. 
Members of the lower house are elected bienni- 
ally; Senators for four years, those in odd and 
even districts being chosen at each alternate 
legislative election. The election of Senators for 
the even (numbered) districts takes place at the 
same time with that of Governor and other State 
officers, and that for the odd districts at the inter- 
mediate periods. 

Congressional.— For the first fourteen years 
of the State's history, Illinois constituted but one 
Congressional district. The census of 1830 show- 
ing sufficient population, the Legislature of 1831 
(by act, approved Feb. 13) divided the State into 
three districts, the first election under this law 
being held on the first Monday in August, 1832. 
At that time Illinois comprised fifty-five coun- 
ties, which were apportioned among the districts 
as follows: First — • Gallatin, Pope, Johnson, 
Alexander, Union, Jackson, Franklin, Perry, 
Randolph, Monroe, Washington, St. Clair, Clin- 
ton, Bond, Madison, Macoupin; Second — White, 
Hamilton, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, 
Clay, Marion, Lawrence, Fayette, Montgomery, 
Shelby, Vermilion, Edgar, Coles, Clark, Craw- 
ford; Third — Greene, Morgan, Sangamon, 
Macon, Tazewell, McLean, Cook, Henry, La 
Salle, Putnam, Peoria, Knox, Jo Daviess, Mercer, 
McDonough, Warren, Fulton, Hancock, Pike, 
Schuyler, Adams, Calhoun. 

The reapportionment following the census of 
1840 was made by Act of March 1, 1843, and the 
first election of Representatives thereunder 
occurred on the first Monday of the following 
August. Forty-one new counties had been cre- 
ated (making ninety-six in all) and the number 
of districts was increased to seven as follows; 
First — Alexander, Union, Jackson, Monroe, 
Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, Bond, Washington, 
Madison; Second — Johnson, Pope, Hardin, 
Williamson, Gallatin, Franklin, White, Wayne, 
Hamilton, Wabash, Massac, Jefferson, Edwards, 
Marion ; Third — Lawrence, Richland, Jasper, 
Fayette, Crawford, Effingham, Christian, Mont- 
gomery, Shelby, Moultrie, Coles, Clark, Clay, 
Edgar, Piatt, Macon, De Witt; Fourth — Lake, 



McHenry, Boone. Cook, Kane, De Kalb, Du Page, 
Kendall, Will, Grundy, La Salle, Iroquois, 
Livingston, Champaign, Vermilion, McLean, 
Bureau; Fifth — Greene, Jersey, Calhoun, Pike, 
Adams, Marquette (a part of Adams never fully 
organized). Brown, Schuyler, Fulton Peoria, 
Macoupin ; Sixth — Jo Daviess, Stephenson, 
Winnebago, Carroll, Ogle, Whiteside, Henry, 
Lee, Rock Island, Stark, Mercer, Henderson, 
Warren, Knox, McDonough, Hancock; Seventh 
— Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Cass, Tazewell, 
Mason, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Logan, Sangamon. 

The next Congressional apportionment (August 
23, 18.53) divided the State into nine districts, as 
follows — the first election under it being held the 
following November: First — Lake, McHenry, 
Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Car- 
roll, Ogle ; Second — Cook, Du Page, Kane, De 
Kalb, Lee, Whiteside, Rock Island; Third — 
Will, Kendall, Grundy, Livingston, La Salle, 
Putnam, Bureau, Vermilion, Irrxjuois, Cham- 
paign, McLean, De Witt; Fourtli — Fulton, 
Peoria, Knox, Henry, Stark, Warren, Mercer, 
Marshall, Mason, Woodford. Tazewell; Fifth 
— Adams, Calhoun, Brown, Schuyler, Pike, Mc- 
Donough, Hancock, Henderson; Sixth — Morgan, 
Scott, Sangamon, Greene, Macoupin, Montgom- 
ery, Shelby, Christian, Cass, Menard, Jersey; 
Seventh— Logan, Macon, Piatt, Coles, Edgar, 
Moultrie, Cumberland, Crawford, Clark, Effing- 
ham, Jasper, Clay, Lawrence, Richland, Fayette; 
Eighth — Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Bond, 
Madison, Clinton, Washington, Jefferson, Mar- 
ion; Ninth — Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Union, 
Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Gallatin, Saline, Jack- 
son, Perry, Franklin, Williamson, Hamilton, 
Edwards, White, Wayne, Wabash. 

The census of 1860 showed that Illinois was 
entitled to fourteen Representatives, but through 
an error the apportionment law of April 24, 1861, 
created only thirteen districts. This was com- 
pensated for by providing for the election of one 
Congressman for the State-at-large. The districts 
were as follows: First — Cook, Lake; Second — 
McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, De Kilb, and 
Kane: Third — Jo Daviess, Stephenson, White- 
side, Carroll, Ogle, Lee; Fourth — Adams, Han- 
cock, Warren, Mercer, Henderson, Rock Island; 
Fifth— Peoria, Knox, Stark, Marshall, Putnam, 
Bureau, Henry; Sixth— La Salle, Gnmdy, Ken- 
dall, Du Page, Will, Kankakee; Seventh — 
Macon, Piatt, Champaign, Douglas, Moultrie, 
Cumberland, Vermilion. Coles, Edgar, Iroquois, 
Ford; Eighth — Sangamon, Logan, De Witt, Mc- 
Lean, Tazewell, Woodford, Livingston; Ninth — 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



21 



Fulton, Mason, Menard, Cass, Pike, McDonough, 
Schuyler, Brown ; Tenth — Bond, Morgan, Cal- 
houn, Macoupin, Scott, Jersey, Greene, Christian, 
^Montgomery, Shelby ; Eleventh — Marion, Fay- 
ette, Richland, Jasper, Clay, Clark, Crawford, 
Franklin, Lawrence, Hamilton, Effingham, 
Wayne, Jefferson; Twelfth — St. Clair. Madison, 
Clinton, Monroe, Washington, Randolph: 
Thirteenth — Alexander, Pulaski, Union, Perry, 
Johnson, Williamson, Jackson, Massac, Pope, 
Hardin, Gallatin, Saline, White, Edwards, 
Wabash. 

The next reapportionment was made July 1, 
1873. The Act created nineteen districts, as fol- 
lows: First — The first seven wards in Chicago 
and thirteen towns in Cook County, with the 
county of Du Page; Second — Wards Eighth to 
Fifteenth (inclusive) in Chicago; Tliird — Wards 
Sixteenth to Twentieth in Chicago, the remainder 
of Cook County, and Lake County; Fourth — 
Kane, De Kalb, McHenry, Boone, and Winne- 
bago; Fifth — Jo Daviess, Stephenson, CarroU, 
Ogle, Whiteside: Sixth — Henry. Rock Island. 
Putnam, Bureau, Lee ; Seventh — La Salle, Ken- 
dall, Grundy. Will; Eighth — Kankakee, Iroquois, 
Ford, Marshall, Livingston, Woodford; Ninth — 
Stark, Peoria, Knox. Fulton; Tenth — Mercer, 
Henderson, Warren, McDonough, Hancock, 
Schuyler; Eleventh — Adams, Brown, Calhoun, 
Greene, Pike, Jersey; Twelfth — Scott, Morgan, 
Slenard, Sangamon, Cass, Christian ; Thirteenth — 
Mason, Tazewell. McLean, Logan, De Witt ; Four- 
teenth — Macon, Piatt, Champaign, Douglas, Coles, 
Vermilion; Fifteenth — Edgar, Clark, Cumber- 
land, Shelby, Moultrie, Effingham, Lawrence, 
Jasper, Crawford; Sixteenth — Montgomery, 
Fayette, Washington, Bond, Clinton, Marion, 
Clay; Seventeenth — Macoupin, Madison, St. 
Clair, Monroe ; Eighteenth — Randolph, Perry, 
Jackson, Union, Johnson, Williamson, Alex- 
ander, Pope, Massac, Pulaski: Nineteenth — 
Richland, Wayne, Edwards, White, Wabash, 
Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Jefferson, Franklin, 
Hamilton. 

In 1882 (by Act of April 39) the number of dis- 
tricts was increased to twenty, and the bound- 
aries determined as follows : First — Wards First 
to Fourth (inclusive) in Chicago and thirteen 
towns in Cook County ; Second — Wards .5th to 
Tth and part of 8th in Chicago: Tliird — Wards 
lltli to 14th and part of 8th in Chicago ; Fourth 
— The remainder of tlie Cit}' of Cliicago and of 
the county of Cook; Fiftli — Lake. McHenry, 
Boone, Kane, and De Kalb; Sixth — Winnebago, 
Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Ogle, and Carroll; 



Seventh — Lee, Whiteside, Henry, Bureau, Put- 
nam; Eighth — La Salle, Kendall Grundy, Du 
Page, and Will; Ninth — Kankakee, Iroquois, 
Ford, Livingston, Woodford, Marshall: Tenth — 
Peoria, Knox, Stark, Fulton ; Eleventh — Rock 
Island, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Hancock, 
McDonough, Schuyler; Twelfth — Cass, Brown, 
Adams, Pike, Scott, Greene. Calhoun, Jersey : 
Thirteenth — Tazewell, Mason, Menard, Sanga- 
mon, Morgan, Christian; Fourteenth — McLean, 
De Witt, Piatt. Macon, Logan ; Fifteenth — 
Coles, Edgar, Douglas, Vermilion, Champaign; 
Sixteenth — Cumberland, Clark, Jasper, Clay, 
Crawford, Richland, Lawrence, Wayne, Edwards, 
Wabash ; Seventeenth — Macoupin, Montgomery, 
Moultrie, Shelby. Effingham, Fayette; Eight- 
eenth — Bond, Madison, St. Clair. Monroe, Wash- 
ington ; Nineteenth — Marion. Clinton Jefferson 
Saline, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Har 
din ; Twentieth — Perry, Randolph, Jackson 
Union, Williamson, Johnson, Alexander, Pope, 
Pulaski, Massac. 

The census of 1890 showed the State to be entit- 
led to twenty-two Representatives. No reap 
portionment, however, was made until June, 
1893, two members from the State-at-large being 
elected in 1893. The existing twenty-two Con- 
gressional districts are as follows: The first 
seven districts comprise the counties of Cook and 
Lake, the latter lying wholly in the Seventh dis- 
trict ; Eiglith — McHenry, De Kalb, Kane, Du 
Page, Kendall, Grundy: Ninth — Boone, Winne- 
bago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Ogle, Lee; 
Tenth — Whiteside, Rock Island, Mercer. Henrj', 
Stark, Knox ; Eleventh — Bureau, La Salle, 
Livingston, Woodford: Twelfth — Will, Kanka- 
kee, Iroquois, Vermilion ; Thirteenth — Ford, Mc- 
Lean, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Douglas ; Four- 
teenth — Putnam, Marshall, Peoria, Fulton 
Tazewell, Ma.son; Fifteenth — Henderson, War- 
ren, Hancock, McDonough, Adams, Brown, 
Schuyler; Sixteenth — Cass, Morgan, Sccftt, 
Pike, Greene, Macoupin, Calhoun, Jersey 
Seventeenth — Menard, Logan. Sangamon. Macon 
Christian ; Eighteenth — Madison, Montgomery 
Bond, Fayette, Shelby, Moultrie; Nineteenth — 
Coles, Edgar. Clark. Cumberland, Effingham 
Jasper, Crawford, Richland, Lawrence; Twenti 
eth — Clay. Jefferson, "VVayne. Hamilton, Ed 
wards, Wabash. Franklin, White, Gallatin 
Hardin; Twenty-first — Marion, Clinton, Wash 
ington, St. Clair. Monroe. Randolph, Perry 
Twenty-second — Jackson, Union, Alexander 
Pulaski, Johnson, Williamson, Saline, Pope 
Massac. (See also Representatives i'p Congress. ) 



22 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ARCHER, William B., pioneer, was bom in 
Warren Count}-, Ohio, in 1792, and taken to Ken- 
tucky at an early day, where he remained until 
ISIT, when his family removed to Illinois, finally 
settling in what is now Clark County. Although 
pursuing the avocation of a farmer, he became 
one of the most prominent and influential men in 
that part of the State. On the organization of 
Clark County in 1819, he was appointed the first 
County and Circuit Clerk, resigning the former 
office in 1820 and the latter in 1822, In 1824 he 
was elected to tlie lower branch of the General 
Assembly, and two years later to the State 
Senate, serving continuously in the latter eight 
years. He was thus a Senator on the breaking 
out of the Black Hawk War (1832), in which he 
served as a Captain of militia. In 1834 he was an 
unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant-Governor; 
ivas appointed by Governor Duncan, in 1835, a 
member of the first Board of Commissioners of 
r,he Illinois & Michigan Canal; in 1838 was 
returned a second time to tlie House of Repre- 
sentatives and re-elected in 1840 and '46 to the 
same body. Two years later (1848) he was again 
elected Circuit Clerk, remaining until 18.52, and 
in 1854 was an Anti-Nebraska Whig candidate 
for Congress in opposition to James C. Allen. 
Although Allen received the certificate of elec- 
tion. Archer contested his right to the seat, with 
the result that Congress declared the seat vacant 
and referred the question back to tlie people. In 
e, new election held in August, 1856, Archer was 
defeated and Allen elected. He held no public 
office of importance after this date, but in 1856 
was a delegate to the first Republican National 
convention at Pliiladelphia, and in that body was 
an enthusiastic supporter of Abraham Lincoln, 
<ehose zealous friend and admirer he was, for the 
office of Vice-President. He was also one of the 
active promoters of various railroad enterprises 
m that section of the State, especially the old 
Chicago & Vincennes Road, the first projected 
■southward from tlie City of Chicago. His con- 
nection with the Illinois & Michigan Canal was 
che means of giving his name to Archer Avenue, 
a somewhat famous thoroughfare in Chicago 
He was of tall stature and great energy of char- 
acter, with a tendency to enthusiasm that com- 
municated itself to others. A local history has 
said of him that "he did more for Clark County 
than any man in his day or since," although "no 
consideration, pecuniary or otherwise, was ever 
given him for his services." Colonel Archer was 
one of the founders of Marshall, the county-seat 
of Clark County, Governor Duncan being associ- 



ated with him in the ownership of the land on 
which the town was laid out. His death oc- 
curred in Clark County, August 9, 1870, at the 
age of 78 years. 

ARCOLAjincorporated city in Douglas County, 
158 miles south of Chicago, at junction of Illinois 
Central and Terre Haute branch Vandalia Rail- 
road ; is center of largest broom-corn producing 
region in the world; has city waterworks, with 
efficient volunteer fire department, electric lights, 
telephone system, grain elevators and broom- 
corn warehouses, two banks, tliree newspapers, 
nine churches, library building and excellent free 
school system. Pop. (1890), 1,733; (1900), 1,995. 
ARENZ, Francis A., pioneer, was born a.i 
Blankenberg, in the Province of the Rhein, 
Prussia, Oct. 31, 1800; obtained a good education 
and, while a young man, engaged in mercantile 
business in his native country. In 1827 he came 
to the United States and, after spending two 
years in Kentucky, in 1829 went to Galena, where 
he was engaged for a short time in the lead 
trade. He took an early opportunity to become 
naturalized, and coming to Beardstown a few 
months later, went into merchandising and real 
estate; also became a contractor for furnishing 
supplies to the State troops during the Black Hawk 
War, Beardstown being at the time a rendezvous 
and shipping point. In 1834 he began the publi- 
cation of "Tlie Beardstown Chronicle and Illinois 
Bounty Land Register," and was the projector of 
the Beardstown & Sangamon Canal, extending 
from the Illinois River at Beardstown to Miller's 
Ferry on the Sangamon, for which he secured a 
special charter from the Legislature in 1836. He 
had a survey of the line made, but the hard times 
prevented the beginning of the work and it was 
finally abandoned. Retiring from the mercantile 
business in 1835, he located on a farm six miles 
southeast of Beardstown, but in 1839 removed to 
a tract of land near the Morgan County line 
which he had bought in 1833, and on which the 
present village of Arenzville now stands. This 
became the center of a thrifty agricultural com- 
munity composed largely of Germans, among 
whom he exercised a large influence. Resuming 
the mercantile business here, he continued it 
until about 1853, when he sold out a considerable 
part of his possessions. An ardent Whig, he was 
elected as such to tlie lower branch of the Four- 
teenth General Assembly (1844) from Morgan 
County, and during the following session suc- 
ceeded in securing tlie passage of an act by whieli 
a strip of territory three miles wide in the north 
ern part of Morgan County, including the village 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



23 



of Arenzville, and which had been in dispute, 
was transferred by vote of the citizens to Cass 
County. In 1853 Mr. Arenz visited his native 
land, by appointment of President Fillmore, as 
bearer of dispatches to the American legations at 
Berlin and Vienna. He was one of the founders 
of the Illinois State Agricultural Society of 1853, 
and served as the Vice-President for his district 
imtil his death, and was also the founder and 
President of the Cass County Agricultural Soci- 
ety. Died, April 2, 18,56. 

ARLINtrTON, a village of Bureau County, on 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 93 
miles west of Chicago. Population (1880), 447; 
(1890), 436; (1900), 400. 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (formerly Dunton), a 
village of Cook County, on the Chicago & North- 
western Railway, 32 miles northwest of Chicago ; 
' is in a dairying district and has several cheese 
factories, besides a .sewing machine factory, 
hotels and churches, a graded school, a bank and 
one newspaper. Population (1880), 995; (1890), 
1.424; (1900), 1,380. 

ARMOUR, Philip Danforth, packer, Board of 
Trade operator and capitalist, was born at Stock- 
bridge, Madison County, N. Y., May 16, 1832. 
After receiving the benefits of such education as 
the village academy afforded, in 1852 he set out 
across the Plains to California, where he re- 
mained four years, achieving only moderate suc- 
cess as a miner. Returning east in 1856, he soon 
after embarked in the commission business in 
Milwaukee, continuing until 1863, when he 
formed a partnership with Mr. John Plankinton 
in the meat-packing business. Later, in conjunc- 
tion with his brothers — H. O. Armour having 
already built up an extensive grain commission 
trade in Chicago — he organized the extensive 
packing and commission firm of Armour & 
Co., with branches in New York, Kansas City 
and Chicago, their headquarters being removed 
to the latter place from Milwaukee in 1875. 
Mr. Armour is a most industrious and me- 
thodical business man, giving as many hours 
to the superintendence of business details as the 
most industrious day-laborer, the result being 
seen in the creation of one of the most extensive 
and prosperous firms in the country. Mr. 
Armour's practical benevolence has been demon- 
strated in a munificent manner by his establish- 
ment and endowment of the Armour Institute 
(a manual training school) in Chicago, at a cost 
of over $3,250,000, as an offshoot of the Armour 
Mission founded on the bequest of his deceased 
brother, Joseph F. Armour. Died Jan. 6, 1901. 



ARMSTRONG, John Strawn, pioneer, born in 
Somerset County, Pa., May 29, 1810, the oldest of 
a family of nine sons ; was taken by his parents 
in 1811 to Licking County, Ohio, where he spent 
his childhood and early youth. His father was a 
native of Ireland and his mother a sister of Jacob 
Strawn, afterwards a wealthy stock-grower and 
dealer in Morgan County. In 1829, John S. came 
to Tazewell County, 111., but two years later 
joined the rest of his family in Putnam (now 
Marshall) County, all finally removing to La 
Salle County, where they were among the earli- 
est settlers. Here he settled on a farm in 1834, 
where he continued to reside over fifty years, 
when he located in the village of Sheridan, but 
earl}' in 1897 went to reside with a daughter in 
Ottawa. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk 
War, has been a prominent and influential farm- 
er, and, in the later years of his life, has been 
a leader in "Granger" politics, being Master of his 
local "Grange," and also serving as Treasurer of 
the State Grange.— George Washington (Arm- 
strong), brother of the preceding, was born upon 
the farm of his parents, Joseph and Elsie (Strawn) 
Armstrong, in Licking County, Ohio, Dec. 9, 
1812; learned the trade of a weaver with his 
father (who was a woolen manufacturer), and at 
the age of 18 was in charge of the factory. 
Early in 1831 he came with his mother's family 
to Illinois, locating a few months later in La 
Salle County. In 1833 he served with his older 
brother as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, was 
identified with the early steps for the construc- 
tion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, finally be- 
coming a contractor upon the section at Utica, 
where he resided several years. He then returned 
to the farm near the present village of Seneca, 
where he had located in 1833, and where (with 
the exception of his residence at Utica) he has 
resided continuously over sixty-five years. In 
1844 Mr. Armstrong was elected to the lower 
branch of the Fourteenth General Assembly, 
also served in the Constitutional Convention of 
1847 and, in 1858, was the unsuccessful Democratic 
candidate for Congress in opposition to Owen 
Lovejoy. Re-entering the Legislature in 1860 as 
Representative from La Salle County, he served 
in that body by successive re-elections until 1868, 
proving one of its ablest and most influential 
members, as well as an accomplished parliamen- 
tarian. Mr. Armstrong was one of the original 
promoters of the Kankakee & Seneca Ruilroad. — 
William E. (Armstrong), third brother of this 
family, was born in Licking County, Ohio, Oct. 
25, 1814; came to Illinois with the rest of the 



24 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



family in 1831, and resided in La Salle County 
until 1841, meanwhile serving two or three terms 
as Sheriff of the county. The latter year he was 
appointed one of the Commissioners to locate the 
county-seat of the newly-organized county of 
Grundy, finally becoming one of the founders and 
the first permanent settler of the town of Grundy 
— later called Morris, in honor of Hon. I. N. Mor- 
ris, of Quincy, 111, at that time one of the Com- 
missioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. 
Here Mr. Armstrong was again elected to the 
office of Sheriff, serving several terms. So ex- 
tensive was his influence in Grundj' County, that 
he was popularly known as "The Emperor of 
Grundy." Died, Nov. 1, 1850.— Joel W. (Arm- 
strong), a fourth brother, was born in Licking 
Count}', Ohio, Jan. 6, 1817 ; emigrated in boyhood 
to La Salle County, 111. ; served one term as 
County Recorder, was member of the Board of 
Supervisors for a number of years and the first 
Postmaster of his town. Died, Dec. 3, 1871. — 
Perry A. (Armstrong), the seventh brother of 
this historic family, was born near Newark, Lick- 
ing County, Ohio, April 1.5, 1833, and came to La 
Salle County, 111., in 1831. His opportunities for 
acquiring an education in a new country were 
limited, but between work on the farm and serv- 
ice as a clerk of his brother George, aided by a 
short term in an academy and as a teacher in 
Kendall County, he managed to prepare himself 
for college, entering Illinois College at Jackson- 
ville in 1843. Owing to failure of health, he was 
compelled to abandon his plan of obtaining a col- 
legiate education and returned home at the end 
of his Freshman year, but continued his studies, 
meanwhile teaching district schools in the winter 
and working on his mother's farm during the 
crop season, until 1845, when he located in Mor- 
ris, Grundy County, opened a general store and 
was appointed Postmaster. He has been in pub- 
lic position of some sort ever since he reached his 
majority, including the offices of School Trustee, 
Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, 
County Clerk (two terms). Delegate to the Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1862, and two terms as 
Representative in the General Assembly (1862-64 
and 1873-74). During his last session in the Gen- 
eral Assembly he took a conspicuous part in the 
revision of the statutes under the Constitution of 
1870. framing some of the most important laws 
on the statute book, while participating in the 
preparation of others. At an earlier date it fell 
lo his lot to draw up the original charters of the 
Chicago & Rock Island, the Illinois Central, and 
tlie Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads. He 



has also been prominent in Odd Fellow and 
Masonic circles, having been Grand Master of the 
first named order in the State and being the old- 
est 32d degree Mason in Illinois ; was admitted to 
the State bar in 1864 and to that of the Supreme 
Court of the United States in 1868, and has been 
Master in Chancery for over twenty consecutive 
years. Mr. Armstrong has also found time to do 
some literary work, as shown by his history of 
"The Sauks and Black Hawk "War," and a num- 
ber of poems. He takes much pleasure in relat- 
ing reminiscences of pioneer life in Illinois, one 
of which is the story of his first trip from 
Ottawa to Chicago, in December, 1831, when he 
accompanied his oldest brother (William E. 
Armstrong) to Chicago with a sled and ox- 
team for salt to cure their mast- fed pork, the 
trip requiring ten days. His recollection is, that 
there were but three white families in Chicago 
at that time, but a large number of Indians 
mixed with half-breeds of French and Indian 
origin. 

ARNOLD, Isaac N., lawyer and Congressman, 
was born near Cooperstown. N. Y., Nov. 30,1813, 
being descended from one of the companions of 
Roger Williams. Thrown upon his own resources 
at an early age, he was largely "self-made." 
He read law at Cooperstown, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1835. The next year he removed to 
Chicago, was elected the first City Clerk in 1837, 
but resigned before the close of the year and was 
admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1841. He soon 
established a reputation as a lawyer, and served 
for three terms (the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and 
Twentieth) in the lower house of the Legisla- 
ture. In 1844 he was a Presidential Elector on 
the Polk ticket, but the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise, with the legislation regarding Kan- 
sas and Nebraska, logically forced him, as a free- 
soiler, into the ranks of the Republican party, by 
which he was sent to Congress from 1861 to 1865. 
While in Congress he prepared and delivered an 
exliaustive argument in support of the right of 
confiscation by the General Government. After 
the expiration of his last Congressional term, Mr. 
Arnold returned to Chicago, where he resided 
until his death, April 24, 1884. He was of schol- 
arly instincts, fond of literature and an author of 
repute. Among his best known works are his 
"Life of Abraham Lincoln" and his "Life of 
Benedict Arnold." 

ARRIXGTOX, Alfred W., clergyman, lawyer 
and author, was born in Iredell County, N. C, 
September, 1810, being the son of a Whig mem- 
ber of Congress from that State. In 1829 he was 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS, 



25 



received on trial as a Methodist preacher and 
became a circuit-rider in Indiana ; during 1832-33 
served as an itinerant in Missouri, gaining much 
celebrity by his eloquence. In 1834 lie began the 
study of law, and having been admitted to the 
bar, practiced for several years in Arkansas, 
where he was sent to the Legislature, and, in 1844, 
was the Whig candidate for Presidential Elec- 
tor. Later he removed to Texas, where he served 
as Judge for six years. In 1856 he removed to 
Madison, Wis. , but a year later came to Chicago, 
where he attained distinction as a lawyer, dying 
in that city Dec. 31, 1867. He was an accom- 
plished scholar and gifted writer, having written 
much for "The Democratic Review" and "The 
Southern Literary Messenger," over the signature 
of "Charles Summerfield," and was author of an 
"Apostrophe to Water," which he put in the 
mouth of an itinerant Methodist preacher, and 
which John B. Gough was accustomed to quote 
with great effect. A volume of his poems with a 
memoir was published in Chicago in 1869. 

ARROWSMITH, a village of McLean County, 
on the Lake Erie & Western Railway, 20 miles 
east of Bloomington; is in an agricultural and 
stock region; has one newspaper. Population 
(1890), 420: (1900), 317. 

ARTHUR, village in Moultrie and Douglas 
Counties, at junction of Chicago & Eastern Illi- 
nois and Terre Haute & Peoria Division Vandalia 
Line; is center of broom-corn belt; has two 
banks, a weekly newspaper. Population (1900), 
858; (est. 1904), 1,000. 

ASAY, Edward G., lawyer, was born in Phila- 
delphia, Sept. 17, 1825; was educated in private 
schools and entered the ministry of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church ; later spent some time in the 
South, but in 1853 retired from the ministry and 
began the study of law, meantime devoting a part 
of his time to mercantile business in New York 
City. He was admitted to the bar in 1856, remov- 
ing the same year to Chicago, where he built up 
a lucrative practice. He was a brilliant speaker 
and became eminent, especially as a criminal 
lawyer. Politically he was a zealous Democrat 
and was the chief attorney of Buckner S. Morris 
and others during their trial for conspiracy in 
connection with the Camp Douglas affair of No- 
vember, 1864. During 1871-72 he made an ex- 
tended trip to Europe, occupying some eighteen 
months, making a second visit in 1882. His later 
years were spent chiefly on a farm in Ogle 
County. Died in Chicago, Nov. 24, 1898. 

ASBCRT, Henry, lawyer, was born in Harri- 
son (now Robertson) County, Ky., August 10, 



1810; came to Illinois in 1834, making the jour- 
ney on horseback and finally locating in Quincy, 
where he soon after began the study of law with 
the Hon. O. H. Bro v-ning; was admitted to the 
bar in 1837, being lor a time the partner of Col. 
Edward D. Baker, afterwards United States 
Senator from Oregon and finally killed at Ball's 
Bluff in 1862. In 1849 Mr. Asbury was appointed 
by President Taylor Register of the Quinc}' Land 
Office, and, in 1864-65, served by appointment of 
President Lincoln (who was his close personal 
friend) as Provost-Marshal of the Quincy dis- 
trict, thereby obtaining the title of "Captain," 
by which he was widely known among his 
friends. Later he served for several years as 
Registrar in Bankruptcy at Quincy, which was 
his last official position. Originally a Kentucky 
Whig, Captain Asbury was one of the founders 
of the Republican party in Illinois, acting in co- 
operation with Abram Jonas, Archibald Williams, 
Nehemiah Bushnell, O. H. Browning and others 
of his immediate neighbors, and with Abraham 
Lincoln, with whom he was a frequent corre- 
spondent at that period. Messrs. Nicolay and 
Hay, in their Life of Lincoln, award him the 
credit of having suggested one of the famous 
questions propounded by Lincoln to Douglas 
which gave the latter so much trouble during 
the memorable debates of 1858. In 1886 Captain 
Asbury removed to Chicago, where he continued 
to reside until his death, Nov. 19, 1896. 

ASHLAND, a town in Cass County, at the 
intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the 
Baltimore & Ohio South-Western Railroad, 21 
miles west-northwest of Springfield and 200 
miles southwest of Chicago. It is in the midst of 
a rich agricultural region, and is an important 
shipping point for grain and stock. It has a 
bank, three churches and a weekly newspaper. 
Coal is mined in the vicinity. Population (1880), 
609; (1890), 1,045; (1900), 1,201. 

ASHLEY, a city of Washington County, at 
intersection of Illinois Central and Louisville & 
Nashville Railways, 62 miles east by southeast of 
St. Louis; is in an agricultural and fruit growing 
region; has some manufactures, electric light 
plant and excellent granitoid sidewalks. Popu- 
lation (1890), 1,035; (1900), 953. 

ASHMOBE, a village of Coles County, on the 
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Rail- 
way, 9 miles east of Charleston ; has a newspaper 
and considerable local trade. Population (1890), 
446, (1900), 487; (1903), 520. 

ASHTON, a village of Lee County, on the Chi- 
cago & North-Western Railroad, 84 miles west of 



26 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Chicago; has one newspaper. Population (1880), 
646; (1890), 680; (1900), 776. 

ASPINWALL, Homer F., farmer and legisla- 
tor, was born in Stephenson County, 111., Nov. 15, 
1846, educated in tlie Freeport high school, and, 
in early life, spent two years in a wholesale 
notion store, later resuming the occupation of a 
farmer. After holding various local offices, in- 
cluding that of member of the Board of Supervis- 
ors of Stephenson County, in 1893 Mr. Aspinwall 
was elected to the State Senate and reelected in 
1896. Soon after the beginning of the Spanish- 
American War in 1898, he was appointed by 
President McKinley Captain and Assistant 
Quartermaster in the Volunteer Army, but 
before being assigned to duty accepted the Lieu- 
tenant-Colonelcy of the Twelfth Illinois Pro- 
visional Regiment. When it became evident that 
the regiment would not be called into the service, 
he was assigned to the command of the "Mani- 
toba," a large transport steamer, which carried 
some 12,000 soldiers to Cuba and Porto Rico with- 
out a single accident. In view of the approach- 
ing session of the Forty-first General Assembly, 
it being apparent that the war was over, Mr. 
Aspinwall applied for a discharge, which was 
refused, a 20-days" leave of absence being granted 
instead. A discharge was finally granted about 
the middle of February, when he resumed his 
seat in the Senate. Mr. Aspinwall owns and 
operates a large farm near Freeport. 

ASSUMPTION, a town in Christian County, on 
tlie Illinois Central Railroad, 23 miles south by 
west from Decatur and 9 miles north of Pana. 
It is situated in a rich agricultural and coal min- 
ing district, and has two banks, five churches, a 
public school, two weekly papers and coal mines. 
Population (1880), 706; (1890), 1,076; (1900), 1,702. 

ASTORIA, town in Fulton County, on Rock 
Island & St. Louis Division C. , B. & Q. R. R. ; 
has city waterworks, electric light plant, tele- 
phone exchange, three large grain elevators, 
pressed brick works; six churches, two banks, 
two weekly papers, city hall and park, and good 
schools; is in a coal region; business portion is 
built of brick. Pop. (1890), 1,3.57; (1900), 1,684. 

ATCHISON, TOFEKA & SANTA F£ RAIL- 
WAY COMPANY. This Company operates three 
subsidiary lines in Illinois — the Chicago, Santa 
Fe & California, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa 
Fe in Chicago, and the Mississippi River Rail- 
road & Toll Bridge, which are operated as a 
through line between Chicago and Kansas City, 
with a branch from Ancona to Pekin, 111., hav- 
ing an aggregate operated mileage of 515 miles, of 



which 295 are in Illinois. The total earnings and 
income for the year ending June 30, 1895, were 
$1,298,600, while the operating expenses and fixed 
charges amounted to $2,360,706. The accumu- 
lated deficit on the whole line amounted, June 30, 
1894, to more than $4,500,000. The total capitali- 
zation of the whole line in 1895 was $53,775,251. 
The parent road was chartered in 1859 under the 
name of the Atchison & Topeka Railroad ; but in 
1863 was changed to the Atchison, Topeka & 
Santa Fe Railroad. The construction of the main 
line was begun in 1859 and completed in 1873. 
The largest number of miles operated was in 
1893, being 7,481.65. January 1, 1896, the road 
was reorganized under the name of The Atchison, 
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company (its present 
name), which succeeded by purchase under fore- 
closure (Dec. 10, 1895) to the property and fran- 
chises of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 
Railroad Company. Its mileage, in 1895, was 
6,481.65 miles. The executive and general officers 
of the system (1898) are: 

Aldace F. Walker, Chairman of the Board, 
New York ; E. P. Ripley, President, Chicago ; C. 
M. Higginson, Ass't to the President, Chicago; 
E. D. Kenna, 1st Vice-President and General 
Solicitor, Chicago; Paul Morton, 2d Vice-Presi- 
dent, Chicago; E. Wilder, Secretary and Treas- 
urer, Topeka; L, C. Deming, Assistant Secretary, 
New York ; H. W. Gardner, Assistant Treasurer, 
New York; Victor Morawetz, General Counsel, 
New York; Jno. P. Whitehead, Comptroller, 
New York; H. C. Whitehead, General Auditor, 
Chicago ; W. B. Biddle, Freight Traffic Manager, 
Chicago; J. J. Frey, General Manager, Topeka; 
H. W. Mudge, General Superintendent, Topeka; 
W. A. Bissell, Assistant Freight Traffic Manager, 
Chicago; W. F. White, Passenger Traffic 
Manager, Chicago; Geo. T. Nicholson, Assistant 
Passenger Traffic Manager, Chicago; W. E. 
Hodges, General Purchasing Agent, Chicago; 
James A. Davis, Industrial Commissioner, Chi- 
cago; James Dun, Chief Engineer, Topeka, Kan.; 
John Player, Superintendent of Machinery, 
Topeka, Kan. ; C. W. Kouns, Superintendent Car 
Service, Topeka, Kan. ; J. S. Hobson, Signal 
Engineer, Topeka; C. G. Sholes, Superintendent 
of Telegraph, Topeka, Kan. ; C. W. Ryus, General 
Claim Agent, Topeka ; F. C. Gay, General Freight 
Agent, Topeka; C. R. Hudson, Assistant General 
Freight Agent, Topeka; W. J. Black, General 
Passenger Agent, Chicago; P. Walsh, General 
Baggage Agent, Chicago. 

ATHENS, an incorporated city and coal-mining 
town in Menard County, on the Chicago, Peoria 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



27 



& St. Louis R. R., north by northwest of Spring- 
field. It is also the center of a prosperous agri- 
cultural and stock-raising district, and large 
numbers of cattle are shipped there for the Chi- 
cago market. The place has an electric lighting 
plant, brickyards, two machine shops, two grain 
elevators, five churches, one newspaper, and good 
schools. Athens is one of the oldest towns in 
Central Illinois. Pop. (1890), 944; (1900), 1,535. 
ATKINS, Smith D., soldier and journalist, was 
born near Elmira, N. Y., June 9, 1836; came with 
his father to Illinois in 1846, and lived on a farm 
till 1850 ; was educated at Rock River Seminary, 
Mount Morris, meanwhile learning the printer's 
trade, and afterwards established "The Savanna 
Register" in Carroll County. In 1854 he began 
the study of law, and in 1860, while practicing at 
Freeport, was elected Prosecuting Attorney, but 
resigned in 1861, being the first man to enlist as a 
private soldier in Stephenson County. He served 
as a Captain of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteers 
(three-months' men), re-enlisted with the same 
rank for three years and took part in the capture 
of Fort Donelson and the battle of Shiloh, serv- 
ing at the latter on the staff of General Hurlbut. 
Forced to retire temporarily on account of his 
health, he next engaged in raising volunteers in 
Northern Illinois, was finally commissioned Col- 
onel of the Ninety-second Illinois, and, in June, 
1863, was assigned to command of a brigade in 
the Army of Kentucky, later serving in the Army 
of the Cimiberland. On the organization of Sher- 
man's great "March to the Sea," he efficiently 
cooperated in it, was brevetted Brigadier-General 
for gallantry at Savannah, and at the close of the 
war, by special order of President Lincoln, was 
brevetted Major-General. Since the war. Gen- 
eral Atkins' chief occupation has been that of 
editor of "The Freeport Journal," though, for 
nearly twenty-four years, he served as Post- 
master of that city. He took a prominent part 
in the erection of the Stephenson County Sol- 
diers' Monument at Freeport, has been President 
of the Freeport Public Library since its organiza- 
tion, member of the Board of Education, and since 
1895, by appointment of the Governor of Illinois, 
one of the Illinois Commissioners of the Chicka- 
mauga and Chattanooga Military Park. 

ATKINSON, village of Henry County, on the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 39 miles 
east of Rock Island ; has an electric light plant, a 
bank and a newspaper. Pop. (1890), 534; (1900), 762. 

ATLANTA, a city of Logan County, on the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, 20 miles southwest of 
Bloomington. It stands on a high, fertile prairie 



and the surrounding region is rich in coal, as. 
well as a productive agricultural and stock-rais- 
ing district. It has a water-works system, elec- 
tric light plant, five churches, a graded school, a 
weekly paper, two banks, a flouring mill, and is 
the headquarters of the Union Agricultural So- 
ciety established in 1860. Population (1900). 1,270. 

ATLAS, a hamlet in the southwestern part of 
Pike County, 10 miles southwest of Pittsfield and 
three miles from Rockport, the nearest station on 
the Quincy & Louisiana Division of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Atlas has an in- 
teresting history. It was settled by Col. William 
Ross and four brothers, who came here from 
Pittsfield, Mass., in the latter part of 1819, or 
early in 1820, making there the first settlement 
within the present limits of Pike County. The 
town was laid out by the Rosses in 1823, and the 
next year the county-seat was removed thither 
from Coles Grove — now in Calhoun County — but 
which had been the first county-seat of Pike 
County, when it comprised all the territory lying 
north and west of the Illinois River to the Mis- 
sissippi River and the Wisconsin State line. 
Atlas remained the county-seat until 1833, when 
the seat of justice was removed to Pittsfield. 
During a part of that time it was one of the 
most important points in the western part of the 
State, and was, for a time, a rival of Quincy. 
It now has only a postoffice and general store. 
The population, according to the census of 1890, 
was 52. 

ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. The following is a 
list of the Attorneys- General of Illinois under the 
Territorial and State Governments, down to the 
present time (1899), with the date and duration of 
the term of each incumbent : 

Territorial — Benjamin H. Doyle, July to De- 
cember, 1809; John J. Crittenden, Dec. 30 to 
April, 1810; Thomas T. Crittenden, April to 
October, 1810; Benj. M. Piatt, October, 1810-13; 
William Mears, 1813-18. 

State — Daniel Pope Cook, March 5 to Dec. 14, 
1819; William Mears, 1819-21; Samuel D. Lock- 
wood, 1821-23; James Turney, 1823-29; George 
Forquer, 1829-33; James Semple, 1833-34; Niniaii 
W. Edwards, 1834-35; Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., 
183.5-36; Walter B. Scates, 1836-37; Usher F. 
Linder. 1837-38; George W. Olney, 1838-39; Wick- 
liffe Kitchell. 1839-40; Josiah Lamborn, 1840-43; 
James Allen McDougal, 1843-46 ; David B. Camp- 
bell, 1846-48. 

The Constitution of 1848 made no provision for 
the continuance of the office, and for nineteen 
years it remained vacant. It was re-created, 



28 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



however, by legislative enactment in 1867, and 
on Feb. 38 of that year Governor Oglesby 
appointed Robert G. IngersoU, of Peoria, to dis 
charge the duties of the position, which he con- 
tinued to do until 1869. Subsequent incumbents 
of the office have been: Washington Bushnell, 
1869-73; James K. Edsall, 1873 81; James McCart- 
ney, 1881-85; George Hunt, 1885-93; M. T. Moloney, 
1893-97; Edward C. Akin, 1897 — . Under the 
first Constitution (1818) the office of Attorney- 
General was filled by appointment by the Legisla- 
ture; under the Constitution of 1848, as already 
stated, it ceased to exist until created by act of 
the Legislature of 1807, but, in 1870, it was made 
a constitutional office to be filled by popular 
election for a term of four years. 

ATWOOD, a village lying partly in Piatt and 
partly in Douglas County, on the Cincinnati, 
Hamilton & Dayton R. R., 37 miles east of Deca- 
tur. The region is agricultural and fruit-grow- 
ing; the town has two banks, an excellent school 
and a newspaper. Pop (1890), 530: (1900), 698. 

ATWOOD, Charles B., architect, was born at 
Millbury, Mass., May 18, 18-19; at 17 began a full 
course in architecture at Harvard Scientific 
School, and, after graduation, received prizes for 
public buildings at San Francisco, Hartford and 
a number of other cities, besides furnishing 
designs for some of the finest private residences 
in the country. He was associated with D. H. 
Burnham in preparing plans for the Colmnbian 
Exposition buildings, at Chicago, for the World's 
Fair of 1893, and distinguished himself by pro- 
ducing plans for the "Art Building," the "Peri- 
style," the "Terminal Station" and other 
prominent structures. Died, in the midst of his 
highest successes as an architect, at Chicago, 
Dec. 19, 1895. 

AUBURN, a village of Sangamon County, on 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 15 miles south of 
Springfield ; has some manufactories of flour and 
farm implements, besides tile and brick works, 
two coal mines, electric light plant, two banks, 
several churclies, a graded school and a weekly 
newspaper. Pop. (1890), 874; (1900), 1,281. 

AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. The 
Auditors of Public Accounts under the Terri- 
torial Government were H. H. Maxwell, 1812-16; 
Daniel P. Cook, 1816-17; Robert Blackwell, (April 
to August), 1817; Elijah C. Berry, 1817-18. Under 
the Constitution of 1818 the Auditor of Public 
Accounts was made appointive by the legislature, 
without limitation of term ; but by the Constitu- 
tions of 1848 and 1870 the office was made 
elective by the people for a term of four years. 



The following is a list of the State Auditors 
from the date of the admission of the State into 
the Union down to the present time (1899), witli 
the date and duration of the term of each: 
Elijah C. Berry, 1818-31; James T. B. Stapp, 
183135; Levi Davis, 1835 41; James Shields, 
1841-43; William Lee D. Ewiug .843-46; Thomas 
H Campbell, 1846-57; Jesse K. Dubois, 1857-64; 
Orlin H. Minei, 1864-69; Charles E. Lippincott, 
1869-77; Thomas B. Needles, 1877-81; Charles P. 
Swigert, 1881-89; C. W. Pavey, 1889-93; David 
Gore, 1893-97; James S McCullough, 1897 — . 

AUGUSTA, a village in Augusta township, 
Hancock County, on the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, 36 miles nortlieast of Quincy. 
Wagons and brick are the principal manufac- 
tures. The town has one newspaper, two banks, 
three churches and a graded school. The sur 
rounding country is a fertile agricultural region 
and abounds in a good quality of bituminous 
coal. Fine qualities of potter's clay and mineral 
paint are obtained here. Population (1890), 
1,077; (1900), 1,149. 

AUGUSTANA COLLEGE, an educational insti- 
tution controlled by the Evangelical Lutheran 
denomination, located at Rock Island and founded 
in 1863. Besides preparatory and collegiate de- 
partments, a theological school is connected with 
the institution. To the two first named, young 
women are admitted on an equality with 
men. More than 500 students were reported in 
attendance in 1896, about one-fourth being 
women. A majority of the latter were in the 
preparatory (or academic) department. The col- 
lege is not endowed, but owns property (real 
and personal) to the value of $250,000. It has a 
librarj- of 12,000 volumes. 

AURORA, a city and important railroad cen- 
ter, Kane County, on Fox River, 39 miles south- 
west of Chicago; is location of principal shops of 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R., has fine 
water-power and many successful manufactories, 
including extensive boiler works, iron foundries, 
cotton and woolen mills, flour mills, silver-plat- 
ing works, corset, sash and door and carriage 
factories, stove and smelting works, establish- 
ments for turning out road-scrapers, buggy tops, 
and wood-working machinery. The city owns 
water-works and electric light plant; has six 
banks, four daily and several weekly papers, 
some twenty-five churches, excellent schools and 
handsome public library building; is connected 
by interurban electric lines with the principal 
towns and villages in tlie Fox River valley. 
Population (1890), 19,688; (1900), 34,147. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



29 



AUSTIN, a suburb of Chicago, in Cook County. 
It is accessible from that city by either the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern Railway, or by street 
railway lines. A weekly newspaper is issued, a 
graded school is supported (including a high 
school department) and there are numerous 
churches, representing the various religious 
denominations. Population (1880), 1,3.59; (1890), 
4,031. Annexed to City of Chicago, 1899. 

AUSTIN COLLEGE, a mixed school at Effing- 
ham, 111., founded in 1890. It has eleven teachers 
and reports a total of 313 pupils for 1897-98—163 
males and 150 females. It has a library of 3,000 
volumes and reports property valued at §37,000. 

AUSTRALIAN BALLOT," a form of ballot for 
popular elections, thus named because it was 
first brought into use in Australia. It was 
adopted by act of the Legislature of Illinois in 
1891, and is applicable to the election of all public 
officers except Trustees of Schools, School Direct- 
ors, members of Boards of Education and officers 
of road districts in counties not under township 
organization. Under it, all ballots for the elec- 
tion of c fficers (except those just enumerated) 
are required to be printed and distributed to the 
election officers for use on the day of election, at 
public cost. These ballots contain the names, 
on the same sheet, of all candidates to be voted 
for at such election, such names having been 
formally certified previously to the Secretary of 
State (in the case of candidates for offices to be 
voted for by electors of the entire State or any 
district greater than a single county) or to the 
County Clerk (as to all others), by the presiding 
officer and secretary of the convention or caucus 
making such nominations, when the party repre- 
sented cast at least two per cent of the aggregate 
vote of the State or district at the preceding gen- 
eral election. Other names may be added to the 
ballot on the petition of a specified number of the 
legal voters under certain prescribed conditions 
named in the act. The duly registered voter, on 
presenting himself at the poll, is given a copy of 
the official ticket by one of the judges of election, 
upon which he proceeds to indicate his prefer- 
ence in a temporary booth or closet set apart for 
his use, by making a cross at the head of the col- 
umn of candidates for whom he wishes to vote, if 
he desires to vote for all of the candidates of the 
same party, or by a similar mark before the name 
of each individual for wliom he wishes to vote, in 
case he desires to distribute his support among 
the candidates of different parties. The object of 
the law is to secure for the voter secrecy of the 
ballot, with independence and freedom from dic- 



tation or interference by others in the exercise of 
his right of suffrage. 

ATA, a town in Jackson County (incorporated 
as a city, 1901), on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad 
(Cairo & St. Louis Division), 75 miles south- 
southeast from St. Louis. It has two banks and 
two newspapers. Pop. (1890), 807; (1900), 984. 

AVON, village of Fulton County, on C, B & Q. 
R. R. , 30 miles south of Galesburg; has drain- 
pipe works, two factories for manufacture of 
steam- and hot-water heaters, two banks and two 
newspapers; agricultui-al fair held here annu- 
ally. Population (1900), 809; (1904, est.), 1,000. 

ATER, Benjamin F., lawyer, was born in 
Kingston, N. H.. April 33, 1835, graduated at 
Dartmouth College in 1846, studied law at Dane 
Law School (Harvard University), was admitted 
to the bar and began practice at Manchester, 
N. H. After serving one term in the New Hamp- 
shire Legislature, and as Prosecuting Attorney 
for Hillsborough County, in 1857 became to Chica- 
go, soon advancing to the front rank of lawyers 
then in practice there ; became Corporation Counsel 
in 1861, and, two years later, drafted the revised 
city charter. After the close of his official career, 
he was a member for eight years of the law firm of 
Beckwith, Ayer & Kales, and afterwards of the 
firm of Ayer & Kales, until, retiring from general 
practice, Mr. Ayer became Solicitor of the Illinois 
Central Railroad, then a Director of the Company, 
and is at present its General Counsel and a potent 
factor in its management. 

AYERS, Marshall Paul, banker, Jacksonville, 
was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1833; 
came to Jacksonville, 111., with his parents, in 
1830, and was educated there, graduating from 
Illinois College, in 1843, as the classmate of Dr. 
Newton Bateman, afterwards President of Knox 
College at Galesburg, and Rev. Thomas K. 
Beecher, now of Elmira, N.Y. After leaving col- 
lege he became the partner of his. father (David 
B. Ayers) as agent of Mr. John Grigg, of Philadel- 
phia, who was the owner of a large body of Illi- 
nois lands. His father dying in 18,50, Mr. Ayers 
succeeded to the management of the business, 
about 75,000 acres of Mr. Grigg's imsold lands 
coming under his charge. In December, 1853, 
with the assistance of Messrs. Page & Bacon, bank- 
ers, of St. Louis, he opened the first bank in Jack- 
sonville, for tlie sale of exchange, but which 
finally grew into a bank of deposit and has been 
continued ever since, being recognized as one of 
the most solid institutions in Central Illinois. In 
1870-71, aided by Philadelphia and New York 
capitalists, he built the "Illinois Farmers' Rail- 



30 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



road" between Jacksonville and Waverly, after- 
wards extended to Virden and finally to Centralia 
and Mount Vernon. This was the nucleus of the 
Jacksonville Southeastern Railway, though Mr. 
Ayers has had no connection with it for several 
years. Otlier business enterprises with which he 
has been connected are the Jacksonville Gas Com- 
pany (now including an electric light and power 
plant), of which he has been President for forty 
years; the "Home Woolen Mills" (early wiped 
out by fire), sugar and paper-barrel manufacture, 
coalmining, etc. About 1877 he purchased a 
body of 23.600 acres of land in Champaign County, 
known as "Broadlands," from Jolm T. Alexander, 
an extensive cattle-dealer, who had become 
heavily involved during the years of financial 
revulsion. As a result of this transaction, Mr. 
Alexander's debts, which aggregated §1,000,000, 
were discharged within the next two years. Mr. 
Ayers has been an earnest Republican since the 
organization of that party and, during the war, 
rendered valuable service in assisting to raise 
funds for the support of the operations of the 
Christian Commission in the field. He has also 
been active in Sunday School, benevolent and 
educational work, having been, for twenty years, 
a Trustee of Illinois College, of which he has 
been an ardent friend. In 1846 he was married 
to Miss Laura Allen, daughter of Rev. John 
Allen, D. D., of Huntsville, Ala., and is the father 
of four sons and four daughters, all living. 

BABCOCK, Amos C, w-as born at Penn Yan, 
N. Y., Jan. 30, 1828, the son of a member of Con- 
gress from that State; at the age of 18, having 
lost his father by death, came We.st, and soon 
after engaged in mercantile business in partner- 
ship with a brother at Canton, 111. In 1854 he 
was elected by a majority of one vote, as an Anti- 
Nebraska Whig, to the lower branch of the Nine- 
teenth General Assembly, and, in the following 
session, took part in the election of United States 
Senator which resulted in tlie choice of Lyman 
TnunbuU. Although a personal and political 
friend of Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Babcock, as a matter 
of policy, cast his vote for his townsman, William 
Kellogg, afterwards Congressman from that dis- 
trict, until it was apparent that a concentration 
of the Anti-Nebraska vote on Trumbull was 
necessary to defeat the election of a Democrat. 
In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln 
the first Assessor of Internal Revenue for the 
Fourth District, and, in 1863. was commissioned 
by Governor Yates Colonel of the One Hundred 
and Third Illinois Volunteers, but soon resigned. 
Colonel Babcock served as Delegateat-large in 



the Republican National Convention of 1868, 
which nominated General Grant for the Presi- 
dency, and the same year was made Chairman of 
the Republican State Central Committee, also 
conducting the campaign two years later. He 
identified himself with the Greelej' movement in 
1872, but, in 1876, was again in line with his 
party and restored to his old position on the State 
Central Committee, serving until 1878. Among 
business enterprises with which he was con- 
nected was the extension, about 1854, of the Buda 
branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad from Yates City to Canton, and the 
erection of the State Capitol at Austin, Tex., 
which was undertaken, in conjunction with 
Abner Taylor and J. V. and C. B. FarweU, about 
1881 and completed in 1888, for which the firm 
received over 3,000,000 acres of State lands in the 
"Pan Handle" portion of Texas. In 1889 Colonel 
Babcock took up his residence in Chicago, which 
continued to be his home until his death from 
apoplexy, Feb. 25, 1899. 

BABCOCK, Andrew J., soldier, was born at 
Dorchester, Norfolk County, Mass., July 19, 1830; 
began life as a coppersmith at Lowell ; in 1851 
went to Concord, N. H., and, in 1856, removed to 
Springfield, 111., where, in 1859, he joined a mili- 
tary company called the Springfield Greys, com- 
manded by Capt. (afterwards Gen. ) John Cook, of 
which he was First Lieutenant. This company 
became the nucleus of Company I, Seventh Illi- 
nois Volunteers, which enlisted on Mr. Lincoln's 
first call for troops in April, 1861. Captain Cook 
having been elected Colonel, Babcock succeeded 
him as Captain, on the re-enlistment of the regi- 
ment in July following becoming Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and, in March, 1862, being promoted to 
the Colonelcy "for gallant and meritorious service 
rendered at Fort Donelson." A year later he was 
compelled to resign on account of impaired 
health. His home is at Springfield. 

BACON, George E., lawyer and legislator, born 
at Madison, Ind. , Feb. 4, 1851 ; was brought to 
Illinois by his parents at three years of age, and, 
in 1876, located at Paris, Edgar County; in 1879 
was admitted to the bar and held various minor 
offices, including one term as State's Attorney. 
In 1886 he was elected as a Republican to the 
State Senate and re-elected four years later, but 
finally removed to Aurora, where he died, July 
6, 1896. Mr. Bacon was a man of recognized 
ability, as shown by the fact that, after the deatli 
of Senator John A. Logan, he was selected by his 
colleagues of the Senate to pronounce the eulogy 
on the deceased statesman. 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



31 



BA6BT, John C, jurist and Congressman, was 
bom at Glasgow, Ky., Jan. 34, 1819. After pas- 
sing through the common schools of Barren 
County, Ky., he studied civil engineering at 
Bacon College, graduating in 1840. Later he 
read law and was admitted to the bar in 1845. 
In 1846 he commenced practice at Rushville, 111., 
confining himself exclusively to professional work 
until nominated and elected to Congress in 1874, 
by the Democrats of the (old) Tenth District. In 
1885 he was elected to the Circuit Bench for the 
Sixth Circuit. Died, April 4, 1896. 

BAILEY, Joseph Mead, legislator and jurist, 
was born at Middlebury, Wyoming County, N. Y., 
June 23, 1833, graduated from Rochester (N. Y.) 
University in 1854, and was admitted to the 
bar in that city in 1855. In August, 1856, he 
removed to Freeport, 111., where he soon built up 
a profitable practice. In 1866 he was elected a 
Representative in the Twentj'-fifth General 
Assembly, being re-elected in 1868. Here he was 
especially prominent in securing restrictive legis- 
lation concerning railroads. In 1876 he was 
chosen a Presidential Elector for his district on 
the Republican ticket. In 1877 he was elected a 
Judge of the Thirteenth judicial district, and 
re-elected in 1879 and in 1885. In January, 
1878, and again in June, 1879, he was assigned to 
the bench of the Appellate Court, being presiding 
Justice from June, 1879, to June, 1880, and from 
June, 1881, to June. 1883. In 1879 he received 
the degree of LL.D. from the Universities of 
Rochester and Chicago. In 1888 he was elected 
to the bench of the Supreme Court. Died in 
office, Oct. 16. 1895. 

BAILHACHE, John, pioneer journalist, was 
bom in the Island of Jersey, May 8, 1787; after 
gaining the rudiments of an education in his 
mother tongue (the French), he acquired a knowl- 
edge of English and some proficiency in Greek 
and Latin in an academy near his paternal home, 
when he spent five years as a printer's apprentice. 
In 1810 he came to the United States, first locat- 
ing at Cambridge, Ohio, but, in 1813, purchased a 
half interest in "The Fredonian" at Chillicothe 
(then the State Capital), soon after becoming sole 
owner. In 1815 he purchased "The Scioto Ga- 
zette" and consolidated the two papers under the 
name of "The Scioto Gazette and Fredonian 
Chronicle." Here he remained until 1828, mean- 
time engaging temporarily in the banking busi- 
ness, also serving one term in the Legislature 
(1830), and being elected Associate Justice of the 
Court of Common Pleas for Ross Coimty. In 
1828 he removed to Columbus, assuming charge 



of "The Ohio State Journal," served one term as 
Maj'or of the city, and for three consecutive 
years was State Printer. Selling out "The Jour- 
nal" in 1836, he came west, the next year becom- 
ing part owner, and finally sole proprietor, of "The 
Telegraph" at Alton, 111., which he conducted 
alone or in association with various partners until 
1854, when lie retired, giving his attention to the 
book and job branch of the business. He served as 
Repre.sentative from Madison County in the Thir- 
teenth General Assembly (1842-44). As a man 
and a journalist Judge Bailhache commanded the 
highest respect, and did much to elevate the 
standard of journalism in Illinois, "The Tele- 
graph," during the period of his connection with 
it, being one of the leading papers of the State. 
His death occurred at Alton, Sept. 3, 1857, as the 
result of injuries received the day previous, by 
being thrown from a carriage in which he was 
riding.— Maj. William Henry (Bailhache), son of 
the preceding, was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, 
August 14. 1826, removed with his father to Alton, 
111., in 1836, was educated at Shurtleff College, 
and learned the printing trade in the office of 
"The Telegraph," imder the direction of his 
father, afterwards being associated with the 
business department. In 1855, in partnership 
with Edward L. Baker, he became one of the 
proprietors and business manager of "The State 
Journal" at Springfield. During the Civil War 
he received from President Lincoln the appoint- 
ment of Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, 
serving to its close and receiving the brevet rank 
of Major. After the war he returned to journal- 
ism and was associated at different times with 
"The State Journal" and "The Quincy Whig," 
as business manager of each, but retired in 1873 ; 
in 1881 was appointed by President Arthur, 
Receiver of Public Moneys at Santa Fe., N. M., 
remaining four years. He is now (1899) a resi- 
dent of San Diego, Cal., where he has been 
engaged in newspaper work, and, under ' the 
administration of President JIcKinley, has been 
a Special Agent of the Treasury Department. — 
Preston Heath (Bailhache), another son, was 
born in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 31, 1835, served as 
a Surgeon during the Civil War, later became a 
Surgeon in the regular army and has held posi- 
tions in marine hospitals at Baltimore, Washing- 
ton and New York, and has visited Eiirope in the 
interest of sanitary and hospital service. At 
present (1899) he occupies a prominent position 
at the headquarters of the United States Marine 
Hospital Service in Washington. — Arthur Lee 
(Bailhache), a third son, born at Alton, 111., April 



32 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



12, ia39; at the beginning of the Civil War was 
employed in the State commissary service at 
Camp Yates and Cairo, became Adjutant of the 
Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, and died at 
Pilot Knob, Mo., Jan. 9, 1862, as the result of 
disease and exposure in the service. 

BAKER, David Jewett, lawyer and United 
States Senator, was born at East Haddam, Conn. , 
Sept. 7, 1792. His family removed to New York 
in 1800, where he worked on a farm during boy- 
hood, but graduated from Hamilton College in 
1816, and three )'ears later was admitted to the 
bar. In 1819 he came to Illinois and began prac- 
tice at Kaskaskia, where he attained prominence 
in his profession and was made Probate Judge of 
Randolph County. His opposition to the intro- 
duction of slavery into the State was so aggres- 
sive that his life was frequently threatened. In 
1830 Governor Edwards appointed him United 
States Senator, to fill the unexpired term of 
Senator McLean, but he served only one month 
when he was succeeded by John M. Robinson, 
who was elected by the Legislature. He was 
United States District Attorney from 1833 
to 1841 (the State then constituting but 
one district), and thereafter resumed private 
practice. Died at Alton, August 6, 1869. 
— Henry Southard (Baker), son of the pre- 
ceding, was born at Kaskaskia, 111., Nov. 10, 
1824, received his preparatory education at Shurt- 
leff College, Upper Alton, and, in 1843, entered 
Brown University, R. I., graduating therefrom 
in 1847; was admitted to the bar in 1849, begin- 
ning practice at Alton, the home of his father, 
Hon. David J. Baker. In 1854 he was elected as an 
Anti-Nebraska candidate to the lower branch of 
the Nineteenth General Assembly, and, at the 
subsequent session of the General Assembly, was 
one of the five Anti-Nebraska members whose 
uncompromising fidelity to Hon. Lyman Trum- 
bull resulted in the election of the latter to the 
United States Senate for the first time — the others 
being his colleague, Dr. George T. Allen of the 
House, and Hon. John M. Palmer, afterwards 
United States Senator, Burton C. Cook and Nor- 
man B. Judd in tlie Senate. He served as one of the 
Secretaries of the Republican State Convention 
held at Bloomington in May, 1856, was a Repub- 
lican Presidential Elector in 1864, and, in 1865, 
became Judge of the Alton City Court, serving 
until 1881. In 1876 he presided over the Repub- 
lican State Convention, served as delegate to the 
Republican National Convention of the same 
\-ear and was an unsuccessful candidate for 
Congress in opposition to William R. Morrison. 



Judge Baker was the orator selected to deliver 
the address on occasion of the unveiling of the 
statue of Lieut. -Gov. Pierre Menard, on the 
capitol grounds at Springfield, in January, 1888. 
About 1888 he retired from practice, dying at 
Alton, March 5, 1897. — Edward L. (Baker), 
second son of David Jewett Baker, was born at 
Kaskaskia, 111., June 3, 1829; graduated at Shurt- 
leflf College in 1847; read law with his father two 
years, after which he entered Harvard Law 
School and was admitted to the bar at Spring- 
field in 1855. Previous to this date Mr. Baker had 
become associated with William H. Bailhache, in 
the management of "The Alton Daily Telegraph." 
and, in July, 1855, they purchased "The Illinois 
State Journal," at Springfield, of which Mr. 
Baker assumed the editorship, remaining until 
1874. In 1869 he was appointed United States 
Assessor for the Eighth District, serving until 
the abolition of the office. In 1873 he received 
the appointment from President Grant of Consul 
to Buenos Ayres, South America, and, assuming 
the duties of the office in 1874, remained there 
for twenty-three years, proving himself one of 
the most capable and efficient officers in the con- 
sular service. On the evening of the 20th of 
June, 1897, when Mr. Baker was about to enter a 
railway train already in motion at the station in 
the city of Buenos Ayres, he fell under the cars, 
receiving injuries which necessitated the ampu- 
tation of his right arm, finally resulting in his 
death in the hospital at Buenos Ayres, July 8, 
following. His remains were brought home at 
the Government expense and interred in Oak 
Ridge Cemetery, at Springfield, where a monu- 
ment has since been erected in his honor, bearing 
a tablet contributed by citizens of Buenos Ayres 
and foreign representatives in that city express- 
ive of their respect for his memory. — David 
Jewett (Baker), Jr., a third son of David Jewett 
Baker, Sr., was born at Kaskaskia, Nov. 20,1834; 
graduated from Shurtleff College in 1854, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1856. In November of 
that year he removed to Cairo and began prac- 
tice. He was Mayor of that city in 1864-65, and, 
in 1869, was elected to the bench of the Nineteenth 
Judicial Circuit. The Legislature of 1873 (by Act 
of March 28) having divided the State into 
twenty-six circuits, he was elected Judge of the 
Twenty-sixth, on June 2, 1873. In August, 1878, 
he resigned to accept an appointment on the 
Supreme Bench as successor to Judge Breese, 
deceased, but at the close of his term on the 
Supreme Bench (1879), was re-elected Circuit 
Judge, and again in 1885. During this period he 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



33 



served for several years on the Appellate Bench. 
In 1888 he retired from the Circuit Bench by 
resignation and was elected a Justice of the 
Supreme Court for a term of nine years. Again, 
in 1897, he was a candidate for re-election, but 
was defeated by Carroll C. Boggs. Soon after 
retiring from the Supreme Bench he removed to 
Chicago and engaged in general practice, in 
partnership with his son, John \V. Baker. He 
fell dead almost instantly in his office, March 13, 
1899. In aU, Judge Baker had spent some thirty 
years almost continuously on the bench, and had 
attained eminent distinction both as a lawyer and 
a jurist. 

BAEER, Edward Dickinson, soldier and 
United States Senator, was born in London, 
Eng., Feb. 24, 1811; emigrated to Illinois while 
yet in his minority, first locating at Belleville, 
afterwards removing to Carrollton and finally to 
Sangamon County, the last of which he repre- 
sented in the lower house of the Tenth General 
Assembly, and as State Senator in the Twelfth 
and Thirteenth. He was elected to Congress as 
a Whig from the Springfield District, but resigned 
in December, 1846, to accept the colonelcy of the 
Fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, in the 
Mexican War, and succeeded General Shields in 
command of the brigade, when the latter was 
wounded at Cerro Gordo. In 1848 he was elected 
to Congress from the Galena District; was also 
identified with the construction of the Panama 
Railroad; went to San Francisco in 1852, but 
'ater removed to Oregon, where he was elected 
to the United States Senate in 1860. In 1861 he 
resigned the Senatorship to enter the Union 
army, commanding a brigade at the battle of 
Ball's Bluff, where he was killed, October 21, 1861. 

BAKER, Jehn, lawyer and Congressman, was 
born in Fayette County, Ky., Nov. 4, 1822. At 
an early age he removed to Illinois, making his 
home in Belleville, St. Clair County. He re- 
ceived his early education in the common schools 
and at McKendree College. Although he did 
not graduate from the latter institution, he 
received therefrom the honorary degree of A. M. 
in 1858, and that of LL. D. in 1882. For a time 
he studied medicine, but abandoned it for the 
study of law. From 1861 to 1865 he was Master 
in Chancery for St. Clair County. From 1865 to 
1869 he represented the Belleville District as a 
Republican in Congress. From 18T6 to 1881 and 
from 1882 to 1885 he was Minister Resident in 
Venezuela, during the latter portion of his term 
of service acting also as Consul-General. Return- 
ing home, he was again elected to Congress (^1886) 



from the Eighteenth District, but was defeated 
for re-election, in 1888, by William S. Forman, 
Democrat. Again, in 1896, having identified 
himself with the Free Silver Democracy and 
People's Party, he was elected to Congress from 
the Twentieth District over Everett J. Murphy, 
the Repubhcan nominee, serving until March 3, 
1899. He is the author of an annotated edition 
of Montesquieu's "Grandeur and Decadence of 
the Romans. " 

BALDWI\, Elmer, agriculturist and legisla- 
tor, was born in liitchfield Count}', Conn., March 
8, 1806 ; at 16 years of age began teaching a coun- 
try school, continuing this occupation for several 
years during the winter months, while working 
on his father's farm in the summer. He then 
started a store at New Milford, which he man- 
aged for three years, when he sold out on account 
of his health and began farming. In 1833 he 
came west ' and purchased a considerable tract of 
Government land in La Salle County, where the 
village of Farm Ridge is now situated, removing 
thither with his family the following year. He 
served as Justice of the Peace for fourteen con- 
secutive terms, as Postmaster twenty years and 
as a member of the Board of Supervisors of La 
Salle County six years. In 1856 he was elected 
as a Republican to the House of Representatives, 
was re-elected to the same office in 1866, and to 
the State Senate in 1872, serving two years. He 
was also appointed, in 1869, a member of the first 
Board of Public Charities, serving as President of 
the Board. Mr. Baldwin is author of a "His- 
tory of La Salle County," which contains much 
local and biographical history. Died, Nov. 18, 
1895. 

BALDWIJf, Theron, clergyman and educa- 
tor, was bom in Goshen, Conn., July 21, 1801; 
graduated at Yale College in 1827; after two 
years' study in the theological school there, was 
ordained a home missionary in 1829, becoming 
one of the celebrated "Yale College Band," or 
"Western College Society," of which he was Cor- 
responding Secretary during most of his life. He 
was settled as a Congregationalist minister at 
Vandalia for two years, and was active in pro- 
curing the charter of Illinois College at Jackson- 
ville, of which he was a Trustee from its 
organization to his death. He served for a 
number of years, from 1831, as Agent of the 
Home Missionary Society for Illinois, and, in 
1838, became the first Principal of Monticello 
Female Seminary, near Alton, which he con- 
ducted five years. Died at Orange, N. J., April 
10, 1870. 



34 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



BALLARD, Addison, merchant, was born of 
Quaker parentage in Warren County, Ohio, No- 
vember. 1832. He located at La Porte, Ind., 
about 1841, where he learned and pvirsued the 
carpenter's trade; in 1849 went to California, 
remaining two years, when he returned to La 
Porte ; in 1853 removed to Chicago and embarked 
in the lumber trade, which he prosecuted until 
1887, retiring with a competency. Mr. Ballard 
served several years as one of the Commissioners 
of Cook County, and, from 1876 to 1882, as Alder- 
man of the City of Chicago, and again in the 
latter office, 1894-90. 

BALTES, Peter Joseph, Roman Catholic Bishop 
of Alton, was born at Ensheim, Rhenish Ba- 
varia, April 7, 1827 ; was educated at the colleges 
of the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Mass., and of St. 
Ignatius, at Chicago, and at Lavalle University, 
Montreal, and was ordained a priest in 18.53, and 
consecrated Bishop in 1870. His diocesan admin- 
istration was successful, but regarded by Ms 
priests as somewhat arbitrary. He wrote numer- 
ous pastoral letters and brocliures for the guidance 
of clergj- and laity. His most important literary 
work was entitled "Pastoral Instruction," first 
edition, N. Y., 1875; second edition (revised and 
enlarged), 1880. Died at Alton, Feb. 15. 1886. 

BALTIMORE & OHIO SOUTHWESTERN 
RAILWAY. This road (constituting a part of the 
Baltimore & Ohio system) is made up of two 
principal divisions, the first extending across the 
State from East St. Louis to Belpre, Ohio, and the 
second (known as the Springfield Division) extend- 
ing from Beardstown to Shawneetown. The total 
mileage of the former (or main line) is 537 
miles, of which 147 >2 are in Illinois, and of the 
latter (wholly within Illinois) 228 miles. The 
main line (originally known as the Ohio & Mis- 
sissippi Railway) was chartered in Indiana in 
1848, in Ohio in 1849, and in Illinois in 1851. It 
was constructed by two companies, the section 
from Cincinnati to the Indiana and Illinois State 
line being known as the Eastern Division, and 
that in Illinois as the Western Division, the 
gauge, as originally built, being six feet, but 
reduced in 1871 to standard. The banking firm 
of Page & Bacon, of St. Louis and San PYancisco, 
, were tlie principal financial backers of the enter- 
prise. The line was completed and opened for 
traffic. May 1, 1857. The foUovring year the road 
became financially embarrassed ; the Eastern Di- 
vision was placed in the liands of a receiver in 
1860. while the Western Division was sold under 
foreclosure, in 1862, and reorganized as the Ohio 
& Mississippi Railway under act of the IlUnois 



Legislature pa.ssed in February, 1861. The East- 
ern Division was sold in January, 1867; and, in 
November of the same year, the two divisions 
were consolidated under the title of the Ohio & 
Mississippi Railway.— The Springfield Division 
was the result of the consolidation, in December, 
1869, of the Pana, Springfield & Northwestern 
and the Illinois & Southeastern Railroad — each 
having been chartered in 1867 — the new corpo- 
ration taking tlie name of the Springfield & Illi- 
nois Southeastern Railroad, under which name 
the road was built and opened in March, 1871. In 
1873, it was placed in the hands of receivers ; in 
1874 was sold under foreclosure, and, on March 
1, 1875, passed into the hands of the Ohio & Mis- 
sissippi Railway Company. In November, 1876, 
the road was again placed in the hands of a 
receiver, but was restored to the Company in 1884. 
— In November, 1893, the Ohio & Mississippi was 
consolidated with the Baltimore & Ohio South- 
western Railroad, which was the successor of the 
Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore Railroad, 
the reorganized Company taking the name of the 
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway Com- 
pany. The total capitalization of the road, as 
organized in 1898, was $84,770,531. Several 
branches of the main line in Indiana and Ohio go 
to increase the aggregate mileage, but being 
wholly outside of Illinois are not taken into ac- 
count in this statement. 

BALTIMORE & OHIO & CHICAGO RAIL- 
ROAD, part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 
System, of which only 8.21 out of 265 miles are in 
IlUnois. Tlie principal -object of the company's 
incorporation was to secure entrance for the 
Baltimore & Ohio into Chicago. The capital 
stock outstanding exceeds §1,500,000. The total 
capital (including stock, funded and floating debt) 
is .S20,.329,166 or §76,728 per mile. The gross 
earnings for the year ending June 30, 1898, were 
§3,383,016 and the operating expenses §2,493,4.52. 
The income and earnings for the portion of the 
line in Illinois for the same period were $209,208 
and the expenses §208,096. 

B.\>'GS, Mark, lawyer, was born in Franklin 
County, Mass., Jan. 9, 1823; spent his boy- 
hood on a farm in Western New York, and, after 
a year in an institution at Rochester, came to 
Chicago in 1844, later spending two years in farm 
work and teaching in Central Illinois. Return- 
ing ea.st in 1847, he engaged in teaching for 
two years at Springfield, Mass., then spent 
a year in a dry goods store at Lacon, 111., 
meanwhile prosecuting his legal studies. In 
1851 he began practice, was elected a Judg* 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



35 



of the Circuit Court in 1859 ; served one session 
as State Senator (1870-72); in 1873 was ap- 
pointed Circuit Judge to fill the unexpired 
term of Judge Richmond, deceased, and, in 1875, 
was appointed by President Grant United States 
District Attorney for the Northern District, 
remaining in office four years. Judge Bangs was 
also a member of the first Anti-Nebraska State 
Convention of Illinois, held at Springfield in 1854; 
in 1803 presided over the Congressional Conven- 
tion which nominated Owen Lovejoy for Congress 
for the first time ; was one of the charter members 
of the "Union League of America," serving as its 
President, and, in 1868, was a delegate to the 
National Convention which nominated General 
Grant for President for the first time. After 
retiring from tlie office of District Attorney in 
1879, he removed to Chicago, wliere he is still 
(1898) engaged in the practice of his profession. 

BAXKSOX, Andrew, pioneer and early legis- 
lator, a native of Tennessee, settled on Silver 
Creek, in St. Clair County, 111., four miles south 
of Lebanon, about 1808 or 1810, and subsequently 
removed to Washington County. He was a Col- 
onel of "Rangers" during the War of 1812, and a 
Captain in the Black Hawk War of 1832. In 
1832 he was elected to the State Senate from 
Washington County, serving four years, and at 
the session of 1822-23 was one of those who voted 
against the Convention resolution which had for 
its object to make Illinois a slave State. He sub- 
sequently removed to Iowa Territory, but died, in 
1853, while visiting a son-in-law in Wisconsin. 

BAPTISTS. The first Baptist minister to set- 
tle in Illinois was Elder James Smith, who 
located at New Design, in 1787. He was fol- 
lowed, about 1796-97, by Revs. David Badgley and 
Joseph Chance, who organized the first Baptist 
church within the limits of the State. Five 
churches, having four ministers and 111 mem- 
bers, formed an association in 1807. Several 
causes, among them a difference of views on the 
slavery question, resulted in the division of the 
denomination into factions. Of these perhaps 
the most numerous was the Regular (or Mission- 
ary) Baptists, at the head of %vhich was Rev. John 
M. Peck, a resident of the State from 1823 until 
his death (1858). By 1835 the sect had grown, 
until it had some 250 churches, with about 7, 500 
members. These were under the ecclesiastical 
care of twenty-two Associations. Rev. Lsaao 
McCoy, a Baptist Indian missionary, preached at 
Fort Dearborn on Oct. 9, 1825, and, eight years 
later, Rev. Allen B. Freeman organized the first 
Baptist society in what was then an infant set- 



tlement. By 1890 the number of Associations 
had gi-own to forty, with 1010 churches 891 
ministers and 88,884 members. A Baptist Theo- 
logical Seminary was for some time supported at 
Morgan Park, but, in 1895, was absorbed by the 
Univer.sity of Chicago, becoming the divinity 
school of that institution. The chief organ of the 
denomination in Illinois is "The Standard." pub- 
lished at Chicago. 

BAEBEB, Uirani, was born in Warren County, 
N. y., March 24, 1835. At 11 years of age he 
accompanied his family to Wisconsin, of which 
State he was a resident until 1866. After gradu- 
ating at the State University of Wisconsin, at 
Madison, he studied law at the Albany Law 
School, and was admitted to practice. After 
seiwing one term as District Attorney of his 
county in Wisconsin (1861-62), and Assistant 
Attorney-General of the State for 1865-66, in 
the latter j'ear he came to Chicago and, in 1878, 
was elected to Congress by the Republicans of 
the old Second IlUuois District. His home is in 
Chicago, where he holds the position of Master in 
Chancery of the Superior Court of Cook County. 

BARDOLPH, a village of MrDonough County, 
on the Chicago, Burlington li Quincy Railroad, 7 
miles northeast of Macomb; has a local paper. 
Population (1880), 409; (1890), 447; (1900), 367. 

B.\RySBACK, George F. ..'rick JnUus, pio- 
neer, was bom in Germany, July 25, 1781 ; came 
to Philadelphia in 1797, and soon after to Ken- 
tucky, where he became an overseer; two or 
three years later visited his native country, suf- 
fering shipwreck en route in the English Channel ; 
returned to Kentucky in 1802, remaining until 
1809, when he removed to what is now Madison 
(then a part of St. Clair) County, 111. ; served in 
the War of 1812, farmed and raised stock until 
1834, when, after a second visit to Germany, he 
bought a plantation in St. Francois County, Mo. 
Subsequently becoming disgusted with slavery, 
he manumitted his slaves and returned to Illinois, 
locating on a farm near EdwardsviUe, where he 
resided imtil his death in 1869. Mr. Barnsback 
served as Representative in the Fourteenth Gen- 
eral Assembly (1844-46) and, after returning from 
Springfield, distributed his salary among the poor 
of Madison County. — Julius A. (Barnsback), his 
son, was bom in St. Francois County, Mo., May 
14, 1826; in 1846 became a merchant at Troy, 
Madison County ; was elected Sheriff in 1860 ; in 
1864 entered the service as Captain of a Company 
in the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volun- 
teers (100-days' men); also served as a member of 
the Twenty-fourth General Assembly (1865). 



36 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



BARJJUM, William H., lawyer and ex-Judge, 
was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., Feb. 13, 
1840. When lie was but two years old his family 
removed to St. Clair County, 111. , where he passed 
his boyhood and j'outh. His preliminary educa- 
tion was obtained at Belleville, III., Ypsilanti, 
Mich., and at the Michigan State University at 
Ann Arbor. After leaving the institution last 
named at the end of the sophomore year, he 
taught school at Belleville, still pursuing his clas- 
sical studies. In 1862 he was admitted to the bar 
at Belleville, and soon afterward opened an office 
at Chester, where, for a time, he held the office 
of Master in Chancery. He removed to Chicago 
in 1867, and, in 1879, was elevated to the bench 
of the Cook County Circuit Court. At the expi- 
ration of his term he resumed private practice. 

BARRERE, (jranville, was born in Highland 
County, Ohio. After attending the common 
schools, he acquired a higher education at Au- 
gusta, Ky. , and Marietta, Ohio. He was admitted 
to the bar in his native State, but began the prac- 
tice of law in Fulton County, 111., in 18.56. In 
1872 he received the Republican nomination for 
Congress and was elected, representing his dis- 
trict from 1873 to 1875, at the conclusion of his 
term retiring to private life. Died at Canton, 
111., Jan. 13, 1889. 

BARRIXGTON, a village located on the north- 
em border of Cook County, and partly in Lake, 
at the intersection of the Chicago & Northwestern 
and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, 32 miles 
northwest of Chicago.. It has banks, a local paper, 
and several cheese factories, being in a dairying 
district. Population (1890), 848; (1900), 1,162. 

BARROWS, John Henry, D. D., clergyman 
and educator, was born at Medina, Mich., July 
11, 1847; graduated at Mount Olivet College in 
1867, and studied theology at Yale, Union and 
Andover Seminaries. In 1869 he went to Kansas, 
where he spent two and a half years in mission- 
ary and educational work. He then (in 1872) 
accepted a call to the First Congregational 
Church at Si)ringfield, III., where he remained a 
year, after which he gave a year to foreign travel, 
visiting Europe, Egypt and Palestine, during a 
part of the time supplying the American cliapel 
in Paris. On his return to the United States he 
spent six years in pastoral work at Lawrence and 
East Boston, Mass., when (in November, 1881) he 
assumed the pastorate of the First Presbyterian 
Church of Chicago. Dr. Barrows achieved a 
world-wide celebrity by his services as Chairman 
of the "Parliament of Religions," a branch of the 
"World's Congress Auxiliary," held during the 



World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 
1893. Later, he was appointed Professorial Lec- 
turer on Comparative Religions, under lectureships 
in connection with the University of Chicago en- 
dowed by Mrs. Caroline E. Haskell. One of these, 
established in Dr. Barrows' name, contemplated 
a series of lectures in India, to be delivered on 
alternate years with a similar course at the Uni- 
versity. Courses were delivered at the University 
in 1895-96, and, in order to carry out the purposes 
of the foreign lectureship. Dr. Barrows found it 
necessary to resign his pastorate, which he did in 
the spring of 1896. After spending the summer 
in Germany, the regular itinerarj- of the round- 
the-world tour began at London in the latter part 
of November, 1896, ending with his return to the 
United States by way of San Francisco in May, 
1897. Dr. Barrows was accompanied by a party 
of personal friends from Chicago and elsewhere, 
the tour embracing visits to the principal cities 
of Southern Europe, Egypt, Palestine, China and 
Japan, with a somewhat protracted stay in India 
during the winter of 1896-97. After his return to 
the United States he lectured at tlie University 
of Chicago and in many of the principal cities of 
the country, on the moral and religious condition 
of Oriental nations, but, in 1898, was offered 
the Presidency of Oberlin College, Ohio, which 
he accepted, entering upon his duties early in 
1899. 

BARRT, a city in Pike County, founded in 
1836, on the Wabash Railroad, 18 miles east of 
Hannibal, Mo., and 30 miles southeast of Quincj'. 
The surrounding country is agricultural. The 
city contains flouring mills, porkpacking and 
poultry establishments, etc. It has two local 
papers, two banks, three churches and a high 
school, besides schools of lower grade. Popula- 
tion (1880), 1,392; (1890), 1,3.54; (1900), 1,643. 

BARTLETT, Adolphas Clay, merchant, was 
born of Revolutionary ancestry at Stratford, 
Fulton County, N, Y. , June 22, 1844 ; was educated 
in the common schools and at Danville Academy 
and Clinton Liberal Institute, N. Y., and, coming 
to Chicago in 1863, entered into the employment 
of the hardware firm of Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., 
now Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., of which, 
a few years later, he became a partner, and later 
Vice-President of the Company. Mr. Bartlett 
has also been a Trustee of Beloit College, Presi- 
dent of the Chicago Home for the Friendless and 
a Director of the Chicago & Alton Railroad and 
the Metropolitan National Bank, besides being 
identified with various other business and benevo- 
lent associations. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



37 



BASCOM, (Rev.) Flavel, D. D., clergyman, 
was born at Lebanon, Conn., June 8, 1804; spent 
his boyhood on a farm until 17 years of age, mean- 
while attending the common schools; prepared 
for college under a private tutor, and, in 1834, 
entered Yale College, graduating in 1828. After a 
year as Principal of the Academy at New Canaan, 
Conn., he entered upon the study of theology 
at Yale, was licensed to preach in 1831 and, for 
the next two years, served as a tutor in the liter- 
ary department of the college. Then coming to 
Illinois (1833), he cast his lot with the "Yale 
Band," organized at Yale College a few years 
previous ; spent five years in missionary work in 
Tazewell County and two years in Northern Illi- 
nois as Agent of the Home Missionary Society, 
exploring new settlements, founding churches 
and introducing missionaries to new fields of 
labor. In 1839 he became pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Chicago, remaining until 
1849, when he assumed the pastorship of the First 
Presbyterian Church at Galesburg, this relation 
continuing until 1856. Then, after a year's serv- 
ice as the Agent of the American Missionary 
Association of the Congregational Church, he 
accepted a call to the Congregational Church at 
Princeton, where he remained until 1869, when 
he took charge of the Congregational Church at 
Hinsdale. F^om 1878 he served for a consider- 
able period as a member of the Executive Com- 
mittee of the Illinois Home Missionary Society ; 
was also prominent in educational work, being 
one of the founders and, for over twenty-five 
years, an officer of the Chicago Theological 
Seminary, a Trustee of Knox College and one of 
the founders and a Trustee of Beloit College, 
Wis., from which he received the degree of D. D. 
in 1869. Dr. Bascom died at Princeton, III., 
August 8, 1890. 

BATAVIA, a city in Kane County, on Fox 
River and branch lines of the Chicago & North- 
western and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroads, 35 miles west of Chicago; has water 
power and several prosperous manufacturing 
establishments employing over 1,000 operatives. 
The city has fine water-works supplied from an 
artesian well, electric lighting plant, electric 
street car lines with interurban connections, two 
weekly papers, eight churches, two public 
schools, and private hospital for insane women. 
Population (1900), 3,871; (1903, est.), 4,400. 

BATEMAX, Newton, A. M., LL.D., educator 
and Editor-in-Chief of the "Historical Encyclo- 
pedia of Illinois," was born at Fairfield, N. J., 
July 37, 1833, of mixed English and Scotch an- 



cestry ; was brought by his parents to Illinois in 
1833; in his youth enjoyed only limited educa- 
tional advantages, but graduated from Illinois 
College at Jacksonville in 1843, supporting him- 
self during his college course who'ly by his own 
labor. Having contemplated entering the Chris- 
tian ministry, he spent the following year at Lane 
Theological Seminary, but was compelled to 
withdraw on account of failing health, when he 
gave a year to travel. He then entered upon his 
life-work as a teacher by engaging as Principal 
of an English and Classical School in St. Louis, 
remaining tliere two years, when he accepted the 
Professorship of Mathematics in St. Charles Col- 
lege, at St. Charles, Mo., continuing in that 
position four years (1847-51). Returning to Jack- 
sonville, III, in the latter year, he assumed the 
prinoipalship of the main public school of that 
city. Here he remained seven years, during four 
of them discharging the duties of County Super- 
intendent of Schools for Morgan County. In the 
fall of 1857 he became Principal of Jacksonville 
Female Academy, but the following year was 
elected State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, having been nominated for the office by the 
Republican State Convention of 1858, which put 
Abraham Lincoln in nomination for the United 
States Senate. By successive re-elections he con- 
tinued in this office fourteen years, serving con- 
tinuously from 1859 to 1875, except two years 
(1863-65). as the result of his defeat for re-election 
in 1862. He was also endorsed for the same office 
by the State Teachers' Association in 1856, but 
was not formally nominated by a State Conven- 
tion. During his incumbency the Illinois com- 
mon school system was developed and brought to 
the .state of efficiency wliich it has so well main- 
tained. He also prepared some seven volmnes of 
biennial reports, portions of which have been 
republished in five different languages of Europe, 
besides a volume of "Common School Decisions," 
originally published by authority of the General 
Assembly, and of which several editions have 
since been issued. This volume has been recog- 
nized by the courts, and is still regarded as 
authoritative on the subjects to which it relates. 
In addition to his official duties during a part of 
this period, for three years he served as editor of 
"The Illinois Teacher," and was one of a com- 
mittee of three which prepared the bill adopted 
by Congress creating the National Bureau of 
Education. Occupying a room in the old State 
Capitol at Springfield adjoining that used as an 
office by Abraham Lincoln during the first candi- 
dacy of the latter for the Presidency, in 1860, a 



38 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



close intimacy sprang up between the two men, 
which enabled the "School-master," as Mr. Lin- 
coln playfully called the Doctor, to acquire an 
insight into the character of the future emanci- 
pator of a race, enjoyed by few men of that time, 
and of which he gave evidence by his lectures 
full of interesting reminiscence and eloquent 
appreciation of the liigh character of the "Martyr 
President." A few months after his retirement 
from the State Superintendency (1875), Dr. Bate- 
man was offered and accepted the Presidency of 
Knox College at Galesbiu-g, remaining until 1893, 
when he voluntarily tendered liis resignation. 
This, after having been repeatedly urged upon 
the Board, was finally accepted ; but that body 
immediately, and bj' unanimous vote, appointed 
him President Emeritus and Professor of Mental 
and Moral Science, under which he continued to 
discharge his duties as a special lecturer as his 
health enabled him to do so. During his incum- 
bency as President of Knox College, he twice 
received a tender of the Presidency of Iowa State 
University and the Chancellorship of two other 
important State institutions. He also served, by 
appointment of successive Governors between 1877 
and 1891, as a member of the State Board of 
Health, for four years of this period being Presi- 
dent of the Board. In February, 1878, Dr. Bate- 
man, unexpectedly and without solicitation on his 
part, received from President Hayes an appoint- 
ment as "Assay Commissioner" to examine and 
test the fineness and weight of United States 
coins, in accordance with the provisions of the 
act of Congress of June 32, 1874, and discharged 
the duties assigned at the mint in Philadelphia. 
Never of a very strong physique, which was 
rather weakened by his privations while a stu- 
dent and his many years of close confinement to 
mental labor, towards the close of his life Dr. 
Bateman suffered much from a chest trouble 
which finally developed into "angina pectoris," 
or heart disease, from which, as the result of a 
most painful attack, he died at his home in Gales- 
burg, Oct. 21, 1897. The event produced the 
most profound sorrow, not only among his associ- 
ates in the Faculty and among the students of 
Knox College, but a large number of friends 
throughout the State, who had known him ofK- 
cially or personally, and had learned to admire 
his many noble and beautiful traits of character. 
His funeral, which occurred at Galesburg on 
Oct. 2.5, called out an immense concourse of 
son-owing friends. Almost the last labors per- 
formed by Dr. Bateman were in the revision of 
matter for this volume, in which he manifested 



the deepest interest from the time of his assump- 
tion of the duties of its Editor-in-Chief. At the 
time of his death he had the satisfaction of know- 
ing that his work in this field was practically 
complete. Dr. Bateman had been twice married, 
first in 1850 to Miss Sarah Dayton of Jacksonville, 
who died in 1857, and a second time in October, 
1859, to Miss Annie N. Tyler, of Massachusetts 
(but for some time a teacher in Jacksonville 
Female Academy), who died, May 28, 1878.— 
Clifford Rush (Bateman), a son of Dr. Bateman 
by his first marriage, was bom at Jacksonville, 
March 7, 1854, graduated at Amherst College and 
later from the law department of Columbia Col- 
lege, New York, Jifterwards prosecuting his 
studies at Berlin, Heidelberg and Paris, finalh' 
becoming Professor of Administrative Law and 
Government in Columbia College — a position 
especially created for him. He had filled this 
position a little over one year when his career — 
which was one of great promise — was cut short by 
death, Feb. 6, 1883. Three daughters of Dr. Bate- 
man survive — all tlie wives of clergymen. — P. S. 

BATES, Clara Doty, author, was born at Ann 
Arbor, Mich., Dec. 22, 1838; published her first 
book in 1868; the next year married Morgan 
Bates, a Chicago publisher; wrote much for 
juvenile periodicals, besides stories and poems, 
some of the most popular among the latter being 
"Blind Jakey" (1868) and "^sop's Fable!" in 
verse (1873). She was the collector of a model 
library for children, for the World's Columbian 
Exposition, 1893. Died in Chicago, Oct. 14, 1895. 
BATES, Erastus Newton, soldier and State 
Treasurer, was born at Plainfleld, Mass., Feb. 29, 
1828, being descended from Pilgrims of the May- 
flower. When 8 years of age he was brought by 
his father to Ohio, where the latter soon after- 
ward died. For several years he lived with an 
uncle, preparing himself for college and earning 
money by teaching and manual labor. He gradu- 
ated from Williams College, Mass., in 1853, and 
commenced the studj- of law in New York City, 
but later removed to Minnesota, where he served 
as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 
1856 and was elected to the State Senate in 1857. 
In 1859 he removed to Centralia, 111., and com- 
menced practice there in August, 1862 ; was com- 
missioned Major of the Eightieth Illinois 
Volunteers, being successively promoted to the 
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, and 
finally brevetted Brigadier-General. For fifteen 
months he was a prisoner of war, escaping from 
Libby Prison only to be recaptured and later 
exposed to the fire of the Union batteries at Mor- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



39 



ris Island, Charleston harbor. In 1866 he was 
elected to the Legislature, and, in 1868, State 
Treasurer, being re-elected to the latter office 
under the new Constitution of 1870, and serving 
until January, 1873. Died at Minneapolis, 
Minn., May 29, 1898, and was buried at Spring- 
field. 

BATES, (Jeorg'e C., lawyer and politician, was 
born in Canandaigua, N. Y., and removed to 
Michigan in 1834; in 1849 was appointed United 
States District Attorney for that State, but re- 
moved to California in 1850, where he became a 
member of the celebrated "Vigilance Committee" 
at San Francisco, and, in 1856, delivered the first 
Republican speech there. From 1861 to 1871, he 
practiced law in Chicago; the latter year was 
appointed District Attorney for Utah, serving 
two years, in 1878 removing to Denver, Colo., 
where he died, Feb. 11, 1886. Mr. Bates was an 
orator of much reputation, and was selected to 
express the thanks of the citizens of Chicago to 
Gen. B. J. Sv?eet, commandant of Camp Douglas, 
after the detection and defeat of the Camp Doug- 
las conspiracy in November, 1864 — a duty which 
he performed in an address of gi-eat eloquence. 
At an early day he married the widow of Dr. 
Alexander Wolcott, for a number of years previ- 
ous to 1830 Indian Agent at Chicago, his wife 
being a daughter of John Kinzie, the first white 
settler of Chicago. 

BATH, a village of Mason County, on the 
Jacksonville branch of the Chicago, Peoria & St. 
Louis Railway, 8 miles south of Havana. Popu- 
lation (1880), 439; (1890), 384; (1900), 330. 

BAYLIS, a corporate village of Pike County, 
on the main line of the Wabash Railway, 40 miles 
southeast of Quincy ; has one newspaper. Popu- 
lation (1890), 368; (1900), 340. 

BAYLISS, Alfred, Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, was born about 1846, served as a 
private in the First Michigan Cavalry the last 
two years of the Civil War, and graduated from 
Hillsdale College (Mich.), in 1870, supporting 
liimself during his college course by work upon a 
farm and teaching. After serving three years as 
County Superintendent of Schools in La Grange 
County, lud., in 1874 he came to Illinois and 
entered upon the vocation of a teacher in the 
northern part of the State. He served for some 
time as Superintendent of Schools for the city of 
Sterling, afterwards becoming Principal of the 
Township High School at Streator, where he was, 
in 1898, when he received the nomination for the 
office of State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, to which he was elected in November follow- 



ing by a plurality over his Democratic opponent 
of nearly 70,000 votes. 

BEARD, Thomas, pioneer and founder of the 
city of Beardstown, 111., was born in Granville, 
Washington County. N. Y., in 1795, taken to 
Northeastern Ohio in 1800, and, in 1818, removed 
to Illinois, living for a time about Edwardsville 
and Alton. In 1820 he went to the locality of 
the present city of Beardstown, and later estab- 
lished there the first ferry across the Illinois 
River. In 1827, in conjunction with Enoch 
March of Morgan County, he entered the land on 
which Beardstown was platted in 1839. Died, at 
Beardstown, in November, 1849. 

BEARDSTOWN, a city in Cass County, on the 
Illinois River, being tlie intersecting point for 
the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern and the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railways, and the 
northwestern terminus of the former. It is 111 
miles north of St. Louis and 90 miles south of 
Peoria. Thomas Beard, for whom the town was 
named, settled here about 1820 and soon after- 
wards established the first ferry across the Illi- 
nois River. In 1827 the land was patented by 
Beard and Enoch March, and the town platted, 
and, during the Black Hawk War of 1832, it 
became a principal base of supplies for the Illi- 
nois volunteers. The city has six churches and 
three schools (including a high scliool), two banks 
and two daily newspapers. Several branches of 
manufacturing are carried on here — flouring and 
saw mills, cooperage works, an axe-handle fac- 
tory, two button factories, two stave factories, 
one shoe factory, large machine shops, and others 
of less importance. The river is spanned here by 
a fine railroad bridge, costing some §300,000. 
Population (1890), 4,226; (1900), 4,827. 

BEAUBIEN, Jean Baptiste, the second per- 
manent settler on the site of Chicago, was born 
at Detroit in 1780, became clerk of a fur-trader on 
Grand River, married an Ottawa woman for his 
first wife, and, in 1800, had a trading-post at Mil- 
waukee, which lie maintained until 1818. Ho 
visited Chicago as earl)- as 1804, bought a cabin 
there soon after the Fort Dearborn massacre ot 
1812, married the daughter of Francis La Fram- 
boise, a French trader, and, in 1818, becam© 
agent of the American Fur Compan}-, having 
charge of trading posts at Mackinaw and else- 
where. After 1823 he occupied the building; 
known as ' 'the factory, " just outside of Fort Dear« 
born, which had belonged to the Government, 
but removed to a farm on the DesPlaines in 1840. 
Out of the ownership of this building grew his 
claim to the right, in 1835, to enter seventy-five 



40 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



acres of land belonging to the Fort Dearborn 
reservation. The claim was allowed by the Land 
Office officials and sustained by the State courts, 
but disallowed by the Supreme Court of the 
United States after long litigation. An attempt 
was made to revive this claim in Congress in 
1878, but it was reported upon adverselj' by a 
Senate Committee of which the late Senator 
Thomas F. Bayard was chairman. Mr. Beaubien 
was evidently a man of no little prominence in 
his day. He led a company of Chicago citizens 
to the Black Hawk War in 1833, was appointed 
by the Governor the first Colonel of Militia for 
Cook County, and, in 1850, was commissioned 
Brigadier-General. In 18.58 he removed to Nash- 
ville, Tenn., and died there, Jan. 5, 1863. — Mark 
(Beaubien), a younger brother of Gen. Beaubien, 
was born in Detroit in 1800, came to Chicago in 
1826, and bought a log liouse of James Kinzie, in 
which he kept a hotel for some time. Later, he 
erected the first frame building in Chicago, which 
was known as the "Sauganasli," and in which he 
kept a hotel until 1834. He also engaged in mer- 
chandising, but was not successful, ran the first 
ferry across the South Branch of the Chicago 
River, and served for many j-ears as liglithouse 
keeper at Chicago. About 1834 tlie Indians trans- 
ferred to him a reservation of 640 acres of land on 
the Calumet, for which, some forty years after- 
wards, he received a patent which had been 
signed by Martin Van Buren — he having previ- 
ously been ignorant of its existence. He was 
married twice and had a family of twenty -two 
children. Died, at Kankakee, III, April 16, 1881. 
— Madore B. (Beaubien), the second son of 
General Beaubien by his Indian wife, was born 
on Grand River in Slichigan, July 15, 1809, joined 
his father in Chicago. %vas educated in a Baptist 
Mission School where Niles, Mich., now stands; 
was licensed as a merchant in Chicago in 1831, 
but failed as a business man; served as Second 
Lieutenant of the Naperville Company in the 
Black Hawk War, and later was First Lieutenant 
of a Chicago Company. His first wife was a 
white woman, from wliom he separated, after- 
wards marrying an Indian woman. He left Illi- 
nois with the Pottawatomies in 1840, resided at 
Council Bluffs and, later, in Kansas, being for 
many years the official interpreter of the tribe 
and, for some time, one of six Commissioners 
employed by the Indians to look after their 
affairs with the United States Government. — 
Alexander (Beaubien), son of General Beau- 
bien by his white wife, was born in one of the 
buildings belonging to Fort Dearborn, Jan. 28, 



1823. In 1840 he accompanied his father to his 
farm on the Des Plaines, but returned to Chicago 
in 1862, and for years past has been employed on 
the Chicago police force. 

BEBIt, William, Governor of Ohio, was born 
in Hamilton County in that State in 1802 ; taught 
school at North Bend, the home of William Henry 
Harrison, studied law and practiced at Hamilton ; 
served as Governor of Ohio, 1846-48; later led a 
Welsh colony to Tennessee, but left at the out- 
break of the Civil War, removing to Winnebago 
Coimty, 111., where he had purchased a large 
body of land. He was a man of uncompromising 
loyalty and high principle ; served as Examiner 
of Pensions by appointment of President Lincoln 
and, in 1808, took a prominent part in the cam- 
paign which resulted in Grant's first election to 
the Presidency. Died at Rockford, Oct. 23, 1873. 
A daughter of Governor Bebb married Hon. 
John P. Reynolds, for many years the Secretary 
of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, and, 
during the World's Columbian Exposition, 
Director-in-Chief of the Illinois Board of World's 
Fair Commissioners. 

BECKER, Charles St. N., ex-State Treasurer, 
was born in Germany, June 14, 1840, and brought 
to this country by his parents at the age of 11 
years, the family settling in St. Clair County, 111. 
Early in the Civil War he enlisted in the Twelfth 
Missouri regiment, and, at the battle of Pea 
Ridge, was so severely wounded that it was 
found necessary to amputate one of his legs. In 
1866 he was elected Sheriff of St. Clair County, 
and, from 1872 to 1880, he served as clerk of the 
St. Clair Circuit Court. He also served several 
terms as a City Councilman of Belleville. In 1888 
he was elected State Treasurer on the Republican 
ticket, serving from Jan. 14, 1889, to Jan. 12, 1891. 

BECKWITB, Corydon, lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Vermont in 1823. and educated at Provi- 
dence, R. I., and Wrentham, Mass. He read law 
and was admitted to the bar in St. Albans, Vt., 
where he practiced for two years. In 1853 he 
removed to Chicago, and, in January, 1864, was 
appointed by Governor Yates a Justice of tlie 
Supreme Court, to fill the five remaining months 
of tlie unexpired term of Judge Caton, who had 
resigned. On retiring from the bench he re- 
sumed private practice. Died, August 18, 1890. 

BECKWITH, Hiram Williams, lawjer and 
author, was born at Danville. 111., March 5. 1833. 
Mr. Beckwitli's father, Dan W. Beckwith, a pio- 
neer settler of Eastern Illinois and one of the 
founders of the city of Danville, was a native of 
Wyalusing, Pa., where he was born about 1789, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



41 



his mother being, in her girlhood, Hannah York, 
one of the survivors of the famous Wyoming 
massacre of 1778. In 1817. the senior Beckvvith, 
in company witli his brother George, descended 
the Ohio River, afterwards ascending the Wabash 
to wliere Terre Haute now stands, but finally 
locating in what is now a part of Edgar County, 
111. A year later he removed to the vicinity of 
the present site of the city of Danville. Having 
been employed for a time in a surveyor's 
corps, he finally became a surveyor himself, and, 
on the organization of Vermilion County, served 
for a time as County Surveyor by appointment of 
the Governor, and was also employed by the 
General Government in surveying lands in the 
eastern part of the State, some of the Indian 
reservations in that section of the State being 
set off by him. In connection %vith Guy W. 
Smith, then Receiver of Public Moneys in the 
Land Office at Pale.stine, 111., he donated the 
ground on which the county-seat of Vermilion 
County was located, and it took the name of Dan- 
ville from his first name — "Dan." In 1830 he 
was elected Representative in the State Legisla- 
ture for the District composed of Clark, Edgar, 
and Vermilion Counties, then including all that 
section of the State between Crawford County 
and the Kankakee River. He died in 1835. 
Hiram, the subject of this sketch, thus left 
fatherless at less than three years of age, received 
only such education as was afforded in the com- 
mon schools of that period. Neverthele.ss, he 
began the study of law in the Danville office of 
Lincoln & Lamon, and was admitted to practice 
in 18.'54, about the time of reaching his majority. 
He continued in their office and, on the removal 
of Lamon to Bloomington in 1859. he succeeded 
to the business of the firm at Danville. Mr. 
Lamon — who, on Mr. Lincoln's accession to the 
Presidency in 1861, became Marshal of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia — was distantlj- related to Mr. 
Beckwith by a second marriage of the mother of 
the latter. While engaged in the practice of his 
profession, Mr. Beckwith has been over thirty 
years a zealous collector of records and other 
material bearing upon the early history of Illinois 
and the Northwest, and is probably now the 
owner of one of the most complete and valuable 
collections of Americana in Illinois. He is also 
the author of several monographs on historic 
themes, including "The Winnebago War," "The 
Illinois and Indiana Indians," and "Historic 
Notes of the Northwest," published in the "Fer- 
gus Series, " besides having edited an edition of 
"Reynolds" History of Illinois" (published by the 



same firm) , which he has enriched by the addition 
of valuable notes. During 1895-96 he contributed 
a series of valuable articles to "The Chicago 
Tribune" on various features of early Illinois and 
Northwest history. In 1890 he was appointed by 
Governor Fifer a member of the first Board of 
Trustees of the Illinois State Historical Library, 
serving until the expiration of his term in 1894, 
and was re-appointed to the same position by 
Governor Tanner in 1897, in each case being 
chosen President of the Board. 

BEECHER, Charles A., attorney and railway 
solicitor, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y. , 
August 27, 1839, but, in 1836, removed with his 
family to Licking County, Ohio, where he lived 
upon a farm until he reached the age of 18 years. 
Having taken a course in the Ohio Wesleyan 
University at Delaware, in 1854 he lemoved to 
Illinois, locating at Fairfield, Wayne County. 
and began the study of law in the office of his 
brother, Edwin Beecher, being admitted to prac- 
, tice in 1855. In 1867 he united with others in the 
organization of the Illinois Southeastern Rail- 
road projected from Shawneetown to Edge wood 
on the Illinois Central in Effingham County. 
This enterprise was consolidated, a year or two 
later, with the Pana, Springfield & Northwest- 
ern, taking the name of the Springfield & Illinois 
Southeastern, under which name it was con- 
structed and opened for traffic in 1871. (This 
line — which Mr. Beecher served for some time 
as Vice-President — now constitutes the Beards- 
town & Shawneetown Division of the Baltimore 
& Ohio Southwestern.) The Springfield & Illi- 
nois Southeastern Company having fallen into 
financial difficulty in 1873, Mr. Beecher was 
appointed receiver of the road, and, for a time, 
had control of its operation as agent for the bond- 
holders. In 1875 the line was conveyed to the 
Ohio & Mississippi Railroad (now a part of the 
Baltimore & Ohio), when Mr. Beecher became 
General Counsel of the controlling corporation, 
so remaining until 1888. Since that date he has 
been one of the assistant counsel of the Baltimore 
& Ohio system. His present home is in Cincin- 
nati, although for over a quarter of a century he 
has been prominently identified with one of the 
most important railway enterprises in Southern 
Illinois. In politics Mr. Beecher has always been 
a Republican, and was one of the few in Wayne 
County who voted for Fremont in 1856, and for 
Lincoln in 1860. He was also a member of 
the Republican State Central Committee of 
Illinois from 1860 for a period of ten or twelve 
years. 



42 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



BEECHER, Edward, D. D., clergyman and 
educator, was born at East Hampton, L. I., 
August 27, 1803 — the son of Rev. Lyman Beeclier 
and the elder brother of Henry Ward ; graduated 
at Yale College in 1823, taught for over a year at 
Hartford, Conn., studied theology, and after a 
year's service as tutor in Yale College, in 
1826 was ordained pastor of the Park Street 
Congregational Church in Boston. In 1830 
he became President of Illinois College at 
Jacksonville, remaining until 1844, when he 
resigned and returned to Boston, serving a.s 
pastor of the Salem Street Church in that 
city until 1856, also acting as senior editor of 
"The Congregationalist" for four years. In 1856 
he returned to Illinois as pastor of tlie First Con- 
gregational Church at Galesburg, continuing 
until 1871, when he removed to Brooklyn, where 
he resided without pastoral charge, except 1885- 
89, when he was pastor of the Parkville Congre- 
gational Church. While President of Illinois 
College, that institution was exposed to much 
hostile criticism on account of his outspoken 
opposition to slavery, as shown by his participa- 
tion in founding the first Illinois State Anti- 
Slavery Society and his eloquent denunciation of 
the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy. Next to his 
brother Henry Ward, he was probably the most 
powerful orator belonging to that gifted family, 
and, in connection with his able associates in the 
faculty of the Illinois College, assisted to give 
that institution a wide reputation as a nirrsery 
of independent thought. Up to a short time 
before his death, he was a prolific writer, his 
productions (besides editorials, reviews and con- 
tributions on a variety of subjects) including 
nine or ten volumes, of which the most impor- 
tant are: "Statement of Anti-Slavery Principles 
and Address to the People of Illinois" (1837); 
"A Plea for Illinois College"; "History of the 
Alton Riots" (1838); "The Concord of Ages" 
(1853) ; "The Conflict of Ages" (1854) ; "Papal 
Conspiracy Exposed" (1854), besides a number 
of others invariably on religious or anti-slavery 
topics. Died in Brooklyn, July 28, 1895. 

BEECHER, William H., clergyman — oldest 
son of Rev. Lyman Beecher and brother of 
Edward and Henry Ward — was born at East 
Hampton, N. Y., educated at home and at An- 
dover, became a Congregationalist clergyman, 
occupying pulpits at Newport, R. I., Batavia, 
N. Y., and Cleveland, Ohio ; came to Chicago in 
his later years, dying at the home of his daugh- 
ters in that city, June 23, 1889. 

BEGGS, (Rev.) Stephen R., pioneer Methodist 



Episcopal preacher, was born in Buckingham 
County, Va., March 30, 1801. His father, who 
was opposed to slavery, moved to Kentuckj^ in 
1805, but remained there. only two j'ears, when he 
removed to Clark County, Ind. The son enjoyed 
but poor educational advantages here, obtaining 
his education chiefly by his own efforts in wliat 
he called "Brush College." At tlie age of 21 he 
entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, during the next ten years traveling 
different circuits in Indiana. In 1831 he was 
appointed to Chicago, but the Black Hawk War 
coming on immediately thereafter, lie retired to 
Plainfield. Later he traveled various circuits in 
Illinois, until 1868, when he was superannuated, 
occupying his time thereafter in writing remi- 
niscences of his early historj'. A volume of this 
character published by him, was entitled "Pages 
from the Early History of the West and North- 
west." He died at Plainfield, HI, Sept. 9, 1895, 
in the 95th year of his age. 

BEIDLER, Henry, early settler, was born of 
German extraction in Bucks County, Pa., Nov. 
27, 1813; came to Illinois in 1843, settling first at 
Springfield, where he carried on the grocery 
business for five years, then removed to Chicago 
and engaged in the lumber trade in connection 
with a brother, afterwards carrying on a large 
lumber manufacturing business at Muskegon, 
Mich,, which proved very profitable. In 1871 
Mr. Beidler retired from the lumber trade, in- 
vesting largely in west side real estate in the city 
of Cliicago, which appreciated rapidly in value, 
making him one of the most wealthy real estate 
owners in Chicago. Died, March 16, 1893. — Jacob 
(Beidler), brother of the preceding, was born in 
Bucks County, Penn., in 1815; came west in 
1843, first began working as a carpenter, but 
later engaged in the grocery business with his 
brother at Springfield, 111. ; in 1844 removed to 
Chicago, where he was joined by his brother four 
years later, when they engaged largely in the 
lumber trade. Mr. Beidler retired from business 
in 1891, devoting his attention to large real estate 
investments. He was a liberal contributor to 
religious, educational and benevolent institutions. 
Died in Chicago, March 15, 1898. 

BELFIELD, Henry Holmes, educator, was 
born in Philadelphia, Nov. 17, 1837; was educated 
at an Iowa College, and for a time was tutor in 
the same ; during the War of the Rebellion served 
in the army of the Cumberland, first as Lieuten- 
ant and afterwards as Adjutant of the Eighth 
Iowa Cavalry, still later being upon the staff of 
Gen. E. M. McCook, and taking part in the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



43 



Atlaata and Nashville campaigns. While a 
prisoner in the hands of the rebels he was placed 
under fire of the Union batteries at Charleston. 
Coming to Chicago in 1866, he served as Principal 
in various public schools, including the North 
Division High School. He was one of the earli- 
est advocates or manual training, and, on the 
establishment of the Chicago Manual Training 
School in 1884, was appointed its Director — a 
position which he has continued to occupy. 
During 1891-92 he made a trip to Europe by 
appointment of the Government, to investigate 
the school systems in European countries. 

BELKNAP, Hu!,'h Reid, ex-Member of Congress, 
was born in Keokuk, Iowa, Sept. 1, 1860, being 
the son of W. W. Belknap, for some time Secre- 
tary of War under President Grant. After 
attending the public schools of his native city, 
he took a course at Adams Academy, Quincy, 
Mass., and at Phillips Academy, Andover, wlien 
he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad, where he remained twelve years in 
various departments, finally becoming Chief 
Clerk of the General Manager. In 1892 he retired 
from this position to become Superintendent of 
the South Side Elevated Railroad of Chicago. 
He never held any political position until nomi- 
nated (1894) as a Republican for the Fiftj'fourth 
Congress, in the strongly Democratic Third Dis- 
trict of Chicago. Although tlie returns showed 
a plurality of thirty-one votes for his Democratic 
opponent (Lawrence McGann), a recount proved 
him elected, when, Mr. McGann having volun- 
tarily withdrawn, Mr. Belknap was unanimously 
awarded the seat. In 1896 he was re-elected 
from a District usually strongly Democratic, 
receiving a plurality of 590 votes, but was 
defeated by his Democratic opponent in 1898, retir- 
ing from Congress, March 3, 1899, when he re- 
ceived an appointment as Paymaster in the Arniy 
from President McKinley, with the rank of Major. 
BELL, Robert, lawyer, was born in Lawrence 
County, 111., in 1839, educated at Mount Carmel 
and Indiana State University at Bloomington, 
graduating from the law department of the 
latter in 1855; while yet in his minority edited 
"The Mount Carmel Register," during 1851-52 
becoming joint owner and editor of the same 
with his brother, Victor D. Bell. After gradu- 
ation he opened an oifice at Fairfield, Wayne 
County, but, in 1857, retiu-ned to IMount Carmel 
and from 1864 was the partner of Judge E. B. 
Green, until the appointment of the latter Chief 
Justice of Oklahoma by President Harrison in 
1890. In 1869 5Ir. Bell was appointed County 



Judge of Lawrence County, being elected to the 
same office in 1S94. He was also President 
of the Illinois Southern Railroad Company 
imtil it was merged into the Cairo & Vincennes 
Road in 1867 ; later became President of the St. 
Louis & Mt. Carmel Railroad, now a part of the 
Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis line, and 
secured the construction of the division from 
Princeton, Ind., to Albion, III. In 1876 he visited 
California as Special Agent of the Treasury 
Department to investigate alleged frauds in the 
Revenue Districts on the Pacific Coast; in 1878 
was an imsuccessful candidate for Congress on 
the Republican ticket in the strong Democratic 
Nineteenth District; was appointed, the .same 
year, a member of the Republican State Central 
Committee for the State-at-large, and, in 1881, 
officiated by appointment of President Garfield, 
as Commissioner to examine a section of the 
Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in New Mexico. 
Judge BeU is a gifted stump-speaker and is known 
in the southeastern part of the State as the 
"Silver-tongued Orator of the Wabash." 

BELLEVILLE, the county-seat of St. Clair 
County, a city and railroad center, 14 miles south 
of east from St. Louis. It is one of the oldest 
towns in the State, having been selected as the 
coimty-seat in 1814 and platted in 1815. It lies 
in the center of a rich agricultural and coal-bear- 
ing district and contains numerous factories of 
various descriptions, including flouring mills, a 
nail mill, glass works and shoe factories. It has 
five newspaper establishments, two being Ger- 
man, which issue daily editions. Its commercial 
and educational facilities are exceptionally good. 
Its population is largely of German descent. 
Population (1890), 15,361 ; (1900), 17,484. 

BELLETILLE, CENTRALIA & EASTERN 
RAILROAD. (See Louisville. Evansville & St. 
Louis (Consolidated) Mailroad.) 

BELLEVILLE & CARONDELET RAILROAD, 
a short line of road extending from Belleville to 
East Carondelet, 111., 17.3 miles. It was chartered 
Feb. 20, 1881, and leased to the St. Louis, Alton 
& Terre Haute Railroad Company, June 1, 1883. 
The annual rental is $30,000, a sum equivalent to 
the interest on the bonded debt. The capital 
stock (1895) is 8500,000 and the bonded debt §485,- 
000. In addition to these sums the floating debt 
swells the entire capitalization to $995,054 or §57,- 
317 per mile. 

BELLEVILLE & ELDORADO RMLROAD, 
a road 50.4 miles in length running from Belle- 
ville to Duquoin, 111. It was chartered Feb. 22, 
1861, and completed Oct. 31, 1871. On July 1, 



44 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



1880, it was leased to the St Louis, Alton & 
Terre Haute Railroad Company for 486 years, and 
has since been operated bj' that corporation in 
connection with its Belleville branch, from East 
St. Louis to Belleville. At Eldorado the road 
intersects the Cairo & Vincennes Railroad and 
the Sha'svneetown branch of the St. Louis & 
Southeastern Railroad, operated by the Louisville 
& Npshville Railroad Compan3'. Its capital 
stock (1895) is $1,000,000 and its bonded debt 
$.550,000. The corjwrate office is at Belleville. 

BELLEVILLE & ILLlJfOISTOWX RAILROAD. 
(See St. Lo2iis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad.) 

BELLEVILLE & SOUTHERJf ILLINOIS 
RAILROAD, a road (laid with steel rails) rim- 
ning from Belleville to Duquoin, 111., 56.4 miles 
in length. It was chartered Feb. 15, 1857, and 
completed Dec. 15, 1873. At Duquoin it connects 
with the Illinois Central and forms a short line 
between St. Louis and Cairo. Oct. 1. 1866, it was 
leased to tlie St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute 
Railroad Company for 999 years. The capital 
stock is $1,692,000 and the bonded debt $1,000,- 
000. The corporate office is at Belleville. 

BELLMONT, a village of Wabash County, on 
the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railwaj', 9 
miles west of Mount Carmel. Population (1880), 
350; (1890), 487; (1900). 624. 

BELT RAILWAY COMPANY OF CHICAGO, 
THE, a corporation chartered, Nov. 22, 1883, and 
the lessee of the Belt Division of the Chicago & 
Western Indiana Riiilroad (which see). Its total 
trackage (all of standard gauge and laid with 66- 
pound steel rails) is 98.26 miles, distributed as fol- 
lows: Auburn Junction to Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. PaulJunction, 15.9 miles; branches from Pull- 
man Junction to Irondale, 111., etc., 5.41 miles; 
second track, 14.1 miles; sidings, 57.85 miles. 
The cost of construction has been §524,549; capi- 
tal stock, $1,300,000. It has no funded debt. 
The earnings for the year ending June 30, 1895, 
were $556,847, the operating expenses $378,012, 
and the taxes $51,009. 

BELVIDERE,an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Boone County, situated on the Kishwau- 
kee River, and on two divisions of the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad, 78 miles west-northwest 
of Chicago and 14 miles east of Rockford ; is con- 
nected with the latter city by electric railroad. 
The city has twelve churches, five graded schools, 
and three banks (two national). Two daily and 
two semi-weekl)- papers are published here. Bel- 
videre also has very considerable manufacturing 
interests, including manufactories of sewing ma- 
chines, bicj'cles, automobiles, besides a large 



milk-condensing factory and two creameries. 
Population (1890), 3,867; (1900), 6,937. 

BEMENT, a village in Piatt County, at inter- 
section of main line and Chicago Division of 
Wabash Railroad, 30 miles east of Decatiu- and 
166 miles south-southwest of Chicago; in agri- 
cultural and stock - raising district ; has three 
grain elevators, broom factory, water- works, elec- 
tric-light plant, four churches, two banks and 
weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 1,139; (1900), 1,484. 

BENJAMIJi, Reuben Moore, lawyer, born at 
Chatham Centre, Columbia County, N. Y., June 
29, 1833; was educated at Amherst College, Am- 
herst, Mass. ; spent one year in the law depart- 
ment of Harvard, another as tutor at Amherst 
and, in 1856, came to Bloomington, 111., where, on 
an examination certificate furnished by Abraham 
Lincoln, he was licensed to practice. The first 
public office held by Mr. Benjamin was that of 
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention 
of 1869-70, in which he took a ijrominent part in 
shaping the provisions of the new Constitution 
relating to corporations. In 1873 he was chosen 
County Judge of McLean County, by repeated 
re-elections holding the position until 1886, when 
he resumed private practice. For more than 
twenty years he has been connected with the law 
department of Weslej^an University at Blooming- 
ton, a part of the time being Dean of the Faculty ; 
is also the author of several volumes of legal 
text-books. 

BENNETT MEDICAL COLLEGE, an Eclectic 
Medical School of Chicago, incorporated by 
special charter and opened in the autmun of 
1868. Its first sessions were held in two large 
rooms; its faculty consisted of seven professors, 
and there were thirty matriculates. More com- 
modious quarters were secured the following 
year, and a still better home after the fire of 1871, 
in which all the college property was destroyed. 
Another change of location was made in 1874. 
In 1890 the property then owned was sold and a 
new college building, in connection with a hos- 
pital, erected in a more quiet quarter of the city. 
A free dispensary is conducted bj- the college. 
The teaching faculty (1896) consists of nineteen 
professors, with four assistants and demonstra- 
tors. Women are admitted as pupils on equal 
terms with men. 

BENT, Charles, journalist, was born in Chi- 
cago, Dec. 8, 1844, but removed with his family, 
in 1856, to Morrison, Whiteside County, where, 
two years later, he became an apprentice to the 
printing business in the office of "Tlie Whiteside 
Sentinel." In June, 1864, he enlisted as a soldier 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



45 



in the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois (100- 
days' regiment) and, on the expiration of his term 
of service, re-enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Forty -seventh Illinois, being mustered out at 
Savannah, Ga., in January, 1866. with the rank 
of Second Lieutenant. Then resuming his voca- 
tion as a printer, in July, 1867, he purchased the 
office of "The Whiteside Sentinel," in which he 
learned his trade, and has since been the editor of 
that paper, except during 1877-79 while engaged 
in writing a "History of Whiteside County." 
He is a charter member of the local Grand Army 
Post and served on the staff of the Department 
Commander ; was Assistant Assessor of Internal 
Revenue during 1870-73, and, in 1878, was elected 
as a Republican to the State Senate for White- 
side and Carroll Counties, serving four years. 
Other positions held by him include the office of 
City Alderman, member of the State Board of 
Canal Commissioners (1883-85) and Commissioner 
of the Joliet Penitentiary (1889-93). He has also 
been a member of the Republican State Central 
Committee and served as its Chairman 1886-88. 

BENTON, county-seat of Franklin County, on 
III. Cent, and Chi. & E. 111. Railroads; has electric- 
light plant, water-works, saddle and harness fac- 
tory, two banks, two flouring mills, sliale brick 
and tile works (projected), four churches and 
three weekly papers. Pop. (1890), 939 ; (1900), 1,341. 

BERDAJf, James, lawyer and County Judge, 
was born in New York City, July 4, 180.5, and 
educated at Columbia and Yale Colleges, gradu- 
ating from the latter in the class of 1834. His 
father, James Berdan, Sr. , came west in the fall 
of 1819 as one of the agents of a New York 
Emigration Society, and, in January, 1820, visited 
the vicinity of the present site of Jacksonville, 
111., but died soon after his return, in part from 
exposure incurred during his long and arduous 
winter journey. Thirteen years, later (1832) his 
son, the subject of this sketch, came to the same 
region, and Jacksonville became his home for the 
remainder of his life. Mr. Berdan was a well- 
read lawyer, as well as a man of high principle 
and sound culture, with pure literary and social 
tastes. Although possessing unusual capabilities, 
his refinement of character and dislike of osten- 
tation made him seek rather the association and 
esteem of friends than public office. In 1849 he 
was elected County Judge of Morgan County, 
serving by a second election until 1857. Later 
he was Secretary for several years of the Tonica 
& Petersburg Railroad (at that time in course of 
construction), serving until it was merged into 
the St. Louis. Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad, 



now constituting a part of the Jacksonville di- 
vision of the Chicago & Alton Railroad; also 
served for many years as a Trustee of Ilhnois 
College. In the latter years of his life he was, for 
a considerable period, the law partner of ex-Gov- 
ernor and ex-Senator Richard Yates. Judge 
Berdan was the ardent political friend and 
admirer of Abraham Lincoln, as well as an inti- 
mate friend and frequent correspondent of the 
poet Longfellow, besides being the correspondent, 
during a long period of his life, of a number of 
other prominent literary men. Pierre Irving, 
the nepliew and biographer of Washington Irving, 
was his brother-in-law through the marriage of a 
favorite sister. Judge Berdan died at Jackson- 
ville, August 24, 1884. 

BERttEN, (Rev.) John fc}., pioneer clergyman, 
was born at Hightstown, N. J., Nov. 37, 1790; 
studied theology, and, after two years" service as 
tutor at Princeton and sixteen years as pastor of 
a Presbyterian church at Madison, N. J., in 1838 
came to Springfield, 111., and assisted in the 
erection of the first Protestant church in the 
central part of the State, of which he remained 
pastor until 1848. Died, at Springfield, Jan. 
17, 1873. 

BERGOREX, An^astus W., legislator, bom in 
Sweden, August 17, 1840; came to the United 
States at 16 years of age and located at Oneida, 
Knox County, 111. , afterwards removing to Gales- 
burg; held various offices, including that of 
Sheriff oi Knox County (1873-81), State Senator 
(1881-89) — serving as President pro tern, of the 
Senate 1887-89, and was Warden of the State 
penitentiary at Joliet, 1888-91. He was for many 
years the very able and efficient President of the 
Covenant Mutual Life Association of Illinois, and 
is now its Treasurer. 

BERlilER, (Rev.) J, a secular priest, born in 
France, and an early missionar)' in Illinois. He 
labored among the Tamaroas. bei ng in charge of the 
mission at Cahokia from 1700 to his death in 1710. 

BERRY, Orville F., lawyer and legislator, was 
born in McDonough County, 111., Feb. 16, 1852; 
early left an orphan and, after working for some 
time on a farm, removed to Carthage, Hancock 
County, where he read law and was admitted to 
the bar in 1877 ; in 1883 was elected Mayor of 
Carthage and twice re-elected ; was elected to the 
State Senate in 1888 and '92, and, in 1891, took a 
prominent part in securing the enactment of the 
compulsory education clause in the common 
school law. Mr. Berry presided over the Repub- 
lican State Convention of 1896, tlie same year was 
a candidate for re-election to the State Senate, 



46 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



but the certificate was awarded to liis Democratic 
competitor, who was declared elected by 164 
plurality. On a contest before the Senate at the 
first session of the Fortieth General Assembly, 
the seat was awarded to Mr. Berry on the ground 
of illegality in the rulings of the Secretary of 
State affecting the vote of his opponent. 

BERRY, (Col.) William W., lawyer and sol- 
dier, was born in Kentucky, Feb. 33, 1834, and 
educated at Oxford, Ohio. His home being then 
in Covington, he studied law in Cincinnati, and, 
at the age of 33, began practice at Louisville, Ky., 
being married two years later to Miss Georgie 
Hewitt of Frankfort. Early in 1861 he entered 
the Civil War on the Union side as Major of the 
Louisville Legion, and subsequently served in 
the Army of the Cumberland, marching to the 
sea with Sherman and, during the period of his 
service, receiving four wounds. After the close 
of the war he was offered the position of Gov- 
ernor of one of the Territories, but, determining 
not to go further west than Illinois, declined. 
For three years he was located and in practice at 
Winchester, lU., but removed to Quincy in 1874, 
where he afterwards resided. He always took a 
warm interest in politics and, in local affairs, 
was a leader of his party. He was an organizer of 
the G. A. R. Post at Quincy and its first Com- 
mander, and, in 1884-85, served as Commander of 
the State Department of the G. A. R. He organ- 
ized a Young Men's Republican Club, as he 
believed that the young minds should take an 
active part in politics. He was one of the com- 
mittee of seven appointed by the Governor to 
locate the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home for Illinois, 
and, after spending six months inspecting vari- 
ous sites offered, the institution was finally 
located at Quincy; was also Trustee of Knox 
College, at Galesburg, for several years. He was 
frequently urged by his party friends to run for 
public office, but it was so much against his 
nature to ask for even one vote, that he would 
not consent. He died at his home in Quincy, 
much regretted. May 6, 1895. 

BESTOR, George C, legislator, born in Wash- 
ington City, April 11, 1811; was assistant docu- 
ment clerk in the House of Representatives eight 
years; came to Illinois in 1835 and engaged in 
real-estate business at Peoria; was twice ap- 
pointed Postmaster of that city (1843 and 1861) 
and three times elected Mayor ; served as finan- 
cial agent of the Peoria & Oquawka (now Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad), and a Director of 
the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw ; a delegate to the 
Whig National Convention of 1853; a State 



Senator (1858-63), and an ardent friend of Abra- 
ham Lincoln. Died, in Washington, May 14, 
1872, while prosecuting a claim against the 
Government for the construction of gimboats 
during the war. 

BETHALTO, a village of Madison County, on 
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railway. 35 miles north of St. Louis. Popula- 
tion (ISf^O), 638; (1890), 879; (1900), 477. 

BETHAXY, a village of Moultrie County, on 
Peoria Division 111. Cent. Railroad, 18 miles south- 
east of Decatur ; in farming district ; has one news- 
paper and four cliurches. Pop. , mostly American 
born, (1890), 688; (1900), 873; (1903, est.), 900. 

BETTIE STUART INSTITUTE, an institu- 
tion for young ladies at Springfield, 111., founded 
in 1868 by Mrs. Mary McKee Homes, wlio con- 
ducted it for some twenty years, until her death. 
Its report for 1898 shows a faculty of ten instruct- 
ors and 135 pupils. Its property is valued at 
§33,500. Its course of instruction embraces the 
preparatory and classical branches, together with 
music, oratory and fine arts. 

BEVERIDGE, James H., State Treasurer, 
was born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1838; 
served as State Treasurer, 1865-67, later acted as 
Secretary of the Commission which built the 
State Capitol. His later years were spent in 
superintending a large dairy farm near Sandwich, 
De Kalb County, where he died in January, 1896. 

BEVERIDGE, John L., ex-Governor, was born 
in Greenwich, N. Y., July 6, 1834; came to Illi- 
nois, 1843, and, after spending some two years in 
Granville Academy and Rock River Seminary, 
went to Tennessee, where he engaged in teaching 
while studying law. Having been admitted to 
the bar, he returned to Illinois in 1851, first locat- 
ing at Sycamore, but three years later established 
himself in Chicago. During the first year of the 
war he assisted to raise the Eighth Regiment Illi- 
nois Cavalry, and was commissioned first as Cap- 
tain and still later Major; two years later 
became Colonel of the Seventeenth Cavalry, 
wliich he commanded to the close of the war, 
being mustered out, February, 1866, with the 
rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the war 
he held the office of Sheriff of Cook Coimty four 
years; in 1870 was elected to the State Senate, 
and, in the following year, Congressman-at-large 
to succeed General Logan, elected to the United 
States Senate; resigned this office in January, 
1873, having been elected Lieutenant-Governor, 
and a few weeks later succeeded to the govern- 
orship by the election of Governor Oglesby to the 
United States Senate. In 1881 he was appointed. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



47 



by President Arthur, Assistant United States 
Treasurer for Chicago, serving tintil after Cleve- 
land's first election. His present home (1898), is 
near Los Angeles, Cal. 

BIENVILLE, Jean Baptiste le Moyne, Sieur 
de, was born at Montreal, Canada, Feb. 23, 1680, 
and, was the French Governor of Louisiana at the 
time the Illinois country was included in that 
province. He had several brothers, a number of 
whom played important parts in the early history 
of the province. Bienville first visited Louisi- 
ana, in company with his brother Iberville, in 
1698, their object being to establish a French 
colony near the mouth of the Mississippi. The 
first settlement was made at Biloxi, Dec. 6, 1699, 
and SanvoUe, another brother, was placed in 
charge. The latter was afterward made Governor 
of Louisiana, and, at his death (1701), he was 
succeeded by Bienville, who transferred the seat 
of government to Mobile. In 1704 he was joined 
by his brother Chateaugay, who brought seven- 
teen settlers from Canada. Soon afterwards 
Iberville died, and Bienville was recalled to 
France in 1707, but was reinstated the following 
year. Finding the Indians worthless as tillers of 
the soil, he seriously suggested to the home gov- 
ernment the expediency of trading ofif the copper- 
colored aborigines for negi'oes from the West 
Indies, three Indians to be reckoned as equiva- 
lent to two blacks. In 1713 Cadillac was sent out 
as Governor, Bienville being made Lieutenant- 
Governor. The two quarreled. Cadillac was 
superseded by Epinay in 1717, and, in 1718, Law's 
first expedition arrived (see Company of the 
West), and brought a Governor's commission for 
Bienville. The latter soon after founded New 
Orleans, which became the seat of government 
for the province (which then included Illinois), in 
1723. In January, 1724, he was again summoned 
to France to answer charges; was removed in 
disgrace in 1726, but reinstated in 1733 and given 
the rank of Lieutenant-General. Failing in vari- 
ous expeditions against the Chickasaw Indians, 
he was again superseded in 1743, returning to 
France, where he died in 1768. 

BItrGS, William, pioneer, Judge and legislator, 
was born in Maryland in 1753, enlisted in the 
Revolutionary army, and served as an oflScer 
under Colonel George Rogers Clark in the e.\pe- 
dition for the capture of Illinois from the British 
in 1778. He settled in Bellefontaine (now Jlonroe 
Coimty) soon after the close of the war. He was 
Sheriff of St. Clair County for many years, and 
later Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Coiul 
of Common Pleas. He also represented his 



county in the Territorial Legislatures of In- 
diana and Illinois. Died, in St. Clair County, 
in 1827. 

BIGGSVILLE, a village of Henderson County, 
on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 
15 miles northeast of Burlington ; lias a bank and 
two newspapers; considerable grain and live- 
stock are shipped here Population (1880), 358; 
(1890), 487; (1900), 417. 

BIG MUDDY RIVER, a stream formed by the 
union of two branches which rise in Jefferson 
County. It runs south and southwest through 
Franklin and Jackson Counties, and enters the 
Mississippi about five miles below Grand Tower. 
Its length is estimated at 140 miles. 

BILLINGS, Albert Merritt, capitalist, was 
born in New Hampshire, April 19, 1814, educated 
in the common schools of his native State and 
Vermont, and, at the age of 22, became Sheriff of 
Windsor County, Vt., Later he was proprietor 
for a time of the mail stage-coach line between 
Concord, N. H., and Boston, but, having sold out, 
invested his means in tlie securities of the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and became 
identified with the business interests of Chicago. 
In the '50's he became associated with Cornelius 
K. Garrison in the People's Gas Company of Chi- 
cago, of which he served as President from 1859 
to 1888. In 1890 Mr. BiUings became extensively 
interested in the street railway enterprises of Mr. 
C. B. Holmes, resulting in his becoming the pro- 
prietor of the street railway system at Memphis, 
Tenn., valued, in 1897, at §3,000,000. In early 
life he had been associated with Commodore 
Vanderbilt in the operation of the Hudson River 
steamboat lines of the latter. In addition to his 
other business enterprises, he was principal 
owner and, during the last twenty-five years of 
his life. President of the Home National and 
Home Savings Banks of Chicago. Died, Feb. 7, 
1897, leaving an estate valued at several millions 
of dollars. 

BILLINGS, Henry W., was bom at Conway, 
Mass., July 11, 1814, graduated at Amherst Col- 
lege at twenty years of age, and began the study 
of law with Judge Foote, of Cleveland, Ohio, was 
admitted to the bar two years later and practiced 
there some two years longer. He then removed 
to St. Louis, Mo., later resided for a time at 
Waterloo and Cairo, 111., but, in 1845, settled at 
Alton; was elected Mayor of that city in 1851, 
and the first Judge of the newly organized City 
Court, in 1859, serving in this position six years. 
In 1869 he was elected a Delegate from Madison 
County to the State Constitutional Convention of 



48 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



1869-70, but died before the expiration of the ses- 
sion, on April 19, 1870. 

BIRKBECK, Morris, early colonist, was born 
in England about 1TG2 or 1763, emigrated to 
America in 1817, and settled in Edwards County, 
111. He purchased a large tract of land and in- 
duced a large colony of English artisans, laborers 
and farmers to settle upon the same, founding 
the town of New Albion. He was an active, un- 
compromising opponent of slavery, and was an 
important factor in defeating the scheme to make 
Illinois a slave State. He was appointed Secre- 
tary of State by Governor Coles in October, 1824, 
but resigned at the end of three months, a hostile 
Legislature having refused to confirm him. A 
strong writer and a frequent contributor to the 
press, his letters and published works attracted 
attention both in this country and in Europe. 
Principal among the latter were: "Notes on a 
Journey Through France" (181,5); "Notes on a 
Journey Through America" (1818), and "Letters 
from Illinois" (1818). Died from drowning in 
182.5, aged about 63 years. (See Slavery and 
Slave Imu-s.) 

BISSELL, William H., first Republican Gov- 
ernor of Illinois, was born near Cooperstown, 
N. Y., on April 25, 181 1, graduated in medicine at 
Philadelphia in 183.5, and, after practicing a short 
time in Steuben County, N. Y., removed to Mon- 
roe County, 111. In 1840 he was elected a Repre- 
sentative in the General Assembly, where he soon 
attained high rank as a debater. He studied law 
and practiced in Belleville, St. Clair County, be- 
coming Prosecuting Attorney for that county in 
1844. He served as Colonel of the Second Illinois 
Volunteers during the Mexican War, and achieved 
distinction at Buena Vista. He represented Illi- 
nois in Congress from 1849 to 1855, being first 
elected as an Independent Democrat. On the pas- 
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, he left the Demo- 
cratic party and, in 1856, was elected Governor on 
the Republican ticket. While in Congress he was 
challenged by Jefferson Davis after an inter- 
change of heated words respecting the relative 
coirrage of Northern and Southern soldiers, 
spoken in debate. Bissell accepted the challenge, 
naming muskets at thirty paces. Mr. Davis's 
friends objected, and the duel never occurred. 
Died in office, at Springfield, 111., March 18, 1860. 
BLACK, John Charles, lawyer and soldier, 
born at Lexington, MLss., Jan. 29, 1889, at eight 
years of age came with his widowed mother to 
Illinois ; while a student at Wabash College, Ind., 
in April, 1861, enlisted in the Union array, serv- 
ing gallantly and with distinction until Aug. 15, 



1865. when, as Colonel of the 37th 111. Vol. Inf., he 
retired with the rank of BrevetBrigadier-General; 
was admitted to the bar in 1857, and after practic- 
ing at Danville, Champaign and Urbana, in 1885 
was appointed Commissioner of Pensions, serving 
until 1889, when he removed to Chicago; served as 
Congressman-at-large (1893-95), and U. S. District 
Attorney (1895-99); Commander of the Loyal 
Legion and of the G. A. R. (Department of 
Illinois); was elected Commander-in-Chief of the 
Grand Army at the Grand Encampment, 1903. 
Gen. Black received the honorary degree of A.M. 
from his Alma Mater and that of LL.D. from Knox 
College; in January, 1904, was appointed by 
President Roosevelt member of the U. S. Civil 
Service Commission, and chosen its President. 

BLACKBURN UNIVERSITY, located at Car- 
linville, Macoupin County. It owes its origin to 
the efforts of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, who, having 
induced friends in the East to unite with him in 
the purchase of Illinois lands at Government 
price, in 1837 conveyed 16,656 acres of these 
lands, situated in ten different counties, in trust 
for the founding of an institution of learning, 
intended particularly "to qualify young men for 
the gospel ministry. " The citizens of Carlinville 
donated funds wherewith to purchase eighty 
acres of land, near that city, as a site, which was 
included in the deed of trust. The enterprise 
lay dormant for many years, and it was not until 
1857 that the institution was formally incorpo- 
rated, and ten years later it was little more than 
a high school, giving one course of instruction 
considered particularly adapted to prospective 
students of theology. At present (1898) there 
are about 110 students in attendance, a faculty 
of twelve instructors, and a theological, as well as 
preparatory and collegiate departments. The 
institution owns property valued at §110,000, of 
which §50,000 is represented by real estate and 
§40,000 by endowment fimds. 

BLACK HAWK, a Chief of the Sac tribe of 
Indians, reputed to have been born at Kaskaskia 
in 1767. (It is also claimed that he was born on 
Rock River, as well as within the present limits 
of Hancock County.) Conceiving that his people 
had been wrongfully despoiled of lands belonging 
to them, in 1832 he inaugurated what is com- 
monly known as the Black Hawk War. His 
Indian name was Makabaimishekiakiak, signify- 
ing Black Sparrow Hawk. He was ambitious, but 
susceptible to flattery, and while having many of 
the qualities of leadership, was lacking in moral 
force. He was always attached to British inter- 
ests, and unquestionably received British aid of a 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



49 



substantial sort. After his defeat he was laade 
the ward of Keokuk, another Chief, which 
humiliation of his pride broke his heart. He died 
on a reservation set apart for him in Iowa, in 

1838, aged 71. His body is said to have been 
exhumed nine months after death, and his articu- 
lated skeleton is alleged to have been preserved 
in the rooms of the Burlington (la.) Historical 
Society until 1835, when it was destroyed by fire. 
(See also Black Hairk War: Ajjpendix.) 

BLACKSTONE, Timothy B., Railway Presi- 
dent, was born at Branford, Conn., March 28, 

1839. After receiving a common school educa- 
tion, supplemented by a course in a neighboring 
academy, at 18 he began the practical study of 
engineering in a corps employed by the New 
York & New Hampshire Railway Company, and 
the siune year became assistant engineer on the 
Stockbridge & Pittsfield Railway. While thus 
employed he applied himself diligently to the 
study of the theoretical science of engineering, 
and, on coming to Illinois in 1851, was qualified 
to accept and fill the position of division engineer 
(from Bloomington to Dixon) on the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railway. On the completion of the main 
line of that road in 1855, he was appointed Chief 
Engineer of the Joliet & Chicago Railroad, later 
becoming financially interested therein, and 
being chosen President of the corjioration on the 
completion of the line. In January, 1864, the 
Chicago & Joliet was leased in perpetuity to the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. Mr. Black- 
stone then became a Director in the latter organi- 
zation and, in April following, was chosen its 
President. This ofliice he filled uninterruptedly 
until April 1,1899, when the road passed into the 
hands of a syndicate of other lines. He was also 
one of the original incorporators of the Union 
Stock Yards Company, and was its President from 
1864 to 1868. His career as a railroad man was con- 
spicuous for its long service, the uninterrupted 
success of his management of the enterprises 
entrusted to his hands and his studious regard for 
the interests of stockholders. This was illustrated 
by the fact that, for some thirty years, the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad paid dividends on its preferred 
and common stock, ranging from 6 to 8 J^ per cent 
per annum, and, on disposing of his stock conse- 
quent on the transfer of the line to a new corpora- 
tion in 1899, Mr. Blackstone rejected off'ers for his 
stock — aggregating nearly one-third of the whole 
— which would have netted him $1,000,000 in 
excess of the amount received, because he was 
unwilling to use his position to reap an advantage 
over smaller stockholders Died, Mav 26, 1900. 



BLACKWELL, Robert S., lawyer, was bom 
at Belleville, 111., in 1823. He belonged to a 
prominent family in the early history of the 
State, his fatlier, David Blackwell, who was also 
a lawyer and settled in BelleviUe about 1819, 
having been a member of the Second General 
Assembly (1820) from St. Clair County, and also 
of the Fourth and Fifth. In April, 1823, he was 
appointed by Governor Coles Secretary of State, 
succeeding Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, after- 
wards a Justice of the Supreme Court, who had 
just received from President Monroe the appoint- 
ment of Receiver of Public Moneys at the 
Edwardsville Land Office. Mr. Blackwell served 
in the Secretary's office to October, 1824, during 
a part of the time acting as editor of "The Illinois 
Intelligencer," which had been removed from 
Kaskaskia to Vandalia, and in which he strongly 
opposed the policy of making Illinois a slave 
State. He finally died in Belleville. Robert 
BlackweU, a brother of David and the uncle of 
the subject of this sketch, was joint owner with 
Daniel P. Cook, of "The Illinois Herald"— after- 
wards "The Intelligencer" — at Kaskaskia, in 
1816, and in April, 1817, succeeded Cook in the 
office of Territorial Auditor of Public Accounts, 
being himself succeeded by Elijah C. Berry, who 
had become his partner on "The Intelligencer," 
and served as Auditor until the organization of 
the State Government in 1818. BlackweU & Berry 
were chosen State Printers after the removal of 
the State capital to Vandalia in 1820, serving in 
this capacity for some years. Robert Blackwell 
located at Vandalia and served as a member of 
the House from Fayette County in the Eighth 
and Ninth General Assemblies (1832-36) and in 
the Senate, 1840-43. Robert S.— the son of David, 
and the younger member of this somewhat 
famous and historic family — whose name stands at 
the head of this paragraph, attended the common 
schools at Belleville in his boyhood, but in early 
manhood removed to Galena, where he engaged 
in mercantile pursuits. He later studied law 
with Hon. O. H. Browning at Quincy, beginning 
practice at Rushville. where he was associated 
for a time with Judge Minshall. In 1852 he 
removed to Chicago, having for his first partner 
Corydon Beckwith, afterwards of the Supreme 
Court, still later being associated with a number 
of prominent lavryers of that day. He is de- 
scribed by his biographers as "an able lawyer, an 
eloquent advocate and a brilliant scholar." 
"Blackwell on Tax Titles," from his pen, has been 
accepted by the profession as a high authority on 
that branch of law. He also published a revision 



50 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of the Statutes in 1858, and began an "Abstract 
of Decisions of the Supreme Court," wliich had 
reached tlie third or fourth volume at his death, 
May 16. 1863. 

BLAIR, William, merchant, was born at 
Homer, Cortland County, N. Y., May 20, 1818, 
being descended through five generations of New 
England ancestors. After attending school in 
the town of Cortland, wliicli became his father's 
residence, at the age of 14 he obtained employ- 
ment in a stove and hardware store, four years 
later (1836) coming to Joliet, III., to take charge 
of a branch store which the firm had established 
there. The next year he purchased the stock and 
continued the business on his own account. In 
August, 1843, he removed to Chicago, where he 
established the earliest and one of the most 
extensive wholesale hardware concerns in that 
city, with which he remained connected nearly 
fifty years. During this period he was associated 
with various partners, including C. B. Nelson, 
E. G. Hall, O. W. Belden, James H. Horton and 
others, besides, at times, conducting the business 
alone. He suffered by the fire of 1871 in common 
with other business men of Chicago, but promptly 
resumed business and, within the next two or 
three years, had erected business blocks, succes- 
sively, on Lake and Randolph Streets, but retired 
from business in 1888. He was a Director of the 
Merchants' National Bank of Chicago from its 
organization in 1865, as also for a time of the 
Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company and the 
Chicago Gaslight & Coke Company, a Trustee of 
Lake Forest University, one of the Managers of 
the Presbyterian Hospital and a member of the 
Chicago Historical Society. Died in Chicago, 
May 10, 1899. 

BLAKELT, Darid, journalist, was born in 
Franklin County, Vt., in 1834; learned the print- 
er's trade and graduated from the University of 
Vermont in 1857. He was a member of a musical 
family which, under the name of "The Blakely 
Family," made several successful tours of the 
West. He engaged in journalism at Rochester, 
Minn., and, in 1862, was elected Secretary of 
State and ex-officio Superintendent of Schools, 
serving until 1865, when he resigned and, in 
partnership with a brother, bought "The Chicago 
Evening Post," with which he was connected at 
the time of the great fire and for some time after- 
ward. Later, he returned to Minnesota and 
became one of the proprietors and a member of 
the editorial stafiFof "The St. Paul Pioneer-Press." 
In his later years Mr. Blakely was President of 
the Blakely Printing Company, of Chicago, also 



conducting a large printing business in New 
York, which wa.s his residence. He was manager 
for several j'ears of the celebrated Gilmore Band 
of musicians, and also instrumental in organizing 
the celebrated Sousa's Band, of which he was 
manager up to the time of his decease in New 
York, Nov. 7, 189G. 

BLAKEMAJf , Curtiss, sea-captain, and pioneer 
settler, came from New England to Madison 
Count}-, III., in 1819, and settled in what was 
afterwards known as the "Marine Settlement," of 
which he was one of the founders. This settle- 
ment, of which the present town of Marine (first 
called Madison) was tlie outcome, took its name 
from the fact that several of tlie early settlers, like 
Captain Blakeman, were sea-faring men. Captain 
Blakeman became a prominent citizen and repre- 
sented Madison County in the lower branch of 
the Third and Fourth General Assemblies (1822 
and 1824), in the former being one of the opponents 
of the pro-slavery arnendment of the Constitution. 
A son of his, of the same name, was a Represent- 
ative in the Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth 
General AssembUes from Madison County. 

BLANCHARD, Jonathan, clergyman and edu 
cator, was born in Rookingliam, Vt., Jan. 19, 
1811; graduated at Middlebury College in»1832; 
then, after teaching some time, spent two years 
in Andover Theological Seminary, finally gradu- 
ating in theology at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, 
in 1838, where he remained nine years as pastor 
of the Sixth Presbyterian Church of that city. 
Before tliis time he had become interested in 
various reforms, and, in 1843, was sent as a 
delegate to the second World's Anti-Slavery 
Convention in London, serving as the American 
Vice-President of that body. In 1846 he assumed 
the Presidency of Knox College at Galesburg, 
remaining until 1858, during his connection 
with that institution doing much to increase its 
capacity and resources. After two years spent in 
pastoral work, he accepted (1860) the Presidency 
of Wheaton College, which he continued to fill 
vmtil 1882, wlien he was chosen President Emer- 
itus, remaining in this position until his death. 
May 14, 1892. 

BLAKDINSTILLE, a town in McDonough 
County, on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Rail- 
road, 26 miles soutlieast of Burlington, Iowa, and 
64 miles west by south from Peoria. It is a ship 
ping point for the grain grown in the surround- 
ing country, and has a grain elevatoi and steam 
flour and saw mills. It also has banks, two 
weekly newspapers and several churches. Popu- 
lation ()°"'^i 877; (1900). 995. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOt'EDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



51 



BLANEY, Jerome Van Zaudt, early physician, 
born at Newcastle, Del., May 1, 1820; was edu- 
cated at Princeton and graduated in medicine at 
Philadelphia when too young to receive his 
diploma ; in 1842 came west and joined Dr. Daniel 
Brainard in founding Rush Medical College at 
Chicago, for a time filling three chairs in that 
institution ; also, fpr a time, occupied the chair of 
Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in Northwest- 
ern University. In 1861 he was appointed Sur- 
geon, and afterwards Medical Director, in the 
army, and was Surgeon -in-Chief on the staff of 
General Sheridan at the time of the battle of 
Winchester; after the war was delegated by the 
Government to pay off medical officers in the 
Noi-thwest, in tliis capacity disbursing over §600,- 
000 : finally retiring with the rank of Lieutenant- 
Colonel. Died, Dec. 11, 1874. 

BLATCHFOKD, Eliphalet Wickes, LL.D., 
son of Dr. John Blatchford, was born at Stillwater, 
N. Y., May 31, 1S20; being a grandson of Samuel 
Blatchford, D.D.,who came to New York from 
England, in 1795. He prepared for college at Lan- 
singburg Academy. New York, and at Marion 
College, Mo. , finally graduating at Illinois College, 
Jacksonville, in the class of 1845. After graduat- 
ing, he was employed for several years in the law 
offices of his uncles, R. M. and E. H. Blatchford, 
New York. For considerations of health he re- 
tui-nedtothe West, and, in 1850, engaged in busi- 
ness for himself as a lead manufacturer in St. 
Louis, Mo., afterwards associating with him the 
late Morris Collins, under the firm name of Blatch- 
ford & ColUns. In 1854 a branch was established 
in Chicago, kno\vn as Collins & Blatchford. After 
a few years the firm was dissolved, Mr. Blatch- 
ford taking the Chicago business, which has 
continued as E. W. Blatchford & Co to the pres- 
ent time. While Mr. Blatchford has invariably 
declined political offices, he has been recognized 
as a staunch Republican, and the services of few 
men have been in more frequent request for 
positions of trust in connection with educational 
and benevolent enterprises. Among the numer- 
ous positions of this character which he has been 
called to fill are those of Treasurer of the North- 
we.stern Branch of the United States Sanitary 
Commission, during the Civil War, to which he 
devoted a large part of his time ; Trustee of Illi- 
nois College (1866-75); President of the Chicago 
Academy of Sciences; a member, and for seven- 
teen years President, of the Board of Trustees of 
the Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary ; Trustee of 
the Chicago Art Institute ; Executor and Trustee 
of the late Walter L. Newberry, and, since its 



incorpoi-ation. President of the Board of Trustees 
of The Newberry Library; Trustee of the John 
Crerar Library; one of the founders and Presi- 
dent of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago 
Manual Training School; life member of the 
Chicago Historical Society; for nearly forty 
years President of the Board of Directors of the 
Chicago Theological Seminary; during his resi- 
dence in Chicago an officer of the New England 
Congregational Chm-ch; a corporate member of 
the American Board of Commissioners for For- 
eign Missions, and for fourteen years its Vice- 
President; a charter member of the City 
Missionary Society, and of the Congregational 
Club of Chicago; a member of the Chicago 
Union League, the University, the Literary and 
the Commercial Clubs, of which latter he has 
been President. Oct. 7, 1858, Mr. Blatchford was 
married to Miss Mary Emily Williams, daughter 
of John C.Williams, of Chicago. Seven children — 
four sons and three daughters — have blessed this 
union, the eldest son, Paul, being to-day one of 
Chicago's valued business men. Mr. Blatchford's 
life has been one of ceaseless and successful 
activity in business, and to liim Chicago owes 
much of its prosperity. In the giving of time 
and money for Christian, educational and benevo- 
lent enterprises, he has been conspicuous for his 
generosity, and noted for his valuable counsel and 
executive ability in carrying these enterprises to 
success. 

BLATCHFORD, John, D.D., was bom at New- 
field (now Bridgeport), Conn., May 24, 1799; 
removed in childhood to Lansingburg, N. Y., 
and was educated at Cambridge Academy and 
Union College in that State, graduating in 1820. 
He finished his theological course at Princeton, 
N. J. , in 1823, after which he ministered succes- 
sively to Presbyterian churches at Pittstown and 
Stillwater, N. Y., in 1830 accepting the pastorate 
of the First Congregational Church of Bridge- 
port, Conn. In 1836 he came to the West, spend- 
ing the following winter at Jacksonville, 111. , and, 
in 1837, was installed the first pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Chicago, where he 
remained until compelled by failing health to 
resign and return to the East. In 1841 he ac- 
cepted the chair of Intellectual and Moral Phi- 
losophy at Marion College, Mo., subsequently 
assuming the Presidency. The institution having 
been purchased by the Free Masons, in 1844, he 
removed to West Ely, Mo., and thence, in 1847, 
to Quincy, 111., where he resided during the 
remainder of his Ufe. His death occurred in St. 
Louis, April 8, 1855. The churches he served 



52 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



testified strongly to Dr. Blatchford's faithful, 
acceptable and successful performance of his 
ministerial duties. He was married in 1825 to 
Frances Wickes, daughter of Eliphalet Wickes, 
Esq., of Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y. 

BLEDSOE, Albert Taylor, teacher and law- 
yer, was bom in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 9, 1809; 
graduated at West Point Military Academy in 
1830, and, after two years' service at Fort Gib- 
son, Indian Territory, retired from the army in 
1832. During 1833-34 he was Adjunct Professor 
of Mathematics and teacher of French at Kenyon 
College, Ohio, and, in 1835-36, Professor of 
Mathematics at Miami University. Then, hav- 
ing studied theology, he served for several years 
as rector of Episcopal churches in Ohio. In 1838 
he settled at Springfield, 111., and began the prac- 
tice of law, remaining several years, when he 
removed to Washington, D. C. Later he became 
Professor of Mathematics, first (1848-54) in the 
University of Mississippi, and (1854-61) in the 
University of Virginia. He then entered the 
Confederate service with the rank of Colonel, 
but soon became Acting Assistant Secretary of 
War; in 1863 visited England to collect material 
for a work on the Constitution, which was pub- 
lished in 1866, when he settled at Baltimore, 
where he began the publication of "The Southern 
Review," which became the recognized organ of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Later 
he became a minister of the Methodist Church. 
He gained considerable reputation for elocjuence 
during his residence in Illinois, and was the 
author of a nimiber of works on reUgious and 
political subjects, the latter maintaining the 
right of secession; was a man of recognized 
ability, but lacked stability of character. Died 
at Alexandria, Ta., Dec. 8, 1877. 

BLODGETT, Henry Williams, jurist, was born 
at Amherst, Mass., in 1821. At the age of 10 
years he removed with his parents to Illinois, 
where he attended the district schools, later 
returning to Amherst to spend a year at the 
Academy. Returning home, he spent the years 
1839-42 in teaching and surveying. In 1842 he 
began the study of law at Chicago, being 
admitted to the bar in 1845, and beginning prac- 
tice at Waukegan, 111., where he has continued 
to reside. In 1852 he was elected to the lower 
house of the Legislature from Lake County, as 
an anti-slavery candidate, and, in 1858, to the 
State Senate, in the latter serving four years. 
He gained distinction as a railroad solicitor, being 
employed at different times by the Chicago & 
Northwestern, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 



Paul, the Michigan Southern and the Pittsburg 
& Fort Wayne Companies. Of the second named 
road he was one of the projectors, procuring its 
charter, and being identified with it in the sev- 
eral capacities of Attorney, Director and Presi- 
dent. In 1870 President Grant appointed him 
Judge of the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of Illinois. This position he 
continued to occupy for twenty-two years, resign- 
ing it in 1892 to accept an appointment by Presi- 
dent Cleveland as one of the counsel for the 
United States before the Behriug Sea Arbitrators 
at Paris, which was his last official service. 

BLOOMIXGDALE, a village of Du Page County, 
30 miles west by north from Chicago. Population 
(1880), 226; (1890), 463; (1900), 235. 

BLOOMINGTON, the county-seat of McLean 
County, a flourishing city and railroad center, 59 
miles northeast of Springfield ; is in a rich agri- 
cultural and coal-mining district. Besides car 
shops and repair works employing some 2,000 
hands, there are manufactories of stoves, fur- 
naces, plows, flour, etc. Nurseries are numerous 
in the vicinity and horse breeding receives much 
attention. The city is the seat of Illinois Wes- 
leyan University, has fine public schools, several 
newspapers (two published daily), besides educa- 
tional and other publications. Tlie business sec- 
tion suffered a disastrous fire in 1900, but has been 
rebuilt more substantially than before. The prin- 
cipal streets are paved and electric street cars con- 
nect with Normal (two miles distant), the site of 
the "State Normal University" and "Soldiers' Or- 
phans' Home." Pop. (1890). 20.284; (1900), 23,286. 

BLOOMI>GTO>' COXVEXTION OF 1856. 
Although not formally called as such, this was 
the first Republican State Convention held in 
Illinois, out of which grew a permanent Repub- 
lican organization in the State. A mass conven- 
tion of those opposed to the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise (known as an "Anti-Nebraska 
Convention") was held at Springfield during the 
week of the State Fair of 1854 (on Oct. 4 and 5), 
and, although it adopted a platform in harmony 
with the principles which afterwards became tlie 
foundation of the Republican party, and appointed 
a State Central Committee, besides putting in 
nomination a candidate for State Treasurer — tlie 
only State officer elected that year — the organi- 
zation was not perpetuated, the State Central 
Committee failing to organize. The Bloomington 
Convention of 1856 met in accordance with a call 
issued by a State Central Committee appointed 
by the Convention of Anti-Nebraska editors held 
at Decatur on February 22, 18.56. (See Anti-Neb- 



HISTOEICAL E^'CYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



53 



raska Editorial Convention.) The call did not 
even contain the word "Republican," but was 
addressed to those opposed to the principles of 
the Nebraska Bill and the policy of the existing 
Democratic administration. The Convention 
met on May 29, 1856, the date designated b3- the 
Editorial Convention at Becatur. but was rather 
in the nature of a mass than a delegate conven- 
tion, as party organizations existed in few coun- 
ties of the State at that time. Consequently 
representation was very unequal and followed no 
systematic rule. Out of one hundred counties 
into which the State was then divided, only 
seventy were represented by delegates, ranging 
from one to twenty-five each, leaving thirty 
counties (embracing nearly the whole of the 
southern part of the State) entirely unrepre- 
sented. Lee County had the largest representa- 
tion (twenty-five), Morgan County (the home of 
Richard Yates) coming next with twenty dele- 
gates, while Cook County had seventeen and 
Sangamon had five. The whole number of 
delegates, as shown by the contemporaneous 
record, was 269. Among the leading spirits in 
the Convention were Abraham Lincoln, Archi- 
bald Williams, O. H. Browning, Richard Yates, 
John M. Pahner, Owen Lovejoy, Norman B. 
Judd, Burton C. Cook and others who afterwards 
became prominent in State politics. The delega- 
tion from Cook County included the names of 
John Wentworth, Grant Goodrich, George 
Schneider, Mark Skinner, Charles H. Ray and 
Charles L. AVilson. The temporarj' organization 
was effected with Archibald Williams of Adams 
County in the cliair, followed by the election of 
John M. Palmer of Macoupin, as Permanent 
President. The other officers were: Vice-Presi- 
dents — John A. Davis of Stephenson; William 
Ross of Pike; James McKee of Cook: John H. 
Bryant of Bureau; A. C. Harding of Warren; 
Richard Yates of Morgan; Dr. H. C. Johns of 
Macon; D. L. Phillips of Union; George Smith 
of Madison: Thomas A. Marshall of Coles ; J. M. 
Ruggles of Mason ; G. D. A. Parks of Will, and John 
Clark of Schuyler. Secretaries — Henrj' S. Baker 
of Madison ; Charles L. Wilson of Cook ; John 
Tillson of Adams; Washington Bushnell of La 
Salle, and B. J. F. Hanna of Randolph. A State 
ticket was put in nomination consisting of 
William H. Bissell for Governor (by acclama- 
tion) ; Francis A. Hoffman of Du Page County, 
for Lieutenant-Governor; Ozias M. Hatch of 
Pike, for Secretary of State ; Jesse K. Dubois of 
Lawrence, for Auditor; James Miller of McLean, 
for Treasurer, and William H. Powell of Peoria, 



for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Hoff- 
man, having been found ineligible by lack of resi- 
dence after the date of naturalization, withdrew, 
and his place was subsequently filled by the 
nomination of John Wood of Quincy. The plat- 
form adopted was outspoken in its pledges of 
unswerving loyalty to the Union and opposition 
to the extension of slavery into new territory. A 
delegation was appointed to the National Con- 
vention to be held in Philadelphia on June 17, 
following, and a State Central Committee was 
named to conduct the State campaign, consisting 
of James C. Conkling of Sangamon County; 
Asahel Gridley of McLean; Burton C. Cook of 
La Salle, and Charles H. Ray and Norman B. 
Judd of Cook. The principal speakers of the 
occasion, before the convention or in popular 
meetings held while the members were present in 
Bloomington, included the names of O. H. Brown- 
ing, Owen Lovejo}', Abraham Lincoln, Burton 
C. Cook, Richard Yates, the venerable John 
Dixon, founder of the city bearing his name, and 
Governor Reeder of Pennsylvania, who had been 
Territorial Governor of Kansas by appointment 
of President Pierce, but had refused to carry out 
the policy of the administration for making 
Kansas a slave State. None of the speeches 
were fully reported, but that of Mr. Lincoln has 
been universally regarded by those who heard it 
as the gem of the occasion and the most brilliant 
of his life, foreshadowing his celebrated "house- 
divided-against-itself" speech of Jime 17, 1858. 
John L. Scripps. editor of "The Chicago Demo- 
cratic Press," writing of it, at the time, to his 
paper, said: "Never has it been our fortune to 
listen to a more eloquent and masterly presenta- 
tion of a subject. . . . For an hour and a half lie 
(Mr. Lincoln) held the assemblage spellbound by 
the power of his argument, the intense irony of 
his invective, and the deep earnestness and fervid 
brilliancy of his eloquence. When he concluded, 
the audience sprang to their feet and cheer after 
cheer told how deeply their hearts had been 
touched and their souls warmed up to a generous 
enthusiasm." At the election, in November 
following, although the Democratic candidate 
for President carried the State by a pluralitj- of 
over 9,000 votes, the entire State ticket put in 
nomination at Bloomington was successful by 
majorities ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 for the 
several candidates. 

BLUE ISLAND, a village of Cook County, on 
the Calumet River and the Chicago. Rock Island 
& Pacific, the Chicago & Grand Trunk and 
the Illinois Central Railwavs. 1.5 miles south of 



64 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Chicago. It has a high school, churches and two 
newspapers, besides brick, smelting and oil works. 
Population (1890). 2..V:i; (1900), 6,114. 

BLUE 1SL.\ND RAILROAD, a short line 3.96 
miles in length, lying wholly within Illinois; 
capital stock §25,000; operated by the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company. Its funded debt 
(1895) was $100,000 and its floating debt. §3,779. 

BLUE MOUND, a town of Macon County, on 
the Wabash Railway, 14 miles southeast of De- 
catur;: in rich grain and live-stock region; has 
three grain elevators, two banks, tile factory and 
one newspaper. Pop. (1890), 696; (1900), 714. 

BLUFFS, a village of Scott County, at the 
junction of the Quincy and Hannibal branches of 
the Wabash Railway, 53 miles west of Spring- 
field; has a bank and a newspaper. Population 
(1880), 163; (1890), 421; (1900), 539. 

BOAL, Robert, M.D., physician and legis- 
lator, born near Harrisburg, Pa., in 1806; was 
brought by his parents to Ohio when five years 
old and educated at Cincinnati, graduating from 
the Ohio Medical College in 1828; settled at 
Lacon, 111., in 1836, practicing there until 1863, 
when, having been appointed Surgeon of the 
Board of Enrollment for that District, he re- 
moved to Peoria. Other public positions held by 
Dr. Boal have been those of Senator in the 
Fourteenth and Fifteenth General Assemblies 
(1844-48), Representative in the Nineteenth and 
Twentieth (1854-58), and Trustee of the Institu- 
tion for the Deaf and Dumb at Jacksonville, 
remaining in the latter position seventeen years 
under the successive administrations of Gov- 
ernors Bissell, Yates, Oglesby, Palmer and Bever- 
idge — the last five years of his service being 
President of the Board. He was also President 
of the State Medical Board in 1882. Dr. Boal 
continued to practice at Peoria until about 1890, 
when he retired, and, in 1893, returned to Lacon 
to reside with his daughter, the widow of the 
late Colonel Greenbury L. Fort, for eight years 
Representative in Congress from the Eighth 
District. 

BOARD OF ARBITRATION, a Bureau of the 
State Government, created by an act of the Legis- 
lature, approved August 3, 1895. It is appointed 
by the Executive and is composed of three mem- 
bers (not more than two of whom can belong to 
the same political party), one of whom must be 
an employer of labor and one a member of some 
labor organization. The term of office for the 
members first named was fixed at two j'ears; 
after March 1, 1897, it is to be three years, one 
member retiring annually. A compensation of 



SI,. 500 per annum is allowed to each member of 
the Board, while the Secretary, who must also be 
a stenographer, receives a salary of $1,300 per 
annum. When a controversy arises between an 
individual, firm or corporation employing not less 
than twenty-five persons, and his or its employes, 
application may be made by the aggrieved 
party to the Board for an inquiry into the 
nature of the disagreement, or both parties may 
unite in the submission of a case. The Board is 
required to visit the locality, carefully investi- 
gate the cause of the dispute and render a deci- 
sion as soon as practicable, the same to be at once 
made public. If the application be filed by the 
employer, it must be accompanied by a stipula- 
tion to continue in business, and order no lock-out 
for the space of three weeks after its date. In 
like manner, complaining employes must promise 
to continue peacefully at work, under existing 
conditions, for a like period. The Board is 
granted power to send for persons and papers and 
to administer oaths to witnesses. Its decisions 
are binding upon applicants for six months after 
rendition, or until either part}' shall have given 
the other sixty days' notice in writing of his or 
their intention not to be bound thereby. In case 
the Board shall learn that a disagreement exists 
between employes and an employer having less 
than twenty-five persons in his employ, and that 
a strike or lock-out is seriously threatened, it is 
made the duty of the body to put itself into 
communication with both employer and employes 
and endeavor to effect an amicable settlement 
between them by mediation. The absence of any 
provision in the law prescribing penalties for its 
violation leaves the observance of the law, in its 
present form, dependent upon the voluntary 
action of the parties interested. 

BOARD OF EiJUALIZATION, a body organ- 
ized under act of the General Assembly, ajiproved 
March 8, 1867. It first consisted of twenty-five 
members, one from each Senatorial District. 
The first Board was appointed by the Governor, 
holding office two years, afterwards becoming 
elective for a term of four years. In 1872 the 
law was amended, reducing the number of mem- 
bers to one for each Congressional District, the 
whole number at that time becoming nineteen, 
with the Auditor as a member ex-officio, who 
usually presides. From 1884 to 1897 it consisted 
of twenty elective members, but. in 1897, it was 
increased to twenty-two. The Board meets 
annually on the second Tuesday of August. The 
abstracts of the property assessed for taxation in 
the several counties of the State are laid before 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



55 



it for examination and equalization, but it may 
not reduce the aggregate valuation nor increase 
it more than one per cent. Its powers over the 
returns of the assessors do not extend beyond 
equalization of assessments between counties. 
The Board is required to consider the various 
classes of property separately, and determine 
such rates of addition to or deduction from the 
listed, or assessed, valuation of each class as it 
may deem equitable and just. The statutes pre- 
scribe rules for determining the value of all the 
classes of property enumerated — personal, real, 
railroad, telegraph, etc. The valuation of the 
capital stock of railroads, telegraph and other 
corporations (except newspapers) is fixed by the 
Board. Its consideration having been completed, 
the Board is required to summarize the results of 
its labors in a comparative table, which must be 
again examined, compared and perfected. 
Reports of each annual meeting, with the results 
reached, are printed at the expense of the State 
and distributed as are other public documents. 
The present Board (1897-1901) consists by dis- 
tricts of (1) George F. McKnight, (2) John J. 
McKenna, (3) Solomon Simon, (4) Andrew Mc- 
Ansh, (5) Albert Oberndorf, (6) Henry Severin, 
(7) Edward S. Taylor, (8) Theodore S. Rogers, 
(9) Charles A. Works, (10) Thomas P. Pierce, (11) 
Samuel M. Barnes, (12) Frank P. Martin, (13) 
Frank K. Robeson, (14) W. O. Cadwallader, (15) 
J. S. Cruttenden, (16) H. D. Hirshheimer, (17) 
Thomas N. Leavitt, (18) Joseph F. Long, (19) 
Richard Cadle, (20) Charles Emerson, (21) John 
W. Larimer, (22) William A. Wall, besides the 
Auditor of Public Accounts as exofficio member 
— the District members being divided politically 
in the proportion of eighteen Republicans to four 
Democrats. 

BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES, a State 
Bureau, created by act of the Legislature in 
1869, upon the recommendation of Governor 
Oglesby. The act creating the Board gives the 
Commissioners supervisory oversight of the 
financial and administrative conduct of all the 
charitable and correctional institutions of the 
State, with the exception of the penitentiaries, 
and they are especially charged with looking 
after and caring for the condition of the paupers 
and the insane. As originally constituted the 
Board consisted of five male members who em- 
ployed a Secretary. Later provision was made 
for the appointment of a female Commissioner. 
The office is not elective. The Board has always 
carefully scrutinized the accounts of the various 
State charitable institutions, and, under its man- 



agement, no charge of peculation against any 
official connected with the same has ever been 
substantiated ; there have been no scandals, and 
only one or two isolated charges of cruelty to 
inmates. Its supervision of the county jails and 
almshouses has been careful and conscientious, 
and has resulted in benefit alike to the tax-payers 
and the inmates. The Board, at the close of the 
year 1898, consisted of the following five mem- 
bers, their terms ending as indicated in paren- 
thesis: J. C. Corbus (1898), R. D. Lawrence 
(1899), Julia C. Lathrop (1900), William J. Cal- 
houn (1901), Ephraim Banning (1902). J. C. Cor- 
bus was President and Frederick H. Wines, 
Secretary. 

BOtJARDUS, Charles, legislator, was born 
in Cayuga County, N. Y., March 28, 1841, and 
left an orphan at six years of age ; was educated 
in the common schools, began working in a store 
at 12, and, in 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Fifty-first New York Infantry, being elected 
First Lieutenant, and retiring from the service 
as Lieutenant-Colonel "for gallant and meritori- 
ous service" before Petersburg. While in the 
service he participated in some of the most 
important battles in Virginia, and was once 
wounded and once captured. In 1872 he located 
in Ford County, 111., where he has been a success- 
ful operator in real estate. He has been twice 
elected to the House of Representatives (1884 and 
'86) and three times to the State Senate (1888, 
'92 and '96), and has served on the most important 
committees in each house, and has proved him- 
self one of the most useful members. At the 
session of 1895 he was chosen President pro tern. 
of the Senate. 

BOGGS, Carroll C, Justice of the Supreme 
Court, was born in Fairfield, Wayne County, 
111., Oct. 19, 1844, and still resides in his native 
town; has held the offices of State's Attorney, 
County Judge of Wayne County, and Judge of 
the Circuit Court for the Second Judicial Circuit, 
being assigned also to Appellate Court duty. In 
June. 1897, Judge Boggs was elected a Justice of 
the Supreme Court to succeed Judge David J. 
Baker, his term to continue until 1906. 

BOLTWOOD, Henry L., the son of William 
and Electa (Stetson) Bolt wood, was born at Am- 
herst, Mass., Jan. 17, 1831; fitted for college at 
Amherst Academy and graduated from Amherst 
College in 1853. While in college he taught 
school every winter, commencing on a salary of 
$4 per week and "boarding round" among the 
scholars. After graduating he taught in acad- 
emies at Limerick, Me., and at Pembroke and 



56 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Derrj', N. H., and in tlie high school at Law- 
rence, Mass. ; also served as School Commissioner 
for Rockingham County, N. H. In 1864 he went 
into the service of the Sanitary Commission in 
the Department of the Gulf, remaining until the 
close of the war ; was also ordained Chaplain of a 
colored regiment, but was not regularly mustered 
in. After the close of the war he was employed 
as Superintendent of Schools at Griggsville, 111. , 
for two years, and, while there, in 1867, organ- 
ized the first township high school ever organized 
in the State, where he remained eleven years. He 
afterwards organized the township high school at 
Ottawa, remaining there five years, after which, 
in 1883, he organized and took charge of the 
township liigh school at Evanston, where he has 
since been employed in his jsrofession as a teacher. 
Professor Bolt wood has been a member of the State 
Board of Education and has served as President 
of the State Teachers' Association. As a teacher 
he has given special attention to English language 
and literature, and to history, being the author 
of an English Grammar, a High School Speller 
and "Topical Outlines of General History," 
besides many contributions to educational jour- 
nals. He has done a great deal of institute work, 
both in Illinois and Iowa, and has been known 
somewhat as a tariff reformer. 

BOND, Lester L., lawyer, was born at Raven- 
na, Ohio, Oct. 27, 1829 ; educated in the common 
schools and at an academy, meanwhile laboring 
in local factories ; studied law and was admitted 
to the bar in 1853, the following year coming to 
Chicago, where he has given his attention chiefly 
to practice in connection with patent laws. Mr. 
Bond served several terms in the Chicago City 
Council, was Republican Presidential Elector in 
1868, and served two terms in the General Assem- 
bly— 1866-70. 

BOND, Shadrach, first Territorial Delegate in 
Congress from lUinois and first Governor of the 
State, was born in Maryland, and, after being 
liberally educated, removed to Kaskaskia while 
Illinois was a part of the Northwest Territory. 
He served as a member of the first Territorial 
Legislature (of Indiana Territory) and was the 
first Delegate from the Territory of Illinois in 
Congress, serving from 1812 to 1814. In the 
latter year he was appointed Receiver of Public 
Moneys ; he also held a comnaission as Captain in 
the War of 1812. On the admission of the State, 
in 1818, he was elected Governor, and occupied 
the executive chair until 1822. Died at Kaskas- 
kia, April 13. 1832.— Shadrach Bond, Sr., an uncle 
of the preceding, came to Illinois in 1781 and was 



elected Delegate from St. Clair County (then 
comprehending all lUinois) to the Territorial 
Legislature of Northwest Territory, in 1799, and, 
in 1804, to the Legislative Council of the newly 
organized Territory of Indiana. 

BOND COUNTY, a small county lying north- 
east from St. Louis, having an area of 880 square 
miles and a population 1900) of 16,078. The 
first American settlers located here in 1807, com- 
ing from the South, and building Hill's and 
Jones's forts for protection from the Indians. 
Settlement was slow, in 1816 there being scarcely 
twenty-five log cabins in the county.' The 
county-seat is Greenville, where the first cabin 
was erected in 1815 by George Davidson. The 
county was organized in 1818, and named in 
honor of Gov. Shadrach Bond. Its original 
limits included the present counties of Clinton, 
Fayette and Montgomery. The first court was 
held at Perryville, and, in May, 1817, Judge 
Jesse B. Thomas presided over the first Circuit 
Court at Hill's Station. The first court house 
was erected at Greenville in 1822. The county 
contains good timber and farming lands, and at 
some points, coal is found near the siu-face. 

BONNET, Charles Carroll, lawyer and re- 
former, was born in Hamilton, N. Y., Sept. 4, 
1831 ; educated at Hamilton Academy and settled 
in Peoria, 111., in 1850, where he pursued the 
avocation of a teacher while studying law ; was 
admitted to the bar in 1852, but removed to Chi- 
cago in 1860, where he has since been engaged in 
practice; served as President of the National 
Law and Order League in New York in 1885, 
being repeatedly reelected, and has also been 
President of the Illinois State Bar Association, as 
well as a member of the American Bar Associa- 
tion. Among the reforms which he has advo- 
cated are constitutional prohibition of special 
legislation; an extension of equity practice to 
bankruptcy and other law proceedings ; civil serv- 
ice pensions ; State Boards of labor and capital, 
etc. He has also published some treatises in book 
form, chiefly on legal questions, besides editing 
a volume of "Poems by Alfred W. Arrington, 
with a sketch of his Character" (1869. ) As Presi- 
dent of tlie World's Congresses Auxiliary, in 1893, 
Mr. Bonney contributed largely to the success of 
that very interesting and important feature of 
the great Columbian Exposition in Chicago. 

BOONE, Levi D., M. D., early physician, was 
born near Lexington, Ky., December, 1808 — a 
descendant of the celebrated Daniel Boone; re- 
ceived the degree of M. D. from Transylvania 
University and came to Edwardsville, 111., at an 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



57 



early day, afterwards locating at Hillsboro and 
taking part in the Black Hawk War as Captain of 
a cavalry company ; came to Chicago in 1836 and 
engaged in the insurance business, later resuming 
the practice of his profession; served several 
terms as Alderman and was elected Mayor in 
1855 by a combination of temperance men and 
Know- Nothings ; acquired a large property by 
operations in real estate. Died, February, 
1883 

BOONE COUNTY, the smallest of the "north- 
ern tier" of counties, liaving an area of only 290 
square miles, and a population (1900) of 15,791. 
Its surface is chiefly rolling prairie, and the 
principal products are oats and corn. The earli- 
est settlers came from New York and New Eng- 
land, and among them were included Medkiflf, 
Dunham, Caswell, Cline, Towner, Doty and 
Whitney. Later (after the Pottawattomies had 
evaoiiated the country), came the Shattuck 
brothers, Maria Hollenbeck and Mrs. BuUard, 
Oliver Hale, Nathaniel Crosby, Dr. Whiting, H. 
C. Walker, and the Neeley and Mahoney families. 
Boone County was cut off from Winnebago, and 
organized in 1837, being named in honor of Ken- 
tucky's pioneer. The first frame house in the 
county was erected by S. F. Doty and stood for 
fifty years in the village of Belvidere on the north 
side of the Kishwaukee River. The county -seat 
(Belvidere) was platted in 1837, and an academy 
built soon after. The first Protestant church 
was a Baptist society under the pastorate of Rev. 
Dr. King. 

BOURBONNAIS, a village of Kankakee County, 
on the Illinois Central Railroad, 5 miles north of 
Kankakee. Population (1890), 510; (1900). 59.5. 

BOTJTELL, Henry Sherman, lawyer and Con- 
gressman, was born in Boston, Mass., March 14, 
1856, graduated from the Northwestern Univer- 
sity at Evanston, 111., in 1874, and from Harvard 
in 1876; was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 
1879, and to that of the Supreme Court of the 
United States in 1885. In 1884 Mr. Boutell was 
elected to the lower branch of the Thirty-fourth 
General Assembly and was one of the "103" who, 
in the long struggle during the following session, 
participated in the election of Gen. John A. 
Logan to the United States Senate for the last 
time. At a special election held in the Sixth 
Illinois District in November, 1897, he was 
elected Representative in Congress to fill the 
vacancy caused by the sudden death of his pred- 
ecessor, Congressman Edward D. Cooke, and at 
the regular election of 1898 was re-elected to the 
same position, receiving a plurality of 1,116 over 



his Democratic competitor and a majority of 719 
over all. 

BOUTON, Nathaniel S., manufacturer, was 
born in Concord, N. H., May 14, 1828; in his 
youth farmed and taught school in Connecticut, 
but in 1852 came to Chicago and was employed 
in a foundry firm, of which he soon afterwards 
became a partner, in the manufacture of car- 
wheels and railway castings. Later he became 
associated with the American Bridge Company's 
works, which was sold to the Illinois Central 
Railroad Company in 1857, when he bought the 
Union Car Works, which he operated until 1863. 
He then became the head of the Union Foundry 
Works, which having been consolidated with 
the Pullman Car Works in 1886, he retired, 
organizing the Bouton Foundry Company. Mr. 
Bouton is a Republican, was Commissioner of 
Public Works for the city of Chicago two terms 
before the Civil War, and served as Assistant 
Quartermaster in the Eighty-eighth Illinois 
Infantry (Second Board of Trade Regiment) 
from 1862 until after the battle of Chickamauga. 
BOYD, Thomas A., was born in Adams County, 
Pa., June 25, 1830, and graduated at Marshall 
College, Mercersburg, Pa., at the age of 18; 
studied law at Cliambersburg and was admitted 
to the bar at Bedford in his native State, where 
he practiced until 1856, when he removed to Illi- 
nois. In 1861 he abandoned his practice to enlist 
in the Seveuteentli Illinois Infantry, in which he 
held the position of Captain. At the close of the 
war he returned to his home at Lewistown, and, 
in 1866, was elected State Senator and re-elected 
at the expiration of his term in 1870, serving in 
the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty- 
seventh General Assemblies. He was also a 
Republican Representative from Ids District in 
the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses 
(1877-81). Died, at Lewistown, May 28, 1897. 

BRACEVILLE, a town in Grundy County, 61 
miles by rail southwest of Chicago. Coal mining 
is the principal industry. The town has two 
banks, two churches and good public schools. 
Population (1890), 2,150; (1900), 1,669. 

BRADFORD, village of Stark County, on Buda 
and Rushville branch Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railway ; is in excellent farming region 
and has large grain and live-stock trade, excel- 
lent high school building, fine churches, good 
hotels and one newspaper. Pop. (1900), 773. 

BRADSBY, William H., pioneer and Judge, 
was born in Bedford County, Va., July 12, 1787. 
He removed to Illinois early in life, and was the 
first postmaster in Washington County (at Gov- 



58 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ington), the first school-teacher and the first 
Circuit and County Clerk and Recorder. At the 
time of his death he was Probate and County 
Judge. Besides being Clerk of all the courts, he 
was virtually County Treasurer, as he had cus- 
tody of all the county's money. For several 
years he was also Deputy United States Surveyor, 
and in that capacity surveyed much of the south 
part of the State, as far east as Wayne and Clay 
Counties. Died at Nashville, 111 , August 21, 
1839. 

BRADWELL, James Bolesworth, lawyer and 
editor, was born at Loughborough, England, April 
16, 1828, and brought to America in infancy, his 
parents locating in 1829 or '30 at Utica, N. Y. In 
1833 they emigi-ated to Jacksonville, 111., but the 
following year removed to Wheeling, Cook 
County, settling on a farm, where the younger 
Bradwell received his first lessons in breaking 
prairie, splitting rails and tilling the soil. His 
first schooling was obtained in a country log- 
school-house, but, later, he attended the Wilson 
Academy in Chicago, where he had Judge Lo- 
renzo Sa%vyer for an instructor. He also took a 
course in Knox College at Galesburg, then a 
manual-labor school, supporting himself by work- 
ing in a wagon and plow shop, sawing wood, 
etc. In May, 1852, he was married to Miss Myra 
Colby, a teacher, with whom he went to Mem- 
phis, Tenn., the same year, where they engaged 
in teacliing a select school, the subject of this 
sketch meanwhile devoting some attention to 
reading law. He was admitted to the bar there, 
but after a stay of less than two years in Mem- 
phis, returned to Chicago and began practice. 
In 1861 he was elected County Judge of Cook 
County, and re-elected four years later, but 
declined a re-election in 1869. The first half of 
his term occurring during the progress of the 
Civil War, he had the opportvmity of rendering 
some vigorous decisions which won for him the 
reputation of a man of courage and inflexible 
independence, as well as an incorruptible cham- 
pion of justice. In 1872 he was elected to the 
lower branch of the Twenty-eighth General 
Assembly from Cook Count}', and re-elected in 
1874. He was again a candidate in 1882, and by 
many believed to have been honestly elected, 
though his opponent received the certificate. He 
made a contest for the seat, and the majority of 
the Committee on Elections reported in his 
favor ; but he was defeated through the treach- 
ery and suspected corruption of a professed polit- 
ical friend. He is the author of the law making 
women eligible to school offices in Illinois and 



allowing them to become Notaries Public, and 
has always been a champion for equal rights for 
women in the professions and as citizens. He 
was a Second Lieutenant of the One Himdred and 
Fifth Regiment, Illinois Militia, in 1848 ; presided 
over the American Woman's Suffrage Associa- 
tion at its organization in Cleveland; has been 
President of the Chicago Press Club, of the Chi- 
cago Bar Association, and, for a number of years, 
the Historian of the latter ; one of the founders 
and President of the Union League Club, besides 
being associated with many other social and 
business organizations. At present (1899) he is 
editor of "The Chicago Legal News," founded by 
his wife thirty years ago, and with which he has 
been identified in a business capacity from its 
establishment. — Myra Colby (Bradwell), the wife 
of Judge BradweU, was born at Manchester, Vt., 
Feb. 12, 1831 — being descended on her mother's 
side from the Chase family to which Bishop 
Philander Chase and Salmon P. Chase, the latter 
Secretary of the Treasurj' and Chief Justice of 
the Supreme Court by appointment of Abraham 
Lincoln, belonged. In infancy she was brought 
to Portage, N. Y. , where she remained until she 
was twelve years of age, when her family re- 
moved west. She attended school in Kenosha, 
Wis., and a seminary at Elgin, afterwards being 
engaged in teaching. On May 18, 1852, she was 
married to Judge Bradwell, almost immediately 
going to Memphis, Tenn., where, vrith the assist- 
ance of her husband, she conducted a select school 
for some time, also teaching in the public schools, 
when they returned to Chicago. In the early 
part of the Civil War she took a deep interest in 
the welfare of the soldiers in the field and their 
families at home, becoming President of the 
Soldiers' Aid Society, and was a leading spirit in 
the Sanitary Fairs held in Chicago in 1863 and in 
1865. After the war she commenced the study 
of law and, in 1868, began the publication of 
"The Chicago Legal News," with which she re- 
mained identified until her death — also publishing 
biennially an edition of the session laws after 
each .session of the General Assembly. After 
passing a most creditable examination, applica- 
tion was made for her admission to the bar in 
1871, but denied in an elaborate decision rendered 
by Judge C. B. Lawrence of the Supreme Court 
of the State, on the sole ground of sex, as 
was also done by the Supreme Court of the 
United States in 1873, on the latter occasion 
Chief Justice Chase dissenting. She was finally 
admitted to the bar on March 28, 1892, and was 
the first lady member of the State Bar Associ- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



59 



ation. Other organizations with wliich she was 
identified embraced the Illinois State Press 
Association, the Board of Managers of the Sol- 
diers' Home (in war time), the "Illinois Industrial 
School for Girls" at Evanston, the Washingtonian 
Home, the Board of Lady Managers of the 
World's Columbian Exposition, and Chairman of 
the Woman's Committee on Jurisprudence of the 
World's Congress Auxiliary of 1893. Although 
much before the public during the latter years of 
her life, she never lost the refinement and graces 
which belong to a true woman. Died, at her 
home in Chicago, Feb. 14, 1894. 

BRAIDWOOD, a city in Will County, incorpo- 
rated in 1860 ; is 58 miles from Chicago, on the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad; an important coal- 
mining point, and in the heart of a rich 
agricultural region. It has a bank and a weekly 
newspaper. Population (1890). 4.641 : (1900), 3,279. 

BRANSO\, Nathaniel W., lawyer, was born in 
Jacksonville, 111. , May 29, 1837 ; was educated in 
the private and public schools of that city and at 
Illinois College, graduating from the latter in 
1857 ; studied law with David A. Smith, a promi- 
nent and able lawyer of Jacksonville, and was 
admitted to the bar in January, 1860, soon after 
establishing himself in practice at Petersburg, 
Menard County, where he has ever since resided. 
In 1867 Mr. Branson was appointed Register in 
Bankruptcy for the Springfield District — a po- 
sition which he held thirteen years. He was also 
elected Representative in the General Assembly 
in 1873, by re-election in 1874 serving four years 
in the stormy Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth 
General Assemblies ; was a Delegate from Illinois 
to the National Republican Convention of 1876, 
and served for several years most efficiently as a 
Trustee of the State Institution for the Blind at 
Jacksonville, part of the time as President of the 
Board. Politically a conservative Republican, 
and in no sense an office-seeker, the official po- 
sitions which he has occupied have come to him 
unsought and in recognition of his fitness and 
capacity for the proper discharge of their duties. 

BRAYMAN, Mason, lawyer and soldier, was 
born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 33, 1813; brought up 
as a farmer, became a printer and edited "The 
Buffalo Bulletin," 1834-35; studied law and was 
admitted to the bar in 1836; removed west in 
1837, was City Attorney of Monroe, Mich., in 1838 
and became editor of "The Louisville Adver- 
tiser" in 1841. In 1843 he opened a law office in 
Springfield, 111., and the following year was 
appointed by Governor Ford a commissioner to 
adjust the Mormon troubles, in which capacity 



he rendered valuable service. In 1844-45 he was 
appointed to revise the statutes of the State. 
Later he devoted much attention to railroad 
enterprises, being attorney of the Illinois Central 
Railroad, 1851-55; then projected the construc- 
tion of a railroad from Bird's Point, opposite 
Cairo, into Arkansas, which was partially com- 
pleted before the war, and almost wholly de- 
stroyed during that period. In 1861 he entered 
the service as Major of the Twenty-ninth UUnois 
Volunteers, taking part in a number of the early 
battles, including Fort Donelson and Shiloh; 
was promoted to a colonelcy for meritorious con- 
duct at the latter, and for a time served as 
Adjutant-General on the staff of General McCler- 
nand; was promoted Brigadier-General in Sep- 
tember, 1862, at the close of the war receiving 
the brevet rank of Major-General. After the 
close of the war he devoted considerable atten- 
tion to reviving his railroad enterprises in the 
South; edited "The Illinois State Journal," 
1872 73; removed to Wisconsin and was ap- 
pointed Governor of Idaho in 1876, serving four 
years, after which he returned to Ripon, Wis. 
Died, in Kansas City, Feb. 27, 1895. 

BREESE, a village in Clinton County, on 
Baltimore & Ohio S. W. Railway, 39 miles east of 
St. Louis ; has coal mines, water system, bank and 
weekly newspaper. Pop. (1890), 808, (1900), 1,571. 

BREESE. Sidney, statesman and jurist, was 
born at Whitesboro, N. Y., (according to the 
generally accepted authority) July 15, 1800. 
Owing to a certain sensitiveness about his age in 
his later years, it has been exceedingly difficult 
to secure authentic data on the subject; but his 
arrival at Kaskaskia in 1818, after graduating at 
Union College, and his admission to the bar in 
1830, have induced many to believe that the date 
of his birth should be placed somewhat earlier. 
He was related to some of the most prominent 
families in' New York, including the Livingstons 
and the Morses, and, after his arrival at Kaskas- 
kia, began the study of law with his friend Elias 
Kent Kane, afterwards United States Senator. 
Meanwhile, having served as Postmaster at Kas- 
kaskia, he became Assistant Secretary of State, 
and, in December, 1830, superintended the re- 
moval of the archives of that office to Vandalia, 
the new State capital. Later he was appointed 
Prosecuting Attorney, serving in that position 
from 1833 till 1837, when he became United 
States District Attorney for Illinois. He was 
the first official reporter of the Supreme Court, 
issuing its first volume of decisions; served" as 
Lieutenant-Colonel of volunteers during the 



60 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Black Hawk War (1833) ; in 1835 was elected to 
the circuit bench, and, in 1841, was advanced to 
the Supreme bench, serving less than two years, 
when lie resigned to accept a seat in the United 
States Senate, to which he was elected in 1843 as 
the successor of Richard M. Young, defeating 
Stephen A. Douglas in the first race of the latter 
for the office. While in the Senate (1843-49) he 
served as Chairman of the Committee on Public 
Lands, and was one of the first to suggest the 
construction of a transcontinental railway to the 
Pacific. He was also one of the originators and 
active promoters in Congress of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad enterprise. He was Speaker of the 
Illinois House of Representatives in 1851 , again 
became Circuit Judge in 1855 and returned to 
the Supreme bench in 1857 and served more than 
one term as Chief Justice, the last being in 
1873-74. His home during most of his public life 
in Illinois was at Carlyle. His death occurred 
at Pinckneyville, June 38, 1878. 

BRE>TANO, Lorenzo, was born at Mannheim, 
in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Nov. 
14, 1813; was educated at the Universities ol 
Heidelberg and Freiburg, receiving the degree of 
LL.D., and attaining high honors, both profes- 
sional and political. He was successively a 
member of the Baden Chamber of Deputies and 
of the Frankfort Parliament, and always a leader 
of the revolutionist party. In 1849 he became 
President of the Provisional Republican Gov- 
ernment of Baden, but was, before long, forced 
to find an asylum in the United States. He first 
settled in Kalamazoo County, Mich., as a farmer, 
but, in 1859, removed to Chicago, where he was 
admitted to the Illinois bar, but soon entered the 
field of journalism, becoming editor and part 
proprietor of "The Illinois Staats Zeitung." He 
held various public offices, being elected to the 
Legislature in 1863, serving five years as Presi- 
dent of the Chicago Board of Education, was a 
Republican Presidential Elector in 18C8, and 
United States Consul at Dresden in 1873 (a gen- 
eral amnesty having been granted to the 
participants in the revolution of 1848), and 
Representative in Congress from 1877 to 1879. 
Died, in Chicago, Sept. 17, 1891. 

BRIDGEPORT, a town of Lawrence Coimty, 
on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 
14 miles west of Vincennes, Ind. It has a bank 
and one weekly paper. Population (1900), 487. 

BRIDGEPORT, a former suburb (now a part of 
the city) of Chicago, located at the junction of 
the Illinois & Michigan Canal with the South 
Branch of the Cliicago River. It is now the 



center of the large slaughtering and packing 
industrj'. 

BRIDGEPORT & SOUTH CHICAGO BAIL- 
WAY. (See Cliicago <i- Northern Pacific Railroad.) 

BRIGHTON, a village of Macoupin County, at 
the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the 
Rock Island and St. Louis branch of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railways; coal is mined 
here; has a newspaper. Population (1880), 691; 
(1890), 697; (1900), G60. 

BRIMFIELD, a town of Peoria County, on the 
Buda and Rushville branch of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railway, 38 miles south of 
Buda; coal-mining and farming are the chief 
industries. It has one weekly paper and a bank. 
Population (1880), 832; (1890), 719; (1900), 077. 

BRISTOL, Frank Milton, clergyman, was bom 
in Orleans County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1851; came 
to Kankakee, 111., in boyhood, and having lost 
his father at 13 years of age, spent the following 
years in various manual occupations until about 
nineteen years of age, when, having been con- 
verted, he determined to devote his life to the 
ministry. Through the aid of a benevolent lady, 
he was enabled to get two years' (1870-73) instruc- 
tion at the Northwestern University, at Evans- 
ton, afterwards supporting himself by preaching 
at various points, meanwhile continuing his 
studies at the University until 1877. After com- 
pleting his course he served as pastor of some of 
the most prominent Methodist churches in Chi- 
cago, his last charge in the State being at Evans- 
ton. In 1897 he was transferred to Washington 
City, becoming pastor of the Metropolitan M. E. 
Church, attended by President McKinley Dr. 
Bristol is an author of some repute and an orator 
of recognized ability. 

BROADWELL, Norman M., lawyer, was born 
in Morgan County, 111., August 1, 1835; was edu- 
cated in the common schools and at McKendree 
and Illinois Colleges, but compelled by failing 
health to leave college without graduating; spent 
some time in the book business, then began the 
study of medicine with a view to benefiting his 
own health, but finally abandoned this and, about 
1850, commenced the study of law in the ofiice of 
Lincoln & Herndon at Springfield. Having been 
admitted to the bar, he practiced for a time at 
Pekin, but, in 1854, returned to Springfield, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1860 
he was elected as a Democrat to the House of 
Representatives from Sangamon County, serving 
in the Twenty-second General Assembly. Other 
offices held by him included those of County 
Judge (1863-65) and Mayor of the city of Spring- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



61 



field, to which last jwsition he was twice elected 
(1867 and again in 1869). Judge Broadwell was 
one of the most genial of men, popular, liigh- 
minded and honorable in all his dealings. Died, 
in Springfield, Feb. 28, 1893. 

BROOKS, John Flavel, educator, was born 
in Oneida County, New York, Dec. 3, 1801; 
graduated at Hamilton College, 1828; studied 
three years in the theological department of Yale 
College ; was ordained to the Presbyterian min- 
istry in 1831, and came to Illinois in the service 
of the American Home Missionary Society. 
After preaching at CoUinsville, Belleville and 
other points, Mr. Brooks, who was a member of 
the celebrated "Yale Band," in 1837 assumed the 
principalship of a Teachers' Seminary at Waverly, 
Morgan County, but three years later removed to 
Springfield, where he established an academy for 
both sexes. Although finally compelled to 
abandon this, he continued teaching with some 
interruptions to within a few years of his death, 
which occurred in 1886. He was one of the Trus- 
tees of Illinois College from its foundation up to 
his death. 

BROSS, William, journalist, was born in Sus- 
sex County, N. J., Nov. 14, 1813, and graduated 
with honors from Williams College in 1838, hav- 
ing previously developed his physical strength 
by much liard work upon the Delaware and 
Hudson Canal, and in the lumbering trade. For 
five years after graduating he was a teacher, and 
settled in Chicago in 1848, Th are lie first engaged 
in bookselling, but later embarked in journalism. 
His first publication was "The Prairie Herald," a 
religious paper, which was discontinued after 
two years. In 1852, in connection with John L. 
Scripps, he founded "The Democratic Press," 
which was consolidated with "Tlie Tribune" in 
1858, Mr. Bross retaining his connection with the 
new concern. He was always an ardent free- 
soiler, and a firm believer in tlie great future of 
Chicago and the Northwest. He was an enthusi- 
astic Republican, and, in 1856 and 1860, served as 
an effective campaign orator. In 1864 he was 
the successful nominee of his party for Lieuten- 
ant-Governor. This was his only official position 
outside of a membership in the Chicago Common 
Council in 1855. As a presiding officer, he was 
dignified yet affable, and his impartiality was 
shown by the fact that no appeals were taken 
from his decisions. After quitting public life he 
devoted much time to literary pui-suits, deliver- 
ing lectures in various parts of the country. 
Among his best known works are a brief "His- 
tory of Chicago," "History of Camp Douglas," 



and "Tom Quick." Died, in Chicago, Jan. 27, 
1890. 

BROWN, Henry, lawyer and historian, was 
born at Hebron, Tolland County, Conn., May 18, 
1789 — the son of a commissary in the army of 
General Greene of Revolutionary fame; gradu- 
ated at Yale College, and, when of age, removed 
to New York, later studj-ing law at Albany, 
Canandaigua and Batavia, and being admitted to 
the bar about 1813, wlien he settled down in 
practice at Cooperstown ; in 1816 was appointed 
Judge of Herkimer County, remaining on the 
bench until about 1824. He then resumed prac- 
tice at Cooperstown. continuing until 1836, when 
he removed to Chicago. The following year he 
was elected a Justice of the Peace, serving two 
years, and, in 1842, became Prosecuting Attorney 
of Cook County. During this period he was 
engaged in writing a "History of Illinois," which 
was published in New York in 1844 This was 
regarded at the time as the most voluminous and 
best digested work on Illinois history that had as 
yet been published. In 1846, on assuming the 
Presidency of the Chicago Lyceum, he delivered 
an inaugural entitled "Chicago, Present and 
Future," which is still preserved as a striking 
prediction of Chicago's future greatness. Origi- 
nally a Democrat, he became a Freesoiler in 1848. 
Died of cholera, in Chicago, May 16, 1849. 

BROWN, James B., journalist, was born in 
Gilmanton, Belknap County, N. H., Sept. 1, 
1833 — his father being a member of the Legisla- 
ture and Selectman for his town. The son was 
educated at Gilmanton Academy, after which he 
studied medicine for a time, but did not gradu- 
ate. In 1857 he removed West, first settUng at 
Dunleith, Jo Daviess County, 111., where he 
became Principal of the public schools; in 1861 
was elected County Superintendent of Schools 
for Jo Daviess County, removing to Galena two 
years later and assuming the editorship of "The 
Gazette" of that city. Mr. Brown also served as 
Postmaster of Galena for several years. Died, 
Feb. 13, 1896. 

BROWN, James N., agriculturist and stock- 
man, was born in Fayette County, Ky., Oct. 1, 
1806; came to Sangamon County, 111., in 1833, 
locating at Island Grove, where he engaged 
extensively in farming and stock-raising. He 
served as Representative in the General Assem- 
blies of 1840, '42, '46, and '52, and in the last was 
instrumental in securing the incorporation of the 
Illinois State Agricultural Society, of which he 
was chosen the first President, being re-elected in 
1854. He was one of the most enterprising grow- 



62 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ers of blooded cattle in the State and did much to 
introduce them in Central Illinois; was also an 
earnest and influential advocate of scientific 
education for the agricultural classes and an 
efficient colaborer with Prof. J. B. Turner, of 
Jacksonville, in securing the enactment by Con- 
gress, in 1863. of the law granting lands for the 
endowment of Industrial Colleges, out of which 
grew the Illinois State University and institu- 
tions of like character in other States. Died, 
Nov. 16, 1868. 

BROWN, William, lawyer and jurist, was born 
June 1, 1819, in Cumberland, England, his par- 
ents emigrating to this country when he was 
eight years old, and settling in Western New 
York. He was admitted to the bar at Rochester, 
in October, 1845, and at once removed to Rock- 
ford, III, where he commenced practice. In 1852 
he was elected State's Attorney for the Four- 
teenth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1857, was chosen 
Mayor of Rockford. In 1870 he was elected to 
the bench of the Circuit Court as successor to 
Judge Sheldon, later was promoted to the Su- 
preme Court, and was re-elected successively in 
1873, in '79 and '85. Died, at Rockford, Jan. 15, 
1891. 

BROWN, William H., lawyer and financier, 
was born in Connecticut, Dec. 30, 1796; spent 
his boyhood at Auburn, N. Y., studied law, and, 
in 1818, came to Illinois with Samuel D. Lock- 
wood (afterwards a Justice of the State Supreme 
Court), descending the Ohio River to Shawnee- 
town in a flat-boat. Mr, Brown visited Kaskas- 
kia and was soon after appointed Clerk of the 
United States District Court by Judge Nathaniel 
Pope, removing, in 1820, to Vandalia, the new 
State capital, where he remained until 1835. He 
then removed to Chicago to accept the position of 
Cashier of the Chicago branch of the State Bank 
of Illinois, which lie continued to fill for many 
years. He served the city as School Agent for 
thirteen years (1840-53), managing the city's 
school fund through a critical period with great 
discretion and success. He was one of the gi-oup 
of early patriots who successfully resisted the 
attempt to plant slavery in Illinois in 1823-24; 
was also one of tlie projectors of the Chicago & 
Galena Union Railroad, was President of the 
Chicago Historical Society for seven years and 
connected with many other local enterprises. 
lie was an ardent personal friend of President 
Lincoln and served as Representative in the 
Twenty-second General Assembly (1860-63). 
Wliile making a tour of Europe he died of paraly- 
sis at Amsterdam, June 17, 1867. 



BROWN COUNTY, situated in the western 
part of the State, with an area of 300 square 
miles, and a population (1890) of 11,951; was cut 
off from Schuj'ler and made a separate county in 
Jlay, 1839, being named in honor of Gen. Jacob 
Brown. Among the pioneer settlers were the 
Vandeventers and Hambaughs, John and David 
Six, William McDaniel, Jeremiah Walker, 
Willis O'Neil, Harry Lester, John Ausmus and 
Robert H. Curry. The county-seat is Mount 
Sterling, a town of no Httle attractiveness. 
Other prosperous villages are Mound Station and 
Ripley. The chief occupation of the people is 
farming, although there is some manufacturing 
of lumber and a few potteries along the Illinois 
River. Population (1900), 11, .557. 

BROWNE, Francis Fisher, editor and author, 
was born in South Halifax, Vt., Dec. 1; 1843, the 
son of William Goldsmith Browne, who was a 
teacher, editor and author of the song "A Hun- 
dred Years to Come." In childhood he was 
brought by his parents to Western Massachusetts, 
where he attended the public schools and learned 
the printing trade in his father's newspaper 
office at Chicopee, Mass. Leaving school in 1862, 
he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Regiment Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, in which he served one 
year, chiefly in North Carolina and in the Army 
of the Potomac. On the discharge of his regi- 
ment he engaged in the study of law at Roches- 
ter, N. Y., entering the law department of the 
University of Michigan in 1866, but abandoning 
his intenton of entering the legal profession, 
removed to Chicago in 1867, where he engaged in 
journalistic and literary pursuits. Between 1869 
and '74 he was editor of "The Lakeside Monthly," 
when he became literary editor of "The Alliance, ' ' 
but, in 1880, he established and assumed the 
editorship of "The Dial," a purely literary pub- 
lication which has gained a high reputation, and 
of which he has remained in control continuously 
ever since, meanwhile serving as the literary 
ad^^ser, for many years, of the well-known pub- 
lishing house of McClurg & Co. Besides his 
journalistic work, Mr. Browne has contributed 
to the magazines and literary anthologies a num- 
ber of short lyrics, and is the author of "The 
Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln" (1886), and 
a volume of poems entitled, "Volunteer Grain" 
(1893). He also compiled and edited "Golden 
Poems by British and American Authors" (1881); 
"The Golden Treasury of Poetry and Prose" 
(1886), and the "Laurel Crowned"series of stand- 
ard poetry (1891-92). Mr. Browne was Chairman 
of the Committee of the Congress of Authors in 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



63 



the World's Congress Auxiliary held in con- 
nection with The Columbian Exposition in 
1893. 

BROWNE, Thomas C, earlj' jurist, was born in 
Kentucky, studied law there and, coming to 
Sliawneetown in 1812, served in the lower branoli 
of the Second Territoiial Legislature (1814-16) 
and in the Council (1816-18), being the first law- 
yer to enter that body. In 1815 lie was appointed 
Prosecuting Attorney and, on the admission of 
Illinois as a State, was promoted to the Supreme 
bench, being re-elected bj' joint ballot of the 
Legislature in 1833, and serving continuously 
until the reorganization of the Supreme Court 
under the Constitution of 1848, a period of over 
thirty years. Judge Browne's judicial character 
and abilities have been differently estimated. 
Though lacking in industry as a student, he is 
represented by the late Judge John D. Caton, 
who knew him personallj', as a close thinker and 
a good judge of men. While seldom, if ever, 
accustomed to argue questions in the conference 
room or write out his opinions, he had a capacity 
for expressing himself in short, pungent sen- 
tences, which indicated that he was a man of con- 
siderable ability and had clear and distinct views 
of his own. An attempt was made to impeach 
him before the Legislature of 1843 "for want of 
capacity to discharge the duties of his office," 
but it failed by an ahnost unanimous vote. He 
was a Wliig in politics, but had some strong sup- 
porters among Democrats. In 1822 Judge Browne 
was one of the four candidates for Governor — in 
the final returns standing third on the list and, by 
dividing the vote of the advocates of a pro-slavery 
clause in the State Constitution, contributing to 
the election of Governor Coles and the defeat of 
the pro-slavery party. (See Coles, Edward, and 
Slavery and Slave Laws. ) In the latter part of 
his official term Judge Browne resided at Ga- 
lena, but, in 18.58, removed with his son-in-law, 
ex-Congressman Joseph P. Hoge, to San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. , where he died a few j-ears later — 
probably about 1856 or 1858. 

BROWNING, Orville Hickniau, lawyer. United 
States Senator and Attorney-General, was born 
in Harrison County, Ky. , in 1810. After receiv- 
ing a classical education at Augusta in his native 
State, he removed to Quincy, 111., and was 
admitted to the bar in 1831. In 1832 he served 
in the Black Hawk War, and from 1836 to 1843, 
was a member of the Legislature, serving in both 
houses. A personal friend and political adherent 
of Abraham Lincoln, he aided in the organization 
of the Republican part}' at the memorable 



Bloomiugton Convention of 1856v As a delegate 
to the Chicago Convention, in 1860, he aided in 
securing Mr. Lincoln's nomination, and was a 
conspicuous supporter of the Government in the 
Civil War. In 1861 he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Yates United States Senator to fill Senator 
Douglas' unexpired term, serving until 1863, In 
1866 he became Secretary of the Interior by ap- 
pointment of President Johnson, also for a time 
discharging the duties of Attorney-General. 
Returning to Illinois, he was elected a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, which 
was his last participation in public affairs, his 
time thereafter being devoted to his profession. 
He died at his home in Quincy, 111. , August 10, 
1881. 

BRYAN, Silas Lillard, legislator and jurist, 
born in Culpepper County, Va., Nov 4, 1822; was 
left an orphan at an earlj- age, and came west in 
1840, living for a time with a brother near Troy, 
JIo. Tlie following year he came to Marion 
County, 111., where he attended scliool and 
worked on a farm; in 1845 entered McKendree 
College, graduating in 1849, and two years later 
was admitted to the bar, supporting himself 
meanwhile by teaching. He settled at Salem. 
111., and, in 1852, was elected as a Democrat to 
the State Senate, in which body he served for 
eight years, being re-elected in 1856. In 1861 he 
was elected to the bench of the Second Judicial 
Circuit, and again chosen in 1867, his second 
term expiring in 1873. While serving as Judge, 
he was also elected a Delegate to the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1869-70. He was an unsuc- 
cessful candidate for Congress on the Greeley 
ticket in 1872. Died at Salem, March 30, 1880.— 
William Jennings (Bryan), son of the preceding, 
was born at Salem, 111., March 19, 1860. The early 
life of yomig Bryan was spent on his father's 
farm, but at the age of ten years he began to 
attend the public school in town ; later spent two 
years in Whipple Academy, ,the preparatory 
department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
and, in 1881, gi-aduated from the college proper as 
the valedictorian of his class. Then he devoted 
two years to the study of law in the Union Law 
School at Chicago, meanwhile acting as clerk and 
studying in the law office of ex-Senator Lyman 
Trumbull. Having graduated in law in 1883, lie 
soon entered upon the practice of his profession 
at Jacksonville as the partner of Judge E. P. 
Kirby, a well-known lawyer and prominent 
Republican of that city. Foui- years later (1887) 
found him a citizen of Lincoln, Neb., which has 
since been his home. He took a prominent part 



64 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



in the politics of Nebraska, stumping the State 
for the Democratic nominees in 1888 and '89, anil 
in 1890 received the Democratic nomination for 
Congress in a district which had been regarded 
as strongly Republican, and was elected by a 
large majority. Again, in 1892, he was elected 
by a reduced majority, but two years later 
declined a renomination, though proclaiming 
himself a free-silver candidate for the United 
States Senate, meanwhile officiating as editor of 
"The Omaha World-Herald." In July, 1896, he 
received tlie nomination for President from the 
Democratic National Convention at Chicago, on 
a platform declaring for the "free and imlimited 
coinage of silver" at the ratio of sixteen of silver 
(in weight) to one of gold, and a few weeks later 
was nominated bj' the "Populists" at St. Louis 
for the same office — being the youngest man ever 
put in nomination for the Presidency in the his- 
tory of the Government. He conducted an 
active personal campaign, speaking in nearly 
every Northern and Sliddle Western State, but 
was defeated by his Republican opponent, Maj. 
William McKinley. Mr. Bi-yan is an easy and 
fluent speaker, possessing a voice of unusual 
compass and power, and is recognized, even by 
his political opponents, as a man of pure personal 
character. 

BRYAN, Thomas BarboUr, lawyer and real 
estate operator, was born at Alexandria, Va., 
Dec. 22, 1828, being descended on the maternal 
side from the noted Barbour family of that 
State ; graduated in law at Harvard, and, at the 
age of twenty-one, settled in Cincinnati. In 
1852 he came to Chicago, where he acquired ex- 
tensive real estate interests and built Bryan 
Hall, which became a popular place for en- 
tertainments. Being a gifted speaker, as well 
as a zealous Unionist, Mr. Bryan was chosen 
to deliver the address of welcome to Senator 
Douglas, when that statesman returned to 
Chicago a few weeks before his death in 1861. 
During the progress of the war he devoted his 
time and his means most generously to fitting out 
soldiers for the field and caring for the sick and 
wounded. His services as President of the great 
Sanitary Fair in Chicago (1865), where some 
$300,000 were cleared for disabled soldiers, were 
especially conspicuous. At this time he became 
the purchaser (at .$3,000) of the original copy of 
President Lincoln's Emanciiiation Proclamation, 
which had been donated to the cause. He also 
rendered valuable service after tlie fire of 1871, 
though a heavy sufferer from that event, and was 
a leading factor in securing the location of the 



World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1890, 
later becoming Vice-President of the Board of 
Directors and making a visit to Eui-ope in the 
interest of the Fair. After the war Mr. Bryan 
resided in Washington for some time, and, by 
appointment of President Hayes, served as Com- 
missioner of the District of Columbia. Possessing 
refined literary and artistic tastes, he has done 
much for the encouragement of literatm-e and 
art in Chicago. His liome is in the suburban 
village of Elmhurst. — Charles Pagre (Bryan), son 
of the preceding, lawyer and foreign minister, 
was bom in Chicago, Oct. 2, 1855, and educated 
at the University of Virginia and Columbia Law 
School; was admitted to practice in 1878, and 
the following j'ear removed to Colorado, where 
he remained four years, while there serving in 
both Houses of the State Legislature. In 1883 he 
returned to Chicago and became a member of the 
First Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, 
serving upon the staff of both Governor Oglesby 
and Governor Fifer; in 1890, was elected to the 
State Legislature from Cook County, being re- 
elected iu 1892, and in 1894; was also the first 
Commissioner to visit Europe in the interest of 
the World's Columbian Exposition, on his return 
serving as Secretary of the Exposition Commis- 
sioners in 1891-92. In the latter part of 1897 he 
was appointed by President McKinley Minister 
to China, but before being confirmed, early in 
1898, was assigned to the United States mission to 
the Republic of Brazil, where he now is, Hon. 
E. H. Conger of Iowa, who had previously been 
appointed to the Brazilian mission, being trans- 
ferred to Pekin. 

BRYANT, John Howard, pioneer, brother of 
William Cullen Bryant, the poet, was born in 
Cunimington, Mass., July 22, 1807, educated at 
the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, 
N. Y, ; removed to Illinois in 1831, and held vari- 
ous offices in Bureau Count}-, including that of 
Representative in the General Assembly, to which 
he was elected in 1842, and again in 1858. A 
practical and enterprising farmer, he was identi- 
fied with the Illinois State Agricultural Society 
in its earlj' history, as also with the movement 
which resulted in the establishment of industrial 
colleges in the various States. He was one of the 
founders of the Republican party and a warm 
personal friend of President Lincoln, being a 
member of the first Republican State Convention 
at Bloomington in 1850, and serving as Collector 
of Internal Revenue by appointment of Jlr. Lin- 
coln in 1802 04. In 1872 Mr. Brj'ant joined in the 
Liberal Republican movement at Cincinnati, two 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



65 



years later was identified with the "Independent 
Reform" party, but has since cooperated with 
the Democratic party. He has produced two 
volvunes of poems, published, respectively, in 1855 
and 1885, besides a number of public addresses. 
His home is at Princeton, Bureau Coimty. 

BUCK, Hiram, clergyman, was born in Steu- 
ben County. N. Y., in 1818; joined the Illinois 
Methodist Episcopal Conference in 1843, and con- 
tinued in its service for nearly fifty years, being 
much of the time a Presiding Elder. At his 
death he bequeathed a considerable sum to the 
endowment funds of the Wesleyan University at 
Bloomington and the Illinois Conference College 
at Jacksonville Died at Decatur, 111., August 
22, 1893. 

BUDA, a village in Bureau Covmty, at the junc- 
tion of the main line with the Buda and Rush- 
ville branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad, and the Sterling and Peoria branch of 
the Chicago & Northwestern, 13 miles southwest 
of Princeton and 117 miles west-southwest of 
Chicago: has excellent water-works, electric- 
light plant, brick and tile factory, fine churches, 
graded school, a bank and one newspaper 
Dairying is carried on quite extensively and a 
good-sized creamery is located here. Population 
(1890), 990; (1900), 873. 

BUFORD, Napoleon Bonaparte, banker and 
soldier, was born in Woodford County, Ky., Jan. 
13, 1807; graduated at West Point Military Acad- 
emy, 1827, and served for some time as Lieutenant 
of Artillery; entered Harvard Law School in 
1831, served as Assistant Professor of Natural and 
Experimental Philosophy there (1834-35), then 
resigned his commission, and, after some service 
as an engineer upon public works in Kentucky, 
established himself as an iron-founder and banker 
at Rock Island, 111., in 1857 becoming President 
of the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad. In 1861 
he entered the volunteer service, as Colonel of 
the Twenty-seventh Illinois, serving at various 
points in Western Kentucky and Tennessee, as 
also in the siege of Vicksburg, and at Helena, 
Ark., where he was in command from Septem- 
ber, 1863, to March, 1865. In the meantime, by 
promotion, he attained to the rank of Major- 
General by brevet, being mustered out in August, 
1865. He subsequently held the post of Special 
United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs 
(1868), and that of Inspector of the Union Pacific 
Railroad (1867-69). Died, March 28, 1883. 

BULKLET, (Rev.) Justus, educator, was born 
at Leicester, Livingston County, N. Y., July 23, 
1819, taken to Allegany County, N. Y., at 3 



years of age, where he remained until 17, attend- 
ing school in a log school-house in the winter and 
working on a farm in the summer. His family 
then removed to Illinois, finallj' locating at 
Barry, Pike County. In 1843 he entered the 
preparatory department of Shurtlefl" College at 
Upper Alton, graduating there in 1847. He was 
immediately made Principal of the preparatory 
department, remaining two years, when he was 
ordained to the Baptist ministry and became 
pastor of a church at Jerseyville. Four years 
later he was appointed Professor of Mathematics 
in Shurtleff College, but remained only two 
years, when he accepted the pastorship of a 
church at CarroUton, which he continued to fiU 
nine years, when, in 1864, he was called to a 
church at Upper Alton. At the expiration of 
one year he was again called to a professorship 
in Shurtleff College, this time taking the chair of 
Church History and Church Polity, which he 
continued to fill for a period of thirty-four years; 
also serving for a time as Acting President dur- 
ing a vacancy in that office. During this period 
he was frequently called upon to preside as Mod- 
erator at General Associations of the Baptist 
Church, and he became widely known, not only 
in that denomination, but elsewhere. Died at 
Upper Alton, Jan. 16, 1899. 

BULL, Lorenzo, banker, Quincy, 111., was bom 
in Hartford, Conn., March 21, 1819, being the 
eldest son of Lorenzo and Elizabeth Goodwin 
Bull. His ancestors on both sides were of the 
party who, under Thomas Hooker, moved from 
the vicinity of Boston and settled Hartford in 
1634. Leaving Hartford in the spring of 1833, he 
arrived at Quincy, 111., entirely without means, 
but soon after secured a position with Judge 
Henry H. Snow, who then held most of the 
county offices, being Clerk of the County Com- 
missioners' Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court, 
Recorder, Judge of Probate, Notary Public and 
Justice of the Peace. Here the young clerk 
made himself acquainted with tlie people of the 
county (at that time few in number), with the 
land-system of the coimtrj' and with the legal 
forms and methods of procedure in the courts. 
He remained with Judge Snow over two years, 
receiving for his services, the first year, six dol- 
lars per month, and, for the second, ten dollars 
per month, besides his board in Judge Snow's 
family. He next accepted a situation with 
Messrs. Holmes, Brown & Co., then one of the 
most prominent mercantile houses of the city, 
remaining through various changes of the firm 
until 1844. when he formed a partnership with 



66 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



his brother under the firm name of L. & C. II. 
Bull, and opened a store for the sale of hardware 
and crockery, which was the first attempt made 
in Quincy to separate the mercantile business 
into different departments. Disposing of their 
business in 1861, the firm of L. & C. H. Bull 
embarked in the private banking business, which 
they continued in one location for about thirty 
years, when they organized the State Savings 
Loan & Trust Company, in which he held the 
position of President until 1898, wlien he retired. 
Mr. Bull has always been active in promoting the 
improvement and growth of the city ; was one of 
the five persons who built most of the horse rail- 
roads in Quincy, and was, for about twenty years, 
President of the Company. The Quincy water- 
works are now (1898) owned entirely by himself 
and his son. He has never sought or held political 
office, but at one time was the active President of 
five distinct business corporations. He was also 
for some five years one of the Trustees of Illinois 
College at Jacksonville. He was married in 1844 
to Miss Margaret H. Benedict, daughter of Dr. 
Wm. M. Benedict, of Milbiiry, Mass., and they 
have five children now living. In politics he is a 
Republican, and his religious associations are with 
the Congregational Church. — Charles Henry 
(Bull), brother of the preceding, was born in 
Hartford, Conn., Dec. 16, 1833, and removed 
to Quincy, 111., in June, 1837. He commenced 
business as a clerk in a general store, where 
he remained for seven years, when he entered 
into partnership with his brother, Lorenzo Bull, 
in the hardware and crockery business, to 
which was subsequently added dealing in 
agricultural implements. This business was 
continued until the year 1861. when it was 
sold out, and the brothers established them- 
selves as private bankers under the same firm 
name. A few years later they organized the 
Merchants' and Farmers' National Bank, which 
was mainly owned and altogether managed by 
them. Five or six years later this bank was 
wound up, when they returned to private bank- 
ing, continuing in this business until 1891, when 
it was merged in the State Savings Loan & 
Trust Company, organized under the laws of 
Illinois with a capital of 8300,000, held equally 
by Lorenzo Bull, Charles H. Bull and Edward J. 
Parker, respectively, as President, Vice-Presi- 
dent and Cashier. Near the close of 1898 the 
First National Bank of Quincy was merged into 
the State Savings Loan & Trust Company with 
J. H. Warfield, the President of the former, as 
President of the consolidated concern. Mr. Bull 



was one of the parties who originally organized 
the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad Com- 
pany in 1869 —a road intended to be built from 
Quincy, 111., across the State of Missouri to 
Brownsville, Neb., and of which he is now 
(1898) the President, the name having been 
changed to the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City 
Railway. He was also identified with the con- 
struction of the system of street railways in 
Quincy, and continued active in their manage- 
ment for about twenty years. He has been 
active in various other public and private enter- 
prises, and has done much to advance the growth 
and prosperity of the city. 

BUNKER HILL, a city of Macoupin County, on 
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railroad, 37 miles northeast of St. Louis; has 
electric-lighting plant, telephone service, coal 
mine, flouring mill, wagon and various other 
manufactories, two banks, two newspapers, opera 
house, numerous churches, public library, a mili- 
tary academy and fine public schools, and many 
handsome residences; is situated on high ground 
in a rich agricultural and dairying region and an 
important shipping-point. Pop. (1900), 1,379. 

BUNN, Jacob, banker and manufaotiu-er, was 
born in Hunterdon County, N. J., in 1814 ; came 
to Springfield in 1836, and, four years later, began 
business as a grocer, to which he afterwards 
added that of private banking, continuing until 
1878. During a part of this time his bank was 
one of the best known and widely regarded as 
one of the most solid institutions of its kind in 
the State. Though crippled by the financial 
revulsion of 1873-74 and forced investments in 
depreciated real estate, he paid dollar for doUar. 
After retiring from banking in 1878, he assumed 
charge of the Springfield Watch Factory, in 
which he was a large stockholder, and of which 
he became the President. 3Ir. Bunn was, be- 
tween 1866 and 1870, a principal stockholder in 
"The Chicago Republican" (the predecessor of 
"The Inter-Ocean"), and was one of the bankers 
who came to the aid of the State Government with 
financial assistance at the beginning of the Civil 
War. Died at Springfield, Oct. 16, 1897.— John W. 
(Bunn), brother of the preceding and successor 
to the grocery business of J. & J. W. Bunn, has 
been a prominent business man of Springfield, 
and served as Treasurer of the State Agricultural 
Board from 18.'38 to 1898, and of the IlUnois Uni- 
versity fi-om its establishment to 1893. 

BUNSEN, George, German patriot and educa- 
tor, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, Ger- 
many, Feb 18, 1794, and educated in his native 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



67 



city and at Berlin University; while still a 
student took part in the Peninsular War which 
resulted in the downfall of Napoleon, but resum- 
ing his studies in 1816, graduated three years 
later. He then founded a boys' school at Frank- 
fort, which he maintained fourteen years, when, 
having been implicated in the republican revolu 
tion of 1833, he was forced to leave the country, 
locating the following year on a farm in St. Clair 
County, 111. Here he finally became a teacher in 
the public schools, served in the State Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1847, was elected School 
Commissioner of St. Clair County, and, having 
removed to Belleville in 1855, there conducted a 
private school for the instruction of teachers 
while discharging the duties of his office: later 
was appointed a member of the first State School 
Board, serving until 1860, and taking part in the 
establishment of the Illinois State Normal Uni 
versity, of which he was a zealous advocate. He 
was also a contributor to "The Illinois Teacher," 
and, for several years prior to his death, served 
as Superintendent of Schools at Belleville without 
compensation. Died, November, 1873. 

BURCHARI), Horatio C, ex Congressman, was 
born at Marshall, Oneida County, N. Y., Sept. 22, 
1825; graduated at Hamilton College, N. Y., in 
1850, and later removed to Stephenson County, 
111., making his home at Freeport. By profes- 
sion he is a lawyer, but he has been also largely 
interested in mercantile pursuits. From 1857 to 
1860 he was School Commissioner of Stephenson 
County ; from 1863 to 1866 a member of the State 
Legislature, and from 1869 to 1879 a Representa- 
tive in Congress, being each time elected as a 
Republican, for the first time as the successor of 
E. B. Washburne. After retiring from Congress, 
he served for six years (1879-85) as Director of the 
United States Mint at Philadelphia, with marked 
ability. During the World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion at Chicago (1893), Mr. Burchard was in 
charge of the Bureau of Awards in connection 
with the Mining Department, afterwards resum- 
ing the practice of his profession at Freeport. 

BURDETTE, Robert Jones, journalist and 
humorist, was bom in Greensborough, Pa., July 
30, 1844, and taken to Peoria, 111., in early life, 
where he was educated in the public schools. In 
1862 he enlisted as a private in the Forty-seventh 
Illinois Volunteers and served to the end of the 
war ; adopted journalism in 1869, being employed 
upon "The Peoria Transcript" and other papers 
of that city. Later he became associated with 
"The Burlington (Iowa) Hawkeye," upon which 
he gained a wide reputation as a genial humor- 



ist. Several volumes of his sketches have beet 
publislied, but in recent years he has devoted his 
attention chiefly to lecturing, with occasional 
contributions to the literary press. 

BUREAU COUNTY, set off from Putnam 
County in 1837, near the center of the northern 
half of the State, Princeton being made the 
county-seat. Coal had been discovered in 1834, 
there being considerable quantities mined at 
Mineral and Selby. Sheffield also has an impor- 
tant coal trade. Public lands were offered for sale 
as early as 1835. and by 1844 liad been nearly all 
sold. Princeton was platted in 1833, and. in 1890. 
contained a population of 3,396. The coimty has 
an area of 870 square miles, and, according to the 
census of 1900. a population of 41.113. The pio- 
neer settler was Henry Thomas, who erected the 
first cabin, in Bureau township, in 1828. He was 
soon followed by the Ament brothers (Edward, 
Justus and John L. ) , and for a time settlers came 
in rapid succession, among the earliest being 
Amos Leonard, Daniel Dimmick, John Hall. 
William Hoskins, Timothy Perkins, Leonard 

Roth, Bulbona and John Dixon. Serious 

Indian disturbances in 1831 caused a hegira of 
the settlers, some of whom never returned. In 
1833 a fort was erected for the protection of the 
whites, and, in 1836, there began a new and large 
influx of immigrants. Among other early set- 
tlers were John H. and Arthur Bryant, brothers 
of the poet, William CuUen Bryant. 

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, estab- 
lished in 1879, being an outgrowth of the agitation 
and discontent among the laboring classes, which 
culminated in 1877-78. The Board consists of 
five Commissioners, who serve for a nominal 
compensation, their term of office being two 
years. They are nominated by the Executive 
and confirmed by the Senate. The law requires 
that three of them shall be manual laborers and 
two employers of manual labor. The Bureau is 
charged with the collection, compilation and 
tabulation of statistics relative to labor in Illi- 
nois, particularly in its relation to the commer- 
cial, industrial, social, educational and sanitary 
conditions of the working classes. The Com- 
mission is required to submit biennial reports. 
Those already published contain much informa- 
tion of value concerning coal and lead mines, 
convict labor, manufactures, strikes and lock- 
outs, wages, rent, cost of living, mortgage 
indebtedness, and kindred topics. 

BURGESS, Alexander, Protestant Episcopal 
Bishop of the diocese of Quincy, was born at 
Providence, R. I., Oct.' 31, 1819. He graduated 



G8 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



from Brown University in 1838 and from the 
General Theological Seminary (New York) in 
1841. He was made a Deacon, Nov. 3, 1842, and 
ordained a priest, Nov. 1, 1843. Prior to his ele- 
vation to the episcopate he was rector of various 
parishes in Maine, at Brooklyn, N. Y., and at 
Springfield, Mass. He represented the dioceses 
of Maine, Long Island and Massachusetts in tlie 
General Conventions of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church from 1844 to 1877, and, in the latter year, 
was President of the House of Deputies. Upon 
the death of his brother George, Bishop of Maine, 
he was chosen by the clergy of the diocese to suc- 
ceed him but declined When the diocese of 
Quincy 111. was created, he was elected its first 
Bishop, and consecrated at Christ Church, Spring- 
field, Mass-, on May 15, 1878. Besides publishing 
a memoir of his brother. Bishop Burgess is the 
author of several Sunday-school question books, 
carols and hymns, and has been a contributor to 
periodical church literature. His residence is at 
Peoria. 

BURLET. Arthur Gllman, merchant, was born 
at Exeter, N. H., Oct. 4, 1813, received his edu- 
cation in the local schools, and, in 183.5, came 
West, locating in Chicago. For some two years 
he served as clerk in the boot, slioe and clothing 
store of John Holbrook, after which he accepted 
a position with his half-brother, Stephen F. Gale, 
the proprietor of the first book and stationery 
store in Chicago. In 1838 he invested his savings 
in a bankrupt stock of crockery, purchased from 
the old State Bank, and entered upon a business 
career which was continued uninterruptedly for 
nearly sixty years. In that time Mr. Burlej- 
built up a business which, for its extent and 
success, was unsurpassed in its time in the West. 
His brother in-law, Mr. John Tyrrell, became a 
member of the firm in 1852. the business there- 
after being conducted under the name of Burley 
& Tyrrell, with Mr. Burley as President of the 
Company until his death, which occurred, August 

27, 1897.— Augustus Harris (Burley), brother of 
the preceding, was born at Exeter, N. H., March 

28, 1819 ; was educated in the schools of his native 
State, and, in his youth, was employed for a 
time as a clerk in Boston. In 1837 he came to 
Chicago and took a position as clerk or salesman 
in the book and stationery store of his half- 
brother, Stephen F. Gale, subsequently became a 
partner, and, on the retirement of ]\Ir Gale a 
few years later, succeeded to the control of the 
business. In 1857 he disposed of his book and 
st.itionery business, and about the same time 
became one of the founders of the Merchants' 



Loan and Trust Company, with which he has 
been connected as a Director ever since. Mr. 
Burley was a member of the volunteer fire depart- 
ment organized in Chicago in 1841 Among the 
numerous public positions held by him may be 
mentioned, member of the Board of PublicWorks 
(1867-70), the first Superintendent of Lincoln Park 
(1869), Representative from Cook County in the 
Twenty-seventh General Assemblj- (1870-72). City 
Comptroller during the administration of Mayor 
Medill (1873-73), and again imdar Mayor Roche 
(1887), and member of the City Council (1881-82). 
Politically, Mr. Burley has been a zealous Repub- 
lican and served on the Chicago Union Defense 
Committee in the first year of the Civil War, and 
was a delegate from the State-at-large to the 
National Republican Convention at Baltimore in 
1864, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the 
Presidency a second time. 

BURNHAM, Daniel Hudson, architect, was 
born at Henderson, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1846; came to 
Chicago at 9 years of age; attended private 
schools and the Chicago High ScliooL after which 
he spent two years at Waltham, Mass., receiving 
special instruction ; returning to Chicago in 1867. 
he was afterwards associated with various firms. 
About 1873 he formed a business connection with 
J. W. Root, architect, which extended to the 
death of the latter in 1891. The firm of Burnham 
& Root furnished the plans of a large number of 
the most conspicuous business buildings in Chi- 
cago, but won their greatest distinction in con- 
nection with the construction of buildings for the 
World's Columbian Exposition, of which Mr. 
Root was Sujjervising Architect previous to his 
death, while Mr. Burnham was made Chief of 
Construction and, later. Director of Works. In 
this capacity his authoritj' was almost absolute, 
but was used with a discretion that contributed 
greatly to the success of the enterprise. 

BURR, Albert G., former Congressman, was 
born in Genesee County, N, Y., Nov. 8, 1829: 
came to Illinois about 1832 with his widowed 
mother, who settled in Springfield. In early life 
he became a citizen of Winchester, where he read 
law and was admitted to the bar, also, for a time, 
following the occupation of a printer. Here he 
was twice elected to the lower house of the Gen- 
eral Assembly (1800 and 1863), meanwhile serving 
as a member of the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1862. Having removed to Carrollton, 
Greene County, he was elected as a Democrat to 
the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses (1866 and 
1868), .serving until March 4, 1871. In August, 
1877, he was elected Circuit Judge to fill 8 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



69 



vacancy and was re-elected for the regular term 
in June, 1879, Ijut died in office, June 10, 1882. 

BURRELL, Orlando, member of Congress, was 
born in Bradford County, Pa. ; removed with his 
parents to White County, 111., in 1834, growing 
up on a farm near Carmi; received a common 
school education; in 1850 went to California, 
driving an ox-team across the plains. Soon after 
the beginning of the Civil War (1861) he raised a 
company of cavalry, of which he was elected 
Captain, and which became a part of the First 
Regiment Illinois Cavalry ; served as County 
Judge from 1873 to 1881, and was elected Sheriff 
in 1886. In 1894 he was elected Representative 
in Congress as a Republican from the Twentieth 
District, composed of counties which formerly 
constituted a large part of the old Nineteenth 
District, and which had uniformly been repre- 
sented by a Democrat. He suffered defeat as a 
candidate for re-election in 1896. 

BURROUGHS, John Curtis, clergyman and 
educator, was born in Stamford, N. Y., Dec. 7, 
1818; graduated at Yale College in 1842, and 
Madison Theological Seminary in 1846. After 
five years spent as pastor of Baptist churches at 
Waterford and West Troy, N. Y., in 1852 he 
assumed the pastorate of the First Baptist Church 
of Chicago ; about 1856 was elected to the presi- 
dency of the Chicago University, then just 
established, having previously declined the 
presidency of Sliurtleff College at Upper Alton. 
Resigning his position in 1874, he soon after 
became a member of the Chicago Board of Edu- 
cation, and, in 1884, was elected Assistant Super- 
intendent of Public Schools of that city, serving 
until his death. April 21, 1892. 

BUSET, Samuel T., banker and ex-Congress- 
man, was born at Greencastle, Ind., Nov. 16, 
1835 ; in infancy was brought by his parents to 
Urbana, 111., where he was educated and has 
since resided. From 1857 to 1859 he was engaged 
in mercantile pursuits, but during 1860-61 
attended a commercial college and read law. In 
1862 he was chosen Town Collector, but resigned 
to enter the Union Army, being commissioned 
Second Lieutenant by Governor Yates, and 
assigned to recruiting service. Having aided in 
the organization of the Seventy-sixth Illinois 
Volunteers, he was commissioned its Lieutenant- 
Colonel, August 12, 1862 ; was afterward promoted 
to the colonelcy, and mustered out of service at 
Chicago, August 6, 1865, with the rank of Brevet 
Brigadier-General. In 1866 he was an unsuccess- 
ful candidate for the General Assembly on the 
Democratic ticket, and for Trustee of the State 



University in 1888. From 1880 to 1889 he was 
Mayor and President of the Board of Education 
of Urbana. In 1867 he opened a private bank, 
which he conducted for twenty-one years. In 
1890 he was elected to Congress from the Fif- 
teenth Illinois District, defeating Joseph G. Can- 
non, Republican, by whom he was in turn 
defeated for the same office in 1892. 

BUSHNELL, a flourishing city and manufac- 
turing center in McDonough County, 11 miles 
northeast of Macomb, at the junction ot two 
branches of the Cliicago, Burlington & Quincy 
with the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroads; fias 
numerous manufactories, including wooden 
pumps, flour, agricultural implements, wagons 
and carriages, tank and fence-work, rural mail- 
boxes, mattresses, brick, besides egg and poultry 
packing houses; also has water- works and elec- 
tric lights, grain elevators, three banks, several 
churches, graded public and high schools, two 
newspapers and a public library. Pop. (1900), 2,490. 

BUSHNELL, Nehemiah,. lawyer, was born in 
the town of Westbrook, Conn., Oct. 9, 1813; 
graduated at Yale College in 1835, studied law 
and was admitted to the bar in 1837, coming in 
December of the same year to Quincy, 111., where, 
for a time, he assisted in editing "The Whig" 
of that city, later forming a partnership with 
O. H. Browning, which was never fully broken 
until his death. In his practice he gave much 
attention to land titles in the "Military Tract"; 
in 1851 was President of the portion of the North- 
ern Cross Railroad between Quincy and Gales- 
burg (now a part of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy) , and later of the Quincy Bridge Company 
and the Quincy & Palmyra (Mo.) Railroad. In 
1872 he was elected by the Republicans the 
"minority" Representative from Adams Coiuity 
in the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, but 
died during the succeeding session, Jan. 31, 1873. 
He was able, high-minded and lionorable in public 
and private life. 

BUSHNELL, Washington, lawyer and Attojv 
ney -General, was born in Madison County, N. Y., 
Sept. 30, 1825; in 1837 came with his father to 
Lisbon, Kendall County, 111., where he worked on 
a farm and taught at times ; studied law at Pough- 
keepsie, N. Y., was admitted to the bar and 
established himself in practice at Ottawa, IlL 
The public positions held by him were those of 
State Senator for La Salle County (1861-69) and 
Attorney-General (1869-73); was also a member 
of the Republican National Convention of 1864, 
besides being identified with various business 
enterprises at Ottawa. Died, June 30, 1885. 



70 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



BUTLER, William, State Treasurer, was born 
in Adair County, Ky., Dec. 15, 1797; during tlie 
war of 1813, at the age of 16 years, served as the 
messenger of the Gorernor of Kentucky, carrying 
dispatclies to Gen. William Henry Harrison in 
the field; removed to Sangamon County, 111., in 
1838, and, in 1836, was appointed Clerk of the 
Circuit Court by Judge Stephen T. Logan. In 
1859 he served as foreman of the Grand Jury 
which investigated the "canal scrip frauds" 
charged against ex-Governor Matteson, and it 
was largely through his influence that the pro- 
ceedings of that body were subsequently pub- 
lished in an official form. During the same year 
Governor Bissell appointed him State Treasurer 
to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of 
James Miller, and he was elected to the same 
office in 1860. Mr. Butler was an ardent sup- 
porter of Abraham Lincoln, wliom he efficient!}- 
befriended in the early struggles of the latter 
in Springfield. He died in Springfield, Jan. 11, 
1876. 

BUTTERFIELD, Justin, early lawyer, was 
born at Keene, N. H., in 1790. He studied at 
Williams College, and was admitted to the bar 
at Watertown, N. Y., in 1812. After some years 
devoted to practice at Adams and at Sackett's 
Harbor, N. Y., he removed to New Orleans, where 
lie attained a higli rank at the bar. In 1835 he 
settled in Chicago and soon became a leader in 
his profession there also. In 1841 he was appointed 
by President Harrison United States District At- 
torney for the District of Illinois, and, in 1849, by 
President Taylor Commissioner of the General 
Land Office, one of his chief competitors for the 
latter place being Abraham Lincoln. This dis- 
tinction he probably owed to the personal influ- 
ence of Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State, 
of whom Mr. Butterfield was a personal friend 
and warm admirer. While Commissioner, he 
rendered valuable service to the State in securing 
the canal land grant. As a lawyer he was logical 
and resourceful, as well as witty and quick at 
repartee, yet his chief strength lay before the 
Court rather than the jury. Numerous stories 
are told of his brilliant sallies at the bar and 
elsewhere. One of the former relates to his 
address before Judge Nathaniel Pope, of the 
United States Court at Springfield, in a habeas- 
corpus case to secure the release of Joseph Smith, 
the Mormon prophet, who was under arrest under 
the charge of complicity in an attempt to assassin- 
ate Governor Boggs of Missouri. Rising to begin 
his argument. Mr. Butterfield said: "I am to 
address the Pope" (bowing to the Court), "sur- 



rounded by angels" (bowing still lower to a party 
of ladies in the audience), "in the presence of 
the holy apostles, in behalf of the prophet of 
the Lord." On another occasion, being asked if 
he was opposed to the war with Mexico, he 
replied, "I opposed one war" — meaning his 
opposition as a Federalist to the War of 1812 — 
"but learned the folly of it. Henceforth I am for 
war, pestilence and famine." He died, Oct. 25, 
1855. 

BYFORD, 'William H., physician and author, 
was born at Eaton, Ohio, March 20, 1817 ; in 1830 
came with his widowed mother to Crawford 
County, 111., and began learning the tailor's 
trade at Palestine; later studied medicine at 
Vincennes and practiced at different points in 
Indiana. Meanwhile, having graduated at the 
Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1850, he 
assumed a professorship in a Medical College at 
Evansville, Ind., also editing a medical journal. 
In 1857 he removed to Chicago, where he ac- 
cepted a chair in Rush Medical College, but two 
years later became one of the founders of the 
Chicago Medical College, where he remained 
twenty years. He then (1879) returned to Rush, 
assuming the chair of Gynecology. In 1870 he 
assisted in founding the Woman's Medical Col- 
lege of Chicago, remaining President of the 
Faculty and Board of Trustees until his death. 
May 31, 1890. He published a number of medical 
works wliich are regarded as standard by the 
profession, besides acting as associate of Dr. N. S. 
Davis in the editorship of "The Chicago Medical 
Journal" and as editor-in-chief of "The Medical 
Journal and Examiner," the successor of the 
former. Dr. Byford was held in the highest 
esteem as a physician and a man, both by the 
general public and his professional associates. 

BTBOJf, a village of Ogle County, in a pictur- 
esque region on Rock River, at junction of the 
Chicago Great Western and the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railways, 83 miles west-north- 
west from Chicago; is in rich farming and dairy- 
ing district; has two banks and two weekly 
papers. Population (1890), 698; (1900), 1,015. 

CABLE, a town in Mercer County, on the Rock 
Island & Peoria Railroad, 26 miles south by east 
from Rock Island. Coal-mining is the principal 
industry, but there are also tile works, a good 
quality of clay for manufacturing purposes being 
found in abundance. Population (1880), 572; 
(1890), 1,276; (1900). 697. 

CABLE, Benjauiiii T., capitalist and politician, 
was born in Georgetown. Scott County, Ky.. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



71 



August 11, 1853. When lie was three years old 
his father's family removed to Rock Island, 111., 
where he has since resided. After passing 
through the Rock Island public schools, he matric- 
ulated at the University of Michigan, graduating 
in June, 1876. He owns extensive ranch and 
manufacturing property, and is reputed wealthy ; 
is also an active Democratic politician, and influ- 
ential in his part)-, having been a member of both 
the National and State Central Committees. In 
1890 he was elected to Congress from the Eleventh 
Illinois District, but since 1893 has held no public 
office. 

C.VBLE, Ransom R., railway manager, was 
bom in Athens Count}-, Ohio, Sept. 23, 1834. 
His early training was mainly of the practical 
sort, and by the time he was 17 years old he was 
actively employed as a lumberman. In 1857 he 
removed to Illinois, first devoting his attention 
to coal mining in the neighborhood of Rock 
Island. Later he became interested in the pro- 
jection and management of railroads, being in 
turn Superintendent, Vice-President and Presi- 
dent of the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad. His 
next position was that of General Manager of the 
Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. His 
experience in these positions rendered him famil- 
iar with both the scope and the details of railroad 
management, while his success brought him to 
the favorable notice of those who controlled rail- 
way interests all over the country. In 1876 he 
was elected a Director of the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railway. In connection with 
this company he has held, successively, the 
offices of Vice-President, Assistant to the Presi- 
dent, General Manager and President, being chief 
executive ofBcer since 1880. (See Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Raibvay.) 

CAHOKIA, the first permanent white settle- 
ment in Illinois, and, in French colonial times, 
one of its principal to^vns. French Jesuit mis- 
.sionaries established the mission of the Tamaroas 
here in 1700, to which they gave the name of 
"Sainte Famille de Caoquias," antedating the 
settlement at Kaskaskia of the same year by a 
few months.' Cahokia and Kaskaskia were 
jointly made the countj- -seats of St. Clair County, 
when that county was organized by Governor St. 
Clair in 1790. Five years later, when Randolph 
Count}' was set off from St. Clair, Cahokia was 
continued as tlie county-seat of the parent 
county, so remaining until the removal of the 
seat of justice to Belleville in 1814. Like its 
early rival, Kaskaskia, it has dwindled in impor- 
tance until, in 1890, its population was estimated 



at 100. Descendants of the early French settlers 
make up a considerable portion of the present 
population. The site of the old town is on the 
line of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Rail- 
road, about four miles from East St. Louis. 
Some of the most remarkable Indian mounds in 
the Mississippi Valley, known as "the Cahokia 
Moimds," are located in the vicinity. (See Moicnd- 
Buildrrs. ^Vorks of the.) 

CAIRXES, Abraham, a native of Kentucky, in 
1816 settled in that part of Crawford County, 111., 
which was embraced in Lawrence County on the 
organization of the latter in 1831. Mr. Cairnes 
was a membei- of the House for Crawford County 
in the Second General Assembly (1820-33), and 
for Lawrence County in the Third (1822-24), in 
the latter voting against the pro-slavery Conven- 
tion scheme. He removed from Lawrence 
County to some point on the Mississippi River in 
1826, but fiirther details of his history are un- 
known. 

CAIRO, the coimty-seat of Alexander County, 
and the most important river point between St. 
Louis and Memphis. Its first charter was ob- 
tained from the Territorial Legislature by Shad- 
rach Bond (afterwards Governor of Illinois), John 
G. Comyges and others, who incorporated the 
' 'City and Bank of Cairo. " ' The company entered 
about 1,800 acres, but upon the death of Mr. Comy- 
ges, the land reverted to the Government. The 
forfeited tract was re-en tored in 1835 by Sidney 
Breese and others, who later transferred it to the 
"Cairo City and Canal Company," a corporation 
chartered in 1837, which, by purchase, increased 
its holdings to 10,000 acres. Peter Stapleton is 
said to have erected the first house, and John 
Hawley the second, within the town limits. In 
consideration of certain privileges, the Illinois 
Central Railroad has erected around the water 
front a substantial levee, eighty feet wide. Dur- 
ing the Civil War Cairo was an important base 
for military operations. Its population, according 
to the census of 1900, was 12,566. (See also .AZac- 
ander County.) 

CAIRO BRIDGE, THE, one of the triumphs of 
modern engineering, erected by the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad Company across the Ohio River, 
opposite the city of Cairo. It is the longest 
metallic bridge across a river in the world, being 
thirty-three feet longer than the Tay Bridge, in 
Scotland. The work of construction was begun, 
July 1, 1887, and uninterruptedly prosecuted for 
twenty-seven months, being completed, Oct. 29, 
1889. The first train to cross it was made up of 
ten locomotives coupled together. The ap- 



72 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



preaches from both the Illinois and Kentucky 
shores consist of iron viaducts and well-braced 
timber trestles. The Illinois viaduct approach 
consists of seventeen spans of 1.50 feet each, and 
one span of 106 '4 feet. All these rest on cylin- 
der piers filled with concrete, and are additionally 
supported bj' piles driven within the cylinders. 
The viaduct on the Kentucky shore is of similar 
general construction. The total number of spans 
is twenty-two — twenty-one being of 1.50 feet each, 
and one of IOG'4 feet. The total length of the 
metal work, from end to end, is 10,650 feet, 
including that of the bridge proper, which is 
4.644 feet. The latter consists of nine through 
spans and three deck spans. The through spans 
rest on ten first-class masonry piers on pneumatic 
foundations. The total length of the bridge, 
including the timber trestles, is 20,461 feet — about 
3Ji miles. Four-fifths of the Illinois trestle 
work has been filled in with earth, while that on 
the southern shore has been virtually replaced by 
an embankment since the completion of the 
bridge. The bridge proper stands 104.43 feet in 
the clear above low water, and from the deepest 
foundation to the top of the highest iron work is 
348.94 feet. The total cost of the work, including 
the filling and embankment of the trestles, has 
been (1895) between §3,250,000 and .$3,. 500,000. 

CAIRO, VINCENNES & CHICAGO RAIL- 
ROAD, a division of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railway, extending from 
Danville to Cairo (261 miles), with a branch nine 
miles in length from St. Francisville, 111., to Vin- 
cennes, Ind. It was chartered as the Cairo & 
Vincennes Railroad in 1867, completed in 1873, 
placed in the hands of a receiver in 1874, sold 
under foreclosure in January, 1880, and for some 
time operated as the Cairo Division of the 
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway. In 1889, 
having been surrendered by the Wabash, St. 
Louis & Pacific Railway, it was united with the 
Danville & Southwestern Railroad, reorganized as 
the Cairo. Vincennes & Chicago Railroad, and, 
in 1890, leased to the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chi- 
cago & St. Louis Railway, of which it is known 
as the "Cairo Division." (See Cleveland, Cincin- 
nati, Chicago & St. Louia RailuHuj.) 

CAIRO & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD. (See St. 
Louis & Cairo Railroad and Mobile & Ohio Eail- 
icai/. ) 

CAIRO & VINCENNES RAILROAD. (See 
Cairo, Vincennes & Chicago Railroad.) 

CALDWELL, (Dr.) George, early physician 
and legislator (the name is spelled both Cad well 
and Caldwell in the early records), was born at 



Wethersfield, Conn.. Feb. 21, 1773, and received 
his literary education at Hartford, and his pro- 
fessional at Rutland, Vt. He married a daughter 
of Hon. Matthew Lyon, who was a native of 
Ireland, and who served two terms in Congress 
from Vermont, four from Kentucky (1803-11), 
and was elected the first Delegate in Congress 
from Arkansas Territory, but died before taking 
his seat in August, 1822. Lyon was also a resi- 
dent for a time of St. Louis, and was a candidate 
for Delegate to Congress from Missouri Territory, 
but defeated by Edward Hempstead (see Hemp- 
stead, Edward). Dr. Caldwell descended the 
Ohio River in 1799 in company with Lyon's 
family and his brother-in-law, John Messinger 
(see Messinger, John), who afterwards became a 
prominent citizen of St. Clair County, the part}' 
locating at Eddyville, Ky. In 1803, Caldwell 
and Messinger removed to Illinois, landing near 
old Fort Chartres, and remained some time in 
the American Bottom. The former finally 
located on the banks of the Mississippi a few 
miles above St. Louis, where he practiced his 
profession and held various public offices, includ- 
ing those of Justice of the Peace and County 
Judge for St. Clair County, as also for Madison 
County after the organization of the latter. He 
served as State Senator from Madison County 
in the First and Second General Assemblies 
(1818-33), and, having removed in 1830 within the 
limits of what is now Morgan County (but still 
earlier embraced in Greene), in 1823 was elected 
to the Senate for Greene and Pike Counties — 
the latter at that time embracing all the northern 
and northwestern part of the State, including 
the county of Cook. During the following ses- 
sion of the Legislature he was a sturdy opponent 
of the scheme to make Illinois a slave State. His 
home in Morgan County was in a locality known 
as "Swinerton's Point," a few miles west of 
Jacksonville, where he died, August 1, 1836. 
{See Slavery and Slave Laws.) Dr. Caldwell (or 
Cadwell, as he was widely known) commanded 
a high degree of respect among early residents of 
Illinois. Governor Reynolds, in his "Pioneer 
History of Illinois," says of him: "He was 
moral and correct in his public and private life, 
. . . was a respectable physician, and always 
maintained an unblemished character." 

CALHOUN, John, pioneer printer and editor, 
was born at Watertown, N. Y., April 14, 1808; 
learned the printing trade and practiced it in his 
native town, also working in a type-foundry in 
Albany and as a compositor in Troy. In the fall 
of 1833 he came to Chicago, bringing with him 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



73 



an outfit for the publication of a weekly paper, 
and, on Nov. 36, began the issue of "The Chicago 
Democrat" — the first paper ever published in that 
city. Mr. Calhoun retained the management of 
the paper three years, transferring it in Novem- 
ber, 1836, to John Wentworth, who conducted it 
until its absorption by "The Tribune" in July, 
1861. Mr. Calhoun afterwards served as County 
Treasurer, still later as Collector, and, finally, as 
agent of the Illinois Central Railroad in procur- 
ing right of way for the construction of its lines. 
Died in Chicago, Feb. 30, 1859. 

CALHOUN, John, surveyor and politician, was 
born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 14, 1806; removed to 
Springfield, III, in 1830, served in the Black 
Hawk War and was soon after appointed County 
Siorveyor. It was under Mr. Calhoun, and bj" his 
appointment, that Abraham Lincoln served for 
some time as Deput}' Surveyor of Sangamon 
Count}-. In 1838 Calhoun was cliosen Represent- 
ative in the General Assembly, but was defeated 
in 1840, thougli elected Clerk of the House at the 
following session. He was a Democratic Presi- 
dential Elector in 1844, was an unsuccessful 
candidate for the nomination for Governor in 
1846, and, for three terms (1849, '50 and '51), 
served as Mayor of the city of Springfield. In 
1853 he was defeated by Richard Yates (after- 
wards Governor and United States Senator) , as a 
candidate for Congress, but two years later was 
appointed by President Pierce Surveyor-General 
of Kansas, where he became discreditablj- con- 
spicuous by his zeal in attempting to carry out 
the policy of the Buchanan administration for 
making Kansas a slave State — especially in con- 
nection with the Lecompton Constitutional Con- 
vention, with the election of which he had much 
to do, and over which he presided. Died at St. 
Joseph, Mo., Oct. 25, 1859. 

CALHOUN, WiUiam J., lawyer, was born in 
Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 5, 1847. After residing at 
various points in that State, his family removed 
to Ohio, where he worked on a farm until 1864, 
when he enlisted as a private in the Nineteenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving to the end of 
the war. He participated in a number of severe 
battles while with Sherman on the march against 
Atlanta, returning with General Thomas to Nash- 
ville, Tenn. During the last few months of the 
war he served in Texas, being mustered, out at 
San Antonio in that State, though receiving his 
final discharge at Columbus, Ohio. After the 
war he entered the Poland Union Seminary, 
where he became the intimate personal friend of 
Maj. William McKinley, who was elected to the 



Presidency in 1896. Having graduated at the 
seminary, he came to Areola, Douglas County, 
HI. . and began the study of law, later taking a 
course in a law school in Chicago, after which he 
was admitted to the bar (1875) and established 
himself in practice at Danville as the partner of 
the Hon. Joseph B. Mann. In 1883 Mr. Calhoim 
was elected as a Republican to the lower branch 
of the Thirty-third General Assembly and, during 
the following session, proved himself one of the 
ablest members of that body. In May, 1897, Mr. 
Calhoun was appointed by President McKinley a 
special envoy to investigate the circumstances 
attending the death of Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, a nat- 
uralized citizen of the United States who had 
died while a prisoner in the hands of the Spaniards 
during the rebellion then in progress in Cuba. 
In 1898 he was appointed a member of the Inter- 
State Commerce Commission to succeed William 
R. Morrison, whose term had expired. 

CALHOUN COUNTY, situated between the 
Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, just above their 
junction. It has an area of 260 square miles, 
with a population (1900) of 8,917; was organized 
in 1835 and named for John C. Calhoun. Oi-igi- 
nally, the countj' was well timbered and the 
early settlers were largely engaged in lumbering, 
which tended to give the population more or less 
of a migratory character. Much of the timber 
has been cleared off, and the priuciijal business 
in later years has been agriculture, although coal 
is found and mined in paying quantities along 
Silver Creek. Tradition has it that the aborig- 
ines foimd the precious metals in the bed of this 
stream. It was originally included within the 
limits of the Military Tract set apart for the 
veterans of the War of 1813. The physical con- 
formation of the count3''s surface exhibits some 
peculiarities. Limestone bluffs, rising some- 
times to the height of 300 feet, skirt the banks of 
both rivers, while through the center of the 
county runs a ridge dividing the two watersheds. 
The side valleys and the top of the central ridge 
are alike fertile. The bottom lands are very 
rich, but are liable to inundation. The county- 
seat and principal town is Hardin, with a popula- 
tion (1890) of 311. 

CALLAH.AN, Ethelbert, lawyer and legislator, 
was born near Newark, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1839; 
came to Crawford County, 111., in 1849, where he 
farmed, taught school and edited, at different 
times, "The Wabash Sentinel" and "The Marshall 
Telegraph." He early identified himself with 
the Republican party, and, in 1804. was the 
Republican candidate for Congi-ess in his dis- 



74 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



trict ; became a member of the first State Board 
of Equalization by appointuient of Governor 
Oglesby io 1867 ; served in the lower hovise of the 
General Assembly during the sessions of 1875, "91, 
93 and '95, and, in 1893-95, on a Joint Committee 
to revise the State Revenue Laws. He was also 
Presidential Elector in 1880, and again in 1888. 
Mr. Callahan was admitted to the bar when past 
30 years of age, and was President of the State 
Bar Association in 1889. His home is at Robinson. 
CALUMET RIVER, a short stream the main 
body of which is formed by the union of two 
branches which come together at the southern 
boimdary of the city of Chicago, and which flows 
into Lake Michigan a short distance north of the 
Indiana State line. The eastern branch, known 
as the Grand Calumet, flows in a westerly direc- 
tion from Northwestern Indiana and unites with 
the Little Calumet from the west, Syi miles from 
the mouth of the main stream. From the south- 
em limit of Chicago the general course of the 
stream is north between Lake Calumet and Wolf 
Lake, which it serves to drain. At its mouth, 
Calumet Harbor has been constructed, which 
admits of the entrance of vessels of heavy 
draught, and is a shipping and receiving 
point of importance for heavy freight for 
the Illinois Steel Works, the Pullman Palace 
Car Works and other manufacturing establish- 
ments in that vicinity. The river is regarded as 
a navigable stream, and has been dredged by the 
General Government to a depth of twenty feet 
and 200 feet wide for a distance of two miles, 
with a depth of sixteen feet for the remainder of 
the distance to the forks. The Calumet feeder 
for the Illinois and Michigan Canal extends from 
the west branch (or Little Calumet) to the canal 
in the vicinity of Willow Springs. The stream 
was known to the early French explorers as "the 
Calimic," and was sometimes confounded by 
them with the Chicago River. 

CALUMET RIVER RAILROAD, a short line, 
4.43 miles in length, lying wholly within Cook 
County. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company 
is the lessee, but the line is not operated at present 
(1898). Its outstanding capital stock is §68,700. 
It has no funded debt, but has a floating debt of 
Si 16, 357, making a total capitalization of 8185,087. 
This road extends from Que Hundredth Street in 
Chicago to Ilegewisch, and was chartered in 1883. 
(See Pennsylvania Railroad.) 

CAMBRIDGE, the county-seat of Henry 
County, about 160 miles southwest of Chicago, 
on the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad. It is situ- 
ated in a fertile region chiefly devoted to 



agriculture and stock-raising. The city is a con- 
siderable grain market and has some manufac- 
tories. Some coal is also mined. It has a public 
library, two newspapers, three banks, good 
schools, and handsome public (county) buildings. 
Population (1880). 1,203; (1890), United States 
census report, 940; (1900), 1,345. 

CAMEROX, James, Cumberland Presbyterian 
minister and pioneer, was born in Kentucky in 
1791, came to Illinois in 1815, and, in 1818, settled 
in Sangamon County. In 1829 he is said to have 
located where the town of New Salem (after- 
wards associated with the early history of Abra- 
ham Lincoln) was built, and of which he and 
James Rutledge were the founders. He is also 
said to have officiated at the funeral of Ann 
Rutledge, with whose memory Mr. Lincoln's 
name has been tenderly associated by liis biog- 
raphers. Mr. Cameron subsequently removed 
successively to Fulton County, 111., to Iowa and 
to California, dying at a ripe old age, in the latter 
State, about 1878. 

CAMP DOUGLAS, a Federal military camp 
established at Chicago early in the War of the 
Rebellion, located between Thirty -first Street and 
College Place, and Cottage Grove and Forest 
Avenues. It was originally designed and solely 
used as a camp of instruction for new recruits. 
Afterwards it was utilized as a place of confine- 
ment for Confederate prisoners of war. (For 
plot to liberate the latter, together with other 
similar prisoners in Illinois, see Camp Douglas 
Conspiracy. ) 

CAMP DOUGLAS CONSPIRACY, a plot formed 
in 1864 for the liberation of the Confederate 
prisoners of war at Chicago (in Camp Douglas), 
Rock Island, Alton and Springfield. It was to be 
but a preliminary step in the execution of a 
design long cherished by the Confederate Gov- 
ernment, viz., the seizing of the organized gov- 
ernments of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and the 
formation of a Northwestern Confederacy, 
through the cooperation of the "Sons of Lib- 
erty." {See Secret Treasonable Societies.) Three 
peace commissioners (Jacob Thompson, C. C. 
Clay and J. P. Holcomb), who had been sent 
from Richmond to Canada, held frequent 
conferences with leaders of the treasonable 
organizations in the North, including Clement L. 
Vallandigham, Bowles, of Indiana, and one 
Charles Walsh, who was head of the movement 
in Chicago, with a large number of allies in that 
city and scattered throughout the States. The 
general management of the aff'air was entrusted 
to Capt. Thomas H. Hines, who had been second 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



75 



in command to the rebel Gen. John Morgan dur- 
ing his raid north of the Ohio River, while Col. 
Vincent Marmaduke, of Missouri, and G. St. Leger 
Grenfell (an Engli,shman) were selected to 
carry out the military program, Hines followed 
out his instructions with great zeal and labored 
indefatigably. Thompson's duty was to dis- 
seminate incendiary treasonable literature, and 
strengthen the timorous "Sons of Liberty" by 
the use of argument and money, both he and his 
agents being lavishly supplied with the latter. 
There was to be a draft in July, 1864, and it was 
determined to arm the "Sons of Liberty" for 
resistance, the date of uprising being fixed for 
July 20. This part of the scheme, however, was 
finally abandoned. Captain Hines located him- 
self at Chicago, and personallj' attended to the 
distribution of fluids and the purchase of arms. 
The date finally fixed for the attempt to liberate 
the Southern prisoners was August 29, 1864, when 
the National Democratic Convention was to 
assemble at Chicago. On that date it was 
expected the city would be so crowded that the 
presence of the promised force of "Sons" would 
not excite comment. The program also included 
an attack on the city by water, for which pur- 
pose reliance was placed upon a horde of Cana- 
dian refugees, under Capt. John B. Castleman. 
There were some 26,500 Southern prisoners in the 
State at this time, of whom about 8,000 were at 
Chicago, 6,000 at Rock Island, 7,500 at Spring- 
field, and 5,000 at Alton. It was estimated that 
there were 4,000 "Sons of Liberty" in Chicago, 
who would be largely reenforced. With these 
and the Canadian refugees the prisoners at Camp 
Douglas were to be liberated, and the army thus 
formed was to march upon Rock Island, Spring- 
field and Alton. But suspicions were aroused, 
and the Camp was reenforced by a regiment of 
infantry and a battery. The organization of the 
proposed assailing force was very imperfect, and 
the great majority of those who were to compose 
it were lacking in courage. Not enough of the 
latter reported for service to justify an attack, 
and the project was postponed. In the meaniime 
a preliminary part of the plot, at least indirectly 
connected with the Camp Douglas conspiracy, 
and which contemplated the release of the rebel 
officers confined on Johnson's Island in Lake 
Erie, had been "nipped in the bud" by the arrest 
of Capt. C. H. Cole, a Confederate officer in dis- 
guise, on the 19th of September, just as he was 
on the point of putting in execution a scheme for 
seizing the United States steamer Michigan at 
Sandiisky, and putting on board of it a Confeder- 



ate crew. November 8 was the date next selected 
to carry out the Chicago scheme — the day of Presi- 
dent Lincoln's second election. The same pre- 
liminaries were arranged, except that no water 
attack was to be made. But Chicago was to be 
burned and flooded, and its banks pillaged. 
Detachments were designated to appl}' the torch, 
to open fire plugs, to levy arms, and to attack 
banks. But representatives of the United States 
Secret Service had been initiated into the "Sons 
of Liberty," and the plans of Captain Hines and 
his associates were well known to the authori- 
ties. An efficient body of detectives was put 
upon their track by Gen. B. J, Sweet, the com- 
mandant at Camp Douglas, although some of the 
most valuable service in running down the con- 
spiracy and capturing its agents, was rendered 
by Dr. T. Winslow Ayer of Chicago, a Colonel 
Langhorne (an ex-Confederate who had taken 
the oath of allegiance without tlie knowledge of 
some of the parties to the plot), and Col. J. T. 
Shanks, a Confederate prisoner who was known 
as "The Texan." Both Langhorne and Shanks 
were appalled at the horrible nature of the plot 
as it was unfolded to them, and entered with 
zeal into the effort to defeat it. Slianks was 
permitted to escape from Camp Douglas, thereby 
getting in communication with the leaders of the 
plot who assisted to conceal him, while he faith- 
fully apprised General Sweet of their plans. On 
the night of Nov. 6 — or rather after midnight on 
the morning of the Tth — General Sweet caused 
simultaneous arrests of the leaders to be made at 
their hiding-places. Captain Hines was . not 
captured, but the following conspirators were 
taken into custody: Captains Cantrill and Trav- 
erse; Charles Walsh, the Brigadier-General of 
the "Sons of Liberty," who was sheltering them, 
and in whose barn and house was found a large 
quantity of arms and military stores; Cols. St. 
Leger Grenfell, W. R. Anderson and J. T. 
Shanks; R. T. Senunes, Vincent Marmaduke, 
Charles T. Daniel and Buckner S. Morris, the 
Treasurer of the order. They were tried by 
Military Commission at Cincinnati for conspir- 
acy. Marmaduke and Morris were acquitted; 
Anderson committed suicide during the trial; 
Walsh, Semmes and Daniels were sentenced to 
the penitentiary, and Grenfell was sentenced to 
be hung, although his sentence was afterward 
commuted to life imprisonmentiit the Dry Tortu- 
gas, where he mysteriously disappeared some 
years afterward, but whether he escaped or was 
drowned in tlie attempt to do so has never been 
known. The British Government had made 



76 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



repeated attempts to secure his release, a brother 
of his being a General in the British Army. 
Daniels managed to escape, and was never recap- 
tured, while Walsh and Semmes, after under- 
going brief terms of imprisonment, were 
pardoned by President Johnson. The subsequent 
liistory of Shanks, who played so prominent a 
part in defeating the scheme of wholesale arson, 
pillage and assassination, is interesting. While 
in prison he had been detailed for service as a 
clerk in one of the offices under the direction of 
General Sweet, and, while thus employed, made 
the acquaintance of a young lady member of a 
loyal family, whom he afterwards married. 
After the exposure of the contemplated uprising, 
the rebel agents in Canada offered a reward of 
$1,000 in gold for the taking of his life, and he 
was bitterlj' persecuted. The attention of Presi- 
dent Lincoln was called to the service rendered 
by him, and sometime during 186.5 he received a 
commission as Captain and engaged in fighting 
the Indians upon the Plains. The efficiencj- 
shown bj' Colonel Sweet in ferreting out the con- 
spiracy and defeating its consummation won for 
him the gratitude of the people of Chicago and 
the whole nation, and was recognized by the 
Government in awarding him a commission as 
Brigadier-General. (See Benjamin J. Sweet, 
Camp Douglas and Secret Treasonable Societies.) 

CAMPBELL, Alexander, legislator and Con- 
gressman, was born at Concord. Pa., Oct. 4, 1814. 
After obtaining a limited education in the com- 
mon schools, at an early age he secured employ- 
ment as a clerk in an iron manufactory. He soon 
rose to the position of superintendent, managing 
iron-works in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Mis- 
souri, until 1850, when he removed to Illinois, 
settling at La Salle. He was twice (1852 and 
1853) elected Mayor of that city, and represented 
his county in the Twenty-first General Assembly 
(1859). He was also a member of the State 
Constitutional Convention of 1863, and served 
one term (1875-77) as Representative in Congress, 
being elected as an Independent, but, in 1878, was 
defeated for re-election by Philip C. Hayes, 
Republican. Mr. Campbell was a zealous friend 
of Abraham Lincoln, and, in 1858, contributed 
liberally to the expenses of the latter in making 
the tour of the State during the debate with 
Douglas. He broke with the Republican party 
in 1874 on the greenback issue, which won for 
him the title of "Father of the Greenback." His 
death occurred at La Salle, August 9, 1898. 

CAMPBELL, Antrim, early lawyer, was born 
in New Jersey in 1814; came to Springfield. 111., 



in 1838; was appointed Master in Chancery for 
Sangamon County in 1849, and, in 1861, to a 
similar position by the United States District 
Court for that district. Died, August 11, 1868. 

CAMPBELL, James R., Congressman and sol- 
dier, was born in Hamilton County, 111., May 4, 
1853, his ancestors being among the first settlers 
in that section of the State; was educated at 
Notre Dame Universit}-, Ind. , read law and was 
admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1877 ; 
in 1878 purchased "The McLeansboro Times," 
which he has since conducted ; was elected to the 
lower house of the General Assembly in 1884, and 
again in '86, advanced to the Senate in 1888, and 
re-elected in '93. During his twelve years' 
experience in the Legislature he participated, as 
a Democrat, in the celebrated Logan-Morrison 
contest for the United States Senate, in 1885, and 
assisted in the election of Gen. John M. Palmer 
to the Senate in 1891. At the close of his last 
term in the Senate (1896) he was elected to Con- 
gress from the Twentieth District, receiving a 
plurality of 2,851 over Orlando Burrell, Repub- 
lican, who had been elected in 1894. On the 
second call for troops issued by the President 
during the Spanish-American War, Mr. Camp- 
bell organized a regiment which was mustered in 
as the Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of 
which he was commissioned Colonel and assigned 
to the corps of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee at Jackson- 
ville, Fla. Although his regiment saw no active 
service during the war, it was held in readiness 
for that purpose, and, on the occupation of Cuba 
in December, 1898, it became a part of the army 
of occupation. As Colonel Campbell remained 
with his regiment, he took no part in the pro- 
ceedings of the last term of the Fifty-fifth Con- 
gress, and was not a candidate for re-election in 
1898. 

CAMPBELL, Thompson, Secretary of State 
and Congressman, was born in Chester County, 
Pa. , in 1811 ; removed in childhood to the western 
part of the State and was educated at Jefferson 
College, afterwards reading law at Pittsburg. 
Soon after being admitted to the bar he removed 
to Galena. 111., where he had acquired some min- 
ing interests, and, in 1843, was appointed Secre- 
tary of State by Governor Ford, but resigned in 
1846, and became a Delegate to the Constitutional 
Convention of 1847; in 1850 was elected as a 
Democrat to Congress from the Galena District, 
but defeated for re-election in 1853 by E. B. 
Washburne. He was then appointed by President 
Pierce Commissioner to look after certain land 
grants by the Mexican Government in California, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



77 



removing to that State in 18o3, but resigned this 
position about I800 to engage in general practice. 
In 1859 he made an extended visit to Europe 
with his family, and, on his return, located in 
Chicago, the following year becoming a candidate 
for Presidential Electorat-large on the Breckin- 
ridge ticket; in 1861 returned to California, and, 
on the breaking out of the Civil War, became a 
zealous champion of the Union cause, by his 
speeches exerting a powerful influence upon the 
destiny of the State. He also served in the Cali- 
fornia Legislature during the war, and, in 1864, 
was a member of the Baltimore Convention 
which nominated Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency 
a second time, assisting most ably in the subse- 
quent campaign to carr}- the State for the Repub- 
lican ticket. Died in San Francisco, Dec. 6, 1868. 

CAMPBELL, William J., lawyer and politi- 
cian, was born in Philadelphia in 1850. "When 
he was two years old his father removed to 
Illinois, settling in Cook County. After passing 
through the Chicago public schools, Mr. Camp- 
bell attended the University of Pennsylvania, for 
two }-ears, after which he studied law, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1875. From that date he 
was in active practice and attained prominence 
at the Chicago bar. In 1878 lie was elected State 
Senator, and was re-elected in 1883, serving in all 
■eight years. At the sessions of 1881, '83 and '85 
he was chosen President pro tempore of the 
Senate, and, on Feb. 6, 1883, he became Lieuten- 
ant-Governor upon the accession of Lieutenant- 
Governor Hamilton to the executive office to 
succeed Shelby M. CuUom, who had been elected 
United States Senator. In 1888 he represented 
the First Illinois District in tlie National Repub- 
lican Convention, and was the same year chosen 
a member of the Republican National Committee 
for Illinois and was re-elected in 1882. Died in 
Chicago, March 4, 1896. For several years 
immediately preceding his death, Mr. Campbell 
was the chief attorney of the Armour Packing 
Company of Chicago. 

CAMP POINT, a village in Adams County, at 
the intersection of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy and the Wabash Railroads, 32 miles east- 
northeast of Quincy. It is a grain center, has 
one flour mill, two feed mills, one elevator, a 
pressed brick plant, two banks, four churches, a 
high school, and one newspaper. Population 
(1890). 1,150; (1900), 1,260. 

CANAL SCRIP FRAUD, During the session 
of the Illinois General Assembly of 18.59, Gen. 
Jacob Fry, who, as Commissioner or Trustee, had 
been associated with the construction of the 



Illinois & Michigan Canal from 1837 to 1845, 
had his attention called to a check purporting to 
have been issued by the Commissioners in 1839. 
which, upon investigation, he became convinced 
was counterfeit, or had been fraudulently issued. 
Having communicated his conclusions to Hon. 
Jesse K. Dubois, the State Auditor, in charge of 
the work of refunding the State indebtedness, an 
inquiry was instituted in the office of the Fund 
Commissioner— a position attached to the Gov- 
ernor's office, but in the charge of a secretary — 
which developed the fact that a large amount of 
these evidences of indebtedness had been taken 
up through that office and bonds issued therefor 
by the State Auditor under the laws for funding 
the State debt. A subsequent investigation by the 
Finance Committee of the State Senate, ordered 
by vote of that body, resulted in the discovery 
that, in May and August, 1839, two series of 
canal "scrip" (or checks) had been issued by the 
Canal Board, to meet temjiorary demands in the 
work of construction — the simi aggregating 
§269,059— of which all but .S316 had been redeemed 
within a few years at the Chicago branch of the 
Illinois State Bank. The bank officers testified 
that this scrip (or a large part of it) had, after 
redemption, been held by them in the bank vaults 
without cancellation until settlement was had 
with the Canal Board, when it was packed in 
boxes and turned over to the Board. After hav- 
ing lain in the canal office for several years in 
this condition, and a new "Trustee" (as the 
officer in charge was now called) having come 
into the canal office in 1853, this scrip, with other 
papers, was repacked in a shoe-box and a trunk 
and placed in charge of Joel A. Matteson, then 
Governor, to be taken by him *^o .Springfield and 
deposited there. Nothing further was known of 
these papers until October, 1854, when .5300 of the 
scrip was presented to the Secretary of the Fund 
Commissioner by a Springfield banker, and bond 
issued thereon. This was followed in 1856 and 
1857 by larger sums, until, at the time the legis- 
lative investigation was instituted, it was found 
that bonds to the amount of §223,182.66 had been 
issued on account of principal and interest. 
With the exception of the .?300 first presented, it 
was shown that all the scrip so funded had been 
presented by Governor Matteson, either while in 
office or subsequent to his retirement, and the 
bonds issued therefor delivered to him — although 
none of the persons in wliose names the issue was 
made were known or ever afterward discovered. 
The developments made by the Senate Finance 
Committee led to an offer from Matteson to 



78 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



indemnify the State, in which he stated that he 
had "unconscious!}' and innocently been made 
the instrument through whom a gross fraud upon 
the State had been attempted." He therefore 
gave to the State mortgages and an indemnifying 
bond for the sum shown to have been funded by 
him of this class of indebtedness, upon which the 
State, on foreclosure a few years later, secured 
judgment for 8255,000, although the property on 
being sold realized only §238,000. A further 
in\'estigation by the Legislature, in 1861, revealed 
the fact that additional issues of bonds for similar 
scrip had been made amounting to §165,346, for 
which the State never received any compensa- 
tion. A search through the State House for the 
trunk and box placed in the hands of Governor 
JIatteson in 1853, while the official investigation 
was in progress, resulted in the discovery of the 
trunk in a condition showing it had been opened, 
but the box was never found. The fraud was 
made the subject of a protracted investigation 
by the Grand Juiy of Sangamon County in May, 
1859, and, although the jury twice voted to indict 
Governor Matteson for larceny, it as often voted 
to reconsider, and, on a third ballot, voted to 
"ignore the bill." 

CANBY, Richard Spring, jurist, was born in 
Green County, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1808 ; was educated 
at Miami University and admitted to the bar, 
afterwards serving as Prosecuting Attorney, 
member of the Legislature and one term (1847-49) 
in Congress. In 1863 he removed to Illinois, 
locating at Olney, was elected Judge of the 
Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit in 1867, resuming 
practice at the expiration of his term in 1873. 
Died in Richland County, July 27, 1895. Judge 
Canby was a relative of Gen. Edward Richard 
Spriggs Canby, who was treacherously killed by 
the Modocs in California in 1873. 

CANXON, Joseph G., Congressman, was born 
at Guilford, N. C, May 7, 1836, and removed to 
Illinois in early youth, locating at Danville, Ver- 
milion County. By profession he is a lawyer, 
and served as State's Attorney of Vermilion 
County for two terms (1861-68). Incidentally, 
he is conducting a large banking business at 
Danville. In 1872 he was elected as a Republican 
to the Forty-third Congress for the Fifteenth Dis- 
trict, and has been re-elected biennially ever 
since, except in 1890, when he was defeated for 
the Fifty-second Congress by Samuel T. Busey, 
his Democratic opiwnent. He is now (1898) 
serving his twelfth term as the Representative 
for the Twelfth Congressional District, and has 
been re-elected for a thirteenth term in the Fiftv- 



sixth Congi-ess (1899-1901). Mr. Cannon has been 
an influential factor in State and National poli- 
tics, as shown by the fact that lie has been Chair- 
man of the House Committee on Appropriations 
during the important sessions of the Fifty-fourth 
and Fifty-fifth Congresses. 

CANTON, a flourishing city in Fulton County, 
13 miles from the Illinois River, and 28 miles 
southwest of Peoria. It is the commercial me- 
tropolis of one of the largest and richest counties 
in the "corn belt" ; also has abundant supplies 
of timber and clay for manufacturing purposes. 
There are coal mines within the municipal limits, 
and various manufacturing establishments. 
Among the principal outputs are agricultural 
implements, flour, brick and tile, cigars, cigar 
boxes, foundry and machine-shop products, fire- 
arms, brooms, and marble. The city is lighted 
by gas and electricity, has water-works, fire de- 
partment, a public library, six ward schools and 
one high sclioo", and three newspapers. Popula- 
tion (1890), 5,604; (1900), 6, .564. 

CAPPS, Jabez, pioneer, was born in London, 
England, Sept. 9, 1796; came to the United States 
in 1817, and to Sangamon County, 111., in 1819. 
For a time he taught school in what is now 
called Round Prairie, in the present County of 
Sangamon, and later in Calhoun (the original 
name of a part of the city of Springfield), having 
among his pupils a number of those who after- 
wards became prominent citizens of Central 
Illinois. In 1886, in conjunction with two part- 
ners, he laid out the town of Mount Pulaski, the 
original county-seat of Logan County, where he 
continued to live for the remainder of his life, 
and where, during its later period, he served as 
Postmaster some fifteen years. He also served as 
Recorder of Logan County four years. Died, 
April 1, 1896, in the 100th year of his age. 

CARBONDALE, a city in Jackson County, 
founded in 18.52, 57 miles north of Cairo, and 91 
miles from St. Louis. Three lines of railway 
center here. The chief industries are coal-min- 
ing, farming, stock-raising, fruit-growing and 
lumbering. It has two preserving plants, eight 
churches, two weekly papers, and four public 
schools, and is the seat of the Southern Illinois 
Normal University. Pop. (1890), 2,382; (1900), 3,818. 
CARBONDALE & SHAWJTEETOWN RAIL- 
ROAD, a short line 17'4; miles in length, ex- 
tending from Marion to Carbondale, and operated 
by the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad 
Company, as lessee. It was incorporated as the 
Murphysboro & Shawneetown Railroad in 1867; 
its name changed in 1869 to The Carbondale & 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



79 



Shawneetown, was opened for business, Dec. 31, 
1871, and leased in 1886 for 980 years to the St. 
Louis Southern, through which it passed into the 
hands of the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Rail- 
road, and by lease from the latter, in 1890. became 
apart of the Illinois Central System (which see). 
CAREY, William, lawyer, was born in the town 
of Turner, Maine, Dec. 29, 1826 ; studied law with 
General Fessenden and at Yale Law School, was 
admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of 
Maine in 1856, the Supreme Coiu-t of Illinois in 
1857, and the Supreme Court of the United 
States, on motion of Hon. Lyman Trumbull, in 
1873. Judge Carey was a member of the State 
Constitutional Convention of 1869-70 from Jo 
Daviess County, and the choice of the Republicans 
in that body for temporary presiding officer; 
was elected to the next General Assembly (the 
Twenty-seventh), serving as Chairman of the 
House Judiciary Committee through its four ses- 
sions; from 1873 to 1876 was United States Dis- 
trict Attorney for Utah, still later occupying 
various offices at Deadwood, Dakota, and in Reno 
County, Kan. The first office held by Judge 
Carey in Illinois (that of Superintendent of 
Schools for the city of Galena) was conferred 
upon him through the influence of John A. Raw- 
lins, afterwards General Grant's chief-of-staff 
during the war, and later Secretary of War— 
although at the tirae Mr. Rawlins and he were 
politically opposed. Mr. Carey's present resi- 
dence is in Chicago. 

CARLIN, Thomas, former Governor, was born 
of Irish ancestry in Fayette Countj-, Ky., July 
18, 1789; emigrated to Illinois in 1811, and served 
as a private in the War of 1813, and as a Captain 
in the Black Hawk War. While not highly edu- 
cated, he was a man of strong common sense, 
high moral standard, great firmness of character 
and imfailing courage. In 1818 he settled in 
Greene County, of which he was the first Sheriff ; 
was twice elected State Senator, and was Regis- 
ter of the Land Office at Quincy, when he was 
elected Governor on the Democratic ticket in 
1838. An uncompromising partisan, he never- 
theless commanded the respect and good-will of 
his political opponents. Died at his home in 
Carrollton, Feb. 14, 1852. 

CARLIN, William Passmore, soldier, nephew of 
Gov. Tliomas Carlin, was born at Rich Woods, 
Greene County, 111., Nov. 24, 1829. At the age 
of 21 he graduated from the United States Mili- 
tary Academy at West Point, and, in 1855, was 
attached to the Sixth United States Infantry as 
Lieutenant. After several years spent in Indian 



fighting, he was ordered to California, where he 
was promoted to a captaincy and a.ssigned to 
recruiting duty. On August 15, 1861, he was 
commissioned Colonel of the Thirty-eighth Illi- 
nois Volunteers. His record during the war was 
an exceptionally brilliant one. He defeated Gen. 
Jeff. Thompson at Frederic ktown, Mo., Oct. 21, 
1861 ; commanded the District of Southeast Mis- 
souri for eighteen months ; led a brigade xmder 
Slocum in the Arkansas campaign ; served with 
marked distinction in Kentucky and Mississippi ; 
took a prominent jmrt in tlie battle of Stone 
River, was engaged in the TuUahoma campaign, 
at Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Mission- 
ary Ridge, and, on Feb. 8, 1864, was commis- 
sioned Major in the Sixteenth Infantry. He also 
took part in the Georgia campaign, aiding in the 
capture of Atlanta, and marching with Sherman 
to the sea. For gallant service in the assault at 
Jonesboro, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1864, he was made 
Colonel in the regular army, and, on March 13, 
1865, was brevetted Brigad ier-General for meritori- 
ous service at Bentonville, N. C, and Major- 
General for services during the war. Colonel 
Carlin was retired with the rank of Brigadier- 
General in 1893. His home is at Carrollton. 

CARLINTILLE, the county-seat of Macoupin 
Countj"; a city and railroad junction, 57 miles 
northeast of St. Louis, and 38 miles southwest of 
Springfield. Blackburn University (wliich see) 
is located here. Three coal mines are operated, 
and there are brick works, tile works, and one 
newspaper. The city has gas and electric light 
plants and water-works. Population (1880), 
8,117; (1890), 3.293; (1900), 3,502. 

CARLTLE, the county-seat of Clinton County, 
48 miles east of St. Louis, located on the Kaskas- 
kia River and the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern 
Railroad. The town has churches, parochial and 
public schools, water-works, lighting plant, and 
manufactures. It has a flourishing seminary for 
young ladies, three weekly papers, and a public 
library connected with the high school. Popula- 
tion (1890), 1,784; (1900), 1,874. 

CARMI, the county-seat of White County, on 
the Little Wabash River, 124 miles east of St. 
Louis and 38 west of Evansville, Ind. The sur- 
rounding country is fertile, yielding both cereals 
and fruit. Flouring mills and lumber manufac- 
turing, including the making of staves, are the 
chief industries, though the city has brick and 
tile works, a plow factory and foundry. Popula- 
tion (1880), 2,512; (1890), 3,785; (1900), 2,939. 

CARPENTER, Milton, legislator and State 
Treasurer; entered upon public life in Illinois as 



80 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Representative in the Ninth General Assembly 
(1834) from Hamilton County, serving by succes- 
sive re-elections in the Tenth, Eleventh and 
Twelfth. While a member of the latter (1841) 
he was elected by the Legislature to the office of 
State Treasurer, retaining this position until the 
adoption of the Constitution of 1848, when he was 
chosen his own successor by popular vote, but 
died a few days after the election in August, 
1848. He was buried in what is now known as 
the "Old Hutchinson Cemetery" — a burying 
ground in the west part of the city of Springfield, 
long since abandoned — where his remains still lie 
(1897) in a grave unmarked by a tombstone. 

CARPENTER, Philo, pioneer and early drug- 
gist, was born of Puritan and Revolutionary 
ancestry in the town of Savoy, Mass., Feb. 27, 
1805; engaged as a druggist's clerk at Troy, N. Y., 
in 1828, and came to Chicago in 1832, where he 
established himself in the drug business, which 
was later extended into other lines. Soon after 
his arrival, he began investing in lands, which 
have since become immensely valuable. Mr. 
Carpenter was associated with the late Rev. 
Jeremiah Porter in the organization of tlie First 
Presbyterian Cliurch of Chicago, but, in 18.51, 
withdrew on account of dissatisfaction with the 
attitude of some of the representatives of that 
denomination on the subject of slavery, identify- 
ing himself with the Congregationalist Church, 
in wliich he had been reared. He was one of the 
original founders and most liberal benefactors of 
the Cliicago Tlieological Seminary, to which he 
gave in contributions, during his life-time, or in 
bequests after his death, sums aggregating not 
far from §100,000. One of the Seminary build- 
ings was named in his honor, "Carpenter Hall." 
He was identified witli various other organiza- 
tions, one of the most important being the Relief 
and Aid Societ}', which did such useful work 
after the fire of 1871. By a life of probity, liber- 
ality and benevolence, he won the respect of all 
classes, dying, August 7, 1886. 

CARPENTER, (Mrs.) Sarah L. Warren, pio- 
neer teacher, born in FreJonia, X. Y., Sept. 1, 
1813; at the age of 13 she began teaching at State 
Line, N. Y. ; in 1833 removed with her parents 
(Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Warren) to Chicago, and 
soon after began teaching in what was called the 
"Yankee settlement," now the town of Lockport, 
Will County. She came to Chicago the following 
year (1834) to take the place of assistant of Gran- 
ville T. Sproat in a school for boys, and is said to 
have been the first teacher paid out of the public 
funds in Chicago, though Mi.ss Eliza Chappell 



(afterwards Mrs. Jeremiah Porter) began teach- 
ing the children about Fort Dearborn in 1833. 
Miss Warren married Abel E. Carpenter, whom 
she survived, dying at Aurora, Kane County, 
Jan. 10, 1897. 

CARPENTERSYILLE, a village of Kane 
County and manufacturing center, on Lake Ge- 
neva brancliof the Cliicago & Northwestern Rail- 
road. 6 miles north of East Elgin and about 48 
miles from Chicago. Pop. (1890), 754 ; (1900), 1,002. 

CARR, Clark E., lawj^er, politician and diplo- 
mat, was born at Boston, Erie County, N. Y., 
May 20, 1836; at 13 years of age accompanied his 
father's family to Galesburg, 111., where he spent 
several years at Knox College. In 1857 he gradu- 
ated from the Albany Law School, but on return- 
ing to Illinois, soon embarked in politics, his 
affiliations being uniformly with the Republican 
party. His first office was tliat of Postmaster at 
Galesburg, to which he was appointed b3- Presi- 
dent Lincoln in 1861 and which he held for 
twenty-four years. He was a tried and valued 
assistant of Governor Yates during the War of 
the Rebellion, serving on the staff of the latter 
with the rank of Colonel. He was a delegate to 
the National Convention of his party at Baltimore 
in 1864, which renominated Lincoln, and took an 
active part in the campaigns of that year, as well 
as those of 1868 and 1872. In 1869 lie purchased 
"The Galesburg Republican," which he edited 
and published for two years. In 1880 he was an 
unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomi- 
nation for Governor ; in 1884 was a delegate to the 
Republican National Convention, from the State- 
at-large, and, in 1887, a candidate for the caucus 
nomination for United States Senator, which was 
given to Charles B. Farwell. In 1888 he was 
defeated in the Republican State Convention as 
candidate for Governor by Joseph W. Fifer. In 
1889 President Harrison appointed him Minister 
to Denmark, which post he filled with marked 
ability and credit to the country until his resig- 
nation was accepted by President Cleveland, 
when he returned to his former home at Gales- 
burg. While in Denmark he did much to 
promote American trade with that country, 
especially in the introduction of American corn 
as an article of food, which has led to a large 
increase in the annual exportation of this com- 
modity to Scandinavian markets. 

CARR, Eugene A., soldier, was born in Erie 
County, N. Y., May 20, 1830, and graduated at 
West Point in 1850, entering the Mounted Rifles. 
Until 1861 he was stationed in the Far West, and 
engaged in Indian fighting, earning a First Lieu- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



81 



tenancy throiigh his gallantry. In 1861 he 
entered upon active service under General Lyon, 
in Southwest Missouri, taking part in the engage- 
ments of Dug Springs and Wilson's Creek, 
winning the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 
September, 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of 
the Third IlUnois Cavalry. He served as acting 
Brigadier-General in Fremont's hundred-day 
expedition, for a time commanding the Fourth 
Division of the Army of the Southwest. On the 
second day at Pea Ridge, although three times 
wounded, he remained on the field seven hours, 
and materially aided in securing a victory, for 
his bravery being made Brigadier-General of 
Volunteers. In the summer of 1863 he was 
promoted to the rank of Major in the Regular 
Army During the Vicksburg campaign lie com- 
manded a division, leading the attack at Magnolia 
Church, at Port Gibson, and at Big Black River, 
and winning a brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy in 
the Ignited States Army. He also distinguished 
himself for a first and second assault upon taking 
Vicksburg, and, in the autumn of 1862, com- 
manded the left wing of the Si.xteenth Corps at 
Corinth. In December of that year he was 
transferred to the Department of Arkansas, 
where he gained new laurels, being brevetted 
Brigadier-General for gallantry at Little Rock, 
and Major-General for services during the v.-ar. 
After the close of the Civil War, he was stationed 
chiefly in the West, where he rendered good serv- 
ice in the Indian campaigns. In 1894 he was 
retired with the rank of Brigadier-General, and 
has since resided in New York. 

CARRIEL, Henry F., M.D., alienist, was born 
at Charlestown, N. H., and educated at Marlow 
Academy, N. H., and Wesleyan Seminary. Vt. ; 
graduated from the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, New York City, in 1857, and immedi- 
ately accepted the position of Assistant Physician 
in the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum, 
remaining until 1870. Meanwhile, however, he 
visited a large number of the leading hospitals 
and asylmns of Europe. In 1870, Dr. Carriel 
received tlie appointment of Superintendent of 
the Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane at 
Jacksonville, a position which he continued to 
fill until 1893, when he voluntarily tendered to 
Governor Altgeld his resignation, to take effect 
July 1 of that year. — Mrs. Mary Turner (Carriel), 
wife of Dr. Carriel, and a daughter of Prof. 
Jonathan B. Turner of Jacksonville, was elected 
a Trustee of the University of Illinois on the Repub- 
lican ticket in 1896, receivinga plurality of 148,039 
over Julia Holmes Smith, her highest competitor. 



CARROLL COUNTY, originally a part of Jo 
Daviess County, but set apart and organized in 
1809, named for Charles Carroll of CarroUton. The 
first settlements were in and around Savanna, 
Cherry Grove and Arnold's Grove. The first 
County Commi.ssioners were Messrs. L. H. Bor 
den, Garner Moffett and S. M. Jersey, who held 
their first court at Savanna, April 13, 1839 In 
1843 the county seat was changed from Savanna 
to Mount Carroll, where it yet remains. Town 
ships were first organized in 18.50, and the 
development of the county has steadily pro 
gressed since that date. The surface of the land 
is rolling, and at certain points decidedly pictur- 
esque. The land is generally good for farming. 
It is well timbered, particularly along the Mis- 
sissippi. Area of the county, 440 square miles; 
population, 18,963. Slount Carroll is a pleasant, 
prosperous, wide-awake town, of about 2,000 
inhabitants, and noted for its excellent public 
and private schools. 

CARROLLTON, the county-seat of Greene 
County, situated on the west branch of the Chi- 
cago & Alton and the Quincy, CarroUton & St. 
Louis Railroads, 33 miles north-northwest of 
Alton, and 34 miles south by west from Jackson- 
ville. The town has a foundry, carriage and 
wagon factory, two machine shops, two flour 
mills, two banks, six churches, a high school, and 
two weekly newspapers. Population (1890), 
2,258; (1900). 2,355. 

C.iRTER, Joseph N., Justice of the Supreme 
Court, was born in Hardin County, Ky.. March 
12, 1843; came to Illinois in boyhood, and, after 
attending school at Tuscola four years, engaged 
in teaching until 1863, when he entered Illinois 
College, graduating in 1866; in 1808 gi-aduated 
from the Law Department of the University of 
Michigan, the next year establishing himself in 
practice at Quincy, where he has since resided 
He was a member of the Thirty-first and Thirty- 
second General Assemblies (1878-82), and, in 
June, 1894, was elected to the seat on the Supreme 
Bench, which he now occupies 

CARTER, Thomas Henry, United States Sena- 
tor, born in Scioto County, Ohio, Oct, 30, 1854; 
in his fifth year was brought to Illinois, his 
father locating at Pana, where he was educated 
in the public schools ; was employed in farming, 
railroading and teaching several years, then 
studied law and was admitted to the bar, and, in 
1882, removed to Helena, Mont., where he en- 
gaged in practice ; was elected, as a Republican 
the last Territorial Delegate to Congress from 
Idaho and the first Representative from the new 



82 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



state; was Commissioner of the General Land 
Office (1891-92), and, in 1895, was elected to the 
United States Senate for the term ending in 1901. 
In 1893 he was chosen Chairman of the Repub- 
lican National Committee, serving until the St. 
Louis Convention of 1896. 

CABTERVILLE, a city in Williamson County, 
10 miles by rail northwest of Marion. Coal min- 
ing is the principal industry. It has a bank, five 
churches, a public school, and a weekly news- 
paper. Population (ISSO), 692 ; (1890), 969 ; (1900), 
1,749; (1904. est.), 2,000. 

CARTHAGE, a city and the county-seat of 
Hancock County, 13 ndles east of Keokuk, Iowa, 
on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Wa- 
bash Railroads ; has water-works, electric lights, 
three banks, four trust companies, four weekly 
and two semi-weekly papers, and is the seat of a 
Lutheran College. Pop. (1890), 1,654: (1900), 2,104. 

CARTHAGE COLLEGE, at Carthage, Hancock 
County, incorporated in 1871 ; lias a teaching 
faculty of twelve members, and reports 158 pupils 
— sixty-eight men and ninety women — for 1897-98. 
It has a library of 5,000 volumes and endowment 
of §32,000 Instruction is given in the classical, 
scientific, musical, fine arts and business depart- 
ments, as well as in preparatory studies. In 1898 
this institution reported a property valuation of 
$41,000, of which $35,000 was in real estate. 

CARTHAGE & BURLINGTON RAILROAD. 
(See Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.) 

CARTWRIGHT, James Henry, Justice of the 
Supreme Court, was born at Maquoketa, Iowa, 
Dec. 1, 1843 — the son of a frontier Methodist 
clergyman) was educated at Rock River Semi- 
nary and the University of Michigan, graduating 
from the latter in 1867 ; began practice in 1870 at 
Oregon, Ogle County, wliicli is still his home ; in 
1888 was elected Circuit Judge to succeed Judge 
Eustace, deceased, and in 1891 assigned to Appel- 
late Court duty ; in December, 1895, was elected 
Justice of the Supreme Court to succeed Justice 
John M. Bailey, deceased, and re-elected in 
1897. 

CARTWRIGHT, Peter, pioneer Methodist 
preacher, was born in Amherst County, Va., 
Sept. 1, 1785, and at the age of five years accom- 
panied his father (a Revolutionary veteran) to 
Logan County, Ky. The country was wild and 
unsettled, there were no schools, the nearest mill 
was 40 miles distant, the few residents wore 
homespun garments of flax or cotton ; and coffee, 
tea and sugar in domestic use were almost un- 
known. Methodist circuit riders soon invaded 
the district, and, at a camp meeting held at Cane 



Ridge in 1801, Peter received his first religious 
impressions. A few months later he abandoned 
his reckless life, sold his race-horse and abjured 
gambling. He began preaching immediately 
after his conversion, and, in 1803, was regularly 
received into the ministry of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Cliurch, although only 18 years old. In 
1823 he removed to Illinois, locating in Sangamon 
County, then but sparsely settled. In 1828, and 
again in 1832, he was elected to the Legislature, 
where his homespun wit and undaunted courage 
stood him in good stead. For a long series of 
years he attended annual conferences (usually as 
a delegate), and was a conspicuous figure at 
camp-meetings. Although a Democrat all his 
life, he was an uncompromising antagonist of 
slavery, and rejoiced at the division of his 
denomination in 1844. He was also a zealous 
supporter of the Government during the Civil 
War. In 1846 he was a candidate for Congress 
on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by 
Abraham Lincoln. He was a powerful preacher, 
a tireless worker, and for fifty years served as a 
Presiding Elder of his denomination. On the 
lecture platform, his quaintness and eccentricity. 
together with his inexhaustible fund of personal 
anecdotes, insured an interested audience. 
Numerous stories are told of his physical prowess 
ill overcoming unruly characters whom he had 
failed to convince by moral suasion. Inside the 
church he was equally fearless and outspoken, 
and his strong common sense did much to pro- 
mote the success of the denomination in the 
West. He died at his home near Pleasant Plains, 
Sangamon County, Sept. 35, 1873. His principal 
published works are "A Controversy with the 
Devil" (18.53), "Autobiography of Peter Cart- 
wright" (1856), "The Backwoods Preacher" 
(London, 1869), and several works on Methodism. 
CARY, Eusrene, lawyer and insurance manager, 
was born at Boston, Erie County, N. Y., Feb. 30, 
1835; began teaching at sixteen, meanwhile 
attending a select school or academy at intervals; 
s'tudied law at Slieboygan, Wis., and Buffalo, 
N. Y., 1855-56; served as City Attorney and 
later as County Judge, and, in 1861, enlisted in 
the First Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, serv- 
ing as a Captain in the Army of the Cumberland, 
and the last two years as Judge-Advocate on the 
staff of General Rousseau. After the war he 
settled at Nashville, Tenn., where he held the 
office of Judge of the First District, but in 1871 
he was elected to tlie City Council, and, in 1883, 
was the High-License candidate for Maj-or in 
opposition to JIayor Harrison, and believed by 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



83 



many to have been honestly elected, but counted 
out by the machine methods then in vogue. 

CASAD, Authony Wayne, clergyman and jihy- 
sician, was born in Wantage Township, Sussex 
County, N. J., May 2, 1791; died at Summerfield, 
111., Dec. 16, 1857. His father, Rev, Thomas 
Casad, was a Baptist minister, who, with his 
wife, Abigail Tingley, was among the early 
settlers of Sussex County. He was descended 
from Dutch-Huguenot ancestry, the family name 
being originally Co.s.sart, the American branch 
having been founded by Jacques Cossart, who 
emigrated from Leyden to New York in 1663. 
At the age of 19 Anthony removed to Greene 
County, Ohio, settling at Fairfield, near the site 
of the present city of Dayton, where some of his 
relatives were then residing. On Feb. 6, 1811, he 
married Anna, eldest daughter of Captain Samuel 
Stites and Martha Martin Stites, her mother's 
father and grandfather having been patriot sol- 
diers in the War of the Revolution. Anthouj- 
Wayne Casad served as a volunteer from Ohio in 
the War of 1812, being a member of Captain 
Wm. Stephenson's Company. In 1818 he re- 
moved with his wife's father to Union Grove, St. 
Clair County, 111. A few 3-ears later he entered 
the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and during 1821-33 was stationed at Kaskaskia 
and Buffalo, removing, in 1833, to Lebanon, 
where he taught school. Later he studied medi- 
cine and attained considerable prominence as a 
practitioner, being commissioned Surgeon of the 
Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry in 1835. He was 
one of the founders of McKendree College and a 
liberal contributor to its support; was also for 
many years Deputy Superintendent of Schools at 
Lebanon, served as County Surveyor of St. 
Clair County, and acted as agent for Harper 
Brothers in the sale of Southern Illinois lands. 
He was a prominent Free Mason and an influ- 
ential citizen. His youngest daughter, Amanda 
Keziah, married Rev.Cohn D. James (which see). 

CASEY, a village of Clark County, at the inter- 
section of the Vandalia Line and the Chicago & 
Ohio River Railroad, 35 miles southwest of Terre 
Haute. Population (1890), 844; (1900). 1,500. 

CASEY, Zadoc, pioneer and early Congressman, 
was born in Georgia, JIarch 17, 1796. the young- 
est son of a soldier of the Revolutionary War who 
removed to Tennessee about 1800. The subject 
of this sketch came to Illinois in 1817, bringing 
with him his widowed mother, and settling in 
the vicinity of the present city of Mount Vernon, 
in Jefferson County, where he acquired great 
prominence as a politician and became the head 



of an influential family. He began preaching at 
an early age, and continued to do so occasionally 
through his political career. In 1819, he took a 
prominent part in the organization of Jefferson 
County, serving on the first Board of County 
Commissioners; was an unsuccessful candidate 
for the Legislature in 1820, but was elected 
Representative in 1833 and re-elected two years 
later; in 1826 was advanced to the Senate, serv- 
ing imtil 1830, when he was elected Lieutenant- 
Governor, and during his incumbency took part 
in the Black Hawk War. On March 1, 1833, he 
resigned the Lieutenant-Governorship to accept 
a seat as one of the three Congressmen from 
Illinois, to which he had been elected a few 
months previous, being subsequently re-elected 
for four consecutive terms. In 1843 he was 
again a candidate, but was defeated bj' John A. 
McClernand. Other public positions held by him 
included those of Delegate to the Constitutional 
Conventions of 1847 and 1863, Representative in 
the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assem- 
blies (1848-53), serving as Speaker in the former. 
He was again elected to the Senate in 1860, but 
died before the expiration of his term, Sept. 4, 
1863. During the latter years of his life he was 
active in securing the right of way for the Ohio 
it Mississippi Railroad, the original of the Mis- 
sissippi division of the Baltimore, Ohio & South- 
western. He commenced life in poverty, but 
acquired a considerable estate, and was the donor 
of the ground upon which the Supreme Court 
building for the Southern Division at Mount 
Vernon was erected. — Dr. Newton E. (Casey), 
son of the preceding, was born in Jefferson 
County, 111., Jan. 27, 1826, received liis pri- 
mary education in the local schools and at Hills- 
boro and Mount Vernon Academies; in 1843 
entered the Ohio University at Athens in that 
State, remaining until 1845, when he com- 
menced the study of medicine, taking a course 
of lectures the following year at the Louisville 
Medical Institute; soon after began practice, 
and, in 1847, removed to Benton, 111., returning 
the following year to Mount Vernon. In 
1856-57 he attended a second course of lectures at 
the Jlissouri Medical College, St. Louis, the latter 
year removing to Mound City, where he filled a 
number of jjositions, including that of Mayor 
from 1859 to 1864, when he declined a re-election. 
In 1860, Dr. Casey served as delegate from Illi- 
nois to the Democratic National Convention at 
Charleston, S. C, and, on the establishment of 
the United States Government Hospital at Mound 
City, in 1861. acted for some time as a volunteer 



84 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



surgeon, later serving as Assistant Surgeon. In 
1866, he was elected Representative in the 
Twenty-fifth General Assembly and re-elected in 
1868, when he was an unsuccessful Democratic 
candidate for Speaker in opposition to Hon. S. M. 
Cullom; also again served as Representative in 
the Twenty-eighth General Assembly (1872-74). 
Since retiring from public life Dr. Casey has 
given his attention to the practice of his profes- 
sion. — Col. Thomas S. (Casey), another son, was 
born in Jefferson County, 111., April 6, 1832, 
educated in the common schools and at McKend- 
ree College, in due course receiving the degree of 
A.M. from the latter; studied law for tliree 
years, being admitted to the bar in 1854; in 1860, 
was elected State's Attorney for the Twelfth 
Judicial District; in September, 1862, was com- 
missioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Tenth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantr}-, but was mustered out 
May 16, 1863, having in the meantime taken part 
in the battle of Stone River and other important 
engagements in Western Tennessee. By this 
time his regiment, having been much reduced 
in numbers, was consolidated with the Sixtieth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In 1864, he was 
again elected State's Attorney, serving until 
1868; in 1870, was chosen Representative, and, in 
1873, Senator for the Mount Vernon District for 
a term of foiu: years. In 1879, he was elected Cir- 
cuit Judge and was immediately assigned to 
Appellate Court duty, soon after the expiration of 
his term, in 188.5, removing to Springfield, where 
he died, March 1, 1891. 

CASS COUXTT, situated a little west of the 
center of the State, with an area of 360 square 
miles and a population (1900) of 17,222 — named 
for Gen. Lewis Cass. French traders are believed 
to have made the locality of Beardstown their 
headquarters about the time of the discovery of 
the Illinois country. The earliest permanent 
white settlers came about 1820, and among them 
were Thomas Beard, Martin L. Lindsley, John 
Cetrough and Archibald Job. As early as 1821 
there was a horse-mill on Indian Creek, and, in 
1827, M. L Lindsley conducted a school on the 
bluffs. Peter Cartwright, the noted Methodist 
missionary and evangelist, was one of the earliest 
preachers, and among the pioneers may be named 
Messrs. Robertson, Toplo, McDonald, Downing, 
Davis, Shepherd, Penny, Bergen and Hopkins. 
Beardstown was the original county-seat, and 
during both the Black Hawk and Mormon 
troubles was a depot of supplies and rendezvous 
for troops. Here also Stephen A. Douglas made 
his first political speech. The site of the town, 



as at present laid out, was at one time sold by 
Mr. Downing for twenty-five dollars. The 
county was set off from Morgan in 1837. The 
principal towns are Beardstown, Virginia, Chand- 
lerville, Ashland and Arenzville. The county- 
seat, formerly at Beardstown, was later removed 
to Virginia, where it now is. Beardstown was 
incorporated in 1837, with about 700 inhabitants. 
Virginia was platted in 1836, but not incorporated 
until 1842. 

CASTLE, Orlando Lane, educator, was born at 
Jericho, Vt., July 26, 1822; graduated at Denison 
University, Ohio, 1846,- spent one year as tutor 
there, and, for several years, had charge of tlie 
public schools of Zanesville, Ohio. In 18.58, he 
accepted the chair of Rhetoric, Oratory and 
Belles-Lettres in Shurtleff College, at Upper 
Alton, 111., remaining until his death, Jan. 31, 
1892. Professor Castle received the degree of 
LL.D. from Denison University in 1877. 

CATHERWOOD, Mary Hartwell, author, was 
born (Hartwell) in Luray, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1844, 
educated at the Female College, Granville, Ohio, 
where she graduated, in 1868, and, in 1887, was 
married to James S. Catherwood, with whom she 
resides at Hoopeston, 111. Mrs. Catherwood is the 
author of a number of works of fiction, which 
have been accorded a high rank. Among her 
earlier productions are "Craqueo'-Doom" (1881), 
"Rocky Fork" (1883), "Old Caravan Days" 
(1884), "The Secrets at Roseladies" (1888), "The 
Romance of Dollard" and "The Bells of St. 
Anne" (1889). During the past few years she 
has shown a predilection for subjects connected 
with early Illinois history, and has publislied 
popular romances under the title of "The Story 
of Tonty," "The White Islander," "The Lady of 
Fort St. John," "Old Kaskaskia" and "The Chase 
of Sant Castin and other Stories of the French 
in the New World." 

CATOX, John Dean, early lawyer and jurist, 
was born in Monroe County, N. Y., March 19, 
1813. Left to the care of a widowed mother at 
an early age, his childhood was spent in poverty 
and manual labor. At 15 he was set to learn a 
trade, but an infirmity of sight compelled him to 
abandon it. After a brief attendance at an 
academy at Utica, where he studied law between 
the ages of 19 and 21, in 1833 he removed to 
Chicago, and shortly afterward, on a visit to 
Pekin, was examined and licensed to practice by 
Judge Stephen T. Logan. In 1834, he was elected 
Justice of the Peace, served as Alderman in 
1837-38, and sat upon the bench of the Supreme 
Covirt from 1842 to 1864, when he resigned, hav- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



85 



ing served nearly twenty-two years. During 
this period he more than once occupied the posi- 
tion of Chief Justice. Being embarrassed by the 
financial stringency of 1837-38, in the latter year 
he entered a tract of land near Plainfield, and, 
taking his family with him, began farming. 
Later in life, while a resident of Ottawa, he 
became interested in the construction of telegraph 
lines in the West, wliich for a time bore his name 
and were ultimately incorporated in the "West- 
ern Union," laying the foundation of a large 
fortune. On retiring from the bench, he devoted 
himself for the remainder of his life to his private 
affairs, to travel, and to literary labors. Among 
his published works are "The Antelope and Deer 
of America," ".A Summer in Norway," "Miscel- 
lanies," and "Early Bench and Bar of Illinois."' 
Died in Chicago. July 30, 1895. 

CAVARLT, Alfred W., early lawyer and legis- 
lator, was born in Connecticut, Sept. 13, 1793; 
served as a soldier in the War of 1813, and, in 
1822, came to Illinois, first settling at Edwards- 
ville, and soon afterwards at CaiTollton, Greene 
Count}'. Here he was elected Representative in 
tlie Fifth General Assembly (182G), and again to 
the Twelfth (1840) ; also served as Senator in the 
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Assemblies 
(1842-48), acting, in 184.5, as one of the Commis- 
sioners to revise the statutes. In 1844, he was 
chosen a Presidential Elector, and, in 1846, was a 
prominent candidate for the Democratic nomi- 
nation for Governor, but was defeated in conven- 
tion by Augustus C. French. Mr. Cavarly was 
prominent both in his profession and in the 
Legislature while a member of that body. In 
18.)3, he removed to Ottawa, where he resided 
until his death, Oct. 25, 1876. 

CENTERVILLE (or Central City), a village in 
the coal-mining district of Grundy County, near 
Coal City. Population (1880), 673; (1900), 290. 

CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE IXSAXE, 
established under act of the Legislature passed 
March 1, 1847, and located at Jacksonville, Mor- 
gan Coiuity. Its founding was largely due to the 
philanthropic efforts of Miss Dorothea L. Dix, 
who addressed the people from the platform and 
appeared before the General Assembly in behalf 
of this class of unfortunates. Construction of 
the building was begun in 1848. By 1851 two 
wards were ready for occupancy, and the first 
patient was received in November of that year. 
The first Superintendent was Dr. J. M. Higgins, 
who served less than two years, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Dr. H. K. Jones, who had been Assist- 
ant Superintendent. Dr Jones remained as 



Acting Superintendent for several months, when 
the place was filled by the appointment of Dr. 
Andrew McFarland of New Hampshire, his 
administration continuing until 1870, when he 
resigned on account of ill-health, being succeeded 
by Dr. Henry F. Carriel of New Jersey. Dr. 
Carriel tendered his resignation in 1893, and, 
after one or two further changes, in 1897 Dr. 
F. C. Winslow, who had been Assistant Superin- 
tendent under Dr. Carriel, was placed in charge 
of the institution. The original plan of construc- 
tion provided for a center building, five and a 
half stories high, and two wings with a rear 
extension in which were to be the chapel, kitchen 
and employes' quarters. Subsequently these 
wings were greatly enlarged, permitting an 
increase in the number of wards, and as the 
exigencies of the institution demanded, appropri- 
ations have been made for the erection of addi- 
tional buildings. Numerous detached buildings 
have been erected within the past few years, and 
the capacity of the institution greatly increased 
— "The Annex'" admitting of the introduction of 
many new and valuable features in the classifica- 
tion and treatment of patients. The number of 
inmates of late years has racgad from 1,200 to 
1,400. The counties fron. which patients are 
received in this institution embrace: Rock 
Island, Mercer, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Mar- 
shall, Stark, Knox, Wan-en, Henderson, Hancock, 
McDonough, Fulton, Peoria, Tazewell, Logan, 
Mason, Menard, Cass. Schuyler. Adams. Pike, 
Calhoun, Brov\Ti, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, 
Christian, Montgomery, Macoupin, Greene and 
Jersey. 

CE>'TRALIA, a city and railway center of 
Marion County, 250 miles south of Chicago. It 
forms a trade center for the famous "fruit belt" 
of Southern Illinois ; has a number of coal mines, 
a gla.ss plant, an envelope factory, iron foundries, 
railroad repair shops, flour and rolling mills, and 
an ice plant ; also has water-works and sewerage 
system, a fire department, two daily papers, and 
excellent graded schools. Several parks afford 
splendid pleasure resorts. Population (1890), 
4,763; (1900), 6,721; (1903, est), 8,000. 

CENTRALIA & ALTAMONT RAILROAD. 
(See Cenfralia cfr Chester Railroad.) 

CENTRALIA & CHESTER RAILROAD, a rail 
way line wholly within the State, extending 
from Salem, in Marion Count}', to Chester, on the 
Mississippi River (91.6 miles), with a lateral 
branch from Sparta to Roxboi'ough (5 miles), and 
trackage facilities over the Illinois Central from 
the branch junction to Centralia (2 9 miles)— 



86 



HTSTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



total, 99.5 miles. The original line was chartered 
as the Centralia & Chester Railroad, in December, 
1887, completed from Sparta to Coulterville in 
1889, and consolidated the same year witli the 
Sparta & Evansville and the Centralia & Alta- 
mont Railroads (projected); line completed 
from Centralia to Evansville early in 1894. The 
branch from Sparta to Rosborough was built in 
1895, the section of the main line from Centralia 
to Salem (14.9 miles) in 1896, and that from 
Evansville to Chester (17.6 miles) in 1897-98. 
The road was placed in the hands of a receiver, 
June 7, 1897, and the expenditures for extension 
and equipment made under authority granted by 
the United States Court for the issue of Receiver's 
certificates. The total capitalization is §3,374,- 
841, of which .$978,000 is in stocks and $948,000 in 
bonds. 

CENTRAL MILITARY TRACT RAILROAD. 
(See Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail road.) 

CERRO GORDO, a town in Piatt County, 13 
miles by rail east-northeast of Decatur. The crop 
of cereals in the surrounding country is sufficient 
to support two elevators at Cerro Gordo, which 
has also a flouring mill, brick and tile factories, 
etc. There are three churches, graded schools, a 
bank and two newspaper offices. Population 
(1890), 939; (1900), 1,008. 

CHADDOCK COLLEGE, an institution under 
the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
at Quincy, 111., incorporated in 1878; is coeduca- 
tional, has a faculty of ten instructors, and 
reports 127 students— 70 male and 57 female— in 
the classes of 1895-96. Besides the usual depart- 
ments in literature, science and the classics, 
instruction is given to classes in theology, music, 
the fine arts, oratory and preparatory studies. It 
has property valued at $110,000, and reports an 
endowment fund of $8,000. 

CHAMBERLIN, Thomas Crowder, geologist 
and educator, was born near Mattoon, 111., Sept. 
2S, 1845; graduated at Beloit College, Wisconsin, 
in 1866: took a course in Michigan University 
(1868-69); taught in various Wisconsin institu- 
tions, also discharged the duties of State 
Geologist, later filling the chair of Geology at 
Columbian University, Washington, D. C. In 
IbTS, he was sent to Paris, in charge of the edu- 
cational exhibits of Wisconsin, at the Interna- 
tional Exposition of that year — during his visit 
making a special study of the Alpine glaciers. 
In 1887, he was elected President of the Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin, serving until 1892, when he 
became Head Professor of Geology at the Univer- 
sity of Chicago, where he still remains. He is 



also editor of the University "Journal of Geol- 
ogy" and President of the Chicago Academy of 
Sciences. Professor Chamberlin is author of a 
number of volumes on educational and scientific 
subjects, chiefl}' in the line of geology. He 
received the degree of LL.D. from the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, Beloit College and Columbian 
University, all on the same date (1887). 

CHAMP.VIGN, a flourishing city in Champaign 
County, 128 miles southwest of Chicago and 83 
miles northeast of Springfield; is the intersecting 
point of three lines of railway and connected 
with the adjacent city of Urbana. the county- 
seat, by an electric railway. The University of 
Illinois, located in Urbana, is contiguous to the 
city. Champaign has an excellent system of 
water-works, well-paved stt'eets, and is lighted by 
both gas and electricity. The surrounding coun- 
try is agricultural, but the city has manufac- 
tories of carriages and machines. Three papers 
are published here, besides a college weekly con- 
ducted by the students of the Universitj-. The 
Burnham Hospital and the Garwood Old Ladies' 
Home are located in Champaign. In the resi- 
dence portion of the city there is a handsome 
park, covering ten acres and containing a notable 
piece of bronze statuaiy , and several smaller parks 
in other sections. There are several handsome 
cliurches, and excellent schools, both public and 
private. Population (1890), 5,839; (1900), 9,098. 

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, situated in the eastern 
half of the central belt of the State; area, 1,008 
square miles; population (1900), 47,622. The 
county was organized in 1833, and named for a 
county in Ohio. The physical conformation is 
flat, and the soil lich. The county lies in the 
heart of what was once called the "Grand 
Prairie." Workable seams of bituminous coal 
underlie the surface, but overlying quick.sands 
interfere with their operation. The Sangamon 
and Kaskaskia Rivers have their sources in this 
region, and several railroads cross the county. 
The soil is a black muck underlaid by a yellow 
clay. Urbana (with a population of 5,708 in 
1900) is the county-seat. Other important points 
in the county are Champaign (9,000), Tolono 
(1.000), and Rantoul (1,200). Champaign and 
Urbana adjoin each other, and the grounds of the 
Illinois State University extend into each corpo- 
ration, being largely situated in Champaign. 
Large drifted masses of Niagara limestone are 
found, interspersed with coal measure limestone 
and sandstone. Alternating beds of clay, gravel 
and quicksand of the drift formation are found 
beneath the subsoil to the depth of 1.50 to 300 feet. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



87 



CHAMPAIGN, HAVANA & WESTERN RAIL- 
ROAU. (See Illinois Central Railroad.) 

CHANDLER, Charles, physician, was born at 
West Woodstock, Conn., July 2, 1806; graduated 
witli the degree of M.D. at Castleton, Vt., and, 
in 1839, located in Scituate, R. I. ; in 1832, started 
with the intention of settling at Fort Clark (now 
Peoria), 111., but was stopped at Beardstown bj^ 
the "Black Hawk War," finally locating on the 
Sangamon River, in Cass Coimty, wliere, in 1848, 
he laid out the town of Chandlerville — Abraham 
Lincoln being one of the surveyors who platted 
the town. Here he gained a large practice, 
which he was compelled, in his later years, par- 
tially to abandon in consequence of injuries 
received while prosecuting his profession, after- 
wards turning his attention to merchandising 
and encouraging the development of the locality 
in which he lived by promoting the construction 
of railroads and the building of schoolhouses and 
churches. Liberal and public-spirited, his influ- 
ence for good extended over a large region. 
Died, April 7, 1879. 

CHANDLER, Henry B., new,spaper manager, 
was born at Frelighsburg, Quebec, July 13, 1836 ; 
at 18 he began teaching, and later took charge of 
the business department of "The Detroit Free 
Press" ; in 1861, came to Chicago with Wilbur F. 
Storey and became business manager of "The 
Chicago Times"; in 1870, disagreed with Storey 
and retired from newspaper business. Died, at 
Yonkers, N. Y.. Jan. 18, 1896. 

CHANDLERVILLE, a village in Cass County, 
on the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad, 7 
miles north by east from Virginia, laid out in 
1848 by Dr. Charles Chandler, and platted by 
Abraham Lincoln. It has a bank, a creamery, 
four churches, a weekly newspaper, a flour and a 
saw-mill. Population (1890), 910; (1900), 940. 

CHAPIN, a village of Morgan County, at the 
intersection of the Wabash and the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroads, 10 miles west of 
Jacksonville. Population (1890), 450; (1900), 514. 
CHAPPELL, Charles H., railway manager, 
was born in Du Page County, 111., March 3, 1841. 
With an ardent passion for the railroad business, 
(it the age of 16 he obtained a position as freight 
brakeman on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad, being steadily promoted through the 
ranks of conductor, train-master and dispatcher, 
until, in 1865, at the age of 24, he was appointed 
General Agent of the Eastern Division of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. Other railroad 
positions which Mr. Chappell has since held are: 
Superintendent of a division of the Union Pacific 



(1869-70); Assistant or Division Superintendent 
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, or some of 
its branches (1870-74) ; General Superintendent 
of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas (1874-76) ; 
Superintendent of the Western Division of the 
Wabash (1877-79). In 1880, he accepted the 
position of Assistant General Superintendent of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad, being advanced in 
the next three years through the grades of 
General Superintendent and Assistant General 
Manager, to that of General Manager of the 
entire system, which he has continued to fill for 
over twelve years. Quietly and without show or 
display, Mr. Chappell continues in the discharge 
of his duties, assisting to make tlie system with 
which he is identified one of the most successful 
and perfect in its operation in the whole country. 
CHARLESTON, the county-seat of Coles 
County, an incorporated city and a railway junc- 
tion, 46 miles west of Terre Haute, Ind. It lies 
in the center of a farming region, yet lias several 
factories, including woolen and flouring mills, 
broom, plow and carriage factories, a foundry 
and a canning factory. Three newspapers are 
published here, issuing daily editions. Population 
(1890), 4,135; (1900), 5,488. The Eastern State 
Normal School was located here in 1895. 

CHARLESTON, NEOGA & ST. LOUIS RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Toledo, St. Lotas & Kansas City 
Railroad.) 

CHARLEVOIX, Pierre Francois Xavier de, 
a celebrated French traveler and an early 
explorer of Illinois, born at St. Quentin, France, 
Oct. 29, 1683. He entered the Jesuit Society, 
and while a student was sent to Quebec 
(1695), where for four years he was instructor in 
the college, and completed his divinity studies. 
In 1709 he returned to France, but came again to 
Quebec a few j'ears later. He ascended the St. 
Lawrence, sailed through Lakes Ontario and Erie, 
and finally reached the Mississippi by way of the 
Illinois River. After visiting Cahokia and the 
surrounding county (1720-21), he continued down 
the Jlississippi to New Orleans, and returned to 
France by way of Santo Domingo. Besides some 
works on religiovis subjects, he was the author of 
histories of Japan, Paraguay and San Domingo. 
His great work, however, was the "History of 
New France," which was not published until 
twenty years after his death. His journal of his 
American explorations appeared about the same 
time. His history has long been cited by 
scholars as authority, but no English translation 
was made until 1865, wlien it was undertaken bv 
Shea. Died in France, Feb. 1, 1761. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



CHASE, Philander, Protestant Episcopal 
Bishop, was born in Cornish, Vt., Dec 14, 1775, 
and graduated at Dartmouth in 1795. Although 
reared as a Congregationalist, he adopted the 
Episcopal faith, and was ordained a priest in 
1799, for several years laboring as a missionary 
in Nortliern and Western New York. In 1805, 
he went to New Orleans, but returning North in 
1811, spent six years as a rector at New Haven, 
Conn., then engaged in missionary work in Ohio, 
organizing a number of parishes and founding an 
academy at Worthiugton ; was consecrated a 
Bishop in 1819, and after a visit to England to 
raise funds, laid the foundation of Kenyon 
College and Gambler Theological Seminary, 
named in lionor of two English noblemen who 
had contributed a large portion of the funds. 
Differences arising with some of his clergy in 
reference to the proper use of the funds, he 
resigned both the Bishopric and the Presidency 
of the college in 1831. and after three years of 
missionary labor in Michigan, in 1835 was chosen 
Bishop of Illinois. Making a second visit to 
England, he succeeded in raising additional 
funds, and, in 1838, founded Jubilee College at 
Robin's Nest, Peoria County, 111., for which a 
charter was obtained in 1847. He was a man of 
great reHgious zeal, of indomitable perseverance 
and the most successful pioneer of the Episcopal 
Church in the West. He was Presiding Bishop 
from 1843 until his death, which occurred Sept. 
30, 1852. Several volumes appeared from his pen, 
the most important being "A Plea for the West" 
(1826), and "Reminiscences: an Autobiography, 
Comprising a History of the Principal Events in 
the Author's Life" (1848). 

CHATHAM, a village of Sangamon Coimty, on 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 9 miles south of 
Springfield. Population (1890), 482; (1900), C29, 

CHATSWORTH, town in Livingston County, 
on 111. Cent, and Toledo, Peoria & Western Rail- 
ways, 79 miles east of Peoria; in farming and 
stock-raising district; has two banks, three grain 
elevators, five churches, a graded school, two 
weekly papers, water- works, electric lights, paved 
streets, cement sidewalks, biick works, and other 
manufactories. Pop. (1890), 827; (1900), 1,038. 

CHEBANSE, a town in Iroquois and Kankakee 
Counties, on the Illinois Central Railroad, 64 
miles south-southwest from Chicago; the place 
has two banks and one newspaper. Population 
(1880), 728; (1890), 616; (1900). 555. 

CHEXEY, Charles Edward, Bishop of the Re- 
formed Protestant Episcopal Church, was bom in 
Canandaigua, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1836; graduated at 



Hobart in 1857, and began study for the ministry 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Soon after 
ordination he became rector of Christ Church, 
Chicago, and was prominent among those wlio, 
under the leadersliip of Assistant Bishop Cum- 
mins of Kentucky, organized the Reformed Epis 
copal Church in 1873. He was elected Missionary 
Bishop of the Northwest for the new organiza- 
tion, and was consecrated in Christ Church, 
Chicago, Dec. 14, 1873. 

CHENEY, John Vance, author and librarian, 
was born at Groveland, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1848, 
though the family home was at Dorset, Vt., 
where he grew up and received his primary edu- 
cation. He acquired his academic training at 
Manchester, Vt., and Temple Hill Academy, 
Genesee, N. Y., graduating from the latter in 
1865, later becoming Assistant Principal of the 
same institution. Having studied law, he was 
admitted to the bar successively in Massachusetts 
and New York; but meanwliile having written 
considerablj' for the old "Scribner's Monthly" 
(now "Century Magazine"), while under the 
editorship of Dr. J. G. Holland, he gradually 
adopted literature as a profession. Removing to 
the Pacific Coast, he took charge, in 1887, of the 
Free Public Library at San Francisco, remaining 
until 1894, when he accepted the position of 
Librarian of the Newberry Library in Chicago, 
as successor to Dr. William F. Poole, deceased. 
Besides two or three volumes of verse, Mr. Cheney 
is the author of nmnerous essays on literary 
subjects. His published works include "Thistle- 
Drift," poems (1887); "Wood-Blooms," poems 
(1888), "Golden Guess," essays (1892); "That 
Dome in Air," essays (1895); "Queen Helen," 
poem (1895) and "Out of tlie Silence," poem 
(1897). He is also editor of "Wood Notes Wild, " 
by Simeon Pease Cheney (1892), and Caxton Club's 
edition of Derby's Phoenixiana. 

CHENOA, an incorporated city of McLean 
County, at the intersecting point of the Toledo, 
Peoria & Western and the Chicago & Alton Rail- 
roads, 48 miles east of Peoria, 23 miles northeast 
of Bloomington, and 102 miles south of Chicago. 
Agriculture, dairy farming, fruit-growing and 
coal-mining are the chief industries of the sur- 
rounding region. The city also has an electric 
light plant, water-work.s, canning works and tile 
works, besides two banks, seven churches, a 
graded school, two weekly papers, and telephone 
systems connecting with the surrounding coun- 
try. Population (1890), 1,226; (1900), 1,513. 

CHESBROUGH, Ellis Sylvester, civil engineer, 
was bora in Baltimore, Md . July 6, 1813; at the 




CHICAGO THOROUGHFARES. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



89 



age of thirteen was chainman to an engineering 
party on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, being 
later employed on other roads. In 1837, he was 
appointed senior assistant engineer in the con- 
struction of the Louisville, Cincinnati & Charles- 
ton Railroad, and, in 1846, Chief Engineer of the 
Boston Waterworks, in 1850 becoming sole Com- 
missioner of the Water Department of that city. 
In 18.J.5, he became engineer of the Chicago Board 
of Sewerage Commissioners, and in that capacity 
designed the sewerage system of the city — also 
planning the river tunnels. He resigned the 
"iffice of Commissioner of Public Works of 
Chicago in 1879. He was regarded as an author- 
ity on water-supply and sewerage, and was con- 
sulted by the officials of New York, Boston, 
Toronto, Milwaukee and other cities. Died, 
August 19, 1886. 

CHESNUT, John A., lawyer, was bom in Ken- 
tucky, Jan. 19, 1816, his father being a native of 
South Carolina, but of Irish descent. John A. 
was educated principally in his native State, but 
came to Illinois in 1836, read law with P. H. 
Winchester at Carlinville, was admitted to the 
bar in 1837, and practiced at Carlinville until 
1855, when he removed to Springfield and engaged 
in real estate and banking business. Mr. Ches- 
nut was associated with many local business 
enterprises, was for several years one of the 
Trustees of the Institution for the Deaf and 
Dumb at Jacksonville, also a Trustee of the 
Illinois Female College (Methodist) at the same 
place, and was Supervisor of the United States 
Census for the Sixth District of Illinois in 1880. 
Died, Jan. 14, 1898. 

CHESTER, the county-seat of Randolph 
County, situated on the Mississippi River, 76 
miles south of St. Louis. It is the seat of the 
Southern Illinois Penitentiary and of the State 
Asylum for Insane Convicts It stands in the 
heart of a region abounding in bituminous coal, 
and is a prominent shipping point for this com- 
modity : also has quarries of building stone. It 
has a grain elevator, flouring mills, rolling mills 
and foundries. Population (1880), 2,580; (1890), 
3,708; (1900), 2,833. 

CHETLAIN, Augustus Louis, soldier, was born 
in St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 36, 1824, of French Hugue- 
not stock — his parents having emigrated from 
Switzerland in 1823, at first becoming members 
of the Selkirk colony on Red River, in Manitoba. 
Having received a common school education, he 
became a merchant at Galena, and was the first 
to volunteer there in response to the call for 
troops after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in 



1861, being chosen to the captaincy of a company 
in the Twelfth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, 
which General Grant had declined; participated 
in the campaign on the Tennessee River which 
resulted in the capture of Fort Donelson and the 
battle of Shiloh, meanwhile being commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel ; also distinguished liimself at 
Corinth, where he remained in command until 
Nay, 1863, and organized the first colored regi- 
ment raised in the West. In December, 1863, he 
was promoted Brigadier-General and placed in 
charge of the organization of colored troops in 
Tennessee, serving later in Kentucky and being 
brevetted Major-General in January, 1864. From 
January to October, 1865, he commanded the 
post at Memphis, and later the District of Talla- 
dega, Ala., until January, 1866, when he was 
mustered out of the service. General Chetlain 
was Assessor of Internal Revenue for the District 
of Utah (1867-69), then appointed United States 
Consul at Brussels, serving imtil 1873, on his 
return to the United States establishing himself 
as a banker and broker in Chicago. 

CHICAGO, the county-seat of Cook County, 
chief city of Illinois and (1890) second city in 
population in the United States. 

Situation.— The city is situated at the south- 
west bend of Lake Michigan, 18 miles north of 
the extreme southern point of the lake, at the 
mouth of the Chicago River; 715 miles west of 
New York, 590 miles north of west from Wash- 
ington, and 260 miles northeast of St. Louis. 
From the Pacific Coast it is distant 2,417 miles. 
Latitude 41° 53' north; longitude 87° 35' west of 
Greenwich. Area (1898), 186 square miles. 

Topography. — Chicago stands on the dividing 
ridge between the Mississippi and St. Lawreice 
basins. It is 502 feet above sea-level, and its 
highest point is some 18 feet above Lake Michi- 
gan. The Chicago River is virtually a bayou, 
dividing into north and south branches about a 
half-mile west of the lake. The surrounding 
country is a low, flat prairie, but engineering 
science and skill have done much for it in the 
way of drainage. The Illinois & Michigan Canal 
terminates at a point on the south branch of 
the .Chicago River, within the city limits, and 
unites the waters of Lake Michigan with those 
of the Illinois River. 

CoMjiERCE. — The Chicago River, with its 
branches, affords a water frontage of nearly 60 
miles, the greater part of which is utilized for 
the shipment and unloading of grain, Ivunber, 
stone, coal, merchandise, etc. Another navigable 
stream (the Calumet River) also lies within the 



90 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



corporate limits. Dredging has made the Chi- 
cago River, with its branches, navigable for 
vessels of deep draft. The harbor has also been 
widened and deepened. Well constructed break- 
Avaters protect the vessels lying inside, and the 
port is as safe as any on the great lakes. The 
city is a port of entry, and the tonnage of vessels 
arriving there exceeds that of any other port in 
the United States. During 1897, 9,156 vessels 
arrived, with an aggregate tonnage of 7,209,443, 
while 9,301 cleared, representing a tonnage of 
7,185,324. It is the largest grain market in the 
world, its elevators (in 1897) having a capacity 
of 33, 550, 000 bushels. 

According to the reports of the Board of Trade, 
the total receipts and shipments of grain for 
the year 1898 — counting flour as its grain equiva- 
lent in bushels — amounted to 323,097,453 bushels 
of the former, to 389,930,038 bushels of the latter. 
The receipts and shipments of various products 
for the year (1898) were as follows: 



Flour (bbls.) . 

Wheat (bu.) . . 

Corn "... 

Oats "... 

Rye "... 

Barley " . . . 

Cured Meats (lbs.) 

Dressed Beef " . 

Live-stock — Hogs 
" Cattle 

" Sheep 



Receipts. 

5,316,195 

35,741,555 

137,436,374 

110,293,647 

4,935,308 

18,116,594 

229,005,346 

110,286,653 

9,360,968 

2,480,632 

3,503,378 



Shipments. 

5,033,336 

38,094,900 

130,397,681 

85,057,636 

4,453,384 

6,755,347 

933,637,723 

1,060,859,808 

1,834,768 

864.408 

545,001 



Chicago is also an important lumber market, 
the receipts in 1895, including shingles, being 
1,562,537 M. feet. As a center for beef and pork- 
packing, the city is without a rival in the amount 
of its products, there having been 92,459 cattle 
and 760,514 hogs packed in 1894-95. In bank 
clearings and general mercantile business it 
ranks second only to New York, while it is also 
one of the chief manufacturing centers of the 
country. The census of 1890 shows 9,959 manu- 
facturing establishments, with a capital of $29?,- 
477,038; employing 203,108 hands, and turning 
out products valued at §632,184,140. Of the out- 
put by far the largest was that of the slaughter- 
ing and meat-packing establishments, amounting 
to $203,825,093; men's clothing came next ($32,- 
"^^",236) ; iron and steel, 831,419,854; foundry and 
machine shop products, $29,928,616; planed 
lumber, $17,604,494. Chicago is also the most 
important live-stock market in the United States. 
The Union Stock Yards (in the southwest part of 
the city) are connected with all railroad lines 
entering the c'tv, and cover manv hundreds of 



acres. In 1894, there were received 8,788,049 
animals (of all descriptions), valued at $148,057,- 
626, Chicago is also a primary market for hides 
and leather, the production and sales being both 
of large proportions, and the trade in manufac- 
tured leather (notably in boots and shoes) 
exceeds that of any other market in the country. 
Ship-building is a leading industry, as are also 
brick-making, distilling and brewing. 

Transportation, etc. — Besides being the chief 
port on the great lakes, Chicago ranks second to 
no other American city as a railway center. The 
old "Galena & Chicago Union," its first railroad, 
was operated in 1849, and within three years a 
substantial advance had been scored in the way 
of steam transportation. Since then the multi- 
plication of railroad lines focusing in or passing 
through Chicago has been rapid and steady. In 
1895 not less than thirty-eight distinct lines enter 
the city, although these are operated by only 
twenty -two companies. Some 2,600 miles of 
railroad track are laid within the city limits. 
The number of trains daily arriving and depart- 
ing (suburban and freight included) is about 
3,000. Intramural transportation is afforded by 
electric, steam, cable and horse-car lines. Four 
tunnels under the Chicago River and its branches, 
and numerous bridges connect the various divi- 
sions of the city. 

History. — Point du Sable (a native of San 
Domingo) was admittedly the first resident of 
Chicago other than the aborigines. The French 
missionaries and explorers — Marquette, Joliet, 
La Salle, Hennepin and others — came a century 
earlier, their explorations beginning in 1673. 
After the expulsion of the French at the close of 
the French and Indian War, the territory passed 
under British control, though French traders 
remained in this vicinity after the War of the 
Revolution. One of these named Le Mai followed 
Point du Sable about 1796, and was himself suc- 
ceeded by John Kinzie, the Indian trader, who 
came in 1803. Fort Dearborn was built near the 
mouth of the Chicago River in 1804 on land 
acquired from the Indians by the treaty of 
Greenville, concluded by Gen. Anthony Wayne 
in 1795, but was evacuated in 1812, when most of 
the garrison and the few inhabitants were massa- 
cred by the savages. (See Fort Dearborn. ) The 
fort was rebuilt in 1816, and another settlement 
established around it. The first Government 
survey was made, 1829-30. Early residents were 
the Kinzies, the Wolcotts, the Beaubiens and the 
Millers. The Black Hawk War (1832) rather 
aided in developing the resources and increasing 




Ill ^ 

S o 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



91 



the population of the infant settlement by draw- 
ing to it settlers from the interior for purposes of 
mutual protection. Town organization was 
effected on August 10, 1832, the total number of 
votes polled being 28. The town grew rapidly 
for a time, but received a set-back in the financial 
crisis of 1837. During May of that year, how- 



ever, a charter was obtained and Chicago became 
a cit}'. The total number of votes cast at that 
time was 703. Tlie census of the city for the 1st 
of July of that year showed a population of 4,180. 
Tlie following table shows the names and term 
of office of the chief city officers from 1837 to 
1899: 



1837 
1838 
1839 
1340 
1841 
1842 
1843 
!S44 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
185S 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 

1877-78 
1879-80 
1881-82 
1883-84 
1885-86 
1887-88 
1889-90 
1891-92 
1893-94 



City Clerk. 



C'TY ATTORNEY. 



Wm. B. Ogden 

BucknerS. Morris 

Benj. W. Raymond 

Alexander Lloyd 

F. C. Sherman 

Benj. W. Raymond 

Augustus Garrett 

Aug Garrett, Alson S.Sherman(4) 
Aug.Oarrett.Al3onS.Sherman(4) 

John P. Chapiu 

James Curtisa 

James H. Woodworth 

es H. Woodworth 

,es Curtisa 

Walters. Gurnee 

Walters. Gurnee 

Charles M. Gray 

Ira L Milliken 

Levi D. Boone 

Thomas Dyer 

John VVeutworth 

John C. Haines 

JohnC. HaineS- 

John Wentworth 

Julian S. Rumsey. 

C.Sherman 

F G.Sherman 

F.C.Sherman 

John B. Rice 

Johu B. Rice 

John B. Rice 

John B. Rice 

John B. Rice (8) 

R. B. Mason 

R. B. Mason 

JofephMedill 

Joseph Medill 

Harvey D. Colvin 

Harvey D. Colvin 

"onroe Heath, 1 9) H. D. Colvin 

Thomaa Hoyne 

Monroe Heath 

Carter H. Harriaoa 

iCarter H. Harrison 

jCarter H. Harrison 

Carter H. Harrison 

John A. Roche 

Dewitt C. Cregier 

Hempstead Washburne 

Carter H. Harrison, Geo. B 

Swift.dl) John P. Hopkins.dl 

Geo. B. Swift 

Carter H. Harrison. Jr 

Carter H. Harriaon, Jr 



I. N. Arnold, Geo. Davis (1) 

Geo. Davia 

Wm. H. Brackett 

Thomas Hoyne 

Thomas Hoyne 

J.Curtis 

James M. Lowe 

E. A. Rucker 

E. A. Rucker. Wm.S.Brown(5 

Henry B. Clarke 

Henry B Clarke 

Sidney Ahei I 

Sidney Abell 

Sidney Abell 

Henry W. Zl 

Henry W. Zi 

Henry W. Zi 

Henry W. Zi 

Henry W. Zimmerman . 

Henry W. Zimmerman . 

H. Kreiaman 

H. Kreisman 

Abraham Kohn 

A. J. Marble 

A. J. Marble 

H. W. Zimmerman 

H. W.Zimmerman 

Albert H. Bodman 

Albert H. Bodman 

Albert H. Bodman 

Albert H. Bodman 

Albert H. Bodman 

Charles T. Hotchkisa 

Charles T. Hotchkisa 

Charles T. Hotchkiss.... 

Charles T. Hotchkiss 

Jos. K. C. Forrest 

Jos. K. C. Forrest 

Caspar Butz 

Caspar Butz 

P. J. Howard 

P. J. Howard 

John G. Neumeiater 

C. Herman Plautz 

D. W. Nickerson 

Franz Amberg 

James R. B. Van Cleave 

Chas. D. Oastfield 

James R. B. Van Cleave 

William Loeffler, 

WiUiam Loefller 



Hiran 



N. B. Judd 

N. B. Judd 

Samuel L. Smith 

Mark Skinner 

Geo. Manierre 

Henry Brown 

G. Manierre. Henry Brown(! 

Henry W. Clarke 

Henry W. Clarke 

Charles H. Larrabee 

Patrick Ballingall 

Giles Spring 

O. R. W. Lull 

Henry H. Clark 

Henry H. Clark 

Arno Voss 

Arno Vosa 

Patrick Ballingall 

J. A. Thompson , 

J. L Marsh 

JohnC. Miller 

Elliott Anthony 

Geo. F. Crocker 

John Lyle King 

Ira W. Buel 

Geo. A. Meech 

Francis Adams 

Francis Adams 

Daniel D. Driscoll 

Daniel D. Driscoll 

Hasbrouck Davia 

Haabrouck Davia 

Haalirouck Davis 

Israel N. Stllea 

larael N. Stiles 

Israel N. Stiles 

Israel N. Stiles 

Egbert Jamieaon 

Egbert Jamiesou 

R. S. Tuthill Clinton Briggs. 

R. S. Tuthill Chas. B. Larrabee. 

Julius S. Grlunell Iw. C. Seipp. 

Julius S. Grinnell iRudolph Brand. 

Julius S. Grinnell John M. Dunphy. 

Hempstead Washburne Wm. M. Deviiie. 

Hempstead Washburne [C. Herman Plautz. 

Geo. F.Sugg [Bernard Roesing. 

Jacob J. Kern, O.A.Trude ( 10) Peter Kiolbassa. 

Geo. A. Trude Michael J. Bransfield. 

RoyO. West Adam Wolf. 

Miles J. Devine Ernst Hummel. 

Andrew J. Ryan Adam Ortaeifen. 



Pearsons. 

Pearsons. 
Geo. W. Dole. 

W. S. Gurnee, N. H. Boll6S(2) 
N. H. Bolles. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Walters. Gurnee. 
Walter S. Gurnee. 
Wm. L. Church. 
Wm. L. Church. 
.\ndrew Getzler. 
Wm. L. Church. 
Wm. L. Church. 
Edward Manierre. 
Edward Manierre. 
Edward Manierre. 
Edward IManierre. 
Uriah P. Harris. 
Wm. P De Wolf. 
O. J. Rose. 
C. N. Holden. 
Alonzo Harvey. 
Alonzo Harvey. 
Alonzo Harvey ,C.W.Hunt(6) 
W. H. Rice. 

P. H. Cutting, W.H:.Rice(7) 
David A. Gage. 
David A. Gage. 
A. G. Throop. 
A. G. Throop. 
Wm F. Wentworth. 
Wm. F. Wentworth. 
Wm. F. Wentworth. 
David A. Gage. 
David A. Gage. 
David A. Gage. 
David A. Gage. 



I. N. Arnold ruigned, and Geo. Davia appointed, October. 1837. 

Gurnee resigned, Bolles appointed his successor. April. 1840. 

Manierre resigned. Brown appointed his successor. July, 1843. 

Election of Garrett declared illegal, and Sherman elected at new election, held April, 1844. 

Brown appointed to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Rucker. 

Harvey resigned and Hunt appointed to fill vacancy. 

Cutting having failed to qualify. Rice, who waa already in office, held over. 

Legislature changed date of election from April to November, the persons in office at beginning of 1869 remaining in oflQce 
to December of that year. 

City organized under general Incorporation Act in 1875, and no city election held until April, 1876. The order for a new 
election omitted the office of Mayor, yet a popular vote was taken which gave a majority to Thomaa Hoyne. The Council 
then in office refused to canvass this vote, but its successor, at its first meeting, did so, declaring Hoyne duly elected. 
Colvin, the incumbent, refused to surrender the office, claiming the right to *' hold over:" Hoyne then made a contest 
for the offlce, which resulted In a decision by the Supreme Court denying the claims of both contestants when a new 
election was ordered by the City Council. July 12, 1876, at which Monroe Heath was elected, serving < 

City Attorney Kern, having resigned November 21, 1892, Geo. A. Trude was appointed to ae 

Mayor Harrison, having been assassinated. October 28, 1893, the City Council at its next meeting (November 6, 1893) 
elected Geo. B Swi f t i an .\lderman from the Eleventh Ward ) Mayor ad interim. At a special election held December 19, 
1893, John P. Hopkins was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Mayor Harrison. 



the remainder o.f the 



0-^ 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



The Fire of 1871.— The city steadilj- grew i-n 
beauty, population and commercial importance 
until 1871. On Oct. 9 of that year occurred the 
"great fire" the story of which has passed into 
history. Recuperation was speedy, and the 3,100 
acres burned over were rapidly being rebuilt, 
when, in 1874, occurred a second conflagration, 
although by no means so disastrous as that of 
1871. The city's recuperative power was again 
demonstrated, and its subsequent development 
has been phenomenal. The subjoined statement 
shows its growth in population : 



1837 


4.179 


1840 


4,470 


1850 


28,269 


1860 


. 112,163 


1870 


. 298.977 


1880 


. 503,185 


1890 


. 1,099,850 


1900 


. 1,698,575 



Notwithstanding a large foreign population and 
a constant army of unemployed men, Chicago 
has witnessed only three disturbances of the 
peace by mobs — the railroad riots of 1S77, the 
Anarchist disturbance of 1886, and a strike of 
railroad employes in 1894. 

Municipal Administration. — Chicago long 
since outgrew its special charter, and is now 
incorporated under the broader provisions of the 
law applicable to "cities of the first class," under 
which the city is virtually autonomous. The 
personnel, drill and equipment of the police and 
fire departments are second to none, if not supe- 
rior to any, to be found in other American cities. 
The Cliicago River, with its branches, divides the 
city into three principal divisions, known respec- 
tively as North, South and West. Each division 
has its statutory geographical boundaries, and 
each retains its own distinct townsliip organiza- 
tion. This system is anomalous; it has, how- 
ever, botli assailants and defenders. 

Public Improvements. — Cliicago has a fine 
system of parks and boulevards, well developed, 
well improved and well managed. One of the 
parks (Jackson in the South Division) was the 
site of the World's Columbian Exposition. The 
water supply is obtained from Lake Michigan by 
means of cribs and tunnels. In this direction 
new and better facilities are being constantly 
introduced, and the existing water system will 
compare favorably with that of any other Ameri- 
can city. 

Architecture. — The public and office build- 
ings, as well as the business blocks, are in some 
instances classical, but generally severely plain. 



Granite and other varieties of stone are used in 
the City Hall, County Court House, the Board of 
Trade structure, and in a few commercial build- 
ings, as well as in many private residences. In 
the business part of the city, however, steel, 
iron, brick and fire clay are the materials most 
largely employed in construction, tlie exterior 
walls being of brick. The most approved 
methods of fire-proof building are followed, and 
tlie "Chicago construction" has been recognized 
and adopted (with modifications) all over the 
United States. Office buildings range from ten 
to sixteen, and even, as in the case of tlie Masonic 
Temple, twenty stories in height. Most of them 
are sumptuous as to the interior, and many of tlie 
largest will each accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 
occupants, including tenants and their emploj-es. 
In the residence sections wide diversity may be 
seen ; the chaste and the ornate styles being about 
equally popular. Among the liandsome public, 
or semi-public buildings may be mentioned the 
Public Library, the Newberry Library-, the Art 
Institute, the Armour Institute, the Academy of 
Sciences, the Auditorium, the Board of Trade 
Building, the Masonic Temple, and several of the 
railroad depots. 

Education and Libraries. — Chicago has a 
public school system unsurpassed for excellence 
in any other city in the country. According to 
the report of the Board of Education for 1898, the 
city liad a total of 221 priraar)' and grammar 
schools, besides fourteen high schools, employing 
5,268 teachers and giving instruction to over 
286,000 pupils in the course of the year. The 
total expenditures during the year amounted to 
$6,785,601, of which nearly S4,.500,000 was on 
account of teachers' salaries. The city has 
nearly §7,500,000 invested in school buildings. 
Besides pupils attending public schools there are 
about 100,000 in attendance on private and 
parochial schools, not reckoning students at 
higher institutions of learning, such as medical, 
law, theological, dental and pharmaceutical 
schools, and tlie great University of Chicago. 
Near tlie city are also the Northwestern and the 
Lake Forest Universities, the former at Evanston 
and the latter at Lake Forest. Besides an exten- 
sive Free Public Library for circulating and refer- 
ence purposes, maintained by public taxation, 
and embracing (in 1898) a total of over 235,000 
volumes and nearly 50,000 pamphlets, there 
are the Library of the Chicago Historical Society 
and the Newberry and Crerar Libraries — tlie last 
two the outgrowth of posthumous donations by 
public-spirited and liberal citizens — all open to 




DAY AFTER CHICAGO FIRE. 




CHICAGO THOROUGHFARES. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



93 



the public for purposes of reference under certain 
conditions. This list does not include the exten- 
sive library of the University of Chicago and those 
connected with the Armour Institute and the 
public scliools, intended for the use of the pupils 
of these various institutions 

CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE, one of the 
leading commercial exchanges of the world. It 
was originally organized in the spring of 1843 as 
a voluntary association, with a membership of 
eighty-two. Its primarj' object was the promo- 
tion of the city's commercial interests by unity 
of action. On Feb. 8, 1849, the Legislature 
enacted a general law authorizing the establish- 
ment of Boards of Trade, and under its provisions 
an incorporation was effected — a second organi- 
zation being effected in April, 1850. For several 
years the association languished, and at times its 
existence seemed precarious. It was, however, 
largely instrumental in securing the introduction 
of the system of measuring grain by weight, 
which initial step opened the way for subsequent 
great improvements in the methods of handling, 
storing, inspecting and grading cereals and seeds. 
By the close of 1856, the association had overcome 
the difficulties incident to its earlier years, and 
the feasibility of erecting a permanent Exchange 
building began to be agitated, but the project lay 
dormant for several years. In 1856 was adopted 
the first system of classification and grading of 
wheat, which, though crude, formed the founda- 
tion of the elaborate modern system, which has 
proved of such benefit to tlie grain-growing 
States of the West, and has done so much to give 
Chicago its commanding influence in the grain 
markets of the world. In 1858, the privilege of 
trading on the floor of the Exchange was limited 
to members. The same year the Board began 
to receive and send out daily telegraphic market 
reports at a cost, for the first year, of 8500,000, 
which was defrayed by private subscriptions. 
New York was the only city with which such 
communication was then maintained. In Febru- 
ary, 1859, a special charter was obtained, confer- 
ring more extensive powers upon the organization, 
and correspondingly increasing its efficiency. An 
important era in the Board's history was the 
Civil War of 1861-65. During this struggle its 
attitude was one of undeviating loyalty and gener- 
ous patriotism. Hundreds of thousands of dollars 
were contributed, by individual members and 
from the treasury of the organization, for the work 
of recruiting and equipping regiments, in caring 
for the wounded on Southern battlefields, and - 
Providing for the families of enlisted men. In 



1864, the Board waged to a successful issue a war 
upon the irredeemable currency with which the 
entire West was then flooded, and secured such 
action by the banks and by the railroad and 
express companies as compelled its replacement 
by United States legal-tender notes and national 
bank notes. In 1865, handsome, large (and, as 
then supposed, permanent) quarters were occu- 
pied in a new building erected by the Chicago 
Chamber of Commerce under an agreement with 
the Board of Trade. This structure was destroyed 
in the fire of October, 1871, but at once rebuilt, 
and made ready for re-occupancy in precisely 
one year after tlie destruction of its predecessor. 
Spacious and ample as these quarters were then 
considered, the growing membership and increas- 
ing business demonstrated their inadequacy 
before the close of 1877. Steps looking to the 
erection of a new building were taken in 1881, 
and, on May 1, 1885, the new edifice — then the 
largest and most ornate of its class in the world 
— was opened for occupancy. The membership 
of the Board for the year 1898 aggregated con- 
siderably in excess of 1,800. The influence of the 
association is felt in every quarter of the com- 
mercial world. 

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & NORTHERN 
R.4ILR0AD. (See Chicago, Burlington db 
Quincy Railroad.) 

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAIL- 
ROAD (known as the "Burlington Route") is 
the parent organization of an extensive system 
which operates railroads in eleven Western and 
Northwestern States, furnishing connections 
from Chicago with Omaha, Denver, St. Paul and 
Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City, Chey- 
enne (Wyo. ), Billings (Mont.), Deadwood (So. 
Dak,), and intermediate points, and having con- 
nections by aflSliated roads with the Pacific Coast. 
The main line extends from Chicago to Denver 
(Colo.), 1,025.41 miles. The mileage of the 
various branches and leased proprietary lines 
(1898) aggregates 4,627.06 miles. The Company 
uses 207.23 miles in conjunction with other 
roads, besides subsidiary standard-gauge lines 
controlled through the ownership of securities 
amounting to 1,440 miles more. In addition to 
these the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy controls 
179 miles of narrow-gauge road. The whole 
number of miles of standard-gauge road operated 
by the Burlington system, and known as the 
Burlington Route, on June 30, 1899, is estimated 
at 7,419, of which 1,509 is in Illinois, all but 47 
miles being owned by the Company. Tlie system 
in Illinois connects many important commercial 



94 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



points, including Chicago, Aurora, Galesburg, 
Quincy, Peoria, Streator, Sterling, Mendota, Ful- 
ton, Lewistown, Rushville, Geneva, Keithsburg, 
Rock Island, Beardstown, Alton, etc. The entire 
capitalization of tlie line (including stock, bonds 
and floating debt) amounted, in 1898, to $334,884,- 
600, which was equivalent to about §33,000 per 
mile. The total earnings of the road in Illinois, 
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, 
amounted to $8,724,997, and the total disburse- 
ments of the Company within the State, during 
the same period, to $7,469,456. Taxes paid in 
1898, $377,968.— (History). The first section of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was 
constructed under a charter granted, in 1849, to 
the Aurora Branch Railroad Company, the name 
being changed in 1853 to the Chicago & Aurora 
Railroad Company. The line was completed in 
1853, from the junction with the old Galena & 
Chicago Union Railroad, 30 miles west of Chi- 
cago, to Aurora, later being extended to Mendota. 
In 1855 the name of tlie Company was changed 
by act of the Legislatm-e to the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy. The section between Mendota and 
Galesburg (80 miles) was built under a charter 
granted in 1851 to the Central Military Tract 
Railroad Company, and completed in 1854. July 
9, 1856, the two companies were consolidated 
under the name of the former. Previous to this 
consolidation the Company had extended aid to 
the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad (from Peoria to 
the Mississippi River, nearly opposite Burlington, 
Iowa), and to the Northern Cross Railroad from 
Quincy to Galesburg, both of wliich were com- 
pleted in 1855 and operated by the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy. In 1857 the name of the 
Northern Cross was changed to the Quincy & 
Chicago Railroad. In 1860 the latter was sold 
under foreclosure to the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy, and, in 1863, the Peoria & Oquawka was 
acquired in the same way — the former constitut- 
ing the Quincy branch of the main line and the 
latter giving it its Burlington connection. Up 
to 18G3, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy used 
the track of the Galena & Chicago Union Rail- 
road to enter the city of Chicago, but that year 
began the construction of its line from Aurora to 
Chicago, which was completed in 1864. In 1872 
it acquired control, by perpetual lease, of the 
Burlington & Missouri River Road in Iowa, 
and, in 1880, extended this line into Nebraska, 
now reaching Billings, Mont., with a lateral 
branch to Deadwood, So. Dak. Other branches 
in Illinois, built or acquired by this corporation, 
include the Peoria & Hannibal ; Carthage & Bur- 



lington ; Quincy & Warsaw ; Ottawa, Cliicago & 
Fox River Valley; Quincj;, Alton & St. Louis, 
and tlie St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago. The 
Chicago, Burlington & Northern — known as the 
Northern Division of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy — is an important part of the system, 
furnishing a connection between St. Louis on 
the south and St. Paul and Minneapolis on the 
north, of which more than half of the distance of 
583 miles between terminal points, is in Illinois. 
The latter division was originally chartered, Oct. 
21, 1885, and constructed from Oregon, 111., to St. 
Paul, Minn. (319 miles), and from Fulton to 
Savanna, 111. (16.73 miles), and opened, Nov. 1, 
1886. It was formally incorporated into the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line in 1899. In 
June of the same year the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy also acquired by purcliase the Keokuk & 
Western Railroad from Keokuk to Van Wert, 
Iowa (143 miles), and the Des Moines & Kansas 
City Railway, from Des Moines, Iowa, to Gaines- 
ville, Mo. (113 miles). 

CHICAGO, DANVILLE & VINCENJfES RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago & Eastern Illinois Rail- 
road.) 

CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL, a channel or 
waterway, in course of construction (1893-99) 
from tlie Chicago River, within the limits of the 
city of Chicago, to Joliet Lake, in the Des Plaines 
River, about 13 miles above the junction of the 
Des Plaines with the Illinois. The primary object 
of the channel is the removal of the sewage of 
the city of Chicago and the proper drainage of 
the region comprised within what is called the 
"Sanitary District of Chicago." The feasibility 
of connecting the waters of Lake Slichigan by 
way of the Des Plaines River with those of the 
Illinois, attracted the attention of the earliest 
French explorers of this region, and was com- 
mented upon, from time to time, by them and 
their successors. As early as 1808 the subject of 
a canal uniting Lake Michigan with the Illinois 
was discussed in a report on roads and canals by 
Albert Gallatin, then Secretary of the Treasury, 
and the project was touched upon in a bill relat- 
ing to the Erie Canal and other enterprises, intro- 
duced in Congress in 1811. The measure continued 
to receive attention in the press, in Western 
Territorial Legislatures and in official reports, 
one of the latter being a report by Jolin C. Cal- 
houn, as Secretary of War, in 1819, in which it is 
spoken of as "valuable for military purposes." 
In 1833 Congress passed an act granting the 
right of way to the State through the public 
lands for such an enterprise, which was followed, 



SANITARY CANAL - CHICAGO 




MANCHESTER 




NORTH SEJ^ 

- 3ALTIC- 




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NORTh SEA 
- AMSTERDAM - 

200 08 




SUEl 



azsir —- 




WWW''->'Wa'''W/:}: 



PANAMA 




WELLAND 



ILLINOIS* MISSISSIPPI 

HENNEPIN - 



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ILLINOIS^MICMGAN 



COMPARATIVE SIZE OP NOTED CANALS. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



95 



five J^ears later, by a grant of lands for the pur- 
pose of its construction. The work was begun in 
1836, and so far completed in 1848 as to admit of 
the passage of boats from the Chicago basin to La 
Salle. (See Illinois & Michigan Canal.) Under 
an act pa.ssed by the Legislature in 1865, the work 
of deepening the canal was undertaken by the 
city of Chicago with a view to furnishing means 
to relieve the city of its sewage, the work being 
completed some time before the fire of 1871. This 
scheme having failed to accomplish the object 
designed, other' measures began to be considered. 
Various remedies were proposed, but in all the 
authorities were confronted with the difficulty 
of providing a fund, under the provisions of the 
Constitution of 1870, to meet the necessary cost 
of construction. In the closing months of the 
year 1885, Hon. H. B. Hurd, who had been a 
member of a Board of "Drainage Commission- 
ers," organized in 1855, was induced to give 
attention to the subject. Having satisfied him- 
self and others that the difficulties were not 
insurmountable with proper action by the Legis- 
lature, the City Council, on Jan. 27, 1886, passed 
a resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint a 
Commission, to consist of "one expert engineer of 
reputation and experience in engineering and 
sanitary matters," and two consulting engineers, 
to constitute a "drainage and water-supply com- 
mission" for the purpose of investigating and 
reporting upon the matter of water-supply and 
disposition of the sewage of the citj-. As a 
result of this action, Rudolph Bering, of Philadel- 
phia, was appointed expert engineer b)^ Mayor 
Harrison, with Benezette Williams and S. G. 
Artingstall, of Chicago, as consulting engineers. 
At the succeeding session of the General Assem- 
bly (1887), two bills — one known as the "Hurd 
bill" and the other as the "Winston bill," but 
both drawn by Mr. Hurd, the first contemplating 
doing the work by general taxation and the issue 
of bonds, and the other by special assessment — 
were introduced in that body. As it was found 
that neither of these bills could be passed at that 
session, a new and shorter one, which became 
known as the "Roche- Winston bill," was intro- 
duced and passed near the close of the session. 
A resolution was also adopted creating a com- 
mission, consisting of two Senators, two Repre- 
sentatives and Mayor Roche of Chicago, to further 
investigate the subject. The later act, just 
referred to. provided for the construction of a cut- 
off from the Des Plaines River, which would 
divert the flood-waters of that stream and the 
North Branch into Lake Michigan north of the 



city. Nothing was done under this act. however. 
At the next session (1889) the commission made a 
favorable report, and a new law was enacted 
embracing the main features of the Hurd bill, 
though changing the title of the organization to 
be formed from the "Sletropolitan Town," as 
proposed by Mr. Hurd, to the "Sanitary Dis- 
trict." The act, as passed, provided for the 
election of a Board of nine Trustees, their powers 
being confined to "providing for the drainage of 
the district," both as to surplus water and sew- 
age. Much opposition to the measure had been 
developed during the pendency of the legislation 
on the subject, especially in the Illinois valley, 
on sanitary grounds, as well as fear of midsum- 
mer flooding of the bottom lands which are 
cultivated to some extent ; but this was overcome 
by the argument that the channel would, when 
the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers were improved 
between Joliet and La Salle, furnish a new and 
enlarged waterwaj' for the passage of vessels 
between the lake and the Mississippi River, and 
the enterprise was indorsed by conventions held 
at Peoria, Memphis and elsewhere, during the 
eighteen months preceding the passage of the 
act. The promise ultimately to furnish a flow of 
not less than 600,000 cubic feet per minute also 
excited alarm in cities situated upon the lakes, 
lest the taking of so large a volume of water from 
Lake Michigan should affect the lake-level 
injuriously to navigation; but these apprehen- 
sions were quieted by the assurance of expert 
engineers that the greatest reduction of the lake- 
level below the present minimum would not 
exceed three inches, and more likely would not 
produce a perceptible effect. 

At the general election, held Nov. 5, 1889, 
the "Sanitary District of Chicago" was organ- 
ized by an almost- imanimous popular vote 
— the returns showing 70,958 votes for the 
measure to 242 against. The District, as thus 
formed, embraces all of the city of Chicago 
north of Eighty-seventh Street, with forty- 
three square miles outside of the city limits 
but within the area to be benefited by the 
improvement. Though the channel is located 
partly in Will County, the district is wholly in 
Cook and bears the entire expense of construc- 
tion. The first election of Trustees was held at a 
special election, Dec. 12, 1889, the Trustees then 
elected to hold their offices for five years and 
until the following November. The second 
election occuned, Nov. 5, 1895, when the Board, 
as now constituted (1899), was chosen, viz. r 
William Boldenweck, Joseph C. Braden, Zina R. 



9G 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Carter, Bernard A. Eckhart, Alexander J. Jones, 
Thomas Kelly, James P. Mallette. Thomas A. 
Smyth and Frank Wenter. The Trustees have 
power to sell bonds in order to procure funds to 
prosecute the work and to levy taxes upon prop- 
erty within the district, under certain limitations 
as to length of time the taxes run and the rate 
per cent imposed. Under an amendment ot the 
Drainage Act adopted by the Legislature in 1897, 
the rate of assessment upon property within the 
Drainage District is limited to one and one-half 
per cent, up to and including the year 1899, but 
after that date becomes one-half of one per cent. 
The bed of the channel, as now in process of 
construction, commences at Robey Street and the 
South Branch of the Chicago River, 5.8 miles 
from Lake Michigan, and extends in a south- 
westerly direction to the vicinity of Summit, 
where it intersects the Des Plaines River. From 
this point it follows the bed of that stream to 
Lockport, in Will County, where, in consequence 
of the sudden depression in the ground, the bed of 
the channel comes to the surface, and where the 
great controlling works are situated. This has made 
necessary the excavation of about thirteen miles 
of new channel for the river — which runs parallel 
with, and on the west side of. the drainage canal 
— besides the construction of about nineteen 
miles of levee to separate the waters of the 
canal from the river. The following statement 
of the quality of the material excavated and the 
dimensions of the work, is taken from a paper by 
Hon. H. B. Hurd, under the title, "The Chicago 
Drainage Channel and Waterway," published in 
the sixth vohune of "Industrial Chicago" (1896): 
"Through that portion of the channel between 
Chicago and Smnmit, which is being constructed 
to produce a flow of 300,000 cubic feet per minute, 
which is supposed to be sufficient to dilute sew- 
age for about the present population (of Chicago). 
the width of the channel is 110 feet on the bot- 
tom, with side slopes of two to one. This portion 
of the channel is ultimately to be enlarged to the 
capacity of 600,000 cubic feet per minute. The 
bottom of the channel, at Robey Street, is 34.448 
feet below Chicago datum. The width of the 
channel from Simimit down to the neighborhood 
of Willow Springs is 202 feet on the bottom, with 
the same side slope. The cut through the rock, 
which extends from the neighborhood of Willow 
Springs to the point where the channel runs out 
of ground near Lockport, is 160 feet wide at the 
bottom. The entire depth of the channel is 
substantially the same as at Robey Street, with 
the addition of one foot in 40,000 feet. The rock 



portion of the ciiannel is constructed to the full 
capacity of 600,000 cubic feet per minute. From 
the point where the channel runs out of ground 
to Joliet Lake, t.here is a rapid fall; ove' this 
slope works are to be constructed to let the water 
down in such a manner as not to damage Joliet. ' 

Ground was broken on the rock-cut near 
Lemont, on Sept. 3, 1892, and work has been in 
progress almost constantly ever since. The prog- 
ress of the work %vas greatly obstructed during 
the year 1898, by difficulties encountered in secur- 
ing the right of waj' for the discharge of the 
waters of the canal through the city of Joliet, 
but these were compromised near the close of the 
year, and it was anticipated that the work would 
be prosecuted to completion during the year 
1899. From Feb. 1, 1890, to Dec. 31, 1898, the 
net receipts of the Board for the prosecution of 
the work aggregated .328,257,707, while the net 
expenditures had amoimted to §28,221 864. .'57. Of 
the latter, $20,099,284.67 was charged to construc- 
tion account, 83,156,903.12 to "land account" 
(including right of way), and 81,222,092.82 to tlie 
cost of maintaining the engineering department. 
When finished, the cost will reach not less than 
§35,000,000. These figures indicate the stupen- 
dous character of the work, which bids fair to 
stand without a rival of its kind in modern 
engineering and in the results it is expected to 
achieve. 

CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. 
The total mileage of this line, June 30, 1898, was 
1,008 miles, of which 152.52 miles are operated 
and owned in Illinois. The line in this State 
extends west from Chicago to East Dubuque, the 
extreme terminal points being Chicago and 
Minneapolis in the Northwest, and Kansas City 
in the Southwest. It has several brandies in lUi 
nois, Iowa and Minnesota, and trackage arrange- 
ments with several lines, the most important 
being with the St. Paul & Northern Pacific (10.56 
miles), completing the connection between St. 
Paul and Minneapolis ; with the Illinois Central 
from East Dubuque to Portage (12.23 miles), and 
with the Chicago & Northern Pacific from Forest 
Home to the Grand Central Station in Chicago. 
The company's own track is single, of standard 
gauge, laid with sixty and seventy-five-pound 
steel rails. Grades and curvature are light, and 
the equipment well maintained. The outstand- 
ing capital stock (1898) was §52,019,054; total 
capitalization, including stock, bonds and miscel- 
laneous indebtedness, §57,144,245. (History). The 
road was chartered, Jan. 5, 1892, under the laws 
of Illinois, for the pui-pose of reorganization of 





, kZi -''if^ ^•.-Mi<i<'',S£^* 



VIEWS OF DRAINAGE CANAL. 




VIEWS OF DRAINAGE CANAL. 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City Railway 
Company on a stock basis. During 1895, the 
De Kalb & Great Western Railroad (5,81 miles) 
was built from De Kalb to Sycamore as a feeder 
of this line. 

CHICAGO, HARLEM & BATAVIA RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago & Northern Pacific Rail- 
road. ) 

CHICAGO, HATANA & WESTERN RAIL- 
ROAD. (See niinois Cen fral Ra ilroad. ) 

CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, organized, 
April 24, 1856, for the purposes of (1) establishing 
a library and a cabinet of antiquities, relics, etc. ; 
(3) the collection and preservation of historical 
manuscripts, docimients, papers and tracts; (3) 
the encouragement of the discovery and investi- 
gation of aboriginal remains, particularly in Illi- 
nois; (4) the collection of material illustrating 
the growth and settlement of Chicago. By 1871 
the Societj' had accumulated much valuable 
material, but the entire collection was destroyed 
in the great Chicago fire of that year, among the 
manuscripts consumed being the original draft 
of the emancipation proclamation by Abraham 
Lincoln. The nucleus of a second collection was 
consumed by fire in 1874. Its loss in this second 
conflagration included many valuable manu- 
scripts. In 1877 a temporary building was 
erected, which was torn down in 1892 to make 
room for the erection, on the same lot, of a 
thoroughly fire-proof structure of gi'anite, 
planned after the most approved modern sj-stems. 
The new building was erected and dedicated 
under the direction of its late President, Ed- 
ward G. Mason, Esq., Dec. 13, 1896. The Society's 
third collection now embraces about twenty-five 
thousand volumes and nearly fifty thousand 
pamphlets ; seventy-five portraits in ' oils, with 
other works of art; a valuable collection of 
mauuscript documents, and a large nuzseum of 
local and miscellaneous antiquities. Mr. Charles 
Evans is Secretary and Librarian. 

CHICAGO HOM(EOPATHIC MEDICAL COL- 
LEGE, organized in 1876, with a teaching faculty 
of nineteen and forty-five matriculates. Its first 
term opened October 4, of that year, in a leased 
building. By 1881 the college had outgrown its 
first quarters, and a commodious, well appointed 
structure was erected by the trustees, in a more 
desirable location. The institution was among 
the first to introduce a graded course of instruc- 
tion, extending over a period of eigliteen vears. 
In 1897, the matriculating class numbered over 200. 
CHICAGO HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND 
CHILDREN, located at Chicago, and founded in 



1865 by Dr. Mary Harris Thompson. Its declared 
objects are: "To afi'ord a home for women and 
children among the respectable poor in need of 
medical and surgical aid; to treat the same 
classes at home by an assistant physician; to 
afford a free dispensary for the same, and to 
train competent nurses." At the outset the 
hospital was fairly well sustained through pri- 
vate benefactions, and, in 1870, largely through 
Dr. Thompson's efforts, a college was organized 
for the medical education of women exclusively. 
(See Korthwestcrn University Woman's Medical 
School.) The hospital building was totally 
destroyed in the great fire of 1871, but temporary 
accommodations were provided in another section 
of the city. Tlie following year, with the aid of 
§25,000 appropriated by the Chicago Relief and 
Aid Societj', a permanent buildin.g was pur- 
chased, and, in 1885, a new, commodious and well 
planned building was erected on the same site, at 
a cost of about §75,000. 

CHICAGO, MADISON & NORTHERN RAIL- 
ROAD, a line of railway 231.3 miles in length, 140 
miles of which lie within Illinois. It is operated 
by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and is 
known as its "Freeport Division." The par value 
of the capital stock outstanding is $50,000 and of 
bonds §3,500,000, while the floating debt is 
§3,630,698, making a total capitalization of 
.$6,170,698, or .$36,698 per mile. (See also Illinois 
Central Railroad.) This road was opened from 
Chicago to Freeport in 1888. 

CHICAGO MEDICAL COLLEGE. (See North- 
u-estern University Medical College.) 

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAIL- 
WAT, one of the great trunk lines of the North- 
west, having a total mileage (1898) of 6,153.83 
miles, of which 317.94 are in Illinois. The main 
line extends from Chicago to Minneapolis, 420 
miles, although it has connections with Kansas 
City, Omaha, Sioux City and various points in 
Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas. The Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company enjoys 
the distinction of being the owner of all the lines 
operated by it, though it operates 345 miles of 
second tracks owned jointly with other lines. 
Tlie greater part of its track is laid with 
60, 75 and 85-lb. steel rails. The total capital 
invested (1898; is $320,005,901, distributed as 
follows: capital stock, $77,845,000; bonded debt, 
8135,385,500; other forms of indebtedness, 
$5,573,401. Its total earnings in Illinois for 
1898 were $5,205,244, and the total expendi- 
tures, $3,320,218. The total number of em- 
jjloyes in Illinois for 1898 was 2,293, receiving 



98 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS- 



§1,746,827.70 in aggregate compensation. Taxes 
jjaiJ for tlie same year amounted to §151,285. — 
(History). The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway was organized in 1863 under the name 
of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. The Illi- 
nois portion of the main line was built under a 
charter granted to the Chicago, Slilwaukee & St. 
Paul Railway Company, and the "Wisconsin por- 
tion under charter to the Wisconsin Union Rail- 
road Company; the whole built and opened in 
1872 and purchased by the Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway Company. It subsequently acquired by 
purchase several lines in Wisconsin, the whole 
receiving the present name of the line by act of 
the Wisconsin Legislature, passed, Feb. 14, 1874. 
The Chicago & Evanston Railroad was chartered, 
Feb. 16, 1861, built from Chicago to Calvary (10.8 
miles) , and opened, May 1, 1885 ; was consolidated 
with the Chicago & Lake Superior Railroad, 
under the title of the Chicago, Evanston & Lake 
Superior Railroad Company, Dec. 22, 1885, opened 
to Evanston, August 1, 1886, and purchased, in 
June, 1887, by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul Railwa}- Company. The Road, as now 
organized, is made up of twenty-two divisions 
located in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, 
North and South Dakota, ]\Iissouri and :Michigan. 
CHICAGO, P.\DUCAH & 3IEMPHIS RAIL- 
ROAD (Projected), a road chartered, Dec. 19, 
1893, to run between Altamont and Metropolis, 
111., 152 miles, with a branch from Johnston City 
to Carbondale, 20 miles — total length, 172 miles. 
The gauge is standard, and the track laid with 
sixty-pound steel rails. By Feb. 1, 1895, the road 
from Altamont to ilarion (100 miles) was com- 
pleted, and work on the remainder of the line has 
been in progress. It is intended to connect with 
the Wabash and the St. Louis Southern systems. 
Capital stock authorized and subscribed. S2,500,- 
000; bonds issued, §1,575,000. Funded debt, 
authorized, S15,000 per mile in five per cent first 
mortgage gold bonds. Cost of road up to Feb. 1, 
1895, §20,000 per mile ; estimated cost of the entire 
line, §2,000,000. In December, 1896, this road 
passed into the hands of the Chicago & Eastern 
Illinois Railroad Company, and is now operated to 
Marion, in Williamson County. (See Cliieago <fc 
Eastern Illinois Sailroad.) 

CHICAGO, PEKIN & SOUTHWESTERX RAIL- 
ROAD, a division of the Chicago & Alton Rail- 
road, chartered as the Chicago & Plainfield 
Railroad, in 1859 ; opened from Pekin to Streator 
in 1873, and to Mazon Bridge in 1876; sold under 
foreclosure in 1879, and now constitutes a part of 
the Chicago & Alton system. 



CHICAGO, PEORIA & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD 

COJMPANY (of Illinois), a corporation operating 
two lines of railroad, one extending from Peoria 
to Jacksonville, and the other from Peoria to 
Springfield, with a connection from the latter 
place (in 1895), over a leased line, with St. Louis. 
The total mileage, as officially reported in 1895, 
was 208.06 miles, of which 160 were owned by 
the corporation. (1) The original of the Jackson- 
ville Division of this line was the Illinois River 
Railroad, opened from Pekin to Virginia in 1859. 
In October, 1863, it was sold under foreclosure, 
and, early in 1864, was ti'ansferred by the pur- 
chasers to a new corporation called the Peoria, 
Pekin & Jacksonville Railroad Company, by 
whom it was extended the same year to Peoria, 
and, in 18G9, to Jacksonville. Another fore- 
closure, in 1879, resulted in its sale to the 
creditors, followed by consolidation, in 1881, 
with the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway. 
(2) The Springfield Division was incorporated in 
1869 as the Springfield & Xorthwestern Railwaj- ; 
construction was begun in 1872, and road opened 
from Springfield to Havana (45.20 miles) in 
December, 1874, and from Havana to Pekin and 
Peoria over the track of the Peoria, Pekin & 
Jacksonville line. The same year the road was 
leased to the Indianapolis, Bloomington & West- 
ern Railroad Company, but the lease was for- 
feited, in 1875, and the road placed in tlie hands 
of a receiver. In 1881, together with the 
Jacksonville Division, it was transferred to the 
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, and by 
that company operated as the Peoria & Spring- 
field Railroad. The Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific 
having defaulted and gone into the hands of a 
receiver, both the Jacksonville and the Spring- 
field Divisions were reorganized in February, 
1887, under the name of the Chicago, Peoria & 
St. Louis Railroad, and placed under control of 
the Jacksonville Southeastern Railroad. A 
reorganization of the latter took place, in 1890, 
under the name of the Jacksonville, Louisville & 
St. Louis Railway, and, in 1893, it passed into the 
hands of receivers, and was severed from its 
allied lines. The Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis 
Railroad remained under the management of a 
separate receiver until January, 1896, when a 
reorganization was effected under its present 
name — "The Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Rail- 
road of Illinois." The lease of the Springfield 
& St. Louis Division having expired in Decem- 
ber, 1895, it has also been reorganized as an 
independent corporation under the name of the 
St. Louis, Peoria & Northern Railway (which see)- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



99 



CHICAGO RIVER, a sluggish stream, draining 
a narrow strip of land between Lake Michigan 
and the Des Plaines River, the entire watershed 
drained amounting to some 470 square miles. It 
is formed by the union of the "North" and 
the "South Branch," which unite less than a mile 
and a half from the mouth of the main stream. 
At an early day the former was known as the 
"Guarie" and the latter as "Portage Eiver." The 
total length of the Xorth Branch is about 20 miles, 
only a small fraction of which is navigable. The 
South Branch is shorter but offers greater facilities 
for navigation, being lined along its lower por- 
tions with grain-elevators, lumber-yards and 
manufactories. The Illinois Indians in early days 
found an easy portage between it and the Des 
Plaines River. The Chicago River, with its 
branches, separates Chicago into three divisions, 
known, respectivelj-, as the "North" the "South'" 
and the "West Divisions." Drawbridges have 
been erected at the principal street crossings 
over the river and both branches, and four- 
ttinnels, connecting the various divisions of the 
city, have been constructed under the river bed. 

CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC RAIL- 
WAT, formed by the consolidation of various 
Unes in 1880. The parent corporation (The 
Chicago & Rock Island Railroad) was chartered 
in Illinois in 1851, and the road opened from Chi- 
cago to the Mississippi River at Rook Island (181 
miles), July 10, 1854. In 1852 a company was 
chartered under the name of the Mississippi & 
Missouri Railroad for the extension of the road 
from the Mississippi to the Missouri River. The 
two roads were consolidated in 1866 as the Chi- 
cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and the 
extension to the Missouri River and a junction 
with the Union Pacific completed in 1869. The 
Peoria & Bureau Valley Railroad (an important 
feeder from Peoria to Bureau Junction — 46.7 
miles) was incorporated in 1853, and completed 
and leased in perpetuity to the Chicago & Rock 
Island Railroad, in 1854. The St. Joseph & Iowa 
Railroad was purchased in 1889, and the Kansas 
City & Topeka Railway in 1891. The Company 
has financial and traffic agreements with the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Texas Railwaj', extending 
from Terral Station, Indian Territory, to Fort 
Worth, Texas. The road also has connections 
from Chicago with Peoria; St. Paul and Minne- 
apolis; Omaha and Lincoln (Neb.); Denver, Colo- 
rado Springs and Pueblo (Colo.), besides various 
points in South Dakota, Iowa and Southwestern 
Kansas. The extent of the lines owned and 
operated by the Company ( ' 'Poor's Manual, " 1898) , 



is 3,.568. 15 miles, of which 236.51 miles are in 
Illinois, 189.52 miles being owned by the corpo- 
ration. All of the Company's owned and 
leased lines are laid with steel rails. The total 
capitalization reported for the same year was 
§116,748,211, of which §50,000,000 was in stock 
and §58,830,000 in bonds. The total earnings auUd 
income of the line in Illinois, for the year ending 
June 30, 1898, was §5,851,875, and the total 
expenses §3,401,165, of which §233,129 was in the 
form of taxes. The Company has received' under 
Congressional grants 550,194 acres of land, exclu- 
sive of State grants, of which there had been sold, 
up to March 31. 1894, 548,609 acres. 

CHICAGO, ST. PAUL & FOND DU LAC RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago <& N'orthwestern Railway.) 

CHICAGO, ST. PAUL & KANSAS CITY RAIL- 
WAY. (See Chicago Great Western Railicai/.) 

CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS & PADUCAH RAIL- 
WAY, a short road, of standard gauge, laid with 
steel rails, extending from Marion to Brooklyn, 
111., 53.64 miles. It was chartered, Feb. 7, 1887, 
and opened for traffic, Jan. 1, 1889. The St. 
Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad Company is 
the lessee, having guaranteed principal and inter- 
est on its first mortgage bonds. Its capital stock 
is §1,000,000, and its bonded debt §2,000,000, 
making the total capitalization about §56,000 per 
mile. The cost of the road was §2,950,000; total 
incumbrance (1895), §3,016,715. 

CHICAGO TERMINAL TRANSFER RAIL- 
ROAD, the successor to the Chicago & Northern 
Pacific Railroad. The latter was organized in 
November, 1889, to acquire and lease facilities to 
other roads and transact a local business. The 
Road under its new name was chartered, June 4, 
1897, to purchase at foreclosure sale the property 
of the Chicago & Northern Pacific, soon after 
acquiring the property of the Chicago & Calumet 
Terminal Railway also. The combination gives 
it the control of 84.53 miles of road, of which 
70.76 miles are in Illinois. The line is used for 
both passenger and freight terminal purposes, 
and also a belt line just outside the city limits. 
Its principal tenants are the Chicago Great West- 
ern, the Baltimore & Ohio, the Wisconsin Central 
Lines, and the Chicago, Hammond & Western 
Railroad. The Company also has control of the 
ground on which the Grand Central Depot is 
located. Its total capitalization (1898) was §44,- 
553,044, of which $30,000,000 was capital stock 
and §13,394,000 in the form of bonds. 

CHICAGO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, organ- 
ized, Sept. 26, 1854, by a convention of Congre- 
gational ministers and laymen representing seven 



100 



IIISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Western States, among which was Illinois. A 
special and liberal charter was granted, Feb. 15, 
1855. The Seminary has always been vmder 
Congregational control and supervision, its 
twenty-four trustees being elected at Triennial 
Conventions, at which are represented all the 
churches of that denomination west of the Ohio 
and east of the Rocky Mountains. The institu- 
tion was formally opened to students, Oct. 6, 
1858, with two professors and twenty-nine 
matriculates. Since then it has steadily grown 
in both numbers and influence. Preparatory and 
linguistic schools have been added and the 
faculty (189G) includes eight professors and nine 
minor instructors. The Seminary is liberally 
endowed, its productive assets being nearly 
$1,000,000, and the value of its grounds, build- 
ings, library, etc., amounting to nearly $500,000 
more. No charge is made for tuition or room 
rent, and there are forty-two endowed scholar- 
ships, the income of which is devoted to the aid 
of needy students. The buildings, including the 
library and dormitories, are four in number, and 
are well constructed and arranged. 

CHICAGO & ALTON RAILROAD, an impor 
tant railway running in a southwesterly direc- 
tion from Chicago to St. Louis, with numerous 
branches, extending into Missouri, Kansas and 
Colorado. The Chicago & Alton Railroad proper 
was constructed under two charters — the first 
granted to the Alton & Sangamon Railroad Com- 
pany, in 1847, and the second to the Chicago & 
Mississippi Railroad Company, in 18.52. Con- 
struction of the former was begun in 1852, and 
the line opened from Alton to Springfield in 
1853. Under the second corporation, the line was 
opened from Springfield to Bloomington in 1854, 
and to Joliet in 1856. In 1855 a line was con- 
structed from Chicago to Joliet under the name 
of the Joliet & Chicago Railroad, and leased in 
perpetuity to the present Company, which was 
reorganized in 1857 under the name of the St. 
Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad Company. For 
some time connection was had between Alton 
and St. Louis by steam-packet boats running in 
connection with the railroad ; but later over the 
line of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad— 
the first railway line connecting the two cities — 
and, finally, by the Company's own line, which 
was constructed in 1864, and formally opened 
Jan. 1, 1865. In 1861, a company with the 
present name (Chicago & Alton Railroad Com- 
pany) was organized, which, in 18G2, purchased 
the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Road at fore- 
closure sale. Several branch lines have since 



been acquired by purchase or lease, the most 
important in the State being the line from 
Bloomington to St. Louis by way of Jacksonville. 
This was chartered in 1851 under the name of the 
St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad, was 
opened for business in January, 1868, and having 
been diverted from the route upon which it was 
originally projected, was completed to Blooming- 
ton and leased to the Chicago & Alton in 1868. 
In 1884 this branch was absorbed by the main 
line. Other important branches are the Kansas 
City Branch from Roodhouse, crossing the Jlis- 
sissippi at Louisiana, Mo. ; the Washington 
Branch from Dwight to Washington and Lacon, 
and the Chicago & Peoria, by which entrance is 
obtained into the city of Peoria over the tracks 
of the Toledo, Peoria & Western. Tlie whole 
number of miles operated (1898; is 843.54, of 
which 580.73 lie in Illinois. Including double 
tracks and sidings, the Company has a total 
trackage of 1,186 miles. The total capitalization, 
in 1898, was 832,793,972, of which $32,230,600 was 
in stock, and $6,694,8.50 in bonds. The total 
earnings and income for the year, in Illinois, were 
$5,022,315, and the operating and other expenses, 
$4,272,207. This road, under its management as 
it existed up to 1898, has been one of the most uni- 
formly successful in the country. Dividends 
have been paid semiannually from 1863 to 1884, 
and quarterly from 1884 to 1896. For a number 
of years previous to 1897, the dividends had 
amounted to eight per cent per annum on both 
preferred and common stock, but later had been 
reduced to seven per cent on account of short 
crops along the line. The taxes paid in 1898 
were $341,040. The surplus, June 30, 1895, 
exceeded two and three-quarter million dollars. 
The Chicago & Alton was the first line in the 
world to put into service sleeping and dining cars 
of the Pullman model, which have since been so 
widely adopted, as well as the first to run free 
reclining chair-cars for the convenience and 
comfort of its passengers. At the time the 
matter embraced in this volume is undergoing 
final revision (1899), negotiations are in progress 
for the purchase of this historic line by a syndi- 
cate representing the Baltimore & Ohio, the 
Missouri Pacific, the Union Pacific, and the 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas systems, in whose 
interest it will hereafter be operated. 

CHICAGO & AURORA RAILROAD. (See 
CJiicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.) 

CHICAGO & EASTERN ILLINOIS RAIL- 
ROAD. This company operates a line 516.3 miles 
in length, of which 278 miles are within Illinois. 



HISTOMCAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



10] 



The main line in this State extends soutlierly 
from Dolton Junction (17 miles south of Chicago) 
to Danville. Entrance to the Polk Street Depot 
m Chicago is secured over the tracks of the 
Western Indiana Railroad. The company owns 
several important branch lines, as follows: From 
Momence Junction to the Indiana State Line; 
from Cissna Junction to Cissna Park ; from Dan- 
ville Junction to Shelbyville, and from Sidell to 
Rossville. The system in Illinois is of standard 
gauge, about 108 miles being double track. The 
right of way is 100 feet wide and well fenced. 
The grades are light, and the construction 
(including rails, ties, ballast and bridges), is 
generally excellent. The capital stock outstand- 
ing (1895)isS13..59-l,400; funded debt, §18,018,000; 
floating debt, §916,381; total capital invested, 
$32,570,781; total earnings in Illinois, .?2, 593, 072; 
expenditures in the State, §3,595,631. The com- 
pany paid the same year a dividend of six per 
cent on its common stock (8286,914), and reported 
a surplus of §1,484,762. The Chicago & Eastern 
Illinois was originally chartered in 1865 as the 
Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad, its main 
line being completed in 1872. In 1873, it defaulted 
on interest, was sold under foreclosure in 1877, 
and reorganized as the Chicago & Nashville, but 
later in same year took its present name. In 
1894 it was consolidated with the Chicago & 
Indiana Coal Railway. Two spurs (5.27 miles in 
length) were added to the line in 1895. Early in 
1897 this line obtained control of the Chicago, 
Paducah & Memphis Railroad, which is now 
operated to Slarion, in Williamson Coimty. (See 
Chicago, Paducah d- Memi^his Railroad.) 

CHICAGO & GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Of 
the 335.27 miles of the Chicago & Grand Trunk 
Railroad, only 30.65 are in Illinois, and of the 
latter 9.7 miles are operated under lease. That 
portion of the line within the State extends from 
Chicago easterly to the Indiana State line. The 
Company is also lessee of the Grand Junction 
Railroad, four miles in length. The Road is 
capitalized at §6.600,000, lias a bonded debt of 
§12.000,000 and a floating debt (1895) of §2,271,425, 
making the total capital invested, $20,871,425. 
The total earnings in Illinois for 1895 amounted 
to §660,393; disbursements within the State for 
the .same period, §345,233. The Chicago & Grand 
Trunk Railway, as now constituted, is a consoli- 
dation of various lines between Port Huron, 
Jlich. , and Chicago, operated in the interest of 
the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. The Illi- 
nois section was built under a charter gi-anted in 
1878 to the Chicago & State Line Railway Com- 



pan}-, to form a connection with Valparaiso, Ind. 
This corporation acquired the Chicago & South- 
ern Railroad (from Chicago to Dolton), and the 
Chicago & State Line Extension in Indiana, all 
being consolidated under the name of the North- 
western Grand Trunk Railroad. In 1880, a final 
consolidation of these lines with the eastward 
connections took place under the present name — 
the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway. 

CHICAGO & GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY. 
(See Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago <& St. Louis 
Railway.) 

CHICAGO & GREAT SOUTHERN RAILROAD. 
(See Peoria, Decatur <£■ EvansviUc liailway.) 

CHICAGO & ILLINOIS SOUTHERN RAIL- 
WAY. (See Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Rail' 
way. ) 

CHICAGO & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago <£• Alton Railroad ) 

CHICAGO & NASHVILLE RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago & Ea.^tern. Illinois Railroad.) 

CHICAGO & NORTHERN PACIFIC RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago Terminal Transfer Rail- 
road. ) 

CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY, 
one of the great trunk lines of the country, pene- 
trating the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michi- 
gan, Iowa, Minnesota and North and South 
Dakota. The total length of its main line, 
branches, proprietary and operated lines, on May 
1, 1899, was 5,076.89 miles, of which 594 miles are 
operated in Illinois, all owned by the company. 
Second and side tracks increase the mileage 
to a total of 7,217.91 miles. The Chicago & 
Northwestern Railway (proper) is operated in 
nine separate divisions, as follows: The Wis- 
consin, Galena, Iowa, Northern Iowa, Madison. 
Peninsula. Winona and St. Peter, Dakota and 
Ashland Divisions The principal or main lines; 
of the "Northwestern System,'' in its entirety, 
are those which have Chicago, Omaha, St. Paul 
and Minneapolis for their termini, though their 
branches reach numerous important points 
within the States already named, from the shore 
of Lake Michigan on the east to Wyoming on the 
west, and from Kansas on the south to Lake 
Superior on the north. — (History.) The Chi- 
cago & Northwestern Railway Company was 
organized in 1859 under charters granted by the 
Legislatures of Illinois and Wisconsin during 
that year, under which the new company came 
into possession of the rights and franchises of the 
Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lao Railroad Com- 
pany. The latter road was the outgrowth oi 
various railway enterprises which had been pro 



102 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



jected. chartered and partly constructed in Wis- 
consin and Illinois, between 1848 and 1855, 
including the Madison & Beloit Railroad, the 
Rock River Valley Union Railroad, and the Illi- 
nois & Wisconsin Railroad — the last named com- 
pany being chartered by the Illinois Legislature 
in 1851, and authorized to build a railroad from 
Chicago to the Wisconsin line. Tlie Wisconsin 
Legislature of 1855 authorized the consolidation 
of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad with the 
Illinois enterprise, and, in March, 1855, the con- 
solidation of these lines was perfected under the 
name of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac 
Railroad. During the first four years of its exist- 
ence this company built 176 miles of the road, of 
which seventy miles were between Chicago and 
the Wisconsin State line, with the sections con- 
structed in Wisconsin completing the connection 
between Chicago and Fond du Lac. As the result 
of the financial revulsion of 1857, the corporation 
became financially embarrassed, and the sale of its 
property and franchises under the foreclosure of 
1859, already alluded to, followed. This marked 
the beginning of the present corporation, and, in 
the next few years, by the construction of new 
lines and the purchase of others in Wisconsin and 
Northern Illinois, it added largely to the extent 
of its lines, both constructed and projected. The 
most important of these was the union effected 
with the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, 
which was formally consolidated with the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern in 1864. The history of 
the Galena & Chicago Union is interesting in 
view of the fact that it was one of the earliest 
railroads incorporated in Illinois, having been 
chartered by special act of the Legislature during 
the "internal improvement" excitement of 1836. 
Besides, its charter was the only one of that 
period under which an organization was effected, 
and although construction was not begun under 
it until 1847 (eleven years afterward), it was the 
second railroad constructed in the State and the 
first leading from the city of Chicago. In the 
forty years of its history the growth of the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern has been steady, and its 
success almost phenomenal. In that time it has 
not only added largely to its mileage by the con- 
struction of new lines, but has absorbed more 
lines than almost any other road in the country, 
until it now reaches almost every important city 
in the Northwest. Among the lines in Northern 
Illinois now constituting a part of it. were several 
which had become a part of the Galena & Chicago 
Union before the consolidation. These included 
a line from Belvidere to Beloit, Wis. ; the Fox 



River Valley Railroad, and the St. Charles & 
Mississippi Air Line Railroad — all Illinois enter- 
prises, and more or less closely connected with 
the development of the State. The total capi- 
talization of the line, on June 30, 1898, was 
§200,968,108, of which $66,408,821 was capi- 
tal stock and $101,603,000 in the form of 
bonds. The earnings in the State of Illinois, 
for the same period, aggregated $4,374,923, 
and the expenditures $8,713,593. At the present 
time (1899) the Chicago & Northwestern is build- 
ing eight or ten branch lines in Wisconsin, Iowa, 
Minnesota and South Dakota. The Northwestern 
System, as such, comprises nearly 3,000 miles of 
road not included in the preceding statements of 
mileage and financial condition. Although owned 
by the Chicago & Northwestern Company, they 
are managed by different officers and under other 
names. The mileage of the whole system covers 
nearly 8,000 miles of main line. 

CHIC.UJO & SPRINGFIELD RAILROAD. 
(See Illinois Central Railroad.) 

CHICAGO & TEXAS RAILROAD, a line 
seventy-three miles in length, extending from 
Johnston City by way of Carbondale westerly to 
the Jlississippi, thence southerly to Cape Girar- 
deau. The line was originallj' operated by two 
companies, under the names of the Grand Tower 
& Carbondale and the Grand Tower & Cape Girar- 
deau Railroad Companies. The former was 
chartered in 1882, and the road built in 1885 ; the 
latter, chartered in 1889 and the line opened the 
same j'ear. They were consolidated in 1893, and 
operated under the name of the Chicago & Texas 
Railroad Company. In October, 1897, the last 
named line was transferred, under a twenty-five 
year lease, to the Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany, by whom it is operated as its St. Louis & 
Cape Girardeau division. 

CHICAGO & WESTERN INDIANA RAIL- 
ROAD. The main line of this road extends from 
Chicago to Dolton, 111. (17 miles), and affords ter- 
minal facilities for all lines entering the Polk St. 
Depot at Chicago. It has branches to Hammond, 
Ind. (10.28 miles); to Cragin (15.9 miles), and to 
South Chicago (5.41 miles); making the direct 
mileage of its branches 48.59 miles. In addition, 
its second, third and fourth tracks and sidings 
increase the mileage to 204.79 miles. The com- 
pany was organized June 9, 1879 ; the road opened 
in 1880, and, on Jan. 26, 1882, consolidated with 
the South Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad 
Company, and the Chicago & Western Indiana 
Belt Railway. It also owns some 850 acres in fee 
in Chicago, including wharf property on the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



103 



Chicago River, right of way, switch and transfer 
yards, depots, the Indiana grain elevator, etc. 
The elevator and the Belt Division are leased to 
the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, and the 
rest of the property is leased conjointly by the 
Chicago & Eastern IlUnois, the Chicago & Grand 
Trunk, the Chicago & Erie, the Louisville, New 
Albany & Chicago, and the Wabash Railways 
(each of which owns §1,000,000 of the capital 
stock), and by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. 
These companies pay the expense of operation 
and maintenance on a mileage basis. 

CHICAGO & WISCONSIN RAILROAD. (See 
Wisconsin Central Lines.) 

CHILDS, Robert A., was born at Malone, 
Franklin County, N. Y., March 22, 1845, the son 
of an itinerant Methodist preacher, who settled 
near Belvidere, Boone County, 111., in 1852. His 
home having been broken up by the death of his 
mother, in 1854, lie went to live upon a farm. In 
April, 1861, at the age of 16 years, he enlisted in 
the company of Captain (afterwards General) 
Stephen A. Hurlbut, which was later attached to 
the Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers. After being 
mustered out at the close of the war, he entered 
school, and graduated from the Illinois State 
Normal Universitj in 1870. For the following three 
years he was Principal and Superintendent of 
public schools at Amboy, Lee County, meanwhile 
studying law, and being admitted to the bar. In 
1873, he began the practice of his profession at 
Cliicago, making' his home at Hinsdale. After 
filling various local offices, in 1884 he was 
chosen Presidential Elector on the Republican 
tickefe, and, in 1892, was elected by the narrow 
majority of thirty-seven votes to represent the 
Eighth Illinois District in the Fifty-third Con- 
gress, as a Repulilican. 

CHILLICOTHE, a city in Peoria County, situ- 
ated on the Illinois River, at the head of Peoria 
Lake; is 19 miles northwest of Peoria, on the 
Peoria branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad, and the freight division of the 
Atkinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. It is an 
important shipping-point for grain ; has a can- 
ning factory, a button factory, two banks, five 
churches, a high school, and two veekly news- 
papers. Population (1890), 1,632: (1900), 1,699, 

CHINIQUT, (Rev.) Charles, clergyman and 
reformer, was born in Canada, July 30, 1809, of 
mixed French and Spanish blood, and educated 
for the Romish priesthood at the Seminary of St. 
Nicholet, where he remained ten years, gaining a 
reputation among his fellow students for extraor- 
dinary zeal and piety. Having been ordained 



to the priesthood in 1833, he labored in various 
churches in Canada until 1851, when he accepted 
an invitation to Illinois with a view to building 
up the church in the Mississippi Valley. Locat- 
ing at the junction of the Kankakee and Iroquois 
Rivers, in Kankakee County, he was the means 
of bringing to that vicinity a colony of some 
5,000 French Canadians, followed by colonists 
from France, Belgium and other European 
countries. It has been estimated that over 
50,000 of this class of emigrants were settled in 
Illinois within a few years. The colony em- 
braced a territory of some 40 square miles, with 
the village of St. Ann's as the center. Here 
Father Chiniquy began his labors by erecting 
churches and schools for the colonists. He soon 
became dissatisfied with what he believed to be 
the exercise of arbitrary authority by the ruling 
Bisliop, then began to have doubts on the question 
of papal infallibility, the final result being a 
determination to separate himself from the 
Mother Church. In this step he appears to have 
been followed by a large proportion of the colo- 
nists who had accompanied him from Canada, but 
the result was a feeling of intense bitterness 
between the opposing factions, leading to much 
litigation and many criminal prosecutions, of 
which Father Chiniquy was the subject, though 
never convicted. In one of these suits, in which 
the Father was accused of an infamous crime, 
Abraham Lincoln was coiinsel for the defense, 
the charge being proven to be the outgrowth of 
a conspiracy. Having finally determined to 
espouse the caiise of Protestantism, Father 
Chiniquy allied himself with the Canadian Pres- 
bytery, and for many years of his active clerical 
life, divided his time between Canada and the 
United States, having supervision of churches in 
Montreal and Ottawa, as well as in this country. 
He also more than once visited Europe by special 
invitation to address important religious bodies 
in that country. He died at Montreal, Canada, 
Jan. 16, 1899. in tlie 90th year of his age. 

CHOUART, Medard, (known also as Sieur des 
Groseilliers), an earlj' French explorer, supposed 
to have been born at Touraine, France, about 
1621. Coming to New France in early j-outh, he 
made a voyage of discovery with his brother-in- 
law, Radisson, westward from Quebec, about 
1654-56, these two being believed to have been 
the first white men to reach Lake Superior. 
After spending the winter of 1658-.59 at La 
Pointe, near where Ashland, Wis., now stands, 
tliey are believed by some to have discovered the 
Upper Mississippi and to liave descended that 



104 



III.STOiilCAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLIXOIS. 



stream a long distance towards its mouth, as 
they claimed to have reached a much milder 
climate and heard of Spanish ships on the salt 
water (Gulf of Mexico). Some antiquarians 
credit them, about this time (1659), with having 
visited the present site of the city of Chicago. 
They were the first explorers of Northwestern 
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and are also credited 
with having been the first to discover an inland 
route to Hudson's Bay, and with being the 
founders of the original Hudson's Bay Company. 
Groseillier's later history is unknown, but he 
ranks among the most intrepid explorers of the 
"New World" about the middle of the seventh 
century. 

CHRISMAN, a city of Edgar County, at the 
intersection of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chi- 
cago & St. Louis and the Cincinnati, Hamilton & 
Dayton Railroads, 34 miles south of DanviUe ; has 
a pipe-wrench factory, grain elevators, and 
storage cribs. Population (1890), 820; (1900), 905. 

CHRISTIAN COrXTT, a rich agricultural 
county, lying in the "central belt," and organized 
in 1839 from parts of Macon, Montgomerj-, 
Sangamon and Shelby Counties. The name first 
given to it was Dane, in honor of Nathan Dane, 
one of the framers of the Ordinance of 1787, but 
a political prejudice led to a change. A pre- 
ponderance of early settlers having come from 
Christian Coimty, Ky., this name was finally 
adopted. The surface is level and the soil fertile, 
the northern half of the county being best 
adapted to corn and the southern to wheat. Its 
area is about 710 square miles, and its population 
(1900), was 33,790. The life of the early settlers 
was exceedingly primitive. Game was abun- 
dant; wild honey was used as a substitute for 
sugar; wolves were troublesome; prairie fires 
were frequent; the first mill (on Bear Creek) 
could not grind more than ten bushels of grain 
per day, by horse-power. The people hauled their 
corn to St. Louis to exchange for groceries. The 
first store was opened at Robertson's Point, but 
the county-seat was established at Taylorville. A 
great change was wrought in local conditions by 
the advent of the Illinois Central Railway, which 
passes through the eastern part of tlie county. 
Two other railroads now pass centrally through 
the county— the "Wabash" and the Baltimore & 
Oliio Southwestern. The principal towns are 
Taylorville (a railroad center and tliriving town 
of 2,839 inhabitants), Pana, Morrisonville. Edin- 
burg, and Assumption. 

CHURCH, Lawrence S., lawyer and legislator, 
was born at Nunda. N. Y.. in 1820; passed his 



youth on a farm, but having a fondness for study, 
at an early age began teaching in winter with a 
view to earning means to jirosecute his studies in 
law. In 1843 he arrived at McHenry, then the 
county-seat of McHenry County, 111., having 
walked a part of the way from New York, paying 
a portion of his expenses by the delivery of lec- 
tures. He soon after visited Springfield, and 
having been examined before Judge S. H. Treat, 
was admitted to the bar. On the removal of the 
county-seat from McHenry to Woodstock, he 
removed to the latter place, where he continued 
to reside to tlie end of his life. A member of the 
Whig party up to 1856, he was that year elected 
as a Republican Representative in the Twentieth 
General Assembly, serving by re-election in the 
Twenty-first and Twenty-second; in 1860, was 
supported for the nomination for Congress in the 
Northwestern District, but was defeated by Hon. 
E. B. Washburne ; in 1863, aided in the organiza- 
tion of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteers, and 
was commissioned its Colonel, but was compelled 
to resign before reaching the field on account of 
failing health. In 1866 he was elected County 
Judge of ilcHenry County, to fill a vacancy, and, 
in 1869 to the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70. 
Died, July 23, 1870. Judge Church was a man of 
high principle and a speaker of decided ability. 

CHURCH, Selden Marvin, capitalist, was born 
at East Haddam, Conn., March 4, 1804; taken by 
his father to Jlonroe County, N. Y., in boyhood, 
and grew up on a farm there, but at the age of 
31, went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged 
in teaching, being one of the earliest teachers in 
the public schools of that city. Then, having 
spent some time in mercantile pursuits in Roches- 
ter, N. Y., in 1835 he removed to Illinois, first 
locating at Geneva, but the following year 
removed to Rockford, where he continued to 
reside for the remainder of his life. In 1841, he 
was appointed Postmaster of the city of Rock- 
ford by the first President Harrison, remaining 
in office three years. Other offices held by kini 
were those of County Clerk (1843-47), Delegate to 
the Second Con-stitutional Convention (1847), 
Judge of Probate (1849-57), Representative in 
the Twenty -third General Assembly (1863-65), 
and member of the first Board of Public Charities 
by appointment of Governor Palmer, in 1869, 
being re-appointed bj- Governor Beveridge, in 
1873, and, for a part of the time, serving as Presi- 
dent of the Board. He also served, by appoint- 
ment of the Secretary of War, as one of the 
Commissioners to assess damages for the Govern- 
ment improvements at Rock Island and to locate 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



105 



the Government bridge between Rock Island and 
Davenport. During the latter years of his Ufe h6 
was President for .some time of the Rockford 
Ins\ixance Company ; was also one of the origina- 
tors, and, for man}- years. Managing Director of 
the Rockford Water Power Company, which }ias 
done so much to promote tlie prosperity of that 
city, and, at the time of liis death, was one of tlie 
Directors of the Winnebago National Bank. Died 
at Rockford, June 23, 1892. 

CHURCHILL, George, early printer and legis- 
lator, was born at Hubbardtown, Rutland 
County, Vt., Oct. 11, 1T89; received a good edu- 
cation in his youth, tlius imbibing a taste for 
literature which led to his learning the printer's 
trade. In 1806 he became an apprentice in the 
ofBce of the Albany (N. Y.) "Sentinel," and, 
after serving his time, worked as a journeyman 
printer, thereby accumulating means to purchase 
a half-interest in a small printing office. Selling 
this out at a loss, a year or two later, he went to 
New York, and, after working at the case some 
five months, started for the West, stopping en 
route at Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Louisville. 
In the latter place he worked for a time in the 
office of "The Courier," and still later in that of 
"The Correspondent." then owned by Col. Elijah 
C. Berry, who subsequently came to Illinois and 
served as Auditor of Public Accounts. In 1817 
he arrived in St. Louis, but, attracted by the fer- 
tile soil of Illinois, determined to engage in agri- 
cultural pursuits, finally purchasing land some 
six miles southeast of Edwardsville, in Madison 
Coimty, where he continued to reside the re- 
mainder of his life. In order to raise means to 
improve his farm, in the spring of 1819 he 
worked as a compositor in the office of "The 
Missouri Gazette" — the predecessor of "The St. 
Louis Republic." While there he wrote a series 
of articles over the signature of "A Farmer of St. 
Charles County," advocating the admission of 
the State of Missouri into the Union without 
slavery, which caused considerable excitement 
among the friends of that institution. During 
the same year he aided Hooiser Warren in 
establishing his paper, "The Spectator," at 
Edwardsville, and, still later, became a frequent 
contributor to its columns, especially during the 
campaign of 1822-24, which resulted, in the latter 
year, in the defeat of the attemjit to plant slavery 
in Illinois. In 1822 he was elected Represent- 
ative in the Third General Assembly, serving in 
that body by successive re-elections until 1832. 
His re-election for a second term, in 1824, demon- 
strated that his vote at the preceding session, in 



opposition to the scheme for a State Convention 
to revise the State Constitution in the interest of 
slaver}', was approved by his constituents. In 
1838, he was elected to the State Senate, serving 
four years, and, in 1844, was again elected to the 
House — in all serving a period in both Houses of 
sixteen years. 'Sir. Churchill was never married. 
He was an industrious and systematic collector of 
historical records, and, at the time of his death in 
the summer of 1872, left a mass of documents and 
other historical material of great value. (See 
Slavery and Slave Laws; Warren, Hooper, and 
Coles, Edirard.) 

CLARK (Gen.) George Rogers, soldier, was 
born near Monticello, Albemarle County, Va., 
Nov. 19, 17.52. In his younger life he was a 
farmer and surveyor on the upper Ohio. His 
first experience in Indian fighting was under 
Governor Duninore, against the Shawnees (1774). 
In 1775 he went as a surveyor to Kentucky, and 
the British having incited the Indians against 
the Americans in the following year, he was 
commissioned a Major of militia. He soon rose 
to a Colonelcy, and attained marked distinction. 
Later he was commissioned Brigadier-General, 
and planned an expedition against the British 
fort at Detroit, which was not successful. In 
the latter part of 1777, in consultation with Gov. 
Patrick Henry, of Virginia, he planned an expe- 
dition against Illinois, which was carried out 
the following year. On July 4, 1778, he captured 
Kaskaskia without firing a gun, and other 
French villages surrendered at discretion. The 
following February he set out from Kaskaskia to 
cross the "Illinois Country" for the purpose of 
recapttoring Vincennes, which had been taken and 
was garrisoned by the British under Hamilton. 
After a forced march characterized by incredible 
suffering, his ragged followers effected the cap- 
ture of the post. His last important military 
service was against the savages on the Big 
Miami, whose villages and fields he laid waste. 
His last years were passed in sorrow and in com- 
parative penury. He died at Louisville, Ky., 
Feb. 18, 1818, and his remains, after reposing in a 
private cemetery near that city for half a cen- 
tury, were exhumed and removed to Cave Hill 
Cemetery in 1869. The fullest history of General 
Clark's expedition and his life will be found in 
the "Conquest of the Country Northwest of the 
Ohio River, 17741783, and Life of Gen. George 
Rogers Clark" (2 volumes, 1896), by the late 
William H. English, of Indianapolis. 

CLARK, Horace S., lawyer and poUtician, was 
born at Huntsburg, Ohio, August 12, 1840. At 



106 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the age of ]5, coming to Chicago, he found 
employment in a Uvei y stable ; later, worked on 
a farm in Kane County, attending school in the 
winter. After a year spent in Iowa City attend- 
ing the Iowa State University, he returned to 
Kane County and engaged in the dairy business, 
later occupying himself with various occupations 
in Illinois and Jlissouri, but finally returning to 
his Ohio home, where he began the study of law 
at Circleville. In 1861 he enlisted in an Ohio 
regiment, rising from the ranks to a captaincy, 
but was finally compelled to leave the service in 
consequence of a wound received at Gettysburg. 
In 1865 he settled at Mattoon, 111., where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1868. In 1870 he was an 
unsuccessful candidate for the Legislatm'e on the 
Republican ticket, but was elected State Senator 
in 1880, serving four years and proving himself 
one of the ablest speakers on the floor. In 1888 
he was chosen a delegate-at-large to the National 
Republican Convention, and has long been a con- 
spicuous figure in State politics. In 1896 he was 
a prominent candidate for the Republican nomi- 
nation for Governor. 

CLARE, John M., civil engineer and merchant, 
was born at "White Pigeon, Mich., August 1, 1836; 
came to Chicago with his widowed mother in 
1847, and, after five years in the Chicago schools, 
served for a time (1852) as a rodman on the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad. After a course in the 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., 
where he graduated in 1856, he retiurned to the 
service of the Illinois Central. In 1859 he went to 
Colorado, where he was one of the original 
founders of the city of Denver, and chief engi- 
neer of its first water supply company. In 1863 
he started on a surveying expedition to Arizona, 
but was in Santa Fe when that place Avas captured 
by a rebel expedition from Texas; was also 
present soon after at the battle of Apache Canon, 
when the Confederates, being defeated, were 
driven out of the Territory. Returning to Chi- 
cago in 1864, lie became a member of the whole- 
sale leather firm of Gray, Clark & Co. The 
official positions held bj- Mr. Clark include those 
of Alderman (1879-81), Member of the Board of 
Education, Collector of Customs, to which he 
was appointed by President Harrison, in 1889, 
and President of the Chicago Civil Service Board 
by appointment of Mayor Swift, under an act 
passed by the Legislature of 1895, retiring in 1897. 
In 1881 he was the Republican candidate for Mayor 
of Chicago, but was defeated by Carter H. Harri- 
son. Mr. Clark is one of the Directors of the Crerar 
Library, named in the will of Mr. Crerar. 



GLARE COUJf TT, one of the eastern counties 
of the State, south of the middle line and front- 
ing upon the Wabash River; area, 510 square 
miles, and population (1900), 24,033; named for 
Col. George Rogers Clark. Its organization was 
effected in 1819. Among the earliest pioneers 
were John Bartlett, Abraham Washburn, James 
Whitlock, James B. Anderson, Stephen Archer 
and Uri Manlj-. The county-seat is Marshall, the 
site of which was purchased from the Govern- 
ment in 1833 by Gov. Joseph Duncan and Col. 
William B. Archer, the latter becoming sole pro- 
prietor in 1835, in which year the first log cabin 
was built. The original county-seat was Darwin, 
and the change to Marshall (in 1849) was made 
only after a hard struggle. The soil of the 
county is rich, and its agricultural products 
varied, embracing corn (the chief staple), oats, 
potatoes, winter wheat, butter, sorghum, honey, 
maple sugar, wool and pork. Woolen, flouring 
and lumber mills exist, but the manufacturing 
interests are not extensive. Among the promi- 
nent towns, besides Marshall and Darwin, are 
Casey (population 844), Martinsville (779), West- 
field (510), and York (294). 

CLAY, Porter, clergyman and brother of the 
celebrated Henry Clay, was born fa Virginia, 
March, 1779 ; in early life removed to Kentucky, 
studied law, and was, for a time, Auditor of 
Public Accounts in that State; in 1815, was con- 
verted and gave himself to the Baptist ministry, 
locating at Jacksonville, 111., where he spent 
most of his life. Died, in 1850. 

CLAY CITY, a village of Clay County, on the 
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 12 
miles west of OIney ; has one newspaper, a bunk, 
and is in a grain and fruit-growing region. 
Population (1890), 612; (1900), 907; (1903), 1,020. 

CLAY COUNTY, situated in the southeastern 
quarter of the State ; has an area of 470 square 
miles and a population (1900) of 19,553. It was 
named for Henry Clay. The first claim in the 
county was entered by a :JIr. Elliot, in 1818, and 
soon after settlers began to locate homes in the 
county, although it was not organized until 1824. 
During the same year the pioneer settlement of 
Maysville was made the countj'-seat, but immi- 
gration continued inactive until 1837, when 
many settlers arrived, headed by Judges Apper- 
son and Hopkins and Messrs. Stanford and Lee, 
who were soon followed by the families of Coch- 
ran, McCullom and Tender. The Little Wabash 
River and a number of small tributaries drain 
the county. A light-colored .sandy loam consti- 
tutes the greater part of the soil, although "black 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



107 



prairie loam" appears here and there. Raih-oad 
facilities are limited, but siiflScient to accommo- 
date the county's requirements. Fruits, 
especially apples, are successfully cultivated. 
Educational advantages are fair, although largely 
confined to district schools and academies in 
larger towns. Louisville was made the county- 
seat in 1842, and, in 1890, iad a population of 
637. Xenia and Flora are the most important 
towns. 

CLATTOX, a town in Adams County, on the 
Wabash Railwaj', 28 miles east-northeast of 
Quincy. A branch of the Wabash Railway ex- 
tends from this point northwest to Carthage, 111., 
and Keokuk, Iowa, and another branch to 
Quincy, 111. The industries include flour and feed 
mills, machine and'railroad repair shops, grain 
elevator, cigar and harness factories. It has a 
bank, four churches, a high school, and a weekly 
newspaper. Population (1890), 1,038; (1900), 996. 

CLEAVER, William, pioneer, was born in Lon- 
don, England, in 181.5; came to Canada with his 
parents in 1831, and to Chicago in 1834 ; engaged 
in business as a chandler, later going into the 
grocery trade ; in 1849, joined the gold-seekers in 
California, and, six years afterwards, established 
himself in the southern part of the present city 
of Chicago, then called Cleaverville, where he 
served as Postmaster and managed a general 
store. He was the owner of considerable real 
estate at one time in what is now a densely 
populated part of the city of Chicago. Died in 
Chicago, Nov. 13, 1896. 

CLEMENTS, Isaac, ex-Congressman and Gov- 
ernor of Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Danville, 
111., was bom in Franklin County, Ind., in 1837; 
graduated from Asbury University, at Green- 
castle, in 1859, having supported himself during 
his college course by teaching. After reading 
law and being admitted to the bar at Greencastle, 
he removed to Carboudale, III., where he again 
found it necessary to resort to teaching in order 
to purchase law-books. In July, 1861, he enlisted 
in the Xinth Illinois Infantry, and was commis- 
sioned Second Lieutenant of Company G. He 
was in the service for three years, was three 
times wounded and twice promoted "for meri- 
torious service." In June, 1867, he was ap- 
pointed Register in Bankruptcy, and from 1873 
to 1875 was a Republican Representative in the 
Forty-third Congress from the (then) Eighteenth 
District. He was also a member of the Repub- 
lican SUte Convention of 1880. In 1889, he 
became Pension Agent for the District of Illinois, 
by appointment of President Harrison, serving 



until 1893. In the latter part of 1898, he was 
appointed Superintendent of the Soldiers' 
Orplians' Home, at Normal, but served only a 
few mouths, when he accepted the position of 
Governor of the new Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 
at Danville. 

CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO & ST. 
LOUIS RAILWAY. The total length of this sys- 
tem (1898) is 1,807.34 miles, of which 478.39 miles 
are operated in Illinois. That portion of the main 
line lying within the State extends from East St. 
Louis, northeast to the Indiana State line, 181 
miles. Tlie Company is also the lessee of the 
Peoria & Eastern Railroad (133 miles), and oper- 
ates, in addition, other lines, as follows: The 
Cairo Division, extending from Tilton, on the 
line of the Wabash, 3 miles southwest of Dan- 
ville, to Cairo (259 miles) ■ the Chicago Division, 
extending from Kankakee southeast to the 
Indiana State line (34 miles) ; the Alton Branch, 
from Wann Junction, on the main Une, to Alton 
(4 miles). Besides these, it enjoys with the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, joint owner- 
ship of the Kankakee & Seueca Railroad, which 
it operates. The system is uniformly of standard 
gauge, and about 280 miles are of double track. 
It is laid with heavy steel rails (sixty-five, sixty- 
seven and eighty pounds), laid on white oak ties, 
and is amply ballasted with broken stone and 
gravel. Extensive repair shops are located at 
Mattoon. The total capital of the entire system 
on June 30, 1898 — including capital stock and 
bonded and floating debt— was §97,149,361. The 
total earnings in Illinois for the year were 
§3,773, 193, and the total expenditures in the State 
§3,611,437. The taxes paid the same year were 
§134,196. The history of this system, so far as 
Illinois is concerned, begins with the consolida- 
tion, in 1889, of the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. 
Louis & Chicago, the Cleveland, Columbus, Cin- 
cinnati & Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis & 
St. Louis Railwaj- Companies. In 1890, cei-tain 
leased lines in Illinois (elsewhere mentioned) 
were merged into the system. (For history of 
the several divisions of this system, see St. Louis, 
Alton & Terre Haute. Peoria & Eastern, Cairo 
& Vincennes, and Kankakee & Seneca Railroads.) 

CLIMATOLOGY. E.xtending, as it does, through 
six degrees of latitude. Illinois affords a great 
diversity of climate, as regards not only the 
range of temperature, but also the amount of 
rainfall. In both particulars it exhibits several 
points of contrast to States h'ing between the 
same parallels of latitude, but nearer the Atlan- 
tic. The same statement applies, as well, to all 



108 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the North Central aud the Western States. 
Warm winds from the Gulf of Mexico come up 
the Mississippi Valley, and iinjiart to vegetation 
in the southern portion of the State, a stimulat- 
ing influence which is not felt upon the seaboard. 
On the other hand, there is no great barrier to 
the descent of the Arctic winds, which, in 
winter, sweep down toward the Gulf, depressing 
the temperature to a point lower than is custom- 
ary nearer the seaboard on the same latitude. 
Lake Michigan exerts no little influence upon the 
climate of Chicago and other adjacent districts, 
mitigating both summer heat and winter cold. 
If a comparison be instituted between Ottawa 
and Boston — the latter being one degree farther 
north, but 570 feet nearer the sea-level — the 
springs and summers are found to be about five 
degrees warmer, and the winters three degrees 
colder, at the former point. In comparing the 
East and West in respect of rainfall, it is seen 
that, in the former section, the same is pretty 
equally distributed over the four seasons, while 
in the latter, spring and summer may be called 
the wet season, and autumn and winter the dry. 
In the extreme West nearly three-foui-ths of the 
yearly precipitation occurs during the growing 
.season. This is a climatic condition highly 
favorable to the growth of grasses, etc., but 
detrimental to the growth of trees. Hence we 
find luxuriant forests near the seaboard, and, in 
the interior, grassy plains. Illinois occupies a 
geographical position where these great climatic 
changes begin to manifest themselves, and where 
the distinctive features of the prairie first become 
fully apparent. The annual precipitation of 
rain is greatest in the southern part of the State, 
but, owing to the higher temperature of that 
section, the evaporation is also more rapid. The 
distribution of the rainfall in respect of seasons 
is also more unequal toward the south, a fact 
which may account, in part at least, for the 
increased area of woodlands in that region. 
While Illinois lies within the zone of southwest 
winds, their flow is affected by conditions some- 
what abnormal. The northeast trades, after 
entering the Gulf, are deflected by the mountains 
of Mexico, becoming inward breezes in Texas, 
southerly winds in the Lower Mississippi Valley, 
and southwesterly as they enter the Upper 
Valley. It is to this aerial current that the hot, 
moist summers are attributable. The north and 
northwest winds, which set in with the change 
of the season, depress the temperature to a point 
below that of the Atlantic slope, and are 
attended with a diminished precipitation. 



CLINTON, the county-seat of De Witt County, 
situated 23 miles south of Bloomington, at inter- 
section of the Springfield and the Champaign- 
Havana Divisions with the main line of the Illinois 
Central Railroad ; lies in a productive agricultural 
region; has machine shops, flour and planing 
mills, brick and tile works, water works, electric 
lighting plant, piano-case factoi-y. banks, three 
newspapers, six churches, and two public schools. 
Population (1890), 2,598; (1900), 4,4.53. 

CLINTON COUNTY, organized in 1824, from 
portions of Washington, Bond and Fayette Coun- 
ties, and named in honor of De Witt Clinton. It 
is situated directly east of .St. Louis, has an area 
of 494 square miles, and a population (1900) of 
19,824. It is drained by the Kaskaskia River and 
by Shoal, Crooked, Sugar and Beaver Creeks. Its 
geological formation is similar to that of other 
counties in the same section. Thick layers of 
limestone lie near the surface, with coal seams 
un<lerlying the same at varying depths. The 
soil is varied, being at some points black and 
loamy and at others (under timber) decidedly 
clayey. The timber has been mainly cut for fuel 
because of the inherent diflSculties attending 
coal-mining. Two railroads cross the county 
from east to west, but its trade is not important. 
Agriculture is the chief occupation, corn, wheat 
and oats being the staple products. 

CLOUDj Newton, clergyman and legislator, 
was born in North Carolina, in 1805, and, in 1827, 
settled in the vicinity of Waverlj', Morgan 
Count}', 111., where he pursued the vocation of a 
farmer, as well as a preacher of the Methodist 
Church. He also became prominent as a Demo- 
cratic politician, and served in no less than nine 
sessions of the General Assembly, besides the 
Constitutional Convention of 1847, of which he 
was chosen President. He was first elected 
Representative in the Seventh Assembly (1830), 
and afterwards served in the House during the 
sessions of the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thir- 
teenth, Fifteenth and Twenty-seventh, and as 
Senator in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth. He 
was also Clerk of the House in 1844-45, and, 
having been elected Representative two years 
later, was chosen Speaker at the succeeding ses- 
sion. Although not noted for any specially 
aggressive qualities, his consistency of character 
won for him general respect, while his frequent 
elections to the Legislature prove liim to have 
been a man of large influence. 

CLOWRY, Robert C, Telegraph Manager, was 
born in 1838 ; entered the service of the Illinois & 
Mississippi Telegraph Company as a messenger 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



109 



boy at Joliet in 183'i, became manager of the 
office at Lockport six moutlis later, at Springfield 
in 1853, and chief oijerator at St. Louis in 1854. 
Between 1859 and "63, he held highly responsible 
IJOsitions on various Western lines, but the latter 
year was commissioned by President Lincoln 
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, and placed 
in charge of United States military lines with 
headquarters at Little Rock, Ark. ; was mustered 
out in May, 18G6, and immediately appointed 
District Superintendent of Western Union lines 
in the Southwest. From that time his promotion 
was steady and rapid. In 1875 he became 
Assistant General Superintendent ; in 1878, Assist- 
ant General Superintendent of the Central Divi- 
sion at Chicago; in 1880, succeeded General 
Stager as General Superintendent, and, in 1885, 
was elected Director, member of the Execu- 
tive Committee and Vice-President, his terri- 
tory extending from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific. 

COAL AND COAL-MIXI\G. Illinois contains 
much the larger portion of wLiat is known as the 
central coal field, covering an area of about 
37,000 square miles, and iinderlj-ing sixty coun- 
ties, in but forty-five of which, however, opera- 
tions are conducted on a commercial scale. The 
Illinois field contains fifteen distinct seams. 
Those available for commercial mining generally 
lie at considerable depth and are reached by 
shafts. The coals are all bituminous, and furnish 
an excellent steam-making fuel. Coke is manu- 
factured to a limited extent in La Salle and some 
of the southern counties, but elsewhere in the 
State the coal does not yield a good marketable 
coke. Neither is it in any degree a good gas 
coal, although used in some localities for that 
purpose, rather because of its abundance than on 
accoimt of its adaptability. It is thought that, 
with the increase of cheap transportation facili- 
ties. Pittsburg coal will be brought into the State 
in such quantities as eventually to exclude local 
coal from the manufacture of gas. In the report 
of the Eleventh United States Census, the total 
product of the Illinois coal mines was given as 
12,104,273 tons, as against 0,115,377 tons reported 
by the Tenth Census. The value of the output 
was estimated at 511,735,203, or SO. 97 per ton at 
the mines. The total number of mines was 
stated to be 1,072, and the number of tons mined 
was nearly equal to the combined yield of the 
mines of Ohio and Indiana. The mines are 
divided into two classes, technicall3' known as 
"regular" and "local." Of the former, there 
were 358, and of the latter, 714. These 358 regular 



mines employed 23,934 men and boys, of whom 
21.3o0 worked below ground, besides an ofiice 
force of 389, and paid, in wages, $8,694,307. The 
total capital invested in these 358 mines was 
§17,630,351. According to the report of the State 
Bureau of Labor Statistics for 1898, 881 mines 
were operated during the year, employing 35,026 
men and producing 18,599,299 tons of coal, which 
was 1,473,459 tons less than the preceding year — 
the reduction being due to the strike of 1897. 
Five counties of the State produced more than 
1,000,000 tons each, standing in the following 
order: Sangamon, 1,763,803; St. Clair, 1,600,752; 
Vermilion, 1,530,099; Macoupin, 1, 264,926; La 
Salle, 1,165,490. 

COAL CITY, a town in Grundy Countj', on the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. 39 miles 
by rail south-south ivest of Joliet. Large coal 
mines are operated here, and tjie town is an im- 
portant shipping point for their product. It has a 
bank, a weekly newspaper and five churches. 
Pop. (1890), 1,672 ; (1900), 2.607 ; (1903), about 3,000. 

COBB, Emery, capitalist, was born at Dryden, 
Tompkins County, N. Y., August 20, 1831; at 16, 
began the study of telegraphy at Ithaca, later 
acted as operator on Western New York lines, 
but, in 1852, became manager of the office at 
Chicago, continuing until 1865, the various com- 
panies having meanwhile been consolidated into 
the Western Union. He then made an extensive 
tour of the world, and, although he had intro- 
duced the system of transmitting money by 
telegraph, he declined all invitations to return to 
the key-board. Having made large investments 
in lands about Kankakee, where he now resides, 
he has devoted much of his time to agriculture 
and stock-raising; was also, for many j'ears, a 
member of the State Board of Agriculture, Presi- 
dent of the Short-Horn Breeders' Association, 
and, for twenty years (1873-93), a member of the 
Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 
He has done much to improve the city of his 
adoption by the erection of buildings, the con- 
struction of electric street-car lines and the 
promotion of manufactures. 

COBB, Silas B., pioneer and real-estate opera- 
tor, was born at Montpelier, Vt., Jan. 23, 1812; 
came to Chicago in 1833 on a schooner from Buf- 
falo, the voyage occupying over a month. Being 
without means, he engaged as a carpenter upon a 
building which James Kinzie, the Indian trader, 
was erecting; later he erected a building of his 
own in which he started a harness-shop, which 
he conducted successfuUj' for a number of years. 
He has since been connected with a number 



110 



HISTORIGx\L ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of business enterprises of a public character, 
including banks, street and steam railways, but 
his largest successes have been achieved in the line 
of improved real estate, of which he is an exten- 
sive owner. He is also one of the liberal bene- 
factors of the University of Chicago, "Cobb 
Lecture Hall," on the campus of that institution, 
being the result of a contribution of his amount- 
ing to §150,000. Dieil in Chicago, April 5, 1900. 

COBDEX, a village in Union County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 42 miles north of Cairo 
and 15 miles south of Carbondale. Fruits and 
vegetables are extensively cultivated and shipped 
to northern markets. This region is well tim- 
bered, and Cobden has two box factories employ- 
ing a considerable number of men; also has 
several churches, schools and two weekly papers. 
Population (1890), 994; (1900,) 1,034. 

COCHKAN, William (iranville, legislator and 
jurist, was born in Ross Count}-, Ohio, Nov. 13, 
1844; brought to Moultrie County, 111., in 1849, 
and, at the age of 17, enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Twenty -sixth Regiment Illinois Volmiteers, 
serving in the War of the Rebellion three years 
as a private. Returning home from the war, he 
resumed life as a farmer, but early in 1873 began 
merchandising at Lovington, continuing this 
business three years, when he began the study of 
law; in 1879, was admitted to the bar, and has 
since been in active practice. In 1888 he was 
elected to the lower house of the General 
Assembly, was an unsuccessful candidate for the 
Senate in 1890, but was re-elected to the House 
in 1894, and again in 1896. At the special session 
of 1890, he was chosen Speaker, and was similarly 
honored in 1895. He is an excellent parliamen- 
tarian, clear-headed and just in his ruUngs, and 
an able debater. In June, 1897, he was elected 
for a six years' term to the Circuit bench. He is 
also one of the Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' 
Home at Normal. 

CODDIXG, Icliabod, clergyman and anti- 
slavery lectui'er, was born at Bristol, N. Y., in 
1811; at the age of 17 he was a popular temper- 
ance lecturer; while a student at Middlebury, 
Vt., began to lecture in opposition to slavery; 
after leaving college served five years as agent 
and lecturer of the Anti -Slavery Society; was 
often exposed to mob violence, but always retain- 
ing his self-control, succeeded in escaping 
serious injury. In 1842 he entered the Congrega- 
tional ministry and held pastorates at Princeton, 
Lockport, Joliet and elsewhere; between 1854 
and '58, lectured extensively through Illinois on 
the Kansas-Nebraska issue, and was a power in 



the organization of the Republican party. Died 
at Barabuci, Wis., June 17, 1SU6. 

CODY, Hiram Hitchcock, lawyer and Judge; 
born in Oneida County, N. Y., June 11, 1824; was 
partially educated at Hamilton College, and, in 
1843, came with his father to Kendall County, 
HI. In 1847, he removed to Naperville, where 
for six years he served as Clerk of the County 
Commissioners' Coui-t. In 1851 he was admitted 
to the bar; in 1861, was elected County Judge 
with practical unanimity , served as a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and, 
in 1874. was elected Judge of the Twelfth Judi- 
cial Circuit. His residence (1896) was at Pasa- 
dena, Cal. 

COLCHESTER, a city of McDonough County, 
on the Chicago, Burlington & (Juincy Railroad, 
midway between Galesburg and Quincy ; is the 
center of a rich farming and an extensive coal- 
mining region, producing more than 100,000 tons 
of coal annually. A superior quality of potter's 
clay is also minea and shipped extensively to 
other points. The city has brick and drain-tile 
works, a bank, four churches, two public schools 
and two weekly papers. Population (1890), 
1,643; (1900), 1,635. 

COLES, Edward, the second Governor of the 
State of Illinois, born in Albemarle County, Va. , 
Dec. 15, 1786, the son of a wealthy planter, who 
had been a Colonel in the Revolutionary War ; 
was educated at Hampden-Sidney and William 
and Mary Colleges, but compelled to leave before 
graduation by an accident which interrupted his 
studies ; in 1809, became the private secretary of 
President Madison, remaining six years, after 
which he made a triji to Russia as a special mes- 
senger bj- apiJointment of the President. He 
early manifested an interest in the emancipation 
of the slaves of Virginia. In 1815 he made his 
first tour tlirough the Northwest Territory, going 
as far west as St. Louis, returning three years 
later and visiting Kaskaskia while the Con.stitu- 
tional Convention of 1818 was in session. In 
April of the following year he set out from his 
Virginia home, accompanied by his slaves, for 
Illinois, traveling by wagons to Brownsville, Pa., 
where, taking flat-boats, he descended the river 
with his goods and servants to a point below 
Louisville, where they disembarked, journeying 
overland to Edwardsville. While descending 
the Ohio, he informed his slaves that they were 
free, and, after arriving at their destination, 
gave to each head of a family 160 acres of land. 
This generous act was, in after years, made the 
ground for bitter persecution by his enemies. At 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Ill 



Edwardsville he entered upon the duties of 
Register of the Land Office, to which lie had 
been appointed by President Monroe. In 1822 
lie became the candidate for Governor of tliose 
opposed to removing the restriction in the State 
Constitution against the introduction of slavery, 
and, although a majority of the voters then 
favored the measure, he was elected by a small 
plurality over his highest competitor in conse- 
quence of a division of the opposition vote 
between three candidates. The Legislature 
chosen at the same time submitted to the people 
a ijroposition for a State Convention to revise the 
Constitution, which was rejected at the election 
of 1824 by a majority of 1,668 in a total vote of 
11,612. While Governor Coles had the efficient 
aid in opposition to the measure of such men as 
Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, Congressman Daniel 
P. Cook, Morris Birkbeck, George Forquer, 
Hooper AVarren, George Churchill and others, he 
was himself a most influential factor in protecting 
Illinois from the blight of slavery, contributing 
his salary for his entire term ($4,000) to that end. 
In 1825 it became his duty to welcome La Fay- 
ette to Illinois. Retiring from office in 1826, he 
continued to reside some years on his farm near 
Edwardsville, and, in 1830, was a candidate for 
Congress, but being a known opponent of Gen- 
eral Jackson, was defeated by Joseph Duncan. 
Previous to 1833, he removed to Philadelphia, 
where he married during the following year, and 
continued to reside there until his death, July 7, 
1868, having lived to see the total extinction of 
slavery in the United States. (See Slavery and 
Slave Laics. ) 

COLES COUNTY, originally a part of Crawford 
County, but organized in 1831, and named in 
honor of Gov. Edward Coles.— lies central to the 
eastern portion of the State, and embraces 520 
square miles, with a population (1900) of 34.146. 
The Kaskaskia River (sometimes called the 
Okaw) runs through the northwestern part of the 
county, but the principal stream is the Embarras 
(Embraw). The chief resource of the people is 
agriculture, although the county lies within the 
limits of the Illinois coal-belt. To the north and 
west are prairies, while timber abounds in the 
southeast. The largest crop is of corn, although 
wheat, dairy products, potatoes, hay, tobacco, 
sorghum, wool, etc. , are also important products. 
Broom-corn is extensively cultivated. Manufac- 
turing is carried on to a fair extent, the output 
embracing sawed lumber, carriages and wagons, 
agricultural implements, tobacco and snuff, boots 
and shoes, etc. Charleston, the county-seat, is 



centrally located, and has a number of handsome 
public buildings, private residences and business 
blocks. It was laid out in 1831, and incorporated 
in 1865; in 1900, its population was 5,488. 
Mattoon is a railroad center, situated some 130 
miles east of St. Louis. It has a population of 
9,622, and is an important shipping point for 
grain and live-stock. Other principal towns are 
Aslimore. Oakland and Lerna. 

COLFAX, a village of McLean County, on the 
Kankakee and Bloomington branch of the Illinois 
Central Railroad. 23 miles northeast of Blooming- 
ton. Farming and stock-growing are the leading 
industries ; has two banks, one newspaper, three 
elevators, and a coal mine. Pop. (1900), 1,153. 

COLLEGE OF PHYSICIAIVS AND SURGEONS, 
located at Chicago, and organized in 1881. Its 
first term opened in September, 1883, in a build- 
ing erected by the trustees at a cost of §60,000, 
with a faculty embracing twenty-five professors, 
with a sufficient corps of demonstrators, assist- 
ants, etc. The number of matriculates was 152. 
The institution ranks among the leading medical 
colleges of the West. Its standard of qualifica- 
tions, for both matriculates and graduates, is 
equal to those of other flr.st-class medical schools 
throughout the country. The teaching faculty, 
of late years, has consisted of some twenty-five 
professors, who are aided by an adequate corps of 
assistants, demonstrators, etc. 

COLLEGES, EARLY. The early Legislatures of 
Illinois manifested no little unfriendliness toward 
colleges. The iirst charters for institutions of 
this character were granted in 1833, and were for 
the incorporation of the "Union College of Illi- 
nois," in Randolph County, and the "Alton Col- 
lege of Illinois," at Upper Alton. The first 
named was to be under the care of the Scotch 
Covenanters, but was never founded. The 
second was in the interest of the Baptists, but 
the charter was not accepted. Both these acts 
contained jealous and unfriendly restrictions, 
notably one to the effect that no theological 
department should be established and no pro- 
fessor of theology employed as an instructor, nor 
should any religious test be applied in the selec- 
tion of trustees or the admission of pupils. The 
friends of higher education, however, made com- 
mon cause, and. in 1835, secured the passage of 
an "omnibus bill" incorporating four private 
colleges — the Alton; the Illinois, at Jacksonville; 
the McKendree, at Lebanon, and the Jonesboro. 
Similar restrictive provisions as to theological 
teaching were incorporated in these charters, and 
a limitation was placed upon the amount of 



112 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



property to be owned by any institution, but in 
many respects the law was more liberal than its 
predecessors of two years ijrevious Owing to 
the absence of suitable preparatory schools, these 
institutions were compelled to maintain prepara- 
tory departments under the tuition of the college 
professors. The college last named above ( Jones- 
boro) was to have been founded by the Christian 
denomination, but was never organized. The 
three remaining ones stand, in the order of their 
formation, McKendree, Illinois, Alton (afterward 
Shurtleff) ; in the order of graduating initial 
classes — Illinois, McKendree, Shurtleff. Pre- 
paratory instruction began to be given in Illinois 
College in 1829, and a class was organized in the 
collegiate department in 1831. The Legislature 
of 1835 also incorporated the Jacksonville Female 
Academy, the first school for girls chartered in 
the State. From this time forward colleges and 
academies were incorporated in rapid succession, 
many of tliem at places whose names have long 
since disappeared from the map of the State. It 
was at this time that there developed a strong 
party in favor of founding what were termed, 
rather euphemistically, "Manual Labor Col- 
leges." It was believed that the time which a 
student might be able to "redeem" from study, 
could be so profitably employed at farm or shop- 
work as to enable him to earn his own livelihood. 
Acting upon this theory, the Legislature of 1835 
granted charters to the "Franklin Manual Labor 
College," to be located in either Cook or La Salle 
County; to the "Burnt Prairie Manual Labor 
Seminary," in White County, and the "Chatham 
Manual Labor School," at Lick Prairie, Sanga- 
mon County. University powers were conferred 
upon the institution last named, and its charter 
also contained the somewhat extraordinary pro- 
vision that any sect might establish a professor- 
ship of theology therein. In 1837 six more 
colleges were incorporated, only one of which 
(Knox) was successfully organized. By 1840, 
better and broader views of education had 
developed, and the Legislature of 1841 repealed 
all prohibition of the establishing of theological 
departments, as well as the restrictions previously 
imposed upon the amount and value of property 
to be owned by private educational institutions. 
The whole number of colleges and seminaries 
incorporated under the State law (1896) is forty- 
three. (See also Illinois College, Knox College, 
Lake Forest University, McKendree College, Mon- 
mxmth College, Jacksonville Female Seminary, 
Monticello Female Seminary, Northwestern Uni- 
versity, SJutrtlcff College.) 



COLLIER, Robert Laird, clergyman, was bom 
in Salisbury, Md., August 7, 1837; graduated at 
Boston University, 18.58; soon after became an 
itinerant Methodist minister, but, in 1866, imited 
with the Unitarian Church and officiated as 
pastor of churches in Chicago, Boston and Kan- 
sas City, besides supplying pulpits in various 
cities in England (1880-85). In 1885, he was 
appointed United States Consul at Leipsic, but 
later served as a special commissioner of the 
Johns Hopkins University in the collection of 
labor statistics in Europe, meanwhile gaining a 
wide reputation as a lecturer and magazine 
writer. His published works include: "Every- 
Day Subjects in Sunday Sermons" (1869) and 
"Meditations on the Essence of Christianity" 
(1876). Died near his birthplace, July 27, 1890. 

COLLINS, Frederick, manufacturer, was born 
in Connecticut, Feb. 24, 1804. He was the young- 
est of five brothers who came with their parents 
from Litchfield, Conn , to Illinois, in 1822, and 
settled in the town of Unionville^now CoUins- 
ville — in the southwestern part of Madison 
County. They were enterprising and public- 
spirited business men, who engaged, quite 
extensively for the time, in various branches of 
manufacture, including flour and whisky. This 
was an era of progress and development, and 
becoming convinced of the injurious character 
of the latter branch of their business, it was 
promptly abandoned. The subject of this sketch 
was later associated with his brother Michael in 
the pork-packing and grain business at Naples, 
the early Illinois River terminus of the Sangamon 
& Morgan (now Wabash) Railroad, but finally 
located at Quincy in 1851, where he was engaged 
in manufacturing business for many years. He 
was a man of high business probity and religious 
principle, as well as a determined opponent of the 
institution of slavery, as shown by the fact that 
he was once subjected by his neighbors to the 
intended indignity of being hung in eflSgy for the 
crime of assisting a fugitive female slave on the 
road to freedom. In a speech made in 1834, in 
commemoration of the act of emancipation in the 
West Indies, he gave utterance to the following 
prediction : "Methinks the time is not far distant 
when our own country will celebrate a day of 
emancipation within her own borders, and con- 
sistent songs of freedom shall indeed ring 
throughout the length and breadth of the land." 
He lived to see this prophecy fulfilled, dying at 
Quincy, in 1878. Mr. Collins was the candidate of 
the Liberty Men of Illinois for Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor in 1842. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLIXOIS. 



113 



COLLI\S, James H., lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Cambridge, AVasliington County, N. Y., 
but taken in early life to Vernon, Oneida County, 
wliere he grew to manhood. After spending a 
couple of years in an academy, at the age of 18 
he began the study of law, was admitted to the 
bar in 1824, and as a counsellor and solicitor in 
1827, coming to Chicago in the fall of 1833, mak- 
ing a part of the jom-ney by the first stage-coach 
from Detroit to the present Western metropolis. 
After arriving in Illinois, he spent some time in 
exploration of the surrounding coimtry, but 
returning to Chicago in 1834, he entered into 
partnership with Judge John D. Caton, who had 
been his preceptor in New York, still later being 
a partner of Justin Butterfield under the firm 
name of Butterfield & Collins. He was con- 
sidered an eminent authority in law and gained 
an extensive practice, being regarded as espe- 
cially strong in chancery cases as well as an able 
pleader. Politicallj-, he was an uncompromising 
anti-slavery man, and often aided runaway 
slaves in securing their liberty or defended others 
who did so. He was also one of the original 
promoters of the old Galena & Chicago Union 
Railroad and one of its first Board of Directors. 
Died, suddenly of cholera, while attending court 
at Ottawa, in 1854. 

COLLINS, Loren C, jurist, was born at Wind- 
sor, Conn., August 1, 1848; at the age of 18 
accompanied his family to Illinois, and was 
educated at the Northwestern Universitj'. He 
read law, was admitted to the bar, and soon 
built up a remunerative practice. He was 
elected to the Legislature in 1878, and through 
his ability as a debater and a parliamentarian, 
soon became one of the leaders of his party on 
the floor of the lower house. He was re-elected 
in 1880 and 1883, and, in 1883, was chosen Speaker 
of the Thirty-third General Assembly. In 
December, 1884, he was appointed a Judge of the 
Circuit Court of Cook County, to fill the vacancy 
created by the resignation of Judge Barnum, was 
elected to succeed himself in 188.5, and re-elected 
in 1891, but resigned in 1894, since that time 
devoting his attention to regular practice in the 
city of Chicago. 

COLLINS, William H., retired manufacturer, 
born at ColUnsville, 111., March 20, 1831; was 
educated in the common schools and at Illinois 
College, later taking a course in literature, 
philosophy and theology at Yale College ; served 
as pastor of a Congi-egational church at La Salle 
several years; in 1858, became editor and propri- 
etor of "The Jacksonville Journal," which he 



conducted some four years. The Civil War hav- 
ing begun, he then accepted the chajilaincy of 
the Tenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, but 
resigning in 1863. organized a company of the 
One Hundred and Fourth Volunteers, of which 
he was chosen Captain, participating in the 
battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and 
Missionary Ridge. Later he served on the staff 
of Gen. John M. Palmer and at Fourteenth Army 
Corps headquarters, until after the fall of 
Atlanta. Then resigning, in November, 1864, he 
was appointed by Secretarj^ Stanton Provost- 
Marshal for the Twelfth District of Illinois, con- 
tinuing in this service until the close of 1805, 
when he engaged in the manufacturing business 
as head of the Collins Plow Company at Quincy. 
This business he conducted successfully some 
twenty-five years, when he retired. Mr. Collins 
has served as Alderman and Mayor, ad interim, 
of the city of Quincy ; Representative in the 
Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assem- 
blies — during the latter being choseji to deliver 
the eulogy on Gen. John A. Logan; was a promi- 
nent candidate for the nomination for Lieutenant 
Governor in 1888, and the same year Republican 
candidate for Congress in the Quincy District; 
in 1894, was the Republican nominee for State 
Senator in Adams CountJ^ and, though a Repub- 
lican, has been twice elected Supervisor in a 
strongly Democratic city. 

COLLINSYILLE, a city on the southern border 
of Madison County, 13 miles (by rail) east-north- 
east of St. Louis, on the "Vandalia Line" (T. H. 
& I. Ry.), about 11 miles south of Edwardsville. 
The place was originally settled in 1817 by four 
brothers named Collins from Litchfield, Conn., 
who established a tan-yard and erected an ox-mill 
for grinding corn and wheat and sawing lumber 
The town was platted by surviving members of 
this family in 1836. Coal-mining is the principal 
industry, and one or two mines are operated 
within the corporate limits. The city has zinc 
works, as well as flour mills and brick and tile 
factories, two building and loan associations, a 
lead smelter, stock bell factory, electric street 
railways, seven churches, two banks, a high 
school, and a newspaper office. Population 
(1890). 3,498; (1900), 4,021; (1903, est.), 7,500. , 

COLLYER, Robert, clergyman, was born at 
Keighly, Yorkshire, England, Dec. 8, 1823; left 
school at eight years of age to earn his living in 
a factory ; at fourteen was apprenticed to a black- 
smith and learned the trade of a hammer-maker. 
His only opportunity of acquiring an education 
during this period, apart from private study, was 



lU 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



in a night-school, which he attended two winters. 
In 1849 he became a local Methodist preacher, 
came to the United States the next year, settling 
in Pennsylvania, whei-e he pursued his trade, 
preaching on Sundays. His views on the atone- 
ment having gradually been changed towards 
Unitarianism, his license to preach was revoked 
by the conference, and, in 18.59, he united with 
the Unitarian Church, having already won a 
wide reputation as an eloquent public speaker. 
Coming to Chicago, he began work as a mission- 
ary, and, in 1860, organized the Unity Church, 
beginning with seven members, though it has 
since become one of the strongest and most influ- 
ential churches in the city. In 1879 he accepted 
a call to a chui'ch in New York Citj', where he 
still remains. Of strong anti-slavery views and 
a zealous Unionist, he served during a part of the 
Civil War as a camp inspector for the Sanitary 
Commission. Since the war he has repeatedly 
visited England, and has exerted a wide influence 
as a lecturer and pulpit orator on both sides of 
the Atlantic. He is the author of a number of 
volumes, including '"Nature and Life" (1866) 
"A Man in Earnest: Life of A. H. Conant" (1868) 
"A History of the Town and Parish of likely" 
(1886) , and "Lectures to Young Men and Women" 
(1886). 

COLTON, Chauncey Sill, pioneer, was born at 
Springfield, Pa., Sept. 21, 1800; taken to Massachu- 
setts in childhood and educated at Monson in that 
State, afterwards residing for many years, dur- 
ing his manhood, at Monson, Maine. He came to 
Illinois in 1836, locating on the site of the present 
city of Galesbm-g, where he built the first store 
and dwelling house; continued in general mer- 
chandise some seventeen or eighteen years, mean- 
while associating his sons with him in business 
imder the firm name of C. S. Colton & Sons. Mr. 
Colton was associated with the construction of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad from 
the beginning, becoming one of the Directors of 
the Company; was also a Director of the First 
National Bank of Galesburg, the first organizer 
and first President of the Farmers' and Meclian- 
ics' Bank of that city, and one of the Trustees of 
Knox College. Died in Galesburg, July 27, 1885. 
— Francis (Colton), son of the preceding; born 
at Monson, Maine, May 24, 1834, came to Gales- 
burg with his fatlier's family in 1836, and was 
educated at Knox College, graduating in 18.5.5, 
and receiving tlie degree of A.M in 18.58. -After 
graduation, he was in partnersliip with his father 
some seven years, also served as Vice-President 
of the First National Bank of Galesburg, and, in 



1866, was appointed by President Johnson United 
States Consul at Venice, remaining there until 
1869. The latter year he became the General 
Passenger Agent of the Union Pacific Railroad, 
continuing in that position until 1871, meantime 
visiting China, Japan and India, and establishing 
agencies for the Union and Central Pacific Rail- 
ways in various countries of Europe. In 1872 he 
succeeded his father as President of the Farmers' 
and Mechanics' Bank of Galesburg, but retired in 
1884, and the same year removed to Washington, 
D. C. , where he has since resided. Mr. Colton is 
a large land owner in some of tlie Western States, 
especially Kansas and Nebraska. 

COLUMBIA, a town of Monroe County, on 
Mobile & Ohio Railroad, 15 miles south of St. 
Louis; has a machine shop, large flour mill, 
brewery, five cigar factories, electric light plant, 
telephone system, stone quarry, five churches, 
and public school. Pop. (1900), 1,197 ; (1903), 1,205. 

COMPANY OF THE WEST, THE, a company 
formed in France, in August, 1717, to develop 
the resources of "New France," in which the 
"Illinois Country" was at that time included. 
At the head of the company was the celebrated 
John Law, and to him and his associates the 
French monarch granted extraordinary powers, 
both governmental and commercial. They were 
given the exclusive right to refine the precious 
metals, as well as a monopoly in the trade in 
tobacco and slaves. Later, the company became 
known as the Indies, or East Indies, Company, 
owing to the king having granted them conces- 
sions to trade with the East Indies and China. 
On Sept. 27, 1717, the Royal Council of France 
declared that the Illinois Countrj' should form a 
part of the Province of Louisiana; and, under the 
shrewd management of Law and his associates, 
immigration soon increased, as many as 800 
settlers arriving in a single year. The directors 
of the company, in the exercise of their govern- 
mental powers, appointed Pierre Duque de Bois- 
briant Governor of tlie Illinois District. He 
proceeded to Kaskaskia, and, within a few miles 
of that settlement, erected Fort Chartres. (See 
Fort Chartres. ) The policy of the Indies Company 
was energetic, and, in the main, wise. Grants of 
commons were made to various French villages, 
and Cahokia and Kaskaskia steadily grew in size 
and population. Permanent settlers were given 
grants of land and agriculture was encouraged. 
These grants (vrhich were allodial in their char- 
acter) covered nearly all the lands in that part of 
the American Bottom, lying between the Missis- 
sippi and the Kaskaskia Rivers. Many grantees 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



115 



held their lands in one great common field, each 
proprietor contributing, pro rata, to the mainte- 
nance of a surrounding fence. In 1721 the Indies 
Company divided the Province of Louisiana into 
nine civil and military districts. That of Illinois 
was numerically the Seventh, and included not 
only the southern half of the existing State, but 
also an immense tract west of the Mississippi, 
extending to the Rocky Mountains, and embrac- 
ing the present States of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa 
and Nebraska, besides portions of Arkansas and 
Colorado. Tlie Commandant, with his secretary 
and the Company's Commissary, formed the 
District Council, the civil law being in force. In 
1732, the Indies Company surrendered its charter, 
and thereafter, the Governors of Illinois were 
appointed directly by the French crown. 

COISCORDIA SEMINARY, an institution lo- 
cated at Springfield, founded in 1879 ; the succes- 
sor of an earlier institution under the name of 
Illinois University. Theological, scientific and 
preparatory departments are maintained, al- 
though there is no classical course. The insti- 
tution is under conti'ol of the German Lutherans. 
The institution reports §125,000 worth of real 
property. The members of the Faculty (1898) 
are five in number, and there were about 171 
students in attendance. 

CONDEE, Leander D., lawyer, was bom in 
Athens County, Ohio, Sept. 26, 1847; brought 
by his parents to Coles County, 111., at the age of 
seven years, and received his education in the 
common schools and at St. Paul's Academy, Kan- 
kakee, taking a special course in Michigan State 
University and graduating from the law depart- 
ment of the latter in 1868. He then began prac- 
tice at Butler, Bates County, Mo., where he 
served three years as City Attorney, but, in 1873, 
returned to Illinois, locating in Hyde Park (now 
a part of Chicago), where he served as City 
Attorney for four consecutive terms before its 
annexation to Chicago. In 1880, he was elected 
as a Republican to the State Senate for the 
Second Senatorial District, serving in tlie Thirty- 
second and the Thirty-third General Assemblies. 
In 1892, he was the Republican nominee for Judge 
of the Superior Court of Cook County, but was 
defeated with the National and the State tickets 
of that year, since when he has given his atten- 
tion to regular practice, maintaining a high rank 
in his profession. 

COXOER, Edwin Hurd, lawyer and diploma- 
tist, was born in Knox County. 111., March 7, 1843; 
graduated at Lombard Universitj-, Galesburg. in 
1862. and immediately thereafter enlisted as a 



private in the One Hundred and Second Illinois 
Volunteers, serving through the war and attain- 
ing the rank of Captain, besides being brevetted 
Major for gallant service. Later, he graduated 
from the Albany Law School and practiced for a 
time in Galesburg, but, in 1868, removed to Iowa, 
where he engaged in farming, stock-raising and 
banking ; was twice elected County Treasurer of 
Dallas Count3s and, in 1880, State Treasurer, 
being re-elected in 1882; in 1886, was elected to 
Congress from the Des Moines District, and twice 
re-elected (1888 and '90). but before the close of 
his last term was appointed by President Harri- 
son Minister to Brazil, serving until 1893. In 
1896, he served as Presidential Elector for the 
State-at-large, and, in 1897, was re-appointed 
Minister to Brazil, but, in 1898, was transferred 
to China, where (1899) he now is. He was suc- 
ceeded at Rio Janeiro by Charles Page Bryan of 
Illinois. 

COXGREGATIONALISTS, THE. Two Congre- 
gational ministers — Rev. S. J. Mills and Rev. 
Daniel Smith — visited Illinois in 1814, and spent 
some time at Kaskaskia and Shawneetowu, but 
left for New Orleans without organizing any 
churches. The first church was organized at 
Mendon, Adams County, in 1833. followed bj 
others during the same year, at Naperville, Jack- 
sonville and Quincy. By 1836, the number had 
increased to ten. Among the pioneer ministers 
were Jabez Porter, who was also a teacher at 
Quincy, in 1828, and Rev. Asa Turner, in 1830, 
who became pastor of the first Quincy church, 
followed later by Revs. Julian M. Sturtevant 
(afterwards President of Illinois College), Tru- 
man M. Post, Edward Beecher and Horatio Fool. 
Other Congregational ministers who came to f^e 
State at an early day were Rev. Salmon Gridley, 
who finally located at St. Louis; Rev. John M. 
Ellis, who served as a missionary and was instru- 
mental in founding Illinois College and the Jack- 
sonville Female Seminary at Jacksonville ; Revs. 
Thomas Lippiucott, Cyrus L. Watson, Theron 
Baldwin, Elisha Jenney, William Kirby, the two 
Lovejoys (Owen and Elijah P.), and many more 
of whom, either temporarily or permanently, 
became associated with Presbyterian churches. 
Although Illinois College was under the united 
patronage of Presbyterians and Congregational- 
ists, the leading spirits in its original establish- 
ment were Congregationalists, and the same was 
true of Knox College at Galesburg. In 1835, at 
Big Gro%'e, in an unoccupied log-cabin, was 
convened the first Congregational Council, known 
in the denominational history of the State as 



116 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



that of Fox River. Since then some twelve to 
fifteen separate Associations have been organized. 
By 1890, the development of the denomination 
had been such that it had 280 churches, support- 
ing 312 ministers, with 33, 126 members. During 
that year the disbursements on account of chari- 
ties and liome extension, by tlie Illinois churches, 
were nearly §1,000,000. The Chicago Theological 
Seminary, at Chicago, is a Congregational school 
of divinity, its property holdings being worth 
nearly $700,000. "The Advance" (published at 
Chicago) is the chief denominational organ. 
(See also Religions Denominations. ) 

CONGRESSIOJfAL APPORTIONMENT. (See 
Apportionment, Congressional; also Represent- 
atives in Congress.) 

CONKLING, James Cook, lawyer, was born in 
New York City, Oct. 13, 1816; graduated at Prince- 
ton College in 1835, and, after studying law and 
being admitted to the bar at Morristown, N. J., in 
1838, removed to Springfield, 111. Here his first 
business partner was Cyrus Walker, an eminent 
and widely known lawyer of his time, while at a 
later period he was associated with Gen. James 
Shields, afterwards a soldier of the Mexican War 
and a United States Senator, at different times, 
from three different States. As an original 
Whig, Mr. Conkling early became associated 
with Abraham Lincoln, whose intimate and 
trusted friend he was through life. It was to 
liim that Mr. Lincoln addressed his celebrated 
letter, which, by his special request, Mr. Conk- 
ling read before the great Union mass-meeting at 
Springfield, held, Sept. 3, 1863, now known as the 
"Lincoln-Conkling Letter." Mr. Conkling was 
chosen Mayor of the city of Springfield in 1844, 
and served in the lower branch of the Seven- 
teenth and tlie Twenty-fifth General Assemblies 
(1851 and 1867). It was largely due to his tactful 
management in the latter, that the first appropri- 
ation was made for tlie new State House, which 
established the capital permanently in that city. 
At the Bloomington Convention of 1856, where 
the Republican party in Illinois may be said to 
have been formally organized, with Mr. Lincoln 
and three others, he represented Sangamon 
County, served on the Committee on Resolutions, 
and was appointed a member of tlie State Central 
Committee which conducted the campaign of 
that year. In 1860, and again in 1864, his name 
was on the Republican State ticket for Presiden- 
tial Elector, and. on both occasions, it became his 
duty to cast the electoral vote of Mr. Lincoln's 
own District for him for President. The intimacy 
of personal friendship existing between him and 



Mr. Lincoln was fittingly illustrated by his posi- 
tion for over thirty years as an original member 
of the Lincoln Monument Association. Other 
public positions held by him included those of 
State Agent during the Civil War by appointment 
of Governor Yates, Trustee of the State University 
at Champaign, and of Blackburn University at 
Carlinville, as also that of Postmaster of the city 
of Springfield, to which he was appointed in 1890, 
continuing in office four years. High-minded 
and honorable, of pure personal character and 
strong religious convictions, public-spirited and 
liberal, probably no man did more to promote 
tlie growth and prosperity of the city of Spring- 
field, during the sixty years of his residence there, 
than lie. His death, as a result of old age, 
occurred in that city, March 1, 1899. — Clinton L. 
(Conkling), son of the preceding, was born in 
Springfield, Oct. 16, 1843; graduated at Yale 
College in 1864, studied law with his father, and 
was licensed to practice in the Illinois courts in 
1866, and in the United States courts in 1867. ' 
After practicing a few years, he turned liis atten 
tion to manufacturing, but, in 1877, resumed 
practice and has proved successful. He has 
devoted much attention of late years to real 
estate business, and has represented large land 
interests in this and other States. For many 
years lie was Secretary of the Lincoln Monument 
Association, and has served on the Board of 
County Supervisors, which is the only political 
office he has held. In 1897 he was the Repub 
lican nominee for Judge of the Springfield Cir- 
cuit, but, although confessedly a man of the 
highest probity and ability, was defeated in a 
district overwhelmingly Democratic. 

CONNOLLY, James Austin, lawyer and Con- 
gressman, was born in Newark, N. J., Marcli 8, 
1843; went with his parents to Ohio in 1850. 
where, in 1858-59, he served as Assistant Clerk of 
the State Senate ; studied law and was admitted 
to the bar in that State in 1861, and soon after 
removed to Illinois; the following year (1862) he 
enlisted as a private soldier in tlie One Hundred 
and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, but was 
successively commissioned as Captain and Major, 
retiring with the rank of brevet Lieutenant- 
Colonel. In 1873 he was elected Representative 
in the State Legislature from Coles County and 
re-elected in 1874; was United States District 
Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois 
from 1876 to 1885, and again from 1889 to 1893; 
in 1886 was appointed and confirmed Solicitor of 
the Treasury, but declined the office; the same 
year ran as the Republican candidate for Con- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



117 



gress in the Springfield (then the Thirteenth) 
District in opposition to Wm. M. Springer, and 
was defeated by less than 1,000 votes in a district 
usually Democratic by 3,000 majority. He 
declined a second nomination in 1888, but, in 1894, 
was nominated for a third time (this time for the 
Seventeenth District), and was elected, as he was 
for a second term in 1896. He declined a renomina- 
tion in 1898, returning to the practice of his pro- 
fession at Springfield at the close of the Fifty-fifth 
Congress. 

CONSTABLE, Charles H., lawyer, was born at 
Chestertown, Md.,July 6, 1817; educated at Belle 
Air Academy and the University of Virginia, 
graduating from the latter in 1838. Then, having 
studied law, he was admitted to the bar, came to 
Illinois early in 1840, locating at Mount Carmel, 
Wabash County, and, in 1844, was elected to the 
State Senate for the district composed of Wabash, 
Edwards and Wayne Counties, serving until 1848. 
He also served as a Delegate in the Constitutional 
Convention of 1847. Originally a Whig, on the 
dissolution of that party in 18.54, he became a 
Democrat; in 1856, served as Presidential 
Elector-at-large on tlie Buchanan ticket and, 
during the Civil War, was a pronounced oppo- 
nent of the policy of the Government in dealing 
with secession. Having removed to Marshall, 
Clark County, in 1852, he continued the practice 
of his profession there, but was elected Judge of 
the Circuit Com-t in 1861, serving until his death, 
which occurred, Oct. 9, 1865. While holding 
court at Charleston, in March, 1863, Judge Con- 
stable was arrested because of his release of four 
deserters from the army, and the holding to bail, 
on the charge of kidnaping, of two Union ofiicers 
who had arrested them. He was subsequently 
released by Judge Treat of the United States 
District Court at Springfield, but the affair cul- 
minated in a riot at Charleston, on March 23, in 
which four soldiers and three citizens were killed 
outright, and eight persons were wounded. 

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. Illinois 
has had four State Conventions called for the 
purpose of formulating State Constitutions. Of 
these, three— those of 1818, 1847 and 1869-70— 
adopted Constitutions which went into effect, 
while the instrument framed by the Convention 
of 1863 was rejected by the people. A synoptical 
history of each will be found below ; 

Convention of 1818. — In January, 1818, the 
Territorial Legislature adopted a resolution 
instructing the Delegate in Congress (Hon. 
Nathaniel Pope) to present a j^etition to Congress 
requesting the passage of an act authorizing the 



people of Illinois Territory to organize a State 
Government. A bill to this effect was intro- 
duced, April 7, and became a law, April 18, follow- 
ing. It authorized the people to frame a 
Constitution and organize a State Government — 
apportioning tlie Delegates to be elected from 
each of the fifteen counties into which the Ter- 
ritory was then divided, naming the first Monday 
of July, following, as the day of election, and the 
first Monday of August as the time for the meet- 
ing of the Convention. The act was conditioned 
upon a census of the people of the Territory (to 
be ordered by the Legislature), showing a popu- 
lation of not less than 40,000. The census, as 
taken, showed the required, population, but, as 
finally corrected, this was reduced to 34,620 — 
being the smallest with which any State was ever 
admitted into the Union. The election took 
place on July 6, 1818, and the Convention assem- 
bled at Kaskaskia on August 3. It consisted of 
thirtj'-three members. Of these, a majority were 
farmers of limited education, but with a fair 
portion of hard common-sense. Five of the 
Delegates were lawyers, and these undoubtedly 
wielded a controlling influence. Jesse B. 
Thomas (afterwards one of the first United 
States Senators) presided, and Elias Kent Kane, 
also a later Senator, was among the dominating 
spirits. It has been asserted that to the latter 
should be ascribed whatever new matter was 
incorporated in the instrument, it being copied 
in most of its essential provisions from the Con- 
stitutions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The 
Convention completed its labors and adjourned, 
August 26, the Constitution was submitted to 
Congress by Delegate John McLean, without the 
formality of ratification by the people, and Illi- 
nois was admitted into the Union as a State by 
resolution of Congress, adopted Dec. 3, 1818. 

Convention of 1847. — An attempt was made in 
1822 to obtain a revision of the Constitution of 
1818, the object of the chief promoters of the 
movement being to secure the incorporation of a 
provision authorizing the admission of slavery 
into Illinois. The passage of a resolution, by the 
necessary two-thirds vote of both Houses of the 
General Assembly, submitting the proposition to 
a vote of the people, was secured by the most 
questionable methods, at the session of 1822, but 
after a heated campaign of nearly two years, it 
was rejected at the election of 1824. (See 
Slavery and Slave Lawfi: also Coles. Edward.) 
At the session of 1810-41, another resolution on 
the subject was submitted to tlie people, but it 
was rejected by the narrow margin of 1.039 



118 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



votes. Again, in 1845, the question was submit- 
ted, and, at the election of 18-tG, was approved. 
The election of delegates occurred, April 19, 1847, 
and the Convention met at Springfield, June 19, 
following. It was composed of 162 members, 
ninety-two of whom were Democrats. The list 
of Delegates embraced the names of many who 
afterwards attained high distinction in public 
affairs, and the body, as a whole, was represent- 
ative in character. Tlie Bill of Rights attached 
to the Constitution of 1818 was but little changed 
in its successor, except by a few additions, 
among which was a section disqualifying any 
person -who had been concerned in a duel from 
holding office. The earlier Constitution, how- 
ever, was carefidly revised and several important 
changes made. Among these may be mentioned 
the following: Limiting the elective franchise 
for foreign-born citizens to those who had 
become naturalized ; making the judiciary elect- 
ive; requiring that all State officers be elected 
by the people ; changing the time of the election 
of the Executive, and making him ineligible for 
immediate re-election; various curtailments of 
the power of the Legislature; imposing a two- 
mill tax for payment of the State debt, and pro- 
viding for the establishment of a sinking fund. 
The Constitution framed was adopted in conven- 
tion, August 31, 1847; ratified by popular vote, 
March 6, 1848, and went into effect, April 1, 1848. 
Convention of 1863. — The proposition for 
holding a tliird Constitutional Convention was 
submitted to vote of the people by the Legislature 
of 1859, endorsed at the election of 1860, and the 
election of Delegates held in November, 1861. In 
the excitement attendant upon the early events 
of the war, people paid comparatively little 
attention to the choice of its members. It was 
composed of forty-five Democrats, twenty-one 
Republicans, seven "fusionists" and two classed 
as doubtful. The Convention assembled at 
Springfield on Jan. 7. 1862, and remained in ses- 
sion until March 24, following. It was in many 
respects a remarkable body. The law providing 
for its existence prescribed that the members, 
before proceeding to business, should take an 
oath to support the State Constitution. This the 
majority refused to do. Their conception of 
their powers was such that they seriously deliber- 
ated upon electing a United States Senator, 
assumed to make appropriations from the State 
treasury, claimed the right to interfere with 
military affairs, and called upon the Governor 
for information concerning claims of the Illinois 
Central Railroad, which the Executive refused to 



lay before them. The instrument drafted pro- 
posed numerous important changes in the organic 
law, and was generally regarded as objectionable. 
It was rejected at an election held, June 17, 1862, 
by a majority of over 16,000 votes. 

Convention of 1869-70. — The second attempt 
to revise the Constitution of 1848 resulted in 
submission to the people, by the Legislature of 
1867, of a proposition for a Convention, which was 
approved at the election of 1868 by a bare major- 
ity of 704 votes. The election of Delegates was 
provided for at the next session (1869), the elec- 
tion held in November and the Convention 
assembled at Springfield, Dec. 13. Charles 
Hitchcock was chosen President, John Q. Har-. 
mon. Secretary, and Daniel Shepard and A. H. 
Swain, First and Second Assistants. There were 
eighty-five members, of whom forty-four were 
Republicans and forty-one Democrats, although 
fifteen had been elected nominally as "Independ- 
ents." It was an assemblage of some of the 
ablest men of the State, including representatives 
of all the learned professions except the clerical, 
besides mercliants, farmers, bankers and journal- 
ists. Its work was completed May 13, 1870, and 
in tlie main good. Some of the principal changes 
made in the fundamental law, as proposed by the 
Convention, were tlie following; The prohibi- 
tion of special legislation where a general law 
may be made to cover the necessities of the case, 
and the absolute prohibition of such legislation 
in reference to divorces, lotteries and a score of 
other matters ; prohibition of the passage of any 
law releasing any civil division (district, county, 
city, township or town) from the payment of its 
just proportion of any State tax; recommenda- 
tions to the Legislature to enact laws upon 
certain specified subjects, such as liberal home- 
stead and exemption rights, the construction of 
drains, the regulation of charges on railways 
(whicli were declared to be public highways), 
etc., etc. ; declaring all elevators and storehouses 
public warehouses, and providing for their legis- 
lative inspection and supervision. The mainte- 
nance of an "efiicient system of public schools" 
was made obligatory upon the Legislature, and 
the appropriation of any funds — State, municipal, 
town or district — to the support of sectarian 
schools was prohibited. The principle of cuniu 
lative voting, or "minority representation," in 
the choice of members of the House of Represent- 
atives was provided for, and additional safe 
guards thrown around the passage of bills. The 
ineligibility of the Governor to re-election for a 
second consecutive term was set aside, and ;t 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



119 



two-thirds vote of the Legislature made necessary 
to override an executive veto. The list of State 
jfficers was increased by the creation of the 
offices of Attorney-General and Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, these having been previ- 
ously provided for only by statute. The Supreme 
Court bench was increased by the addition of 
four members, making the whole number of 
Supreme Court judges seven; Appellate Courts 
authorized after 1874, and County Courts were 
made courts of recoi'd. The compensation of all 
State officers — executive, judicial and legislative 
— was left discretionary with the Legislature, 
and no limit was placed upon the length of the 
sessions of the General Assembly. The instru- 
ment drafted by the Convention was ratified at 
an election held. July 6, 1870, and went into force, 
August 8, following. Occasional amendments 
have been submitted and ratified from time to 
time. (See Constittittcms. Elections and Repre- 
sentation: also Minority Representation.) 

COXSTITUTIOXS. Illinois has had three con- 
stitutions—that of 1870 being now (1898) in force. 
The earliest instrument was that approved by 
Congress in 1818, and the first revision was made 
in 1847 — the Constitution liaving been ratified at 
an election held, Jlarch 5, 1848, and going into 
force, April 1, following. Tiie term of State 
officers has been uniformly fixed at four years, 
except that of Treasurer, which is two years. 
Biennial elections and sessions of the General 
Assembly are provided for, Senators holding their 
seats for four years, and Representatives two 
years. The State is requii'ed to be apportioned 
after each decennial census into fifty-one dis- 
tricts, each of which elects one Senator and three 
Representatives. The principle of minority rep- 
resentation has been incorporated into the 
organic law, each elector being allowed to cast as 
many votes for one legislative candidate as there 
are Representatives to be chosen in his district ; 
or ho may divide his vote equally among all the 
three candidates or between two of them, as he 
may see fit. One of the provisions of the Consti- 
tution of 1870 is the inhibition of the General 
Assembly from passing private laws. Munici- 
palities are classified, and legislation is for all 
cities of a class, not for an individual corpora- 
tion. Individual citizens with a financial griev- 
ance must secure payment of their claims under 
the terms of some general appropriation. The 
sessions of the Legislature are not limited as to 
time, nor is there any restriction upon the power 
of the Executive to summon extra sessions. 
(See also Constitutional Conventions: Elections; 



Governors and other State Officers; Judicial 
System: Suffrage, Etc. ) 

COOK, Burton C, lawyer and Congressman, 
was born in Monroe County, N. Y., May 11, 1819; 
completed his academic education at the Collegi- 
ate Institute in Rochester, and after studying 
law, removed to Illinois (183.5), locating first at 
Hennepin and later at Ottawa. Here he began 
the practice of his profession, and, in 1846, was 
elected by the Legislature State's Attorney for 
the Ninth Judicial District, serving two years, 
when, in 1848, he was re-elected by the people 
under the Constitution of that year, for four 
years. From 18.)3 to 1800, he was State Senator, 
taking part in the election which resulted in 
making Lyman Trumbull United States Senator 
in 18.5.5. In 1861 he served as one of the Peace 
Commissioners from Illinois in the Conference 
which met at Washington. He may. be called 
one of the founders of the Republican party in 
this State, having been a member of the State 
Central Committee appointed at Bloomington in 
1856, and Chairman of the State Central Com- 
mittee in 1862. In 1864, he was elected to Con- 
gress, and re-elected in 1866, "68 and '70, but 
resigned in 1871 to accept tlie solicitorship of the 
Northwestern Railroad, which he resigned in 
1886. He was an intimate friend of Abraham 
Lincoln, serving as a delegate to both the National 
Conventions whicli nominated him for the Presi- 
dency, and presenting his name at Baltimore in 
1864. His death occurred at Evanston, August 
18. 1894. 

COOK, Daniel Pope, early Congressman, was 
born in Scott Count}-, Ky., in 1795, removed to 
Illinois and began the practice of law at Kaskas- 
kia in 1815. Early in 1816, lie became joint owner 
and editor of "The Illinois Intelligencer,"' and at 
the same time served as Auditor of Public 
Accounts by appointment of Governor Edwards; 
the next year (1817) was sent by President Mon- 
roe as bearer of dispatches to John Quincy Adams, 
then minister to London, and, on his return, was 
appointed a Circuit Judge. On the admission of 
the State he was elected the first Attorney- 
General, but almost immediately resigned and, 
in September. 1819, was elected to Congress, serv- 
ing as Representative until 1827. Having married 
a daughter of Governor Edwards, he became a 
resident of Edwardsville. He was a conspicuous 
opponent of the proposition to make Illinois a 
slave State in 182.S-24, and did much to prevent 
tlie success of that scheme. He also bore a 
prominent part while in Congress in securing the 
donation of lands for the construction of the 



120 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Illinois & Michigan Canal. He was distinguished 
for his eloquence, and it was during his first 
Congressional campaign that stump-speaking was 
introduced into the State. Suffering from 
consumption, he visited Cuba, and, after return- 
ing to his home at Edwardsville and failing to 
improve, he went to Kentucky, where he died, 
Oct. 16, 1827.— John (Cook), soldier, born at 
Edwardsville, III., June 13, 1825, the son of 
Daniel P. Cook, the second Congressman from 
Illinois, and grandson of Gov. Ninian Edwards, 
was educated by private tutors and at Illinois 
College ; in 1855 was elected Mayor of Springfield 
and the following year Sheriff of Sangamon 
County, later serving as Quartermaster of the 
State. Raising a company promptly after the 
firing on Fort Sumter in 1861, he was commis- 
sioned Colonel of the Seventh Illinois Volunteers 
— the first regiment organized in Illinois under 
the first call for troops by President Lincoln ; was 
promoted Brigadier-General for gallantry at Fort 
Donelson in March, 1863; in 1864 commanded the 
District of Illinois, with headquarters at Spring- 
field, being mustered out, August, 1865, with the 
brevet rank of Major-Geueral. General Cook was 
elected to the lower house of the General Assem- 
bly from Sangamon County, in 1868. During 
recent years his home has been in Michigan. 

COOK COUNTY, situated in the northeastern 
section of the State, bordering on Lake Michigan, 
and being the most easterly of the second tier of 
counties south of the Wisconsin State line. It 
has an area of 890 square miles ; population (1890), 
1,191,923; (1900), 1,838,735; county-seat, Chicago. 
The county was organized in 1831, having origi- 
nally embraced the counties of Du Page, Will, 
Lake, McHenry and Iroquois, in addition to its 
present territorial limits. It was named in 
honor of Daniel P. Cook, a distinguished Repre- 
sentative of Illinois in Congress. (See Cook, 
Daniel P. ) The first County Commissioners %vere 
Samuel Miller, Gholson Kercheval and James 
Walker, who took the oath of office before Justice 
John S. C. Hogan, on March 8, 1831. AVilUam 
Lee was appointed Clerk and Archibald Clybourne 
Treasurer. Jedediah Wormley was first County 
Surveyor, and three election districts (Chicago, 
Du Page and Hickory Creek) were created. A 
scow ferry was established across the South 
Branch, with Mark Beaubien as ferryman. Only 
non-residents were required to pay toll. Geolo- 
gists are of the opinion that, previous to the 
glacial epoch, a large portion of the county lay 
under the waters of Lake Michigan, which was 
connected with the Mississippi by the Des Plaines 



River. This theory is borne out by the finding 
of stratified beds of coal and gravel in the eastern 
and southern portions of the county, either under- 
lying the prairies or assuming the form of ridges. 
The latter, geologists maintain, indicate the exist- 
ence of an ancient key, and they conclude that, 
at one time, the level of the lake was nearly forty 
feet higher than at present. Glacial action is 
believed to have been very effective in establish- 
ing surface conditions in this vicinity. Lime- 
stone and building stone are quarried in tolerable 
abundance. Athens marble (white when taken 
out, but growing a rich yellow through exposure) 
is found in the southwest. Isolated beds of peat 
liave also been found. The general surface is 
level, although undulating in some portions. The 
soil near the lake is sandy, but in the interior 
becomes a black mold from one to four feet in 
depth. Drainage is afforded by the Des Plaines, 
Chicago and Calumet Rivers, which is now being 
improved by the construction of the Drainage 
Canal. Manufactures and agriculture are the 
principal industries outside of the city of Chi- 
cago. (See also Chicago. ) 

COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL, located in Chi- 
cago and under control of the Commissioners of 
Cook County. It was originally erected by the 
City of Chicago, at a cost of §80,000, and was 
intended to be used as a hospital for patients 
suffering from infectious diseases. For several 
years the building was unoccupied, but, in 1858, 
it was leased by an association of physicians, who 
opened a hospital, with the further purpose of 
affording facilities for clinical instruction to the 
students of Rush Medical College. In 1863 the 
building was taken by the General Government 
for military purposes, being used as an eye and 
ear hospital for returning soldiers. In 1865 it 
reverted to the City of Chicago, and, in 1866, was 
purchased by Cook County. In 1874 tlie County 
Commissioners purchased a new and more spa- 
cious site at a cost of §145,000, and began the erec- 
tion of buildings thereon. The two principal 
pavilions were completed and occupied before the 
close of 1875; the clinical amphitheater and 
connecting corridors were built in 1876-77, and an 
administrative building and two additional 
pavilions were added in 1883-84. Up to that date 
the total cost of the buildings had been §719,574, 
and later additions and improvements have 
swelled the outlay to more than §1,000,000. It 
accommodates about 800 patients and constitutes 
a part of the county machinery for the care of 
the poor. A certain number of beds are placed 
under the care of homeopathic physicians. The 




ALONG SIIEUIDAX ROAD AND OX THE BOULEVAKDS. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



121 



present (1896) allopathic medical staff consists of 
fifteen physicians, fifteen surgeons, one oculist 
and aurist and one pathologist ; the homeopathic 
staff comprises five physicians and five surgeons. 
In addition, there is a large corps of internes, or 
house phj'sicians and surgeons, composed of 
recent graduates from the several medical col- 
leges, who gain their positions through competi- 
tive examination and hold them for eighteen 
months. 

COOKE, Edward Dean, lawyer and Congress- 
man, born in Dubuque County, Iowa, Oct. 17, 
1849; was educated in the common schools and 
the high school of Dubuque ; studied law in that 
city and at Columbian University, Washington, 
D. C, graduating from that institution with the 
degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to 
the bar in Washington in 1873. Coming to Chi- 
cago the same year, he entered upon the practice 
of his profession, which he pursued for the 
remainder of his life. In 1883 he was elected a 
Representative in the State Legislature from 
Cook County, serving one term ; was elected as a 
Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress for the 
Sixth District (Chicago), in 1894, and re-elected in 
1896. His death occirrred suddenly while in 
attendance on the extra session of Congress in 
Washington, June 24, 1897. 

COOLBAUGH, William Findlay, financier, was 
born in Pike County, Pa., July 1, 1821; at the 
age of 15 became clerk in a dry-goods store in 
Philadelphia, but, in 1842, opened a branch 
establishment of a New York firm at Burlington, 
Iowa, where he afterwards engaged in the bank- 
ing business, also serving in the Iowa State 
Constitutional Convention, and, as the candidate 
of his party for United States Senator, being 
defeated by Hon. James Harlan by one vote. In 
1862 he came to Chicago and opened the banking 
house of W. F. Coolbaugh & Co. , which, in 1865, 
became the Union National Bank of Chicago. 
Later he became the first President of the Chi- 
cago Clearing House, as also of the Bankers' 
Association of the West and South, a Director of 
the Board of Trade, and an original incorporator 
of the Chamber of Commerce, besides being a 
member of the State Constitutional Convention 
of 1869-70. His death by suicide, at the foot of 
Douglas Monument, Nov. 14, 1877, was a shock to 
the whole city of Chicago. 

COOLEY, Horace S., Secretary of State, was 
born in Hartford, Conn., in 1806, studied medi- 
cine for two years in early life, then went to Ban- 
gor, Maine, where he began the study of law ; in 
1840 he came to Illinois, locating first at Rusliville 



and finally in the city of Quincy ; in 1842 took a 
prominent part in the campaign whicli resulted 
in tlie election of Thomas Ford as Governor — also 
received from Governor Carlin an appointment as 
Quartermaster-General of the State. On the 
accession of Governor French in December, 1846, 
he was appointed Secretary of State and elected 
to the same oflSce under the Constitution of 1848, 
dying before the expiration of his term, April 2, 
1850. 

CORBUS, (Dr.) J. C, physician, was born in 
Holmes County, Ohio, in 1833, received his pri 
mary education in the public schools, followed 
by an academic course, and began the study of 
medicine at Millersburg, finally graduating from 
tlie Western Reserve Medical College at Cleve- 
land. In 1855 he began practice at Orville, Ohio, 
but the same year located at Mendota, 111., soon 
thereafter removing to Lee County, where he 
remained until 1863. The latter year he was 
appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Seventy-fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was soon pro- 
moted to the position of Surgeon, though com- 
pelled to resign the following year on accoimt of 
ill health. Returning from the army, he located 
at Mendota. Dr. Corbus served continuously as a 
member of the State Board of Public Charities 
from 1873 until the accession of Governor Altgeld 
to the Governorship in 1893, when he resigned. 
He was also, for fifteen years, one of the Medical 
Examiners for his District under the Pension 
Bureau, and has served as a member of the 
Republican State Central Committee for the 
Mendota District. In 1897 he was complimented 
by Governor Tanner by reappointment to the 
State Board of Charities, and was made President 
of the Board. Early in 1899 he was appointed 
Superintendent of the Eastern Hospital for the 
Insane at Kankakee, as successor to Dr. William 
G. Stearns. 

CORNELL, Paul, real-estate operator and capi- 
talist, was born of English Quaker ancestry in 
Washington County, N. Y., August 5, 1823; at 9 
years of age removed with his step-father. Dr. 
Barry, to Ohio, and five years later to Adams 
County, 111. Here young Cornell lived the life of 
a farmer, working part of the year to earn money 
to send himself to school the remainder; also 
taught for a time, then entered the office of W. A. 
Richardson, at Rushville, Schuyler County, as a 
law student. In 1845 he came to Cliicago, but 
soon after became a student in the law office ot 
Wilson & Henderson at Joliet, and was admitted 
to practice in that city. Removing to Chicago in 
1847, he was associated, successively, with the late 



123 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



L. C. P. Freer, Judge James H. Collins and 
Messrs. Skinner & Hoyne ; finally entered into a 
contract with Judge Skinner to perfect the title to 
320 acres of laud held under tax-title within the 
present limits of Hj-de Park, which lie succeeded 
in doing by visiting the original owners, thereby 
secvu'ing one-half of the property in his own 
name. He thus became the founder of the village 
of Hj'de Park, meanwliile adding to his posses- 
sions other lands, which increased vastly in value. 
He also established a watch factory at Cornell 
(now a part of Chicago), which did a large busi- 
ness until removed to California. Mr. Cornell 
was a member of the first Park Board, and there- 
fore iias the credit of assisting to organize Chi- 
cago s extensive park system. 

COR WIN, Frauklin, Congressman, was born at 
Lebanon, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1818, and admitted to the 
bar at the age of 21. While a resident of Ohio he 
served in both Houses of the Legislature, and 
settled in Illinois in 1857, making his home at 
Peru. He was a member of the lower house of 
the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-flfth and Twenty- 
sixth General Assemblies, being Speaker in 1867, 
and again in 1869. In 1872 he was elected to 
Congress as a Republican, but, in 1874, was 
defeated by Alexander Campbell, who made the 
race as an Independent. Died, at Peru, 111., June 
15, 1879. 

COUCH, James, pioneer hotel-keeper, was born 
at Fort Edward, N. Y., August 31, 1800; remo%-ed 
to Chautauqua County, in the same State, where 
he remained imtil his twentieth year, receiving a 
fair English education. After engaging succes- 
sively, but with indifferent success, as hotel-clerk, 
stage-house keeper, lumber-dealer, and in the dis- 
tilling business, in 1836, in company with his 
younger brother, Ira, he visited Chicago. They 
both decided to go into business there, first open- 
ing a small store, and later entering upon their 
hotel ventures which proved so eminently suc- 
cessful, and gave the Tremont House of Chicago 
so wide and enviable a reputation. Mr. Couch 
superintended for his brother Ira the erection, at 
various times, of many large business blocks in 
the city. Upon the death of his brother, in 1857, 
he was made one of the trustees of his estate, and, 
with other trustees, rebuilt the Tremont House 
after the Chicago fire of 1871. In April, 1893, 
while boarding a street car in the central part of 
the city of Chicago, he was run over by a truck, 
receiving injuries which resulted in his death 
the same day at the Tremont House, in the 92d 
year of his age. — Ira (Couch), younger brother of 
the preceding, was born in Saratoga County, 



N. Y., Nov. 22, 1806. At the age of sixteen he 
was apprenticed to a tailor, and, in 1826, set up 
in business on his own account. In 1836, while 
visiting Chicago with his brother James, he 
determined to go into business there. With a 
stock of furnishing goods and tailors' supplies, 
newly bought in New York, a small store was 
opened. This business soon disposed of, Mr. 
Couch, with his brother, obtained a lease of the 
old Tremont House, then a low frame building 
kept as a saloon boarding house. Changed and 
refurnished, this was opened as a hotel. It was 
destroyed by fire in 1839, as was also the larger 
rebuilt structure in 1849. A second time rebuilt, 
and on a much larger and grander scale at a cost 
of $75,000, surpassing anything the West had ever 
known before, the Tremont House this time stood 
until the Chicago fire in 1871. when it was again 
destroyed. Mr. Couch at all times enjoyed an 
immense patronage, and was able to accumulate 
(for that time) a large fortune. He purchased 
and improved a large number of business blocks, 
then within the business center of the city. In 
1853 he retired from active business, and, in con- 
sequence of impaired health, chose for the rest of 
his life to seek recreation in travel. In the 
winter of 1857, while with his family in 
Havana, Cuba, he was taken with a fever which 
soon ended his life. His remains now rest in a 
mausoleum of masonry in Lincoln Park, Chi- 
cago. 

COULTERVILLE,a town of Randolph County, 
at the crossing of the Centralia & Chester and 
the St. Louis & Paducah branch Illinois Central 
Railways, 49 miles southeast of St. Louis. Farm- 
ing and coal-mining are the leading industries. 
The town lias two banks, two creameries, and a 
newspaper. Population (1890), 598; (1900), 6.50. 
COrXTIES, UNORGANIZED. (See Unorgan- 
ized Counties.) 

COWDEN, a village of Shelby County, at the 
intersection of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwest- 
ern and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western Rail- 
ways, 60 miles southeast of Springfield. Con- 
siderable coal is mined in the vicinity ; has a 
bank and a weekly paper. Population (1880), 
350; (1890), 702; (1900), 751. 

COWLES, Alfred, newspaper manager, was 
born in Portage County, Ohio, May 13, 1832, grew 
up on a farm and, after spending some time at 
Michigan University, entered the office of "The 
Cleveland Leader" as a clerk; in 1855 accepted a 
similar position on "The Chicago Tribune, " which 
had just been bought by Joseph Medill and 
others, finallv becoming a stockholder and busi- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



123 



» 



ness manager of the paper, so remaining until his 
death in Chicago, Dec. 20. 1SS9. 

COX, Thomas, i^ioneer, Senator in the First 
General Assembly of Illinois (1818-22) from Union 
County, and a conspicuous figm-e in early State 
history ; was a zealous advocate of the policj- of 
making Illinois a slave State ; became one of the 
original proprietors and founders of the city of 
Springfield, and was appointed the first Register 
of the Land Office there, but was removed under 
charges of misconduct ; after his retirement from 
the Land Office, kept a hotel at Springfield. In 
1836 he removed to Iowa (then a part of Wiscon- 
sin Territory), became a member of the first 
Territorial Legislature there, was twice re-elected 
and once Speaker of the House, being prominent 
in 1840 as commander of the "Regulators" who 
drove out a gang of murderers and desperadoes 
who had got possession at Bellevue, Iowa. Died, 
at Maquoketa, Iowa, 1843. 

COY, Irus, lawyer, was born in Chenango 
County, N. Y., July 2.5, 1832; educated in the 
common schools and at Central College, Cortland 
County, N. Y., graduating in law at Albany in 
1857. Then, having removed to Illinois, he 
located in Kendall Coimty and began practice ; in 
1868 was elected to the lower house of the General 
Assembly and, in 1872, served as Presidential 
Elector on the Republican ticket; removed to 
Chicago in 1871, later serving as attorney of the 
Union Stock Yards and Transit Company. Died, 
in Chicago, Sept. 20, 1897. 

CRAFTS, Clayton E., legislator and politician, 
born at Auburn, Geauga County, Ohio, July 8, 
1848 ; was educated at Hiram College and gradu- 
ated from the Cleveland Law School in 1868, 
coming to Chicago in 1869. Mr. Crafts served in 
seven consecutive sessions of the General Assem- 
bly (1883-95, inclusive) as Representative from 
Cook County, and was elected by the Democratic 
majority as Speaker, in 1891, and again in '93. 

CRAIG, AUred M., jurist, was born in Edgar 
County, 111., Jan. 15, 1831, graduated from Knox 
College in 1853, and was admitted to the bar in 
the following year, commencing practice at 
Knoxville. He held the offices of State's 
Attorney and County Judge, and represented 
Knox County in the Constitutional Convention 
of 1869-70. In 1873 he was elected to the bench 
of the Supreme Court, as successor to Justice 
C. B. Lawrence, and was re-elected in '82 and 
'91 ; his present term expiring with the century. 
He is a Democrat in politics, but has been 
three times elected in a Republican judicial 
district. 



CRAWFORD, Charles H., lawyer and legisla- 
tor, was born in Bennington, Vt. , but reared in 
Bureau and La Salle Counties, 111. ; has practiced 
law for twenty year's in Chicago, and been three 
times elected to the State Senate — 1884, "88 and 
'94 — and is author of the Crawford Primarj' Elec- 
tion Law, enacted in 1885. 

CRAWFORD COUMTY, a southeastern coimty, 
bordering on the Wabash, 190 miles nearly due 
south of Chicago — named for William H. Craw- 
ford, a Secretary of War. It has an area of 452 
square miles; population (1900), 19,240. The 
first settlers were the French, but later came 
emigi-ants from New England. The soil is ricli 
and well adapted to the production of corn and 
wheat, which are the principal crops. The 
county was organized in 1817, Darwin being 
the first county-seat. The present county-seat 
is Robinson, with a population (1890) of 1,387; 
centrally located and the point of intersection of 
two railroads. Other towns of importance are 
Palestine (population, 734) and Hutsonville (popu- 
lation, 582). The latter, as well as Robinson, is 
a grain-shipping point. The Embarras River 
crosses the southwest portion of the county, and 
receives the waters of Big and Honey Creeks and 
Bushy Fork. The county has no mineral 
resources, but contains some valuable woodland 
and many well cultivated farms. Tobacco, 
potatoes, sorghum and wool are among the lead- 
ing products. 

CREAL SPRINGS, a village of Williamson 
Count}', on the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute 
Railroad ; has a bank and a weekly paper. Popu- 
lation (1890), .539; (1900), 940. 

CREBS, John M., ex -Congressman, was bom in 
Middleburg, Loudoun County, Va., April 7, 1830. 
When he was but 7 years old his parents removed 
to Illinois, where he ever after resided. At the 
age of 21 he began the study of law, and, in 18.52. 
was admitted to the bar, beginning practice in 
White County. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
Eighty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, receiving a 
commission as Lieutenant-Colonel, participating 
in all the important movements in the Mississippi 
'Valley, including the capture of 'Vicksbui'g, and 
in the Arkansas campaign, a part of the time 
commanding a brigade. Returning home, he 
resumed the practice of his profession. In 1866 
he was an unsuccessful candidate for State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction on the 
Democratic ticket. He was elected to Congress 
in 1868 and re-elected in 1870, and, in 1880, was a 
delegate to the Democratic State Convention 
Died, June 26, 1890. 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



CREIGHTOJT, James A., jurist, was born in 
"White County, III, March 7, 1846; in childhood 
removed with his parents to Wayne County, and 
was educated in the schools at Fairfield and at 
the Southern Illinois College, Salem, graduating 
from the latter in 1868. After teaching for a 
time while studying law, he was admitted to the 
bar in 1870, and opened an office at Fairfield, but, 
in 1877, removed to Springfield. In 1885 he was 
elected a Circuit Judge for the Springfield Cir- 
cuit, was re-elected in 1891 and again in 1897. 

CRERAR, John, manufacturer and philanthro- 
pist, was born of Scotch ancestry in New York 
City, in 1827 ; at 18 years of age was an employe 
of an iron-importing firm in that city, subse- 
quently accepting a position with Morris K. 
Jessup & Co., in the same line. Coming to 
Chicago in 1862, in partnership with J. McGregor 
Adams, he succeeded to the business of Jessup & 
Co., in that city, also becoming a partner in the 
Adams & Westlake Company, iron manufactur- 
ers. He also became interested and an official in 
various other business organizations, including 
the Pullman Palace Car Company, the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad, the Illinois Trust and Savings 
Bank, and, for a time, was President of the Chi- 
cago & Joliet Railroad, besides being identified 
with various benevolent institutions and associ- 
ations. After the fire of 1871, he was intrusted 
by the New York Chamber of Commerce with 
the custody of funds sent for the relief of suffer- 
ers by that calamity. His integrity and business 
sagacity were universally recognized. After his 
death, which occurred in Chicago, Oct. 19, 
1889, it was found that, after making munificent 
bequests to some twenty religious and benevolent 
associations and enterprises, aggregating nearly 
a million dollars, besides liberal legacies to 
relatives, he had left the residue of his estate, 
amounting to some §3,000,000, for the purpose of 
founding a pubUc library in the city of Chicago, 
naming thirteen of his most intimate friends as 
the fii'st Board of Trustees. No more fitting and 
lasting monument of so noble and public-spirited 
a man could have been devised. 

CRETE, a village of "Will County, on the Chi- 
cago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, 30 miles south 
of Chicago. Population (1890), 643; (1900), 760. 

CROOK, George, soldier, was born near Day- 
ton, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1828 ; graduated at the United 
States Military Academy, "West Point, in 18.52, and 
was assigned as brevet Second Lieutenant to the 
Fourth Infantry, becoming full Second Lieuten- 
ant in 1853. In 1861 he entered the volunteer 
service as Colonel of the Thirty -sixth Ohio Infan- 



try; was promoted Brigadier-General in 1862 and 
Major-General in 1864, being mustered out of the 
service, January, 1866. During the war he 
participated in some of the most important 
battles in West "Virginia and Tennessee, fought at 
Chickamauga and Antietam, and commanded 
the cavalry in the advance on Richmond in the 
spring of 1865. On being mustered out of the 
volunteer service he returned to the regular 
army, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Twenty-third Infantry, and, for several years, was 
engaged in campaigns against the hostile Indians 
in the Northwest and in Arizona. In 1888 he 
was appointed Major-General and, from that time 
to his death, was in command of the Military 
Division of the Missouri, with headquarters at 
Chicago, where he died, March 19, 1890. 

CROSIAR, Simon, pioneer, was born near 
Pittsburg, Pa., in the latter part of the last 
century; removed to Ohio in 1815 and to Illinois 
in 1819, settling first at Cap au Gris, a French 
village on the Mississippi just above the mouth 
of the Illinois in what is now Calhoun County ; 
later lived at Peoria (1824), at Ottawa (1826), at 
Shippingport near the present city of La Salle 
(1839), and at Old Utica (1834); in the mean- 
while built one or two mills on Cedar Creek in 
La Salle County, kept a storage and commission 
house, and, for a time, acted as Captain of a 
steamboat plying on the Illinois. Died, in 1846. 

CRYSTAL LAKE, a village in McHenry 
County, at the intersection of two divisions of 
the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 43 miles 
northwest of Chicago. Population (1880), 546; 
(1890), 781; (1900), 950. 

CUBA, a town in Fulton County, distant 38 
miles west-southwest of Peoria, and about 8 miles 
north of Lewistown. The entire region (includ- 
ing the town) is underlaid with a good quality of 
bituminous coal, of which the late State Geologist 
Worthen asserted that, in seven townships of 
Fulton County, there are 9,000,000 tons to the 
square mile, within 150 feet of the surface. Brick 
and cigars are made here, and the town has two 
banks, a newspaper, three churches and good 
schools. Population (1890), 1,114; (1900), 1,198; 
(1903, school census), 1,400. 

CULLEN, "William, editor and Congressman, 
born in the nortli of Ireland, March 4, 1826 ; while 
yet a child was brought by his parents to Pitts- 
burg, Pa., where he was educated in the public 
schools. At the age of 30 he removed to 
La Salle County, 111, and began life as a farmer. 
Later he took up his residence at Ottawa. He 
has served as Sheriff of La Salle County, and held 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



125 



other local offices, and was for many years a part 
owner and senior editor of "The Ottawa Repub- 
lican." From 1881 to 188.5, as a Republican, he 
represented the Eighth Illinois District in Con- 
gress. 

CULLOM, Richard Northcraft, farmer and 
legislator, was born in the State of Maryland, 
October 1, 1795, but early removed to Wayne 
County, Ky., where he was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Coffey, a native of North Carolina. In 
1830 he removed to Illinois, settling near Wash- 
ington, Tazewell County, where he continued to 
reside during the remainder of his life. Although 
a farmer by vocation, Mr. Cullom was a man of 
prominence and a recognized leader in public 
affairs. In 1836 he was elected as a Whig Repre- 
sentative in the Tenth General Assembly, serving 
in the same body with Abraliam Lincoln, of 
whom he was an intimate personal and political 
friend. In 1840 he was chosen a member of the 
State Senate, serving in the Twelfth and Thir- 
teenth General Assemblies, and, in 1852, was 
again elected to the House. Mr. CuUom's death 
occurred in Tazewell County, Dec. 4, 1872, his 
wife having died Dec. 5, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cullom were the parents of Hon. Shelby M. 
Cullom. 

CULLOM, Shelby Moore, United States Sena- 
tor, was born in Wayne Coimty, Ky., Nov. 22, 
1829. His parents removed to Tazewell County, 
111., in 1S30, where his father became a member 
of the Legislature and attained prominence as a 
public man. After two years spent in Rock 
River Seminary at Mount Morris, varied by some 
experience as a teacher, in 1853 tlie subject of 
this sketch went to Springfield to enter upon the 
study of law in the office of Stuart & Edwards. 
Being admitted to the bar two years afterward, 
he was almost immediately elected City Attor- 
ney, and, in 1856, was a candidate on the Fill- 
more ticket for Presidential Elector, at the same 
time being elected to the Twentieth General 
Assemblj' for Sangamon County, as he was again, 
as a Republican, in 1860, being supported alike by 
the Fillmore men and the Free-Soilers. At the 
session following the latter election, he was 
chosen Speaker of the House, which was his first 
important political recognition. In 1862 he was 
appointed by President Lincoln a member of the 
War Claims Commission at Cairo, serving in this 
capacity with Governor Boutwell of Massachu- 
setts and Charles A. Dana of New York. He was 
also a candidate for the State Senate the same 
year, but then sustained his only defeat. Two 
years later (1864) he was a candidate for Con- 



gress, defeating his former preceptor, Hon. John 
T. Stuart, being re-elected in 1866, and again in 
1868, the latter year over B. S. Edwards. He 
was a delegate to the National Republican Con- 
vention of 1872, and, as Chairman of the Illinois 
delegation, placed General Grant in nomination 
for the Presidenc}', holding the same position 
again in 1884 and in 1892; was elected to the Illi- 
nois House of Representatives in 1872 and in 1874, 
being chosen Speaker a second time in 1873, as he 
was the unanimous choice of his party for 
Speaker again in 1875 , in 1876 was elected Gov- 
ernor, was re-elected in 1880, and, in 1883, elected 
to the United States Senate as successor to Hon. 
David Davis. Having had two re-elections since 
(1889 and '95), he is now serving his third term, 
Avhich will expire in 1901. In 1898, by special 
appointment of President JIcKinley, Senator 
Cullom served upon a Commission to investigate 
the condition of the Hawaiian Islands and 
report a plan of government for this new division 
of the American Republic. Other important 
measures with which his name has been promi- 
nently identified have been the laws for the sup- 
pression of polygamy in Utah and for the creation 
of the Inter-State Commerce Commission. At 
present he is Chairman of the Senate Committee 
on Inter-State Commerce and a member of those 
on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs. His 
career has been conspicuous for his long public 
service, the large number of important offices 
which he has held, the almost unbroken uniform- 
ity of his success when a candidate, and his com- 
plete exemption from scandals of every sort. No 
man in the history of the State has been more 
frequentlj' elected to the United States Senate, 
and only three — Senators Douglas, Trumbull and 
Logan — for an equal number of terms; though 
only one of these (Senator Trumbull) lived to 
serve out the full period for which he was 
elected. 

CUMBERLAIVD COUNTY, situated in the 
southeast quarter of the State, directly south of 
Coles County, from which it was cut off in 1842. 
Its area is 350 square miles, and population (1900), 
16,124. The county-seat was at Greenup until 
1855, when it was transfeiTed to Prairie City, 
which was laid off in 1854 and incorporated as a 
town in 1866. The present county-seat is at 
Toledo (population, 1890, 676). The Embarras 
River crosses the county, as do also three lines of 
railroad. Neoga, a mining town, has a popula- 
tion of 829. The county received its name from 
the Cumberland Road, which, as originally pro- 
jected, passed through it. 



126 



IIISTOKICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLIXOIS. 



CUMMINS, (Rev.) David, Bishop of the Re- 
formed Protestaut Episcopal Church, was 
boru near Smyrna, Del, Dec. 11, 1822; gradu- 
ated at Dickinson College, Pa., in 18il, and 
became a licentiate in the Methodist ministry, 
but, in 1846, took orders in the Episcopal 
Church; afterwards held rectorships in Balti- 
more, Norfolk, Richmond and the Trinity 
Episcopal Church of Chicago, in 1866 being con- 
secrated Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of 
Kentucky. As a recognized leader of the Low- 
Church or Evangelical party, he early took issue 
with the ritualistic tendencies of the High-Church 
party, and, having withdrawn from the Episcopal 
Church in 1873, became the first Bishop of the 
Reformed Episcopal organization. He was zeal- 
ous, eloquent and conscientious, but overtaxed his 
strength in his new field of labor, dying at Luth- 
erville, Md., June 26, 1876. A memoir of Bishop 
Cummins, bj- his wife, was publishedin 1878. 

CUMULATIVE VOTE. (See Minority Repre- 
sentation.) 

CURTIS, Harvey, clergyman and educator, was 
born in Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y., May 30, 
1806; graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., in 
1831, with the highest honors of his class; after 
three years at Princeton Theological Seminary, 
was ordained pastor of the Congregational 
church at Brandon, Vt., in 1836. In 1841 he 
accepted an appointment as agent of the Home 
Missionary Society for Ohio and Indiana, between 
1843 and 1858 holding pastorates at Madison, 
Ind.. and Chicago. In the latter year be was 
chosen President of Knox College, at Galesburg, 
dying there, Sept. 18, 1862. 

CURTIS, William ELroy, journalist, was born 
at Akron, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1850; graduated at 
Western Reserve College in 1S7I, meanwhile 
learning the art of typesetting; later served as a 
reporter on "The Cleveland Leader" and, in 1872, 
took a subordinate position on "The Chicago 
Inter Ocean," finally rising to that of managing- 
editor. While on "The Inter Ocean" he accom- 
panied General Custer in his campaign against 
the Sioux, spent several months investigating 
the "Ku-Klux" and "White League" organiza- 
tions in the South, and, for some years, was "The 
Inter Ocean" correspondent in Washington. 
Having retired from "The Inter Ocean," he 
became Secretary of the "Pan-American Con- 
gress" in Washington, and afterwards made the 
tour of the United States with the South and 
Central American repre.sentatives in that Con- 
gress. During the World's Columbian Exposition 
in Chicago he had general supervision of the 



Latin-American historical and archfeological 
exhibits. Mr. Curtis has visited nearly every 
Central and South American countrj- and has 
written elaborately on these subjects for the 
magazines and for publication in book form ; has 
also published a "Life of Zachariah Chandler'' 
and a "Diplomatic History of the United States 
and Foreign Powers." For some time he was 
managing editor of "Tlie Chicago News" and is 
now (1898) the Washington Correspondent of 
"The Chicago Record." 

CUSHMAN, (Col.) William H. W., financier 
and manufacturer, was born at Freetown, Mass., 
May 13, 1813; educated at the American Literary, 
Scientific and Military Academy, Norwich, Vt. ; 
at 18 began a mercantile career at Middlebury, 
and, in 1824, removed to La Salle County, 111., 
where he opened a country store, also built a mill 
at Verniilionville ; later was identified with many 
large financial enterprises which generally 
proved successful, thereby accumulating a for- 
tune at one time estimated at 83,000,000. He was 
elected as a Democrat to the Thirteenth and 
Fourteenth General Assemblies (1842 and '44) 
and, for several years, held a commission as 
Captain of the Ottawa Cavalry (militia). The 
Civil War coming on, he assisted in organizing 
the Fifty-third Illinois Volunteers, and was com- 
missioned its Colonel, but resigned Sept. 3, 1862. 
He organized and was principal owner of the 
Bank of Ottawa, which, in 1865, became the First 
National Bank of that city; was the leading 
spirit in the Hydraulic Company and the Gas 
Company at Ottawa, built and opei-ated the 
Ottawa Machine Shops and Foundry, speculated 
largely in lands in La Salle and Cook Counties — 
his operations in the latter being especially large 
about Riverside, as well as in Chicago, was a 
principal stockholder in the bank of Cush- 
man & Hardin in Chicago, had large interests in 
the lumber trade in Michigan, and was one of 
the builders of the Chicago, Paducah & South- 
western Railroad. The Chicago fire of 1871, 
however, brought financial disaster upon him, 
which finally dissipated his fortune and de- 
stroyed his mental and physical health. His 
death occurred at Ottawa, Oct. 28, 1878. 

DALE, Michael G., lawyer, was born in Lan- 
caster, Pa., spent his childhood and youth in the 
public schools of his native city, except one year 
in West Chester Academy, when he entered 
Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, graduating 
there in 1835. He then began the study of law 
and was admitted to the bar in 1837; coming to 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



127 



I 



Illinois the following j'ear, he was retained in a 
suit at Greenville. Bond County, whieli led to his 
employment in others, and tiually to opening an 
office there. In 1839 he was elected Probate 
Judge of Bond County, remaining in office four- 
teen years, meanwhile being commissioned Major 
of the State Militia in 1844, and serving as mem- 
ber of a Military Court at Alton in 1847 ; was also 
the Delegate from Bond County to the State Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1847. In 1853 he re- 
signed the office of County Judge in Bond County 
to accept that of Register of the Land office at 
Edwardsville. wliere he continued to reside, fill- 
ing the office of County Judge in Madison County 
five or six terms, besides occupying some subordi- 
nate positions. Judge Dale married a daughter 
of Hon. William L. D. Ewing. Died at Edwards- 
ville. April 1. 1895. 

DALLAS CITY, a town of Hancock County, at 
the intersection of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa 
Fe and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
roads, 16 miles south of Burlington. It has man- 
ufactories of lumber, buttons, carriages and 
wagons, and two weekly newspapers. Popula- 
tion (1880), 829; (1890), 747; 1900), 970. 

DANE]VHOWER, John Wil.«on, Arctic explorer, 
was born in Chicago, Sept. 30, 1849 — the son of 
W. W. Danenhower, a journalist. After passing 
through the schools of Chicago and Washington, 
he graduated from the United States Naval Acad- 
emy at Annapolis in 1870, was successively com- 
missioned as Ensign, Master and Lieutenant, and 
served on expeditions in the North Pacific and in 
the Mediterranean. In 1878 he joined the Arctic 
steamer Jeannette at Havre, France, as second in 
command under Lieut. George W. De Long; pro- 
ceeding to San Francisco in July, 1879, the 
steamer entered the Arctic Ocean by way of 
Behring Straits. Here, having been caught in an 
ice-pack, the vessel was held twenty -two months. 
Lieutenant Danenhower meanwliile being dis- 
abled most of the time by ophthalmia. The crew, 
as last compelled to abandon the steamer, dragged 
their boats over the ice for ninety-five da3-s until 
they were able to launch them in open water, 
but were soon separated by a gale. The boat 
commanded by Lieutenant Danenhower reached 
the Lena Delta, on the north coast of Siberia, 
where the crew were rescued b}' natives, landing 
Sept. 17; 1881. After an ineffectual search on 
the delta for the crews of the other two boats. 
Lieutenant Danenhower, with his crew, made 
the journey of 6,000 miles to Orenburg, finally 
arriving in the United States in June, 1882. He 
has told the story of the expedition in "Tlie 



Narrative of the Jeannette," published in 1832. 
Died, at AnnapoIi.s, Md. , April 20. 1887. 

DAN VERS, a village of McLean County, on the 
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railway. The section is agricultural. Tlie town 
has a bank and a newspaper. Population (1880), 
460; (1890), 506; (1900), 607. 

DAXVILLE, tlie county-seat of Vermilion 
County, on Vermilion River and on five impor- 
tant lines of railroad; in rich coal-mining 
district and near large deposits of shale and 
soapstone, which are utilized in manufacture of 
sewer-pipe, paving and fire-clay brick. The city 
has car-shops and numerous factories, water- 
works, electric lights, paved streets, several 
banks, twenty -seven churches, five graded schools 
and one high school, and six newspapers, three 
daily. A Soldiers" Home is located three miles 
east of the city. Pop. (1890), 11,491; (1900), 16.354. 

DANVILLE, OLNET, & OHIO RIVER RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chieago & Ohio River Railroad.) 

DANVILLE, URBANA, BLOOMINGTON & 
PEKIN RAILROAD. (See Peoria & Eastern 
Railroad. ) 

D'ARTAIGUIETTE, Pierre, a French com- 
mandant of Illinois from 1734 to 1736, having 
been appointed by Bienville, then Governor of 
Louisiana. He was distinguished for gallantry 
and courage. He defeated the Natchez Indians, 
but, in an unsuccessful expedition against the 
Chickasaws, was wounded, captured and burned 
at the stake. 

DAVENPORT, Georg'e, soldier, pioneer and 
trader, born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1783, 
came to this country in 1804, and soon aftei 
enlisted in the United States army, with the rani 
of sergeant. He served gallantly on various 
expeditions in the West, where he obtained a 
knowledge of the Indians which was afterward 
of great value to him. During the War of ISVi 
his regiment was sent East, where he partici- 
pated in the defense of Fort Erie and in other 
enterprises. In 1815, his term of enlistment hav- 
ing expired and the war ended, he entered the 
service of the contract commissary. He selected 
the site for Fort Armstrong and aided in planning 
and supervising its construction. He cultivated 
friendly relations with the surrounding tribes, 
and, in 1818, built a double log house, married, 
and engaged in business as a fur-trader, near the 
site of the present city of Rock Island. . He had 
the confidence and respect of the savages, 'was 
successful and his trading posts were soon scat- 
tered through Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. In 
1823 he piloted the first steamboat through the 



128 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



upper Mississippi, and, in 18135, was appointed the 
first postmaster at Rock Island, being the only 
white civilian resident tliere. In 1826 he united 
his business with that of the American Fur Com- 
jmny, in whose service he remained. Although 
he employed every effort to induce President 
Jackson to make a payment to Black Hawk and 
his followers to induce them to emigrate across 
tlie Mississippi voluntarily, wlien that Chief 
commenced hostilities, Jlr. Davenport tendered 
his services to Governor Reynolds, bj whom he 
was commissioned Quartermaster-General with 
the rank of Colonel. Immigration increased 
rapidly after the close of the Black Hawk War 
In 1835 a company, of whicli he was a member, 
founded the town of Davenport, opposite Rock 
Island, which was named in his honor. In 1837 
and "43 he was largely instrumental in negoti- 
ating treaties by which the Indians ceded their 
lands in Iowa to the United States. In the 
latter year he gave up the business of fur-trading, 
having accumulated a fortune through hard 
labor and scrupulous integrity, in the face often 
of grave perils. He had large business interests in 
nearly every town in his vicinity, to all of whicli 
he gave more or less personal attention. On the 
night of July 4, 1843, he was assassinated at his 
liome by robbers. For a long time the crime was 
shrouded in mystery, but its perpetrators were 
ultimately detected and brought to punishment. 
DATIS, David, jurist and United States 
Senator, was born in Cecil County, Md., March 
9, 1815; pursued his academic studies at Kenyon 
College, Ohio, and studied law at Yale. He settled 
at Bloomington, 111., in 1836, and, after practicing 
law there until 1844, was elected to the lower house 
of the Fourteenth General Assembly. After 
serving in the Constitutional Convention of 1847, 
he was elected Judge of the Eighth Judicial 
Circuit under the new Constitution in 1848, being 
re-elected in 1855 and '61. He was a warm, per- 
sonal friend of Abraham Lincoln, who, in 1863, 
placed him upon the bench of the United States 
Supreme Court. He resigned his high judicial 
honors to become United States Senator in 1877 
as successor to Logan's first term. On Oct. 13, 
1881, he was elected President pro tem. of the 
Senate, serving in this capacity to the end of his 
term in 1885. He died at his home in Blooming- 
ton, June 26, 1886. 

DAVIS, George R., lawyer and Congressman, 
was born at Tliree Rivers, Mass., January 3, 1840; 
received a common school education, and a 
classical course at Williston Seminary, Easthamp- 
ton. Mass. From 1863 to 1865 he served in the 



Union army, first as Captain in the Eighth 
Massacliusetts Infantry, and later as Major in the 
Third Rhode Island Cavalry. After the war he 
removed to Chicago, where he still resides. By 
profession he is a lawj-er. He took a prominent 
part in the organization of the Chicago militia, 
was elected Colonel of the First Regiment, 
I. N. G., and was for a time the senior Colonel in 
the State service. In 1876 he was an unsuccessful 
Republican candidate for Congress, but was 
elected in 1878, and re-elected in 1880 and 1883. 
From 1886 to 1890 he was Treasurer of Cook 
County. He took an active and influential jiart 
in securing the location of the World's Columbian 
Exposition at Chicago, and was Director-General 
of the Exposition from its inception to its close, 
by his executive ability demonstrating the wis- 
dom of his selection. Died Nov. 25, 1899. 

DAVIS, Hasbrouck, soldier and journali.st, was 
born at Worcester, Mass., April 33, 1837, being 
the son of John Davis, United States Senator and 
Governor of Massachusetts, known in his lifetime 
as "Honest John Davis." The son came to Chi- 
cago in 1855 and commenced the practice of 
law , in 1861 joined Colonel Voss in the organiza- 
tion of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, being elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel and, on the retirement of 
Colonel Voss in 1863, succeeding to the colonelcy. 
In March, 1865, he was brevetted Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, remaining in active service until August, 
1865, when he resigned. After the war he was, 
for a time, editor of "TheChicago Evening Post." 
was City Attorney of the City of Chicago from 
1867 to '69, but later removed to Massachusetts 
Colonel Davis was drowned at sea, Oct. 19, 1870, 
by the loss of the steamship Cambria, while on a 
voyage to Europe. 

DAVIS, James M., early lawyer, was born in 
Barren County, Ky., Oct. 9, 1793, came to.Illinois 
in 1817, located in Bond County and is said to 
have taught the first school in that coimty. He 
became a lavsryer and a prominent leader of the 
Whig party, was elected to the Tliirteenth Gen- 
eral Assembly (1843) from Bond County, and to 
the Twenty-first from Montgomery in 1858, hav- 
ing, in the meantime, become a citizen of 
Hillsboro ; was also a member of the State Consti- 
tutional Convention of 1847. Mr. Davis was a 
man of striking personal appearance, being over 
six feet in height, and of strong individuality. 
After the dissolution of the Whig party lie identi- 
fied himself with the Democracy and was an 
intensely bitter opponent of the war policy of 
the Government. Died, at HiUsboro, Sept. 17. 
1866. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



129 



DAVIS, John A., soldier, was born in Craw- 
ford County, Pa., Oct. 25, 1823; came to Stephen- 
son County, 111., in boyhood and served as 
Representative in the General Assembly of 1857 
and '59; in September, 1861, enlisted as a private, 
was elected Captain and, on the organization of 
the Forty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, at 
Camp Butler, was commissioned its Colonel. He 
participated in the capture of Fort Donelson, 
and in the battle of Shiloh was desperately 
wounded by a shot through the lungs, but 
recovered in time to join his regiment before the 
battle of Corinth, where, on Oct. 4, 1862, he fell 
mortally wounded, dying a few days after. On 
receiving a request from some of his fellow-citi- 
zens, a few days before his death, to accept a 
nomination for Congress in the Freeport District, 
Colonel Davis patriotically replied: "I can serve 
my country better in following the torn banner 
of my regiment in the battlefield." 

DAVIS, Levi, lawyer and State Auditor, was 
born in Cecil County, Md., July 20, 1806; gradu- 
ated at Jefferson College, Pa., in 1828, and was 
admitted to the bar at Baltimore in 1830. The 
following year he removed to Illinois, settling at 
"Vandalia, then the capital. In 1835 Governor 
Duncan appointed him Auditor of Public 
Accounts, to which oifice he was elected by the 
Legislature in 1837, and again in 1838. In 
1846 he took up his residence at Alton. He 
attained prominence at the bar and was, for 
several years, attorney for the Chicago & Alton 
and St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad 
Companies, in which he was also a Director. 
Died, at Alton, March 4, 1897. 

DAVIS, Nathan Smith, M.D., LL.D., physi- 
cian, educator and editor, was born in Chenango 
County, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1817; took a classical and 
scientific course in Cazenovia Seminary ; in 1837 
graduated from the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, winning several prizes during his 
course; the same year began practice at Bing- 
hamton; spent two years (1847-49) in New York 
City, when he removed to Chicago to accept the 
chair of Physiology and General Pathology in 
Rush Medical College. In 1859 he accepted a 
similar position in the Chicago Medical College 
(now the medical department of Northwestern 
University), where he still remains. Dr. Davis 
has not only been a busy practitioner, but a volu- 
minous writer on general and special topics con- 
nected with his profession, having been editor at 
different times of several medical periodicals, 
including "The Chicago Medical Journal," "The 
Medical Journal and Examiner, " and "The 



Journal of the American Medical Association.'' 
He has also been prominent in State, National 
and International Medical Congresses, and is one 
of the founders of the Northwestern University, 
the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Chicago 
Historical Society, the Illinois State Microscopi- 
cal Society and the Union College of Law, besides 
other scientific and benevolent associations. 

DAVIS, Oliver L., lawyer, was born in New 
York City, Dec. 20, 1819; after being in the 
employ of the American Fur Company some 
seven years, came to Danville, 111., in 1841 and 
commenced studying law the next year; was 
elected to the lower branch of the Seventeenth 
and Twentieth General Assemblies, first as a 
Democrat and next (18.56) as a Reijublican; 
served on the Circuit Bench in 1861-66, and again 
in 1873-79, being assigned in 1877 to the Appellate 
bench. Died, Jan. 12, 1892. 

DAWSOJf, John, early legislator, was born in 
Virginia, in 1791; came to Illinois in 1827, set- 
tling in Sangamon County ; served five terms in 
the lower house of the General Assembly (1830, 
"34, '36, '38 and '46), during a part of the time 
being the colleague of Abraham Lincoln. He 
was one of the celebrated "Long Nine" who repre- 
sented Sangamon County at the time of the 
removal of the State capital to Springfield ; was 
also a member of the Constitutional Convention 
of 1847. Died, Nov. 12, 1850. 

DEAF AND DUMB, ILLINOIS INSTITU- 
TION FOR EDUCATION OF, located at Jack- 
sonville, established by act of the Legislature, 
Feb. 23, 1839, and the oldest of the State 
charitable institutions. Work was not begun 
until 1842, but one building was ready for 
partial occupancy in 1846 and was completed 
in 1849. (In 1871 this building, then known 
as the south wing, was declared unsafe, and 
was razed and rebuilt.) The center building 
was completed in 1852 and the north wing in 
1857. Other additions and new buildings have 
been added from time to time, such as new dining 
halls, workshops, barns, bakery, refrigerator 
house, kitchens, a gymnasium, separate cot- 
tages for the sexes, etc. At present (1895) the 
institution is probably the largest, as it is un- 
questionably one of the best conducted, of its class 
in the world. The niunber of pupils in 1894 was 
716. Among its employes are men and women of 
ripe culture and experience, who have been con- 
nected with it for more than a quarter of a 
century. 

DEARBORN, Luther, lawyer and legislator, 
was born at Plymouth, N. H., March 24, 1820, 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and educated in Plymouth schools and at New 
Hampton Academy ; in youth removed to Dear- 
born County, Ind., where he taught school and 
served as deputy Circuit Clerk; then came to 
Mason County, 111., and, in 1844, to Elgin. Here 
he was elected Sheriff and, at the expiration of 
his term, Circuit Clerk, later engaging in the 
banking business, which proving disastrous in 
1857, he returned to Mason County and began the 
practice of law. He then spent some years in 
Minnesota, finally returning to Illinois a second 
time, resumed practice at Havana, served one 
term in the State Senate (1876-80); in 1884 
became member of a law firm in Chicago, but 
retired in 1887 to accept the attorneyship of the 
Chicago & Alton Railway, retaining this position 
until his death, which occurred suddenly at 
Springfield, April 5, 1889. For the last two years 
of his life Mr. Dearborn's residence was at 
Aurora. 

DECATUR, the county -.seat of Macon County; 
39 miles east of Springfield and one mile north 
of the Sangamon River— also an important rail- 
way center. Three coal shafts are operated out- 
side the city. It is a center for the grain trade, 
having five elevators. Extensive car and repair 
shops are located there, and several important 
manufacturing industries flourish, among them 
three flouring mills. Decatur has paved streets, 
water-works, electric street railways, and excel- 
lent public schools, including one of the best and 
most noted high schools in the State. Four 
newspapers are published there, each issuing a 
daily edition. Pop., (1890), 16,841; (1900), 20,754. 
DECATUR EDITORIAL CONVENTIOJf. (See 
Anti-:Xebraska Editorial Convention.) 

DECATUR & EASTERN RAILWAY. (See 
Indiana, Decatur & Western Ruiliray.) 

DECATUR, MATT60N & SOUTHERN RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Peoria, Decatur & Evansville 
Baihvay.) 

DECATUR, SULLIVAN & MATTOON RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Peoria, Decatur <& Eransville 
Railway. ) 

DEEP SNOW, THE, an event occurring in the 
winter of 1830-31 and referred to by old settlers 
of lUinois as constituting an epoch in State his- 
tory. The late Dr. Julian M. Sturtevant, Presi- 
dent of Illinois College, in an address to the "Old 
Settlers" of Jlorgan County, a few years before 
his death, gave the following account of it: "In 
the interval between Christmas, 1830, and -Janu- 
ary, 1831, snow fell all over Central Illinois to a 
depth of fully three feet on a level. Then came 
a rain with weather so cold that it froze as it 



fell, forming a crust of ice over this three feet of 
snow, nearly, if not quite, strong enough to bear 
a man, and finally over this crust there were a 
few inches of snow. The clouds passed away 
and the wind came down upon us from the north- 
west with extraordinary ferocity. For weeks — 
certainly not less than two weeks — the mercury 
in the thermometer tube was not, on any one 
morning, higher than twelve degrees below zero. 
This snow-fall produced constant sleighing for 
nine weeks." Other contemjioraneous accounts 
say that this storm caused great suffering among 
both men and beasts. The scattered settlers, un- 
able to reach the mills or produce stores, were 
driven, in some cases, to great extremity for 
sujjplies; mills were stopped by the freezing up 
of streams, while deer and other game, sinking 
through the crust of snow, were easily captured 
or perished for lack of food. Birds and domestic 
fowLs often suffered a like fate for want of sus- 
tenance or from the severity of the cold. 

DEERE, John, manufacturer, was born at 
Middlebury, Vt., Feb. 7, 1804; learned the black- 
smith trade, which he followed until 1838. when 
he came west, settling at Grand Detour, in Ogle 
County ; ten years later removed to Moline, and 
there founded the plow-works which bear his 
name and of which he was President from 1868 
until his death in 1886.— Charles H. (Deere), son 
of the preceding, was born in Hancock, Addison 
County Vt., March 28, 1837; educated in the 
common schools and at Iowa and Knox Acad- 
emies, and Bell's Commercial College, Chicago; 
became a.ssistant and head book-keeper, travel- 
ing and purchasing agent of the Deere Plow 
Company, and, on its incorporation, Vice-Presi- 
dent and General Manager, until his father's 
death, when he succeeded to the Presidency. He 
is also the founder of the Deere & Mansur Corn 
Planter Works, President of the Moline Water 
Power Company, besides being a Director in 
various other concerns and in the branch houses 
of Deere & Co., in Kansas City, Des Moines, 
Cotmcil Bluffs and San Francisco. Notwith- 
standing his immense business interests. Mr. 
Deere has found time for the discharge of public 
and patriotic duties, as shown by the fact that he 
was for years a member and Chairman of the 
State Bureau of Labor Statistics ; a Commissioner 
from Illinois to the Vienna International Exposi- 
tion of 1873; one of the State Commissioners of 
the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893; a 
Presidential Elector for the State-at-large in 1888, 
and a delegate from his District to the National 
Republican Convention at St. Louis, in 1896. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



131 



DEERIXG, William, manufacturer, was born 
at Paria, Oxford County, Maine, April 26, 1826, 
completed his education at the Readfield high 
school, in 18-13, engaged actively in manufactur- 
ing, and during his time has assisted in estabhsh- 
ing several large, successful business enterprises, 
including wholesale and commission dry-goods 
houses in Portland, Maine, Boston and New York. 
His greatest work has been the building up of the 
Deering Manufacturing Companj', a main feature 
of which, for thirty years, has been the manu- 
facture of Marsh harvesters and other agricultural 
implements and appliances. This concern began 
operation in Chicago about 1870, at the present 
time (1899) occupying eighty acres in the north 
part of the city and emplo}"ing some 4,000 hands. 
It is said to turn out a larger amount and greater 
variety of articles for the use of the agriculturist 
than any other establishment in the country, 
receiving its raw material from many foreign 
countries, including the Philippines, and distrib- 
uting its products all over the globe. Mr. Deer- 
ing continues to be President of the Company 
and a principal factor in the management of its 
immense business. He is liberal, public-spirited 
and benevolent, and his business career has been 
notable for the absence of controversies with his 
employes. He has been, for a number of years, 
one of the Trustees of the Northwestern Univer- 
sity at Evanston, and, at the present time, is 
President of the Board. 

DE KALB, a city in De Kalb County, 58 miles 
west of Chicago. Of late years it has grown 
rapidly, largelj' because of the introduction of 
new industrial enterprises. It contains a large 
wire drawing plant, barbed wire factories, foun- 
dry, agricultural implement works, machine 
shop, shoe factory and several minor manufac- 
turing establishments. It has banks, four news- 
papers, electric street railway, eight miles of 
paved streets, nine churclies and three graded 
schools. It is the site of tlie Northern State Nor- 
mal School, located in 189.5. Population (1880), 
1,598; (1890), 2, .579; (1900), 5,904; (1903, est.), 8,000. 

DE KALB COUNTY, originally a portion of 
La Salle County, and later of Kane ; was organized 
in 1837, and named for Baron De Kalb, the 
Revolutionary patriot. Its area is 650 square 
miles and population (in 1900), 31,756. The land 
is elevated and well drained, lying between Fox 
and Rock Rivers. Prior to 1835 the land belonged 
to the Pottawatomie Indians, who maintained 
several villages and their own tribal government. 
No sooner had the aborigines been removed than 
white settlers appeared in large numbers, and. 



in September, 1835, a convocation was held on 
the banks of the Kishwaukee, to adopt a tempo- 
rary form of government. The public lands in the 
county were sold at auction in Chicago in 1843. 
Sycamore (originally called Orange) is the 
county-seat, and, in 1890, had a population of 
2,987. Brick buildings were first erected at 
Sycamore by J. S. Waterman and the brothers 
Mayo. In 1854, H. A. Hough established the 
first newspaper, "The RepubUcan Sentinel." 
Other prosperous towns are De Kalb (population, 
2,579), Cortland, Malta and Somonauk. The sur- 
face is generally rolling, upland prairie, with 
numerous groves and wooded tracts along the 
principal streams. Various lines of railroad trav- 
erse the county, which embraces one of the 
wealthiest rural districts in the State. 

DE KALB & GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD. 
(See Chicago Great Western Railway.) 

DELATAX, a thriving city in Tazewell County, 
on the line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, at 
the point of its intersection with the Peoria and 
Pekin Division of the Illinois Central Railway, 34 
miles west-southwest of Bloomington and 24 
miles south of Peoria. Grain is extensively 
grown in the adjacent territory, and much 
shipped from Delavan. The place supports two 
banks, tile and brick factory, creamery, and two 
weekly papers. It also has five churches and a 
graded school. Pop. (1890). 1,176, (1900), 1,304. 

DEMENT, Henry Dodge, ex-Secretary of State, 
was born at Galena. 111., in 1840 — the son of 
Colonel John Dement, an early and prominent 
citizen of the State, who held the office of State 
Treasurer and was a member of the Constitu- 
tional Conventions of 1847 and 1870. Colonel 
Dement having removed to Dixon about 1845, the 
subject of this sketch was educated there and at 
Mount Morris. Having enlisted in the Thirteenth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantrj- in 1S61, he was elected 
a Second Lieutenant and soon promoted to First 
Lieutenant — also received from Governor Yates a 
complimentary commission as Captain for gal- 
lantry at Arkansas Post and at Chickasaw 
Bayou, where the commander of his regiment. 
Col. J. B. Wyman, was killed. Later he served 
with General Curtis in Mississippi and in the 
Fifteenth Army Corps in the siege of Vicksburg. 
After leaving the army he engaged in the manu- 
factiiring business for some years at Dixon. Cap- 
tain Dement entered the State Legislature by 
election as Representative from Lee County in 
1872, was re-elected in 1874 and. in 1876, was pro- 
moted to the Senate, serving in the Thirtieth and 
Thirty-first General Assemblies. In 1880 he was 



132 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA' OF ILLINOIS. 



chosen Secretary of State, and re-elected in 1884, 
serving eight years. The last public position held 
by Captain Dement was that of Warden of the 
State Penitentiary at Joliet, to which he was 
appointed in 1891, serving two years. His 
present home is at Oak Park, Cook County. 

DEMENT, John, was born in Sumner County, 
Tenn., in April, 1804. When 13 years old he 
accompanied his parents to Illinois, settling in 
Franklin County, of which he was elected Sheriff 
in 1826, and which he represented in the General 
Assemblies of 1828 and "30. He served with 
distinction during the Black Hawk War, having 
previously had experience in two Indian cam- 
paigns. In 1831 he was elected State Treasurer 
by the Legislature, but, in 1836, resigned this 
oflBce to represent Fayette County in the General 
Assembly and aid in the fight against the removal 
of the capital to Springfield. His efforts failing 
of success, he removed to the northern part of the 
State, finally locating at Dixon, where he became 
extensively engaged in manufacturing. In 1837 
President Van Buren appointed him Receiver of 
Public Moneys, but he was removed by President 
Harrison in 1841 ; was reappointed by Polk in 
1845, only to be again removed by Taylor in 1849 
and reappointed by Pierce in 1853. He held the 
office from that date until it was abolished. He 
was a Democratic Presidential Elector in 1844; 
served in tliree Constitutional Conventions (1847, 
'62, and "70), being Temporary President of the 
two bodies last named. He was the father of 
Hon. Denr3' D. Dement, Secretary of State of Illi- 
nois from 1884 to 1888. He died at his home at 
Dixon, Jan. 16, 1883. 

DENT, Thomas, lawyer, was born in Putnam 
County, 111., Nov. 14, 1831; in his youth was 
employed in the Clerk's office of Putnam County, 
meanwhile studying law; was admitted to the 
bar in 1854, and, in 1856, opened an office in Chi- 
cago; is still in practice and has served as 
President, both of the Chicago Law Institute and 
the State Bar Association. 

DES PLAINES, a village of Cook County, at the 
intersection of the Chicago & Northwestern and 
the Wisconsin Central Railroads, 17 miles north- 
west from Chicago ; is a dairying region. Popu- 
lation (1880), 818; (1890), 986; (1900), 1,666. 

DES PLAINES RIVER, a branch of the Illinois 
River, which rises in Racine County, Wis., and, 
after passing through Kenosha County, in that 
State, and Lake County. HI., running nearly 
parallel to the west shore of Lake Michigan 
through Cook County, finally unites with the 
Kankakee, about 13 miles southwest of Joliet. by 



its confluence with the latter forming the Illinois 
River. Its length is about 150 miles. The 
Chicago Drainage Canal is constructed in the 
valley of the Des Plaines for a considerable por- 
tion of the distance between Chicago and Joliet. 

DEWEY, (Dr.) Richard S., physician, alienist, 
was born at Forestville, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1845; after 
receiving his primary education took a two years' 
course in the literary and a three years' course in 
the medical department of the Michigan Univer- 
sity at Ann Arbor, graduating from the latter in 
1869. He then began practice as House Physician 
and Surgeon in the City Hospital at Brooklyn, 
N. Y., remaining for a year, after which he 
visited Europe inspecting hospitals and sanitary 
methods, meanwhile spending six months in the 
Prussian military service as Surgeon during the 
Franco-Prussian War. After the close of the 
war he took a brief course in the University of 
Berlin, when, returning to the United States, he 
was employed for seven years as Assistant Physi- 
cian in the Northern Hospital for the Insane at 
Elgin. In 1879 he was appointed Medical Super- 
intendent of the Eastern Hospital for the Insane 
at Kankakee, remaining until the accession of 
John P. Altgeld to the Governorship in 1893. 
Dr. Dewey's reputation as a specialist in the 
treatment of the insane has stood among the 
highest of his class. 

DE WITT COUNTY, situated in the central 
portion of the State ; has an area of 405 square 
miles and a population (1900) of 18,972. The land 
was originally owned by the Kiekapoos and Potta- 
watomies, and not until 1820 did the first perma- 
nent white settlers occupy this region. The first 
to come were Felix Jones, Prettyman Marvel, 
William Cottrell, Samuel Glenn, and the families 
of Scott, Lundy and Coaps. Previously, how- 
ever, the first cabin had been built on the site of 
the present Farmer City by Nathan Clearwater. 
Zion Shugest erected the earliest grist-mill and 
Burrell Post the first saw-mill in the county. 
Kentuckians and Tennesseeans were the first im- 
migrants, but not until the advent of settlers from 
Ohio did permanent improvements begin to be 
made. In 1835 a school house and Presbyterian 
church were built at Waynesville. The county 
was organized in 1839, and — with its capital 
(Clinton) — was named after one of New York's 
most distinguished Governors. It lies within the 
great "corn belt," and is well watered by Salt 
Creek and its branches. Most of the surface is 
rolling prairie, interspersed with woodland. 
Several lines of railway (among them the Illinois 
Central) cross the county. Clinton had a popu- 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



133 



lation of 2,598 in 1890, and Farmer City, 1,367. 
Both are railroad centers and have considerable 
trade. 

DE WOLF, Calvin, pioneer and philanthropist, 
was born in Luzerne County, Pa., Feb. 18, 1815; 
taken early in life to Vermont, and, at 19 years of 
age, commenced teaching at Orwell, in that 
State; spent one year at a manual labor school 
in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and, in 1837, came to 
Chicago, and soon after began teaching in "Will 
County, still later engaging in the same vocation 
in Chicago. In 1839 he commenced the study of 
law with Messrs. Spring & Goodrich and, in 1843, 
was admitted to practice. In 1854 he was 
elected a Justice of the Peace, retaining the 
position for a quarter of a century, winning for 
himself the reputation of a sagacious and incor- 
ruptible public officer. Mr. De Wolf was an 
original abolitionist and his home is said to have 
been one of the stations on the "underground 
railroad" in the days of slaverj'. Died Nov. 28, '99. 
DEXTER, Wirt, lawyer, born at Dexter, Mich., 
Oct. 25, 1831 ; was educated in the schools of his 
native State and at Cazenovia Seminary, N. Y. 
He was descended from a family of lawyers, his 
grandfather, Samuel Dexter, having been Secre- 
tary of War, and afterwards Secretary of the 
Treasury, in the cabinet of the elder Adams. 
Coming to Chicago at the beginning of his profes- 
sional career, Mr. Dexter gave considerable 
attention at first to his father's extensive lumber 
trade. He was a zealous and eloquent supporter 
of the Government during the Civil War, and 
was an active member of the Relief and Aid 
Society after the Are of 1871. His entire profes- 
sional life was spent in Chicago, for several years 
before his death being in the service of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as 
its general solicitor and member of the executive 
committee of the Board of Directors. Died in 
Chicago, May 20, 1890. 

DICKEY, Hn^ta Thompson, jurist, was born in 
New York City, May 30, 1811; graduated from 
Columbia College, read law and was admitted to 
the bar. He visited Chicago in 1836, and four 
years later settled there, becoming one of its 
most influential citizens. Upon the organization 
of the County Court of Cook County in 1845, 
Mr. Dickey was appointed its Judge. In Septem- 
ber, 1848, he was elected Judge of the Seventh 
Judicial Circuit, practically without partisan 
opposition, serving until the expiration of his 
term in 1853. He was prominently identified 
with several important commercial enterprises, 
was one of the founders of the Chicago Library 



Association, and one of the first Trustees of the 
Illinois General Hospital of the Lakes, now Mercy 
Hospital. In 1885 he left Chicago to take up his 
residence in his native city. New York, where he 
died, June 2, 1892. 

DICKEY, Tiieophilns Lyle, lawyer and jurist, 
was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Nov. 12, 1812, 
the grandson of a Revolutionary soldier, gradu- 
ated at the Miami (Ohio) University, and re- 
moved to Illinois in 1834, settling at Macomb, 
McDonough County, where he was admitted to 
the bar in 1835. In 1836 he moved to Rushville, 
where he resided three years, a part of the time 
editing a Whig newspaper. Later he became a 
resident of Ottawa, and, at the opening of the 
Mexican War, organized a company of volun- 
teers, of which he was chosen Captain. In 1861 
he raised a regiment of cavalry which was 
mustered into service as the Fourth lUinois 
Cavalry, and of which he was commissioned 
Colonel, taking an active part in Grant's cam- 
paigns in the West. In 1865 he resigned his 
commission and resumed the practice of his 
profession at Ottawa. In 1866 he was an 
unsuccessful candidate for Congressman for the 
State-at-large in opposition to John A. Logan, 
and, in 1868, was tendered and accepted tlie posi- 
tion of Assistant Attorney-General of the United 
States, resigning after eighteen months' service. 
In 1873 he removed to Chicago, and, in 1874, was 
made Corporation Coxmsel. In December, 1875, 
he was elected to the Supreme Court, vice W. K. 
McAllister, deceased ; was re-elected in 1879, and 
died at Atlantic City, July 22, 1885. 

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, THE, known also as 
the Christian Church and as "Campbellites," 
having been founded by Alexander Campbell. 
Many members settled in Illinois in the early 
30's, and, in the central portion of the State, the 
denomination soon began to flourish greatly. 
Any one was admitted to membership who made 
what is termed a scriptural confession of faith 
and was baptized by immersion. Alexander 
Campbell was an eloquent preacher and a man of 
much native ability, as well as a born conver- 
sationalist. The sect has steadily grown in 
nimibers and influence in the State. The United 
States Census of 1890 showed 641 churches in the 
State, with 368 ministers and an aggregate mem- 
bership of 61,587, having 550 Simday schools, with 
50,000 pupils in attendance. The value of the 
real property, which included 552 church edifices 
(with a seating capacity of 155,000) and 30 parson- 
ages, was §1,167,675. The denomination supports 
Eureka College, with an attendance of between 



134 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



400 and 500 students, while its assets are valued 
at §150,000. Total membersliip in the United 
States, estimated at 750,000. 

DIXOX, an incorporated city, the county-seat 
of Lee County. It lies on both sides of Rock 
River and is the point of intersection of the Illi- 
nois Central and the Chicago it Northwestern 
Railroads; is 98 miles west of Chicago. Rock 
River furnishes abundant vvater power and the 
manufacturing interests of the city are very ex- 
tensive, including large plow works, wire-cloth 
factory, wagon factory; also has electric light 
and power plant, three shoe factories, planing 
mills, and a condensed milk factory. There are 
two National and one State bank, eleven 
churches, a hospital, and three newspapers. In 
schools the city particularly excels, having sev- 
eral graded (grammar) schools and two colleges. 
The Chautauqua Assembly holds its meeting here 
annually. Population (1890), 5.161; (1900), 7,917. 
DIXOX, John, pioneer — the first white settler 
in Lee County, 111., was born at Rye, West- 
chester County, N. Y., Oct. 9, 1784; at 21 removed 
to New York City, where he was in business some 
fifteen years. In 1820 he set out with his family 
for the West, traveling by land to Pittsburg, 
and thence by flat-boat to Shawneetowm. Having 
disembarked his horses and goods here, he pushed 
out towards the northwest, passing the vicinity 
of Springfield, and finally locating on Fancy 
Creek, some nine miles north of the present site 
of that city. Here he remained some five years, 
in that time serving as foreman of the first Sanga- 
mon County Grand Jury. The new county of 
Peoria having been established in 1825. he was 
offered and accepted the appointment of Circuit 
Clerk, removing to Fort Clark, as Peoria was 
then called. Later he became contractor for 
carrying the mail on the newly established route 
between Peoria and Galena. Compelled to pro- 
vide means of crossing Rock River, he induced a 
French and Indian half-breed, named Ogee, to 
take charge of a ferry at a point afterwards 
known as Ogee's Ferry. The tide of travel to the 
lead-mine region caused both the mail-route and 
the ferry to prove profitable, and, as the half- 
breed ferryman could not endure prosperity, Mr. 
Dixon was forced to buy him out, removing his 
family to this point in April, 1830. Here he 
e.stablished friendly relations witli the Indians, 
and, during the Black Hawk War ,two years later, 
was enabled to render valuable service to the 
State. His station was for man}- years one of 
the most important points in Northern Illinois, 
and among the men of national reputation who 



were entertained at different times at his home 
may be named Gen. Zachary Taj'lor, Albert Sid 
ney Johnston, Gen. Winfield Scott, Jefferson 
Davis, Col. Robert Anderson, Abraham Lincoln, 
Col. E. D. Baker and manj- more. He bought the 
land where Dixon now stands in 1835 and laid off 
the town; in 1838 was elected by the Legislature 
a member of the Board of Public Works, and, in 
1840, secured the removal of the land office from 
Galena to Dixon. Colonel Dixon was a delegate 
from Lee County to the Republican State Con- 
vention at Bloomington, in May, 1856, and, 
although then considerably over 70 years of age, 
spoke from the same stand with Abraham Lin- 
coln, his presence producing much enthusiasm. 
His death occurred, July 6, 1876. 

DOANE, John TVesley, merchant and banker, 
was born at Thompson, Windham County, Conn., 
March 23, 1833; was educated in the common 
sckools, and, at 22 years of age, came to Chicago 
and opened a small grocery store which, by 1870, 
had become one of the most extensive concerns 
of its kind in the Northwest. It was swept out 
of existence by the fire of 1871, but was re-estab- 
lished and, in 1872, transferred to other parties, 
although Mr. Doane continued to conduct an 
importing business in many lines of goods used in 
the grocery trade. Having become interested in 
the Merchants' Loan & Trust Company, he was 
elected its President and has continued to act in 
that capacity. He is also a stockholder and a 
Director of the Pullman Palace Car Company, 
the Allen Paper Car Wheel Company and the 
Illinois Central Railroad, and was a leading 
promoter of the World's Columbian Exposition of 
1893 — being one of those who guaranteed the 
$5,000,000 to be raised by the citizens of Chicago 
to assure the success of the enterprise. 

DOLTON STATION, a village of Cook County, 
on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, the Chicago & 
Western Indiana, and the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railroads, 16 miles south of 
Chicago; has a carriage factory, a weekly paper, 
churches and a graded school. Population (1880) 
448; (1890), 1,110; (1900), 1,229. 

DONCiiOLA, a village in Union County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 27 miles north of Cairo. 
Population (1880), .599; (1890), 733; (1900), 681. 

DOOLITTLE, James Rood, United States 
Senator, was born in Hampton, Washington 
County, N. Y., Jan 3, 1815; educated at Middle- 
bury and Geneva (now Hobart) Colleges, admitted 
to the bar in 1837 and practiced at Rochester and 
Warsaw, N. Y. ; was elected District Attorney of 
Wyoming County, N. Y.. in 1845. and. in 1851 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



135 



remOTed to AVisconsin; two years later was 
elected Circuit Judge, but resigned in ISoG, and 
the following year was elected as a Democratic- 
Republican to the United States Senate, being 
re-elected as a Republican in 1863. Retiring 
from public life in 1869, he afterwards resided 
chiefly at Racine, Wis., though practicing in the 
courts of Chicago. He was President of the 
National Union Convention at Philadelphia in 
1866, and of the National Democratic Convention 
of 1873 in Baltimore, which endorsed Horace 
Greeley for President. Died, at Edgewood, R. I., 
July 27, 1897. 

DORE, John Clark, first Superintendent of 
Chicago City Schools, was born at Ossipee, N. H., 
March 22, 1822; began teaching at 17 years of age 
and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1847; 
then taught several years and, in 1854, was 
offered and accepted the position of Superintend- 
ent of City Schools of Chicago, but resigned two 
years later. Afterwards engaging in business, 
he served as Vice-President and President of 
the Board of Trade, President of the Com- 
mercial Insurance Company and of the State 
Savings Institution ; was a member of the State 
Senate, 1868-72, and has been identified with 
various benevolent organizations of the city of 
Chicago. Died in Boston, Mass., Dec, 14, 1900. 

DOUGHERTY, John, lawyer and Lieutenant- 
Governor, was born at Marietta, Ohio, Jlay 6, 
1806; brought bj- his parents, in 1808, to Cape 
Girardeau, Mo., where they remained until after 
the disastrous earthquakes in that region in 
1811-12, when, his father having died, his mother 
removed to Jonesboro, 111. Here he finally read 
law with Col. A. P. Field, afterwards Secretary 
of State, being admitted to the bar ill 1831 and 
early attaining prominence as a successful 
criminal lawyer. He soon became a recognized 
political leader, was elected as a member of the 
House to the Eighth General Assembly (1832) 
and re-elected in 1834, '36 and "40, and again in 
185G. and to the Senate in 1842, serving in the 
latter body until the adoption of the Constitution 
of 1848. Originally a Democrat, he was, in 18.58, 
the Administration (Buchanan) candidate for 
State Treasurer, as opposed to the Douglas wing 
of the party, but, in 18G1, became a strong sup- 
porter of Abraham Lincoln. He served as Presi- 
dential Elector on the Republican ticket in 1864 
and in 1872 (the former year for the State- at- 
large), in 1868 was elected Lieutenant-Governor 
and, in 1877, to a seat on tlie criminal bench, 
serving until June, 1879. Died, at Jonesboro, 
Sept. 7, 1879. 



DOUGLAS, John M., lawyer and Railway 
President, was born at Plattsburg, Clinton 
County, N. Y., August 23, 1819; read law three 
years in his native city, then came west and 
settled at Galena, 111. , where he was admitted to 
the bar in 1841 and began practice. In 1856 he 
removed to Chicago, and, the following year, 
became one of the solicitors of the Illinois Central 
Railroad, with which he had been associated as 
an attorney at Galena. Between 1861 and 1876 
he was a Director of the Company over twelve 
years; from 1865 to 1871 its President, and again 
for eighteen months in 1875-76, when he retired 
permanently. Mr. Douglas' contemporaries speak 
of him as a lawj-er of great ability, as well 
as a capable executive oflScer. Died, in Chicago, 
March 25, 1891. 

DOUGLAS, Stephen Arnold, statesman, was 
born at Brandon, Vt., April 23, 1813. In conse- 
quence of the death of ' his father in infancy, 
his early educational advantages were limited. 
When fifteen he applied himself to the cabinet- 
maker's trade, and, in 1830, accompanied his 
mother and step-father to Ontario County, N. Y. 
In 1833 he began the study of law, but started for 
the West in 1833. He taught school at Win- 
chester, III., reading law at night and practicing 
before a Justice of the Peace on Saturdays. He 
was soon admitted to the bar and took a deep 
interest in politics. In 1835 he was elected Prose- 
cuting Attorney for Jlorgan County, but a few 
months later resigned this office to enter the 
lower house of the Legislature, to which he was 
elected in 1836. In 1838 he was a candidate for 
Congress, but was defeated by John T. Stuart, his 
Whig opponent; was appointed Secretary of 
State in December, 1840, and, in February, 1841, 
elected Judge of the Supreme Court. He was 
elected to Congress in 1842, '44 and '46, and, in 
the latter year, was chosen United States Sena- 
tor, taking his seat March 4, 1847, and being 
re-elected in 18.53 and "59. His last canvass was 
rendered memorable through his joint debate, in 
1858, before the people of the State with Abraham 
Lincoln, whom he defeated before the Legisla- 
ture. He was a candidate for the presidential 
nomination before the Democratic National 
Conventions of 1852 and '56. In 1860, after having 
failed of a nomination for the Presidency at 
Charleston, S. C, through the operation of the 
"two thirds rule,"' he received the nomination 
from the adjourned convention held at Baltimore 
six weeks later — thoiigh not until the delegates 
from nearly all the Southern States had with- 
drawn, the seceding delegates afterwards nomi- 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



nating John C. Breckenridge. Although defeated 
for the Presidency by Lincoln, liis old-time 
antagonist, Douglas yielded a cordial support to 
the incoming administration in its attitude 
toward the seceded States, occupying a place of 
lionor beside Sir. Lincoln on the portico of the 
capitol during the inauguration ceremonies. As 
politician, orator and statesman, Douglas had 
few superiors. Quick in perception, facile in 
expedients, ready in resources, earnest and 
fearless in utterance, he was a born "leader of 
men." His shortness of stature, considered in 
relation to his extraordinary mental acumen, 
gained for him the sobriquet of the "Little 
Giant." He died in Chicago, June 3, 1861. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY, lying a little east of the 
center of the State, embracing an area of 410 
square miles and having a population (1900) of 
19,097. The earliest land entry was made by 
Harrison Gill, of Kentucky, whose patent was 
signed by Andrew Jackson. Another early 
settler was John A. Richman, a West Virginian, 
who erected one of the first frame houses in 
the coimty in 1829. The Embarras and Kas- 
kaskia Rivers flow through the county, which is 
also crossed by the Wabash and Illinois Central 
Railways. Douglas County was organized in 
1857 (being set oflf from Coles) and named in 
honor of Stephen A. Douglas, then United States 
Senator from Illinois. After a sharp struggle Tus- 
cola was made the county-seat. It has been 
visited by several disastrous conflagrations, but 
is a thriving town, credited, in 1890, with a 
population of 1,897. Other important towns are 
Areola (population, 1,733), and Camargo, which 
was originally known as New Salem. 

DOWNERS GROVE, village, Du Page County, 
on C, B. & Q. R. R., 21 miles south-southwest from 
Chicago, incorporated 1873 ; has water- works, elec- 
tric lights, telephone system, good schools, bank 
and a newspaper. Pop. (1890), 960; (1900), 2,103. 

DOWNING, Finis E?Ting, ex-Congressman and 
lawyer, was born at Virginia, 111., August 24, 
1846 ; reared on a farm and educated in the public 
and private schools of his native town ; from 1865 
was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1880, 
when he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court 
of Cass County, serving three successive terms ; 
read law and was admitted to the bar in Decem- 
ber, 1887. In August, 1891, he became interested 
in "The Virginia Enquirer" (a Democratic 
paper), which he has since conducted; was 
elected Secretary of the State Senate in 1893, 
and, in 1894, was returned as elected to the Fifty- 
fourth Congress from the Sixteenth District by a 



plurality of forty votes over Gen. John I. Rinaker, 
the Republican nominee. A contest and recount 
of the ballots resulted, however, in awarding the 
seat to General Rinaker. In 1896 Mr. Downing 
was the nominee of his party for Secretary of 
State, but was defeated with the rest of his ticket. 

DRAKE, Francis Marion, soldier and Governor, 
was born at Rushville, Schuyler County, 111., 
Dec. 30, 1830; early taken to Drakesville, Iowa, 
which his father founded ; entered mercantile 
life at 10 years of age; crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia in 1852, had experience in Indian warfare 
and, in 1859, established himself in business at 
Unionville, Iowa ; served through the Civil War, 
becoming Lieutenant-Colonel and retiring in 
1865 with the rank of Brigadier-General by 
brevet. He re-entered mercantile life after the 
war, was admitted to the bar in 1866, subsequently 
engaged in railroad building and, in 1881, contrib- 
buted the bulk of the funds for founding Drake 
University; was elected Governor of Iowa in 
1895, serving until January, 1898. 

DRAPER, Andrew Sloan, LL.D., lawyer and 
educator, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., 
June 21, 1848 — being a descendant, in the eighth 
generation, from the "Puritan," James Draper, 
who settled in Boston in 1647. In 1855 Mr. 
Draper's parents settled in Albany, N. Y., where 
he attended school, winning a scholarship in the 
Albany Academy in 1863, and graduating from 
that institution in 1866. During the next four 
years he was employed in teaching, part of the 
time as an instructor at his ahna mater ; but, in 
1871, graduated from the Union College Law 
Department, when he began practice. The rank 
he attained in the profession was indicated by 
his appointment by President Arthur, in 1884, 
one of the Judges of the Alabama Claims Com- 
mission, upon which he served until the conclu- 
sion of its labors in 1886. He had previously 
served in the New York State Senate (1880) and, 
in 1884, was a delegate to the Republican National 
Convention, also serving as Chairman of the 
Republican State Central Committee the same 
year. After his return from Europe in 1886, he 
served as State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion of New York until 1892, and, in 1889, and 
again in 1890, was President of the National 
Association of School Superintendents. Soon 
after retiring from the State Superintendencj' in 
New York, he was chosen Superintendent of 
Public Schools for the city of Cleveland. Ohio, 
remaining in that position until 1894, when he 
was elected President of the University of Illinois 
at Champaign, where he now is. His adminis- 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



137 



tration has been characterized by enterprise and 
sagacity, and has tended to promote the popular- 
ity and prosperity of the institution. 

DRESSER, Charles, clergyman, was bom at 
Pomfret, Conn., Feb. 34, 1800; graduated from 
Brown University in 1823, went to Virginia, 
where he studied theology and was ordained a 
minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 
1838 he removed to Springfield, and became rector 
of St. Paul's Episcopal Church there, retiring in 
1858. On Nov. 4, 1842, Mr. Dresser performed the 
ceremony uniting Abraham Lincoln and Mary 
Todd in marriage. He died, March 2.5, 1865. 

DRUMMOXD, Thomas, jurist, was born at 
Bristol Mills, Lincoln County, Maine, Oct. 16, 
1809. After graduating from Bowdoin College, in 
1830, he studied law at Philadelphia, where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1833. He settled at 
Galena, 111., in 1835, and was a member of the 
General Assembly in 1840-41. In 1850 he was 
appointed United States District Judge for the 
District of Illinois as successor to Judge Nathaniel 
Pope, and four years later removed to Chicago. 
Upon the division of the State into two judicial 
districts, in 1855, he was assigned to the North- 
ern. In 1869 he was elevated to the bench of the 
United States Circuit Court, and presided over 
the Seventh Circuit, which at that time included 
the States of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. In 
1884 — at the age of 75 — he resigned, living in 
retirement until his death, which occurred at 
Wheaton, III, May 15, 1890. 

DUBOIS, Jesse Kilgore, State Auditor, was 
born, Jan. 14, 1811, in Lawrence County, 111., 
near Vincennes, Ind., where his father, Capt. 
Toussaint Dubois, had settled about 1780. The 
latter was a native of Canada, of French descent, 
and, after settling in the Northwest Territory, 
had been a personal friend of General Harrison, 
under whom he served in the Indian wars, 
including the battle of Tippecanoe. The son 
received a partial collegiate education at Bloom- 
ington, Ind., but, at 24 years of age (1834), was 
elected to the General Assembly, serving in the 
same House with Abraham Lincoln, and being 
re-elected in 1836, '38, and '43. In 1841 he was 
appointed by President Harrison Register of the 
Land Office at Palestine, 111. , but soon resigned, 
giving his attention to mercantile pursuits until 
1849, when he was appointed Receiver of Public 
Moneys at Palestine, but was removed by Pierce 
in 1853. He was a Delegate to the first Repub- 
lican State Convention, at Bloomington, in 1856, 
and, on the recommendation of Mr. Lincoln, was 
nominated for Auditor of Public Accounts, 



renominated in 1860, and elected both times. In 
1864 he was a candidate for the nomination of 
his party for Governor, but was defeated by 
General Oglesby, serving, however, on the 
National Executive Committee of that year, and 
as a delegate to the National Convention of 1868. 
Died, at liis home near Springfield, Nov. 23, 1876. 
— Fred T. (Dubois), son of the preceding, was 
born in Crawford County, 111., May 29, 1851, 
received a common-school and classical educa- 
tion, graduating from Yale College in 1872 ; was 
Secretary of the Illinois Railway and Warehouse 
Commission in 1875-76 ; went to Idaho Territory 
and engaged in business in 1880, was appointed 
United States Marshal there in 1882, serving until 
1886; elected as a Republican Delegate to the 
Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses, and, on the 
admission of Idaho as a State (1890), became 
one of the first United States Senators, his term 
extending to 1897. He was Chairman of the 
Idaho delegation in the National Republican 
Convention at Minneapolis in 1892, and was a 
member of the National Republican Convention 
at St. Louis in 1896, but seceded from that body 
with Senator Teller of Colorado, and has since 
cooperated with the Populists and Free Silver 
Democrats. 

DUCAT, Arthur Charles, soldier and civil 
engineer, was born in Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 34, 
1830, received a liberal education and became a 
civil engineer. He settled in Chicago in 1851, 
and six years later was made Secretary and Chief 
Surveyor of the Board of Underwriters of that 
city. While acting in this capacity, he virtually 
revised the schedule system of rating fire-risks. 
In 1861 he raised a company of 300 engineers, 
sappers and miners, but neither the State nor 
Federal authorities would accept it. Thereupon 
he enUsted as a private in tlie Twelfth Illinois 
Volunteers, but his ability earned him rapid 
promotion. He rose through the grades of Cap- 
tain, Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, to that of 
Colonel, and was brevetted Brigadier-General in 
February, 1864. Compelled by sickness to leave the 
army. General Ducat returned to Chicago, 
re-entering the insurance field and finally, after 
holding various responsible positions, engaging 
in general business in that line. In 1875 he was 
entrusted with the task of reorganizing the State 
militia, which he performed with signal success. 
Died, at Downer's Grove, 111., Jan. 39, 1896. 

DUELS AXD A\TI-DUELrNG LAWS. Al- 
though a majority of the population of Illinois, 
in Territorial days, came from Southern States 
where the duel was widely regarded as the proper 



138 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



mode for settling "difficulties" of a personal 
character, it is a curious fact that so few "affairs 
of honor" (so-called) should have occurred on 
Illinois soil. The first "aifair" of this sort of 
which either history or tradition has handed 
down any account, is said to have occurred 
between an English and a French officer at the 
time of the surrender of Fort Chartres to the 
British in 1765, and in connection with that 
event. The officers are said to have fought with 
small swords one Sunday morning near the Fort, 
when one of them was killed, but the name of 
neither the victor nor the vanquished has come 
down to the present time. Gov. John Reynolds, 
who is the authority for the story in liis "Pioneer 
History of Illinois," claimed to have received it 
in his boyhood from an aged Frenchman who 
represented that he had seen the combat. 

An affair of less doubtful authenticity has come 
down to us in the history of the Territorial 
period, and, although it was at first bloodless, it 
finally ended in a tragedy. This was the Jones- 
Bond affair, which originated at Kaskaskia in 
1808. Rice Jones was the son of John Rice Jones, 
the first English-speaking lawyer in the "Illinois 
Country." The younger Jones is described as an 
exceptionally brilliant young man who, having 
studied law, located at Kaskaskia in 1806. Two 
years later he became a candidate for Represent- 
ative from Randolph County in the Legislature 
of Indiana Territory, of which Illinois was a part. 
In the course of the canvass which resulted in 
Jones' election, he became involved in a quarrel 
with Shadrach Bond, who was then a member of 
the Territorial Council from the same county, 
and afterwards became Delegate in Congress 
from Illinois and the first Governor of the State. 
Bond challenged Jones and the meeting took 
place on an island in tlie Mississippi between 
Kaskaskia and St. Genevieve. Bond's second 
was a Dr. James Dunlap of Kaskaskia, who 
appears also to have been a bitter enemy of Jones. 
The discharge of a pistol in the hand of Jones 
after the combatants had taken their places 
preliminary to the order to "fire," raised the 
question whether it was accidental or to be 
regarded as Jones' fire. Dunlap maintained the 
latter, but Bond accepted the explanation of his 
adversary that the discharge was accidental, and 
the generosity which he displayed led to expla- 
nations that averted a final exchange of shots. 
The feud thus started between Jones and Dunlap 
grew until it involved a large part of the com- 
munity. On Dec. 7, 1808, Dunlap shot down 
Jones in cold blood and without warning in 



the streets of Kaskaskia, killing Irim instantly. 
The murderer fietl to Texas and was never lieard 
of about Kaskaskia afterwards. This incident 
furnishes the basis of the most graphic chapter 
in Mrs. Catherwood's story of "Old Kaskaskia." 
Prompted by this tragical affair, no doubt, the 
Governor and Territorial Judges, in 1810, framed a 
stringent law for the suppression of dueling, in 
which, in case of a fatal result, all parties con- 
nected with the affair, as principals or seconds, 
were held to be guilty of murder. 

Governor Reynolds furnishes the record of a 
duel between Thomas Rector, the member of a 
noted family of that name at Kaskaskia, and one 
Joshua Barton, supposed to have occurred some- 
time during the War of 1813, though no exact 
dates are given. This affair took place on the 
favorite dueling ground known as "Bloody 
Island," opposite St. Louis, so often resorted to 
at a later day, by devotees of "the code" in Mis- 
souri. Rej^nolds says that "Barton fell in the 
conflict." 

The next affair of which history makes . men- 
tion grew out of a drunken carousel at Belleville, 
in February, 1819, which ended in a duel between 
two men named Alonzo Stuart and William 
Bennett, and the killing of Stuart by Bennett. 
The managers of the affair for the principals are 
said to have agreed that the guns should be loaded 
with blank cartridges, and Stuart was let into the 
secret but Bennett was not. When the order to 
fire came, Bennett's gun proved to have been 
loaded with ball. Stuart fell mortally wounded, 
expiring almost immediately. One report says 
that the duel was intended as a sham, and was so 
understood by Bennett, who was horrified by the 
result. He and his two seconds were arrested for 
murder, but Bennett broke jail and fied to 
Arkansas. The seconds were tried, Daniel P. 
Cook conducting the prosecution and Thomas H. 
Benton defending, the trial resulting in their 
acquittal. Two years later, Bennett was appre- 
hended by some sort of artifice, put on his trial, 
convicted and executed — Judge John Reynolds 
(afterwards Governor) presiding and pronouncing 
sentence. 

In a footnote to "The Edwards Papers," 
edited by tlie late E. B. Washburne, and printed 
under the auspices of the Chicago Historical 
Society, a tew years ago, Mr. Washburne relates 
an incident occurring in Galena about 1838, while 
"The Northwestern Gazette and Galena Adver- 
tiser" was under the cliarge of Sylvester M. 
Bartlett, who was afterwards one of the founders 
of "The Quincy Whig." The story, as told by 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



139 



I 



li, Washburne, is as follows; "David G. Bates 
(a Galena business man and captain of a packet 
plying between St. Louis and Galena) wrote a 
short communication for the paper reflecting on 
the character of John Turney, a projuinent law- 
yer who had been a member of the House of 
Representatives in 1828-30, from the District 
composed of Pike, Adams, Fulton, Schuyler, 
Peoria and Jo Daviess Counties. Turney de- 
manded the name of the author and Bartlett gave 
up the name of Bates. Turney refused to take 
any notice of Bates and then challenged Bartlett 
to a duel, which was promptly accepted by Bart- 
lett. The second of Turney was the Hon. Joseph 
P. Hoge, afterward a member of Congress from 
the Galena District. Bartletfs second was 
William A. Warren, now of Bellevue, Iowa."' 
(Warren was a prominent Union officer during 
the Civil War.) "The parties went out to the 
ground selected for the duel, in what was then 
Wisconsin Territory, seven miles north of Galena, 
and, after one ineffectual fire, the matter was 
compromised. Subsequently, Bartlett removed 
to Quincy, and was for a long time connected 
with the publication of 'The Quincy Whig.'"' 

During the session of the Twelfth General 
Assembly (1841), A. R. Dodge, a Democratic 
Representative from Peoria County, feeling him- 
self aggrieved by some reflections indulged by Gen. 
John J. Hardin (then a Whig Representative 
from Morgan County) upon the Democratic party 
in connection with the partisan reorganization 
of the Supreme Court, threatened to "call out" 
Hardin. Tlie affair was referred to W. L. D. 
Ewing and W. A. Richardson for Dodge, and 
J. J. Brovsm and E. B. Webb for Hardin, with 
the result that it was amicably adjusted "honor- 
ably to both parties. " 

It was during the same session that John A. 
McClernand, then a young and fiery member 
from Gallatin County — who had, two years 
before, been appointed Secretary of State by 
Governor Carlin, but had been debarred from 
taking the office by an adverse decision of the 
Supreme Coiu-t — indulged in a violent attack 
upon the Whig members of the Court based upon 
allegations afterwards shown to have been fur- 
nished by Theophilus W. Smith, a Democratic 
member of the same court. Smith having joined 
his associates in a card denying the truth of the 
charges, McCletnand responded with the publi- 
cation of the cards of persons tracing the allega- 
tions directly to Smith himself. This brouglit a 
note from Smith which ilcClernand construed into 
a challenge and answered with a prompt accept- 



ance. Attorney-General Lamborn, having got 
wind of the affair, lodged a complaint with a 
Springfield Justice of the Peace, wliich resulted 
in placing the pugnacious jurist under bonds to 
keep the peace, when he took his departure tor 
Chicago, and the "affair" ended. 

An incident of greater historical interest than 
all the others yet mentioned, was the affair in 
wliich James Shields and Abraham Lincoln — the 
former the State Auditor and the latter at that 
time a young attorney at Springfield — were con- 
cerned. A communication in doggerel verse had 
appeared in "The Springfield Journal" ridicuUng 
the Auditor. Shields made demand upon the 
editor (Mr. Simeon Francis) for the name of the 
author, and, in accordance with previous under- 
standing, the name of Lincoln was given. (Evi- 
dence, later qoming to light, showed that the real 
authors were Miss Marj' Todd — who, a few months 
later, became Mrs. Lincoln — and Miss Julia Jayne, 
afterwards the wife of Senator Trumbull.) 
Shields, through John D. Whiteside, a former 
State Treasurer, demanded a retraction of the 
offensive matter — the demand being presented to 
Lincoln at Tremont, in Tazewell County, where 
Lincoln was attending court. Without attempt- 
ing to follow the affair through all its compUcated 
details — Shields having assumed that Lincoln was 
the author without further investigation, and 
Lincoln refusing to make any explanation unless 
the first demand was withdrawn — Lincoln named 
Dr. E. H. Merriman as his second and accepted 
Shield's challenge, naming cavalry broadswords 
as the weapons and the Missouri shore, within 
three miles of the city of Alton, as the place. 
The principals, with their "friends," met at the 
appointed time and place (Sept. 23, 1842, opposite 
the city of Alton) ; but, in the meantime, mutual 
friends, having been apprised of what was going 
on, aLso appeared on the ground and brought 
about explanations which averted an actual con- 
flict. Those especially instrumental in bringing 
about this result were Gen. John J. Hardin of 
Jacksonville, and Dr. R. W. English of Greene 
County, while John D. Whiteside, W. L. D. 
Ewing and Dr. T. M. Hope acted as represent- 
atives of Shields, and Dr. E. H. Merriman, 
Dr. A. T. Bledsoe and AVilliam Butler for Lincoln. 

Out of this affair, within the next few days, 
followed challenges from Shields to Butler and 
Whiteside to Merriman ; but, although these were 
accepted, yet owing to some objection on the part 
of the challenging party to the conditions named 
by the party challenged, thereby resulting in de- 
lay, no meeting actually took place. 



140 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Another affair which bore important results 
without ending in a tragedy, occurred during the 
session of the Constitutional Convention in 1847. 
The parties to it were O. C. Pratt and Thompson 
Campbell — both Delegates from Jo Daviess 
County, and both Democrats. Some sparring 
between them over the question of suffrage for 
naturalized foreigners resulted in an invitation 
from Pratt to Campbell to meet him at the 
Planters' House in St. Louis, with an intimation 
that this was for the purpose of arranging the 
preliminaries of a duel. Both parties were on 
hand before the appointed time, but their arrest 
by the St. Louis authorities and putting them 
under heavy bonds to keep the peace, gave them 
an excuse for returning to tlieir convention 
duties without coming to actual hostilities — if 
they had such intention. This was promptly 
followed by the adoption in Convention of the 
provision of the Constitution of 1848, disqualify- 
ing any person engaged in a dueling affair, either 
as principal or second, from holding any office of 
honor or profit in the State. 

The last and principal affair of this kind of 
historic significance, in which a citizen of Illinois 
was engaged, though not on Illinois soil, was that 
in wliich Congressman William H. Bissell, after- 
wards Governor of Illinois, and Jefferson Davis 
were concerned in February, 1850. During the 
debate on the "Compromise Measures" of that 
year. Congressman Seddon of Virginia went out 
of his way to indulge in implied reflections upon 
the courage of Northern soldiers as displayed on 
the battle-field of Buena Vista, and to claim for 
the Mississippi regiment commanded by Davis 
the credit of saving the day. Replying to these 
claims Colonel Bissell took occasion to correct the 
Virginia Congressman's statements, and especi- 
ally to vindicate the good name of the Illinois and 
Kentucky troops. In doing so he declared that, 
at the critical moment alluded to by Seddon, 
when the Indiana regiment gave way, Davis's 
regiment was not within a mile and a half of the 
scene of action. This was construed by Davis as 
a reflection upon his troops, and led to a challenge 
which was promptly accepted by Bissell, who 
named the soldier's weapon (the common army 
musket), loaded with ball and buckshot, with 
forty paces as the distance, with liberty to 
advance up to ten — otherwise leaving the pre- 
liminaries to be settled by his friends. The evi- 
dence manifested by Bissell that he was not to be 
intimidated, but was prepared to face death 
itself to vindicate his own honor and that of his 
comrades in the field, was a surprise to the South- 



ern leaders, and they soon found a way for Davis 
to withdraw his challenge on condition that 
Bissell should add to his letter of acceptance a 
clause awarding credit to the Mississippi regi- 
ment for what they actually did, but without dis- 
avowing or retracting a single word he had 
uttered in his speech. In the meantime, it is said 
that President Taylor, who was the father-in-law 
of Davis, having been apprised of what was on 
foot, had taken precautions to prevent a meeting 
by instituting legal proceedings the night before 
it was to take place, though this was rendered 
unnecessary by the act of Davis himself. Thus, 
Colonel Bissell's position was virtually (though 
indirectly) justified by his enemies. It is true, 
he was violently assailed by his political opponents 
for alleged violation of the inhibition in the State 
Constitution against dueling, especially when he 
came to take the oath of oflice as Governor of 
Illinois, seven years later ; but his course in "turn- 
ftig the tables' ' against his fire-eating opponents 
aroused the enthusiasm of the North, while his 
friends maintained that the act having been 
performed beyond the jurisdiction of the State, 
he was technically not guilty of any violation of 
the laws. 

While the provision in the Constitution of 1848, 
against dueling, was not re- incorporated in that 
of 1870, the laws on the subject are very strin- 
gent. Besides imposing a penalty of not less than 
one nor more than five years' imprisonment, or a 
fine not exceeding $3,000, upon any one who, as 
principal or second, participates in a duel with a 
deadly weapon, whether such duel proves fatal 
or not, or who sends,, carries or accepts a chal- 
lenge: the law also provides that any one con- 
victed of such offense shall be disqualified for 
holding "any office of profit, trust or emolument, 
either civil or military, under the Constitution or 
laws of this State." Any person leaving the 
State to send or receive a challenge is subject to 
the same penalties as if the offense had been 
committed within the State ; and any person who 
may inflict upon his antagonist a fatal wound, as 
the result of an engagement made in this State to 
fight a duel beyond its jurisdiction — when the 
person so wounded dies witliin this State — is held 
to be guilty of murder and subject to pimisliment 
for the same. The publishing of any person as a 
coward, or the applying to him of opprobrious or 
abusive language, for refusing to accept a chal- 
lenge, is declared to be a crinxe punishable by 
fine or imprisonment. 

DUFF, Andrew D., lawyer and Judge, was 
born of a family of pioneer settlers in Bond 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



141 



County, 111., Jan. 24, 1820; was educated in the 
country schools, and, from 1842 to 1847, spent his 
time in teaching and as a farmer. The latter 
year he removed to Benton, Franklin County, 
where he began reading law, but suspended his 
studies to enlist in the Mexican War, serving as a 
private; in 1849 was elected County Judge of 
Franklin County, and, in the following year, was 
admitted to the bar. In 1861 he was elected 
Judge for the Twenty-sixth Circuit and re- 
elected in 1867, serving until 1873. He also 
served as a Delegate in the State Constitutional 
Convention of 1862 from the district composed of 
Franklin and Jackson Counties, and, being a 
zealous Democrat, was one of the leaders in 
calling the mass meeting held at Peoria, in 
August, 1864, to protest against the poUcy of the 
Government in the prosecution of the war. 
About the close of his last term upon the bench 
(1873), he removed to Carbondale, where he con- 
tinued to reside. In his later years he be- 
came an Independent in politics, acting for 
a time in cooperation with the friends of 
temperance. In 1885 he was appointed by joint 
resolution of the Legislature on a commission to 
revise the revenue code of the State. Died, at 
Tucson, Ariz., June 25, 1880. 

DUNCAN, Joseph, Congressman and Gov- 
ernor, was born at Paris, Ky., Feb. 22, 1794; 
emigrated to Illinois in 1818, having previously 
served with distinction in the War of 1812, and 
been presented with a sword, by vote of Congress, 
for gallant conduct in the defense of Fort Stephen- 
son. He was commissioned Major-General of 
Illinois militia in 1823 and elected State Senator 
from Jackson County in 1824. He served in the 
lower house of Congress from 1827 to 1834, when 
he resigned his seat to occupy the gubernatorial 
chair, to which he was elected the latter year. He 
was the author of the first free-school law, 
adopted in 1825. His executive policy was con- 
servative and consistent, and his administration 
successful. He erected the first frame building 
at Jacksonville, in 1834, and was a liberal friend 
of Illinois College at that place. In his personal 
character he was kindly, genial and unassuming, 
although fearless in the expression of his convic- 
tions. He was the Whig candidate for Governor 
in 1842, when he met with his first political 
defeat. Died, at Jacksonville, Jan. 15, 1844, 
mourned by men of all parties. 

DUNCAN, Thomas, soldier, was born in Ka.s- 
kaskia. 111., April 14, 1809; served as a private in 
the Illinois mounted volunteers during the Black 
Hawk War of 1832 ; also as First Lieutenant of 



cavalry in the regular army in the Mexican War 
(1846), and as Major and Lieutenant-Colonel 
during the War of the Rebellion, still later doing 
duty upon the frontier keeping the Indians in 
check. He was retired from active service in 
1873, and died in Washington, Jan. 7, 1887. 

DUNDEE, a town on Fox River, in Kane 
County, 5 miles (by rail) north of Elgin and 47 
miles west-northwest of Chicago. It has two 
distinct corporations — East and West Dundee — 
but is progressive and united in action. Dairy 
farming is the principal industry of the adjacent 
region, and the town has two large milk-con- 
densing plants, a cheese factory, etc. It has good 
water power and there are flour and saw-mills, 
besides brick and tile-works, an.extensive nursery, 
two banks, six churches, a handsome high school 
building, a public library and one weekly paper. 
Population (1890), 2,023; (1900), 2,765. 

DUNHAM, John High, banker and Board of 
Trade operator, was born in Seneca County, 
N. Y., 1817; came to Chicago in 1844, engaged in 
the wholesale grocery trade, and, a few years 
later, took a prominent part in solving the ques- 
tion of a water supply for the city ; was elected to 
the Twentieth General Assembly (1856) and the 
next year assisted in organizing the Merchants' 
Loan & Trust Company, of which he became the 
first President, retiring five years later and re- 
engaging in the mercantile business. While 
Hon. Hugh McCullough was Secretary of the 
Treasury, he was appointed National Bank 
Examiner for Illinois, serving until 1866. He 
was a member of the Chicago Historical Society, 
the Academy of Sciences, and an early member 
of the Board of Trade. Died, April 28, 1893, 
leaving a large estate. 

DUNHAM, Ransom W., merchant and Con- 
gressman, was born at Savoy, Mass., March 21, 
1838 ; after graduating from the High School at 
Springfield, Mass., in 1855, was connected with 
the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Com- 
pany \intil August, 1860. In 1857 he removed 
from Springfield to Chicago, and at the termina- 
tion of his connection with the Insurance Com- 
pany, embarked in the grain and provision 
commission business in that city, and, in 1882, 
was President of the Chicago Board of Trade. 
From 1883 to 1889 he represented the First Illinois 
District in Congress, after the expiration of his 
last term devoting his attention to his large 
private business. His death took place suddenly 
at Springfield, JIass. , August 19, 1896. 

DUNLAP, George Lincoln, civil engineer and 
Railway Superintendent, was born at Brunswick, 



U2 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Maine, in 1828 ; studied mathematics and engineer- 
ing at Gorham Academy, and, after several 
years' experience on the Boston & Maine and tiie 
New York & Erie Railways, came west in 1855 
and accepted a position as assistant engineer on 
what is now the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
road, finally becoming its General Superintend- 
ent, and, in fourteen years of his connection with 
that road, vastly extending its lines. Between 
1872 and '79 he was connected with the Montreal 
& Quebec Railway, but the latter year returned 
to Illinois and was actively connected with the 
extension of the Wabash system until his retire- 
ment a few years ago. 

DUNLAP, Henry M., liorticulturist and legis- 
lator, was born in Cook County, 111., Nov. 14, 
1853 — the son of M. L. Dunlap (the well-known 
"Rural"), who became a prominent horticulturist 
In Champaign County and was one of the found- 
ers of the State Agricultural Society. The family 
having located at Savoy, Champaign County, 
about 1857, the younger Dimlap was educated in 
the University of Illinois, graduating in the 
scientific department in 1875. Following in the 
footsteps of his father, he engaged extensively 
in fruit-growing, and has served in the office of 
both President and Secretary of the State Horti- 
cultural Society, besides local olBces. In 1892 he 
was elected as a Republican to the State Senate 
for the Thirtieth District, was re-elected in 1896, 
and has been prominent in State legislation. 

DUJfLAP, Matliias Lane, horticulturist, was 
born at Cherry Valley, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1814; 
coming to La Salle County, 111., in 1835, he 
taught school the following winter ; then secured 
a clerkship in Chicago, and later became book- 
keeper for a firm of contractors on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, remaining two years. Having 
entered a body of Government land in the western 
part of Cook County, he turned his attention to 
farming, giving a portion of his time to survey- 
ing. In 1845 he became interested in horticulture 
and, in a few j'ears, built up one of the most 
extensive nurseries in the West. In 1854 he was 
chosen a Representative in the Nineteenth Gen- 
eral Assembly from Cook County, and, at the 
following session, presided over the caucus which 
resulted in the nomination and final election of 
Lyman Trumbull to the United States Senate for 
the first time. Politically an anti-slavery Demo- 
crat, he espoused the cause of freedom in the 
Territories, while his house was one of the depots 
of the "imderground railroad." In 1855 he pur- 
chased a half-section of land near Champaign, 
whither he removed, two years later, for the 



prosecution of his nursery business. He was an 
active member, for many years, of the State Agri- 
cultural Society and an earnest supporter of tlie 
scheme for the establishment of an "Industrial 
University," which finally took form in the Uni- 
versity of Illinois at Champaign. From 1853 to 
his death he was the agricultural correspondent, 
first of "The Chicago Democratic Press," and 
later of "The Tribune," writing over the nom de 
plume of "Rural." Died, Feb. 14, 1875. 

DU PAGE COUNTY, organized in 1839, named 
for a river which flows through it. It adjoins 
Cook County on the west and contains 340 square 
miles. In 1900 its population was 28,196. The 
county-seat was originally at Naperville, which 
was platted in 1842 and named in honor of Capt. 
Joseph Naper, who settled upon the site in 1831. 
In 1809 the county government was removed to 
Wheaton, the location of Wheaton College, 
where it yet remains. Besides Captain Naper, 
early settlers of prominence were Bailey Hobson 
(the pioneer in the township of Lisle), and Pierce 
Downer (in Downer's Grove). The chief towns 
are Wheaton (population, 1,622), Naperville 
(2,216), Hinsdale (1,584), Downer's Grove (960), 
and Roselle (450). Hinsdale and Roselle are 
largely populated by persons doing business in 
Chicago. 

DU (JUOIX, a city and railway junction in 
Perry County, 76 miles north of Cairo; has a 
foundry, machine shops, planing-mill, flour mills, 
salt works, ice factory, soda-water factory, 
creamery, coal mines, graded school, public 
library and four newspapers. Papulation (1890), 
4,052; (1900), 4,353; (1903, school census), .5,207. 

DURBOROW, AUan Cathcart, ex-Congiess- 
man, was born in Philadelpliia, Nov. 20, 1857. 
When five years old he accompanied his parents 
to Williamsport, Ind., where he received his 
early education. He entered the preparatory 
department of Wabash College in 1872, and 
graduated from the University of Indiana, at 
Bloomington, in 1877. After two years' residence 
in Indianapolis, he removed to Chicago, where he 
engaged in business. Always active in local 
politics, he was elected by the Democrats in 1890, 
and again in 1892, Representative in Congress 
from the Second District, retiring with the close 
of the Fifty-third Congress. Mr. Durborow is 
Treasurer of the Chicago Air-Line Express Com- 
pany. 

DUSTIN, (Gen.) Daniel, soldier, was born in 
Topsham, Orange County, Vt., Oct. 5, 1820; 
received a common-school and academic educa- 
tion, graduating in medicine at Dartmouth Col- 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



143 



I 



lege in 1846. After practicing tliree years at 
Corinth, Vt., he went to California in 1850 and 
engaged in mining, but three years later resumed 
tlie practice of his profession while conducting a 
mercantile business. He was subsequently chosen 
to the California Legislature from Nevada 
County, but coming to Illinois in 1858, he 
engaged in the drug business at Sycamore, De 
Kalb County, in connection with J. E. Elwood. 
On the breaking out of the war in 1861, he sold 
out his drug business and .assisted in raising the 
Eighth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, and was com- 
missioned Captain of Company L. The regiment 
was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and, 
in January, 1862, he was promoted to the position 
of Major, afterwards taking part in the battle of 
Manassas, and the great "seven days' fight" 
before Richmond. In September, 1862, the One 
Hundred and Fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry was mustered in at Dixon, and Major 
Dustin was commissioned its Colonel, soon after 
joining the Army of the Cumberland. After the 
Atlanta campaign he was assigned to the com- 
mand of a brigade in tlie Third Division of the 
Twelfth Army Corps, remaining in this position 
to the close of the war, meanwhile having been 
brevetted Brigadier-General for bravery displajed 
on the battle-iield at Averysboro, N. C. He was 
mustered out at Washington, June 7, 1865, and 
took part in the grand review of the armies in 
that city which marked the close of the war. 
Returning to his home in De Kalb County, he 
was elected County Clerk in the following 
November, remaining in ofSce four 3-ears. Sub- 
sequently he was chosen Circuit Clerk and ex- 
officio Recorder, and was twice thereafter 
re-elected — in 1884 and 1888. On the organization 
of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, in 
1885, he was appointed b}' Governor Oglesby one 
of the Trustees, retaining the position until his 
death. In May, 1890, he was appointed by 
President Harrison Assistant United States 
Treasiirer at Chicago, but died in office while on 
a visit with his daughter at Carthage, Mo. , March 
30, 1892. General Dustin was a Mason of high 
degree, and, in 1872, was chosen Right Eminent 
Commander of the Grand Commandery of the 
State. 

DWIGHT, a prosperous city in Livingston 
County, 74 miles, by rail, south-southwest of Chi- 
cago, 53 miles northeast of Bloomington, and 23 
miles east of Streator; has two banks, two weekly 
papers, six churches, five large warehouses, two 
electric light plants, complete water-works sys- 
tem, and four hotels. The city is the center of a 



rich farming and stock-raising district. Dwight 
has attained celebrity as the location of the first 
of "Keeley Institutes," founded for the cure of 
the drink and morphine habit. Population 
(1890), 1,3.54; (1900), 2,015. These figures do not 
include the floating population, which is 
augmented by patients who receive treatment 
at the "Keeley Institute." 

DYER, Charles Tolney, M.D., pioneer physi- 
cian, was born at Clarendon, Vt., June 12, 1808; 
graduated in medicine at Middlebury College, in 
1830: began practice at Newark, N. J., in 1831, 
and in Chicago in 1835. He was an uncomprom- 
ising opponent of slavery and an avowed sup- 
porter of the "underground railroad," and, in 
1848, received the support of the Free-Soil party 
of Illinois for Governor. Dr. Dyer was also one 
of the original incoiT^orators of the North Chicago 
Street Railway Company, and his name was 
prominently identified with many local benevo- 
lent enterprises. Died, in Lake View (then a 
suburb of Chicago), April 24, 1878. 

EARLVILLE, a city and railway junction in 
La Salle County, 52 miles northeast of Princeton, 
at the intersecting point of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy and the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroads. It is in the center of an agricultural 
and stock-raising district, and is an important 
shipping-point. It has seven churches, a graded 
school, one bank, two weekly newspapers and 
manufactories of plows, wagons and carriages. 
Population (1880), 963; (1890), 1,058; (1900). 1,133. 

EAKLT, John, legislator and Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, was born of American parentage and Irish 
ancestry in Essex Count}', Canada West, March 
17, 1828, and accompanied his parents to Cale- 
donia, Boone County. 111., in 184G. His boyhood 
was passed upon his father's farm, and in youth 
he learned the trade (his father's) of carpenter 
and joiner. In 1853 he removed to Rockford, 
Winnebago County, and, in 1865, became State 
Agent of the New England Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company. Between 1863 and 1866 he held 
siindry local offices, .and, in 1869, was appointed 
by Governor Palmer a Trustee of the State 
Reform School. In 1870 he was elected State 
Senator and re-elected in 1874, serving in the 
Twenty -seventh. Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth 
and Tliirtieth General Assemblies. In 1873 he 
was elected President pro tem. of the Senate, and, 
Lieut-Gov. Beveridge succeeding to the executive 
chair, he became ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor. 
In 1875 he was again the Republican nominee for 
the Presidency of the Senate, but >vas defeated 



144 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



by a coalition of Democrats and Independents. 
He died while a member of the Senate, Sept. 2, 
1877. 

EARTHQUAKE OF 1811. A. series of the 
most remarkable earthquakes in the history of 
the Mississippi Valley began on the night of 
November 16, 1811, continuing for several months 
and finally ending with the destruction of Carac- 
cas, Venezuela, in March following. While the 
center of the earlier disturbance appears to have 
been in the vicinity of New Madrid, in Southeast- 
em Missouri, its minor effects were felt through 
a wide extent of country, especially in the 
settled portions of Illinois. Contemporaneous 
history states that, in the American Bottom, then 
the most densely settled portion of Illinois, the 
results were very perceptible. The walls of a 
brick house belonging to Mr. Samuel Judy, a 
pioneer settler in the eastern edge of the bottom, 
near Edwardsville, Madison County, were cracked 
by the convulsion, the effects being seen for more 
than two generations. Gov. John Reynolds, then 
a young man of 23, living with his father's 
family in what was called the "Goshen Settle- 
ment," near Edwardsville, in his history of "My 
Own Times," says of it: "Our family were all 
sleeping in a log-cabin, and my father leaped out 
of bed, crying out, 'The Indians are on the house. 
The battle of Tippecanoe had been recently 
fought, and it was supposed the Indians would 
attack the settlements. Not one in the family 
knew at that time it was an earthquake. The 
next morning another shock made us acquainted 
with it. . . . The cattle came running home 
bellowing with fear, and all animals were terribly 
alarmed. Our house cracked and quivered so we 
were fearful it would fall to the ground. In the 
American Bottom many chimneys were thrown 
down, and the church bell at Cahokia was 
sounded by the agitation of the building. It is 
said a shock of an earthquake was felt in Kaskas- 
kia in 1804, but I did not perceive it." Owing to 
the sparseness of the population in Illinois at that 
time, but little is known of the effect of the con- 
vulsion of 1811 elsewhere, but there are numerous 
"sink-holes" in Union and adjacent counties, 
between the forks of the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers, which probably owe their origin to this or 
some similar disturbance. "On the Kaskaskia 
River below Athens," says Governor Reynolds in 
his "Pioneer History," "the water and white sand 
were thrown up through a fissure of the earth." 

EAST DUBUQUE, an incorporated city of Jo 
Daviess County, on the east bank of the Missis- 
sippi, 17 miles (by rail) northeast of Galena. It 



is connected with Dubuque, Iowa, by a railroad 
and a wagon bridge two miles in length. It has 
a grain elevator, a box factory, a planing mill 
and manufactories of cultivators and sand drills. 
It has also a bank, two churches, good public 
schools and a weekly newspai)er. Population 
(1880), 1,037; (1890), 1.069; (1900), 1,146. 

EASTON, (Col.) Rnfus, pioneer, founder of the 
city of Alton; was born at Litchfield, Conn., 
May 4, 1774; studied law and practiced two 
years in Oneida County, N. Y. ; emigrated to St. 
Louis in 1804, and was commissioned by President 
Jefferson Judge of the Territory of Louisiana, 
and also became the first Postmaster of St. Louis, 
in 1808. From 1814 to 1818 he served as Delegate 
in Congress from Missouri Territory, and, on the 
organization of the State of Missouri (1821), was 
appointed Attorney-General for the State, serving 
until 1826. His death occurred at St. Charles, 
Mo., July 5, 1834. Colonel Easton's connection 
with Illinois history is based chiefly upon the 
fact that he was the founder of the present city 
of Alton, which he laid out, in 1817, on a tract of 
land of which he had obtained possession at the 
mouth of the Little Piasa Creek, naming the 
town for his son. Rev. Thomas Lippincott, 
prominently identified with the early history of 
that portion of the State, kept a store for Easton 
at Milton, on Wood River, about two miles from 
Alton, in the early " '20's." 

EAST ST. LOUIS, a flourishing city in St. Clair 
County, on the east bank of the Mississippi di- 
rectly opposite St. Louis; is the terminus of 
twenty-two railroads and several electric lines, 
and tlie leading commercial and manufacturing 
point in Southern Illinois. Its industries include 
rolling mills, steel, brass, malleable iron and 
glass works, grain elevators and flour mills, 
breweries, stockyards and packing houses. The 
city has eleven public and five parochial schools, 
one high school, and two colleges; is well sup- 
plied with banks and has one daily and four 
weekly papers. Population (1890), 15,169; (1900), 
29,6.5.5; (1903, est), 40,000. 

EASTERN HOSPITAL FOR THE lYSANE. 
The act for the establishment of this institution 
passed the General Assembly in 1877. Many 
cities offered inducements, by way of donations, 
for the location of the new hospital, but the site 
finally selected was a farm of 250 acres near Kan- 
kakee, and this was subsequently enlarged by the 
purchase of 327 additional acres in 1881. Work 
was begun in 1878 and the first patients received 
in December, 1879. The plan of the institution 
is, in many respects, unique. It comprises a 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



145 



general buildinff. three stories high, capable of 
accommodating 300 to 400 patients, and a number 
of detached buildings, technically termed cot- 
tages, where various classes of insane patients may 
be grouped and receive the particular treatment 
best adapted to ensure their recoverj'. The plans 
were maiply worked out from suggestions by 
Frederick Howard Wines, LL.D., then Secretary 
of the Board of Public Charities, and have 
attracted generally favorable comment both in 
this country and abroad. The seventy-five build- 
ings occupied for the various purposes of the 
institution, cover a quarter-section of land laid ofit 
in regular streets, beautified with trees, plants 
and flowers, and presenting all the appearance of 
a flourishing village with numerous small parks 
adorned with walks and drives. Tlie counties 
from which patients are received include Cook, 
Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, De Witt, Doug- 
las, Edgar, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, 
La Salle, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie 
Piatt, Shelby, Vermilion and Will. The wliole 
number of patients in 1898 was 2,200, while the 
emploves of all classes numbered .500. 

EASTERN ILLINOIS NORMAL SCHOOL, an 
institution designed to qualify teachers for giving 
instruction in the public schools, located at 
Charleston, Coles County, under an act of the 
Legislature passed at the session of 1895. The 
act appropriated $50,000 for the erection of build- 
ings, to which additional appropriations were 
added in 1897 and 1898, of §25,000 and §50,000, 
respectively, with §56,216.72 contributed by the 
city of Charleston, making a total of $181,216.72. 
The building was begun in 1896, the corner-stone 
being laid on May 27 of that year. There was 
delay in the progress of the work in consequence 
of the failure of the contractors in December, 
1896, but the work was resumed in 1897 and 
practically completed early in 1899, with the 
expectation that the institution would be opened 
for the reception of students in September fol- 
lowing. 

EASTMAJf, Zebina, anti-slavery journalist, 
was born at North Amherst, Mass., Sept. 8, 1815; 
became a printer's apprentice at 14, but later 
spent a short time in an academy at Hadley. 
Then, after a brief experience as an employe in 
the office of "The Hartford Pearl," at the age of 
18 he invested his patrimony of some §2,000 in 
the establishment of "The Free Pre.ss" at Fayette- 
ville, Vt. This venture proving unsuccessful, in 
1837 he came west, stopping a year or two at 
Ann Arbor, Mich, In 1839 he visited Peoria by 
way of Chicago, working for a time on "The 



Peoria Register," but soon after joined Benjamin 
Lundy, who was preparing to revive his paper, 
"The Genius of Universal Emancipation," at 
Lowell, La Salle County. This scheme was 
partially defeated by Lundy's early death, but, 
after a few months" delay, Eastman, in conjunc- 
tion with Hooper Warren, began the publication 
of "The Genius of Liberty" as the successor of 
Lundy's paper, using the printing press which 
Warren had used in the office of "The Commer 
cial Advertiser, " in Chicago, a year or so before. In 
1842, at the invitation of prominent Abolitionists, 
the paper was removed to Chicago, where it was 
issued under the name of "The W^estern Citizen," 
in 1853 becoming "The Free West," and finally, 
in 1856, being merged in "The Chicago Tribune." 
After the suspension of "The Free West," Mr. 
Eastman began the publication of "The Chicago 
Magazine," a literary and historical monthly, 
but it reached only its fifth number when it was 
discontinued for want of financial -upport. In 
1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln 
United States Consul at Bristol, England, where 
he remained eight years. On his return from 
Europe, he took up his residence at Elgin, later 
removing to Maywood, a suburb of Chicago, 
where he died, June 14, 1883. During the latter 
years of his life Mr. Eastman contributed many 
articles of great historical interest to the Chi- 
cago press. (See Lundy, Benjamin, and Warren, 
Hooper. ) 

EBERHART, John Frederick, educator and 
real-estate operator, was born in Mercer County, 
Pa., Jan. 21, 1829; commenced teaching at 16 
years of age, and, in 1853, graduated from Alle- 
gheny College, at Meadville, soon after becoming 
Principal of Albright Seminary at Berlin, in the 
same State ; in 1855 came west by way of Chicago, 
locating at Dixon and engaging in editorial work; 
a year later established "The Northwestern 
Home and School Journal," which he published 
three years, in the meantime establishing and 
conducting teachers' institutes in Illinois, Iowa 
and Wisconsin. In 1859 he was elected School 
Commissioner of Cook County — a position which 
was afterwards changed to County Superintend- 
ent of Schools, and which he held ten years. Mr. 
Eberhart was largely instrumental in the estab- 
lishment of the Cook County Normal School. 
Since retiring from office he has been engaged in 
the real-estate business in Chicago. 

ECKHART, Bernard A., manufacturer and 
President of the Chicago Drainage Board, was 
born in Alsace, France (now Germany), brought 
to America in infancy and reared on a farm in 



14f. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Vernon County, Wis. ; was educated at Milwau- 
kee, and, in 1868, became clerk in the office of the 
Eagle Milling Company of that cit}', afterwards 
.serving as its Eastern agent in various seaboard 
cities. He finally established an extensive mill- 
ing business in Chicago, in which lie is now 
engaged. In 1884 he served as a delegate to the 
National Waterway Convention at St. Paul and, 
in 1886, was elected to the State Senate, serving 
four years and taking a prominent part in draft- 
ing the Sanitary Drainage Bill passed by the 
Thirty-sixth General Assembly. He has also been 
prominent in connection with various fi^nancial 
institutions, and, in 1891, was elected one of the 
Trustees of the Sanitary District of Chicago, was 
re-elected in 1895 and chosen President of the 
Board for the following year, and re-elected Pres- 
ident in December, 1898. 

EDBROOKE, Willoughby J,, Supervising 
Architect, was born at Deerfield, Lake County, 
111., Sept. 3, 1843; brought up to the architectural 
profession by his father and under the instruc- 
tion of Chicago architects. During Slayor 
Roche's administration he held the position of 
Comnaissioner of Public Works, and, in April, 
1891, was appointed Supervising Architect of the 
Treasury Department at Washington, in that 
capacity supervising the construction of Govern- 
ment buildings at the World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion. Died, in Chicago, March 26, 1896. 

EDDY, Henry, pioneer lawyer and editor, 
was born in Vermont, in 1798, reared in New 
York, learned the printer's trade at Pittsburg, 
served in the War of 1813, and was wounded in 
the battle of Black Rock, near Buffalo ; came to 
Shawneetown, 111., in 1818, where he edited "The 
Illinois Emigrant," the earliest paper in that 
part of the State ; was a Presidential Elector in 
1824, a Representative in the Second and Fif- 
teenth General Assemblies, and elected a Circuit 
Judge in 1835, but resigned a few weeks later. 
He was a Whig in politics. Usher F. Linder, in 
his "Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar 
of Illinois," says of Mr. Eddy: "When he 
addressed the coiut, he elicited tlie most profound 
attention. He was a sort of walking law library. 
He never forgot anything that he ever knew, 
whether law, poetry or belles lettres." Died, 
June 29, 1849. 

EDDY, Thomas Mears, clergyman and author, 
was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 
1823 ; educated at Greensborough, Ind. , and, from 
1842 to 1853, was a Jlethodist circuit preacher 
in that State, becoming Agent of the American 
Bible Society the latter year, and Presiding 



Elder of the Indianapolis district until 1850, when 
he was appointed editor of "The Northwestern 
Christian Advocate," in Chicago, retiring from 
that position in 1868. Later, he held pastorales 
in Baltimore and Washington, and was chosen 
one of the Corresponding Secretaries of tlie Mis- 
sionary .Society by the General Conference of 
1872. Dr. Eddy was a copious writer for the 
press, and, besides occasional sermons, published 
two volumes of reminiscences and personal 
sketches of prominent Illinoisans in the War of 
the Rebellion under the title of "Patriotism of 
Illinois" (1865). Died, in New York City, Oct. 
7, 1874. 

EDGAR, John, early settler at Kaskaskia, was 
born in Ireland and, during the American Revo- 
lution, served as an officer in the British navy, 
but married an American woman of great force 
of character who sympathized strongly with the 
patriot caiise. Having become involved in the 
desertion of three British soldiers whom his wife 
had promised to assist in reaching the American 
camp, he was compelled to flee. After remaining 
for a while in the American army, during which 
he became the friend of General La Fayette, he 
souglit safety by coming west, arriving at Kas- 
, kaskia in 1784. His property was confiscated, but 
his wife succeeded in saving some §12,000 from 
the wreck, with which she joined him two years 
later. He engaged in business and became an 
extensive land-owner, being credited, during 
Territorial days, with the ownership of nearly 
50,000 acres situated in Randolph, Monroe, St. 
Clair, Madison, Clinton, Washington, Perry and 
Jackson Counties, and long known as the "Edgar 
lands." He also purchased and rebuilt a mill 
near Kaskaskia which had belonged to a French- 
man named Paget, and became a large shipper of 
flour at an early day to the Southern markets. 
When St. Clair Coimty was organized, in 1790, he 
was appointed one of the Judges of the Common 
Pleas Court, and so appears to have continued 
for more than a quarter of a century. On the 
establishment of a Territorial Legislature for the 
Northwest Territory, he was chosen, in 1799, one 
of the members for St. Clair County — the Legis- 
lature holding its session at Chillicothe, in the 
present State of Ohio, imder the administration 
of Governor St. Clair. He was also appointed a 
Major-General of militia, retaining the office for 
many years. General and Jlrs. Edgar were 
leaders of society at the old Territorial capital, 
and, on the visit of La Fayette to Kaskaskia in 
1825, a reception was given at their house to the 
distinguished Frenchman, whose acquaintance 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



147 



I 



the}- had made more than forty years before. He 
died at Kaskaskia, in 1832. Edgar County, in the 
eastern part of the State, was named in honor of 
General Edgar. He was Worshipful Master of 
the first Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons in Illinois, constituted at Kaskaskia in 
1806. 

EDGAR COUNTY, one of the middle tier of 
counties from north to south, lying on the east- 
ern border of the State; was organized in 1823, 
and named for General Edgar, an early citizen of 
Kaskaskia. It contains 630 square miles, with 
a population (1900) of 2S,2T3. The county is 
nearly square, well watered and wooded. Most 
of the acreage is under cultivation, grain-growing 
and stock-raising being the principal industries. 
Generally, the soil is black to a considerable 
depth, though at some points — especiallj' adjoin- 
ing the timber lands in the east — the soft, brown 
clay of the subsoil comes to the surface. Beds of 
the drift period, one hundred feet deep, are foimd 
in the northern portion, and some twenty-five 
years ago a nearly perfect skeleton of a mastodon 
was exhumed. A bed of limestone, twenty-five 
feet thick, crops out near Baldwinsville and runs 
along Brouillefs creek to the State line. Paris, the 
county-seat, is a railroad center, and has a popu- 
lation of over 6,000. Vermilion and Dudley are 
prominent shipping points, while Chrisman, 
which was an unbroken prairie in 1872, was 
credited with a population of 900 in 1900. 

EDINBURG, a village of Christian County, on 
the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railwaj', 18 
miles southeast of Springfield ; has two banks 
and one newspaper. The region is agricultural, 
though some coal is mined here. Population 
(1880), 5b\: (1890), 806; (1900), 1,071. 

EDSALL, James Eirtland, former Attorney 
General, was born at Windham, Greene Covmty, 
N. Y., May 10, 1831. After passing through the 
common-schools, he attended an academy at 
Prattsville, N.Y., supporting himself , meanwhile, 
by working upon a farm. He read law at Pratts- 
ville and Catskill, and was admitted to the bar at 
Albany in 1852. The next two years he spent in 
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and, in 1854, removed 
to Leavenworth, Kan. He was elected to the 
Legislature of that State in 1855, being a member 
of the Topeka (free-soil) body when it was broken 
up by United States troops in 1856. In August, 
1856, he settled at Dixon, 111., and at once 
engaged in practice. In 1863 he was elected 
Mayor of that city, and, in 1870, was chosen State 
Senator, serving on the Committees on Munic- 
ipalities and Judiciary in the Twenty-seventh 



General Assembty. In 1872 he was elected 
Attorney-General on the Republican ticket and 
re-elected in 1876. At the expiration of his 
second term he took up his residence in Chicago, 
where he afterwards devoted himself to the prac- 
tice of his profession, until his death, which 
occurred, June 20, 1892. 

EDUCATION. 

The first step in the direction of the establish- 
ment of a system of free schools for the region 
now comprised within the State of Illinois was 
taken in the enactment by Congress, on May 20, 
1785, of "An Ordinance for Ascertaining the 
mode of disposing of lands in the Western Terri- 
tory." This applied specifically to the region 
northwest of the Ohio River, which had been 
acquired through the conquest of the "Illinois 
Country" by Col. George Rogers Clark, acting 
under the auspices of the State of Virginia and 
by authority received from its Governor, the 
patriotic Patrick Henry. This act for the first 
time established the present system of township 
(or as it was then called, "rectangular") surveys, 
devised by Capt. Thomas Hutchins, who became 
the first Surveyor-General (or "Geographer," as 
the office was styled) of the United States under 
the same act. Its important feature, in this con- 
nection, was the provision "that there shall be 
reserved the lot No. 16 of every township, for the 
maintenance of public schools within the tovm- 
ship. " Tlie same reservation ( the term ' 'section' ' 
being substituted for "lot" in the act of May 18, 
1796) was made in all subsequent acts for the sale 
of public lands — the acts of July 23, 1787, and 
June 20, 1788, declaring that "the lot No. 16 in 
each township, or fractional part of a township," 
shall be "given perpetually for the pm-pose con- 
tained in said ordinance" (i. e., the act of 1785). 
The next step was taken in the Ordinance of 1787 
(Art. III.), in the declaration that, "religion, 
moralitj- and knowledge being necessary for the 
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of 
education shall forever be encouraged." The 
reservation referred to in the act of 1785 (and 
subsequent acts) was reiterated in the "enabling 
act" iiassed by Congress, April 18, 1818, authoriz- 
ing the people of Illinois Territory to organize a 
State Government, and was formally accepted by 
the Convention which formed the first State 
Constitution. The enabling act also set apart one 
entire township (in addition to one previously 
donated for the same purpose by act of Congress 
in 1804) for the use of a seminary of learning, 



148 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



together with three per cent of the net proceeds 
of the sales of public lands within the State, "to 
be appropriated by the Legislature of the State 
for the encouragement of learning, of which one- 
sixth part"' (or one-half of one per cent) "shall 
be exclusively bestowed on a college or univer- 
sity. " Thus, the plan for the establishment of a 
system of free public education in Illinois had its 
inception in the first steps for the organization of 
the Northwest Territory, was recognized in the 
Ordinance of 1787 which reserved that Territory 
forever to freedom, and was again reiterated in 
the preliminary steps for the organization of the 
State Government. These several acts became 
the basis of that permanent provision for the 
encouragement of education known as the "town- 
ship," "seminary" and "college or university" 
funds. 

Early Schools. — Previous to this, however, a 
beginning had been made in the attempt to estab- 
lish schools for the benefit of tha children of the 
pioneers. One John Seeley is said to have taught 
the first American school within the territory of 
Illinois, in a log-cabin in Monroe County, in 1783, 
followed by others in the next twenty years in 
Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Madison Coun- 
ties. Seeley's earliest successor was Francis 
Clark, who, in turn, was followed by a man 
named Halfpenny, who afterwards built a mill 
near the present town of Waterloo in Monroe 
County. Among the teachers of a still later period 
were John Boyle, a soldier in Col. George Rogers 
Clark's army, who taught in Randolph County 
between 1790 and 1800; John Atwater, near 
Edwardsville, in 1807, and John Messinger, a sur- 
veyor, who was a member of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1818 and Speaker of the first House 
of Representatives. The latter taught in the 
vicinity of Shiloh in St. Clair County, afterwards 
the site of Rev. John M. Peck's Rock Spring 
Seminary. The schools which existed during 
this period, and for many years after the organi- 
zation of the State Government, were necessarily 
few, widely scattered and of a very primitive 
character, receiving their support entirely by 
subscription from their patrons. 

First Free School Law and Sales of 
School Lands. — It has been stated that the first 
free school in the State was established at Upper 
Alton, in 1831, but there is good reason for believ- 
ing this claim was based upon the power granted 
by the Legislature, in an act passed that year, to 
establish such schools there, which power was 
never carried into eff'ect. The first attempt to 
establish a free-school system for the whole State 



was made in January, 1825, in the passage of a 
bill introduced by Joseph Duncan, afterwards a 
Congressman and Governor of the State. Ii 
nominally appropriated two dollars out of each one 
hundred dollars received in the State Treasury, 
to be distributed to those who had paid taxes or 
subscriptions for the support of schools. So 
small was the aggi'egate revenue of the State at 
that time (only a little over §60,000), that the 
sum realized from this law would have been but 
little more than §1,000 per year. It remained 
practically a dead letter and was repealed in 1839, 
when the State inaugurated the policy of selling 
the seminary lands and borrowing the proceeds 
for the payment of current expenses. In this 
way 43,200 acres (or all but four and a half sec- 
tions) of the seminary lands were disposed of, 
realizing less than §60,000. The first sale of 
township school lands took place in Greene 
County in 1831, and, two years later, the greater 
part of the school section in the heart of the 
present city of Chicago was Sold, producing 
about §39,000. The average rate at which these 
sales were made, up to 1883, was §3. 78 per acre^ 
and the minimum, 70 cents per acre. That 
these lands have, in very few instances, produced 
the results expected of them, was not so much 
the fault of the system as of those selected to 
administer it — whose bad judgment in premature 
sales, or whose complicity with the schemes of 
speculators, were the means, in many cases, of 
squandering what might otherwise have furnished 
a liberal provision for the support of public 
schools in many sections of the State. Mr. W. L. 
Pillsbury, at present Secretary of the University 
of Illinois, in a paper printed in the report of the 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction for 
1885-8(5 — to which the writer is indebted for many 
of the facts presented in this article — gives to 
Chicago the credit of establishing the first free 
schools in the State in 1834, while Alton followed 
in 1837, and Springfield and Jacksonville in 1840. 
Early Hioher Institutions. — A movement 
looking to the establishment of a higher institu- 
tion of learning in Indiana Territory (of which 
Illinois then formed a part), was inaugurated by 
the passage, through the Territorial Legislature at 
Vincennes, in November, 1806, of an act incorpo- 
rating the University of Indiana Territory to be 
located at Vincennes. One provision of the act 
authorized the raising of §30,000 for the institu- 
tion by means of a lottery. A Board of Trustees 
was promptly organized, with Gen. William 
Henry Harrison, then the Territorial Governor, 
at its head ; but. beyond the erection of a building, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



149 



little progress was made. Twenty-one years 
later (1827) the first successful attempt to found 
an advanced school was made by the indomitable 
Rev. John M. Peck, resulting in the establish- 
ment of his Theological Seminary and High 
School at Rock Springs, St. Clair County, which, 
in 1831, became the nucleus of Shurtleff College at 
Upper Alton. In like manner, Lebanon Semi- 
nary, establisheil in 1828. two years later 
expanded into JIoKendree College, while instruc- 
tion began to be given at Illinois College, Jack- 
sonville, in December, 1829, as the outcome of a 
movement started by a band of young men at 
Yale College in 1S27 — these se%'eral institutions 
being formally incorporated by the same act of 
the Legislature, passed in 1835. (See sketches of 
these Institutions.) 

Educ.4^tional Conventions. —In 1833 there 
was held at Vandalia (then the State capital) the 
first of a series of educational conventions, which 
were continued somewhat irregularly for twenty 
years, and whose history is remarkable for the 
number of tliose participating in them who after- 
wards gained distinction in State and National 
historj'. At first these conventions were held at 
the State capital during the sessions of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, when the chief actors in them 
were members of that body and State officers, 
with a few other friends of education from tlie 
ranks of professional or business men. At the 
convention of 1833, we find, among those partici- 
pating, the names of Sidney Breese, afterwards a 
United States Senator and Justice of the Supreme 
Court; Judges. D. Lock wood, then of tlie Supreme 
Court; W. L. D. Ewing, afterwards acting Gov- 
ernor and United States Senator; O. H. Browning, 
afterwards United States Senator and Secretary 
of the Interior; James Hall and John Russell, 
the most notable writers in the State in their daj', 
besides Dr. J. M. Peck, Archibald Williams, 
Benjamin Mills, Jesse B. Thomas, Henry Eddy 
and others, all prominent in their several depart- 
ments. In a second convention at the same 
place, nearly two jears later, Abraham Lincoln, 
Stephen A. Douglas and Col. John J. Hardin 
were participants. At Springfield, in 1840, pro- 
fessional and literary men began to take a more 
prominent part, although the members of the 
Legislature were present ii considerable force. 
A convention held at Peoria, in 1844, was made 
up largeh' of professional teachers and school 
officers, with a few citizens of local prominence; 
and the same may be said of those held at Jack- 
sonville in 1845, and later at Chicago and other 
points. Various attempts were made to form 



permanent educational societies, finally result- 
ing, in December, 1854, in the organization of the 
"State Teachers' Institute," which, tliree years 
later, took the name of the "State Teacliers' 
Association" — though an association of the same 
name was organized in 1836 and continued in 
existence several years. 

State Superintendent and School Jour- 
N.4LS. — The appointment of a State Superintend- 
ent of Public Instruction began to be agitated as 
early as 1837, and was urged from time to time in 
memorials and resolutions by educational conven- 
tions, by the educational press, and in the State 
Legislature; but it was not until February, 1854, 
that an act was passed creating the office, when 
the Hon. Ninian W. Edwards was ajipointed by 
Gov. Joel A. Matteson, continuing in office until 
his successor was elected in 1856. "The Common 
School Advocate" was published for a year at 
Jacksonville, beginning with January, 1837; in 
1841 "The Illinois Common School Advocate" 
began publication at Springfield, but was discon- 
tinued after the issue of a few numbers. In 1855 
was established "The Illinois Teacher." This 
was merged, in 1873, in "The Illinois School- 
master," which became the organ of the State 
Teachers' Association, so remaining several years. 
Tlie State Teachers' Association has no official 
organ now, but the "Public School Journal" is 
the chief educational publication of the State. 

Industrial Education. — In 1851 was insti- 
tuted a movement which, although obstructed for 
some time by partisan opposition, has been 
followed by more far-reaching results, for the 
country at large, than any single measure in the 
history of education since the act of 1785 setting 
apart one section in each township for the support 
of public schools. This was tlie scheme formu- 
lated by the late Prof. Jonathan B. Turner, of 
Jacksonville, for a system of practical scientific 
education for the agricultural, mechanical and 
other Industrial classes, at a Farmers' Convention 
held under the auspices of the Buel Institute (an 
Agricultural Society), at Granville, Putnam 
County, Nov. 18, 1851. While proposing a plan 
for a "State University" for Illinois, it also advo- 
cated, from the outset, a "University for the 
industrial classes in each of the States," by way 
of supplementing the work which a "National 
Institute of Science," such as the Smithsonian 
Institute at Washington, was expected to accom- 
plish. The proposition attracted the attention 
of persons interested in the cause of industrial 
education in other States, especially in New 
York and some of the New England States, and 



150 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



received their hearty endorsement and cooper- 
ation. The Granville meeting was followed by a 
series of similar conventions held at Springfield, 
June 8, 1852 ; Chicago, Nov. 24, 18.53 ; Springfield, 
Jan. 4, 18.53, and Springfield, Jan. 1, 1855, at 
which the scheme was still further elaborated. 
At the Springfield meeting of January, 1852, an 
organization was formed under the title of the 
"Industrial League of the State of Illinois," with 
a view to disseminating information, securing 
more thorough organization on the part of friends 
of the measure, anei the employment of lecturers 
to address the people of the State on the subject. 
At the same time, it was resolved that "tliis Con- 
vention memorialize Congress for the purpose of 
obtaining a grant of public lands to establish and 
endow industrial institutions in each and every 
State in the Union." It is worthy of note that 
this resolution contains the central idea of the 
act passed by Congress nearly ten years after- 
ward, making appropriations of public lands for 
the establishment and support of industrial 
colleges in the several States, which act received 
the approval of President Lincoln, July 2, 1862— 
a similar measure having been vetoed by Presi- 
dent Buchanan in February, 1859. The State 
was extensively canvassed by Professor Turner, 
Mr. Bronson Murray (now of New York), the late 
Dr. R. C. Rutherford and others, in behalf of the 
objects of the League, and the Legislature, at its 
session of 1853, by unanimous vote in both houses, 
adopted the resolutions commending the measure 
and instructing the United States Senators from 
Illinois, and requesting its Representatives, to 
give it their support. Though not specifically 
contemplated at the outset of the movement, the 
Convention at Springfield, in January, 1855, pro- 
posed, as a part of the scheme, the establishment 
of a "Teachers' Seminary or Normal School 
Department," which took form in the act passed 
at tlie session of 1857, for the establishment of 
the State Normal School at Normal. Although 
delayed, as already stated, the advocates of indus- 
trial education in Illinois, aided by those of other 
States, finally triumphed in 1862. The lands 
received by the State as the result of this act 
amounted to 480,000 acres, besides subsequent do- 
nations. (See University of Illinois; also Turner, 
Jonathan Baldicin.) On the foundation thus 
furnished was established, by act of the Legisla- 
ture in 1867, the "Illinois Industrial University" 
— now the University of Illinois — at Champaign, 
to say nothing of more than forty similar insti- 
tutions in as many States and Territories, based 
upon the same general act of Congress. 



Free-School System. — While there may be 
said to have been a sort of f ree-scliool system in 
existence in Illinois previous to 1855, it was 
limited to a few fortunate districts possessing 
funds derived from the sale of school-lands situ- 
ated within their respective limits. The system 
of free schools, as it now exists, based upon 
general taxation for the creation of a permanent 
school fund, had its origin in the act of that 
year. As already shown, the office of State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction had been 
created by act of the Legislature in February, 
1854, and the act of 1855 was but a natural corol- 
lary of the previous measure, giving to the people 
a uniform system, as the earlier one had provided 
an official for its administration. Since then 
there have been many amendments of the school 
law, but these have been generally in the direc- 
tion of securing greater eflSciency, but with- 
out departure from the principle of securing 
to all the children of the State the equal 
privileges of a common-school education. The 
development of the system began practically 
about 1857, and, in the next quarter of a 
century, the laws on the subject had grown 
into a considerable volume, while the number- 
less decisions, emanating from the office of the 
State Superintendent in construction of these 
laws, made up a volume of still larger proportions. 

The following comparative table of school 
statistics, for 1860 and 1896, compiled from the 
Reports of the State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, will illustrate the growth of the 
system in some of its more important features: 

ism. 1896. 

Population 1.711,951 (est.) 4,250,000 

No. of Persons of School Age (be- 
tween 6 and 21) •549.604 1,384.367 

No. of Pupils enrolled •472.247 898.619 

School Districts 8.956 11,615 

PubllcSchools 9.162 12,623 

Graded " 294 1,887 

" Public HIeh Schools 272 

School Houses built during 

theyear. 657 267 

Whole No. of School Houses 8,221 12.632 

No. of Male Teachers 8,223 7.0.57 

Female Teachers 6,485 18,359 

Whole No. of Teachers in Public 

Schools 14,708 25,416 

Highest Monthly Wages paid Male 

Teachers 1180.00 8300.00 

Highest Monthly Wages paid 

Female Teachers 75.00 280.00 

Lowest Monthly Wages paid Male 

Teachers 8.00 14.00 

Lowest Monthly Wages paid 

Female Teachers... 4.00 10.00 

Average Monthly Wages paid Male 

Teachers 28.82 67.76 

Averat^e Monthly Wages paid 

Female Teachers 18.80 60 63 

No. of Private Schools 500 2,619 

No. of Pupils in Private Schools.... 29,284 139,969 
Interest on State and County Funds 

received t73,450.38 165,583.63 

Amount of liicome from Township 

Funds 322,852.00 889,614.211 

*Only white children were included In these statistics for 
18G0. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



151 



ISflO. 18%. 

\mount received from State T.1I.. $ 690,000.00 J 1,000,000.00 
*' '■ ** Special i)is- 

trict Taxes 1,265,137.00 1,1.133,809.61 

Aiiujunt received from Bonds dur- 
ing theyear 517,960.93 

Totul .\iiiouiit received during the 

.year by School Districts 2,193,455.00 15,607.172..50 

Aiuuunt paid Male TeacUera 2,772,S29.:i2 

•■ Female •• 7.1SB.li:5.i;7 

Whole amount paid Teachers .... 1,542,211.00 9,958,934.99 
Amount paid for new School 

Houses 118,728.00 1,873,757.25 

Amoutit paid for repairs and im- 
provements 1,070,755.09 

Amount paid fur School Furniture. 24,837.00 154.836.64 
" " Apparatus 8,563.00 164,298.92 
" " " Books for Dis- 
trict Libraries 30,12400 13,664.97 

Total E.\penditures 2.259,868.00 14,614,627.31 

Estimated value of School Property 13,304,892.00 42,780.267.00 

■■ Libraries.. 377,819.00 

" " " Apparatus 607,389.00 

The sums annually disbursed for incidental 
expenses on account of superintendence and the 
cost of maintaining the higher institutions estab- 
lished, and partiall}' or wholly supported by the 
State, increase the total expenditures by some 
§600,000 per annum. These higher institutions 
include the Illinois State Normal University at 
Normal, the Southern Illinois Normal at Carbon- 
dale and the University of Illinois at Urbana ; to 
which were added by the Legislature, at its ses- 
sion of 1895, the Eastern Illinois Normal School, 
afterwards established at Charleston, and the 
Northern Illinois Normal at De Kalb. These 
institutions, although under supervision of the 
State, are partly supported by tuition fees. (See 
description of these institutions under their 
several titles.) The normal schools — as their 
names indicate — are primarily designed for the 
training of teachers, although other classes of 
pupils are admitted under certain conditions, 
including the payment of tuition. At the Uni- 
versity of Illinois instruction is given in the clas- 
sics, the sciences, agriculture and the mechanic 
arts. In addition to these the State supports four 
other institutions of an educational rather than a 
custodial character — viz. : the Institution for the 
Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Insti- 
tution for the Blind, at Jacksonville ; the Asylum 
for the Feeble-Minded at Lincoln, and the Sol- 
diers' Orphans' Home at Normal. The estimated 
value of the property connected with these 
several institutions, in addition to the value of 
school property given in the preceding table, will 
increase the total (exclusive of permanent funds) 
to $47,155,374.95, of which §4,375,107.95 repre- 
sents property belonging to the institutions above 
mentioned. 

Powers and Duties op Superintendents 
AND Other School Officers. — Each county 
elects a County Superintendent of Schools, whose 
duty it is to visit schools, conduct teachers' insti- 
tutes, advise with teachers and school officers and 



instruct them in their respective duties, conduct 
examinations of persons desiring to become 
teachers, and exercise general supervision over 
school affairs within his county. The subordi- 
nate officers are Township Trustees, a Township 
Treasui-er, and a Board of District Directors or — 
in place of the latter in cities and villages — Boards 
of Education. The two last named Boards have 
power to employ teachers and, generally, to super- 
vise the nianagement of schools in districts. The 
State Superintendent is entrusted with general 
supervision of the common-school system of the 
State, and it is his duty to advise and assist 
County Superintendents, to visit State Charitable 
institutions, to issue official circulars to teachers, 
school officers and others in regard to their rights 
and duties under the general school code; to 
decide controverted questions of school law, com- 
ing to him by appeal from County Superintend- 
ents and others, and to make full and detailed 
reports of the operations of his office to the 
Governor, biennially. He is also made ex-officio 
a member of the Board of Trustees of the Univer- 
sity of Illinois and of the several Normal Schools, 
and is empowered to grant certificates of two 
different grades to teachers — the higher grade to 
be valid during the lifetime of the holder, and 
the lower for two years. Certificates granted by 
County Superintendents are also of two grades 
and have a tenure of one and two years, respec- 
tively, in the county where given. The conditions 
for securing a certificate of the first (or two- 
years') grade, require that the candidate shall be 
of good moral character and qualified to teach 
orthography, reading in English, penmanship, 
arithmetic, modern geography, English grammar, 
the elements of the natural sciences, the history 
of the United States, physiology and the laws of 
health. The second grade (or one-year) certifi- 
cate calls for examination in the branches just 
enumerated, except the natural sciences, physi- 
ology and laws of health ; but teachers employed 
exclusivelj' in giving instruction in music, draw- 
ing, penmanship or other special branches, may 
take examinations in these branches alone, but 
are restricted, in teaching, to those in which they 
have been examined. — County Boards are 
empowered to establish County Normal Schools 
for the education of teachers for the common 
schools, and the management of such normal 
schools is placed in the hands of a County Board 
of Education, to consist of not less than five nor 
more than eight persons, of whom the Chairman 
of the County Board and the County Superin- 
tendent of Schools shall be ex-officio members. 



152 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Boards of Education and Directors may establish 
kindergartens (when autliorized to do so by vote 
of a majority of the voters of their districts), for 
children between the ages of four and six years, 
but the cost of supporting the same must be 
defrayed by a special tax. — A compulsory pro- 
vision of the School Law requires that each child, 
between the ages of seven and fourteen years, 
shall be sent to school at least sixteen weeks of 
each year, unless otherwise instructed in the 
elementary branches, or disqualified by physical 
or mental disability. — Under the provisions of an 
act, passed in 1891, women are made eligible to 
any office created by the general or special school 
laws of the State, when twenty-one years of age 
or upwards, and otherwise possessing the same 
qualifications for the office as are prescribed for 
men. (For list of incumbents in the office of 
State Superintendent, see Superintendents of 
Public Instruction. } 

EDWARDS, Arthur, D.D., clergyman, soldier 
and editor, was born at Norwalk, Ohio, Nov. 23, 
1834; educated at Albion. Mich., and the Wes- 
leyan University of Ohio, graduating from the 
latter in 1858; entered the Detroit Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church the same year, 
was ordained in 1860 and, from 1861 until after 
the battle of Gettysburg, served as Chaplain of 
the First Michigan Cavalry, when he resigned to 
accept the colonelcy of a cavalry regiment. In 
1864, he was elected assistant editor of "The 
Northwestern Christian Advocate"' at Chicago, 
and, on the retirement of Dr. Eddy in 1872, 
became Editor-in-chief, being re-elected every 
four years thereafter to the present time. He 
has also been a member of each General Confer- 
ence since 1872, was a member of the Ecumenical 
Conference at London in 1881, and has held other 
positions of prominence within the church. 

EDWARDS, Cyrns, pioneer lawyer, was born 
in Montgomery County, Md., Jan. 17, 1793; at the 
age of seven accompanied his parents to Ken- 
tucky, where he received his primary education, 
and studied law ; was admitted to the bar at Kas- 
kaskia. 111., in 1815, Ninian Edwards (of whom he 
was the youngest brother) being then Territorial 
Governor. During the next fourteen years he 
resided alternately in Missouri and Kentucky, 
and, in 1829, took up his residence at Edwards- 
ville. Owing to impaired health he decided to 
abandon his profession and engage in general 
business, later becoming a resident of Upper 
Alton. In 1833 he was elected to the lower house 
of the Legislature as a Whig, and again, in 1840 
and '60. the last time as a Republican ; was State 



Senator from 1835 to '39, and was also the Whig 
candidate for Governor, in 1838, in opposition to 
Thomas Carlin (Democrat), who was elected. He 
served in the Black Hawk War, was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1847, and espe- 
cially interested in education and in public chari- 
ties, being, for thirty-five years, a Trustee of 
Shurtleff College, to which he was a most 
munificent benefactor, and which conferred on 
him the degree of LL.D. in 1852. Died at Upper 
Alton, September, 1877. 

EDWARDS, Ninian, Territorial Governor and 
United States Senator, was born in Montgomery 
County, Md., March 17, 1775; for a time had the 
celebrated William Wirt as a tutor, completing 
his course at Dickinson College. At the age of 19 
heemigrated to Kentucky, where, after squander- 
ing considerable money, he studied law and, step 
by step, rose to be Chief Justice of the Court of 
Appeals. In 1809 President Madison appointed 
him the first Territorial Governor of Illinois. 
This office he held until the admission of Illinois 
as a State in 1818, when he was elected United 
Sates Senator and re-elected on the completion of 
his first (the short) term. In 1826 he was elected 
Governor of the State, his successful administra- 
tion terminating in 1830. In 1832 he became a 
candidate for Congress, but was defeated bj' 
Charles Slade. He was able, magnanimous and 
incorruptible, although charged with aristocratic 
tendencies which were largely hereditary. Died, 
at his home at Belleville, on July 20, 1833, of 
cholera, the disease having been contracted 
through self-sacrificing efforts to assist sufferers 
from the epidemic. His demise cast a gloom 
over the entire State. Two valuable volumes 
bearing upon State history, comprising his cor- 
respondence with many public men of his time, 
have been published; the first under the title of 
"History of Illinois and Life of Ninian Edwards, " 
by his son, the late Ninian Wirt Edwards, and 
the other "The Edwards Papers," edited by the 
late Elihu B. Washburne, and printed under the 
auspices of the Chicago Historical Society. — 
Ninian Wirt (Edwards), son of Gov. Ninian 
Edwards, was born at Frankfort, Ky., April 15, 
1809, the year his father became Territorial 
Governor of Illinois ; spent his boyhood at Kas- 
kaskia, Edwardsville and Belleville, and was 
educated at Transylvania University, graduating 
in 1833, He married Elizabeth P. Todd, a sister 
of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, was appointed Attor- 
ney-General in 1834, but resigned in 1835, when 
he removed to Springfield. In 1836 he was 
elected to the Legislature from Sangamon 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



153 



County, as the colleague of Abraham Lincoln, 
being one of the celebrated "Long Nine," and 
was influential in securing the removal of the 
State capital to Springfield. He was re-elected 
to the House in 1838, to tlie State Senate in 1844, 
and again to the House in 1848; was also a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1847. 
Again, in 1850, he was elected to the House, but 
resigned on account of his change of politics 
from Whig to Democratic, and, in the election to 
fill the vacancy, was defeated by James C. Conk- 
ling. He served as Sujierintendent of Public 
Instruction by appointment of Governor Matte- 
son, 1854-57, and, in 1861, was appointed by 
President Lincoln, Captain Commissary of Sub- 
sistence, which position he filled until June, 1865, 
since which time he remained in private life. He 
is the author of the "Life and Times of Ninian 
Edwards" (1870), which was prepared at the 
request of the State Historical Society. Died, at 
Springfield, Sept. 2, 1889. — Benjamin Stevenson 
(Edwards), lawyer and jurist, another son of Gov. 
Ninian Edwards, was born at EdwardsviUe, 111., 
June 3, 1818, graduated from Yale College in 
1838, and was admitted to the bar the following 
year. Originally a Whig, he subsequently 
became a Democrat, was a Delegate to the Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1863, and, in 1868, was 
an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in opposi- 
tion to Shelby M. Cullom. In 1869 he vifas elected 
Circuit Judge of the Springfield Circuit, but 
within eighteen months resigned the position, 
preferring the excitement and emoluments of 
private practice to the dignity and scanty salary 
attaching to the bench. As a lawyer and as a 
citizen he was universally respected. Died, at 
his home in Springfield, Feb. 4, 1886, at the time 
of his decease being President of the Illinois 
State Bar Association. 

EDWARDS, Richard, educator, ex-Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, was born in Cardi- 
ganshire, Wales, Dec. 23, 1822; emigrated with 
his parents to Portage County, Ohio, and began 
life on a farm; later graduated at the State 
Normal School, Bridge water, Mass., and from 
the Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., receiv- 
ing the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Civil 
Engineer ; served for a time as a civil engineer 
on the Boston water works, then beginning a 
career as a teacher which continued almost unin- 
terruptedly for thirty-five years. During this 
period he was connected with the Normal School 
at Bridgewater; a Boys" High School at Salem, 
and the State Normal at the same place, coming 
west in 18.57 to establish the Normal School at St. 



Louis, Mo., still later becoming Principal of the 
St. Louis High School, and, in 1862, accepting the 
Presidency of the State Normal University, at 
Normal, 111. It was here where Dr. Edwards, 
remaining fourteen years, accomplished his 
greatest work and left his deepest impress upon 
the educational system of the State by personal 
contact with its teachers. The next nine years 
were spent as pastor of the First Congregational 
church at Princeton, when, after eighteen 
months in the service of Knox College as Finan- 
cial Agent, he was again called, in 1886, to a 
closer connection with the educational field by 
his election to the office of State Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, serving until 1891, when, 
having failed of a re-election, he soon aftef 
assumed the Presidency of Blackburn University 
at Carlinville. Failing health, however, com- 
pelled his retirement a year later, when he 
removed to Bloomington, which is now (1898) 
his place of residence. 

EDWARDS COUNTY, situated in the south- 
eastern part of the State, between Richland and 
White on the north and south, and Wabash and 
Wayne on the east and west, and touching the 
Ohio River on its southeastern border. It was 
separated from Gallatin County in 1814, during 
the Territorial period. Its territory was dimin- 
ished in 1824 by the carving out of Wabash 
County. The surface is diversified by prairie 
and timber, the soil fertile and well adapted to 
the raising of both wheat and corn. The princi- 
pal streams, besides the Ohio, are Bonpas Creek, 
on the east, and the Little Wabash River on the 
west. Palmyra (a place no longer on the map) 
was the seat for holding the first county court, 
in 1815, John Mcintosh, Seth Gard and William 
Barney being the Judges. Albion, the present 
county-seat (population, 937), was laid out by 
Morris Birkbeck and George Flower (emigrants 
from England), in 1819, and settled largely by 
their countrymen, but not incorporated until 
1860. The area of the county is 220 square 
miles, and population, in 1900, 10,345. Grayville, 
with a population of 2,000 in 1890, is partly in 
this county, though niostly in White. Edwards 
County was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, 
the Territorial Governor of Illinois. 

EDWARDSVILLE, the county-seat of Madison 
County, settled in 1812 and named in honor of 
Territorial Governor Ninian Edwards ; is on four 
lines of railway and contiguous to two others, 18 
miles northeast of St. Louis. EdwardsviUe was 
the home of some of the most prominent men in 
the history of the State, including Governors Ed- 



154 



HISTOIUCAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



wards, Coles, and others. It has pressed and 
shale brickyards, coal mines, flour mills, machine 
shops, banks, electric street railway, water-works, 
schools, and churches. In a suburb of the city 
(LeClaire) is a cooperative manufactory of sani- 
tary supplies, using large shops and doing a large 
business. Edwardsville has three newspapers, 
one issued semi-weekly. Population (1890), 3,561 ; 
(1900), 4.15T; with suburb (estimated), 5,000. 

EFFINGHAM, an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Effingham County, 9 miles northeast from 
St. Louis and 199 southwest of Chicago ; has four 
papers, creamery, milk condensory, and ice fac- 
tory. Population (1890), 3,260; (1900), 3,774. 

EFFIXGHA5I COUNTY, cut off from Fayette 
(and separatelj- organized) in 1831 — named for 
Gen. Edward Effingham. It is situated in the 
central portion of the State, 63 miles northeast of 
St. Louis ; has an area of 490 square miles and a 
population(l900) of 20,465. T. M. Short, I. Fanchon 
and "William I. Hawkins were the first County 
Commissioners. Effingham, the county-seat, was 
platted by Messrs. Alexander and Little in 1854. 
Messrs. Gillenwater, Hawkins and Brown were 
among the earliest settlers. Several lines of rail- 
way cross the coxmty. Agriculture and sheep- 
raising are leading industries, wool being one of 
the principal products. 

EGA>', William Bradshaw, M.D., pioneer phy- 
sican, w-as born in Ireland, Sept. 28, 1808; spent 
some time during his youth in the study of sur- 
gery in England, later attending lectures at Dub- 
lin. About 1828 he went to Canada, taught for 
a time in the schools of Quebec and Montreal 
and, in 1830, was licensed by the Medical Board 
of New Jersey and began practice at Newark in 
that State, later practicing in New York. In 
1833 he removed to Chicago and was early recog- 
nized as a prominent physician ; on July 4, 1836, 
delivered the address at the breaking of ground 
for the Illinois & Jlichigan Canal. During the 
early years of his residence in Chicago, Dr. Egan 
was owner of the block on which the Tremont 
House stands, and erected a number of houses 
there. He was a zealous Democrat and a delegate 
to the first Convention of that party, held at 
Joliet in 1843; was elected County Recorder in 
1844 and Representative in the Eighteenth Gen- 
eral Assembly (18.53-.54). Died, Oct. 37, 1860. 

ELBURN, a village of Kane County, on the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 8 miles west 
of Geneva. It has banks and a weekly news- 
r)aper Population (1890), .584; (1900), 606. 

ELDORADO, a town in Saline Coimty. on the 
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, the 



Louisville & Nashville, and the St. Louis, Alton 
& Terre Haute Railroads; has a bank and one 
newspaper; district argicultural. Population, 
(1900). 1,445. 

EIDRIDGE, Hamilton y., lawyer and soldier, 
was born at South "Williamstown, Mass., August, 
1837 ; graduated at Williams College in the class 
with President Garfield, in 1856, and at Albany 
Law School, in 1857; soon afterward came to 
Chicago and began practice ; in 1862 assisted in 
organizing the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh 
Illinois Volunteers, of which he was elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel, before the end of the year 
being promoted to the position of Colonel; dis- 
tinguished himself at Arkansas Post, Chicka- 
mauga and in the battles before Vicksburg, 
winning the rank of Brevet Brigadier-General, 
but, after two years' service, was compelled to 
retire on account of disability, being carried ea.st 
on a stretcher. Subsequently he recovered suffi- 
ciently to resume his profession, but died in 
Chicago, Dec. 1, 1882, much regretted by a large 
circle of friends, with whom he was exceedingly 
popular. 

ELECTIONS. The elections of public officers 
in Illinois are of two general classes: (I) those 
conducted in accordance with United States 
laws, and (11) those conducted exclusively imder 
State laws. 

I. To the first class belong: (1) the election of 
United States Senators;- (2) Presidential Elect- 
ors, and (3 ) Representatives in Congress. 1. 
(United States Senators). The election of 
United States Senators, while an act of the State 
Legislature, is conducted solely under fonns pre- 
scribed by the laws of the United States. These 
make it the duty of the Legislature, on the second 
Tuesday after convening at the session next pre- 
ceding the expiration of the term for which any 
Senator may have been chosen, to proceed to 
elect his successor in the following manner: 
Each House is required, on the day designated, in 
open session and by the viva voce vote of each 
member present, to name some person for United 
States Senator, the result of the balloting to be 
entered on the journals of the respective Houses. 
At twelve o'clock (M.) on the day following the 
day of election, the members of the two Houses 
meet in joint assembly, when the journals of both 
Houses are read. If it appears that the same 
person has received a majority of all the votes in 
each House, he is declared elected Senator. If, 
however, no one has received such majority, or 
if either House has failed to take proceedings as 
required on the preceding day, then the members 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



155 



of the two Houses, in joint assembly, proceed to 
ballot for Senator by viva voce vote of members 
present. The person receiving a majoritj' of all 
the votes cast— a majority of the members of 
both Houses being present and voting — is declared 
elected ; otherwise the joint assemblj' is renewed 
at noon each legislative day of the session, and at 
least one ballot taken until a Senator is chosen. 
When a vacancy exists in the Senate at the time 
of the assembling of the Legislature, the same 
rule prevails as to the time of holding an election 
to fill it; and, if a vacancy occurs during the 
session, the Legislature is required to proceed to 
an election on the second Tuesday after having 
received official notice of such vacancy. The 
tenvu-e of a United States Senator for a full term 
is six years — the regular term beginning with a 
new Congress — the two Senators from each State 
belonging to different "classes," so that their 
terms expire alternately at periods of two and 
four years from each other. — 2. (Presidenti.\l 
Electors). The choice of Electors of President 
and Vice-President is made by popular vote 
taken quadrennially on the Tuesday after the 
first Monday in November. The date of such 
election is fixed by act of Congress, being the 
same as that for Congressman, although the State 
Legislature prescribes the manner of conducting 
it and making returns of the same. The number 
of Electors chosen equals the number of Senators 
and Representatives taken together (in 1899 it 
was twenty-four), and they are elected on a gen- 
eral ticket, a plurality of votes being sufficient to 
elect. Electors meet at the State capital on the 
second Monday of January after their election 
(Act of Congress, 1887), to cast the vote of the 
State. — 3. (Members of Congress). The elec- 
tion of Representatives in Congress is also held 
under United States law, occurring biennially 
(on the even years) simultaneously with the gen- 
eral State election in November. Should Congress 
select a different date for such election, it would 
be the duty of the Legislature to recognize it by 
a corresponding change in the State law relating 
to the election of Congressmen. The tenure of a 
Congressman is two years, the election being by 
Districts instead of a general ticket, as in the 
case of Presidential Electors — ^the term of each 
Representative for a full term beginning with a 
new Congress, on the 4th of March of the odd 
years following a general election. (See Con- 
gressional Ap2)ortionment. ) 

n. All officers under the State Government — 
except Boards of Trustees of charitable and penal 
institutions or the heads of certain departments, 



which are made appointive by the Governor — are 
elected by popular vote. Apart from county 
officers they consist of three classes: (1) Legisla- 
tive; (2) Executive; (3) Judicial — which are 
chosen at different times and for different periods. 
1. (LegisL-\ture). Legislative officers consist of 
Senators and Representatives, chosen at elections 
held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of 
November, biennially. The regular term of a 
Senator (of whom there are fifty-one under the 
present Constitution) is four years; twenty-five 
(those in Districts bearing even numbers) being 
chosen on the years in which a President and 
Governor are elected, and the other twenty six at 
the intermediate period two years later. Thus, 
one-half of each State Senate is composed of what 
are called "hold-over" Senators. Representatives 
are elected biennially at the November election, 
and hold office two year.s. The qualifications as 
to eligibility for a seat in the State Senate require 
that the incumbent shall be 3.5 years of age, 
while 31 years renders one eligible to a seat in 
the House — the Constitution requiring that each 
shall have been a resident of the State for five 
years, and of the District for which he is chosen, 
two years next preceding his election. (See 
Legislative Apportionment and Minority Repre- 
sentation.) — 2. (Executive Officers). The 
officers constituting the Executive Department 
include the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, 
Secretary of State. Auditor of Public Accounts, 
Treasurer, Superintendent of Pubhc Instruction, 
and Attorney -General. Each of these, except the 
State Treasurer, holds office four years and — with 
the exception of the Treasurer and Superintend- 
ent of Public Instruction — are elected at the 
general election at which Presidential Electors 
are chosen. The election of State Superintendent 
occurs on the intermediate (even) years, and that 
of State Treasurer every two years coincidently 
with the election of Governor and Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, respectively. (See Execu- 
tive Officers.) In addition to the State officers 
already named, three Trustees of the University 
of Illinois are elected biennially at the general 
election in November, each holding office for 
six years. These trustees (nine in number), 
with the Governor, President of the State Board 
of Agriculture and the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, constitute the Board of Trustees of 
the University of Illinois. — 3. (Judiciary). The 
Judicial Department embraces Judges of the 
Supreme, Circuit and County Courts, and such 
other subordinate officials as may be connected 
with the administration of justice. For the 



156 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



election of members of the Supreme Court the 
State is divided into seven Districts, each of 
which elects a Justice of the Supreme Court for 
a term of nine years. The elections in five of 
these — the First, Second, Third, Sixth and 
Seventh — occur on the first Monday in June every 
ninth year from 1879, the last election having 
occurred in June, 1897. The elections in the 
other two Districts occur at similar periods of nine 
years from 1876 and 1873, respectively — the last 
election in the Fourth District having occurred 
in June, 1893, and that in the Fifth in 1891.— 
Circuit Judges are chosen on the first Monday in 
June every six years, counting from 1873. Judges 
of the Superior Court of Cook County are elected 
every six years at the November election. — Clerks 
of the Supreme and Appellate Courts are elected 
at the November election for six years, the last 
election having occurred in 1896. Under the act 
of April 2, 1897. consolidating the Supreme 
Court into one Grand Division, the number of 
Supreme Court Clerks is reduced to one, although 
the Clerks elected in 1896 remain in office and have 
charge of the records of their several Divisions 
until the expiration of tlieir terms in 1902. The 
Supreme Court holds five terms annually at Spring- 
field, beginning, respectively, on the first Tuesday 
of October, December, February, April and June. 
(Other Officers), (a) Members of the State 
Board of Equalization (one for every Congres- 
sional District) are elective every four years at 
the same time as Congressmen, (b) County 
officers (except County Commissioners not under 
township organization) hold office for four years 
and are chosen at the November election as 
follows: (1) At the general election at which 
the Governor is chosen — Clerk of the Circuit 
Court, State's Attorney, Recorder of Deeds (in 
counties having a population of 60,000 or over). 
Coroner and County Surveyor. (2) On inter- 
mediate years — Sheriff, County Judge, Probate 
Judge (in counties having a population of 70,000 
and over). County Clerk, Treasurer, Superintend- 
ent of Schools, and Clerk of Criminal Court of 
Cook County, (c) In counties not under town- 
ship organization a Board of County Commission- 
ers is elected, one being chosen in November of 
each year, and each holding office three years, 
(d) Under the general law the polls open at 8 
a. m., and close at 7 p. m. In cities accepting an 
Act of the Legislatme passed in 188.5, the hour of 
opening the polls is 6 a. m. , and of closing 4 p. m. 
(See also Australian Ballot. ) 

ELECTORS, QUALIFICATIOIVS OF. (See 
Suffrage.) 



ELGIJf, an important city of Northern Illinois, 
in Kane County, on Fox River and tlie Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul and Chicago & Northwest- 
ern Railroads, besides two rural electric lines, 36 
miles northwest of Chicago; has valuable water- 
power and over fifty manufacturing establish- 
ments, including the National Watch Factory and 
the Cook Publishing Company, both among the 
most extensive of their kind in the world; is also 
a great dairy center with extensive creameries 
and milk-condensing works. The quotations of 
its Butter and Cheese Exchange are telegraphed 
to all the great commercial centers and regulate 
the prices of these commodities throughout the 
country. Elgin is the seat of the Nortliern (Illi- 
nois) Hospital for the Insane, and has a handsome 
Government (postoffice) building, fine public 
library and many handsome residences. It has 
had a rapid growth in the past twenty years. 
Population (1890), 17,823; (1900), 22,433. 

ELlilN, JOLIET & EASTERN RAILWAY. The 
main line of this road extends west from Dyer on 
the Indiana State line to Joliet, thence northeast 
to Waukegan. The total length of the line (1898) 
is 192.72 miles, of which 1.59.93 miles are in Illi- 
nois. The entire capital of the company, includ- 
ing stock and indebtedness, amounted (1898), to 
$13,799,630— more than ?71,000 per mile. Its total 
earnings in Illinois for the same j'ear were $1,212,- 
026, and its entire expenditure in the State, 
$1,1.56,146. The company paid in taxes, the same 
year, .$48,876. Branch lines extend southerly 
from Walker Junction to Coster, where connec- 
tion is made with the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, and northwesterlj' 
from Normantown, on the main line, to Aurora. 
— (History). The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Rail- 
way was chartered in 1887 and absorbed the 
Joliet, Aurora & Northern Railway, from Joliet to 
Aurora (21 miles), which had been commenced in 
1886 and was completed in 1888, with extensions 
from Joliet to Spaulding, 111. , and from Joliet to 
McCool, Ind. In January, 1891, the Company 
purchased all the properties and franchises of the 
Gardner, Coal City & Normantown and the 
Waukegan & Southwestern Railway Companies 
(formerly operated under lease). The former of 
these two roads was chartered in 1889 and opened 
in 1890. Tlie system forms a belt line around 
Chicago, intersecting all railroads entering that 
city from every direction. Its traffic is chiefly 
in the transportation of freight. 

ELIZABETHTOWJf, the county -seat of Hardin 
County. It stands on the north bank of the Ohio 
River, 44 miles above Paducah, Ky., and about 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



157 



125 miles southeast of Belleville; has a brick and 
tile factory, large tie trade, two churches, two 
flouring mills, a bank, and one newspaper. Pop- 
ulation (1890), 652; (1900), 668. 

ELKHART, a town of Logan County, on the 
Chicago & Alton Raih'oad, 18 miles northeast of 
Springfield ; is a rich farming section ; has a coal 
shaft. Population (1890), 414: (1900), .553. 

ELKIX, William F., pioneer and early legisla- 
tor, was born in Clark County, Ky., April 13, 
1792; after spending several years in Oliio and 
Indiana, came to Sangamon County, 111. , in 1825 ; 
was elected to the Sixth, Tenth and Eleventh 
General Assemblies, being one of the "Long 
Nine'" from Sangamon County and, in 1861, was 
appointed by his former colleague (Abraham 
Lincoln) Register of the Land Office at Spring- 
field, resigning in 1872. Died, in 1878. 

ELLIS, Edward F. W., soldier, was born at 
Wilton, Maine, April 15, 1819; studied law and 
was admitted to the bar in Ohio ; spent tliree years 
(1849-52) in California, serving in the Legislature 
of that State in 1851, and proving himself an 
earnest opponent of slavery ; returned to Ohio the 
next year, and, in 1854, removed to Rockford, 111., 
where he embarked in the banking business. 
Soon after the firing on Fort Sumter, he organ- 
ized the Ellis Rifles, which having been attached 
to the Fifteenth Illinois, he was elected Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of the regiment ; was in command at 
the battle of Shiloh, April 6. 1862, and was killed 
while bravelj' leading on his men. 

ELLIS, (Rev.) John Millot, early home mis- 
sionary, was born in Keene, N. H., July 14. 1793; 
came to Illinois as a home missionary of the 
Presbyterian Church at an early day, and served 
for a time as pastor of chiu'ches at Kaskaskia and 
Jacksonville, and was one of the influential 
factors in securing the location of Illinois Col- 
lege at the latter place. His wife also conducted, 
for some years, a private school for young ladies 
at Jacksonville, which developed into the Jack- 
sonville Female Academy in 1833, and is still 
maintained after a history of over sixty years. 
Mr. Ellis was later associated with the establish- 
ment of Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., 
finally returning to New Hampshire, where, in 
1840, he was pastor of a church at East Hanover. 
In 1844 he again entered the service of the Soci- 
ety for Promoting Collegiate and Theological 
Education in the West. Died, August 6, 1855. 

ELLSWORTH, Epliraim Elmer, soldier, first 
victim of the Civil War, was born at Mechanics 
ville, Saratoga Comity, N. Y., April 23, 1837. He 
came to Chicago at an early age. studied law, 



and became a patent solicitor. In 1860 he raised 
a regiment of Zouaves in Chicago, which became 
famous for the perfection of its discipline and 
drill, and of which he was commissioned Colonel. 
In 1861 he accompanied President Lincoln to 
Washington, going from there to New York, 
where be recruited and organized a Zouave 
regiment composed of firemen. He became its 
Colonel and the regiment was ordered to Alexan- 
dria, Va. While stationed there Colonel Ells- 
worth observed that a Confederate flag was 
flying above a hotel owned by one Jackson. 
Rushing to the roof, he tore it down, but before 
he reached the street was shot and killed by 
Jackson, who was in turn shot by Frank H. 
Brownell, one of Ells%vorth's men. He was the 
first Union soldier killed in the war. Died, May 
24, 1.861. 

ELMHrRST (formerly Cottage Hill), a village 
of Du Page County, on the Chicago Great Western 
and 111. Cent. Railroads, 15 miles west of Chicago; 
is the seat of the Evangelical Seminary ; has elec- 
tric interurban line, two papers, stone quarry, 
electric light, water and sewerage systems, high 
school, and churches. Pop. (1900), 1,728. 

ELM W OOD, a town of Peoria County, on the 
Galesburg and Peoria and Buda and Rushville 
branches of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad, 26 miles west-northwest of Peoria ; the 
principal industries are coal-mining and corn and 
tomato canning ; has a bank and one newspaper. 
Population (1890), 1,548; (1900), 1,582. 

EL PASO, a city in Woodford County, 17 miles 
north of Bloomington, 33 miles east of Peoria, at 
the crossing Illinois Central and Toledo, Peoria & 
Western Railroads; in agricultural district; has 
two national banks, three grain elevators, two 
high schools, two newspapers, nine churches. 
Pop. (1890), 1,353; (1900), 1,441; (1903, est.), 1,600. 
EMBARRAS RIA'ER, rises in Champaign 
County and runs southward through the counties 
of Douglas, Coles and Cumberland, to Newton, in 
Jasper County, where it turns to the southeast, 
passing through Lawrence County, and entering 
the Wabash River about seven miles below Vin- 
cennes. It is nearly 150 miles long. 

E MMERSOX, Cliarles, jurist, was bom at North 
Haverhill, Grafton County, N. H.. April 15, 1811; 
came to Illinois in 1833, first settling at Jackson- 
ville, where he spent one term in Illinois College, 
then studied law at Springfield, and, having been 
admitted to the bar, began practice at Decatur, 
where he spent the remainder of his life except 
three years (1847-50) during which he resided at 
Paris, Edgar County. In 1850 he was elected to 



158 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the Legislature, and, in 1853, to the Circuit bench, 
serving on the latter by re-election till 1867. The 
latter year he was a candidate for Justice of the 
Supreme Coiu-t, but was defeated by the late 
Judge Pinkney H. Walker. In 1869 he was 
elected to the State Constitutional Convention, 
but died in April, 1870, while the Convention was 
still in session. 

ENFIELD, a town of White County, at the 
intersection of the Louisville & Nashville with 
the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway, 10 
miles west of Carmi ; is the seat of Southern Illi- 
nois College. The town also has a bank and one 
newspaper. Population (1880), 717; (1890), 870; 
(1900), 971; (1903, est.), 1,000. 

ENGLISH, Joseph G., banker, was born at 
Rising Sun, Ind., Dec. 17, 1820; lived for a time 
at Perrysville and La Fayette in that State, finally 
engaging in merchandising in the former; in 
1853 removed to Danville, 111., where he formed 
a partnership with John L. Tincher in mercantile 
business ; later conducted a private banking busi- 
ness and, in 1863, established the First National 
Bank, of which he has been President over twenty 
years. He served two terms as Mayor of Dan- 
ville, in 1873 was elected a member of the State 
Board of Equalization, and, for more than twenty 
years, has been one of the Directors of the Chicago 
& Eastern Railroad. At the present time Mr. 
English, having practically retired from busi- 
ness, is spending most of his time in the West. 

ENOS, Pascal Paoli, pioneer, was born at 
Windsor, Conn., in 1770; graduated at Dartmouth 
College in 1794, studied law, and, after spending 
some years in Vermont, where he served as High 
Sheriff of Windsor County, in September, 1815, 
removed West, stopping first at Cincinnati. A 
year later he descended the Ohio by flat-boat to 
Shawneetown, 111., crossed the State by land, 
finally locating at St. Charles, Mo., and later at 
St. Louis. Then, having purchased a tract of land 
in Madison County, 111., he remained there about 
two years, when, in 1833, having received from 
President Monroe the appointment of Receiver of 
the newly established Land Office at Springfield, 
he removed thither, making it his permanent 
home. He was one of the original purchasers of 
the land on which the city of Springfield now 
stands, and joined with Maj. Elijali lies, John 
Taylor and Thomas Cox, the other patentees, in 
laying out the town, to which they first gave the 
name of Calhoun. Mr. Enos remained in office 
through the administration of President John 
Quincy Adams, but was removed by President 
Jackson for political reasons, in 1829. Died, at 



Springfield, April, 1833.— Pascal P. (Enos), Jr., 
eldest son of Mr. Enos, was born in St. Charles, 
Mo., Nov. 28, 1816; was elected Rejiresentative in 
the General Assembly from Sangamon County in 
1853, and served by appointment of Justice 
McLean of the Supreme Court as Clerk of the 
United States Circuit Court, being reappointed 
by Judge David Davis, dying in office, Feb. 17, 
1867. — Zimri A. (Enos), another son, was born 
Sept. 39, 1.S21, is a citizen of Springfield — has 
served as County Surveyor and Alderman of the 
city. — Julia B., a daughter, was born in Spring- 
field, Dec. 20, 1882, is the widow of the late O. M. 
Hatch, Secretary of State (1857-65). 

EPLER, Cyrns, lawyer and jurist, was born 
at Charleston, Clark County, Ind., Nov. 13, 
1835; graduated at Illinois College, Jackson- 
ville, studied law, and was admitted to the. 
bar in 1853, being elected State's Attorney 
the same year; also served as a membei- 
of the General Assemblj- two terms (1857-61) 
and as Master in Chancery for Morgan County, 
1867-73. In 1873 he was elected Circuit Judge 
for the Seventh Circuit and was re-elected 
successively in 1879, "85 and "91, serving four 
terms, and retiring in 1897. During his entire 
professional and official career his home has been 
in Jacksonville. 

EQUALITY, a village of Gallatin County, on 
the Sliavvneetown Division of the Louisville & 
Nashville Railroad, 11 miles west-northwest of 
Shawneetown. It was for a time, in early days, the 
county-seat of Gallatin County and market for 
the salt manufactured in that vicinity. Some 
coal is mined in the neighborhood. One weekly 
paper is published here. Population (1880), 500; 
(1890), 633; (1900), 898. 

ERIE, a village of Whiteside Coimty, on the 
Rock Island and Sterling Division of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 30 miles north- 
east of Rock Island. Population (1880), 537; 
(1.S90), 535; (1900), 768. 

EUREKA, the county-seat of Woodford County, 
incorporated in 1856, situated 19 miles east of 
Peoria; is in the heart of a rich stock-raising and 
agricultural district. The principal mechanical 
industry is a large canning factory. Besides 
having good grammar and high schools, it is also 
the seat of Eureka College, under the control of 
the Cliristian denomination, in connection with 
which are a Normal School and a Biblical Insti- 
tute. The town has a handsome courthouse and 
a jail, two weekly and one monthly paper. 
Eureka became the county-seat of Woodford 
County in 1896, the change from Metamora being 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



159 



due to the central location and more convenient 
accessibility of the former from all parts of the 
county. Population (1880), 1,185; (1890), 1,481; 
(1900), 1,661. 

EUREKA COLLEGE, located at Eureka. Wood- 
ford Count}-, and chartered in 18oo, distinctively 
imder the care and supervision of the "Christian'' 
or "Campbellite" denomination. The primary 
aim of its founders was to prepare young men for 
the ministry, while at the same time affording 
facilities for liberal culture. It was chartered in 
1855, and its growth, while gradual, has been 
steady. Besides a preparatory department and a 
business school, the college maintains a collegiate 
department (with classical and scientific courses) 
and a theological school, the latter being designed 
to fit young men for the ministry of the denomi- 
nation. Both male and female matriculates are 
received. In 1890 there ^vas a faculty of eighteen 
professors and assistants, and an attendance of 
some 325 students, nearly one-third of whom 
were females. The total value of the institution's 
property is §1-14,000, which includes an endow- 
ment of 845,000 and real estate valued at §85,000. 

EUSTACE, John V., lawj'er and judge, was 
liorn in Philadelphia, Sept. 9, 1821 ; graduated 
from the University of Pennsylvania in 1839, and, 
in 1842, at the age of 21, was admitted to the bar, 
removing the same j-ear to Dixon, 111. , where he 
resided imtil his death. In 1856 he was elected 
to the General Assembly and, in 1857, became 
Circuit Judge, serving one term; was chosen 
Presidential Elector in 1864, and, in March, 1878, 
was again elevated to the Circuit Bench, vice 
Judge Heaton, deceased. He was elected to the 
same position in 1879, and re-elected in 1885. but 
died in 1888, three years before the expiration of 
his term. 

EVANGELICAL SEMINAKT, an institution 
under the direction of the Lutheran denomina- 
tion, incorporated in 1865 and located at Elm- 
hurst, Du Page Coimty. Instruction is given in 
the classics, theology, oratory and preparatory 
studies, bj' a faculty of eight teachers. The 
number of pupils during the school year (1895-96) 
was 133 — all young men. It has property valued 
at §59,305. 

EVANS, Henry H., legislator, was born in 
Toronto, Can., March 9, 1836; brought by his 
father (who was a native of Pennsylvania) to 
Aurora, 111., where the latter finally became fore- 
man of the Chicago, Burlington & Quinc.y ma- 
chine shops at that place. In 1862 young Evans 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth 
Illinois Volunteers, serving until the close of the 



"ar. Since the war he has become most widely 
known as a member of the General Assembly, hav- 
ing been elected first to the House, in 1876, and 
subsequently to the Senate ever}' four years from 
1880 to the year 1898, giving him over twenty 
years of almost continuous service. He is a large 
owner of real estate and has been prominently 
connected with financial and other business 
enterprises at Aurora, including the Aurora Gas 
and Street Railway Companies; also served with 
the rank of Colonel on the staffs of Governors 
Cullom. Hamilton, Fifer and Oglesby. 

EVANS, (Rev.) Jervice G., educator and re- 
former, was born in Marshall County, 111., Dec. 
19, 1833; entered the ministry of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church in 1854, and, in 1872, accepted 
the presidencj- of Hedding College at Abingdon, 
which he filled for six years. He then became 
President of Chaddock College at Quincy, but the 
following year returned to pastoral work. In 
1889 he again became President of Hedding Col- 
lege, where ( 1898) he still remains. Dr. Evans is 
a member of the Central Illinois (M. E.) Confer- 
ence and a leader in the prohibition movement ; 
has also produced a number of volumes on reli- 
gious and moral questions. 

EVANS, John, M.D., physician and Governor, 
was born at Waynesville, Ohio, of Quaker ances- 
try, March 9, 1814; graduated in medicine at 
Cincinnati and began practice at Ottawa, 111., 
but soon returned to Ohio, finally locating at 
Attica, Ind. Here he became prominent in the 
establishment of the fii'st insane hospital in In- 
diana, at Indianapolis, about 1841-42, becoming a 
resident of that city in 1845. Three years later, 
having accepted a chair in Rush Medical College, 
in Chicago, he removed thither, also serving for 
a time as editor of "The Northwestern Medical 
and Surgical Journal." He served as a member 
of the Chicago City Council, became a successful 
operator in real estate and in the promotion of 
various railroad enterprises, and was one of the 
founders of the Northwestern University, at 
Evanston, serving as President of the Board of 
Trustees over forty years. Dr. Evans was one of 
the founders of the Republican party in Illinois, 
and a strong personal friend of President Lincoln, 
from whom, in 1862, he received the appointment 
of Governor of the Ten-itory of Colorado, con- 
tinuing in office \intil displaced by Andrew John- 
son in 1865. In Colorado he became a leading 
factor in the construction of some of the most 
important railroad lines in that section, including 
the Denver, Texas & Gulf Road, of which he was 
for many years the President. He was also 



160 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



prominent in connection with educational and 
church enterprises at Denver, whicli was his home 
after leaving Illinois. Died, in Denver, July 3, 1897. 
EVANSTOX, a city of Cook County, situated 12 
miles north of Chicago, on the Chicago, Milwau- 
kee & St. Paul and the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroads. The original town was incorporated 
Dec. 29, 1863, and, in March, 1809, a special act 
was passed by the Legislature incorporating it as 
a city, but rejected by vote of the people. On 
Oct. 19, 1872, the voters of the corporate town 
adopted village organizations under the General 
Village and City Incorporation Act of the same 
year. Since then annexations of adjacent terri- 
tory to the village of Evanston have taken place 
as follows: In January, 1873, two small districts 
by petition; in April, 1874, the village of North 
Evanston was annexed by a majority vote of the 
electors of both corporations; in April, 1886, 
there was another annexation of a small out-lying 
district by petition; in February, 1892, the ques- 
tion of the annexation of South Evanston was 
submitted to the voters of both corporations and 
adopted. On March 29, 1892, the question of 
organization under a city government was sub- 
mitted to popular vote of the consolidated corpo- 
ration and decided in the affirmative, the first 
city election taking place April 19, following. 
The population of the original corporation of 
Evanston, according to the census of 1890, was 
12,072, and of South Evanston, 3,20.5, making the 
total population of the new city 15,967. Judged 
by the census returns of 1900, the consolidated 
city has had a healthy growth in the past 
ten years, giving it, at the end of the 
century, a population of 19,259. Evanston is 
one of the most attractive residence cities in 
Northern Illinois and famed for its educational 
advantages. Besides having an admirable system 
of graded and high schools, it is the seat of the 
academic and theological departments of the 
Northwestern University, the latter being known 
as the Garrett Biblical Institute. The city has 
well paved streets, is lighted by both gas and 
electricity, and maintains its own system of 
water works. Prohibition is strictly enforced 
within the corporate limits imder stringent 
mimicipal ordinances, and the charter of the 
Northwestern University forbidding the sale of 
intoxicants within four miles of that institution. 
As a consequence, it is certain to attract the 
most desirable class of people, whether consisting 
of those seeking permanent homes or simply 
contemplating temporary residence for the sake 
of educational advantages. 



EWIXG, William Lee Davidson, early lawyer 
and politician, was liorn in Kentucky in 179."), and 
came to Illinois at an early day, first settling at 
Shawneetown. As earlj' as 1820 he appears from 
a letter of Governor Edwards to President Mon- 
roe, to have been holding some Federal appoint- 
ment, presumabh' that of Receiver of Public 
Moneys in the Land Office at Vandalia, as con- 
temporary history shows that, in 1822, he lost a 
deposit of §1,000 by the robbery of the bank there. 
He was also Brigadier-General of the State militia 
at an early daj-, Colonel of the "Spy Battalion" 
during the Black Hawk War, and, as Indian 
Agent, superintended the removal of the Sacs 
and Foxes west of the Mississippi. Other posi- 
tions held by him included Clerk of the House of 
Representatives two sessions (1826-27 and 1828-29) ; 
Representative from the counties composing the 
Vandalia District in the Seventh General Assem- 
bly (1830-31), when he also became Speaker of the 
House; Senator from the same District in the 
Eighth and Ninth General Assemblies, of wliich 
he was chosen President pro tempore. While 
serving in this capacity he became ex-officio 
Lieutenant-Governor in consequence of the resig- 
nation of Lieut. -Gov. Zadoc Casey to ac«;pt a 
seat in Congress, in March, 1833, and, in Novem- 
ber, 1834, assumed the Governorship as successor 
to Governor Reynolds, who had been elected to 
Congress to fill a vacancy. He served only fifteen 
days as Governor, when he gave place to Gov. 
Joseph Duncan, who had been elected in due 
course at the previous election. A year later 
(December, 1835) he was chosen United States 
Senator to succeed Elias Kent Kane, who had 
died in office. Failing of a re-election to the 
Senatorship in 1837, he was returned to the House 
of Representatives from his old district in 1838, 
as he was again in 1840, at each session being 
chosen Speaker over Abraham Lincoln, who was 
the Whig candidate. Dropping out of the Legis- 
lature at the close of his term, we find him at the 
beginning of the next session (December, 1842) in 
his old place as Clerk of the House, but, before 
the close of the session (in March, 1843), appointed 
Auditor of Public Accounts as successor to James 
Shields, who had resigned. While occupying the 
office of Auditor, Mr. Ewing died, March 25, 1846. 
His public career was as unique as it was remark- 
able, in the number and character of the official 
positions held by him within a period of twenty- 
five years. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. (See State officers 
under heads of "Gorernor," "Lindniant Gov- 
ernor." etc.) 



HISTOIIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



161 



EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY, ILLINOIS 
CHARITABLE. This institution is an outgrowth 
of a private charity founded at Chicago, in 1858, 
by Dr. Edward L. Holmes, a distinguished Chi- 
cago oculist. In 1871 the property of the institu- 
tion was transferred to and accepted bj' the State, 
the title was changed by the substitution of the 
word "Illinois" for "Cliicago, '" and the Infirmary 
became a State institution. The fire of 1871 
destroyed the building, and, in 1873-74, the State 
erected another of brick, four stories in height, 
at the corner of West Adams and Peoria Streets, 
Chicago. The institution receives patients from 
all the counties of the State, the same receiving 
board, lodging, and medical aid, and (when neces- 
sary) surgical treatment, free of charge. The 
number of patients on Dec. 1, 1897, was 160. In 
1877 a free eye and ear dispensary was opened 
vinder legislative authority, which is under charge 
of some eminent Chicago specialists. 

FAIRBURY, an incorporated city of Livings- 
ton County, situated ten miles southeast of Pon- 
tiac, in a fertile and thickly -settled region. Coal, 
sandstone, limestone, fire-clay and a micaceous' 
quartz are found in the neighborhood. The 
town has banks, grain elevators, flouring mills 
and two weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 
2,140; (1890), 2,'324; (1900), 3,187. 

FAIRFIELD, an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Wayne County and a railway junction, 
108 miles southeast of St. Louis. The town has 
an extensive woolen factory and large flouring 
and saw mills. It also has four weekly papers 
and is an important fruit and grain-shipping 
point. Population (1880), 1,391; (1890). 1,881; 
(1900), 3,338. 

FAIRMOUNT, a village of Vermilion County, 
on the Wabash Railway, 13 miles west-southwest 
from Danville ; industrial interests chieflj- agri- 
cultural ; has brick and tile factory, a coal mine, 
stone quarry, three rural mail routes and one 
weekly paper. Population (1890), 649 ; (1900), 928. 

FALLOWS, (Rt. Rev.) Samuel, Bishop of Re- 
formed Protestant Episcopal Church, was born at 
Pendleton, near Manchester, England, Dec. 13, 
183.5; removed with his parents to Wisconsin in 
1848, and graduated from the State University 
there in 1859, during a part of his university 
course serving as pastor of a Methodist Episcopal 
church at Madison ; was next Vice-President of 
Gainesville University till 1861, when he was 
ordained to the Methodist ministry and became 
pastor of a church at Oshkosh. The following 
year ne was appointed Chaplain of the Thirty- 



second Wisconsin Volunteers, but later assisted 
in organizing the Fortieth Wisconsin, of which 
he became Colonel, in 1865 being brevetted Briga- 
dier-General. On his return to civil life he 
became a pastor in Milwaukee; was appointed 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction for 
Wisconsin to fill a vacancy, in 1871, and was twice 
re-elected. In 1874 he was elected President of 
the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, 
111., remaining two j'ears; in 1875 united with the 
Reformed Episcopal Church, soon after became 
Rector of St. Paul's Church in Chicago, and was 
elected a Bishop in 1876, also assuming the 
editorship of "The Appeal." the organ of the 
church. He served as Regent of the University 
of Wisconsin (1864-74), and for several years has 
been one of the Trustees of the Illinois State 
Reform School at Pontiac. He is the author of 
two or three volumes, one of them being a "Sup- 
plementary Dictioaarj', " published in 1884. 
Bishop Fallows has had supervision of Reformed 
Episcopal Church work in the West and North- 
west for several years ; has also served as Chaplain 
of the Grand Army of the Republic for the 
Department of Illinois and of the Loyal Legion, 
and was Chairman of the General Committee of 
the Educational Congress during the World's 
Columbian Exposition of 1893. 

FARINA, a town of Fayette County, on the 
Chicago Division of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
29 miles northeast of Centralia. Agriculture and 
fruit-growing constitute the chief business of the 
section; the town has one newspaper. Popula- 
tion (1890), 618; (1900), 693; (1903, est), 800. 

FARMER CITY, a city of De Witt County, 23 
miles southeast of Bloomington, at the junction 
of the Springfield division of the Illinois Central 
and the Peoria division of the Cleveland, Cincin- 
nati, Chicago & St. Louis Railwaj-s. It is a 
trading center for a rich agricultural and stock- 
raising district, especially noted for rearing finely 
bred horses. The city has banks, two news- 
papers, churches of four denominations and good 
schools, including a high school. Population 
(1880), 1,289; (1890), 1,367; (1900), 1,664- 

FARMERS' INSTITUTE, an organization 
created by an act, approved June 24, 1895, de- 
signed to encourage practical education among 
farmers, and to assist in developing the agricul- 
tiu-al resources of the State. Its membership 
consists of three delegates from each county in 
the State, elected annually by the Farmers' 
Institute in such county. Its affairs are managed 
by a Board of Directors constituted as follows: 
Tlie Superintendent of Public Instruction, the 



162 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Professor of Agriculture in the University of Illi- 
nois, and the Presidents of tlie State Board of 
Agriculture. Dairymen's Association and Horti- 
cultural Society, exoificio. with one member from 
each Congressional District, chosen by the dele- 
gates from the district at the annual meeting of 
the organization. Annual meetings (between 
Oct. 1 and March 1) are required to be held, 
which shall continue in session for not less than 
three days. The topics for discussion are the 
cuiti%-ation of crops, the care and breeding of 
domestic animals, dairy husbandry, horticulture, 
farm drainage, improvement of highways and 
general farm management. The reports of the 
annual meetings are printed by the State to the 
number of 10,000, one-half of the edition being 
placed at the disposal of the Institute. Suitable 
quarters for the officers of tlie organization are 
provided in the State capitol. 

FARMINGTON, a city and railroad center in 
Fulton County, 12 miles north of Canton and 22 
miles west of Peoria. Coal is extensively mined 
here; there are also brick and tile factories, a 
foundry, one steam flour-mill, and two cigar 
manufactories. It is a large shipping-point for 
grain and live-stock. Tlie town has two banks 
and two newspapers, five churches and a graded 
school. Population (1890). 1,375; (1903, est,), 2.103. 

FARjVSWORTH, Elon John, soldier, was born 
at Green Oak, Livingston Countj', Mich., ip 1837. 
After completing a course in the public schools, 
he entered the University of Michigan, but left 
college at the end of his freshman year (1858) to 
serve in the Quartermaster's department of the 
army in the Utah expedition. At the expiration 
of his term of service he became a buffalo hunter 
and a carrier of mails between the haunts of 
civilization and the then newly -discovered mines 
at Pike's Peak. Returning to IlUnois, he was 
commissioned (1861) Assistant Quartermaster of 
tlie Eighth Illinois Cavalry, of which his uncle 
was Colonel. (See Farnswortli, John Franklin.) 
He soon rose to a captaincy, distinguishing him- 
self in the battles of the Peninsula. In May, 
1863, he was appointed aid-de-camp to General 
Pleasanton, and, on June 29, 1863, was made a 
Brigadier-General. Four days later he was killed, 
while gallantly leading a cliarge at Gettysburg. 

FARNSWORTH, John FraiikUii, soldier and 
former Congressman, was born at Eaton, Canada 
Ea.st, March 27, 1820; removed to Michigan in 
1834, and later to Illinois, settling in Kane 
County, where he practiced law for many years, 
making his home at St. Charles. He was elected 
to Congress in 1856, and re-elected in 18.58. In 



September of 1861. he was commissioned Colonel 
of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, and 
was brevetted Brigadier-General in November. 
1802, but resigned, March 4, 1S63, to take his seat 
in Congress to which he had been elected the 
November previous, by successive re-elections 
serving from 1863 to 1873. The latter j-ears of 
his life were spent in Washington, where he died, 
July 14, 1897. 

F.\RWELL, Charles Benjamin, merchant and 
United States Senator, was born at Painted Post, 
N. Y., July 1, 1823; removed to Illinois in 1838, 
and, for six years, was employed in surveying 
and farming. In 1844 he engaged in the real 
estate business and in banking, at Chicago. He 
was elected County Clerk in 1853, and re-elected 
in 1857. Later he entered into commerce, becom- 
ing a partner with his brother, John Villiers, in 
the firm of J. V. Farwell & Co. He was a mem- 
ber of the State Board of Equalization in 1867 ; 
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Cook 
County in 1868; and National Bank Examiner in 
1869. In 1870 he was elected to Congress as a 
Republican, was re-elected in 1872, but was 
defeated in 1874, after a contest for the seat which 
was carried into the House at "Washington. 
Again, in 1880, he was returned to Congress, 
making three full terms in that body. He also 
served for several years as Chairman of the 
Republican State Central Committee. After the 
death of Gen. John A. Logan he was (1887) 
elected United States Senator, his term expiring 
Marcli 3, 1891. Mr. Farwell has since devoted 
his attention to the immense mercantile busi- 
ness of J. V. Farwell & Co. 

FARWELL, John Villiers, merchant, was born 
at Campbelltown, Steuben County, N. Y., July 
29, 1825, the son of a farmer ; received a common- 
school education and, in 1838, removed with his 
father's family to Ogle County, 111. Here he 
attended Mount Morris Seminary for a time, but, 
in 1845, came to Chicago without capital and 
secured employment in the City Clerk's office, 
then became a book-keeper in the dry- goods 
establishment of Hamilton & White, and, still 
later, with Hamilton & Day. Having thus 
received his bent towards a mercantile career, he 
soon after entered the concern of Wadsworth & 
Phelps as a clerk, at a salary of §600 a year, but 
was admitted to a partnership in 1850, the title of 
the firm becoming Cooley, Farwell & Co., in 1860. 
About this time Marshall Field and Levi Z. Leiter 
became associated with the concern and received 
their mercantile training under the supervision 
of Mr. Farwell. In 1865 the title of the firm 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



163 



became J. V. Farwell & Co., but, in 1891, the firm 
was incorporated under the name of The J. V. 
Farwell Company, his brother, Charles B. Far- 
well, being a member. The subject of this sketch 
has long been a prominent factor in religious 
circles, a leading spirit of the Young Men's 
Cliristian Association, and served as President of 
the Chicago Branch of the United States 
Christian Commission during the Civil War. 
Politically he is a Republican and served as Presi- 
dential Elector at the time of President Lincoln's 
second election in 1864 ; also served by appoint- 
ment of President Grant, in 1869, on the Board of 
Indian Commissioners. He was a member of the 
syndicate which erected the Texas State Capitol, 
at Austin, in that State ; has been, for a number 
of years, Vice-President and Treasurer of the 
J. V. Farwell Company, and President of the 
Colorado Consolidated Land and Water Company. 
He was also prominent in the organization of the 
Chicago Public Librarj', and a member of the 
Union League, the Chicago Historical Society 
and the Art Institute. 

FAKWELL, William Washing'ton, jurist, was 
born at Morrisville, Madison County, N. Y., Jan. 
5, 1817, of old Puritan ancestry ; graduated from 
Hamilton College in 1837, and was admitted to 
the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in 1841. In 1848 he 
removed to Chicago, but the following year went 
to California, returning to his birthplace in 1850. 
In 1854 he again settled at Chicago and soon 
secured a prominent position at the bar. In 1871 
he was elected Circuit Court Judge for Cook 
County, and, in 1873, re-elected for a term of six 
years. During this period he sat chiefly upon 
the chancery side of the court, and, for a time, 
presided as Chief Justice. At the close of his 
second term he was a candidate for re-election as 
a Republican, but was defeated with the re- 
mainder of the ticket. In 1880 he was chosen 
Professor of Equity Jurisprudence in the Union 
College of Law (now the Northwestern Univer- 
sity Law School), serving until June, 1893, when 
he resigned. Died, in Chicago, April 30, 1894. 

FAYETTE COUNTY, situated about 60 miles 
south of the geographical center of the State; 
was organized in 1821, and named for the French 
General La Fayette. It has an area of 720 square 
miles; population (1900), 28,065. The soil is fer- 
tile and a rich vein of bituminous coal underlies 
the county. Agriculture, fruit-growing and 
mining are the chief industries. The old, historic 
"Cumberland Road," the trail for all west-bound 
emigrants, crossed the county at an early date. 
Perryville was the first county seat, but this town 



is now extinct. VandaUa, the present seat of 
county government (population, 2,144), stands 
upon a succession of bills upon the west bank of 
the Kaskaskia. From 1820 to 1839 it was the 
State Capital. Besides Vandalia the chief towns 
are Ramsey, noted for its railroad ties and tim- 
ber, and St. Elmo. 

FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN, ASYLUM 
FOR. This institution, originally established as 
a sort of appendage to the Illinois Institution for 
the Deaf and Dumb, was started at Jacksonville, 
in 1865, as an "experimental school, for the 
instruction of idiots and feeble-minded children." 
Its success having been assured, the school was 
placed upon an independent basis in 1871, and, 
in 1875, a site at Lincoln, Logan County, covering 
foi-ty acres, was donated, and the erection of 
buildings begun. The original plan provided for 
a center building, with wings and a rear exten- 
sion, to cost §124,775. Besides a main or adminis- 
tration building, the institution embraces a 
school building and custodial hall, a hospital and 
industrial workshop, and, during the past year, a 
chapel has been added. It has control of 890 
acres, of which 400 are leased for farming pui'- 
poses, the rental going to the benefit of the insti- 
tution. The remainder is used for the purposes 
of the institution as farm land, gardens or pas- 
ture, about ninety acres being occupied by the 
institution buildings. The capacity of the insti- 
tution is about 700 inmates, with many applica- 
tions constantly on file for the admission of 
others for whom there is no room. 

FEEHAN, Patrick A., D.D., Archbishop of 
the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Chicago, and 
Metropolitan of Illinois, was born at Tipperary, 
Ireland, in 1829, and educated at Maynooth 
College. He emigrated to tlie United States in 
1852, settling at St. Louis, and was at once 
appointed President of the Seminary of Caronde- 
let. Later he was made pastor of the Church of 
the Immaculate Conception at St. Louis, where 
he achieved marked distinction. In 1865 he was 
consecrated Bishop of Nashville, managing the 
affairs of the diocese with gi-eat abiUty. In 1880 
Chicago was raised to an archiepiscopal see, with 
Suffragan Bishops at Alton and Peoria, and 
Bishop Feehan was consecrated its first Arch- 
bishop. His administration has been conserva- 
tive, yet efficient, and the archdiocese has greatly 
prospered tmder his rule. 

FELL, Jesse W., lawyer and real-estate opera- 
tor, was born in Chester County, Pa., about 1808; 
started west on foot in 1828, and, after spending 
some years at Steubenville, Ohio, came to Dela- 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



van, 111., in 1833, and the next year located at 
Bloomington, being the first lawyer in that new- 
town. Later he became agent for school lands 
and the State Bank, but failed financially in 
1837, and returned to practice; resided several 
years at Payson, Adams County, but returning 
to Bloomington in 1855, was instrumental in 
securing the location of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad through that town, and was one of the 
founders of the towns of Clinton, Pontiac, Lex- 
ington and El Paso. He was an intimate personal 
and political friend of Abraham Lincoln, and it 
was to him Mr. Lincoln addressed his celebrated 
personal biography; in the campaign of 1860 he 
served as Secretary of the Republican State Cen- 
tral Committee, and, in 1862, was appointed by 
Mr. Lincoln a Paymaster in the regular army, 
serving some two years. Mr. Fell was also a zeal- 
ous friend of the cause of industrial education, 
and bore an important part in securing the 
location of the State Normal University at Nor- 
mal, of which city he was the founder. Died, at 
Bloomington, Jan. 25, 1887. 

FERGUS, Robert, early printer, was born in 
Glasgow, Scotland, August 4, 1815; learned the 
printer's trade in his native city, assisting in his 
youth in putting in type some of Walter Scott's 
productions and other works which now rank 
among English classics. In 1834 lie came to 
America, finally locating in Chicago, where, 
with various partners, he pursued the business of 
a job printer continuously some fifty years — 
being the veteran printer of Chicago. He was 
killed by being run over by a railroad train at 
Evanston, July 23, 1897. The establishment of 
which he was so long the head is continued by 
his sons. 

FERNWOOD, a suburban station on the Chi- 
cago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, 12 south of ter- 
ftiinal station; annexed to City of Chicago, 1891. 
FERRY, Elisha Peyre, politician, born in 
Monroe, Mich., August 9, 1825; was educated in 
his native town and admitted to the bar at Fort 
"Wayne, Ind., in 1845; removed to Waukegan, 
111., the following year, served as Postmaster and, 
in 1856, was candidate on the Republican ticket 
for Presidential Elector; was elected Mayor of 
Waukegan in 1859, a member of the State Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1863, State Bank Com- 
missioner in 1861-63, Assistant Adjutant-General 
(in the staff of Governor Yates during the war, 
and a delegate to the Republican National Con- 
vention of 1864. After the war he served as 
direct-tax Commissioner for Tennessee; in 1869 
was appointed Surveyor-General of Washington 



Territory and, in 1872 and "76, Territorial Gov- 
ernor. On the admission of Washington as a 
State, in 1889, he was elected the first Governor. 
Died, at Seattle, Wash., Oct. 14, 1895. 

FEVRE RIVER, a small stream which rises in 
Southern Wisconsin and enters the Mississippi in 
Jo Daviess County, six miles below Galena, which 
stands upon its banks. It is navigable for steam- 
boats between Galena and its mouth. The name 
originally given to it by early French explorers 
was "Feve" (the French name for "Bean"), 
which has since been corrupted into its present 
form. 

FICKLIJi, Orlando B., lawyer and politician, 
was born in Kentucky, Dec. 16, 1808, and 
admitted to the bar at Mount Carmel, Wabash 
County, 111., in March, 1830. In 1834 he was 
elected to the lower house of the Ninth General 
Assembly. After serving a term as State's 
Attorney for Wabash County, in 1837 he removed 
to Charleston, Coles County, where, in 1838, and 
again in '42, he was elected to the Legislature, as 
he was for the last time in 1878. He was four 
times elected to Congress, serving from 1843 to 
'49, and from 1851 to '53 ; was Presidential Elector 
in 1856. and candidate for the same position on 
the Democratic ticket for the State-at-large in 
1884; was also a delegate to the Democratic 
National Conventions of 1856 and '60. He was 
a member of the Constitutional Convention of 
1863. Died, at Charleston, May 5, 1886. 

FIELD, Alexander Pope, early legislator and 
Secretary of State, came to Illinois about the 
time of its admission into the Union, locating in 
Union County, which he represented in the Third, 
Fifth and Sixth General Assemblies. In the 
first of these he was a prominent factor in the 
ejection of Representative Hansen of Pike County 
and the seating of Shaw in his place, which 
enabled the advocates of slavery to secure the 
passage of a resolution submitting to the people 
the question of calling a State Constitutional 
Convention. In 1838 he was appointed Secretary 
of State by Governor Edwards, remaining in 
oflice under Governors Reynolds and Dun- 
can and through half the term of Governor 
Carlin, though the latter attempted to secure 
his removal in 1838 by the appointment of 
John A. McClernand — the courts, however, 
declaring against the latter. In November, 1840, 
the Governor's act was made effective by the 
confirmation, by the Senate, of Stephen A. Doug- 
las as Secretary in place of Field. Douglas 
held the office only to the following February, 
when he resigned to take a place on the Supreme 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



165 



bench and Lyman Trumbull was appointed to 
succeed him. Field (who liad become a Whig) 
was appointed by President Harrison, in 1841, 
Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, later removed 
to St. Louis and finally to New Orleans, where he • 
was at tlie beginning of the late war. In Decem- 
ber, 1863, he presented him.self as a member of 
the Thirty-eighth Congress for Louisiana, but 
was refused his seat, though claiming in an elo- 
quent speech to have been a loyal man. Died, in 
New Orleans, in 1877. Mr. Field was a nephew 
of Judge Natlianiel Pope, for over thirty years on 
the bench of the United States District Court. 

FIELD, Eug'ene, journalist, humorist and poet, 
was born in St. Louis. Mo., Sept. 3, 18.50. Left an 
orphan at an early age, he was reared by a rela- 
tive at Amherst, Mass. , and received a portion of 
his literary training at Monson and Williamstown 
in that State, completing his course at the State 
University of Missouri. After an extended tour 
through Europe in 1872-73, he began his journal- 
istic career at St. Louis, Mo., as a reporter on 
"The Evening Journal," later becoming its city 
editor. During the next ten years he was succes- 
sively connected with newspapers at St. Joseph, 
Mo., St. Louis, Kansas City, and at Denver, Colo., 
at the last named city being managing editor of 
"The Tribune." In 1888 he removed to Chicago, 
becoming a special writer for "The Chicago 
News," his particular department for several 
years being a pungent, witty column with the 
caption, "Sharps and Flats." He wrote con- 
siderable prose fiction and much poetry, among 
the latter being successful translations of several 
of Horace's Odes. As a poet, however, he was 
best known through his short poems relating to 
childhood and home, which strongly appealed to 
the popular heart. Died, in Chicago, deeply 
mourned by a large circle of admirers, Nov. 4, 
1895. 

FIELD, Marshall, merchant and capitalist, was 
born in Conway, Mass., in 1835, and grew up on 
a farm, receiving a common school and academic 
education. At the age of 17 he entered upon a 
mercantile career as clerk in a dry -goods store at 
Pittsfield, Mass., but, in 1856, came to Chicago 
and secured employment with Messrs. Cooley, 
Wadsworth & Co. ; in 1860 was admitted into 
partnership, the firm becoming Cooley, FarweU 
& Co., and still later, Farwell, Field & Co. The 
last named firm was dissolved and that of Field, 
Palmer & Leiter organized in 1865. Mr. Palmer 
having retired in 1867, the firm was continued 
under the name of Field, Leiter & Co., until 1881, 
when Mr. Leiter retired, the concern being since 



known as Marshall Field & Co. The growth of 
the business of this great establishment is shown 
by the fact that, whereas its sales amounted 
before the fire to some 812,000,000 annually, in 
1895 they aggregated §40,000,000. Mr. Field's 
business career has been remarkable for its suc- 
cess in a city famous for its successful business 
men and the vastness of their commercial oper- 
ations. He has been a generous and discrimi- 
nating patron of important public enterprises, 
some of his more conspicuous donations being the 
gift of a tract of land valued at §300,000 and 
§100,000 in cash, to the Chicago University, and 
§1,000,000 to the endowment of tlie Field Colum- 
bian Museum, as a sequel to the World's Colum- 
bian Exposition. The latter, chiefly through the 
munificence of Mr. Field, promises to become one 
of the leading institutions of its kind in the 
United States. Besides his mercantile interests, 
Mr. Field has extensive interests in various finan- 
cial and manufacturing enterprises, including 
the Pullman Palace Car Company and the Rock 
Island & Pacific Railroad, in each of which he is 
a Director. 

FIFER, Joseph W., born at Stanton, Va., Oct. 
28, 1840; in 1857 he accompanied his father (who 
was a stone-mason) to McLean County, 111. , and 
worked at the manufacture and laying of brick. 
At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a 
private in the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and 
was dangerously wounded at the assault on Jack- 
son, Miss., in 1863. On the healing of his wound, 
disregarding the advice of family and friends, he 
rejoined his regiment. At the close of the war, 
wlien about 25 years of age, he entered the Wes- 
leyan University at Bloomington, where, by dint 
of hard work and frugality, while supporting 
himself in part by manual labor, he secured a 
diploma in 1868. He at once began tlie study of 
law, and, soon after his admission, entered upon a 
practice which subsequently proved both success- 
ful and lucrative. He was elected Corporation 
Counsel of Bloomington in 1871 and State's Attor- 
ney for McLean County in 1872, holding the latter 
office, through re-election, until 1880, when he 
was chosen State Senator, serving in the Thirty- 
second and Thirty-third General Assemblies. In 
1888 he was nominated and elected Governor on 
the Republican ticket, but, in 1892, was defeated 
by John P. Altgeld, the Democratic nominee, 
though running in advance of the national and 
the rest of the State ticket. 

FINERTY, John F., ex-Congressman and 
journalist, was born in Galway, Ireland, Sept. 
10, 1846. His studies were mainly prosecuted 



166 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



under private tutors. At the age of 16 he entered 
the profession of journalism, and, in 1864, coming 
to America, soon after enlisted, serving for 100 
days during the Civil War, in the Ninety -ninth 
New York Volunteers. Subsequently, having 
removed to Chicago, he was connected with "The 
Chicago Times" as a special correspondent from 
1876 to 1881, and, in 1882, estabUshed "The Citi- 
zen," a weekly newspaper devoted to the Irish- 
American interest, which he continues to pub- 
lish. In 1883 he was elected, as an Independ- 
ent Democrat, to represent the Second Illinois 
District in the Forty-eighth Congress, but, run- 
ning as an Independent Republican for re-election 
in 188-1, was defeated by Frank Lawler, Democrat. 
In 1887 he was appointed Oil Inspector of Chi- 
cago, and, since 1889, has held no public office, 
giving his attention to editorial work on his 
paper. 

FISHER, (Dr.) George, pioneer physician and 
legislator, was probably a native of Virginia, 
from which State he appears to have come to 
Kaskaskia previous to 1800. He became very 
prominent during the Territorial period; was 
appointed by William Henry Harrison, then 
Governor of Indiana Territory, the first Sheriff of 
Randolph County after its organization in 1801 ; 
was elected from that county to the Indiana 
Territorial House of Representatives in 1805, and 
afterwards promoted to the Territorial Council ; 
was also Representative in the First and Third 
Legislatures of Illinois Territory (1812 and '16), 
serving as Speaker of each. He was a Dele- 
gate to the Constitutional Convention of 1818, but 
died [on his farm near Kaskaskia in 1820. Dr. 
Fisher participated in the organization of the 
first Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Illi- 
nois at Kaskaskia, in 1806, and was elected one 
of its officers. 

FISHERIES. The fisheries of Illinois center 
chiefly at Chicago, the catch being taken from 
Lake Michigan, and including salmon trout, 
white fish (the latter species including a lake 
herring), wall-ej^ed pike, three kinds of bass, 
three varieties of sucker, carp and sturgeon. The 
"fishing fleet" of Lake Michigan, properly so 
called, (according to the census of 1890) con- 
sisted of forty-seven steamers and one schooner, 
of which only one — a steamer of twenty-six tons 
burthen — was credited to Illinois. The same 
report showed a capital of $36,105 invested in 
land, buildings, wharves, vessels, boats and 
apparatus. In addition to the "fishing fleet" 
mentioned, nearly 1,100 sail-boats and other vari- 
eties of craft are employed in the industry. 



sailing from ports between Chicago and Macki 
nac, of which, in 1890, Illinois furnished 94, or 
about nine per cent. All sorts of apparatus are 
used, but the principal are gill, fyke and pound 
nets, and seines. The total value of these minor 
Illinois craft, with tlieir equipment, for 1890, was 
nearly §18,000, the catch aggregating 722.830 
pounds, valued at between .?24,000 and $25,000. 
Of this draught, the entire quantity was either 
sold fresh in Chicago and adjacent markets, or 
shipped, either in ice or frozen. The Mississippi 
and its tributaries yield walleyed pike, pike 
perch, buffalo fish, sturgeon, paddle fish, and 
other species available for food. 

FITHIAN, George W., ex-Congressman, was 
born on a farm near Willow Hill, 111., July 4, 1854. 
His early education was obtained in the common 
schools, and he learned the trade of a printer at 
Mount Carmel. While employed at the case he 
found time to study law, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1875. In 1876 he was elected State's 
Attorney for Jasper County, and re-elected in 
1880. He was prominent in Democratic politics, 
and, in 1888, was elected on the ticket of that 
party to represent the Sixteenth Illinois District 
in Congress. He was re-elected in 1890 and 
again in 1892, but, in 1894, was defeated by his 
Republican opponent. 

FITHIAN, (Dr.) William, pioneer physician, 
was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1800; built the 
first houses in Springfield and Urbana in that 
State; in 1822 began the study of medicine at 
Urbana; later practiced two years at Mechanics- 
burgh, and four years at Urbana, as partner of 
his preceptor; in 1830 came west, locating at 
Danville, Vermilion County, where he became a 
large land-owner; in 1832 served with the Ver- 
milion County militia in the Black Hawk War, 
and, in 1834, was elected Representative in the 
Ninth General Assembly, the first of which 
Abraham Lincoln was a member; afterwards 
served two terms in the State Senate from the 
Danville District (1838-46). Dr. Fithian was 
active in promoting the railroad interests of 
Danville, giving the right of way for railroad 
purposes through a large body of land belonging 
to him, in Vermilion County. He was also a 
member of various medical associations, and, 
during his later years, was the oldest practicing 
physician in the State. Died, in Danville, 111., 
April 5, 1890. 

FLAGG, Gershom, pioneer, was born in Rich- 
mond, Vt., in 1792, came west in 1816, settling in 
Madison County, 111., in 1818, where he was 
known as an enterprising farmer and a prominent 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



167 



and influential citizen. Originally a Whig, he 
became a zealous Republican on the organization 
of that party, dying in 1857. — Wlllard Cutting 
(Flagg), son of the preceding, was born in Madi- 
son County, 111., Sept 16, 1829, spent his early life 
on his father's farm and in the common schools; 
from 1844 to '50 was a pupil in the celebrated 
high school of Edward Wyman in St. Louis, 
finally graduating with honors at Yale College, 
in 1854. During his college course he took a 
number of literary prizes, and, in his senior year, 
served as one of the editors of "The Yale Literary 
Magazine." Returning to Illinois after gradu- 
ation, he took charge of his father's farm, engaged 
extensively in fruit-culture and stock-raising, 
being the first to introduce the Devon breed of 
cattle in Madison County in 1859. He was a 
member of the Republican State Central Com- 
mittee in 1860 ; in 1863, by appointment of Gov. 
Yates, became Enrolling Officer for Madison 
County ; served as Collector of Internal Revenue 
for the Twelfth District, 1864-69, and, in 1868, 
was elected to the State Senate for a term of four 
years, and, during the last session of his term 
(1872), took a prominent part in the revision o/ 
the school law ; was appointed a member of the 
first Board of Trustees of the Industrial Univer- 
.sity (now the University of Illinois) at Cham- 
paign, and reappointed in 1875. Mr. Flagg was 
also prominent in agricultural and horticultural 
organizations, serving as Secretary of the State 
Horticultural Society from 1861 to 'C9, when he 
became its President. He was one of the origi- 
nators of the "farmers' movement," served for 
some time as President of "The State Farmers' 
Association," wrote voluminously, and delivered 
addresses in various States on agricultural and 
horticultural topics, and, in 1875, was elected 
President of the National Agricultural Congress. 
In his later years he was a recognized leader in 
the Granger movement. Died, at Mora, Madison 
County, lU., April 5, 1878. 

FLEMING, Robert K., pioneer printer, was 
born in Erie County, Pa., learned the printers' 
trade in Pittsburg, and, coming west while quite 
young, worked at his trade in St. Louis, finally 
removing to Kaskaskia, where he was placed in 
control of the office of "The Republican Advo- 
cate," which had been established in 1823, by 
Elias Kent Kane. The publication of "The 
Advocate" having been suspended, he revived it 
in May, 1825, under the name of "The Kaskaskia 
Recorder," but soon removed it to Vandalia (then 
the State capital), and, in 1827, began the publi- 
cation of "The Illinois Corrector," at Edwards- 



ville. Two years later he returned to Kaskaskia 
and resumed the publication of "The Recorder," 
but, in 1833, was induced to remove his office to 
Belleville, where he commenced the publication 
of "The St. Clair Gazette," followed by "Tlie St. 
Clair Mercury," both of which had a brief exist- 
ence. About 1843 he returned to the newspaper 
business as publisher of "The Belleville Advo- 
cate," which he continued for a number of years. 
He died, at Belleville, in 1874, leaving two sons 
who have been prominently identified with the 
history of journalism in Southern Illinois, at 
Belleville and elsewhere. 

FLETCHER, Job, pioneer and early legislator, 
was born in Virginia, in 1793, removed to Sanga- 
mon County, 111., in 1819; was elected Represent- 
ative in 1826, and, in 1834, to the State Senate, 
serving in the latter body six years. He was one 
of the famous "Long Nine" which represented 
Sangamon County in the Tenth General Assem- 
bly. Mr. Fletcher was again a member of the 
House in 1844-45. Died, in Sangamon County, 
in 1872. 

FLORA, a city in Harter Township, Clay 
County, on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern 
Railroad, 95 miles east of St. Louis, and 108 miles 
south-southeast of Springfield; has barrel factory, 
flouring mills, cold storage and ice plant, three 
fruit-working factories, two banks, six churches 
and a weekly newspaper. Population (1890), 
1,695; (1900), 2,311 ; (1903, est.), 3,000. 

FLOWER, George, early English colonist, was 
born in Hertfordshire, England, about 1780; 
came to the United States in 1817, and was associ- 
ated with Morris Birkbeck in founding the 
"English Settlement"' at Albion, Edwards 
County, 111. Being in affluent circumstances, he 
built an elegant mansion and stocked an exten- 
sive farm with blooded animals from England 
and other parts of Europe, but met with reverses 
which dissipated his wealth. In common with 
Mr. Birkbeck, he was one of the determined 
opponents of the attempt to establish slavery in 
Illinois in 1824, and did much to defeat that 
measure. He and his wife died on the same day 
(Jan. 15, 1862), while on a visit to a daugliter at 
Grayville, III. A book written by him — "History 
of the English Settlement in Edwards County, 
111." — and published in 1883, is a valuable contri- 
bution to the early history of that portion of the 
State.— Edward Fordhams (Flower), son of the 
preceding, was born in England, Jan. 31, 1805, 
but came with Iiis father to Illinois in early life ; 
later he returned to England and spent nearly 
half a century at Stratford-onAvon, where he 



168 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



was four times chosen Mayor of that borough 
and entertained many visitors from the United 
States to Shakespeare's birthplace. Died, March 
26, 1883. 

FOBES, Phllena, educator, born in Onondaga 
County, N. Y.. Sept. 10, 1811; was educated at 
Albany and at Cortland Seminary, Rochester, 
N. Y. ; in 1838 became a teacher in Monticello 
Female Seminary, then newly established at 
Godfrey, 111., under Rev. Theron Baldwin, Prin- 
cipal. On the retirement of Mr. Baldwin in 1843, 
Miss Fobes succeeded to the principalship, 
remaining until 1866, when she retired. For 
some years she resided at Rochester, N. Y., and 
New Haven, Conn., but, in 1886, she removed to 
Philadelphia, where she afterwards made her 
home, notwithstanding her advanced age, main- 
taining a lively interest in educational and 
benevolent enterprises. Miss Fobes died at Phila- 
delphia, Nov. 8, 1898, and was buried at New 
Haven, Conn. 

FOLEY, Thomas, Roman Catholic Bishop, born 
in Baltimore. Md., in 1823; was ordained a prie.st 
in 1846, and, two years later, was appointed Chan- 
cellor of the Diocese, being made Vicar-General 
in 1867. He was nominated Coadjutor Bishop of 
the Chicago Diocese in 1869 (Bisliop Duggan hav- 
ing become insane), and, in 1870, was consecrated 
Bishop. His administration of diocesan work was 
prudent and eminently successful. As a man 
and citizen he won the respect of all creeds and 
classes alike, the State Legislature adopting 
resolutions of respect and regret upon learning 
of his death, whicli occurred at Baltimore, in 
1879. 

FORBES, Stephen Van Rensselaer, pioneer 
teacher, was born at Windham, Vt., July 26, 1797; 
in his youth acquired a knowledge of surveying, 
and, having removed to Newburg (now South 
Cleveland), Ohio, began teaching. In 1829 he 
came west to Chicago, and having joined a sur- 
veying party, went to Louisiana, returning in 
the following year to Chicago, wliich then con- 
tained only three white families outside of Fort 
Dearborn. Having been joined by his wife, he 
took up his abode in what was called the "sut- 
ler's house" connected with Fort Dearborn; was 
appointed one of the first Justices of the Peace, 
and opened the first school ever taught in Clii- 
cago, all but three of his pupils being either 
half-breeds or Indians. In 1832 he was elected, as 
a Whig, the first Sheriff of Cook County; later 
preempted 160 acres of land where Riverside 
now stands, subsequently becoming owner of 
some 1,800 acres, much of which he sold, about 



18,53, to Dr. W. B. Egan at $20 per acre. In 
1849, having been seized with the "gold fever," 
Mr. Forbes joined in the overland migration to 
California, but, not being successful, returned 
two years later by way of the Isthmus, and, hav- 
ing sold his possessions in Cook County, took up 
his abode at Newburg, Ohio, and resumed his 
occupation as a surveyor. About 1878 he again 
returned to Chicago, but survived only a short 
time, dying Feb. 17, 1879. 

FORD, Thomas, early lawyer, jurist and Gov- 
ernor, was born in Uniontown, Pa., and, in boy- 
hood, accompanied his mother (then a widow) to 
Missouri, in 1804. The family soon after located 
in Monroe County, 111. Largely through the 
efforts and aid of his half-brother, George 
Forquer, he obtained a professional education, 
became a successful lawyer, and, early in life, 
entered the field of politics. He served as a 
Judge of the Circuit Court for the northern part 
of the State from 1835 to 1837, and was again 
commissioned a Circuit Judge for the Galena 
circuit in 1839; in 1841 was elevated to the bench 
of the State Supreme Court, but resigned the 
following year to accept the nomination of his 
party (the Democratic) for Governor. He was 
regarded as upright in his general policy, but he 
had a number of embarrassing questions to deal 
with during his administration, one of these 
being the Mormon troubles, in which he failed to 
receive tlie support of his own party. He was 
author of a valuable 'History of Illinois," (pub- 
lished posthumously). He died, at Peoria, in 
greatly reduced circimistances, Nov. 3, 1850. The 
State Legislature of 1895 took steps to erect a 
monument over his grave. 

FORD COUNTY, lies northeast of Springfield, 
was organized in 1859, being cut off from Vermil- 
ion. It is shaped like an inverted "T," and has 
an area of 490 square miles; population (1900), 
18,359. The first County Judge was David Pat- 
ton, and David Davis (afterwards of the United 
States Supreme Court) presided over the first 
Circuit Court. The surface of the coimty is level 
and the soil fertile, consisting of a loam from one 
to five feet in depth. There is little timber, nor 
is there any out-cropping of stone. The county 
is named in honor of Governor Ford. The county- 
seat is Paxton, which had a population, in 1890, of 
2, 187. Gibson City is a railroad center, and has a 
population of 1,800. 

FORMAN, (Col.) Ferris, lawyer and soldier, 
was born in Tioga County, N. Y., August 2.5, 
1811; graduated at Union College in 1832, studied 
law and was admitted to the bar in New York in 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



169 



1835, and in the United States Supreme Court in 
1836; the latter year came west and settled at 
Vandalia, lU., where he began practice; in 1844 
was elected to the State Senate for the district 
composed of Fayette, Effingham. Clay and Rich- 
land Counties, serving two years; before the 
expiration of his term (1846) enlisted for the 
Mexican War, and was commissioned Colonel of 
the Third Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and, 
after participating in a number of the most 
important engagements of the campaign, was 
mustered out at New Orleans, in May, 1847. Re- 
turning from the Mexican War, he brought with 
him and presented to the State of Illinois a 
six-pound cannon, which had been captured by 
Illinois troops on the battlefield of Cerro Gordo, 
and is now in the State Arsenal at Springfield. 
In 1848 Colonel Forman was chosen Presidential 
Elector for the State -at -large on the Democratic 
ticket ; in 1849 went to California, where he prac- 
ticed his profession until 18,53. meanwhile serving 
as Postmaster of Sacramento City by appointment 
of President Pierce, and later as Secretary of 
State during the administration of Gov. John B. 
Weller (1858-60); in 1861 officiated, by appoint- 
ment of the California Legislature, as Commis- 
.sioner on the part of the State in fixing the 
boundary between California and the Territory 
of Utah. After the discharge of this duty, he 
was offered the colonelcy of the Fourth California 
Volunteer Infantry, which he accepted, serving 
about twenty months, when he resigned. In 
1866 he resumed his residence at Vandalia, and 
sers'ed as a Delegate for Fayette and Effingham 
Counties in the Constitutional Convention of 
1869-70, also for several years thereafter held the 
office of State's Attorney for Fayette County. 
Later he returned to California, and, at the 
latest date, was a resident of Stockton, in that 
State. 

PORMAN, William S., ex-Congressman, was 
born at Natchez, Miss. , Jan. 20, 1847. When he 
was four years old, his father's family removed to 
Illinois, settling in Washington County, where 
he has lived ever since. By profession he is a 
lawyer, and he takes a deep interest in politics, 
local. State and National. He represented his 
Senatorial District in the State Senate in the 
Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth General Assem- 
bUes, and, in 1888, was elected, as a Democrat, to 
represent the Eighteenth Illinois District in the 
Fifty-first Congress, being re-elected in 1890, and 
again in '93, but was defeated in 1894 for renomi- 
nation by John J. Higgins, who was defeated at 
the election of the same year by Everett J. Mur- 



phy. In 1896 Mr. Forman was candidate of the 
"Gold Democracy" for Governor of Illinois, 
receiving 8,100 votes. 

FORQUER, tJeorge, early State, officer, was 
born near Brownsville, Pa., in 1794 — was the son 
of a Revolutionary soldier, and older half-brother 
of Gov. Thomas Ford. He settled, with his 
mother (then a widow), at New Design, 111., in 
1804. After learning, and, for several years, 
following the carpenter's trade at St. Louis, he 
returned to Illinois and purchased the tract 
whereon Waterloo now stands. Subsequently he 
projected the town of Bridge water, on the Mis- 
sissippi. For a time he was a partner in trade of 
Daniel P. Cook. Being unsuccessful in business, 
he took up the study of law, in which he attained 
marked success. In 1824 he was elected to repre- 
sent Monroe County in the House of Represent- 
atives, but resigned in January of the following 
year to accept the position of Secretary of State, 
to which he was appointed by Governor Coles, 
as successor to Morris Birkbeck, whom the 
Senate had refused to confirm. One ground for 
the friendship between him and Coles, no doubt, 
was the fact that they had been united in their 
opposition to the scheme to make Illinois a slave 
State. In 1828 he was a candidate for Congress, 
but was defeated by Joseph Duncan, afterwards 
Governor. At the close of the year he resigned 
the office of Secretary of State, but, a few weeks 
later (January, 1829), he was elected by the 
Legislature Attorney-General. This position he 
held until January, 1833, when he resigned, hav- 
ing, as it appears, at the previous election, been 
chosen State Senator from Sangamon County, 
serving in the Eighth and Ninth General Assem- 
blies. Before the close of his term as Senator 
(1835), he received the appointment of Register 
of the Land Office at Springfield, which appears 
to have been the last office held by him, as he 
died, at Cincinnati, in 1837. Mr. Forquer was a 
man of recognized ability and influence, an elo- 
quent orator and capable writer, but, in common 
with some of the ablest lawyers of that time, 
seems to have been much embarrassed by the 
smaUness of his income, in spite of his ability 
and the fact that he was almost continually in 
office. 

FORREST, a village in Livingston County, at 
the intersection of the Toledo, Peoria & Western 
and the Wabash Railways, 75 miles east of Peoria 
and 16 miles southeast of Pontiac. Considerable 
grain is shipped from this point to the Chicago 
market. The village has several churches and a 
gradedschool. Population (1880), 375; (1900), 952. 



no 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



FORREST, Joseph K. C, journalist, was born 
in Cork, Ireland, Nov. 26, 1820; came to Chicago 
in 1840, soon after securing employment as a 
writer on "The Evening Journal," and, later on, 
"The Gem of tlie Prairies," the predecessor of 
"The Tribune," being associated with the latter 
at the date of its establishment, in June, 18-17. 
During the early years of his residence in Chi- 
cago, Mr. Forrest spent some time as a teacher. 
On retiring from "The Tribune," he became the 
associate of John Wentworth in the management 
of "The Chicago Democrat," a relation which 
was broken up by the consolidation of the latter 
with "The Tribune," in 1861. He then became 
the Springfield correspondent of "The Tribune, " 
also holding a position on the staff of Governor 
Yates, and still later represented "The St. Louis 
Democrat" and "Chicago Times," as Washington 
correspondent; assisted in founding "The Chicago 
Republican" (now "Inter Ocean"), in 1865, and, 
some years later, became a leading writer upon 
the same. He served one term as Clerk of the 
city of Chicago, but, in his later years, and up to 
the period of his death, was a leading contributor 
to the columns of "The Chicago Evening News" 
over the signatures of "An Old Timer" and "Now 
or Never." Died, in Chicago, June 23, 1896. 

FORRESTON, a village in Ogle County, the 
terminus of the Chicago and Iowa branch of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and 
point of intersection of the Illinois Central and 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railways; 107 
miles west by north from Chicago, and 12 miles 
south of Freeport ; founded in 18.54, incorporated 
by special charter in 1868, and, under the general 
law, in 1888. Farming and stock-raising are the 
principal industries. The village has a bank, 
water-works, electric light plant, creamery, vil- 
lage hall, seven churches, a graded school, and a 
newspaper. Population (1890), 1,118; (1900), 1,047. 

FORSYTHE, Albert P., ex-Congressman, was 
born at New Richmond, Ohio, May 24, 1830; 
received his early education in the common 
schools, and at Asbury University. He was 
reared upon a farm and followed farming as his 
life-work. During the War of the Rebellion he 
served in the Union army as Lieutenant. In 
politics he early became an ardent Nationalist, 
and was chosen President of the Illinois State 
Grange of the Patrons of Industry, in December, 
187.5, and again in January, 1878. In 1878 he was 
elected to Congress as a Nationalist, but, in 1880, 
though receiving the nominations of the com- 
bined Republican and Greenback parties, was 
defeated by Samuel W. Moulton, Democrat. 



FORT, Greenbury L., soldier and Congress- 
man, was born in Ohio. Oct. 17, 1825, and, in 1834, 
removed with his parents to IlUnois. In 1850 he 
was elected Slierifl of Putnam County ; in 1852, 
Clerk of the Circuit Court, and, having mean- 
while been admitted to the bar at Lacon, became 
County Judge in 1857, serving until 1861. In 
April of the latter year he enlisted under the first 
call for troops, by re-enlistments serving till 
March 34, 1866. Beginning as Quartermaster of 
his regiment, he served as Chief Quartermaster of 
tlie Fifteenth Army Corps on the "March to the 
Sea," and was mustered out with the rank ol 
Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General. On his 
return from the field, he was elected to the .State 
Senate, serving in the Twenty-fifth and Twenty- 
sixth General Assemblies, and, from 1873 to 1881, 
as Representative in Congress. He died, at 
Lacon, June 13, 1883. 

FORT CHARTRES, a strong fortification 
erected by the French in 1718, on the American 
Bottom, 16 miles northwest from Kaskaskia. 
The soil on which it stood was alluvial, and the 
limestone of which its walls were built was 
quarried from an adjacent bluff. In form it was 
an irregular quadrangle, surrounded on three 
sides by a wall two feet two inches thick, and on 
the fourth by a ravine, which, during the spring- 
time, was full of water. During the period of 
French ascendency in Illinois, Fort Chartres was 
the seat of government. About four miles east 
soon sprang up the village of Prairie du Rocher 
(or Rock Prairie). (See Prairie du Rocher.) At 
the outbreak of the French and Indian War 
(1756), the original fortification was repaired and. 
virtually rebuilt. Its cost at that time is esti- 
mated to have amounted to 1,000,000 French 
crowns. After the occupation of Illinois by the 
British, Fort Chartres still remained the seat of 
government until 1772, when one side of the 
fortification was washed away by a freshet, and 
headquarters were transferred to Kaskaskia. 
The first common law court ever held in the Mis- 
sissippi Valley was established here, in 1768, by 
the order of Colonel Wilkins of the English 
army. The ruins of the old fort, situated in the 
northwest corner of Randolph County, once con- 
stituted an object of no little interest to anti- 
quarians, but the site has disappeared during the 
past generation by the encroachments of the 
Mississippi. 

FORT DEARBORN, the name of a United 
States military post, established at the mouth of 
the Chicago River in 1803 or 1804, on a tract of 
land six miles square conveyed by the Indians in 




EARLY HISTOUIO SCENES. CHICAGO. 




i;ai!LY historic scenes, Chicago. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



171 



the treaty of Greenville, concluded by General 
Wayne in 1795. It originally consisted of two 
block houses located ect opposite angles (north- 
west and southeast) of a strong wooden stockade, 
with the Commandanfs quarters on the east side 
of the quadrangle, soldiers' barracks on the south, 
officers' barracks on the west, and magazine, 
contractor's (sutler's) store and general store- 
house on the north — all the buildings being con- 
structed of logs, and all, except the block-houses, 
being entirely within the enclosure. Its arma- 
ment consisted of three light pieces of artillery. 
Its builder and first commander was Capt. John 
Whistler, a native of Ireland who had surrendered 
with Burgoyne, at Saratoga,, N. Y., and who 
subsequently became an American citizen, and 
served with distinction throughout the War of 
1812. He was succeeded, in 1810, by Capt. 
Nathan Heald. As early as 1806 the Indians 
aroimd the fort manifested signs of disquietude, 
Tecumseh, a few years later, heading an open 
armed revolt. In 1810 a council of Pottawato- 
mies, Ottawas and Chippewas was held at St. 
Joseph, Mich., at which it was decided not to 
join the confederacy proposed by Chief Tecumseh. 
In 1811 hostilities were precipitated by an attack 
upon the United States troops under Gen. 
William Henry Harrison at Tippecanoe. In 
April, 1812, hostile bands of Winnebagos appeared 
in the vicinity of Fort Dearborn, terrifying the 
settlers by their atrocities. Slany of the whites 
sought refuge within the stockade. Within two 
months after the declaration of war against 
England, in 1812, orders were issued for the 
evacuation of Fort Dearborn and the transfer of 
the garrison to Detroit. The garrison at that 
time numbered about 70, including officers, a 
large number of the troops being ill. Almost 
simultaneously with the order for evacuation 
appeared bands of Indians clamoring for a dis- 
tribution of the goods, to which they claimed 
they were entitled under treaty stipulations. 
Knowing that he had but about forty men able 
to fight and that his march would be sadly 
hindered by the care of about a dozen women and 
twent}' children, the commandant hesitated. 
The Pottawatomies, through whose country he 
would have to pass, had alwaj's been friendly, and 
he waited. Within six days a force of 500 or 600 
savage warriors had assembled around the fort. 
Among the leaders were the Pottawatomie chiefs, 
Black Partridge, Winnemeg and Topenebe. Of 
these, Winnemeg was friendh-. It was he who 
had brought General Hull's orders to evacuate. 
and, as the crisis grew more and more dangerous. 



he offered sound advice. He urged instantaneous 
departure before the Indians had time to agree 
upon a line of action. But Captain Heald 
decided to distribute the stores among the sav- 
ages, and thereby secure from them a friendly 
escort to Fort Wayne. To this the aborigines 
readily assented, believing that thereby all the 
whisky and ammunition which they knew to be 
within the enclosure, would fall into their hands. 
Meanwhile Capt. William Wells, Indian Agent at 
Fort Wayne, had arrived at Fort Dearborn with 
a friendly force of Miamis to act as an escort. 
He convinced Captain Heald that it would be the 
height of folly to give the Indians liquor and gun- 
powder. Accordingly the commandant emptied 
the former into the lake and destroyed the latter. 
This was the signal for war. Black Partridge 
claimed he could no longer restrain his young 
braves, and at a council of the aborigines it was 
resolved to massacre the garrison and settlers. 
On the fifteenth of August the gates of the fort 
were opened and the evacuation began. A band 
of Pottawatomies accompanied the whites under 
the guise of a friendly escort. They soon deserted 
and, within a mile and a half from the fort, 
began the sickening scene of carnage known as 
the "Fort Dearborn Massacre." Nearly 500 
Indians participated, their loss being less than 
twenty. The Miami escort fled at the first 
exchange of shots. With but four exceptions 
the wounded white prisoners were dispatched 
with savage ferocity and promptitude. Those 
not wounded were scattered among various tribes. 
The next day the fort with its stockade was 
burned. In 1816 (after the treaty of St. Louis) 
the fort was rebuilt upon a more elaborate scale. 
The second Fort Dearborn contained, besides bar- 
racks and ofiicers' quarters, a magazine and 
provision-store, was enclosed by a square stock- 
ade, and protected by bastions at two of its 
angles. It was again evacuated in 1823 and 
re-garrisoned in 1828. The troops were once 
more withdrawn in 1831, to return the following 
year during, the Black Hawk War. The final 
evacuation occurred in 1836. 

FORT GAGE, situated on the eastern bluffs of 
the Kaskaskia River, opposite the village of Kas- 
kaskia. It was erected and occupied by the 
British in 1773. It was built of heavy, square 
timbers and oblong in shape, its dimensions being 
390x351 feet. On the night of July 4, 1778, it was 
captured by a detachment of American troops 
commanded by Col. George Rogers Clark, wh(? 
held a commission from Virginia. The soldiers, 
with Simon Kenton at their head, were secretly 



172 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



admitted to the fort by a Pennsylvanian who 
happened to be witliin, and the commandant, 
Rocheblave, was surprised in bed, while sleeping 
with his wife by his side. 

FORT JEFFERSON. 1. A fort erected by Col. 
George Rogers Clark, under instructions from 
the Governor of Virginia, at tlie Iron Banks on 
the east bank of the Mississippi, below the mouth 
of the Ohio River. He promised lands to all 
adult, able-bodied white males who would emi- 
grate thither and settle, either with or without 
their families. Many accepted the offer, and 
a considerable colony was established there. 
Toward the close of the Revolutionary War, Vir- 
ginia being unable longer to sustain the garrison, 
the colony was scattered, many families going to 
Kaskaskia. II. A fort in the Miami valley, 
erected by Governor St. Clair and General Butler, 
in October, 1791. Within thirty miles of the 
post St. Clair's army, which had been badly 
weakened through desertions, was cut to pieces 
by the enemy, and the fortification was aban- 
doned. 

FORT MASSAC, an early French fortification, 
erected about 1711 on the Ohio River, 40 miles 
from its mouth, in what is now Massac County. 
It was the first fortification (except Fort St. 
Louis) in the "Illinois Country," antedating 
Fort Chartres by several j-ears. The origin of 
the name is uncertain. The best authorities are 
of the opinion that it was so called in honor of 
the engineer who superintended its construction ; 
by others it has been traced to the name of the 
French Minister of Slarine ; others assert that it 
is a corruption of the word "Massacre," a name 
given to the locality because of the massacre 
there of a large number of French soldiers by the 
Indians. The Virginians sometimes spoke of it 
as the "Cherokee fort." It was garrisoned by 
the French until after the evacuation of the 
country under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. 
It later became a sort of depot for American 
settlers, a few families constantly residing within 
and around the fortification. At a very early 
day a military road was laid out from the fort to 
Kaskaskia, the trees alongside being utilized as 
milestones, the number of miles being cut with 
irons and painted red. After the close of the 
Revolutionary War, the United States Govern- 
ment strengthened and garrisoned the fort by 
way of defense against inroads by the Spaniards. 
With the cession of Louisiana to the United 
States, in 1803, the fort was evacuated and never 
re-garrisoned. According to the "American 
State Papers," during the period of the French 



occupation, it was both a Jesuit missionary 
station and a trading post. 

FORT SACKVILLE, a British fortification, 
erected in 1769, on the Wabasli River a short 
distance below Vincennes. It was a stockade, 
with bastions and a few pieces of cannon. In 
1778 it fell into the hands of the Americans, and 
was for a time commanded by Captain Helm, 
with a garrison of a few Americans and Illinois 
French. In December, 1778, Helm and one 
private alone occupied the fort and surrendered 
to Hamilton, British Governor of Detroit, who 
led a force into the country around Vincennes. 

FORT SHERIDAX, United States Military 
Post, in Lake County, on the Milwaukee Division 
of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, 24 miles 
north of Chicago. (Highwood village adjacent 
onthesouth.) Population (1890), 4.'jl : (1900), 1,.575. 

FORT ST. LOUIS, a French fortification on a 
rock (widelj' known as "Starved Rock"), which 
consists of an isolated cliff on the south side of 
the Illinois River nearly opposite Utica, in La 
Salle County. Its height is between 130 and 140 
feet, and its nearly round summit contains an 
area of about three-fourths of an acre. The side 
facing the river is nearly perpendicular and, in 
natural advantages, it is well-nigh impregnable. 
Here, in the fall of 1682, La Salle and Tonty 
began the erection of a fort, consisting of earth- 
works, palisades, store-houses and a block house, 
wliich also served as a dwelling and trading post. 
A windlass drew water from the river, and two 
small brass cannon, mounted on a parapet, com- 
prised the armament. It was solemnly dedicated 
by Father Membre, and soon became a gathering 
place for the surrounding tribes, especially the 
lUinois. But F^ontenac having been succeeded 
as Governor of New France by De la Barre, who 
was unfriendly to La Salle, the latter was dis- 
placed as Commandant at Fort St. Louis, while 
plots were laid to secure his downfall by cutting 
off his supplies and inciting the Iroquois to attack 
him. La Salle left the fort in 1683, to return to 
France, and, in 1702, it was abandoned as a 
military post, though it continued to be a trad- 
ing post iintil 1718, when it was raided by the 
Indians and burned. (See La Salle.) 

FORT WAYNE & CHICAGO RAILROAD. 
(See Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway.') 

FORT WAYNE & ILLINOIS RAILROAD. (See 
New York. Chicago & St. Louis Railway.) 

FORTIFICATIONS, PREHISTORIC. Closely 
related in interest to the works of the mound- 
builders in Illinois — though, probably, owing their 
origin to another era and an entirely different 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



173 



race — are those works which bear evidence of 
having been constructed for^jurposes of defense 
at some period anterior to the arrival of white 
men in the country. While there are no works 
in Illinois so elaborate in construction as those to 
which have been given the names of "Fort 
Ancient" on the Maumee in Ohio, "Fort Azatlan"" 
on the Wabash in Indiana, and "Fort Aztalan" 
on Rock River in Southern Wisconsin, there are 
a number whose form of construction shows that 
they must have been intended for warlike pur- 
poses, and that they were formidable of their 
kind and for the period in which they were con- 
structed. It is a somewhat curious fact that, 
while La Salle County is the seat of the first 
fortification constructed by the French in Illinois 
that can be said to have had a sort of permanent 
character ( see Fort St. Louis and Starved Bock), 
it is also the site of a larger number of preliistoric 
fortifications, whose remains are in such a state 
of preservation as to be clearly discernible, than 
any other section of the State of equal area. One 
of the most formidable of these fortifications is 
on the east side of Fox River, opposite the mouth 
of Indian Creek and some six miles northeast of 
Ottawa. This occupies a position of decided 
natural strength, and is surrounded by three lines 
of circunivallation, showing evidence of consider- 
able engineering skill. From the size of the trees 
within this work and other evidences, its age has 
been estimated at not less than 1,200 years. On 
the present site of the town of Marseilles, at the 
rapids of the Illinois, seven miles east of Ottawa, 
another work of considerable strength existed. 
It is also said that the American Fur Company 
had an earthwork here for the protection of its 
trading station, erected about 1816 or "18, and 
consequently belonging to the present century. 
Besides Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock, the out- 
line of another fort, or outwork, whose era has 
not been positively determined, about half a mile 
south of the former, has been traced in recent 
times. De Baugis. sent by Governor La Barre, of 
Canada, to succeed Tonty at Fort St. Louis, is said 
to have erected a fort on Buffalo Rock, on the 
opposite side of the river from Fort St. Louis, 
which belonged practically to the same era as the 
latter. — There are t%vo points in Southern Illinois 
where the aborigines had constructed fortifica- 
tions to which the name "Stone Fort" has been 
given. One of these is a hill overlooking the 
Saline River in the southern part of Saline 
County, where there is a wall or breastwork five 
feet in height enclosing an area of less than an 
acre in extent. The other is on the west side of 



Lusk"s Creek, in Pope County, where a breast- 
work has been constructed by loosely piling up 
the stones across a ridge, or tongue of land, with 
vertical sides and surrounded by a bend of the 
creek. Water is easily obtainable from the creek 
below the fortified ridge. — The remains of an old 
Indian fortification were found by early settlers 
of McLean County, at a point called "Old Town 
Timber," about 1823 to 1825. It was believed 
then that it had been occupied by the Indians 
during the War of 1812. The story of the Indians 
was, that it was burned by General Harrison in 
1812; though this is improbable in view of the 
absence of any historical mention of the fact. 
Judge H. W. Beckwith, who examined its site in 
1880, is of tlie opinion that its history goes back 
as far as 1752, and that it was erected by the 
Indians as a defense against the French at Kas- 
kaskia. There was also a tradition that there 
had been a French mission at this point. — One of 
the most interesting stories of early fortifications 
in the State, is that of Dr. V. A. Boyer, an old 
citizen of Chicago, in a paper contributed to the 
Chicago Historical Society. Although the work 
alluded to by him was evidently constructed after 
the arrival of the French in the country, the 
exact period to which it belongs is in doubt. 
According to Dr. Boyer, it was on an elevated 
ridge of timber land in Palos Township, in the 
western part of Cook County. He says: "I first 
saw it in 1833, and since then have visited it in 
company with other persons, some of whom are 
still living. I feel sure that it was not built dur- 
ing the Sac War from its appearance. ... It 
seems probable that it was the work of French 
traders or explorers, as there were trees a century 
old growing in its environs. It was evidently 
the work of an enlightened people, skilled in the 
science of warfare. ... As a strategic point it 
most completely commanded the surrounding 
country and the crossing of the swamp or 'Sag'." 
Is it improbable that this was the fort occupied 
by Colonel Durantye in 1695? The remains of a 
small fort, supposed to have been a French trad- 
ing post, were found by the pioneer settlers of 
Lake County, where the pre.sent city of Waukegan 
stands, giving to that place its first name of 
"Little Fort." This structure was seen in 1825 
by Col. William S. Hamilton (a son of Alexander 
Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury), who 
had served in the session of the General Assembly 
of that year as a Representative from Sangamon 
County, and was then on his way to Green Bay, 
and the remains of the pickets or palisades were 
visible as late as 1835. While the date of its 



174 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



erection is unknown, it probably belonged to the 
latter part of the eighteenth century. There is 
also a tradition that a fort or trading post, erected 
by a Frenchman named Garay (or Guarie) stood 
on the North Branch of the Chicago River prior 
to the erection of the first Fort Dearborn in 1803. 

FOSS, Georffe Edmund, lawyer and Congress- 
man, was born in Franklin County, Vt., July 3, 
1863; graduated from Harvard University, in 
1885; attended the Columbia Law School and 
School of Political Science in New York City, 
finally graduating from the Union College of Law 
in Chicago, in 1889, when he was admitted to the 
bar and began practice. He never held any 
political office until elected as a Republican to 
the Fifty-fourth Congress (1894), from the 
Seventh Illinois District, receiving a majority of 
more than 8,000 votes over his Democratic and 
Populist competitors. In 1896 he was again the 
candidate of his party, and was re-elected by a 
majority of over 20,000, as he was a third time, 
in 1898, by more than 13,000 majority. In the 
Fifty-fifth Congress Mr. Foss was a member of the 
Committees on Naval Affairs and Expenditures in 
the Department of Agriculture. 

FOSTER, (Dr.) John Herbert, physician and 
educator, was born of Quaker ancestry at Hills- 
borough, N. H., March 8, 1796. His early years 
were spent on his father's farm, but at the age 
of 16 he entered an academy at Meriden, N. H., 
and, three years later, began teaching with an 
older brother at Schoharie, N. Y. Having spent 
some sixteen years teaching and practicing 
medicine at various places in Iiis native State, in 
1832 he came west, first locating in Morgan 
County, 111. While there he took part in the 
Black Hawk War, serving as a Surgeon. Before 
the close of the year he was coTnpelled to come to 
Chicago to look after the estate of a brother who 
was an officer in the army and had been killed by 
an insubordinate soldier at Green Bay. Having 
thus fallen heir to a considerable amount of real 
estate, which, in subsequent years, largely 
appreciated in value, he became identified with 
early Chicago and ultimately one of the largest 
real-estate owners of his time in the city. He 
was an active promoter of education during this 
period, serving on both City and State Boards. 
His death occurred. May 18, 1874, in consequence 
of injuries sustained by being thrown from a 
vehicle in which he was i-iding nine daj's previous. 

FOSTER, John Wells, author and scientist, 
was born at Brimfield, Mass., in 1815, and edu- 
cated at W^esleyan University, Conn ; later studied 
law and was admitted to the bar in Ohio, but 



soon turned his attention to scientific pursuits, 
being employed foi; several years in the geological 
survey of Oliio, dming which he investigated tlie 
coal-beds of the State. Having incidentally 
devoted considerable attention to the study of 
metallurgy, he was employed about 1844 by 
mining capitalists to make the first systematic 
siu-vey of the Lake Superior copper region, upon 
which, in conjunction with J. D. Whitney, he 
made a report whicli was published in two vol- 
imies in 1850-.'51. Returning to Massachusetts, he 
participated in the organization of the "American 
Party" there, though we find him soon after 
breaking with it on the slavery question. In 
1855 he was a candidate for Congress in the 
Springfield (Mass.) District, but was beaten by a 
small majority. In 1858 he removed to Chicago 
and, for some time, was Land Commissioner of 
the Illinois Central Railroad. The latter years of 
his life were devoted chiefly to archaeological 
researches and writings, also serving for some 
years as Professor of Natural History in the (old) 
University of Chicago. His works include "Tlie 
Mississippi Valley ; its Physical Geography, Min- 
eral Resources," etc. (Chicago, 1869) ; "Mineral 
Wealth and Railroad Development," (New York, 
1872) ; "Prehistoric Races of the United States," 
(Chicago, 1873), besides contributions to numer- 
ous scientific periodicals. He was a member of 
several scientific associations and, in 1809, Presi- 
dent of the American Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Science. He died in Hyde Park, 
now a part of Chicago, June 39, 1873. 

FOUKE, Philip B., lawjer and Congressman, 
was born at Kaskaskia, 111., Jan. 23, 1818; was 
chiefly self-educated and began his career as a 
clerk, afterwards acting as a civil engineer ; about 
1841-43 was associated with the publication of 
"The Belleville Advocate." later studied law, 
and, after being admitted to the bar, served as 
Prosecuting Attorney, being re-elected to that 
office in 1856. Previous to this, however, lie had 
been elected to the lower branch of the Seven- 
teenth General Assembly (1850), and, in 1858, 
was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-sixth 
Congress and re-elected two years later. While 
still in Congress he assisted in organizing the 
Thirtieth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of winch 
he was commissioned Colonel, but resigned on 
account of ill-health soon after the battle of .Sliiloh. 
After leaving the army he removed to New 
Orleans, where he was appointed Public Adminis- 
trator and practiced law for some time. He tlien 
took up the prosecution of the cotton-claims 
against the Mexican Government, in which he 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



175 



was engaged some seven years, finally removing 
to Washington City and making several trips to 
Europe in the interest of these suits. He won 
his cases, but died soon after a decision in his 
favor, largely in consequence of overtaxing his 
brain in their prosecution. His death occurred 
in Washington, Oct. 3, 1876, when he was buried 
in the Congressional Cemetery, President Grant 
and a number of Senators and Congressmen acting 
as pall-bearers at his funeral. 

FOWLER, Charles Henry, Methodist Episcopal 
Bishop, born in Burford. Conn., August 11, 1837; 
was partially educated at Rock River Seminary, 
Mount Morris, finally graduating at Genesee 
College, N. Y., in 18.59. He then began the study 
of law in Chicago, but. changing his purpose, 
entered Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, 
graduating in 1861. Having been admitted to 
the Rock River Methodist Episcopal Conference 
he was appointed successiveh' to Chicago churches 
till 1873; then became President of the North- 
we.stern University, holding this office four years, 
%vhen he was elected to tbe editorship of "The 
Christian Advocate" of New York. In 1884 he 
was elected and ordained Bishop. His residence 
is in San Francisco, his labors as Bishop being 
devoted largeh- to the Pacific States. 

FOX BIVER (of Illinois)— called Pishtaka by 
the Indians — rises in Waukesha County, Wis., 
and, after running southward through Kenosha 
and Racine Counties in that State, passes into 
Illinois. It intersects McHenry and Kane Coun- 
ties and runs southward to the city of Aurora, 
below which point it fiows southwest ward, until 
it empties into the Illinois River at Ottawa. Its 
length is estimated at 220 miles. The chief 
towns on its banks are Elgin, Aurora and Ottawa. 
It affords abundant water power. 

FOXES, an Indian tribe. (See Sacs ayid 
Fo.ves. ) 

FRANCIS, Simeon, pioneer journalist, was 
born at Wethersfield, Conn., May 14, 1796, 
learned the printer's trade at New Haven, and. in 
connection with a partner, published a paper at 
Buffalo, N. Y. In consequence of the excitement 
growing out of the abduction of Morgan in 1828, 
(being a Mason) he was compelled to suspend, 
and, coming to Illinois in the fall of 1831, com- 
menced the publication of "The Sangamo ' (now 
"The Illinois State") "Journal" at Springfield, 
continuing his connection therewith until 1855, 
when he sold out to Messrs. Bailhache & Baker. 
Abraham Lincoln was his close friend and often 
wrote editorials for his paper. Mr. Francis was 
active iri the organization of the State Agricul- 



tural Society (1853), serving as its Recording 
Secretary for several 3'ears. In 1859 he moved to 
Portland, Ore., where he published "The Oregon 
Farmer," and served as President of the Oregon 
State Agricultural Society; in 1861 was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln, Pajmaster in the 
regular army, serving until 1870, when he retired 
on half -pay. Died, at Portland, Ore., Oct. 25, 
1872. — Allen (Francis), brother of the preceding, 
was born at Wethersfield, Conn., April 14, 1815; 
in 1834, joined his brother at Springfield, 111., and 
became a partner in the publication of "The 
Journal" until its sale, in 1855. In 1861 he was 
appointed United States Consul at Victoria, B. C, 
serving until 1871, when he engaged in the fur 
trade. Later he was United States Consul at 
Port Stanley, Can., dying there, about 1887. — 
Josiah (Francis), cousin of the preceding, born 
at Wethersfield, Conn., Jan. 17, 1804; was early 
connected with "The Springfield Journal"; in 
1836 engaged in merchandising at Athens, Menard 
County ; returning to Springfield, was elected to 
the Legislature in 1840, and served one term as 
Mayor of Springfield. Died in 1867. 

FRA>'KLIX, a village of Morgan County, on 
the Jacksonville & St. Louis Railroad, 12 miles 
southeast of Jacksonville. The place has a news- 
paper and two banks; the surrounding country 
is agricultural. Population (1880), 316; (1890), 
578; (1900). 687. 

FRAXKLIJf COUNTY, located in the south- 
central part of the State ; was organized in 1818, 
and has an area of 430 square miles. Population 
(1900), 19.675. The county is well timbered and 
is drained by the Big Muddj- River. The soil is 
fertile and the products include cereals, potatoes, 
sorghum, wool, pork and fruit. The county-seat 
is Benton, with a population (1890) of 939. The 
county contains no large towns, although large, 
well-cultivated farms are numerous. The earli- 
est white settlers came from Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, and the hereditary traditions of generous, 
southwestern hospitality are preserved among 
the residents of to-day. 

FRANKLIN GROVE, a town of Lee County, on 
Council Bluffs Division of the Chicago & North- 
western Railway, 88 miles west of Chicago. 
Grain, poultry, and live-stock are shipped from 
here. It has banks, water-works, high school, 
and a weekly paper. Population (1890), 736; 
(1900). CSI. 

FRAZIER, Robert, a native of Kentucky, who 
came to Southern Illinois at an early day and 
served as State .Senator from Edwards County, in 
the Second and Third General Assemblies, in the 



176 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



latter being an opponent of the scheme to make 
Illinois a slave State. He was a farmer by occu- 
pation and, at the time he was a member of tlie 
Legislature, resided in what afterwards became 
Wabash County. Subsequently he removed to 
Edwards County, near Albion, where he died. 
"Frazier's Prairie," in Edwards County, was 
named for him. 

FREEBURG, a village of St. Clair County, on 
the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad, 8 
miles southeast of Belleville. Population (1880), 
1,038; (1890), 848; (1900), 1,214. 

FREEMAN, Normau L., lawyer and Supreme 
Court Reporter, was born in Caledonia, Living- 
ston County, N. Y., May 9, 1823; in 1831 accom- 
panied his widowed mother to Ann Arbor, Mich., 
removing six years afterward to Detroit ; was edu- 
cated at Cleveland and Ohio University, taught 
school at Lexington, Ky. , while studying law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1846 ; removed to 
Shawneetown, 111., in 1851, was admitted to the 
Illinois bar and practiced some eight years. He 
then began farming in Marion County, Mo., but, 
in 1863, returned to Shawneetown and, in 1863, 
was appointed Reporter of Decisions by the 
Supreme Court of Illinois, serving until his 
death, which occurred at Springfield near the 
beginning of his sixth term in office, August 23, 
1894. 

FREE MASONS, the oldest secret fraternity in 
the State — known as the "Ancient Order of Free 
and Accepted Masons" — the first Lodge being 
instituted at Kaskaskia, June, 3, 1806, with Gen. 
John Edgar, Worshipful Master; Michael Jones, 
Senior Warden; James Galbraith, Junior War- 
den ; W^illiam Arundel, Secretary ; Robert Robin- 
son, Senior Deacon. These are names of persons 
who were, without exception, prominent in tlie 
early history of Illinois. A Grand Lodge was 
organized at Vandalia in 1822, with Gov. Shad- 
rach Bond as first Grand Master, but the organi- 
zation of the Grand Lodge, as it now exists, took 
place at Jacksonville in 1840. The number of 
Lodges constituting the Grand Lodge of Illinois 
in 1840 was six, with 157 members; the number 
of Lodges within the same jurisdiction in 1895 
was 713, with a membership of 50,727, of which 
47,335 resided in Illinois. Tlie dues for 1895 
were §37,834.50; the contributions to members, 
their widows and orphans, §25,038.41 ; to non- 
Biembers, $6,306.38, and to the Illinois Masonic 
Orphans' Home, $1,315.80. — Apollo Commandery 
No. 1 of Knights Templar — tlie pioneer organi- 
zation of its kind in this or any neighboring 
State — was organized in Chicago, May 20, 1845, 



and the Grand Commandery of the order in Illi- 
nois in 1857, with James V. Z. Blaney, Grand 
Commander. In 1895 it was made up of sixty- 
five subordinate commanderies, with a total 
membership of 9,355, and dues amounting to 
$7,754.75. The principal officers in 1895-96 were 
Henry Hunter Montgomery, Grand Commander; 
John Henry Witbeck, Grand Treasurer, and Gil- 
bert W. Barnard, Grand Recorder.— The Spring- 
field Chapter of Royal Arch-Masons was organized 
in Springfield, Sept. 17, 1841, and the Royal Arch 
Chapter of tlie State at Jacksonville, April 9, 
1850, the nine existing Chapters being formally 
chartered Oct. 14. of the same year. The number 
of subordinate Chapters, in 1895, was 186, with a 
total membership of 16,414. — The Grand Council 
of Royal and Select Masters, in 1894, embraced 32 
subordinate Councils, with a membership of 
2,318. 

FREEPORT, a city and railway center, the 
county-seat of Stephenson County, 121 miles west 
of Cliicago ; has good water-power from the Peca- 
tonica River, with several manufacturing estab- 
lishments, the output including carriages, 
wagon-wheels, wind-mills, coffee-mills, organs, 
piano-stools, leather, mineral paint, foundry pro- 
ducts, chicken incubators and vinegar. The Illi- 
nois Central Railroad lias shops here and the city 
has a Government postoffice building. Popula- 
tion (1890), 10,189; (1900), 18,258. 

FREEPORT COLLEGE, an institution at Free- 
port, 111., incorporated in 1895; is co-educational; 
had a faculty of six instructors in 1896, with 116 
pupils. 

FREER, Lemuel Covell Paine, early lawyer, 
was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., Sept. 18, 
1815; came to Chicago in 1836, studied law and 
was admitted to the bar in 1840 ; was a zealous 
anti-slavery man and an active supporter of the 
Government during the War of the Rebellion; 
for many years was President of the Board of 
Trustees of Rusli Medical College. Died, in 
Chicago. April 14. 1892. 

FRENCH, Augustus C, ninth Governor of 
Illinois (1846-52), was born in New Hampshire, 
August 2, 1808. After coming to Illinois, he 
became a resident of Crawford County, and a 
lawyer by profession. He "was a member of the 
Tenth and Eleventh General Assemblies, and 
Receiver, for a time, of the Land Office at Pales- 
tine. He served as Presidential Elector in 1844, 
was elected to the office of Governor as a Demo- 
crat in 1846 by a majority of nearly 17,000 over 
two competitors, and was the unanimous choice of 
his party for a second term in 1848. His adminis- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



177 



tration was free from scandals. He was appointed 
Bank Commissioner by Governor Matteson, and 
later accepted the chair of Law in McKendree 
College at Lebanon. In 1858 he was the nominee 
of the Douglas wing of the democratic party for 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 
ex-Gov. John Reynolds being the candidate of 
the Buchanan branch of the party. Both were 
defeated. His last public service was as a mem- 
ber from St. Clair County of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1862. Died, at Lebanon, Sept. 4, 
1864. 

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. The first 
premonition of this struggle in the West was 
given in 1698, when two English vessels entered 
the mouth of the Mississippi, to take possession 
of the French Territory of Louisiana, wliich then 
included what afterward became the State of 
Illinois. This expedition, however, returned 
without result. Great Britain was anxious to 
have a colorable pretext for attempting to evict 
the French, and began negotiation of treaties 
with the Indian tribes as early as 1734, expecting 
thereby to fortify her original claim, which was 
based on the right of prior discovery. The 
numerous shiftings of the political kaleidoscope in 
Europe prevented any further steps in this direc- 
tion on the part of England until 1748-49, when 
the Ohio Land Company received a royal grant 
of 500,000 acres along the Ohio River, with exclu- 
sive trading privileges. The Company proceeded 
to explore and survey and, about 1752, established 
a trading post on Loramie Creek, 47 miles north 
of Dayton. The French foresaw that hostilities 
were probable, and advanced their posts as far 
east as the Allegheny River. Complaints by the 
Ohio Company induced an ineffectual remon- 
strance on tlie part of Virginia. Among the 
ambassadors sent to the French by the Governor 
of Virginia was George Washington, who thus, 
in early manhood, became identified with Illinois 
history. His report was of such a nature as to 
induce the erection of counter fortification's by 
the British, one of which (at the junction of the 
Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers) was seized 
and occupied by the French before its completion. 
Then ensued a series of engagements which, 
while not involving large forces of men, were 
fraught with grave consequences, and in which 
the French were generally successful. In 1755 
occurred "Braddock's defeat" in an expedition to 
recover Fort Duquesne (where Pittsburg now 
stands), which had been captured by the French 
the previous year, and the Government of Great 
Britain determined to redouble its efl'orts. The 



final result was the termination of French domi- 
nation in the Ohio Valley. Later came the down- 
fall of French ascendency in Canada as the result 
of the battle of Quebec ; but the vanquislied yet 
hoped to be able to retain Louisiana and Illinois. 
But France was forced to indemnify Spain for the 
loss of Florida, which it did by the cession of all 
of Louisiana lying west of the Mississippi (includ- 
ing the city of New Orleans), and this virtually 
ended French hopes in Illinois. The last military 
post in North America to be garrisoned by French 
troops was Fort Chartres, in Illinois Territory, 
where St. Ange remained in command until its 
evacuation was demanded by the English. 

FRENCH GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. French 
Governors began to be appointed by the Company 
of the Indies (which see) in 1722, the "Illinois 
Country" having previously been treated as a 
dependency of Canada. The first Governor ( or 
"commandant") was Pierre Duque de Boisbriant. 
who was commandant for only three years, when 
lie was summoned to New Orleans (1725) to suc- 
ceed de Bienville as Governor of Louisiana. Capt. 
du Tisne was in command for a short time after 
his departure, but was succeeded by another 
Captain in the royal army, whose name is vari- 
ously spelled de Liette, de Lielte, De Siette and 
Delietto. He was followed in turn by St. Ange 
(the father of St. Ange de Bellerive), who died in 
1742. In 1732 the Companj' of the Indies surren- 
dered its charter to the crown, and the Governors 
of the Illinois Country were thereafter appointed 
directly by royal authority. Under the earlier 
Governors justice had been administered under 
the civil law ; with the change in tlie method of 
appointment the code known as the "Common 
Law of Paris" came into effect, although not 
rigidly enforced because found in many particu- 
lars to be ill-suited to the needs of a new country. 
The first of the Royal Governors was Pierre 
d' Artaguiette, who was appointed in 1734, but was 
captured while engaged in an expedition against 
the Chickasaws, in 1736, and burned at the stake. 
(See D' Artaguiette.) He was followed by 
Alphonse de la Buissoniere, who was succeeded, 
in 1740, by Capt. Benoist de St. Claire. In 1742 
he gave way to the Chevalier Bertel or Berthet, 
but was reinstated about 1748. The last of the 
French Governors of the "Illinois Country" was 
Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, who retired to St. 
Louis, after turning over the command to Cap- 
tain Stirling, the English officer sent to supersede 
him, in 1765. (St. Ange de Bellerive died, Dec. 
27, 1774.) The administration of the French 
commandants, while firm, was usually conserva- 



178 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



tive and benevolent. Local self-government was 
encouraged as far as practicable, and, while the 
Governors' power over commerce was virtually 
unrestricted, they interfered but little with the 
ordinary life of the people. 

FREW, Calvin Hamill, lawyer and State Sena- 
tor, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, educated at 
Finley (Ohio) High School, Beaver (Pa.) Academy 
and Vermilion Institute at Hayesville, Ohio. ; in 
1863 was Principal of the High School at Kalida, 
Ohio, where he began the study of law, which he 
continued the next two years with Messrs. Strain 
& Kidder, at Monmouth, 111., meanwhile acting 
as Principal of a high school at Young America ; 
in 1865 removed to Paxton, Ford Count}', which 
has since been his home, and the same year was 
admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Illi- 
nois. Mr. Frew served as Assistant Superintend- 
ent of Schools for Ford County (1865-68) ; in 1868 
was elected Representative in the Twenty-sixth 
General Assembly, re-elected in 1870, and again 
in '78. While practicing law he has been con- 
nected with some of the most important cases 
before the courts in that section of the State, and 
his fidelity and skill in their management are 
testified by members of the bar, as well as 
Judges upon the bench. Of late years he has 
devoted his attention to breeding trotting horses, 
with a view to the improvement of his health 
but not with the intention of permanently 
abandoning his profession. 

FRY, Jacob, pioneer and soldier, was born in 
Fayette County, Ky., Sept. 30, 1799; learned the 
trade of a carpenter and came to Illinois in 1819, 
working first at Alton, but, in 1820, took up his 
residence near the present town of Carrollton, in 
which he built the first house. Greene County 
was not organized until two years later, and this 
border settlement was, at that time, the extreme 
northern white settlement in Illinois. He served 
as Constable and Deputy Sheriff (simultaneously) 
for six years, and was then elected Sheriff, being 
five times re-elected. He served through the 
Black Hawk War (first as Lieutenant-Colonel and 
afterwards as Colonel), having in his regiment 
Abraham Lincoln, O. H. Browning, John Wood 
(afterwards Governor) and Robert Anderson, of 
Fort Sumter fame. In 1837 he was appointed 
Commissioner of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 
and reappointed in 1839 and '41, later becoming 
Acting Commissioner, with authority to settle up 
the business of the former commission, which 
was that year legislated out of office. He was 
afterwards appointed Canal Trustee by Governor 
Ford, and, in 1847, retired from connection with 



canal management. In 1850 he went to Cali- 
fornia, where he engaged in mining and trade 
for three years, meanwhile serving one term in 
the State Senate. In 1857 he was appointed Col- 
lector of the Port at Chicago by President Buch- 
anan, but was removed in 1859 because of his 
friendship for Senator Douglas. In 1860 he 
returned to Greene County ; in 1861, in spite of his 
advanced age, was commissioned Colonel of the 
Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers, and later partici- 
pated in numerous engagements (among them the 
battle of Shiloh), was captured bj- Forrest, and 
iiltimately compelled to resign because of im- 
paired health and failing eyesight, finally becom- 
ing totally blind. He died, June 37, 1881, and 
was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, near Spring- 
field. Two of Colonel Fry's sons achieved dis- 
tinction during the Civil War. — James Barnet 
(Fry), son of the preceding, was born at Car- 
rollton, 111., Feb. 22. 1827; graduated at West 
Point Military Academy, in 1847, and was 
assigned to artillery service ; after a short experi- 
ence as Assistant Instructor, joined his regiment, 
the Third United States Artillery, in Mexico, 
remaining there through 1847-48. Later, he was 
employed on frontier and garrison dutj-, and 
again as Instructor in 1853-54, and as Adjutant of 
tlie Academy during 1854-59; became Assistant 
Adjutant-General, March 16, 1861, then served as 
Chief of Staff to General McDowell and General 
Buell (1861-62), taking part in the battles of Bull 
Run, Shiloh and Corinth, and in the campaign in 
Kentucky; was made Provost-Marshal-General 
of the United States, in March, 1863, and con- 
ducted the drafts of that year, receiving the rank 
of Brigadier-General, April 21, 1864. He con- 
tinued in this office until August 30, 1866, during 
which time he put in the army 1,120,631 men, 
arrested 76,563 deserters, collected §26,366,316.78 
and made an exact enrollment of the National 
forces. After the war he served as Adjutant- 
General with the rank of Colonel, till June 1, 
1881,* when he was retired at his own request. 
Besides his various official reports, he published a 
"Sketch of the Adjutant-General's Department, 
United States Army, from 1775 to 1875, " and "His- 
tory and Legal Effects of Brevets in the Armies of 
Great Britain and the United States, from their 
origin in 1693 to the Present Time, " (1877). Died, 
in Newport, R. I., July 11, 1894.— William M. 
(Fry), another son, was Provost Marshal of the 
North Illinois District during the Civil War, and 
rendered valuable service to the Government. 

FULLER, Allen Curtis, lawyer, jurist and 
Adjutant-Genei^al, was born in Farmington, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



179 



Conn., Sept. 34, 1822; studied law at Warsaw, 
N. y., was admitted to practice, in 1846 came to 
Belvidere, Boone County, 111., and, after practic- 
ing there some years, was elected Circuit Judge 
in 1861. A few months afterward he was induced 
to accept the office of Adjutant-General by 
appointment of Governor Yates, entering upon 
the duties of the office in November, 1861. At 
first it was understood that his acceptance was 
only temporary, so that he did not formally 
resign his place upon the bench until July, 1862. 
He continued to discharge the duties of Adjutant- 
General until January, 1865, when, having been 
elected Representative in the General Assembly, 
he was succeeded in the Adjutant-General's office 
by General Isham N. Haynie. He served as 
Speaker of the House during the following ses- 
sion, and as State Senator from 1867 to 1873 — 
in tlie Twenty-fifth. Twenty -sixth and Twenty- 
seventh General Assemblies. He was also elected 
a Republican Presidential Elector in 1860, and 
again in 1876. Since retiring from office. General 
Fuller has devoted his attention to the practice of 
his profession and looking after a large private 
business at Belvidere. 

FULLER, Charles E., lawyer and legislator, 
was born at Flora, Boone County. 111., March 31, 
1849 ; attended the district school until 12 years 
of age, and, between 1861 and '67, served as clerk 
in stores at Belvidere and Cherry Valley. He 
then spent a couple of years in the book business 
in Iowa, when (1869) he began the study of law 
with Hon. Jesse S. Hildrup, at Belvidere, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1870. Since then 
Mr. Fuller has practiced his profession at Belvi- 
dere. was Corporation Attorney for that city in 
1875-76, the latter year being elected State's 
"Attorney for Boone County. From 1879 to 1891 
he served continuously in the Legislature, first 
as State Senator in the Thirty-first and Thirty- 
second General Assemblies, then as a member of 
the House for three sessions, in 1888 being 
returned to the Senate, where he served the 
next two sessions. Mr. Fuller established a high 
reputation in the Legislature as a debater, and 
was the candidate of his party (the Republican) 
for Speaker of the House in 1885. He was also a 
delegate to the Republican National Convention 
of 1884. Mr. Fuller was elected Judge of the 
Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Circuit at the 
judicial election of June, 1897. 

FULLER, Melville Weston, eighth Chief Jus- 
tice of the United States Supreme Court, was 
born at Augusta, Maine, Feb. 11, 1833, graduated 
from Bowdoin College in 1853, was admitted to 



the bar in 1855, and became City Attorney of his 
native city, but resigned and removed to Chicago 
the following year. Through his mother's 
family he traces his descent back to the Pilgrims 
of the Mayflower. His literary and legal attain- 
ments are of a high order. In politics he has 
always been a strong Democrat. He served as a 
Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 
1862 and as a member of the Legislature in 1863, 
after that time devoting his attention to the 
practice of his profession in Chicago. In 1888 
President Cleveland appointed him Chief Justice 
of the Supreme Court, since which time he has 
resided at Washington, although still claiming a 
residence in Chicago, where he has considerable 
property interests. 

FULLERTOX, Alexander >'., pioneer settler 
and lawyer, born in Chester, Vt., in 1804, was 
educated at Middlebury College and Litchfield 
Law School, and, coming to Chicago in 1833, 
finally engaged in real-estate and mercantile 
business, in which he was very successful. His 
name has been given to one of the avenues of 
Chicago, as well as associated with one of the 
prominent business blocks. He was one of the 
original members of the Second Presbyterian 
Church of that city. Died, Sept. 29, 1880. 

FCLTOJf, a city and railway center in White- 
side County, 135 miles west of Chicago, located 
on the Mississippi River and the Chicago & 
Northwestern, the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy, and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railways. It was formerly the terminus of a 
line of steamers which annually brought millions 
of bushels of grain down the Mississippi from 
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, returning 
with merchandise, agricultural implements, etc. , 
but this river trade gradually died out, having 
been usurped by the various railroads. Fulton 
has extensive factories for the making of stoves, 
besides some important lumber industries. The 
Northern Illinois College is located here. Popu- 
lation (1890), 2,099; (1900), 2,685. 

FULTOX COUNTY, situated west of and bor- 
dering on the Illinois River ; was originally a part 
of Pike County, but separately organized in 1823 
— named for Robert Fulton. It has an area of 870 
square miles with a population (1900) of 46,201. 
The soil is rich, well watered and wooded. Drain- 
age is effected by the Illinois and Spoon Rivers 
(the former constituting its eastern boundary) 
and by Copperas Creek. Lewistown became the 
county-seat immediately after county organi- 
zation, and so remains to the present time (1899). 
The surface of the county at a distance from the 



180 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



river is generally flat, although along the Illinois 
there are bluffs rising to the height of 125 feet. 
The soil is rich, and underlying it are rich, work- 
able seams of coal. A thin seam of cannel coal 
has been mined near Avon, with a contiguous 
vein of fire-clay. Some of the earliest settlers were 
Messrs. Craig and Savage, who, in 1818, built a 
saw mill on Otter Creek; Ossian M. Ross and 
Stephen Dewey, who laid off Lewistown on bis 
own land in 1822. The first hotel in the entire 
military tract was opened at Lewistown by Tru- 
man Phelps, in 1827. A flat-boat ferry across the 
Illinois was established at Havana, in 1823. The 
principal towns are Canton(pop.6,564),Lewistown 
(2,166), Farmington (1,375), and Vermont (1,1.58). 

FULTON COUNTY NARROW-GAUGE RAIL- 
WAY, a line extending from the west bank of the 
Illinois River, opposite Havana, to Galesburg, 
61 miles. It is a single-track, narrow-gauge 
(3-foot) road, although the excavations and 
embankments are being widened to accommodate 
a track of standard gauge. The grades are few, 
and, as a rule, are light, although, in one instance, 
the gradient is eighty -four feet to the mile. 
There are more than 19 miles of curves, the maxi- 
mum being sixteen degrees. The rails are of 
iron, thirty-five pounds to the yard, road not 
ballasted. Capital stock outstanding (1895), 
1636,794; bonded debt, $484,000; miscellaneous 
obligations, $463,362; total capitalization, $1,583,- 
156. The line from Havana to Fairview (31 miles) 
was chartered in 1 878 and opened in 1880 and the 
extension from Fairview to Galesburg chartered 
in 1881 and opened in 1882. 

FUNK, Isaac, pioneer, was born in Clark 
County, Ky., Nov. 17, 1797; grew up with meager 
educational advantages and, in 1823, came to Illi- 
nois, finally settling at what afterwards became 
known as Funk's Grove in McLean County. 
Here, with no other capital than industry, per- 
severance, and integrity, Mr. Funk began laying 
the foundation of one of the most ample fortunes 
ever acquired in Illinois outside the domain of 
trade or speculation. By agriculture and dealing 
in live-stock, he became the possessor of a large 
area of the finest farming lands in the State, 
which he brought to a high state of cultivation, 
leaving an estate valued at his death at not less 
than $2,000,000. Mr. Funk served three sessions 
in the General Assembly, first as Representative 
in the Twelfth (1840-42), and as Senator in the 
Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth (1862-66), dying 
before the close of his last term, Jan. 29. 1865. 
Originally a Whig in politics, he became a Repub- 
lican on the organization of that party, and gave 



a liberal and patriotic support to the Government 
during the war for the preservation of the Union. 
During the session of the Twenty -third General 
Assembly, in February, 1863, he delivered a 
speech in the Senate in indignant condemnation 
of the policy of the anti-war factionists, which, 
although couched in homely language, aroused 
the enthusiasm of the friends of the Government 
throughout the State and won for its author a 
prominent place in State history. — Benjamin F. 
(Funk), son of the preceding, was born in Funk's 
Grove Township, McLean County, 111., Oct. 17, 
1838. After leaving the district schools, he 
entered the Wesleyan University at Blooming- 
ton, but suspended his studies to enter the army 
in 1862, enlisting as a private in the Sixty-eighth 
Illinois Volunteers. After five months' service 
he was honorably discharged, and re-entered the 
University, completing a three-years' course. 
For three years after graduation he followed 
farming as an avocation, and, in 1869, took up 
his residence at Bloomington. In 1871 he was 
chosen Mayor, and served seven consecutive 
terms. He was a delegate to the National 
Republican Convention of 1888, and was the suc- 
cessful candidate of that party, in 1892, for Repre- 
sentative in Congress from the Fourteenth Illinois 
District. — Lafayette (Funk), another son of Isaac 
Funk, was a Representative from McLean County 
in the Thirty-third General Assembly and Sena- 
tor in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth. Other 
sons-who have occupied seats in the same body 
include George W. , Representative in the Twenty- 
seventh, and Duncan M., Representative in the 
Fortieth and Forty-first Assemblies The Funk 
family have been conspicuous in the affairs of 
McLean County for a generation, and its mem- 
bers have occupied many other positions of im- 
portance and influence, besides those named, under 
the State, County and municipal governments. 

GAGE, Lyman J., Secretary of the Treasury, 
was born in De Ruyter, Madison County, N. Y., 
June 28, 1836 ; received a common school educa- 
tion in his native county, and, on the removal of 
his parents, in 1848, to Rome, N. Y., enjoyed the 
advantages of instruction in an academy. At 
the age of 17 he entered the employment of the 
Oneida Central Bank as office-boy and general 
utility clerk, but, two years afterwards, came to 
Chicago, first securing employment in a planing 
mill, and, in 1858, obtaining a position as book- 
keeper of the Merchants' Loan and Trust Com- 
pany, at a salary of $500 a year. By 1861 he had 
been advanced to the position of cashier of the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



181 



concern, but, in 1868, he accepted the cashiership 
of the First National Bank of Chicago, of which 
he became the Vice-President in 1881 and, in 
1891, the President. Mr. Gage was also one of the 
prominent factors in securing the location of the 
World's Fair at Chicago, becoming one of the 
guarantors of the $10,000,000 promised to be raised 
by the city of Chicago, and being finally chosen 
the first President of the Exposition Company. 
He also presided over the bankers' section of the 
World's Congress Auxiliary in 1893, and, for a 
number of years, was President of the Civic Feder- 
ation of Chicago. On the assumption of the 
Presidency by President McKinley, in March, 
1897, Mr. Gage was selected for the position of 
Secretary of the Treasury, which he has con- 
tinued to occupy up to the present time (1899). 

GALATFA, a village of Saline County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 40 miles southeast of 
Duquoin; has a bank; leading industry is coal- 
mining. Population (1890), 519; (1900), C4'l 

GALE, George Washington, D.D., LL.D., 
clergyman and educator, was born in Dutchess 
County, N. Y., Dec. 3, 1T89. Left an orphan at 
eight years of age, he fell to the care of older 
sisters who inherited the vigorous character of 
their father, which they instilled into the son. 
He graduated at Union College in 1814, and, hav- 
ing taken a course in the Theological Seminary 
at Princeton, in 1816 was licensed by the Hudson 
Presbytery and assumed the charge of building 
up new churches in Jefferson County, N. Y., 
serving also for six years as pastor of the Presby- 
terian church at Adams. Here his labors were 
attended by a revival in which Charles G. Fin- 
ney, the eloquent evangelist, and other eminent 
men were converts. Having resigned his charge 
at Adams on account of illness, he spent the 
winter of 1823-24 in Virginia, where his views 
were enlarged by contact with a new class of 
people. Later, removing to Oneida County, 
N. Y., by his marriage with Harriet Selden he 
acquired a considerable property, insuring an 
income which enabled him to extend the field of 
his labors. The result was the establishment of 
the Oneida Institute, a manual labor school, at 
Whitesboro, with which he remained from 1827 
to 1834, and out of which grew Lane Seminary 
and Oberlin and Knox Colleges. In 1835 he con- 
ceived the idea of establishing a colony and an 
institution of learning in the West, and a com- 
mittee representing a party of proposed colonists 
was appointed to make a selection of a site, which 
resulted, in the following year, in the choice of 
a location in Knox County. 111., including the 



site of the present city of Galesburg, which was 
named in honor of Mr. Gale, as the head of the 
enterprise. Here, in 1837, were taken the first 
practical steps in carrying out plans which had 
been previously matured in New York, for the 
establishment of an institution which first 
received the name of Knox Manual Labor Col- 
lege. The manual labor feature having been 
finally discarded, the institution took tlie name 
of Knox College in 1857. Mr. Gale was the lead- 
ing promoter of the enterprise, by a liberal dona- 
tion of lands contributing to its first endowment, 
and, for nearly a quarter of a century, being 
intimately identified with its history. From 
1840 to "42 he served in the capacity of acting 
Professor of Ancient Languages, and. for fifteen 
years thereafter, as Professor of Moral Philosophy 
and Rhetoric. Died, at Galesburg, Sept. 31, 1861. 
—William Selden (Gale), oldest son of the preced- 
ing, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Feb. 
15, 1822, came with his father to Galesburg, 111., 
in 1886, and was educated there. Having read 
law with the Hon. James Knox, he was admitted 
to the bar in 1845, but practiced only a few years, 
as he began to turn his attention to measures for 
the development of the country. One of these 
was the Central Military Tract Railroad (now the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy), of which he was 
the most active promoter and a Director. He 
was also a member of the Board of Supervisors of 
Knox County, from the adoption of township 
organization in 1853 to 1895, with the exception 
of four years, and, during the long controversy 
which resulted in the location of the county -seat 
at Galesburg, was the leader of the Galesburg 
party, and subsequently took a prominent part 
in the erection of public buildings there. Other 
positions held by him include the office of Post- 
master of the city of Galesburg, 1849-53; member 
of the State Constitutional Convention of 1862, 
and Representative in the Twenty-sixth General 
Assembly (1870-72); Presidential Elector in 1872; 
Delegate to the National Republican Convention 
of 1880; City Alderman, 1872-82 and 1891-95; 
member of the Commission appointed by Gov- 
ernor Oglesby in 1885 to revise the State Revenue 
Laws; by appointment of President Harrison, 
Superintendent of the Galesburg Government 
Building, and a long term Trustee of the Illinois 
Hospital for the Insane at Rock Island, by 
appointment of Governor Altgeld. He has also 
been a frequent representative of his party 
(the Republican) in State and District Conven- 
tions, and, since 1861. has been an active and 
leading member of the Board of Trustees of 



182 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Knox College. Mr. Gale was married, Oct. 6, 
1845, to Miss Caroline Ferris, g:-anddaugliter of 
the financial representative of the Galesburg 
Colony of 1836, and has had eight children, of 
whom four are living. Died Sep. 1, 1900. 

GALE>'A,'the county-seat of Jo Daviess County, 
a city and port of entry, 150 miles in a direct line 
west by northwest of Chicago; is located on 
Galena River, about 4f^ miles above its junction 
with the Mississippi, and is an intersecting point 
for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the North- 
western, and the Illinois Central Railroads, with 
connections by stub with the Chicago Great 
Western. It is built partially in a valley and 
partially on the bluffs which overlook the river, 
the Galena River being made navigable for ves- 
sels of deep draught by a system of lockage. The 
vicinity abounds in rich mines of sulphide of lead 
(galena), from wliich the city takes its name. 
Galena is adorned by handsome public and priv- 
ate buildings and a beautiful park, in which 
stands a fine bronze statue of General Grant, and 
a symmetrical monument dedicated to the sol- 
diers and sailors of Jo Daviess County wlio lost 
their lives during the Civil War. Its industries 
include a furniture factory, a table factory, two 
foundries, a tub factory and a carriage factory. 
Zinc ore is now being produced in and near the 
city in large quantities, and its mining interests 
will become vast at no distant day. It owns an 
electric light plant, and water is furnished from 
an artesian well 1,700 feet deep. Galena was one 
of the earliest towns in Northern Illinois to be 
settled, its mines having been worked in the lat- 
ter part of the seventeenth century. Many men 
of distinction in State and National affairs came 
from Galena, among whom were Gen. U. S. 
Grant, Gen. John A. Rawlins, Gen. John E. 
Smith, Gen. John C. Smith, Gen. A. L. Chetlain, 
Gen. John O. Duer, Gen. W. R. Rowley, Gen. E. 
D. Baker, Hon. E. B. Washburne, Secretary of 
State under Grant, Hon. Thompson Campbell, 
Secretary of State of Illinois, and Judge Drum- 
mond. Population (1890), 5,635; (1900), 5.005. 

GALENA & CHICAGO UNION RAILROAD. 
(See Chicago & Northwestern Railway.) 

GALESBURG, the countj'-seat of Knox County 
and an important educational center. The first 
settlers were emigrants from the East, a large pro- 
portion of them being members of a colon}' organ- 
ized by Rev. George W. Gale, of Whitesboro, 
N. Y., in whose honor the original village was 
named. It is situated in the heart of a rich 
agricultural district 53 miles northwest of Peoria, 
99 miles northeast of Quincy and 163 miles south- 



west of Chicago; is an important railway center, 
being at the junction of the main line with two 
branch lines of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, 
and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroads. 
It was incorporated as a village in 1841, and as a 
city by special charter in 1857. There are beauti- 
ful parks and the residence streets are well 
shaded, while 25 miles of street are paved with 
vitrified brick. The city owns a system of water- 
works receiving its supply from artesian wells 
and artificial lakes, has an efficient and well- 
equipped paid fire-department, an electric street 
car system with three suburban lines, gas and 
electric lighting systems, steam-heating plant, 
etc. It also has a number of flourishing mechan- 
ical industries, including two iron foundries, agri- 
cultural implement works, flouring mills, carriage 
and wagon works and a broom factory, besides 
other industrial enterprises of minor importance. 
The maimfacture of vitrified paving brick is quite 
extensively carried on at plants near the city 
limits, the city itself being the shipping-point 
as well as the point of administrative control. 
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad 
Company has shops and stockyards here, while 
considerable coal is mined in the vicinity. The 
public buildings include a courthouse. Govern- 
ment postoffice building, an opera house, nine- 
teen churches, ten public schools with a high 
school and free kindergarten, and a handsome 
public library building erected at a cost of SlOO,- 
000, of which one-half was contributed by Mr. 
Carnegie. Galesburg enjoys its chief distinction 
as the seat of a large number of high class liter- 
ary institutions, including Knox College (non- 
sectarian), Lombard University (Universalist), 
and Corpus Christi Lyceum and University, and 
St. Joseph's Academy (both Roman Catholic). 
Three interurban electric railroad lines connect 
Galesburg with neighboring towns. Pop. (1890), 
15,264; (1900), 18,607. 

GALLATIN COUNTY, one of three counties 
organized in Illinois Territory in 1812 — the others 
being Madison and Johnson. Previous to that 
date the Territory had consisted of only two coun- 
ties, St. Clair and Randolph. The new county 
was named in honor of Albert Gallatin, then 
Secretary of the Treasury. It is situated on the 
Ohio and Wabash Rivers, in the extreme south- 
eastern part of the State, and has an area of 349 
square miles; population (1900). '^5,836. The first 
cabin erected by an American settler was the 
home of Michael Sprinkle, who settled at Shaw- 
neetown in 1800. The place early became an 
important trading post and distributing point. 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



183 



A ferry across the Wabash was established in 
1803, by Alexander Wilson, whose descendants 
conducted it for more than seventy-five years. 
Although Stephen Rector made a Government 
survey as early as 1807, the public lands were not 
placed on the market until 1818. Shawneetown, 
the county-seat, is the most important town, 
having a population of some 3,200. Bituminous 
coal is found in large quantities, and mining is 
an important industry. The prosperity of the 
county has been much retarded by floods, particu- 
larly at Shawneetown and Equality. At the 
former point the difference between high and 
low water mark in the Ohio River has been as 
much as fifty-two feet. 

GALLOWAY, Andrew Jackson, civil engineer, 
was born of Scotch ancestry in Butler County, 
Pa., Dec. 31, 1814; came with his father to Cory- 
don, Ind. , in 1830, took a course in Hanover Col- 
lege, graduating as a civil engineer in 1837 ; then 
came to Mount Carmel, White County, 111. , with 
a view to employment on projected Illinois rail- 
roads, but engaged in teaching for a year, having 
among his pupils a number who have since been 
prominent in State affairs. Later, he obtained 
employment as an assistant engineer, serving for 
a time under William Gooding, Chief Engineer of 
the Illinois & Michigan Canal ; was also Assistant 
Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the State 
Senate in 1840-41, and held the same position in 
the House in 1846-47, and again in 1848-49, in the 
meantime having located a farm in La Salle 
County, where the present city of Streator stands. 
In 1849 he was appointed Secretary of the Canal 
Trustees, and, in 1851, became assistant engineer 
on the Illinois Central Railroad, later superin- 
tending its construction, and finally being trans- 
ferred to the land department, but retiring in 
1855 to engage in real-estate business in Chicago, 
dealing largely in railroad lands. Mr. Galloway 
was elected a County Commissioner for Cook 
County, and has since been connected with many 
measures of local importance. 

GALTA, a town in Henry County, 45 miles 
southeast of Rock Island and 48 miles north- 
northwest of Peoria ; the point of intersection of 
the Rock Island & Peoria and the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railways. It stands at the 
summit of the dividing ridge between the Missis- 
sippi and the Illinois Rivers, and is a manufac- 
turing and coal-mining town. It has eight 
churches, three banks, good schools, and two 
weekly newspapers. The surrounding country 
is agricultural and wealthy, and is rich in coal. 
Population (1890), 3,409; (1900), 2,683. 



GARDNER, a village in Garfield Township, 
Grundy County, on the Chicago & Alton Rail- 
road, 65 miles south-southwest of Chicago and 26 
miles north-northeast of Pontiac ; on the Kanka- 
kee and Seneca branch of the "Big Four," and 
the Elgin, JoUet & Eastern R. R. Coal-mining 
is the principal industry. Gardner has two 
banks, four cliurches, a high school, and a weekly 
paper. Population (1890), 1,094; (1900), 1,036. 

GARDNER, COAL CITY & NORMANTOWN 
RAILWAY. (See Elgm, Joliet & Eastern Rail 
way. ) 

GARY, Joseph Easton, lawyer and jurist, was 
born of Puritan ancestry, at Potsdam, St. Law- 
rence County, N. Y., July 9, 1831. His early 
educational advantages were such as were fur- 
nished by district schools and a village academy, 
and, until he was 22 years old, he worked at the 
carpenter's bench. In 1843 he removed to St. 
Louis, Mo., where he studied law. After admis- 
sion to the bar, he practiced for five years in 
Southwest Missouri, thence going to Las "Vegas, 
N. M., in 1849, and to San Francisco, Cal, in 
1853. In 1856 he settled in Chicago, where he 
has since resided. After seven years of active 
practice he was elected to the bench of the 
Superior Court of Cook County, where he has sat 
for thirty years, being four times nominated by 
both political parties, and his last re-election — for 
a term of six years, occurring in 1893. He pre- 
sided at the trial of the Chicago anarchists in 
1886 — one of the causes celebres of Illinois. Some 
of his rulings therein were sharply criticised, but 
he was upheld by the courts of appellate jurisdic- 
tion, and his connection with the case has given 
him world-wide fame. In November, 1888, the 
Supreme Court of Illinois transferred him to the 
bench of the Appellate Court, of which tribunal 
he has been three times Cliief Justice. 

GASSETTE, Norman Theodore, real-estate 
operator, wasbornatTownsend.Vt., April 21, 1839, 
came to Chicago at ten years of age, and, after 
spending a year at ShurtleflF College, took a prepar- 
atory collegiate course at the Atwater Institute, 
Rochester, N. Y. In June, 1861, he enlisted as 
a private in the Nineteenth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers, rising in the second year to the rank 
of First Lieutenant, and, at the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, by gallantry displayed while serving as 
an Aid-de-Camp, winning a recommendation 
for a brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy. The war 
over, he served one term as Clerk of the Circuit 
Court and Recorder, but later engaged in the real- 
estate and loan business as the head of the exten- 
sive firm of Norman T. Cassette & Co. He was s^ 



184 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Republican in politics, active in Grand Army 
circles and prominent as a Mason, holding the 
position of Eminent Grand Commander of 
Knights Templar of Illinois on occasion of the 
Triennial Conclave in Washington in 1889. He 
also had charge, as President of the Masonic 
Fraternity Temple Association of Chicago, for 
some time prior to his decease, of the erection of 
the Masonic Temple of Chicago. Died, in Chi- 
cago, March 26, 1891. 

GATEWOOD, William Jefferson, early lawyer, 
was born in "Warren Count}', Ky., came to 
Franklin County, 111., in boyhood, removed to 
Shawneetown in 1823, where he taught school 
two or three years while studying law; was 
admitted to the bar in 1828, and served in five 
General Assemblies — as Representative in 1830-32, 
and as Senator, 1834-42. He is described as a man 
of fine education and brilliant talents. Died, 
Jan. 8, 1842. 

GAULT, John C, railway manager, was born 
at Hooksett, N. H., May 1, 1829; in 1850 entered 
the local freight office of the JIanchester & Law- 
rence Railroad, later becoming General Freight 
Agent of the Vermont Central. Coming to Chi- 
cago in 1859, he successively filled the positions 
of Superintendent of Transportation on the 
Galena & Chicago Union, and (after the consoli- 
dation of the latter with the Chicago & North- 
western), that of Division Superintendent, 
General Freight Agent and Assistant General 
Manager; Assistant General Manager of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; General Mana- 
ger of the Wabash (1879-83) ; Arbitrator for the 
trunk lines (1883-85), and General Manager of 
the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific 
(1885-90), when he retired. Died, in Chicago, 
August 29, 1891. 

GENERAL ASSEMBLIES. The following is a 
list of tlie General Assemblies which have met 
since the admission of Illinois as a State up to 
1898 — from the First to the Fortieth inclusive — 
with the more important acts passed by each and 
the duration of their respective sessions: 

First General Assembly held two sessions, 
the first convening at Kaskaskia, the State Capi- 
tal, Oct. 5, and adjourning Oct. 13, 1818. The 
second met, Jan. 4, 1819, continuing to March 31. 
Lieut-Gov. Pierre Menard presided over the Sen- 
ate, consisting of thirteen members, while John 
Messinger was chosen Speaker of the House, 
containing twenty-seven members. The most 
important business transacted at the first session 
was the election of two United States Senators — 
Ninian Edwards and Jesse B. Thomas, Sr. — and 



the filUng of minor State and judicial offices. At 
the second session a code of laws was enacted, 
copied chiefly from the Virginia and Kentucky 
statutes, including the law concerning "negroes 
and mulattoes," which long remained on the 
statute book. An act was also passed appointing 
Commissioners to select a site for a new State 
Capital, which resulted in its location at Van- 
dalia. The sessions were held in a stone building 
with gambrel-roof pierced by dormer-windows, 
the Senate occupying the lower floor and the 
House the upper. The length of the first session 
was nine days, and of the second eighty -seven — 
total, ninety-six days. 

Second General Assembly convened at Van- 
dalia, Dec. 4, 1820. It consisted of fourteen 
Senators and twenty-nine Representatives. Jolin 
McLean, of Gallatin County, was chosen Speaker 
of the House. A leading topic of discussion was 
the incorporation of a State Bank. Money was 
scarce and there was a strong popular demand 
for an increase of circulating medium. To 
appease this clamor, no less than to relieve traders 
and agriculturists, this General Assembly estab- 
lished a State Bank (see State Bank), despite 
the earnest protest of McLean and the executive 
veto. A stay-law was also enacted at this session 
for the benefit of the debtor class. The number 
of members of the next Legislature was fixed at 
eighteen Senators and thirty -six Representatives 
— this provision remaining in force until 1831. 
The session ended Feb. 15, having lasted seventy- 
four days. 

Third General Assembly' convened, Dec. 2, 

1822. Lieutenant-Governor Hubbard presided in 
the Senate, while in the organization of the 
lower house, William M. Alexander was chosen 
Speaker. Governor Coles, in his inaugural, 
called attention to the existence of slavery in 
Illinois despite the Ordinance of 1787, and urged 
the adoption of repressive measures. Both 
branches of the Legislature being pro-slavery in 
sympathy, the Governor's address provoked 
bitter and determined opposition. On Jan. 9, 

1823, Jesse B. Thomas was re-elected United 
States Senator, defeating John Reynolds, Leonard 
White and Samuel D. Lockwood. After electing 
Mr. Thomas and choosing State officers, the 
General Assembly proceeded to discuss the major- 
ity and minority reports of the committee to 
which had been referred the Governor's address. 
The minority report recommended the abolition 
of slavery, while that of the majority favored 
the adoption of a resolution calling a convention 
to amend the Constitution, the avowed object 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



185 



being to make Illinois a slave State. The latter 
report was adopted, but the pro-slavery party in 
the House lacked one vote of the number neces- 
sary to carry tlie resolution by the constitutional 
two-thirds majority. What followed has always 
been regarded as a blot upon the record of the 
Third General Assembly. Nicholas Hansen, who 
had been awarded the seat from Pike County 
at the beginning of the session after a contest 
brought by his opponent, John Shaw, was un- 
seated after the adoption of a resolution to 
reconsider the vote by which he had been several 
weeks before declared elected. Shaw having 
thus been seated, the resolution was carried by 
the necessary twenty-four votes. Mr. Hansen, 
although previously regarded as a pro-slavery 
man, had voted with the minority when the 
resolution was first put upon its passage. Hence 
followed his deprivation of his seat. The triumph 
of the friends of the convention was celebrated 
by what Gov. John Reynolds (himself a conven- 
tionist) characterized as "a wild and indecorous 
procession by torchlight and liquor." (See 
Slavery and Slave Lazvs.) The session adjourned 
Feb. 18, having continued seventy-nine days. 

Fourth General Assembly. This body held 
two sessions, the first being convened, Nov. 15, 
1834, by proclamation of the Executive, some 
three weeks before the date for the regular 
session, in order to correct a defect in the law 
relative to counting the returns for Presidential 
Electors. Thomas Mather was elected Speaker 
of the House, while Lieutenant-Governor Hub- 
bard presided in the Senate. Having amended 
the law concerning the election returns for Presi- 
dential Electors, the Assembly proceeded to the 
election of two United States Senators — one to 
fill the unexpired term of ex-Senator Edwards 
(resigned) and the other for the full term begin- 
ning March 4, 1825. John McLean was chosen 
for the first and Elias Kent Kane for the second. 
Five circuit judgeships were created, and it was 
provided that the bench of the Supreme Court 
should consist of four Judges, and that semi- 
annual sessions of that tribunal should be held at 
the State capital. (See Judicial Department.) 
The regular session came to an end, Jan. 18, 1825, 
but at its own request, the Lieutenant-Governor 
and acting Governor Hubbard re-convened the 
body in special session on Jan. 2, 1826, to enact a 
new apportionment law under the census of 1825. 
A sine die adjournment was taken, Jan. 28, 1826. 
One of the important acts of the regular session 
of 1825 was the adoption of the first free-school 
law in Illinois, the measure having been intro- 



duced by Joseph Duncan, afterwards Governor of 
the State. This Legislature was in session a total 
of ninety-two days, of which sixty-five were 
during the first session and twenty-seven during 
the second. 

Fifth General Assembly convened, Dec. 4, 
1826, Lieutenant-Governor Kinney presiding in 
the Senate and John McLean in the House. At 
the request of the Governor an investigation into 
the management of the bank at Edwardsville was 
had, resulting, however, in the exoneration of its 
officers. The circuit judgeships created by the 
preceding Legislature were abrogated and their 
incumbents legislated out of office. The State 
was divided into four circuits, one Justice of the 
Supreme Court being assigned to each. (See 
Judicial Department.) This General Assembly 
also elected a State Treasurer to succeed Abner 
Field, James Hall being chosen on the ninth 
ballot. The Supreme Court Judges, as directed 
by the preceding Legislature, presented a well 
digested report on the revision of the laws, which 
was adopted without material alteration. One of 
the important measures enacted at this session 
was an act establishing a State penitentiary, the 
funds for its erection being obtained by the 
sale of saline lands in Gallatin County. (See 
Alton Penitentiary; also Salt Manufacture.) 
The session ended Feb. 19 — having continued 
seventy-eight days. 

Sixth General Assembly convened, Dec. 1, 
1828. The Jackson Democrats had a large major- 
ity in both houses. John McLean was, for the 
third time, elected Speaker of the House, and, 
later in the session, was elected United States 
Senator by a unanimous vote. A Secretary of 
State, Treasurer and Attorney-General were also 
appointed or elected. The most important legis- 
lation of the session was as follows : Authorizing 
the sale of school lands and the borrowing of the 
proceeds from the school fund for the ordinary 
governmental expenses; providing for a return 
to the viva voce method of voting; creating a 
fifth judicial circuit and appointing a Judge 
therefor ; providing for the appointment of Com- 
missioners to determine upon the route of the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, to sell lands and com- 
mence its construction. The Assembly adjourned, 
Jan. 23, 1829, having been in session fifty-four days. 

Seventh General Assembly met, Dec. 6, 1830. 
The newly-elected Lieutenant-Governor, Zadoc 
Casey, and William L. D. Ewing presided 
over the two houses, respectively. John Rey- 
nolds was Governor, and, the majority of the 
Senate being made up of his political adversaries, 



186 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



experienced no little difficulty in securing the 
confirmation of his nominees. Two United 
States Senators were elected: Elias K. Kane 
being chosen to succeed himself and John M. 
Robinson to serve the unexpired term of John 
McLean, deceased. The United States census of 
1830 gave Illinois three Representatives in Con- 
gress instead of one, and this General Assembly 
passed a re-apportionment law accordingly. The 
number of State Senators was increased to 
twenty-six, and of members of the lower house 
to fifty-five. The criminal code was amended by 
the substitution of imprisonment in the peni- 
tentiary as a penalty in lieu of the stocks and 
public flogging. This Legislature also authorized 
the borrowing of 8100,000 to redeem the notes of 
the State Bank which were to mature the follow- 
ing year. The Assembly adjourned, Feb. 16, 1831, 
the session having lasted seventy-three days. 

Eighth General Assembly. The session 
began Dec. 3, 1832, and ended March 2, 1833. 
William L. D. Ewing was chosen President pro 
tempore of the Senate, and succeeded Zadoc 
Casey as Lieutenant-Governor, the latter having 
been elected a Representative in Congress. 
Alexander M. Jenkins presided over the House as 
Speaker. This Legislature enacted the first gen- 
eral incorporation laws of Illinois, their provisions 
being applicable to towns and public libraries. 
It also incorporated several railroad companies, 
— one line from Lake Michigan to the Illinois 
River (projected as a substitute for the canal), 
one from Peru to Cairo, and another to cross the 
State, running through Springfield. Other char- 
ters were granted for shorter lines, but the incor- 
porators generally failed to organize under them. 
A notable inci dent in connection with this session 
was the attempt to impeach Theophilus W. Smith, 
a Justice of the Supreme Court. This was the first 
and last trial of this character in the State's his- 
tory, between 1818 and 1899. Failing to secure a 
conviction in the Senate (where the vote stood 
twelve for conviction and ten for acquittal, with 
four Senators excused from voting), the House 
attempted to remove him by address, but in this 
the Senate refused to concur. The first mechan- 
ics' lien law was enacted by this Legislature, 
as also a law relating to the "right of way" for 
"public roads, canals, or other public works."' 
The length of the session was ninety days. 

Ninth General Assembly. This Legislature 
held two sessions. The first began Dec. 1, 1834, 
and lasted to Feb. 13, 1835. Lieutenant-Governor 
Jenkins presided in the Senate and James Sample 
was elected Speaker of the House without oppo- 



sition. On Dec. 20, John M. Robinson was re- 
elected United States Senator Abraham Lincoln 
was among the new members, but took no con- 
spicuous part in the discussions of the body. The 
principal public laws passed at this session were: 
Providing for the borrowing of §500,000 to be 
used in the constructio'n of the Illinois & Michi- 
gan Canal and the appointment of a Board of 
Commissioners to supervise its expenditure; 
incorporating the Bank of the State of Illinois ; 
and authorizing a loan of §12,000 by Cook County, 
at 10 per cent interest per annum from the 
county school fund, for the erection of a court 
house in that county. The second session of this 
Assembly convened, Dec. 7, 183.5, adjourning, Jan. 
18, 1836. A new canal act was passed, enlarging 
the Commissioners' powers and pledging the faith 
of the State for the repayment of money bor- 
rowed to aid in its construction. A new appor- 
tionment law was also passed providing for the 
election of forty-one Senators and ninety-one 
Representatives, and W. L. D. Ewing was elected 
United States Senator, to succeed Elias K. Kane, 
deceased. The length of the first session was 
seventy-five days, and of the second forty-three 
days — total, 118. 

Tenth General Assembly, like its predeces- 
sor, held two sessions. The first convened Dec. 5, 
1836, and adjourned March 6, 1837. The Whigs 
controlled the Senate by a large majority, and 
elected William H. Davidson, of White County, 
President, to succeed Alexander M. Jenkins, who 
had resigned the Lieutenant-Governorship. (See 
Jenkins. Alexander M.) James Sample was 
re-elected Speaker of the House, which was 
fully two-thirds Democratic. This Legislature 
was remarkable for the number of its members 
who afterwards attained National prominence. 
Lincoln and Douglas sat in the lower house, both 
voting for the same candidate for Speaker — New- 
ton Cloud, an independent Democrat. Besides 
these, the rolls of this Assembly included the 
names of a future Governor, six future United 
States Senators, eight Congressmen, three Illinois 
Supreme Court Judges, seven State officers, and 
a Cabinet officer. The two absorbing topics for 
legislative discussion and action were the system 
of internal improvements and the removal of the 
State capital. (See Internal Improvement Policy 
and State Capitals. ) The friends of Springfield 
finally effected such a combination that that city 
was selected as the seat of the State government, 
while the Internal Improvement Act was passed 
over the veto of Governor Duncan. A second 
session of this Legislature met on the call of the 



[IISTORICxVL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



187 



Governor, July 10, 1837, and adjourned July 22. 
An act legalizing the suspension of State lianks 
was adopted, but the recommendation of tlie Gov- 
ernor for the repeal of the internal improvement 
legislation was ignored. Tlie length of the fiist 
session was ninety-two days and of the second 
thirteen — total 105. 

Eleventh General Assembly. This body 
held both a regular and a special session. The 
former met Dec. 3, 1888, and adjourned March 4, 
1839. The Whigs were in a majority in both 
houses, and controlled the organization of the 
Senate. In the House, however, their candidate 
for Speaker^Abraham Lincoln — failing to secure 
his full party vote, was defeated by W. L. D. 
Ewing. At this session §800,000 more was appro- 
priated for the "improvement of water-ways and 
the construction of railroads, " all efforts to put an 
end to, or even curtail, further expenditures on 
account of internal improvements meeting with 
defeat. An appropriation (the first) was made 
for a library for the Supreme Court ; the Illinois 
Institution for the Education of the Deaf and 
Dumb was established, and the further issuance 
of bank notes of a smaller denomination tlian $5 
was prohibited. By this time the State debt had 
increased to over §13,000.000, and both the people 
and the Governor were becoming apprehensive as 
to ultimate results of this prodigal outlay. A 
crisis appeared imminent, and the Governor, on 
Dec. 9, 1839, convened the Legislature in special 
session to consider the situation. (This was the 
first session ever held at Sprmgfield ; and. the new 
State House not being completed, the Senate, the 
House and the Supreme Court found accommo- 
dation in three of the principal church edifices.) 
The struggle for a change of State policy at this 
session was long and hard fought, no heed being 
given to party lines. The outcome was the vir- 
tual abrogation of the entire internal improve- 
ment system. Provision was made for the calling 
in and destruction of all unsold bonds and the 
speedy adjustment of all unsettled accounts of 
the old Board of Public Works, which was legis- 
lated out of office. The special session adjourned 
Feb. 3, 1840. Length of regular session ninety- 
two days, of the special, fifty-seven — total, 149. 

Twelfth General Assembly. This Legisla- 
ture was strongly Democratic in both branches. 
It first convened, by executive proclamation, 
Nov. 23, 1840, the object being to provide for pay- 
ment of interest on the public debt. In reference 
to this matter the following enactments were 
made: Authorizing the hypothecation of $300,000 
internal improvement bonds, to meet the interest 



due Jan. 1, 1841 ; directing the issue of bonds to 
be sold in the open market and the proceeds 
applied toward discharging all amounts due on 
interest account for which no other provision was 
made : levying a special tax of ten cents on the 
§100 to meet the interest on the last mentioned 
class of bonds, as it matured. For the comple- 
tion of the Northern Cross Railroad (from Spring- 
field to Jacksonville) another appropriation of 
§100,000 was made. The called session adjourned, 
sine die, on Dec. 5, and the regular session began 
two days later. The Senate was presided over by 
the Lieutenant-Governor (Stinson H. Anderson), 
and William L, D. Ewing was chosen Speaker of 
the House. Tlie most vital issue was the propri- 
ety of demanding the surrender of the charter of 
the State Bank, with its branches, and here 
party lines were drawn. The Whigs finally 
succeeded in averting the closing of the institu- 
tions which had suspended specie payments, and 
in securing for those institutions the privilege of 
issuing small bills. A law reorganizing the judi- 
ciary was passed by the majority over the execu- 
tive veto, and in face of the defection of some of 
its members. On a partisan issue all the Circuit 
Judges were legislated out of office and five Jus- 
tices added to the bench of the Supreme Court. 
The session was stormy, and the Assembly ad- 
journed March 1, 1841. This Legislature was in 
session ninety-eight days — thirteen during the 
special session and eighty-five during the regular. 
Thirteenth General Assembly consisted of 
forty-one Senators and 121 Representatives; con- 
vened, Dec. 5, 1842. The Senate and House were 
Democratic by two-thirds majority in each. 
Lieut.-Gov. John Moore was presiding officer of 
the Senate and Samuel Hackelton Speaker of the 
House, with W. L. D. Ewing, who liad been 
acting Governor and United States Senator, as 
Clerk of the latter. Richard Yates, Isaac N. 
Arnold, Stephen T. Logan and Gustavus Koerner, 
were among the new members. The existing 
situation seemed fraught with peril. The State 
debt was nearly §14,000,000; immigration had 
been checked ; the State and Shawneetown banks 
had gone down and their currency was not worth 
fifty cents on the dollar; Auditor's warrants were 
worth no more, and Illinois State bonds were 
quoted at fourteen cents. On Dec. 18, Judge 
Sidney Breese was elected United States Senator, 
having defeated Stephen A. Douglas for the 
Democratic caucus nomination, on the nineteenth 
ballot, by a majority of one vote. The State 
Bank (in which the State had been a large share- 
holder) was permitted to go into liquidation upon 



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HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the surrender of State bonds in exchange for a 
like amount of bank stock owned by the State. 
The same conditional release was granted to the 
bank at Shawneetown. The net result was a 
reduction of the State debt by about 13,000,000. 
The Governor was authorized to negotiate a 
loan of §1,600,000 on the credit of the State, for 
the purpose of prosecuting the work on the canal 
and meeting the indebtedness already incurred. 
The Executive was also made sole "Fund Com- 
missioner'" and, in that capacity, was empowered 
(in connection with the Auditor) to sell the 
railroads, etc., belonging to the State at public 
auction. Provision was also made for the redemp- 
tion of the bonds hypothecated with Macalister 
and Stebbins. (See Macalister and Stebbins 
Bonds.) The Congressional distribution of the 
moneys arising from the sale of public lands was 
acquiesced in, and the revenues and resources of 
the State were pledged to the redemption "of 
every debt contracted bj' an authorized agent for a 
good and valuable consideration." To establish 
a sinking fund to meet such obligation, a tax of 
twenty cents on every §100, payable in coin, was 
levied. This Legislature also made a re-appor- 
tionment of the State into Seven Congressional 
Districts. The Legislature adjourned, March 6, 
1843, after a session of ninety-two days. 

FODRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened 
Dec. 2, 1844, and adjourned March 3, 1845, the ses- 
sion lasting ninety-two days. The Senate was 
composed of twenty-six Democrats and fifteen 
Whigs; the House of eighty Democrats and 
thirty-nine Whigs. David Davis was among the 
new members. William A. Richardson defeated 
Stephen T. Logan for the Speakership, and James 
Semple was elected United States Senator to suc- 
ceed Samuel McRoberts, deceased. The canal 
law was amended by the passage of a supple- 
mental act, transferring the property to Trustees 
and empowering the Governor to complete the 
negotiations for the borrowing of §1,600,000 for 
its construction. The State revenue being in- 
sufficient to meet the ordinary expenses of the 
government, to say nothing of the arrears of 
interest on the State debt, a tax of three mills on 
each dollar's worth of property was imposed for 
1845 and of three and one-half mills thereafter. 
Of the revenue thus raised in 1845, one mill was 
set apart to pay the interest on the State debt 
and one and one-half mills for the same purpose 
from the taxes collected in 1846 "and forever 
thereafter." 

Fifteenth Gener.^l Assembly convened Dec. 
7, 1846. The farewell message of Governor Ford 



and the inaugural of Governor French were lead- 
ing incidents. The Democrats had a two-thirds 
majority in each house. Lieut. -Gov. Joseph B. 
Wells presided in the Senate, and Newton Cloud 
was elected Speaker of the House, the compli- 
mentary vote of the Whigs being given to Stephen 
T. Logan. Stephen A. Douglas was elected 
United States Senator, the whigs voting for Cyrus 
Edwards. State officers were elected as follows: 
Auditor, Thomas H. Campbell; State Treasurer, 
Milton Carpenter — both by acclamation; and 
Horace S Coolej' was nominated and confirmed 
Secretary of State. A new school law was 
enacted ; the sale of the Gallatin County salines 
was authorized ; the University of Chicago was 
incorporated, and the Hospital for the Insane at 
Jacksonville established; the sale of the North- 
ern Cross Railroad was authorized; District 
Courts were established ; and provision was made 
for refunding the State debt. The Assembly 
adjourned, March 1, 1847, after a session of 
eighty-five days. 

Sixteenth General Assembly. This was the 
first Legislature to convene under the Constitu- 
tion of 1847. There were twenty-five members 
in the Senate and seventy-five in the House. 
The body assembled on Jan. 1, 1849, continu- 
ing in session until Feb. 12 — the session being 
limited by the Constitution to six weeks. Zadoc 
Casey was chosen Speaker, defeating Richard 
Yates by a vote of forty-six to nineteen. After 
endorsing the policy of the administration in 
reference to the Mexican War and thanking the 
soldiers, the Assembly proceeded to the election 
of United States Senator to succeed Sidney 
Breese. The choice fell upon Gen. James Shields, 
the other caucus candidates being Breese and 
McClernand, while Gen. William F. Thornton led 
tlie forlorn hope for the Whigs. The principle of 
the Wilmot proviso was endorsed. The Governor 
convened tlie Legislature in special session on 
Oct. 22. A question as to the eligibility of Gen. 
Shields having arisen (growing out of his nativity 
and naturalization), and the legal obstacles hav- 
ing been removed by the lapse of time, he was 
re-elected Senator at the special session. Outside 
of the passage of a general law authorizing the 
incorporation of railroads, little general legisla- 
tion was enacted. The special session adjourned 
Nov. 7. Length of regular session forty-three 
days ; special, seventeen — total sixty. 

Seventeenth General Assembly convened 
Jan. 6, 1851, adjourned Feb. 17 — length of 
session forty-three days. Sidney Breese (ex- 
Senator) was chosen Speaker. The session was 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



189 



characterized by a vast amount of legislation, not 
all of which was well considered. By joint reso- 
lution of both houses the endorsement of the 
Wilmot proviso at the previous session was 
rescinded. The first homestead exemption act 
was passed, and a stringent liquor law adopted, 
the sale of liquor in quantities less than one quart 
being prohibited. Township organization was 
authorized and what was virtually free-banking 
was sanctioned. The latter law was ratified by 
popular vote in November, 1851. An act incorpo- 
rating the Illinois Central Railroad was also 
passed at this session, the measure being drafted 
by James L. D. Morrison. A special session of 
this Assembly was held in IS.'ia under a call by 
the Governor, lasting from June 7 to the 23d — 
seventeen days. The most important general 
legislation of the special session was the reappor- 
tionment of the State into nine Congressional 
Districts. This Legislature was in session a total 
of sixty days. 

Eighteenth General Assembly. The first 
(or regular) session convened Jan. 3, 1853, and 
adjourned Feb. 14. The Senate was composed of 
twenty Democrats and five Whigs ; the House, of 
fifty-nine Democrats, sixteen Whigs and one 
"Free-Soiler." Lieutenant-Governor Koerner 
presided in the upper, and ex-Gov. John Reynolds 
in the lower house. Governor Matteson was 
inaugurated on the 16th ; Stephen A. Douglas was 
re-elected United States Senator, Jan. 5, the 
Whigs casting a complimentary vote for Joseph 
Gillespie. More than 450 laws were enacted, the 
majoritj' being "private acts. " The prohibitory 
temperance legislation of the preceding General 
Assembly was repealed and the license system 
re enacted. This body also passed the famous 
"black laws" designed to prevent the immigration 
of free negroes into the State. The sum of 
$18,000 was appropriated for the erection and 
furnishing of an executive mansion; the State 
Agricultural Society was incorporated; the re- 
mainder of the State lands was ordered sold, and 
any surplus funds in the treasury appropriated 
toward reducing the State debt. A special session 
was convened on Feb. 9, 1854, and adjourned 
March 4 The most important measures adopted 
were : a legislative re-apportionment, an act pro- 
viding for the election of a Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, and a charter for the Missis- 
sippi & Atlantic Railroad. The regular session 
lasted forty-three days, the special twenty-four 
— total, sixty-seven. 

Nineteenth General Assembly met Jan. 1, 
1855, and adjourned Feb. 15 — the session lasting 



forty-six days. Thomas J. Turner was elected 
Speaker of the House. The political complexion 
of the Legislature was much mixed, among the 
members being old-line Whigs, Abolitionists, 
Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, Pro-slavery Demo- 
crats and Anti-Nebraska Democrats. The 
Nebraska question was the leading issue, and in 
reference thereto the Senate stood fourteen 
Nebraska members and eleven anti-Nebraska ; the 
House, thirty-four straight-out Democrats, while 
the entire strength of the opposition was forty- 
one. A United States Senator was to be chosen 
to succeed Gen. James Shields, and the friends of 
free-soil had a clear majority of four on joint 
ballot. Abraham Lincoln was the caucus nomi- 
nee of the Whigs, and General Shields of the Demo- 
crats. The two houses met in joint session Feb. 8. 
The result of the first ballot was, Lincoln, forty- 
five; Shields, forty -one; scattering, thirteen; 
present, but not voting, one. Mr. Lincoln's 
strength steadily waned, then rallied slightly on 
the sixth and seventh ballots, but again declined. 
Shields" forty-one votes rising on the fifth ballot 
to forty-two, but having dropped on the next 
ballot to forty-one, his name was withdrawn and 
that of Gov. Joel A. Matteson substituted. Mat- 
teson gained until he received forty-seven votes, 
which was the limit of his strength. On the 
ninth ballot, Loncoln's vote having dropped to 
fifteen, his name was withdrawn at his own 
request, his support going, on the next ballot, to 
Lyman Trumbull, an anti-Nebraska Democrat, 
who received fifty-one votes to forty-seven for 
Matteson and one for Archibald Williams — one 
member not voting. Trumbull, having received 
a majority, was elected. Five members had 
voted for him from the start. These were Sena- 
tors John M. Palmer, Norman B. Judd and Burton 
C. Cook, and Representatives Henry S. Baker and 
George T. Allen. It had been hoped that they 
would, in time, come to the support of Mr. Lin- 
coln, but they explained that they had been 
instructed by their constituents to vote only for 
an anti-Nebraska Democrat. They were all sub- 
sequently prominent leaders in the Republican 
party. Having inaugurated its work by accom- 
plishing a political revolution, this Legislature 
proceeded to adopt several measures more or less 
radical in their tendency. One of these was the 
Maine liquor law, with the condition that it be 
submitted to popular vote. It failed of ratifica- 
tion by vote of the people at an election held in 
the following June. A new common school law 
was enacted, and railroads were required to fence 
their tracks. The Assembly also adopted a reso- 



190 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



lution calling for a Convention to amend the Con- 
stitution, but this was defeated at the polls. 

Twentieth General Assembly convened Jan. 
5, 1857, and adjourned, sine die, Feb. 19. A 
Republican State administration, with Governor 
Bissell at its head, had just been elected, but the 
Legislature was Democratic in both branches. 
Lieut. -Gov. John Wood presided over the Senate, 
and Samuel Holmes, of Adams County, defeated 
Isaac N. Arnold, of Cook, for the Speakership of 
the House. Among the prominent members were 
Norman B. Judd, of Cook; A. J. Kuykendall, of 
Johnson ; Shelby M. Cullom, of Sangamon ; John 
A. Logan, of Jackson; William R. Morrison, of 
Jlonroe ; Isaac N. Arnold, of Cook ; Joseph Gilles- 
pie, of Madison, and S. W. Moulton, of Shelby. 
Among the important measui-es enacted by this 
General Assembly were the following: Acts 
establishing and maintaining free schools; estab- 
lisliing a Normal University at Normal; amending 
the banking law ; providing for the general incor- 
poration of railroads : providing for the building 
of a new penitentiary ; and funding the accrued 
arrears of interest on the public debt. Length of 
session, forty-six days. 

Twenty-first General Assembly convened 
Jan. 3, 1859, and was in session for fifty-three 
days, adjourning Feb. 24. The Senate consisted 
of twenty-five, and the House of seventy -five 
members. Tlie presiding officers were; — of the 
Senate, Lieut. -Gov. Wood; of the House, W. R. 
Morrison, of Monroe County, who defeated his 
Republican opponent. Vital Jarrot, of St. Clair, 
on a viva voce vote. The Governor's message 
showed a reduction of §1,166,877 in the State debt 
during two years preceding, leaving a balance of 
principal and arrears of interest amounting to 
$11,138,454. On Jan. 6, 1859, the Assembly, in 
joint session, elected Stephen A. Douglas to suc- 
ceed himself as United States Senator, by a vote 
of fifty-four to forty-six for Abraham Lincoln. 
The Legislature was thrown into great disorder 
in consequence of an attempt to prevent the 
receipt from the Governor of a veto of a legisla- 
tive apportionment bill which had been passed by 
the Democratic majority in the face of bitter 
opposition on the part of the Republicans, who 
denounced it as partisan and unjust. 

Twenty-second General Assembly convened 
in regular session on Jan. 7, 1861, consisting of 
twenty-five Senators and seventy-five Represent- 
atives. For the first time in the State's history, 
the Democrats failed to control the organization 
of either house. Lieut. -Gov. Francis A. Hoffman 
presided over the Senate, and S. M. Cullom, of 



Sangamon, was chosen Speaker of the House, the 
Democratic candidate being James W. Singleton. 
Thomas A. Marshall, of Coles County, was elected 
President pro tem. of the Senate over A. J. Kuy- 
kendall, of Johnson. The message of the retiring 
Governor (John Wood) reported a reduction of 
the State debt, during four years of Republican 
administration, of §3,860,403, and showed the 
number of banks to be 110, whose aggregate cir- 
culation was §12,320,964. Lyman Trumbull was 
re-elected United States Senator on January 10, 
receiving fifty-four votes, to forty-six cast for 
Samuel S. Marshall. Governor Yates was inau- 
gurated, Jan. 14. The most important legislation 
of this session related to the following subjects: 
the separate property rights of married women ; 
the encouragement of mining and the support of 
public schools ; the payment of certain evidences 
of State indebtedness ; protection of the purity of 
the ballot-bos, and a resolution submitting to the 
people the question of the calling of a Convention 
to amend the Constitution. Joint resolutions were 
passed relative to the death of Governor Bissell ; 
to the appointment of Commissioners to attend a 
Peace Conference in Washington, and referring 
to federal relations. The latter deprecated 
amendments to the United States Constitution, but 
expressed a willingness to unite with any States 
which might consider themselves aggrieved, 
in petitioning Congress to call a convention 
for the consideration of such amendments, at the 
same time pledging the entire resources of Illi- 
nois to the National Government for the preser- 
vation of the Union and the enforcement of the 
laws. The regular session ended Feb. 22, having 
lasted forty-seven days. — Immediately following 
President Lincoln's first call for volunteers to 
suppress the rebellion. Governor Yates recon- 
vened the General Assembly in special session to 
consider and adopt methods to aid and support 
the Federal authority in preserving the Union and 
protecting the rights and property of the people. 
The two houses assembled on April 23. On April 
25 Senator Douglas addressed the members on the 
issues of the day, in response to an invitation con- 
veyed in a joint resolution. The special session 
closed May 3, 1861, and not a few of the legislators 
promptly volunteered in the Union army. 
Length of the regular session, forty-seven days; 
of the special, eleven — total fifty-eight. 

Twenty'-third General Assembly' was com- 
posed of twenty-five Senators and eighty-eight 
Representatives. It convened Jan. 5, 1863, and 
was Democratic in both branches. The presiding 
officer of the Senate was Lieutenant-Governor 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



191 



Hoffman; Samuel A. Buckmaster was elected 
Speaker of the House by a vote of fiftj'-three to 
twenty-five. On Jan. 12, William A. Richardson 
was elected United States Senator to succeed 
S. A. Douglas, deceased, the Republican nominee 
being Governor Yates, who received thirty-eight 
votes out of a total of 103 cast. Much of the time 
of the session was devoted to angry discussion of 
the policy of the National Government in the 
prosecution of the war. The views of the oppos- 
ing parties were expressed in majoritj' and minor- 
ity reports from the Committee on Federal 
Relations — the former condemning and the latter 
upholding the Federal administration. The 
majority report was adopted in the House on 
Feb. 12, by a vote of fifty-two to twenty-eight, 
and the resolutions which it embodied were at 
once sent to the Senate for concurrence. Before 
they could be acted upon in that body a Demo- 
cratic Senator — J. M. Rodgers, of Clinton County 
— died. This left the Senate politically tied, a 
Republican presiding oiEcer having the deciding 
vote. Consequently no action was taken at the 
time, and, on Feb. 14, the Legislature adjourned 
till June 2. Immediately upon re-assembling, 
joint resolutions relating to a sine die adjourn- 
ment were introduced in both houses. A disagree- 
ment regarding the date of such adjournment 
ensued, when Governor Yates, exercising the 
power conferred upon him by the Constitution in 
such eases, sent in a message (June 10, 1863) 
proroguing the General Assembly until "the 
Saturday next preceding the first Monday in 
January, 1865." The members of the Republican 
minority at once left the hall. The members of 
the majority convened and adjourned from day 
to day until June 24. when, having adopted an 
address to the people setting forth their grievance 
and denouncing the State executive, they took a 
recess until the Tuesday after the first Monday of 
January, 1864. The action of the Governor, hav- 
ing been submitted to the Supreme Court, was 
sustained, and no further session of this General 
Assembly was held. Owing to the prominence 
of political issues, no important legislation was 
effected at this session, even the ordinary appro- 
priations for the State institutions failing. This 
caused much embarrassment to the State Govern- 
ment in meeting current expenses, but banks and 
capitalists came to its aid, and no important 
interest was permitted to suffer. The total 
length of the session was fifty days — forty-one 
days before the recess and nine days after. 

Twenty-fourth Gener.\l Assembly convened 
Jan. 2, 1865, and remained in session forty-six 



days. It consisted of twenty-rive Senators and 
eighty-five Representatives. The Republicans 
had a majority in both houses. Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Bross presided over the Senate, and Allen 
C. Fuller, of Boone County, was chosen Speaker 
of the House, over Ambrose M. Miller, Democrat, 
the vote standing 48 to 23. Governor Yates, in 
his valedictory message, reported that, notwith- 
standing the heavy expenditvire attendant upon 
the enlistment and maintenance of troops, etc., 
the State debt had been reduced §987,786 in four 
years. On Jan. 4, 1865, Governor Yates was 
elected to the United States Senate, receiving 
sixty-four votes to forty three cast for James C. 
Robinson. Governor Oglesbj- was inaugurated Jan. 
16. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United 
States Constitution was ratified by this Legisla- 
ture, and sundry special appropriations made. 
Among the latter was one of .$3,000 toward the 
State's proportion for the establishment of a 
National Cemetery at Gettysburg; §25,000 for 
the purchase of the land on which is the tomb 
of the deceased Senator Douglas; besides sums 
for establishing a home for Soldiers' Orphans and 
an experimental school for the training of idiots 
and feeble-minded children. The first act for 
the registry of legal voters was passed at this 
session. 

Twenty-fifth General Assembly. This 
body held one regular and two special sessions. 
It first convened and organized on Jan. 7, 1867. 
Lieutenant-Governor Bross presided over the 
upper, and Franklin Corwin, of La Salle County, 
over the lower house. The Governor (Oglesby), 
in his message, reported a reduction of §2,607,958 
in the State debt during the two years preceding, 
and recommended various appropriations for pub- 
lic purposes. He also urged the calling of a Con- 
vention to amend the Constitution. On Jan. 15, 
Lyman Tnimbull was chosen United States Sena- 
tor, the complimentary Democratic vote being 
given to T. Lyle Dickey, who received thirty- 
three votes out of 109. The regular session lasted 
fifty-three days, adjourning Feb. 28. The Four- 
teenth Amendment to the United States Constitu- 
tion was ratified and important legislation enacted 
relative to State taxation and the regulation of 
public warehouses ; a State Board of Equalization 
of Assessments was established, and the office of 
Attorney-General created. (Under this law 
Robert G. IngersoU was the first appointee.) 
Provision was made for the erection of a new 
State House, to establish a Reform School for 
Juvenile Offenders, and for the support of other 
State institutions. The first special session con- 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



vened on June 11, 1867, having been summoned 
to consider questions relating to internal revenue. 
The lessee of the penitentiary having surrendered 
his lease without notice, the Governor found it 
necessary to make immediate provision for the 
management of that institution. Not having 
included this matter in his original call, no ne- 
cessity then existing, he at once summoned a 
second special session, before the adjournment 
of the first. This convened on June 14, remained 
in session until June 28, and adopted what is 
substantially the present penitentiary law of the 
State. This General Assembly was in session 
seventy-one days — fifty-three at the regular, 
three at the first special session and fifteen at the 
second. 

Twenty-sixth General Assembly convened 
Jan. 4, 1869. The Republicans had a majority in 
each house. The newly elected Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, Jolm Dougherty, presided in the Senate, 
and Franklin Corwin. of Peru, was again chosen 
Speaker of the House. Governor Oglesby sub- 
mitted his final message at the opening of the 
session, showing a total reduction in the State 
debt during his term of §4,743,831. Governor 
John M. Palmer was inaugurated Jan. 11. The 
most important acts passed by this Legislature 
were the following: Calling the Constitutional 
Convention of 1869; ratifying the Fifteenth 
Amendment to the United States Constitution ; 
granting well behaved convicts a reduction in 
their terms of imprisonment ; for the prevention 
of cruelty to animals; providing for the regula- 
tion of freights and fares on railroads; estab- 
lishing the Southern Kormal University; pro- 
viding for the erection of the Northern Insane 
Hospital; and establishing a Board of Com- 
missioners of Public Charities. The celebrated 
"Lake Front Bill," especially affecting the 
interests of the city of Chicago, occupied a 
great deal of time during this session, and 
though finally passed over the Governor's veto, 
was repealed in 1873. Tliis session was inter- 
rupted by a recess which extended from March 
12 to April 13. The Legislature re-assem- 
bled April 14, and adjourned, sine die, April 20, 
having been in actual session seventy-four days. 

Twenty-seventh General Assembly had 
four sessions, one regular, two special and one 
adjourned. The first convened Jan. 4, 1871, and 
adjourned on April 17, having lasted 104 days, 
when a recess was taken to Nov. 15 following. 
The body was made up of fifty Senators and 177 
Representatives. The Republicans again con- 
trolled both houses, electing William M. Smith, 



Speaker (over William R. Morrison, Democrat), 
while Lieutenant-Governor Dougherty presided in 
the Senate. The latter occupied the Hall of Rep- 
resentatives in the old State Capitol, while the 
House held its sessions in a new church edifice 
erected by the Second Presbyterian Church. 
John A. Logan was elected United States Sena- 
tor, defeating Tliomas J. Turner (Democrat) by a 
vote, on joint ballot, of 131 to 89. This was the 
first Illinois Legislature to meet after the adoption 
of the Constitution of 1870, and its time was 
mainly devoted to framing, discussing and pass- 
ing laws required by the changes in the organic 
law of the State. The first special session opened 
on May 24 and closed on June 22, 1871, continu- 
ing thirty days. It was convened by Governor 
Palmer to make additional appropriations for the 
necessary expenses of the State Government and 
for the continuance of work on the new State 
House. The purpose of the Governor in sum- 
moning the second special session was to provide 
financial reUef for the city of Chicago after the 
great fire of Oct. 9-11, 1871. Members were sum- 
moned by special telegrams and were in their 
seats Oct. 13, continuing in session to Oct. 24 
— twelve days. Governor Pahuer had already 
suggested a plan by which the State might 
aid the stricken city without doing violence 
to either the spirit or letter of the new Con- 
stitution, which expressly prohibited special 
legislation. Chicago had advanced $2,500,000 
toward the completion of the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal, under the pledge of the State that this 
outlay should be made good. The Legislature 
voted an appropriation sufficient to pay both 
principal and interest of this loan, amounting, in 
round numbers, to about §3,000,000. The ad- 
journed session opened on Nov. 15, 1871, and came 
to an end on April 9, 1872 — having continued 147 
days. It was entirely devoted to considering and 
adopting legislation germane to tlie new Consti- 
tution. The total length of all sessions of this 
General Assembly was 293 days. 

Twenty-eighth General Assembly convened 
Jan. 8, 1873. It was composed of fifty-one Sena- 
tors and 153 Representatives; the upper liouse 
standing thirty-three Republicans to eighteen 
Democrats, and the lower, eighty-six Republicans 
to sixty-seven Democrats. The Senate chose 
John Early, of Winnebago, President pro tempore, 
and Shelby M. CuUom was elected Speaker of the 
House. Governor Oglesby was inaugurated Jan. 
13, but, eight days later, was elected to the United 
States Senate, being succeeded in the Governor- 
ship by Lieut. -Gov. John L. Beveridge. An 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



193 



appropriation of $1,000,000 was made for carrying 
on the work on the new capitol and various other 
acts of a public character passed, the most impor- 
tant being an amendment of the railroad law of 
the previous session. On May 6, the Legislature 
adjourned until Jan. 8, 1874. The purpose of the 
recess was to enable a Commission on the Revision 
of the Laws to complete a report. The work was 
duly completed and nearly all the titles reported 
by the Commissioners were adopted at the 
adjourned session. An adjournment, sine die, 
was taken March 31, 1874 — the two sessions 
having lasted, respectively, 119 and 83 days — 
total 202. 

Twenty-ninth General Assembly convened 
Jan 6, 1875. While the Republicans had a plu- 
rality in both houses, they were defeated in an 
effort to secure their organization through a 
fusion of Democrats and Independents. A. A. 
Glenn (Democrat) was elected President pro tem- 
pore of the Senate (becoming acting Lieutenant- 
Governor), and Elijah M. Haines was chosen 
presiding officer of the lower house. The leaders 
on both sides of the Chamber were aggressive, 
and the session, as a whole, was one of the most 
turbulent and disorderly in the history of the 
State. Little legislation of vital importance 
(outside of regular appropriation bills) was 
enacted. This Legislature adjourned, April 15, 
having been in session 100 days. 

Thirtieth General Assembly convened Jan. 
3 ; 1877, and adjourned, sine die, on May 24. The 
Democrats and Independents in the Senate united 
in securing control of that body, although the 
House was Republican. Fawcett Plumb, of La 
Salle County, was chosen President pro tempore 
of the upper, and James Shaw Speaker of the 
lower, house. The inauguration of State officers 
took place Jan. 8, Shelby M. Cullom becoming 
Governor and Andrew Shunian, Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor. This was one of the most exciting years 
in American political history Both of the domi- 
nant parties claimed to have elected the President, 
and the respective votes in the Electoral College 
were so close as to excite grave apprehension in 
many minds. It was also the year for the choice 
of a Senator by the Illinois Legislature, and the 
attention of the entire country was directed 
toward this State. Gen. John M. Palmer was 
the nominee of the Democratic caucus and John 
A. Logan of the Republicans. On the twenty- 
fourth ballot the name of General Logan was 
withdrawn, most of the Republican vote going 
to Charles B. Lawrence, and the Democrats going 
over to David Davis, who, although an original 



Republican and friend of Lincoln, and Justice of 
the Supreme Court by appointment of Mr. Lin- 
coln, had become an Independent Democrat. On 
the fortieth ballot (taken Jan. 25), Judge Davis 
received 101 votes, to 94 for Judge Lawrence 
(Republican) and five scattering, thus securing 
Davis' election. Not many acts of vital impor- 
tance were passed by this Legislature. Appellate 
Courts were established and new judicial districts 
created; the original jurisdiction of county 
courts was enlarged; better safeguards were 
thrown about miners ; measures looking at once 
to the supervision and protection of railroads were 
passed, as well as various laws relating chiefly to 
the police administration of the State and of 
municipalities. The length of the session was 
142 days. 

Thirty-first General Assembly convened 
Jan. 8, 1879, with a Republican majority in each 
house. Andrew Shuman, the newly elected Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, presided in the Senate, and 
William A. James of Lake County was chosen 
Speaker of the House. John M. Hamilton of 
McLean County (afterwards Governor), was 
chosen President pro tempore of the Senate. 
John A. Logan was elected United States Senator 
on Jan. 21, the complimentary Democratic vote 
being given to Gen. John C. Black. Various 
laws of public importance were enacted by this 
Legislature, among them being one creating the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics ; the first oleomargar- 
ine law ; a drainage and levee act ; a law for the 
reorganization of the militia; an act for the 
regulation of pawnbrokers; a law limiting the 
pardoning power, and various laws looking 
toward the supervision and control of railways. 
The session lasted 144 days, and the Assembly 
adjourned, sine die. May 31, 1879. 

Thirty second General Assembly convened 
Jan. 5. 1881, the Republicans having a majority 
in both branches. Lieutenant-Governor Hamil- 
ton presided in the Senate, William J. Campbell 
of Cook County being elected President pro tem- 
pore. Horace H. Thomas, also of Cook, was 
chosen Speaker of the House. Besides the rou- 
tine legislation, the most important measures 
enacted by this Assembly were laws to prevent 
the spread of pleuro-pneumonia among cattle: 
regulating the sale of firearms; providing more 
stringent penalties for the adulteration of food, 
drink or medicine ; regulating the practice of 
pharmacy and dentistry ; amending the revenue 
and school laws ; and requiring annual statements 
from official custodians of public moneys. The 
Legislature adjourned May 30, after having been 



194 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



in session 146 days, but was called together again 
in special session by the Governor on March 23, 
1S83, to pass new Legislative and Congressional 
Apportionment Laws, and for the consideration 
of other subjects. The special session lasted 
forty-four days, adjourning May 5— both sessions 
occupying a total of 190 days. 

Thirty-third General Assembly convened 
Jan. 2, 1883, with the Republicans again in the 
majority in both houses. William J. Campbell 
was re-elected President pro tempore of the 
Senate, but not imtil the sixty-first ballot, six 
Republicans refusing to be bound by the nomina- 
tion of a caucus held prior to their arrival at 
Springfield. Loren C. Collins, also of Cook, was 
elected Speaker of the House. The compliment- 
ary Democratic vote was given to Thomas M. Shaw 
in the Senate, and to Austin O. Sexton in the 
House. Governor CuUom, the Republican caucus 
nominee, was elected United States Senator, Jan. 
16, receiving a majority in each branch of the 
General Assembly. The celebrated "Harper 
High-License Bill," and the first "Compulsory 
School Law" were passed at this session, the 
other acts being of ordinary character. The 
Legislature adjourned June 18, having been in 
session 168 days. 

Thirty-fourth General Assembly convened 
Jan. 7, 1885. The Senate was Republican by a 
majority of one, there being twenty -six members 
of that party, twenty-four Democrats and one 
greenback Democrat. William J. Campbell, of 
Cook County, was for the third time chosen 
President pro tempore. The House stood seventy- 
six Republicans and seventy-six Democrats, with 
one member — Elijah M. Haines of Lake County — 
calling himself an "Independent." The contest 
for the Speakership continued until Jan. 29, 
when, neither party being able to elect its nomi- 
nee, the Democrats took up Haines as a candidate 
and placed him in the chair, with Haines' assist- 
ance, filling the minor offices with their own 
men. After the inauguration of Governor 
Oglesby, Jan. 30, the first business was the elec- 
tion of a United States Senator. The balloting 
proceeded until May 18, when John A. Logan re- 
ceived 103 votes to ninety -six for Lambert Tree and 
five scattering. Three members — one Republican 
and two Democrats — had died since the opening 
of the session ; and it was through the election of 
a Republican in place of one of the deceased 
Democrats, that the Republicans succeeded in 
electing their candidate. Tlie session was a 
Btormy one throughout, the Speaker being, much 
of the time, at odds with the House, and an 



unsuccessful effort was made to depose him. 
Charges of briberj' against certain members were 
preferred and investigated, but no definite result 
was reached. Among the important measures 
passed by this Legislature were the following : A 
joint resolution providing for submission of an 
amendment to the Constitution prohibiting con- 
tract labor in penal institutions; providing by 
resolution for the appointment of a non-partisan 
Commission of twelve to draft a new revenue 
code ; the Crawford primary election law ; an act 
amending the code of criminal procedure ; estab- 
lishing a Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, subse- 
quently located at Quincy ; creating a Live-Stock 
Commission and appropriating §531,712 for the 
completion of the State House. The Assembly 
adjourned, sine die, June 26, 1885, after a session 
of 171 days. ' 

Thirty-fifth General Assembly convened 
Jan. 5, 1887. The Republicans had a majority of 
twelve in the Senate and three in the House. 
For President pro tempore of the Senate, August 
W. Berggren was chosen; for Speaker of the 
House, Dr. William F. Calhoun, of De Witt 
County. The death of General Logan, which 
had occurred Dec. 26, 1886, was officially an- 
nounced by Governor Oglesby^ and, on Jan. 18, 
Charles B. Farwell was elected to succeed him as 
United States Senator. William R. Morrison and 
Benjamin W. Goodhue were the candidates of 
the Democratic and Labor parties, respectively. 
Some of the most important laws passed by this 
General Assembly were the following: Amend 
ing the law relating to the spread of contagious 
diseases among cattle, etc. ; the Chase bill to 
prohibit book-making and pool-selling; regulat- 
ing trust companies; making the Trustees of 
the University of Illinois elective; inhibiting 
aliens from holding real estate, and forbidding 
the marriage of first cousins. An act virtually 
creating a new State banking system was also 
passed, subject to ratification by popular vote. 
Other acts, having more particular reference to 
Chicago and Cook County, were: a law making 
cities and counties responsible for three-fourths 
of the damage resulting from mobs and riots ; the 
Merritt conspiracy law; the Gibbs Jury Commis- 
sion law, and an act for the suppression of 
bucket-shop gambling. The session ended June 
15, 1887. having continued 162 days. 

Thirty-sixth General Assembly convened 
Jan. 7. 1889, in its first (or regular) session, the 
Republicans being largely in the majority. The 
Senate elected Theodore S. Chapman of Jersey 
County, President pro tempore, and the House 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



195 



Asa C. Matthews of Pike County, Speaker. Mr. 
Matthews was appointed First Comptroller of the 
Treasury by President Harrison, on May 9 (see 
Matthews, Asa C. ), and resigned the Speakership 
on the following day. He was succeeded by 
James H. Miller of Stark County. Shelby M. 
Cullom was re-elected to the United States Senate 
on January 22, the Democrats again voting for 
ex-Gov. John M. Palmer. The "Sanitary Drain- 
age District Law," designed for the benefit of the 
city of Chicago, was enacted at this session ; an 
asylum for insane criminals was established at 
Chester ; the annexation of cities, towns, villages, 
etc., under certain conditions, was authorized; 
more stringent legislation was enacted relative to 
the circulation of obscene literature ; a new com- 
pulsory education law was passed, and the em- 
ployment on public works of aliens who had not 
declared their intention of becoming citizens was 
prohibited. This session ended. May 28. A 
special session was convened by Governor Fifer 
on July 24, 1890, to frame and adopt legislation 
rendered necessary by the Act of Congress locat- 
ing the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. 
Mr. Miller having died m the interim, William G. 
Cochran, of Moultrie County, was chosen Speaker 
of the House. The special session concluded 
Aug. 1, 1890, having enacted the following meas- 
ures ; An Act granting the use of all State lands, 
(submerged or other) in or adjacent to Chicago, to 
the World's Colxmibian Exposition for a period to 
extend one year after the closing of the Exposi- 
tion; authorizing the Chicago Boards of Park 
Commissioners to grant the use of the public 
parks, or any part thereof, to promote the objects 
of such Exposition ; a joint resolution providing 
for the submission to the people of a Constitu- 
tional Amendment granting to the city of Chicago 
the power (provided a majority of the qualified 
voters desired it) to issue bonds to an amount not 
exceeding $5,000,000, the same to bear interest 
and the proceeds of their sale to be turned over 
to the Exposition Managers to be devoted to the 
use and for the benefit of the Exposition. (See 
also World's Columbian Exposition.) The total 
length of the two sessions was 150 days. 

Thirty-seventh General Assembly convened 
Jan. 7, 1891, and adjourned June 12 following. 
Lieut. -Gov. Ray presided in the Senate, Milton 
W. Matthews (Republican), of Urbana, being 
elected President pro tern. The Democrats had 
control in the House and elected Clayton E. 
Crafts, of Cook County, Speaker. The most 
exciting feature of the session was the election of 
a United States Senator to succeed Charles B. 



Farwell. Neither of the two leading parties had 
a majority on joint ballot, the balance of power 
being held by three "Independent" members of 
the House, who had been elected as represent- 
atives of the Farmers' Mutual Benevolent Alli- 
ance. Richard J. Oglesby was the caucus 
nominee of the Republicans and John M. Palmer 
of the Democrats. For a time the Independents 
stood as a unit for A. J. Streeter, but later two of 
the three voted for ex-Governor Pahner, finally, 
on March 11, securing his election on the 154th 
ballot in joint session. Meanwhile, the Repub- 
licans had cast tentative ballots for Alson J. 
Streeter and Cicero J. Lindley, in hope of draw- 
ing the Independents to their support, but without 
effective result. The final ballot stood — Palmer, 
103; Lindley, 101, Streeter 1. Of 1,296 bills intro- 
duced in both Houses at this session, only 151 
became laws, the most important being: The 
Australian ballot law, and acts regulating build- 
ing and loan associations ; prohibiting the employ- 
ment of children under thirteen at manual labor ; 
fixing the legal rate of interest at seven per cent ; 
prohibiting the "truck system" of paying em- 
ployes, and granting the right of suffrage to 
women in the election of school officers. An 
amendment of the State Constitution permitting 
the submission of two Constitutional Amend- 
ments to the people at the same time, was sub- 
mitted by this Legislature and ratified at the 
election of 1892. The session covered a period of 
157 days. 

Thirty-eighth General Assembly. This 
body convened Jan. 4, 1893. The Democrats were 
in the ascendency in both houses, having a 
majority of seven in the Senate and of three in 
the lower house. Joseph R. Gill, the Lieutenant- 
Governor, was ex-officio President of the Senate, 
and John W. Coppinger, of Alton, was chosen 
President pro tem. Clayton E. Crafts of Cook 
County was again chosen Speaker of the House. 
The inauguration of the new State officers took 
place on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 10. This 
Legislatvire was in session 164 days, adjourning 
June 16, 1893. Not very much legislation of a 
general character was enacted. New Congres- 
sional and Legislative apportionments were 
passed, the former dividing the State into twenty- 
two districts; an Insurance Department was 
created; a naval militia was established; the 
scope of the juvenile reformatory was enlarged 
and the compulsory education law was amended. 

Thirty-ninth General Assembly. This 
Legislature held two sessions — a regular and a 
special. The former opened Jan. 9, 1895, and 



196 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



closed June 14, following. The political com- 
plexion of the Senate was — Republicans, thirty- 
three; Democrats, eighteen; of the House, 
ninety-two Republicans and sixty-one Democrats. 
John Meyer, of Cook County, was elected Speaker 
of the House, and Charles Bogardus of Piatt 
County, President pro tern, of the Senate. Acts 
were passed making appropriations for improve- 
ment of the State Fair Grounds at Springfield ; 
authorizing the establishment of a Western Hos- 
pital for the Insane (§100,000) ; appropriating 
§100,000 for a Western Hospital for the Insane ; 
$65,000 for an Asylum for Incurable Insane; §50,- 
000, each, for two additional Normal Schools — one 
in Northern and the other in Eastern Illinois; 
$25,000 for a Soldiers' Widows' Home — all being 
new institutions — besides §15,000 for a State 
exhibition at the Atlanta Exposition; §65,000 to 
mark, by monuments, the position of Illinois 
troops on the battlefields of Chiokamauga, Look- 
out Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Other acts 
passed fixed the salaries of members of the Gen- 
eral Assembly at §1,000 each for each regular 
session; accepted the custody of the Lincoln 
monument at Springfield, authorized provision 
for the retirement and pensioning of teachers in 
public schools, and authorized the adoption of 
civil service rules for cities. The special session 
convened, pursuant to a call by the Governor, on 
June 25. 1895, took a recess, June 28 to July 9, 
re-assembled on the latter date, and adjourned, 
sine die, August 2. Outside of routine legisla- 
tion, no laws were passed except one providing 
additional necessary revenue for State purposes 
and one creating a State Board of Arbitration. 
The regular session continued 157 days and the 
special twenty-nine — total 186. 

Fortieth General Assembly met in regular 
session at Springfield, Jan. 6, 1897, and adjourned, 
sine die, June 4. The Republicans had a major- 
ity in both branches, the House standing eighty- 
eight Republicans to sixty-three Democrats and 
two Populists, and the Senate, thirty-nine Repub- 
licans to eleven Democrats and one Populist, 
giving the Republicans a majority on joint ballot 
of fifty votes. Both houses were promptly organ- 
ized by the election of Republican officers, Edward 
C. Curtis of Kankakee County being chosen 
Speaker of the House, and Hendrick V. Fisher, 
of Henry County, President pro tern, of the Sen- 
ate. Governor Tanner and the other Republican 
State officers were formally inaugurated on 
Jan. 11, and, on Jan. 20, William E. Mason 
(Republican) was chosen United States Senator 
to succeed John M. Palmer, receiving in joint 



session 125 votes to seventy-seven for John P. 
Altgeld (Democrat). Among the principal laws 
enacted at this session were the following: An 
act concerning aliens and to regulate the right to 
hold real estate, and prescribing the terms and 
conditions for the conveyance of the same; 
empowering the Commissioners who were ap- 
pointed at the previous session to ascertain and 
mark the positions occupied by IlUnois Volunteers 
in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Moun- 
tain and Missionary Ridge, to expend the remain- 
ing appropriations in their hands for the erection 
of monuments on the battle-grounds ; authorizing 
the appointment of a similar Commission to 
ascertain and mark the positions held by Illinois 
troops in the battle of Shiloh ; to reimburse the 
University of Illinois for the loss of funds result- 
ing from the Spaulding defalcation and affirming 
the liability of the State for "the endowment 
fund of the University, amounting to §456,712.91, 
and for so much in addition as may be received 
in future from the sale of lands"; authorizing 
the adoption of the "Torrens land-title system" in 
the conveyance and registration of land titles by 
vote of the people in any county; the consoUda- 
tion of the three Supreme Court Districts of the 
State into one and locating the Court at Spring- 
field; creating a State Board of Pardons, and 
prescribing the manner of applying for pardons 
and commutations. An act of this session, which 
produced much agitation and led to a great deal 
of discussion in the press and elsewhere, was the 
street railroad law empowering the City Council, 
or other corporate authority of any city, to grant 
franchises to street railway companies extending 
to fifty years. This act was repealed by the 
General Assembly of 1899 before any street rail- 
way corporation had secured a franchise under it. 
A special session was called by Governor Tanner 
to meet Dec. 7, 1897, the proclamation naming 
five topics for legislative action. The session 
continued to Feb. 24, 1898, only two of the meas- 
ures named by the Governor in his call being 
affirmatively acted upon. These included: (1) an 
elaborate act prescribing the manner of conduct- 
ing primary elections of delegates to nominating 
conventions, and (2) a new revenue law regulat- 
ing the manner of assessing and collecting taxes. 
One provision of the latter law limits the valuation 
of property for assessment purposes to one-fifth 
its cash value. The length of the regular session 
was 150 days, and that of the special session 
eighty days — total, 230 days. 

GEJfESEO, a city in Henry County, about two 
miles south of the Green River. It is on the Chi- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



197 



cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 23 miles 
east of Rock Island and 75 miles west of Ottawa. 
It is in the heart of a grain-growing region, and 
has two large grain elevators. Manufacturing is 
also carried on to a considerable extent here, 
furniture, wagons and farming implements con- 
stituting the chief output. Geneseo has eleven 
churches, a graded and a high school, a col- 
legiate institute, two banks, and two newspapers, 
one issuing a daily edition. Population (1890), 
3,182; (1900), 3,356. 

GENEVA, a city and railway junction on Fox 
River, and the county -seat of Kane County ; 35 
miles west of Chicago. It has a fine courthouse, 
completed in 1893 at a cost of §250,000, and 
numerous handsome churches and school build- 
ings. A State Reformatory for juvenile female 
offenders has been located here. There is an ex- 
cellent water-power, operating six manufac- 
tories, including extensive glucose works. The 
town has a bank, creamery, water-works, gas 
and electric light plant, and two weekly news- 
papers. The surrounding country is devoted to 
agriculture and dairy farming. Population 
(1880), 1,239; (1890), 1,692; (1900), 2.446. 

GENOA, a village of De Kalb County, on 
Omaha Division of the Chi., Mil. & St. Paul, the 
111. Cent, and Chi. & N.W. Railroads, 59 miles west 
of Chicago. Dairying is a leading industry ; has 
two banks, shoe and telephone factories, and two 
newspapers. Population (1890), 634; (1900), 1,140. 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. The geological 
structure of Illinois embraces a representation, 
more or less complete, of the whole paleonic 
series of formations, from the calciferous group 
of the Lower Silurian to the top of the coal meas- 
ures. In addition to these older rocks there is a 
limited area in the extreme southern end of the 
State covered with Tertiary deposits. Over- 
spreading these formations are beds of more 
recent age, comprising sands, clays and gravel, 
varying in thickness from ten to more than two 
hundred feet. These superficial deposits may be 
divided into AUuvixun, Loess and Drift, and con- 
stitute the Quaternary system of modern geolo- 
gists. 

Lower Silurian System.— Under this heading 
may be noted three distinct groups: the Calcifer- 
ous, the Trenton and the Cincinnati. The first 
mentioned group comprises the St. Peter's Sand- 
stone and the Lower Magnesian Limestone. The 
former outcrops only at a single locality, in La 
Salle County, extending about two miles along 
the valley of the IlUnois River in the vicinity of 
Utica. The thickness of the strata appearing 



above the surface is about 80 feet, thin bands of 
Magnesian limestone alternating with layers of 
Calciferous sandstone. Many of the layers con- 
tain good hydraulic rock, which is utilized in the 
manufacture of cement. The entire thickness of 
the rock below the surface has not been ascer- 
tained, but is estimated at about 400 feet. The 
St. Peter's Sandstone outcrops in the valley of 
the Illinois, constituting the main portion of the 
bluffs from Utica to a point beyond Ottawa, and 
forms the "bed rock" in most of the northern 
townships of La Salle County. It also outcrops 
on the Rock River in the vicinity of Oregon City, 
and forms a conspicuous bluff on the Mississippi 
in Calhoun County. Its maximum thickness in 
the State may be estimated at about 200 feet. It 
is too incoherent in its texture to be valuable as 
a building stone, though some of the upper strata 
in Lee County have been utilized for caps and 
sills. It affords, however, a fine quality of sand 
for the manufacture of glass. The Trenton 
group, which immediately overlies the St. Peter's 
Sandstone, consists of three divisions. The low- 
est is a brown Magnesian Limestone, or Dolomite, 
usually found in regular beds, or strata, varying 
from four inches to two feet in thickness. The 
aggregate thickness varies from twenty feet, in 
the northern portion of the State, to sixty or 
seventy feet at the bluff in Calhoun County. At 
the quarries in La Salle County, it abounds in 
fossils, including a large Lituites and several 
specimens of Orthoceras, Maclurea, etc. The 
middle division of the Trenton group consists of 
light gray, compact limestones in the southern 
and western parts of the State, and of light blue, 
thin-bedded, shaly limestone in the northern por- 
tions. The upper division is the well-known 
Galena limestone, the lead-bearing rock of the 
Northwest. It is a buff colored, porous Dolomite, 
sometimes arenaceous and unevenly textured, 
giving origin to a ferruginous, sandy clay when 
decomposed. The lead ores occur in crevices, 
caverns and horizontal seams. These crevices were 
probably formed by shrinkage of the strata from 
crystallization or by some disturbing force from 
beneath, and have been enlarged by decomposi- 
tion of the exposed surface. Fossils belonging to 
a lower order of marine animal than the coral are 
found in this rock, as are also marine shells, 
corals and crustaceans. Although this limestone 
crops out over a considerable portion of the terri- 
tory between the Mississippi and the Rock River, 
the productive lead mines are chiefly confined to 
Jo Daviess and Stephenson Counties. All the 
divisions of the Trenton group afford good build- 



198 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



ing material, some of the rock being susceptible 
of a high polish and making a handsome, durable 
marble. About seventy feet are exposed near 
Thebes, in Alexander County. All through the 
Southwest this stone is known as Cape Girardeau 
marble, from its being extensively quarried at 
Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Cincinnati group 
immediately succeeds the Trenton in the ascend- 
ing scale, and forms the uppermost member of 
the Lower Silurian system. It usually consists of 
argillaceous and sandy shales, although, in the 
northwest portion of the State, Maguesian lime- 
stone is found with the shales. The prevailing 
colors of the beds are light blue and drab, 
weathering to a light ashen gray. T!'his group is 
found well exposed in the vicinity of Thebes, 
Alexander County, furnishing a durable building 
stone extensively used for foundation walls. 
Fossils are found in profusion in all the beds, 
many fine specimens, in a perfect state of preser- 
vation, having been exhumed. 

Upper Silurian System. — The Niagara group 
in Northern Illinois consists of brown, gray and 
buff magnesian limestones, sometimes evenly 
bedded, as at Joliet and Athens, and sometimes 
concretionary and brecciated, as at Bridgeport and 
Port Byron. Near Chicago the cells and pockets 
of this rock are filled with petroleum, but it has 
been ascertained that only the thirty upper feet 
of the rock contain bituminous matter. The 
quarries in Will and Jersey Counties furnish fine 
building and flagging stone. The rock is of a 
light gray color, changing to buff on exposure. 
In Pike and Calhoun Counties, also, there are out- 
croppings of this rook and quarries are numerous. 
It is usually evenly bedded, the strata varying in 
thickness from two inches to two feet, and break- 
ing evenly. Its aggregate thickness in Western 
and Northern Illinois ranges from fifty to 150 
feet. In Union and Alexander Counties, in the 
southern part of the State, the Upper Silurian 
series consists chiefly of thin bedded gray or 
buff-colored limestone, silicious and cherty, flinty 
material largely preponderating over the lime- 
stone. Fossils are not abundant in this formation, 
although the quarries at Bridgeport, in Cook 
County, have afforded casts of nearly 100 species 
of marine organisms, the calcareous portion hav- 
ing been washed away. 

Devonian System.— This system is represented 
in Illinois by three well marked divisions, cor- 
responding to the Oriskany sandstone, the Onon- 
daga limestone and the Hamilton and Corniferous 
beds of New York. To these the late Pi-ofessor 
Worthen, for many years State Geologist, added, 



although with some hesitancy, the black shale 
formation of Illinois. Although these comprise 
an aggregate thickness of over 500 feet, their 
exposure is limited to a few isolated outcroppings 
along the bluffs of the Illinois, Mississippi and 
Rock Rivers. The lower division, called "Clear 
Creek Limestone," is about 250 feet thick, and is 
only found in the extreme southern end of the 
State. It consists of chert, or impure flint, and 
thin-bedded silico-magnesian limestones, rather 
compact in texture, and of buff or light gray 
to nearly white colors. When decomposed by 
atmospheric influences, it forms a fine white clay, 
resembling common chalk in appearance. Some 
of the cherty beds resemble burr stones in poros- 
ity, and good mill-stones are made therefrom in 
Union County. Some of the stone is bluish-gray, 
or mottled and crystalline, capable of receiving 
a high polish, and making an elegant and durable 
building stone. The Onondaga group comprises 
some sixty feet of quartzose sandstone and 
striped silicious shales. The structure of the 
rock is almost identical with that of St. Peter's 
Sandstone. In the vicinity of its outcrop in 
Union County are found fine beds of potter's clay, 
also variegated in color. The rock strata are 
about twenty feet thick, evenly bedded and of a 
coarse, granular structure, which renders the 
stone valuable for heavy masonry. The group 
has not been found north of Jackson County. 
Large quantities of characteristic fossils abound. 
The rocks composing the Hamilton group are the 
most valuable of all the divisions of the Devonian 
system, and the outcrops can be identified only by 
their fossils. In Union and Jackson Counties it is 
found from eighty to 100 feet in thickness, two 
beds of bluish gray, fetid limestone being sepa- 
rated by about twenty feet of calcareous shales. 
The limestones are highly bituminous. In Jersey 
and Calhoun Counties the group is only six to 
ten feet thick, and consists of a hard, silicious 
limestone, passing at some points into a quartzose 
sandstone, and at others becoming argillaceous, 
as at Grafton. The most northern outcrop is in 
Rock Island County, where the rock is concretion- 
ary in structure and is utilized for building pur- 
poses and in the manufacture of quicklime. 
Fossils are numerous, among them being a few 
fragments of fishes, which are the oldest remains 
of vertebrate animals yet found in the State. 
The black shale probably attains its maximum 
development in Union County, where it ranges 
from fifty to seventy-five feet in thickness. Its 
lower portion is a fine, black, laminated slate, 
sometimes closely resembling the bituminous 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



199 



shales associated with the coal seams, which cir- 
cumstance has led to the fruitless expenditure of 
much time and money. The bituminous portion 
of the mass, on distillation, yields an oil closely 
resembling petroleum. Crystals of iron pyrites 
are abundant in the argillaceous portion of the 
group, which does nou extend north of the coun- 
ties of Calhoun, Jersey and Pike. 

Lower Carbonifeuous System. — This is di- 
visible into five groups, as follows : The Kinder- 
hook group, the Burlington limestone, and the 
Keokuk, St. Louis and Chester groups. Its 
greatest development is in the southern portion 
of the State, where it has a thickness of 1,400 or 
1,500 feet. It thins out to the northward so rapidly 
that, in the vicinity of the Lower Rapids on the 
Mississippi, it is only 300 feet thick, while it 
wholly disappears below Rock Island. The Kinder- 
hook group is variable in its lithological charac- 
ter, consisting of argillaceous and sandy shales, 
with thin beds of compact and oolitic limestone, 
passing locally into calcareous shales or impure 
limestone. The entire formation is mainly a 
mechanical sediment, with but a very small por- 
tion of organic matter. The Burlington lime- 
stone, on the other hand, is composed almost 
entirely of the fossilized remains of organic 
beings, with barely enough sedimentary material 
to act as a cement. Its maximum thickness 
scarcely exceeds 200 feet, and its principal out- 
crops are in the counties of Jersej', Greene, Scott, 
Calhoun, Pike, Adams, Warren and Henderson. 
The rock is usually a light gray, buff or brown 
limestone, either coarsely granular or crystalline 
in structiire. The Keokuk group immediately 
succeeds the Burlington in the ascending order, 
with no well defined line of demarcation, the 
chief points of difference between the two being 
in color and in the character of fossils found. At 
the upper part of this group is found a bed of 
calcareo-argillaceous shale, containing a great 
variety of geodes, which furnish beautiful cabinet 
specimens of crystallized quartz, chalcedony, 
dolomite and iron pyrites. In Jersey and Monroe 
Counties a bed of hydraulic limestone, adapted to 
the manufacture of cement, is found at the top of 
this formation. The St. Louis group is partly 
a fine-grained or semi-crystallized bluish-gray 
limestone, and partly concretionary, as around 
Alton. In the extreme southern part of the State 
the rock is highly bituminous and susceptible of 
receiving a high polish, being used as a black 
marble. Beds of magnesian limestone are found 
here and there, which furnish a good stone for 
foundation walls. In Ha,rdin County, the rock 



is traversed by veins of fluor spar, carrying 
galena and zinc blonde. The Chester group is 
only found in the southern part of the State, 
thinning out from a thickness of eight hundred 
feet in Jackson and Randolph Counties, to about 
twenty feet at Alton. It consists of hard, gray, 
crystalline, argillaceous limestones, alternating 
with sandy and argillaceous shales and sandstones, 
which locally replace each other. A few species 
of true carboniferous flora are found in the are- 
naceous shales and sandstones of tliis group, the 
earliest traces of pre-historic land plants found in 
the State. Outcrops extend in a narrow belt 
from the southern part of Hardin County to the 
southern line of St. Clair County, passing around 
the southwest border of the coal field. 

Upper C.\rboniperous System.— This includes 
the Conglomerate, or ''Mill Stone Grit" of Euro- 
pean authors, and the true coal measures. In the 
southern portion of the State its greatest thick- 
ness is about 1,200 feet. It becomes thinner 
toward the north, scarcely exceeding 400 or 500 
feet in the vicinity of La Salle. The word "con- 
glomerate" designates a thick bed of sandstone 
that lies at the base of the coal measures, and 
appears to have resulted froni the culmination of 
the arenaceous sedimentary accumulations. It 
consists of massive quartzose sandstone, some- 
times nearly white, but more frequently stained 
red or brown by the ferruginous matter wliich 
it contains, and is frequently composed in 
part of rounded quartz pebbles, from the size 
of a pea to several inches in diameter. When 
highly ferruginous, the oxide of iron cements 
the sand into a hard crust on the surface 
of the rock, which successfully resists the de- 
nuding influence of the atmosphere, so that the 
rock forms towering cliffs on the banks of the 
stream along which are its outcrops. Its thickness 
varies from 200 feet in the southern part of the 
State to twenty-five feet in the northern. It has 
afforded a few species of fossil plants, but no 
animal remains. The coal measures of Illinois 
are at least 1,000 feet thick and cover nearly 
three-foirrths of its entire area. The strata are 
horizontal, the dip rarely exceeding six to ten 
feet to the mile. The formation is made up of 
sandstone, shales, thin beds of limestone, coal, 
and its associated fire clays. The thickness of 
the workable beds is from six to twenty-four 
inches in the upper measures, and from two to 
five feet in tlie lower measures. The fire clays, 
on which the coal seams usually rest, probably 
represent the ancient soil on which grew the 
trees and plants from which the coal is formed. 



200 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



When pure, these clays are valuable for the 
manufacture of fire brick, tile and common 
pottery. Illinois coal is wholly of the bitumi- 
nous variety, the metamorphic conditions which 
resulted in the production of anthracite coal in 
Pennsylvania not having extended to this State. 
Fossils, both vegetable and animal, abound in 
the coal measures. 

Tertiary System.— This system is represented 
only in the southern end of the State, where cer- 
tain deposits of stratified sands, shales and con- 
glomerate are found, which appear to mark the 
northern boundary of the great Tertiary forma- 
tion of the Gulf States. Potter's clay, lignite and 
silicious woods are found in the formation. 

Quaternary System. — This system embraces 
all the superficial material, including sands, clay, 
gravel and soil which overspreads the older for- 
mations in all portions of the State. It gives 
origin to the soil from which the agricultural 
wealth of Illinois is derived. It may be properly 
separated into four divisions; Post-tertiary 
sands. Drift, Loess and Alluvium. The first- 
named occupies the lowest position in tlie series, 
and consists of stratified beds of yellow sand and 
blue clay, of variable thickness, overlaid by a 
black or deep brown, loamy soil, in which are 
found leaves, branches and trunks of trees in a 
good state of preservation. Next above lie the 
drift deposits, consisting of blue, yellow and 
brown clays, containing gravel and boulders of 
various sizes, the latter the water-worn frag- 
ments of rocks, many of which have been washed 
down from the northern shores of the great 
lakes. This drift formation varies in thickness 
from twenty to 120 feet, and its accumulations 
are probably due to the combined influence of 
water currents and moving ice. The subsoil 
over a large part of the northern and central 
portions of the State is composed of fine brown 
clay. Prof. Desquereux (Illinois Geological Sur- 
vey, Vol. I. ) accounts for the origin of this clay 
and of the black prairie soil above it, by attribut- 
ing it to the growth and decomposition of a 
peculiar vegetation. The Loe.ss is a fine mechan- 
ical sediment that appears to have accumulated in 
some body of fresh water. It consists of marly 
sands and clays, of a thickness varying from five to 
sixty feet. Its greatest development is along the 
bluffs of the principal rivers. The fossils found 
in this formation consist chiefly of the bones and 
teeth of extinct mammalia, such as the mam- 
moth, mastodon, etc. Stone implements of 
primeval man are also discovered. The term 
alluvium is usually restricted to the deposits 



forming the bottom lands of the rivers and 
smaller streams. They consist of irregularly 
stratified sand, clay and loam, which are fre- 
quently found in alternate layers, and contain 
more or less organic matter from decomposed 
animal and vegetable substances. When suffi- 
ciently elevated, they constitute the richest and 
most productive farming lands in the State. 

UEORGETOWN, a village of Vermilion County, 
on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railway, 10 miles south of Danville. It has a 
bank, telegraph and express office and a news- 
paper. Population (1890), 662; (1900), 988. 

GERMAN EVANGELICAL SCHOOL, located at 
Addison, Du Page County ; incorporated in 1852 ; 
has a faculty of three instructors and reports 187 
pupils for 1897-98, with a property valuation of 
§9,600. 

GERMANTOWN, a village of Vermilion County, 
and suburb of Danville ; is the center of a coal- 
mining district. Population (1880), 540; (1890), 
1,178; (1900), 1,782. 

GEST, William H., lawyer and ex-Congress- 
man, was born at Jacksonville, 111., Jan. 7, 1838. 
When but four years old his parents removed to 
Rock Island, where he has since resided. He 
graduated from Williams College in 1860, was 
admitted to the bar in 1862, and has always been 
actively engaged in practice. In 1886 he was 
elected to Congress by the Republicans of the 
Eleventh Illinois District, and was re-elected in 
1888, but in 1890 was defeated by Benjamin T. 
Cable, Democrat. 

GIBAULT, Pierre, a French priest, supposed to 
have been born at New Madrid in what is now 
Southeastern Missouri, early in the eighteenth 
century ; was Vicar-General at Kaskaskia, with 
ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the churches at 
Cahokia, St. Genevieve and adjacent points, at 
the time of the capture of Kaskaskia by Col. 
George Rogers Clark in 1778, and rendered Clark 
important aid in conciliating the French citizens 
of Illinois. He also made a visit to Vincennes and 
induced the people there to take the oath of allegi- 
ance to the new government. He even advanced 
means to aid Clark's destitute troops, but beyond 
a formal vote of thanks by the Virginia Legisla- 
ture, he does not appear to have received any 
recompense. Governor St. Clair, in a report to 
Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, dwelt 
impressively upon the value of Father Gibault's 
services and sacrifices, and Judge Law said of 
him, "Next to Clark and (Francis) Vigo, the 
United States are indebted more to Father 
Gibault for the accession of the States comprised 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



201 



in what was the original Northwest Territory 
than to any other man." The date and place of 
his death are unknown. 

GIBSON CITY, a town in Ford County, situ- 
ated on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. 34 
miles east of Blooniington, and at the intersec- 
tion of the Wabash Railroad and the Springfield 
Division of the Illinois Central. The principal 
mechanical industries are iron works, canning 
works, a shoe factory, and a tile factory. It has 
two banks, two newspapers, nine churches and 
an academy. A college is projected. Popula- 
tion (1890), 1,803; (1900), 2,0o4: (1903, est), 3,165. 

GILL, Joseph B., Lieutenant-Governor (1893- 
97), was born on a farm near Marion, Williamson 
County, 111., Feb. 17, 1862. In 1868 his father 
settled at Murphysboro, where Mr. Gill still 
makes his home. His academic education was 
received at the school of the Christian Brothers, 
in St. Louis, and at the Southern IlUnois Normal 
University, Carbondale. In 1886 he graduated 
from the Law Department of the Michigan State 
University, at Ann Arbor. Returning home he 
purchased an interest in "The Murphysboro Inde- 
pendent," which paper he conducted and edited 
up to January, 1893. In 1888 he was elected to 
the lower house of the Legislature and re-elected 
in 1890. As a legislator he was prominent as a 
champion of the labor interest. In 1892 he was 
nominated and elected Lieutenant-Governor on 
the Democratic ticket, serving from January, 
1893, to '97. 

GILLESPIE, a village of Macoupin County, on 
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railway, 10 miles southwest of Litchfield. This 
is an agricultural, coal-mining and stock-raising 
region ; the town has a bank and a newspaper. 
Population (1890), 948; (1900), 873. 

GILLESPIE, Joseph, lawyer and Judge, was 
born in New York City, August 22, 1809, of Irish 
parents, who removed to Illinois in 1819, settling 
on a farm near Edwardsville. After coming to 
Illinois, at 10 years, he did not attend school over 
two months. In 1827 he went to the lead mines 
at Galena, remaining until 1829. In 1831, at the 
invitation of Cyrus Edwards, he began the study 
of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1837, 
having been elected Probate Judge in 1836. He 
also served during two campaigns (1831 and '32) 
in the Black Hawk War. He was a Whig in 
politics and a warm personal friend of Abraham 
Lincoln. In 1840 he was elected to the lower 
house of the Legislature, serving one term, and 
was a member of the State Senate from 1847 to 
1859. In 1858 he received the few votes of the 



Whig members of the Legislature for United States 
Senator, in opposition to Stephen A. Douglas, 
and, in 1860, presided over the second Republican 
State Convention at Decatur, at which elements 
were set in motion which resulted in the nomi- 
nation of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency 
for the first time, a week later. In 1861 he was 
elected Judge of the Twenty-fourth Judicial 
Circuit, and re-elected in 1867 for a second term, 
serving until 1873. Died, at his home at Edwards- 
ville, Jan. 7, 1885. 

GILLETT, John Dean, agriculturist and stock- 
man, was born in Connecticut, April 28, 1819; 
spent several years of his youth in Georgia, but, 
in 1838, came to IlUnois by way of St. Louis, 
finally reaching "Bald Knob," in Logan County, 
where an uncle of the same name resided. Here 
he went to work, and, by frugality and judicious 
investments, finally acquired a large body of 
choice lands, adding to his agricultural operations 
the rearing and feeding of stock for the Chicago 
and foreign markets. In this he was remarkably 
successful. In his later years he was President 
of a National Bank at Lincoln. At the time of 
his death, August 27, 1888, he was the owner of 
16,500 acres of improved lands in the vicinity of 
Elkhart, Logan County, besides large herds of 
fine stock, both cattle and horses. He left a large 
family, one of his daughters being the wife of 
the late Senator Richard J. Oglesbj . 

GILLETT, Philip Goode, specialist and edu- 
cator, born in Madison, Ind., March 24, 1833; was 
educated at Asbury University, Greencastle, Ind. , 
graduating in 1852, and the same year became an 
instructor in the Institution for the Education of 
the Deaf and Dumb in that State. In 1856 he 
became Principal of the Illinois Institution for 
the Education of the Deaf and Dumb at Jackson- 
ville, remaining there until 1893, when he 
resigned. Thereafter, for some years, he was 
President of the Association for the Promotion of 
Speech by the Deaf, with headquarters in Wash- 
ington, D. C, but later returned to Jacksonville, 
where he has since been living in retirement. 

GILLHAM, Daniel B., agriculturist and legis- 
lator, was born at a place now called Wanda, in 
Madison County, 111., April 29, 1826— his father 
being a farmer and itinerant Methodist preacher, 
who belonged to one of the pioneer families in 
the American Bottom at an early day. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was educated in the common 
schools and at McKendree College, but did not 
graduate from the latter. In his early life he 
followed the vocation of a farmer and stock- 
grower in one of the most prosperous and highly 



202 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



cultivated portions of the American Bottom, a 
few miles below Alton, but, in 1873, removed to 
Alton, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
He became a member of the State Board of Agri- 
culture in 1866, serving eight j'ears as Superin- 
tendent and later as its President; was also a 
Trustee of Shurtleff College some twenty-five 
years, and for a time President of the Board. In 
1870 he was elected to the lower branch of the 
Twenty-seventh General Assembly, and to the 
State Senate in 1882, serving a term of four years 
in the latter. On the night of March 17, 1890, he 
wEis assaulted by a burglar in his house, receiving 
a wound from a pistol-shot in consequence of 
which he died, April 6, following. The identity 
of his assailant was never discovered, and the 
crime consequently went unpunished. 

GILMAN, a city in Iroquois County, at the 
intersection of the Illinois Central and the To- 
ledo, Peoria & Western Railways, 81 miles south 
by west from Chicago and 208 miles northeast 
of St. Louis. It is in the heart of one of the 
richest corn districts of the State and has large 
stock-raising and fruit-growing interests. It has 
an opera house, a public library, an extensive 
nursery, brick and tile works, a linseed oil mill, 
two banks and two weekly newspapers. Arte- 
sian well water is obtained by boring from 90 to 
200 feet Population (1890), 1,112; (1900), 1,441. 

GILMAN, Arthur, was born at Alton, 111., June 
22, 1837, the son of Winthrop S. Oilman, of the 
firm of Gilman & Godfrey, in whose warehouse 
the printing press of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy was 
stored at the time of its destruction by a mob in 
1837 ; was educated in St. Louis and New York, 
began business as a banker in 1857, but, in 1870, 
removed to Cambridge, Mass., and connected 
himself with "The Riverside Press." Mr. Gilman 
was one of the prime movers in what is known as 
"The Harvard Annex" in the interest of equal 
collegiate advantages for women, and has written 
much for the periodical press, besides publishing 
a number of volumes in the line of history and 
English literature. 

GILMAN, CLINTON & SPRINGFIELD RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Illinois Central Railroad. ) 

GIRARD, a city in Macoupin County, on the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, 25 miles south by west 
from Springfield and 13 miles north-northeast of 
Carlinville. Coal-mining is carried on extensively 
here. The city also has a bank, five churches 
and a weekly newspaper. Population (1880), 
1,024; (1890), 1,524; (1900), 1,661. 

GLENCOE, a village of Cook County, on the 
Milwaukee Division of the Chicago & Northwest- 



em Railway, 19 miles north of Chicago. Popu- 
lation (1880), 387; (1890), .569; (1900), 1,020. 

GLENN, Archibald A., ex-Lieutenant-Governor, 
was born in Nicholas County, Ky., Jan. 30, 1819. 
In 1828 his father's family removed to Illinois, 
settling first in Vermilion, and later in Schuyler 
County. At the age of 13, being forced to 
abandon school, for six years he worked upon the 
farm of his widowed mother, and, at 19, entered 
a printing office at Rushville, where he learned 
the trade of compositor. In 1844 he published a 
Whig campaign paper, which was discontinued 
after the defeat of Henry Clay. For eleven 
years he was Circuit Clerk of Brown County, 
during which period he was admitted to the bar ; 
was a member of the Constitutional Convention 
o'' 1862, and of the State Board of Equalization 
from 1868 to 1872. The latter year he was elected 
to the State Senate for four years, and, in 1875, 
chosen its President, thus becoming ex-officio 
Lieutenant-Governor. He early abandoned legal 
practice to engage in banking and in mercan- 
tile investment. After the expiration of his term 
in the Senate, he removed to Kansas, where, at 
latest advices, he still resided. 

GLENN, John J,, lawyer and jurist, was born 
in Ashland County, Ohio, March 2, 1831 ; gradu- 
ated from Miami University in 1856 and, in 1858. 
was admitted to the bar at Terre Haute, Ind. 
Removing to Illinois in 1860, he settled in Mercer 
County, a year later removing to Monmouth in 
Warren County, where he still resides. In 1877 
he was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial Cir- 
cuit and re-elected in 1879, '85, "91, and "97. 
After his last election he served for some time, 
by appointment of the Supreme Court, as a mem- 
ber of the Appellate Court for the Springfield 
District, but ultimately resigned and returned to 
Circuit Court duty. His reputation as a cool- 
headed, impartial Judge stands ver}- high, and his 
name has been favorably regarded for a place on 
the Supreme Bench. 

GLOVER, Joseph Otis, lawyer, was born in 
Cayuga County, N. Y.. April 13, 1810, and edu- 
cated in the high-school at Aurora in that State. 
In 1835 he came west to attend to a land case at 
Galena for his father, and, although not then a 
lawyer, he managed the case so successfully that 
he was asked to take charge of two others. This 
determined the bent of his mind towards the law, 
to the study of which he turned his attention 
ixnder the preceptorship of the late Judge The- 
ophilus L. Dickey, then of Ottawa. Soon after 
being admitted to the bar in 1840, he formed a 
partnership with the late Burton C. Cook, which 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



J03 



lasted over thirty years. In 1846 he was elected 
as a Democrat to the lower branch of the Fif- 
teenth General Assembly, but, on the repeal of 
the Missouri Compromise, he became one of the 
founders of the Republican party and a close 
friend of Abraham Lincoln, whom he entertained, 
at the time of his (Lincoln's) debate with Senator 
Douglas, at Ottawa, in 1858. In 1868 he served 
as Presidential Elector at the time of General 
Grant's first election to the Presidency, and the 
following year was appointed United States Dis- 
trict Attorney for the Northern District, serving 
until 18T5. In 1877 he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Cullom a memjjer of the Board of Railway 
and Canal Commissioners, of which he afterwards 
became Presfdent, serving six years. Died, in 
Chicago, Dec. 10, 1893. 

GODFREY, a village of Madison County, on the 
Chicago & Alton Railway, 5 miles north of Alton. 
It is the seat of Monticello Female Seminary, and 
named for Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, an early 
settler who was chiefly instrumental in founding 
that institution. Population (1890), 228. 

GODFREY, (Capt.) Benjamin, sea captain and 
philanthropist, was born at Chatham, Mass., Dec. 
4, 1794: at nine years of age he ran away from 
home and went to sea, his first voyage being to 
Ireland, where he spent nine years. The War of 
1812 coining on, he returned home, spending a 
part of the next three years in the naval service, 
also gaining a knowledge of the science of navi- 
gation. Later, he became master of a merchant- 
vessel making voyages to Italy, Spain, the West 
Indies and other countries, finally, by shipwreck 
in Cuban waters, losing the bulk of his fortune. 
In 1824 he engaged in mercantile business at 
Matamoras, Mex., where he accumulated a hand- 
some fortune ; but, in transferring it (amounting 
to some 1200,000 in silver) across the country on 
pack-animals, he was attacked and robbed by 
brigands, with which that country was then 
infested. Resuming business at New Orleans, he 
was again successful, and, in 1832, came north, 
locating near Alton, 111., the next year engaging 
in the warehouse and commission business as the 
partner of Winthrop S. Gilman, under the name 
of Godfrey & Gilman. It was in the warehouse 
of this firm at Alton that the printing-press of 
Elijah P. Lovejoy was stored when it was seized 
and destroyed by a mob, and Lovejoy was killed, 
in October, 1837. (See Lovejoy, Elijah P. ) Soon 
after establishing himself at Alton, Captain God- 
frey made a donation of land and money for the 
erection of a young ladies' seminary at the village 
of Godfrey, four miles from Alton. (See Monti- 



cello Female Seminary.) The first cost of the 
erection of buildings, borne by him, was $53,000. 
The institution was opened, April 11, 1838, and 
Captain Godfrey continued to be one of its Trustees 
as long as he lived. He was also one of the lead- 
ing spirits in the construction of the Alton & 
Springfield Railroad (now a part of the Chicago 
& Alton), in which he invested heavily and un- 
profitably. Died, at Godfrey, April 13, 1862. 

GOLCONDA, a village and county -seat of Pope 
County, on the Ohio River, 80 miles northeast 
of Cairo; located in agricultural and mining dis- 
trict; zinc, lead and kaolin mined in the vicinity; 
has a courthouse, eight churches, schools, one 
bank, a newspaper, a box factory, flour and saw 
mills, and a fluor-spar factory. It is the termi- 
nus of a branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. 
Population (1890), 1,174: (1900), 1,140. 

GOLDZIER, Julins, ex-Congressman, was 
born at Vienna, Austria, Jan. 20, 1854, and 
emigrated to New York in 1866. In 1872 he 
settled in Chicago, where he was admitted 
to the bar in 1877, and where he has practiced 
law ever since. From 1890 to 1892 he was a 
member of the Chicago City Council, and, in 
1892, was the successful Democratic candidate 
in the Fourth District, for Congress, but was 
defeated in 1894 by Edward D. Cooke. At the 
Chicago city election of 1899 he was again re- 
turned to the Council as Alderman for the Thirty- 
second Ward. 

GOODING, James, pioneer, was born about 
1767, and, in 1832, was residing at Bristol, Ontario 
County, N. Y., when he removed to Cook County, 
111., settling in what was later called "Gooding's 
Grove," now a part of Will Count}'. The Grove 
was also called the "Yankee Settlement," from 
the Eastern origin of the principal settlers. Mr. 
Gooding was accompanied, or soon after joined, by 
three sons — James, Jr., William and Jasper — and 
a nephew, Charles Gooding, all of whom became 
prominent citizens. The senior Gooding died in 
1849, at the age of 82 years.— William (Gooding), 
civil engineer, son of the preceding, was born at 
Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y.. April 1, 1803; 
educated in the common schools and by private 
tuition, after which he divided his time chiefly 
between teaching and working on the farm of 
his father, James Gooding. Having devoted 
considerable attention to surveying and civil 
engineering, he obtained employment in 1826 on 
the Welland Canal, where he remained three years. 
He then engaged in mercantile pursuits at Lock- 
port, N. Y., but sold out at the end of the first 
year and went to Ohio to engage in his profession. 



204 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Being unsuccessful in this, he accepted employ- 
ment for a time as a rodman, but later secured a 
position as Assistant Engineer on the Ohio Canal. 
After a brief visit to his father's in 1832, he 
returned to Ohio and engaged in business there 
for a short time, but the following year joined 
his father, who had previously settled in a portion 
of what is now Will County, but then Cook, mak- 
ing the trip by the first mail steamer around the 
lakes. Heat first settled at "Gooding's Grove" 
and engaged in farming. In 1836 he was ap- 
pointed Assistant Engineer on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, but, in 1843, became Chief Engi- 
neer, continuing in that position until the com- 
pletion of the canal in 1848, when he became 
Secretary of the Canal Board. , Died, at Lockport, 
Will County, in May, 1878. 

GOODRICH, Grant, lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Milton, Saratoga, County, N. Y., August 
7, 1811; grew up in Western New York, studied 
law and came to Chicago in 1834, becoming one 
of tlie most prominent and reputable members of 
his profession, as %vell as a leader in many of the 
movements for the educational, moral and reli- 
gious advancement of the community. He was 
one of the founders of the First Methodist Epis- 
copal Church of Chicago, an active member of 
the Union Defense Committee during the war, an 
incorporator and life-long Trustee of the North- 
western University, and President of the Board 
of Trustees of Garrett Biblical Institute, besides 
being identified with many organizations of a 
strictly benevolent character. In 1859 Judge 
Goodrich was elected a Judge of the newly organ- 
ized Superior Court, but, at the end of his term, 
resumed the practice of his profession. Died, 
March 15, 1889. 

GORE, David, ex-State Auditor, was born in 
Trigg County, Ky., Aprils, 1827; came with his 
parents to Madison County, 111., in 1834, and served 
in the Mexican War as a Quartermaster, afterwards 
locating in Macoupin County, where he has been 
extensively engaged in farming. In 1874 he was 
an unsuccessful Greenback-Labor candidate for 
State Treasurer, in 1884 was elected to the State 
Senate from the Macoupin-Morgan District, and, 
in 1893, nominated and elected, as a Democrat, 
Auditor of Public Accounts, serving until 1897. 
For some sixteen years he was a member of the 
State Board of Agriculture, the last two years of 
that period being its President. His home is at 
CarUnville. 

GOTJDT, Calvin, early printer and physician, 
was born in Ohio, June 2, 1814; removed with 
his parents, in childhood, to Indianapolis, and 



in 1883 to 'Vandalia, 111., where he worked in the 
State printing office and bindery. In the fall of 
1833 the family removed to Jacksonville, and the 
following year he entered Illinois College, being 
for a time a college-mate of Richard Yates, after- 
wards Governor. Here lie continued his vocation 
as a printer, working for a time on "Peck's 
Gazetteer of Illinois" and "Goudy's Almanac," 
of which his father was publisher. In association 
with a brother wliile in Jacksonville, he began 
the publication of "The Common School Advo- 
cate," the pioneer publication of its kind in the 
Northwest, which was continued for about a 
year. Later he studied medicine with Drs. Henry 
and Merriman in Springfield, finally graduating 
at the St. Louis Medical College and, in 1844. 
began practice at Taylorville ; in 1847 was elected 
Probate Judge of Christian County for a term of 
four years; in 1851 engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, which he continued nineteen years. In 1856 
he was elected to tlie lower house of the General 
Assembly and, in the session of the following 
year, was a leading supporter of the act estab- 
lishing the State Normal Sc)iool at Normal, still 
later serving for some sixteen years on the State 
Board of Education. Died, at Taylorville, in 
1877. Dr. Goudy was an older brother of the late 
William C. Goudy of Chicago. 

GOTJDT, William C, lawyer, was born in 
Indiana, May 15, 1824; came to Illinois, with his 
father, first to Vandalia and afterwards to Jack- 
sonville, previous to 1833, where the latter began 
the publication of "The Farmer's Almanac" — a 
well-known publication of that time. At Jack- 
sonville young Goudy entered Illinois College, 
graduating in 1845, when he began the study of 
law with Judge Stephen T. Logan, of Springfield ; 
was admitted to the bar in 1847, and the next year 
began practice at Lewistown, Fulton County; 
served as State's Attorney (1852-55) and as State 
Senator (1856-60) ; at the close of his term re- 
moved to Chicago, where he became prominent 
as a corporation and railroad lawyer, in 1886 be- 
coming General Solicitor of tlie Chicago & North- 
western Railroad. During President Cleveland's 
first term, Mr. Goudy was believed to exert a 
large influence with the administration, and was 
credited with having been largely instrumental 
in securing the appointment of his partner, Mel- 
ville W. Fuller, Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court. Died, April 27, 1893. 

GRAFF, Josepli V., lawyer and Congressman, 
was born at Terre Haute, Ind., July 1, 1854; after 
graduating from the Terre Haute high-school, 
spent on6 year in Wabash College at Crawfords- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



205 



ville, but did not graduate ; studied law and was 
admitted to the bar at Delavan, 111., in 1879; in 
1892 was a delegate to the Republican National 
Convention at Minneapolis, but, with the excep- 
tion of President of the Board of Education, 
never held any public office until elected to Con- 
gress from the Fourteeifth Illinois District, as a 
Republican, in November, 1894. Mr. Graff was a 
successful candidate for re-election in 1896, and 
again in '98. 

GRAFTON, a town in Jersey County, situated 
on the Mississippi one and a half miles below the 
mouth of the Illinois River. The bluffs are high 
and fine river views are obtainable. A fine 
quality of fossiliferous limestone is quarried here 
and exported by the river. The town has a 
bank, three churches and a graded school. Pop- 
ulation (1880), 807, (1890), 927; (1900), 988. 

tJRAIlV INSPECTION, a mode of regulating 
the grain-trade in accordance with State law, and 
under the general supervision of the Railroad and 
Warehouse Commission. The principal exec- 
utive officer of the department is the Chief 
Inspector of Grain, the expenses of whose adminis- 
tration are borne by fees. The chief business of 
the inspection department is transacted in Chi- 
cago, where the principal oflBces are located. (See 
Railroad and Warehouse Commission.) 

GRAMMAR, John, pioneer and early legislator, 
came to Southern Illinois at a very early date and 
served as a member of the Third Territorial 
Council for Johnson County (1816-18); was a 
citizen of Union County when it was organized 
in 1818, and served as State Senator from that 
county in the Third and Fourth General Assem- 
blies (1832-26), and again in the Seventh and 
Eighth General Assemblies (1830-34), for the Dis- 
trict composed of Union, Johnson and Alexander 
Counties. He is described as having been very 
illiterate, but a man of much slirewdness and 
considerable influence. 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, a fra- 
ternal, charitable and patriotic association, 
limited to men who served in tlie Union army or 
navy during the Civil War, and received hon- 
orable discharge. Its founder was Dr. B. F. 
Stephenson, who served as Surgeon of the Four- 
teenth Illinois Infantry. In this task he had 
the cooperation of Rev. William J. Rutledge, 
Chaplain of the same regiment, Col. John M. 
Snyder, Dr. James Hamilton, Maj. Robert M. 
Woods, Maj. Robert Allen, Col. Martin Flood, 
Col. Daniel Grass, Col. Edward Prince, Capt. 
John S. Phelps, Capt. John A. Lightfoot, Col. 
B. F. Smith, Maj. A. A. North, Capt. Henry E. 



Howe, and Col. B. F. Hawkes, all Illinois veter- 
ans. Numerous conferences were held at Spring- 
field, in this State, a ritual was prepared, and the 
first post was chartered at Decatur, 111., April 6, 
1866. The charter members were Col. I. C. Pugh, 
George R. Steele, J. W. Bouth, Joseph Prior, 
J. H. Nale, J. T. Bishop, G. H. Dunning, B. F. 
Sibley, M. F. Kanan, C. Reibsame, I. N. Coltrin, 
and Aquila Toland. All but one of these had 
served in Illinois regiments. At first, the work 
of organization proceeded slowly, the ex-soldiers 
generally being somewhat doubtful of the result 
of the project; but, before July 13, 1866, the date 
fixed for the assembling of a State Convention to 
form the Department of Illinois, thirty-nine posts 
had been chartered, and, by 1869, there were 330 
reported in Illinois. By October, 1866, Depart- 
ments had been formed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and posts established 
in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Massa- 
chiissetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and the 
District of Columbia, and the first National 
Encampment was held at Indianapolis, November 
20 of that year. In 1894 there were 7,500 posts, 
located in every State and Territory of the Union, 
with a membership of 450,000. The scheme of 
organization provides for precinct. State and 
National bodies. The first are known as posts, 
each having a number, to which the name of 
some battle or locality, or of some deceased soldier 
may be prefixed; the second (State organizations) 
are known as Departments; and the supreme 
power of the Order is vested in the National En- 
campment, which meets annually. As has been 
said, the G. A. R. had its inception in Illinois. 
The aim and dream of Dr. Stephenson and his 
associates was to create a grand organization of 
veterans which, through its cohesion, no less than 
its incisiveness, should constitute a potential fac- 
tor in the inculcation and development of patriot- 
ism as well as mutual support. While he died 
sorrowing that he had not seen the fruition of 
his hopes, the present has witnessed the fullest 
realization of his dream. (See StejJhenson, B. F. ) 
The constitution of the order expressly prohibits 
any attempt to use the organization for partisan 
purposes, or even the discussion, at any meeting, 
of partisan questions. Its aims are to foster and 
strengthen fraternal feelings among members ; to 
assist comrades needing help or protection and 
aid comrades' widows and orphans, and to incul- 
cate unswerving loyalty. The "Woman's Relief 
Corps" is an auxiliary organization, originating 
at Portland, Maine, in 1869. The following is a list 
of Illinois Department Commanders, chronolog- 



206 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



ically arranged: B. F. Stephenson (Provisional, 
1866), John M. Pahner (1866-68), Thomas O. 
Osborne (1869-70), Charles E. Lippincott (1871), 
Hubert Dilger (1872), Guy T. Gould (1873), Hiram 
Hilliard (1874-76), Joseph S. Reynolds (1877), 
T. B. Coulter (1878), Edgar D. Swain (1879-80), 
J. W. Burst (1881), Thomas G. Lawler (1882), 
S. A. Harper (1883), L. T. Dickason (1884), 
William W, Berry (1885), Philip Sidney Post 
(1886), A. C. Sweetser (1887), James A. Sexton 
(1888), James S. Martin (1889), William L. Distin 
(1890), Horace S. Clark (1891), Edwin Harlan 
(1892), Edward A. Blodgett (1893), H. H. 
McDowell (1894), W. H. Powell (189.5), William 
G. Cochran (1896), A. L. Schimpff (1897), John 
C. Black (1898), John B. Inmau (1899). The fol- 
lowing lllinoisans have held the position of Com- 
mander-in-Chief: S. A. Hurlbut, (two terms) 
1866-67; John A. Logan, (three terms) 1868-70; 
Thomas G. Lawler, 1894; James A. Sexton, 1898. 

GRAND PRAIRIE SEMINARY, a co educa- 
tional institution at Onarga, Iroquois County, in- 
corporated in 1863 ; had a faculty of eleven teach- 
ers in 1897-98, with 285 pupils— 145 male and 140 
female. It reports an endowment of §10,000 and 
property valued at $55,000. Besides the usual 
classical and scientific departments, instruction 
is given in music, oratory, fine arts and prepara- 
tory studies. 

GRAND TOWER, a town in Jackson County, 
situated on the Mississippi River, 27 miles south- 
west of Carbondale; the western terminus of the 
Grand Tower & Carbondale Railroad. It received 
its name from a high, rocky island, lying in the 
river opposite the village. It has four churches, 
a weekly newspaper, and two blast furnaces for 
iron. Population (1890), 624; (1900), 881. 

GRAND TOWER & CAPE GIRARDEAU 
RAILROAD. (See Chicago <& Texas Railroad.) 

GRAND TOWER & CARBONDALE RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago & Texas Railroad.) 

GRANGER, Flavel K., lawyer, farmer and 
legislator, was born in Wayne County, N. Y., 
May 16, 1832, educated in public schools at Sodus 
in the same State, and settled at Waukegan, 111., 
in 1853. Here, having studied law, he was 
admitted to the bar in 1855, removing to McHenry 
County the same year, and soon after engaging in 
the live-stock and wool business. In 1872 he was 
elected as a Republican Representative in the 
Twenty-eighth General Assembly, being succes- 
sively re-elected to the Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth 
and Thirty -first, and being chosen Temporary 
Speaker of the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth. He 
is now a member of the State Senate for the 



Eighth District, having been elected in 1896. His 
home is at West McHenry. 

GRANT, Alexander Fraeser, early lawyer and 
juri.st, was born at Inverness, Scotland, in 1804; 
came to Illinois at an early day and located at 
Shawneetown, where he studied law with Henry 
Eddy, the pioneer lawj'er and editor of that place. 
Mr. Grant is described as a man of marked ability, 
as were many of the early settlers of that region. 
In February, 1835, he was elected by the General 
Assembly Judge for the Third Circuit, as succes- 
sor to his preceptor, Mr. Eddy, but served only a 
fe%v months, dying at Vandalia the same year. 

GRANT, Ulysses Simpson, (originally Hiram 
Ulysses), Lieutenant - General and President, 
was born at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, 
Ohio, April 27, 1822 ; graduated from West 
Point Military Academy, in 1843, and served 
through the Mexican War. After a short resi- 
dence at St. Louis, he became a resident of Galena 
in 1860. His war-record is a glorious part of the 
Nation's history. Entering the service of the 
State as a clerk in the oSice of the Quartermaster- 
General at Springfield, soon after the breaking out 
of the war in 1861, and still later serving as a 
drill-master at Camp Yates, in June following he 
was commissioned by Governor Yates Colonel of 
the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, which he 
immediately led into the field in the State of 
Missouri ; was soon after promoted to a Brigadier- 
Generalship and became a full Major-General of 
Volunteers on the fall of Forts Donelson and 
Henry, in February following. His successes at 
Fort Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill, and Big 
Black River, ending with the capture of Vicks- 
burg, were the leading victories of the Union 
armies in 1863. His successful defense of Chat- 
tanooga was also one of his victories in the West 
in the same year. Commissioned a Major-General 
of tlie Regular Army after the fall of Vicksburg, 
he became Lieutenant-General in 1864, and, in 
March of that year, assumed command of all the 
Northern armies. Taking personal command of 
the Army of the Potomac, he directed the cam- 
paign against Richmond, wliich resulted in the 
final evacuation and downfall of the Confederate 
capital and the surrender of General Lee at 
Appomattox on April 8, 1865. In July, 1866, he 
was made General — the office being created for 
him. He also served as Secretary of War, ad 
interim, under President Johnson, from Au- 
gust, 1867, to January, 1868. In 1868 he was 
elected President of the United States and re- 
elected in 1872. His administration may not 
have been free from mistakes, but it was charac- 



O'S. c 





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So 

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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



307 



terized by patriotism and integrity of purpose. 
During 1877-79 he made a tour of the world, being 
received everywhere with the highest honors. In 
1880 his friends made an unsuccessful effort to 
secure his renomination as a Presidential candi- 
date on the Republican ticket. Died, at Mount 
McGregor. N. Y., July 33, 1885. His chief literary 
work was his "Memoirs" (two volume.s, 1885-86), 
which was very extensively sold. 

GRAPE CREEK, a surburban mining village in 
Vermilion County, on the Big Vermilion River 
and the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, six 
miles south of Danville. The chief industry is 
coal mining, which is extensively carried on. 
Population (1890), 778; (1900), 610 

GRATIOT, Charles, of Huguenot parentage, 
born at Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1753. After 
receiving a mercantile training in the counting 
house of an uncle in London, he emigrated to 
Canada, entering the employ of another uncle at 
Montreal. He first came to the "Illinois Coun- 
try" in 1775, as an Indian trader, remaining one 
year. In 1777 he returned and formed a partner- 
ship with David McRae and John Kay, two young 
Scotchmen from Montreal. He established depots 
at Cahokia and Kaskaskia. Upon the arrival of 
Col. George Rogers Clark, in 1778, he rendered 
that commander material financial assistance, 
becoming personallj' responsible for the supplies 
needed by the penniless American army. When 
the transfer of sovereignty took place at St. 
Louis, on March 10, 1804, and Louisiana Territory 
became a part of the United States, it was from 
the balcony of his house that the first American 
flag was unfurled in Upper Louisiana. In recom- 
pense for his liberal expenditure, he was promised 
30,000 acres of land near the present site of 
Louisville, but this he never received. Died, at 
St. Louis, April 21, 1817. 

GRAYIER, Father Jacqnes, a Jesuit mission- 
ary, born in France, but at what date cannot be 
stated with certainty. After some years spent in 
Canada he was sent by his ecclesiastical superiors 
to the Illinois Mission (1688), succeeding AUouez 
as Superior two years later, and being made 
Vicar-General in 1691. He labored among the 
Miamis, Peorias and Kaskaskias — his most numer- 
ous conversions being among the latter tribe — as 
also among the Cahokias, Osages, Tamaroas and 
Missouris. It is said to have been largely through 
his influence tliat the Illinois were induced to 
settle at Kaskaskia instead of going soutli. In 
1705 he received a severe wound during an attack 
by the Illinois Indians, incited, if not actually 
led, by one of their medicine men. It is said 



that he visited Paris for treatment, but failed 
to find a cure. Accounts of his death vary as 
to time and place, but all agree that it resulted 
from the wound above mentioned. Some of his 
biographers assert that he died at sea; others 
that he returned from France, yet suffering from 
the Indian poison, to Louisiana in February, 
1708, and died near Mobile, Ala., the same year. 

GRAY, Elisha, electrician and inventor, was 
born at Barnesville, Ohio, August 2, 1835; after 
serving as an apprentice at various trades, took a 
course at Oberlin College, devoting especial 
attention to the physical sciences, meanwhile 
supporting himself by manual labor. In 1865 he 
began his career as an electrician and, in 1867, 
received his first patent; devised a method of 
transmitting telephone signals, and, in 1875, suc- 
ceeded in transmitting four messages simultane- 
ously on one wire to New York and Boston, a 
year later accomplishing the same with eight 
messages to New York and Philadelphia. Pro- 
fessor Gray has invented a telegraph switch, a 
repeater, enunciator and type-writing telegraph. 
From 1869 to '73 he was employed in the manu- 
facture of telegraph apparatus at Cleveland and 
Chicago, but has since been electrician of the 
Western Electric Company of Chicago. His latest 
invention, the "telautograph" — for reproducing 
by telegraph the handwriting of the sender 
of a telegram — attracted great interest at the 
World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. He is 
author of "Telegraphy and Telephony" and 
"Experimental Researches in Electro- Harmonic 
Telegraphy and Telephony." 

GRAY, TVilUam C, Ph.D., editor, was born in 
Butler County, Ohio, in 1830; graduated from 
the Farmers' (now Belmont) College in 1850, 
read law and began secular editorial work in 
1852, being connected, in the next fourteen years, 
with "The Tiffin Tribune," "Cleveland Herald" 
and "Newark American." Then, after several 
years spent in general publishing business in 
Cincinnati, after the great fire of 1871 he came to 
Chicago, to take charge of "The Interior," the 
organ of the Presbyterian Church, which he has 
since conducted. The success of the paper under 
his management affords the best evidence of his 
practical good sense. He holds the degree of 
Ph.D., received from Wooster University in 1881. 

GRAYVILLE, a city situated on the border of 
White and Edwards Counties, lying chiefly in 
the former, on the Wabash River, 35 miles north- 
west of Evansville, Ind., 16 miles northeast of 
Carmi, and forty miles southwest of Vincennes. 
It is located in the heart of a heavily timbered 



208 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



region and is an important hard-wood market. 
Valuable coal deposits exist. The industries in- 
clude flour, saw and planing mills, stave factories 
and creamery. The city has an electric light 
and water plant, two banks, eight churches, and 
two weekly papers. Population i,1900), 1,948. 

GRAYTIILE & MATT003V RAILROAD. (See 
Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway. ) 

GREATHOUSE, Lucien, soldier, was born at 
Carlinville, 111., in 1843; graduated at Illinois 
Wesleyan University, Bloomington, and studied 
law ; enlisted as a private at the beginning of the 
War of the Rebellion and rose to the rank of 
Colonel of the Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteers; 
bore a conspicuous part in the movements of the 
Army of the Tennessee ; was killed in battle near 
Atlanta, Ga., June 21, 1864. 

GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD (of 1843 and 
'49). (See Hlmois Central Railroad.) 

GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD (2). (See 
Wabash Railway. ) 

GREEN RIVER, rises in Lee County, and, 
after draining part of Bureau County, flows west- 
ward through Henry County, and enters Rock 
River about 10 miles east by south from Rock 
Island. It is nearly 120 miles long. 

GREEN, William H., State Senator and Judge, 
was born at Danville, Ky., Dec. 8, 1830. In 1847 
he accompanied his father's family to Illinois, 
and, for three years following, taught school, at 
the same time reading law. He was admitted to 
the bar in 1852 and began practice at Mount 
Vernon, removing to Metropolis the next year, 
and to Cairo in 1863. In 1858 he was elected to 
the lower house of the General Assembly, was 
re-elected in 1860 and, two years later, was 
elected to the State Senate for four years. In 
December, 1865, he was elected Judge of the 
Third Judicial Circuit, to fill the unexpired term 
of Judge Mulkey, retiring with the expiration of 
nis term in 1867. He was a delegate to the 
National Democratic Conventions of 1860, '64, 
'68, '80, '84 and '88, besides being for many years 
a member of the State Central Committee of that 
party, and also, for four terms, a member of the 
State Board of Education, of which he has been 
for several years the President. He is at present 
(1899) engaged in the practice of his profession at 
Cairo. 

GREENE, Henry Sacheveral, attorney, was 
bom in the North of Ireland, July, 1833, brought 
to Canada at five years of age, and from nine com- 
pelled to support himself, sometimes as a clerk 
and at others setting type in a printing office. 
After spending some time in Western New York, 



in 1853 he commenced the study of law at Dan- 
ville, Ind.. with Hugh Crea, now of Decatur, 111. ; 
four years later settled at Clinton, DeWitt 
County, where he taught and studied law with 
Lawrence Weldon, now of the Court of Claims, 
Washington. In 1859 he was admitted to the bar 
at Springfield, on the motion of Abraham Lin- 
coln, and was associated in practice, for a time, 
with Hon. Clifton H. Moore of Clinton; later 
served as Prosecuting Attorney and one term 
(1867-69) as Representative in the General Assem- 
bly. At the close of his term in the Legislature 
he removed to Springfield, forming a law partner- 
ship with Milton Hay and David T. Littler, under 
the firm name of Hay, Greene & Littler, still later 
becoming the head of the firm of Greene & 
Humphrey. From the date of his removal to 
Springfield, for some thirty years his chief employ- 
ment was as a corporation lawyer, for the most 
part in the service of the Chicago & Alton and 
the Wabash Railways. His death occurred at his 
home in Springfield, after a protracted illness, 
Feb. 25, 1899. Of recognized ability, thoroughly 
devoted to his profession, high minded and honor- 
able in all his dealings, he commanded respect 
wherever he was known. 

GREENE, William G., pioneer, was born in 
Tennessee in 1812 ; came to Illinois in 1822 with 
his father (Bowling Greene), who settled in the 
vicinity of New Salem, now in Menard County. 
The younger Greene was an intimate friend and 
fellow-student, at Illinois College, of Richard 
Yates (afterwards Governor), and also an early 
friend and admirer of Abraham Lincoln, under 
whom he held an appointment in Utah for some 
years. He died at Tallula, Menard County, in 
1894. 

GREENFIELD, a city in the eastern part of 
Greene County, on the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy and the Quincy, Carrollton & St. Louis 
Railways, 12 miles east of Carrollton and 55 miles 
north of St. Louis ; is an agricultural, coal-mining 
and stock-raising region. The city has several 
churches, public schools, a seminary, electric 
light plant, steam flouring mill, and one weekly 
paper. It is an important shipping point for 
cattle, horses, swine, corn, grain and produce. 
Population (1890), 1,131; (1900), 1,085. 

GREENE COUNTY, cut off from Madison and 
separately organized in 1821 ; has an area of 544 
square miles; population (1900), 23,403; named 
for Gen. Nathaniel Greene, a Revolutionary sol- 
dier. The soil and climate are varied and adapted 
to a diversity of products, wheat and fruit being 
among the principal. Building stone and clay 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



209 



are abundant. Probably the first English-speak- 
ing settlers were David Stockton and James 
Whiteside, who located south of Macoupin Creek 
in June, 1817. Samuel Thomas and others 
(among them Gen. Jacob Fry) followed soon 
afterward. The Indians were numerous and 
aggressive, and had destroyed not a few of the 
monuments of the Government surveys, erected 
some years before. Immigration of the whites, 
however, was rapid, and it was not long before 
the nucleus of a village was established at Car- 
rollton, where General Fry erected the first house 
and made the first coffin needed in the settle- 
ment. This town, the county-seat and most 
important place in the county, was laid off by 
Thomas Carlin in 1821. Other flourishing towns 
are Whitehall (population, 1,961), and Roodhouse 
(an important railroad center) with a population 
of 2,360. 

GREENUP, village of Cumberland County, at 
intersection of the Vandalia Line and Evansville 
branch 111. Cent. Ry. ; in farming and fruit- 
growing region ; has powder mill, bank, broom 
factory, five churches, public library and good 
schools. Population (1890), 8,58; (1900), 1,08.5. 

GREENVIEW, a village in Menard County, on 
the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad, 32 miles north-northwest of Springfield 
and 36 miles northeast of Jacksonville. It has a 
coal mine, bank, two weekly papers, seven 
churches, and a graded and high school. Popu- 
lation (1890), 1,106; (1900), 1,019; (1903), 1,245. 

GREENVILLE, an incorporated city, the 
county-seat of Bond County, on the East Fork of 
Big Shoal Creek and the St. Louis, Vandalia & 
Terre Haute Railroad, 50 miles east-northeast of 
St. Louis ; is in a rich agricultural and coal-min- 
ing region. Com and wheat are raised exten- 
sively in the surrounding country, and there are 
extensive coal mines adjacent to the city. The 
leading manufacturing product is in the line of 
wagons. It is the seat of Greenville College (a 
coeducational institution) ; has several banks and 
three weekly newspapers. Population (1890), 
1,868; (1900), 2,504. 

GREENTILLE, TREATY OF, a treaty negoti- 
ated by Gen. Anthony Wayne with a number of 
Indian tribes (see Indian Treaties), at Green- 
ville, after his victory over the savages at the 
battle of Maumee Rapids, in August, 1795. This 
was the first treaty relating to Illinois lands in 
which a number of tribes united. The lands con- 
veyed within the present limits of the State 
of Illinois were as follows: A tract six miles 
iiquare at the mouth of the Chicago River; 



another, twelve miles square, near the naouth of 
the Illinois River; another, six miles square, 
around the old fort at Peoria ; the post of Fort 
Massac; the 150,000 acres set apart as bounty 
lands for the army of Gen. George Rogers Clark, 
and "the lands at all other places in the posses- 
sion of the French people and other white set- 
tlers among them, the Indian title to which has 
been thus extinguished. " On the other hand, the 
United States relinquished all claim to all other 
Indian lands north of the Ohio, east of the Mis- 
sissippi and south of the great lakes. The cash 
consideration paid by the Government was 
§210,000. 

GREGG, David L., lawyer and Secretary of 
State, emigrated from Albany, N. Y., and began 
the practice of law at Joliet, 111., where, in 1839, 
he also edited "The Juliet Courier," the first 
paper established in Will County. From 1842 to 
1846, he represented Will, Du Page and Iroquois 
Counties in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Gen- 
eral Assemblies; later removed to Chicago, after 
which he served for a time as United States Dis- 
trict Attorney; in 1847 was chosen one of the 
Delegates from Cook County to the State Consti- 
tutional Convention of that year, and served as 
Secretary of State from 1850 to 1853, as successor 
to Horace S. Cooley, who died in office the former 
year. In the Democratic State Convention of 
1853, Mr. Gregg was a leading candidate for the 
nomination for Governor, though finally defeated 
by Joel A. Matteson; served as Presidential 
Elector for that year, and, in 1853, was appointed 
by President Pierce Commissioner to the Sandwich 
Islands, still later for a time acting as the minis- 
ter or adviser of King Kamehamaha IV, who died 
in 1868. Returning to California he was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln Receiver of Public 
Moneys at Carson City, Nev. , %vhere he died, Dec. 
28, 1868. 

GREGORY, Johiw Milton, elergyman and edu- 
cator, was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., 
N. Y., July 6, 1823; graduated from Union Col- 
lege in 1846 and, after devoting two years to the 
study of law, studied theology and entered the 
Baptist ministry. After a brief pastorate in the 
East he came West, becoming Principal of a 
classical school at Detroit. His ability as an 
educator was soon recognized, and, in 1858, he 
was elected State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction in Michigan, but declined a re-elec- 
tion in 1863. In 1854. he assisted in founding 
"The Michigan Journal of Education," of which 
he was editor-in-chief. In 1863 he accepted the 
Presidency of Kalamazoo College, and four years 



210 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



later was called to that of the newly founded 
University of Illinois, at Champaign, where he 
remained until 1880. He was United States 
Commissioner to the Vienna Exposition in 1873, 
Illinois State Commissioner to the Paris Exposi- 
tion of 1878, also serving as one of the judges in 
the educational department of the Philadelphia 
Centennial of 1876. From 1883 to '85 he was a 
member of the United States Civil Service Com- 
mission. The degree of LL.D. was conferred 
upon him by Madison University (Hamilton, 
N. Y.) in 1866. While State Superintendent he 
published a "Compeud of School Laws" of Michi- 
gan, besides numerous addresses on educational 
subjects. Other works of his are "Handbook of 
History" and "Map of Time" (Chicago, 1866) ; "A 
New Political Economy" (Cincinnati, 1882); and 
"Seven Laws of Teaching" (Chicago, 1883). 
While holding a chair as Professor Emeritus of 
Political Economy in the University of Illinois 
during the latter years of his life, he resided in 
Washington, D. C, where he died, Oct. 20, 1898. 
By his special request he was buried on the 
grounds of the University at Champaign. 

GRESHAM, Walter Qulnton, soldier, jurist 
and statesman, was born near Lanesville, Harri- 
son County, Ind., March 17, 1832. Two years at 
a seminary at Corydon, followed by one year at 
Bloomington University, completed his early 
education, which was commenced at the common 
schools. He read law at Corydon, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1853. In 1860 he was 
elected to the Indiana Legislature, but resigned 
to become Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty- 
eighth Indiana Volunteers, and was almost 
immediately commissioned Colonel of the Fifty- 
third Regiment. After the fall of Vicksburg he 
was promoted to a Brigadier-Generalship, and was 
brevetted Major-General on March 13, 1865. At 
Atlanta he was severely wounded, and disabled 
from service for a year. After the war he re- 
sumed practice at New Albany, Ind. His polit- 
ical career began in 1856, when he stumped his 
county for Fremont. From that time until 1893 
he was always prominently identified with the 
Republican party. In 1866 he was an unsuccess- 
ful Republican candidate for Congress, and, in 
1867-68, was the financial agent of his State 
(Indiana) in New York. In 1869 President Grant 
appointed him Judge of the United States Dis- 
trict Court for Indiana. In 1883 he resigned this 
position to accept the portfolio of Postmaster-Gen- 
eral in the Cabinet of President Arthur. In July, 
1884, upon the death of Secretary Folger, he was 
made Secretary of the Treasury. In Oct. 1884, 



he was appointed United States Judge of the 
Seventh Judicial Circuit, and thereafter made 
his home in Chicago. He was an earnest advo- 
cate of the renomination of Grant in that year, 
but subsequently took no active personal part in 
politics. In 1888 he was the substantially unani- 
mous choice of Illinois Republicans for the Presi- 
dency, but was defeated in convention. In 1893 
he was tendered the Populist nomination for 
President, but declined. In 1893 President Cleve- 
land offered him the portfolio of Secretary of 
State, which he accepted, dying in office at 
Washington, D. C, May 28, 1895. 

GREUSEL, Nicholas, soldier, was born in Ger- 
many, July 4, 1817, the son of a soldier of Murat; 
came to New York in 1833 and to Detroit, Mich., 
in 1835 ; served as a Captain of the First Michigan 
Volunteers in the Mexican War ; in 1857, came to 
Chicago and was employed on the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad, until the firing on 
Fort Sumter, when he promptly enrolled himself 
as a private in a company organized at Aurora, 
of which he was elected Captain and attached to 
the Seventh Illinois (three-months' men), later 
being advanced to the rank of Major. Re-enlisting 
for three years, he was commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel, but, in August following, was commis- 
sioned Colonel of the Thirty-sixth Illinois; took 
part in the battles of Pea Ridge and Perryville 
and the campaign against Corinth ; compelled to 
resign on account of failing health, in February, 
1863, he removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, 
whence he returned to Aurora in 1893. Died at 
Aurora, April 35, 1896. 

GRIDLEY, Asahel, lawyer and banker, was 
born at Cazenovia, N. Y., April 31, 1810; was 
educated at Pompey Academy and, at the age of 
21, came to Illinois, locating at Bloomington and 
engaging in the mercantile business, which he 
carried on quite extensively some eight years. 
He served as First Lieutenant of a cavalry com- 
pany during the Black Hawk War of 1833, and 
soon after was elected a Brigadier-General of 
militia, thereby acquiring the title of "General." 
In 1840 he was elected to the lower branch of the 
Twelfth General Assembly, and soon after began 
to turn his attention to the study of law, subse- 
quently forming a partnership with Col. J. H. 
Wickizer, which continued for a number of years. 
Having been elected to the State Senate in 1850, 
he took a conspicuous part in the two succeeding 
sessions of the General Assembly in securing the 
location of the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois 
Central Railroads by way of Bloomington; was 
also, at a later period, a leading promoter of the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



211 



Indiana, Blooinington & Western and other lines. 
In 1858 he joined J. Y. Scammon and J. H. Buroh 
of Chicago, in the establishment of the McLean 
County Bank at Bloomington, of which he became 
President and ultimately sole proprietor ; also be- 
came proprietor, in 18.57, of the Bloomington Gas- 
Light & Coke Company, which he managed some 
twenty-five years. Originally a Whig, he identi- 
fied himself with the Republican cause in 1856, 
serving upon the State Central Committee during 
the campaign of that year, but, in 1872, took 
part in the Liberal Republican movement, serv- 
ing as a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention, 
where he was a zealous supporter of David Davis 
for the Presidency. Died, at Bloomington, Jan. 
20, 1881. 

GRIER, (Col.) David Perkins, soldier and mer- 
chant, was born near Wilkesbarre, Pa., in 1837; 
received a common school education and, in 
1852, came to Peoria, III., where he engaged in 
the grain business, subsequently, in partnership 
with his brother, erecting the first grain-elevator 
in Peoria, with three or four at other points. 
Early in the war he recruited a company of which 
he was elected Captain, but, as the State quota 
was already full, it was not accepted in Illinois, 
but was mustered in, in June, as a part of the 
Eighth Missoui'i Volunteers. With this organi- 
zation he took part in the capture of Forts Henry 
and Donelson, the battle of Shiloh and the siege 
and capture of Corinth. In August, 1862, he was 
ordered to report to Governor Yates at Spring- 
field, and, on his arrival, was presented with a 
commission as Colonel of the Seventy-seventh 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which he retained 
command up to the siege of Vicksburg. During 
that siege he commanded a brigade and, in sub- 
sequent operations in Louisiana, was in command 
of the Second Brigade, Fourtli Division of the 
Thirteenth Army Corps. Later he had command 
of all the troops on Dauphin Island, and took a 
conspicuous part in the capture of Fort Morgan 
and Mobile, as well as other operations in Ala- 
bama. He subsequently had command of a 
division until his muster-out, July 10, 1865, with 
the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the 
war, General Grier resumed his business as a 
grain merchant at Peoria, but, in 1879, removed to 
East St. Louis, where he had charge of the erection 
and management of the Union Elevator there — 
was also Vice-President and Director of the St. 
Louis Merchants' Exchange. Died, April 22, 
1891. 

GRIEESON, Benjamin H., soldier, was born in 
Pittsburg, Pa., July 8, 1826; removed in boyhood 



to Trmnbull County, Ohio, and, about 1850, to 
Jacksonville, 111., where he was engaged for a 
time in teaching music, later embarking in the 
grain and produce business at Meredosia. He 
enlisted promptly at the beginning of the Civil 
War, becoming Aid-de-camp to General Prentiss 
at Cairo during the three-months' service, later 
being commissioned Major of the Sixth Illinois 
Cavalry. From this time his promotion was 
rapid. He was commissioned Colonel of the same 
regiment in March, 1862, and was commander of a 
brigade in December following. He was promi- 
nent in nearly all the cavalry skirmishes between 
Memphis and the Tennessee river, and, in April 
and May, 1863, led the famous raid from La 
Grange, Tenn., through the States of Mississippi 
and Louisiana to Baton Rouge in the latter— for 
the first time penetrating the heart of the Con- 
federacy and causing consternation among the 
rebel leaders, while materially aiding General 
Grant's movement against Vicksburg. This dem- 
onstration was generally regarded as one of the 
most brilliant events of the war, and attracted 
the attention of tlie whole country. In recog- 
nition of this service he was, on June 3, 1863. 
made a Brigadier-General, and May 27, 1865, a 
full Major-General of Volunteers. Soon after the 
close of the war he entered the regular army as 
Colonel of the Tenth United States Cavalry and 
was successively brevetted Brigadier- and Major- 
General for bravery shown in a raid in Arkansas 
during December, 186-t. His subsequent service 
was in the West and Southwest conducting cam- 
paigns against the Indians, in the meanwhile 
being in command at Santa Fe, San Antonio and 
elsewhere. On the promotion of General Miles 
to a Major-Generalship following the death of 
Maj.-Gen. George Crook in Chicago, March 19, 
1890, General Grierson, who had been the senior 
Colonel for some years, was promoted Brigadier- 
General and retired with that rank in July fol- 
lowing His home is at Jacksonville. 

GRIGGS, Samnel Chapman, publisher, was 
born in ToUand, Conn., July 20, 1819; began 
business as a bookseller at Hamilton, N Y., but 
removed to Chicago, where he established the 
largest bookselling trade in the Northwest. Mr. 
Griggs was a heavy loser by the fire of 1871, and 
the following year, having sold out to his part- 
ners, established himself in the publishing busi- 
ness, which he conducted until 1896, when he 
retired. The class of books published by him 
include many educational and classical, with 
others of a high order of merit. Died in Chi- 
cago, April 5, 1897. 



212 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



GRIGfiSVILLE, a city in Pike County, on the 
Wabash Railroad, 4 milas we.st of the Illinois 
River, and 50 miles east of Quincy. Flour, camp 
stoves, and brooms are manufactured here. The 
city has churches, graded schools, a public 
library, fair grounds, opera house, and a weekly 
newspaper. Population (1890), 1,400; (1900), 
1,404. 

GRIMSHAW, Jackson, lawyer and politician, 
was bom in Philadelphia, Nov. 22, 1820, of Anglo- 
Irish and Revolutionary ancestry. He was par- 
tially educated at Bristol College, Pa., and began 
the study of law witli his father, who was a lawyer 
and an author of repute. His professional studies 
were interrupted for a few years, during whicli he 
was employed at surveying and civil engineering, 
but he was admitted to the bar at Harrisburg, in 
1843. The same year he settled at Pittsfield, 111. , 
where he formed a partnership with his brother, 
William A. Grimshaw. In 1857 he removed to 
Quincy, where he resided for the remainder of his 
life. He was a member of the first Republican 
Convention, at Bloomington, in 1856, and was 
twice an unsuccessful candidate for Congress 
(1856 and '58) in a strongly Democratic District. 
He was a warm personal friend and trusted coun- 
sellor of Governor Yates, on whose staff he served 
as Colonel. During 1861 the latter sent Sir. 
Grimshaw to Washington with dispatches an- 
nouncing the capture of Jefferson Barracks, Mo. 
On arriving at Annapolis, learning that the rail- 
roads had been torn up by rebel sympathizers, he 
walked from that city to the capital, and was 
summoned into the presence of the President and 
General Scott with his feet protruding from his 
boots. In 1865 Mr. Lincoln appointed him Col- 
lector of Internal Revenue for the Quincy Dis- 
trict, which office he held until 1869. Died, at 
Quincy, Dec. 13, 1875. 

GRIMSHAW, William A., early lawyer, was 
born in Philadelphia and admitted to the bar 
in his native city at the age of 19 ; in 1833 came 
to Pike County, 111., where he continued to prac- 
tice until his death. He served in the State Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1847, and had the credit 
of preparing the article in the second Constitution 
prohibiting dueling. In 1864 he was a delegate 
to the Republican National Convention which 
nominated Mr. Lincoln for President a second 
time ; also served as Presidential Elector in 1880. 
He was, for a time, one of the Trustees of the 
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Jackson- 
ville, and, from 1877 to 1882, a member of the State 
Board of Public Charities, being for a time Presi- 
dent of the Board. Died, at Pittsfield, Jan. 7, 1895. 



GRIN NELL, Jnlins S., lawyer and er- Judge, 
was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1842, 
of New England parents, who were of French 
descent. He graduated from Middlebury College 
in 1866, and, two years later, was admitted to the 
bar at Ogdensburg, N. Y. In 1870 he removed to 
Chicago, where he soon attained a prominent 
position at the bar ; was elected City Attorney in 
1879, and re-elected in 1881 and 1883. In 1884 he 
was elected State's Attorney for Cook County, in 
which capacity he successfully conducted some 
of the most celebrated criminal prosecutions in 
the history of Illinois. Among these may be 
mentioned the cases against Joseph T. Mackin 
and William J. Gallagher, growing out of an 
election conspiracy in Chicago in 1884; the 
conviction of a number of Cook County Commis- 
sioners for accepting bribes in 1885, and the con- 
viction of seven anarchistic leaders charged with 
complicity in tlie Haymarket riot and massacre 
in Chicago, in May, 1886 — tlie latter trial being 
held in 1887. The same year (1887) he was 
elected to the Circuit bench of Cook County, but 
resigned his seat in 1890 to become counsel for 
the Chicago City Railway. Died, in Chicago, 
June 8, 1898. 

GROSS, Jacob, ex-State Treasurer and banker, 
was born in Germany, Feb. 11, 1840; having lost 
his father by death at 13, came to the United 
States two years later, spent a year in Chicago 
schools, learned the trade of a tinsmith and 
clerked in a store until August, 1862, when he 
enlisted in the Eightj'-Second Illinois Volunteers 
(the second "Hecker Regiment"); afterwards par- 
ticipated in some of the most important battles 
of the war, including Chancellorsville, Gettys- 
burg, Lookout Mountain, Resaca and others. At 
Dallas, Ga., he had his right leg badly shattered 
by a bullet-wound above the knee, four successive 
amputations being found necessary in order to 
save his life. Having been discharged from the 
service in February, 1865, he took a course in a 
commercial college, became deputy clerk of the 
Police Court, served three terms as Collector of 
the West Town of Chicago, and an equal number 
of terms (12 years) as Clerk of the Circuit Court 
of Cook County, and, in 1884, was elected State 
Treasurer. Since retiring from the latter office, 
Mr. Gross has been engaged in the banking busi- 
ness, being President, for several years, of the 
Commercial Bank of Chicago. 

GROSS, William L., Iaw3'er, was born in Her- 
kimer County, N. Y., Feb. 21, 1839, came with 
his father to Illinois in 1844, was admitted to the 
bar at Springfield in 1862, but almost immediately 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.' 



213 



entered the service of the Government, and, a 
year later, was appointed by President Lincohi 
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, and, under 
command of General Stager, assigned to the 
Department of the Ohio as Jlilitary Superintend- 
ent of Telegraphs. At the close of the war he 
was transferred to the Department of the Gulf, 
taking control of military telegraphs in that 
Department with headquarters at New Orleans, 
remaining until August, 1866, meanwhile being 
brevetted Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. For 
the next two years he occupied various positions 
in the civil telegraph service, but, in 1868, resumed 
the practice of law at Springfield, in conjunction 
with his brother (Eugene L. ) issuing the first 
volume of "Gross' Statutes of Illinois," followed 
in subsequent years by two additional volumes, 
besides an Index to all the Laws of the State. In 
1878 he was elected as a Republican to the General 
Assembly from Sangamon County, and, in 1884, 
was appointed by Governor Hamilton Circuit 
Judge to succeed Judge C. S. Zane, who had been 
appointed Chief Justice of Utah. Upon the organi- 
zation of the Illinois State Bar Association, Judge 
Gross became its first Secretary, serving until 
1883, when he was elected President, again serv- 
ing as Secretary and Treasurer in 1893-94. 

GKOSSCUPj Peter Stenger, jurist, born in 
Ashland, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1852 ; was educated in the 
local schools and Wittenberg College, graduating 
from the latter in 1872 ; read law in Boston, Mass. , 
and settled down to practice in his native town, 
in 1874. He was a candidate for Congress in a 
Democratic District before he was 25 years old, 
but, being a Republican, was defeated. Two 
years later, being thrown by a reapportionment 
into the same district with William McKinley, 
he put that gentleman in nomination for the seat 
in Congress to which he was elected. He re- 
moved to Chicago in 1883, and, for several years, 
was the partner of the late Leonard Swett ; in 
December, 1893, was appointed by President 
Harrison Judge of the United States District 
Court for the Northern District of Illinois as suc- 
cessor to Judge Henry W. Blodgett. On the 
death of Judge Showalter, in December, 1898, 
Judge Grosscup was appointed his successor as 
Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the 
Seventh Judicial District. Although one of the 
youngest incumbents upon the bench of the 
United States Court, Judge Grosscup has given 
.ample evidence of his ability as a jurist, besides 
proving himself in harmony with the progressive 
spirit of the time on questions of national and 
international interest. 



GRUNDY COUNTY, situated in the northeast- 
ern quarter of the State, having an area of 440 
square miles and a population (1900) of 24, 136. 
The surface is mainly rolling prairie, beneath 
which is a continuous coal seam, three feet thick. 
Building stone is abundant (particularly near 
Morris), and there are considerable beds of pot- 
ter's clay. The county is crossed by the Illinois 
River and the Illinois & Michigan Canal, also by the 
Rock Island and the Chicago & Alton Railways. 
The chief occupation of the people is agriculture, 
although there are several manufacturing estab- 
lishments. The first white settler of whom any 
record has been preserved, was William Marquis, 
who arrived at the mouth of the Mazon in a 
"prairie schooner" in 1828. Other pioneers 
were Colonel Sayers, W. A. Holloway, Alex- 
ander K. Owen, John Taylor, James McCartney 
and Joab Chappell. The first public land sale 
was made in 1835, and, in 1841, the county was 
organized out of a part of La Salle, and named 
after Felix Grundy, the eminent Tennesseean. 
The first pollbook showed 148 voters. Morris 
was chosen the county-seat and has so re- 
mained. Its present population is 3,653. Another 
prosperous town is Gardner, with 1,100 inhab- 
itants. 

GULLIVER, John Putnam, D.D., LL.D., 
clergyman and educator, was born in Boston, 
Mass., May 12, 1819; graduated at Yale College, 
in 1840, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 
1845, meanwhile serving two years as Principal 
of Randolph Academy. From 1845 to 1865 he 
was pastor of a church at Norwich, Conn., in 
1865-68, of the New England Church, of Chicago, 
and, 1868-72, President of Knox College at Gales- 
burg, 111. The latter year he became pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church in Binghamton, 
N. Y. , remaining until 1878, when he was elected 
Professor of the "Relations of Christianity and 
Secular Science" at Andover, holding this posi- 
tion actively until 1891, and then, as Professor 
Emeritus, until his death, Jan. 25, 1894. He was 
a member of the Corporation of Yale College 
and had been honored with the degrees of D.D. 
and LL.D. 

GURLEY, William F. E., State Geologist, was 
born at Oswego, N. Y., June 5, 1854; brought by 
his parents to Danville, 111., in 1864, and educated 
in the public schools of that city and Cornell 
University, N. Y. ; served as city engineer of 
Danville in 1885-87, and again in 1891-93. In 
July of the latter year he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Altgeld State Geologist as successor to Prof. 
Joshua Lindahl. 



214 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



HACKER, John S., pioneer and soldier of the 
Mexican War, was born at Owensburg, Ky., 
Not ember, 1797; in early life removed to Mis- 
souri, where he was employed in the stock and 
produce trade with New Orleans. Having married 
in 1817, he settled at Jonesboro, Union County, 
111., where he kept a tavern for a number of 
years, and was also engaged some thirty years in 
mercantile business. It is said that he was 
unable to read until taught after marriage by his 
wife, who appears to have been a woman of 
intelligence and many graces. In 1824 he was 
elected Representative in the Fourth General 
Assembly and, in 1834, to the State Senate, serv- 
ing by re-election in 1838 until 1842, and being a 
supporter of the internal improvement scheme. 
In 1837 he voted for the removal of the State 
capital from Vandalia to Springfield, and, though 
differing from Abraham Lincoln politically, was 
one of his warm personal friends. He served in 
the War of 1812 as a private in the Missouri 
militia, and, in the Mexican War, as Captain of a 
company in the Second Regiment, Illinois Volun- 
teers—Col. W. H. Bissell's. By service on the 
staff of Governor Duncan, he had already obtained 
the title of Colonel. He received the nomination 
for Lieutenant-Governor from the first formal 
State Convention of the Democratic party in 
December, 1837, but the head of the ticket (Col. 
J. W. Stephenson) having withdrawn on account 
of charges connected with his administration of 
the Land Office at Dixon, Colonel Hacker also 
declined, and a new ticket was put in the field 
headed by Col. Thomas L. Carlin, which was 
elected in 1838. In 1849 Colonel Hacker made 
the overland journey to California, but returning 
with impaired health in 1852, located in Cairo, 
where he held the position of Surveyor of the 
Port for three years, when he was removed by 
F*resident Buchanan on account of his friendship 
for Senator Douglas. He also served, from 1854 
to '56, as Secretary of the Senate Committee on 
Territories under the Chairmanship of Senator 
Douglas, and, in 1856, as Assistant Doorkeeper of 
the House of Representatives in Washington. In 
1857 he returned to Jonesboro and spent the 
remainder of his life in practical retirement, 
dying at the home of his daughter, in Anna, May 
18, 1878. 

HADLET, William F. L., lawyer and Con- 
gressman, was bom near Collinsville, 111., June 
15, 1847; grew up on a farm, receiving his educa- 
tion in the common schools and at McKendree 
College, where he graduated in 1867. In 1871 he 
graduated from the Law Department of the 



University of Michigan, and established him 
self in the practice of his profession at 
Edwardsville. He was elected to the State Sen- 
ate from Madison County in 1886, serving four 
years, and was nominated for a second term, but 
declined ; was a delegate-at-large to the Repub- 
lican National Convention of 1888, and, in 1895, 
was nominated and elected, in the Eighteenth 
District, as a Republican, to the Fifty-fourth Con- 
gress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of 
Hon. Frederick Remann, who had been elected 
in 1894, but died before taking his seat. Mr. 
Hadley was a candidate for re-election in 1896, 
but was prevented by protracted illness from 
making a canvass, and suffered a defeat. He 
is a son-in-law of the late Edward M. West, 
long a prominent business man of Edwards- 
ville, and since his retirement from Congress, haa 
devoted his attention to his profession and the 
banking business. 

HAHNEMANN HOSPITAL, a homeopathic hos- 
pital located in Chicago. It was first opened with 
twenty beds, in November, 1870, in a block of 
wooden buildings, the use of which was given 
rent free by Mr. J. Young Scammon, and was 
known as the Scammon Hospital. After the fire 
of October, 1871, Mr. Scammon deeded the prop- 
erty to the Trustees of the Hahnemann Medical 
College, and the hospital was placed on the list 
of pubUc charities. It also received a donation 
of $10,000 from the Relief and Aid Society, 
besides numerous private benefactions. In 
April, 1873, at the suggestion of Mr. Scammon, 
the name of the institution was changed to the 
Hahnemann Hospital, by which designation it 
has since been known. In 1893 the corner-stone 
of a new hospital was laid and the building com- 
pleted in 1894. It is seven stories in height, with 
a capacity for 225 beds, and is equipped with all 
the improved appliances and facilities for the 
care and protection of the sick. It has also about 
sixty private rooms for paying patients. 

HAHNEMANN MEDICAL COLLEGE, located 
in Chicago, chartered in 1834-35, but not organ- 
ized until 1860, when temporary quarters were 
secured over a drug-store, and the first college 
term opened, with a teaching faculty numbering 
nine professors, besides clinical lecturers, demon- 
strators, etc. In 1866-67 the institution moved 
into larger quarters and, in 1870, the corner-stone 
of a new college building was laid. The six suc- 
ceeding years were marked by internal dissen- 
sion, ten of the professors withdrawing to 
establish a rival school. The faculty was cur- 
tailed in numbers and re-organized. In August, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



215 



1892, the comer-stone of a second building was 
laid with appropriate Masonic ceremonies, the 
new structure occupying the site of the old, but 
being larger, better arranged and better equipped. 
Women were admitted as students in 1870-71 and 
co-education of the sexes has ever since continued 
an established feature of the institution. For 
more than thirty-five years a free dispensary has 
been in operation in connection with the college. 
HAINES, John Charles, Mayor of Chicago and 
legislator, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., 
May 26, 1818 ; came to Chicago in 1835, and, for 
the next eleven j'ears, was employed in various 
pursuits; served three terms (1848-54) in the City 
Council ; was twice elected Water Commissioner 
(1853 and '56), and, in 1858, was chosen Mayor, 
serving two terms. lie also served as Delegate 
from Cook County in the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1869-70, and, in 1874, was elected to the 
State Senate from the First District, serving in 
the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth General Assem- 
blies. At the session of 1877 he received sixty- 
nine votes for the seat in the United States 
Senate to which Judge David Davis was after- 
wards elected. Mr. Haines was a member of the 
Chicago Historical Society, was interested in the 
old Chicago West Division Railway and President 
of the Savings Institute. During his later years 
he was a resident of Waukegau. dying there, 
July 4, 1896. — Elijah Middlebrook (Haines), 
brother of the preceding, lawyer, politician 
and legislator, was born in Oneida Count j-, N. Y., 
April 21, 1822; came to Illinois in boyhood, locat- 
ing first at Chicago, but, a year later, went to 
Lake County, where he resided until his death. 
His education, rudimentary, classical and profes- 
sional, was self-acquired. He began to occupy 
and cultivate a farm for himself before attaining 
his majority ; studied law, and, in 1851, was 
admitted to the bar, beginning practice at Wau- 
kegan ; in 1860 opened an office in Chicago, still, 
however, making his home at Waukegan. In 
1855 he published a compilation of the Illinois 
township laws, followed by a "Treatise on the 
Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace. " He 
made similar compilations of the township laws 
of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri. 
By nature Mr. Haines was an agitator, and his 
career as a poUtician both checkered and unique. 
Originally a Democrat, he abandoned that or- 
ganization upon the formation of the Republican 
party, and was elected by the latter to the Legis- 
lature from Lake County in 1858, '60 and '62. In 
1867 he came into prominence as an anti-monopo- 
list, and on this issue was elected to the Consti- 



tutional Convention of 1869-70. In 1870 he was 
again chosen to the Legislature as an "independ- 
ent," and, as such, re-elected in '74, '82, '84, '86 and 
'88, receiving the support, however, of the Demo- 
crats in a District normally Republican. He 
served as Speaker during the sessions of 1875 and 
'85, the party strength in each of these Assemblies 
being so equally divided that he either held, or 
was able to control, the balance of power. He 
was an adroit parliamentarian, but his decisions 
were the cause of much severe criticism, being 
regarded by both Democrats and Republicans as 
often arbitrary and unjust. The two sessions 
over which he presided were among the stormiest 
in the State's history. Died, at Waukegan, April 
25, 1889. 

HALE, Albert, pioneer clergyman, was born 
at Glastonbury, Conn., Nov. 29, 1799; after some 
years spent as a clerk in a country store at 
Wethersfteld, completed a course in the theolog- 
ical department of Yale College, later serving as a 
home missionary, in Georgia ; came to Illinois in 
1831, doing home missionary work in Bond 
County, and. in 1833, was sent to Chicago, where 
his open candor, benignity and blameless conduct 
enabled him to exert a powerful influence over 
the drunken aborigines who constituted a large 
and menacing class of the population of what 
was then a frontier town. In 1839 he assumed 
the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church 
in Springfield, continuing that connection until 
1865. From that time until his death, his life 
was largely devoted to missionary work among 
the extremely poor and the pariahs of society. 
Among these he wielded a large influence and 
alwaj'S commanded genuine respect from all 
denominations. His forte was love rather than 
argument, and in this lay the secret of his suc- 
cess. Died, in Springfield, Jan. 30, 1891. 

HALE, (Dr.) Edwin M., physician, was born 
in Newpor*^, X. H. , in 1829, commenced the study 
of medicine in 1848 and, in 1850, entered the 
Cleveland Homeopathic College, at the end of the 
session locating at Jonesville, Mich. From 1855 
he labored in the interest of a representation of 
homeopathy in the University of Michigan. 
When this was finally accomplished, he was 
offered the chair of Materia Medica and Thera- 
peutics, but was compelled to decline in conse- 
quence of having been elected to the same position 
in the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. 
In 1876 he made a visit to Europe, and, on his 
return, severed his connection with the Hahne- 
mann and accepted a similar position in the Chi- 
cago Homeopathic College, where he remained 



216 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



five years, when he retired with the rank of Pro- 
fessor Emeritus. Dr. Hale was the author of 
several volumes held in high esteem by members 
of the profession, and maintained a high reputa- 
tion for professional skill and benevolence of 
character. He was a member of the Chicago 
Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of 
various home and foreign associations. Died, in 
Chicago, Jan. 18, 1899. 

HALL, (Col.) Cyrus, soldier, was born in Fay- 
ette County, 111., August 29, 1823 — the son of a 
pioneer who came to Illinois about the time of 
its admission as a State. He served as Second 
Lieutenant in the Third Illinois Volunteers (Col. 
Foreman's regiment), during the Mexican War, 
and, in 1860, removed to Shelbyville to engage in 
hotel-keeping. The Civil War coming on, he 
raised the first company for the war in Shelby 
County, which was attached to the Fourteenth 
Illinois (Col. John M. Palmer's regiment); was 
promptly promoted from Captain to Major and 
finally to Lieutenant-Colonel, on the promotion 
of Palmer to Brigadier-General, succeeding to 
command of the regiment. The Fourteenth 
Regiment having been finally consolidated with 
the Fifteenth, Lieutenant-Colonel Hall was 
transferred, with the rank of Colonel, to the 
command of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth 
Illinois, which he resigned in March, 18t)4, was 
brevetted Brigadier-General for gallant and 
meritorious service in the field, in March, 1865, 
and mustered out Sept. 16, 1865. Returning to 
Shelbyville, he engaged in the furniture trade, 
later was appointed Postmaster, serving some ten 
years and until his death, Sept. 6. 1878. 

HALL, James, legislator, jiu-ist. State Treasurer 
and author, was born in Philadelphia, Augvist 
19, 1793; after serving in the War of 1813 and 
spending some time with Com. Stephen Decatur 
in the Mediterranean, in 1815, he studied law, 
beginning practice at Shawneetown, in 1820. 
He at once assumed prominence as a citizen, was 
appointed State's Attorney in 1821, and elevated 
to the bench of the Circuit Court in 1825. He 
was legislated out of ofiice two years later and 
resumed private practice, making his home at 
Vandalia, where he was associated with Robert 
Blackwell in the publication of "The Illinois 
Intelligencer." The same year (1827) he was 
elected by the Legislature State Treasiu-er, con- 
tinuing in office four years. Later he removed to 
Cincinnati, where he died, July 5, 1868. He con- 
ducted "The Western Monthly Magazine," the 
first periodical published in Illinois. Among his 
published volumes may be mentioned "Tales of 



the Border," "Notes on the Western States," 
"Sketches of the West," "Romance of Western 
History," and "History of the Indian Tribes." 

HAMER, Thomas, soldier and legislator, was 
born in Union County, Pa., June 1, 1818; came 
to Illinois in 1846 and began business as a mer- 
chant at Vermont, Fulton County; in 1862 
assisted in recruiting the Eighty-fourth Illinois 
Volunteers and was elected Lieutenant-Colonel; 
was wounded in the battle of Stone River, re- 
turned to duty after partial recovery, but was 
finally compelled to retire on account of disabil- 
ity. Returning home he resumed business, but 
retired in 1878 ; was elected Representative in the 
General Assembly in 1886 and to the Senate in 
1888, and re-elected to the latter in 1892, making 
ten years of continuous service. 

H.4MILT0N, a city in Hancock County, on the 
Mississippi River opposite Keokuk, Iowa; at junc- 
tion of the Toledo, Peoria & Western and Keokuk 
branch of the Wabash Railway. Its position at 
the foot of the lower rapids insures abundant 
water power for manufacturing purposes. An 
iron railroad and wagon bridge connects the Illi- 
nois city with Keokuk. It has two banks, elec- 
tric lights, one newspaper, six churches, a high 
school, and an apiary. The surrounding country 
is a farming and fruit district. A sanitarium 
is located here. Population (1890), 1,301; (1900), 
1,344. 

HAMILTON, John B., M.D, LL.D., surgeon, 
was born of a pioneer family in Jersey County, 
111., Dec. 1, 1847, liis grandfather, Thomas M. 
Hamilton, having removed from Ohio in 1818 to 
Monroe County, 111. , where the father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born. The latter (Elder 
Benjamin B. Hamilton) was for fifty years a 
Baptist preacher, chiefly in Greene County, and, 
from 1862 to '65, Chaplain of the Sixty-first Illi- 
nois Volunteers. Young Hamilton, having re- 
ceived his literary education at home and with a 
classical teacher at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1863 
began the study of medicine, and the following 
year attempted to enlist as a soldier, but was 
rejected on account of being a minor. In 1869 he 
graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago, 
and, for the next five years, was engaged in gen- 
eral practice. Then, having passed an examina- 
tion before an Army Examining Board, he was 
appointed Assistant Surgeon in the regular army 
with the rank of First Lieutenant, serving suc- 
cessively at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis; Fort 
Colville. Washington, and in the Marine Hospital 
at Boston ; in 1879 became Supervising Surgeon- 
General as successor to Gen. John M. Woodworth 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



217 



and, during the yellow-fever epidemic in the 
South, a few years later, rendered efficient service 
in checking the spread of the disease by taking 
charge of the camp of refugees from Jacksonville 
and other stricken points. Resigning the position 
of Surgeon-General in 1891, he took charge of the 
Marine Hospital at Chicago and became Pro- 
fessor of Surgery in Rush Medical College, besides 
holding other allied positions ; was also editor of 
"The Journal of the American Medical Associ- 
ation." In 1896 he resigned his position in the 
Medical Department of the United States Army, 
in 1897 was appointed Superintendent for the 
Northern Hospital for the Insane at Elgin, but 
died. Dec. 24, 1898. 

HAMILTON, John L., farmer and legislator, 
was born at Newry, Ireland, Nov. 9, 1829; emi- 
grated to Jersey County, 111., in 1851, where he 
began life working on a farm. Later, he followed 
the occupation of a farmer in Mason and Macou- 
pin Counties, finally locating, in 1864, in Iroquois 
County, which has since been his home. After 
filling various local offices, in 1875 lie was elected 
County Treasurer of Iroquois County as a Repub- 
lican, and twice re-elected (1877 and "79), also, in 
1880, being Chairman of the Republican County 
Central Committee. In 1884 he was elected to 
the House of Representatives, being one of the 
"103'' who stood by General Logan in the mem- 
orable Senatorial contest of 1885; was re-elected 
in 1886, and again returned to the same body in 
1890 and '98. 

HAMILTON, John Marshall, lawyer and ex- 
Governor, was born in Union County, Ohio, May 
28, 1847; when 7 years of age, was brought to 
Illinois by his father, who settled on a farm in 
Marshall County. In 1864 (at the age of 17) he 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Illi- 
nois Volunteers — a 100-day regiment. After 
being mustered out, he matriculated at the Wes- 
ley an (Ohio) University, from which he gradu- 
ated in 1868. For a year he taught school at 
Henry, and later became Professor of Languages 
at the Wesleyan (111.) University at Blooming- 
ton. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and has 
been a successful practitioner at the bar. In 
1876 he was elected State Senator from McLean 
County, and, in 1880, Lieutenant-Governor on the 
ticket with Gov. Shelby M. Cullom. On Feb. 6, 
1883, he was inaugurated Governor, to succeed 
Governor Cullom. who had been chosen United 
States Senator. In 1884 he was a candidate for 
the gubernatorial nomination before the Repub- 
lican State Convention at Peoria, but that body 
selected ex-Gov. and ex-Senator Richard J. 



Oglesby to head the State ticket. Since then 
Governor Hamilton has been a prominent practi- 
tioner at the Chicago bar. 

HAMILTON, Richard Jones, pioneer lawyer, 
was born near Danville, Ky., August 31, 1799; 
studied law and, about 1820, came to Jonesboro, 
Union County, 111., in company with Abner Field, 
afterwards State Treasurer ; in 1821 was appointed 
cashier of the newly established Branch State 
Bank at Brownsville, Jackson County, but, in 
1881, removed to Chicago, Governor Reynolds 
having appointed him the first Probate Judge of 
Cook County. At the same time he also held the 
offices of Circuit and County Clerk, Recorder and 
Commissioner of School lands — the sale of the 
Chicago school section being made under his 
administration. He was a Colonel of State militia 
and, in 1832, took an active part in raising volun- 
ters for defense during the Black Hawk War; 
also was a candidate for the colonelcy of the 
Fifth Regiment for the Mexican War (1847), 
but was defeated by Colonel Newby. In 1856 
he was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieu- 
tenant-Governor on the Democratic ticket. Died, 
Dec. 26, 1860. 

HAMILTON, William Stephen, pioneer — son 
of Alexander Hamilton, first United States Secre- 
tary of the Treasury — was born in New York 
City, August 4, 1797; spent three years (1814-17), 
at West Point ; came west and located at an early 
day at Springfield, III. ; was a deputy surveyor of 
public lands, elected Representative from Sanga- 
mon County, in the Fourth General Assembly 
(1824-26); in 1827 removed to the Lead Mine 
region and engaged in mining at "Hamilton's 
Diggings" (now Wiota) in southwest Wisconsin, 
and occasionally practiced law at Galena ; was a 
member of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature 
of 1842-43, emigrated to California in 1849, and 
died in Sacramento, Oct. 9, 1850, where, some 
twenty years later, a monument was erected to 
his memory. Colonel Hamilton was an aid-de- 
camp of Governor Coles, who sent him forward 
to meet General La Fayette on his way from New 
Orleans, on occasion of La Fayette's visit to Illi- 
nois in 1825. 

HAMILTON COUNTY, situated in the south- 
eastern part of the State; has an area of 440 
square miles, and population (1900) of 20,197 — 
named for Alexander Hamilton. It was organ- 
ized in 1831, with McLeansboro as the county- 
seat. The surface of the county is rolling and 
the fertile soil well watered and drained by 
numerous creeks, flowing east and south into the 
Wabash, which constitutes its southeastern 



218 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



boundary. Coal crops out at various points in 
the southwestern portion. Originally Hamilton 
County was a dense forest, and timber is still 
abundant and saw-mills numerous. Among the 
hard woods found are black and white oak, black 
walnut, ash and hickory. The softer woods are 
in unusual variety. Corn and tobacco are the 
principal crops, although considerable fruit is 
cultivated, besides oats, winter wheat and pota- 
toes. Sorghum is also extensively produced. 
Among the pioneer settlers was a Mr. Auxier (for 
whom a water course was named), in 1815; Adam 
Crouch, the Biggerstaffs and T. Stelle, in 1818, 
and W. T. Golson and Louis Baxter, in 1821. 
The most important town is McLeausboro, whose 
population in 1890 was 1,355. 

HAMMOND, Charles Goodrich, Railway Mana- 
ger, was born at Bolton, Conn., June 4, 1804, 
spent his youth in Chenango County, N. Y. , 
where he became Principal of the Whitesboro 
Seminary (in which he was partially educated), 
and entered mercantile life at Canandaigua; 
in 1834 removed to Michigan, where he held 
various offices, including member of the Legisla- 
ture and Auditor; in 1852 completed the con- 
struction of the Michigan Central Railroad (the 
first line from the East) to Chicago, and took up 
his residence in that city. In 1855 he became 
Superintendent of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, but soon resigned to take a 
trip to Europe for the benefit of his health. 
Returning from Europe in 1869, he accepted the 
Superintendency of the Union Pacific Railroad, 
but was compelled to resign by failing health, later 
becoming Vice-President of the Pullman Palace 
Car Company. He was Treasurer of the Chicago 
Relief & Aid Society after the fire of 1871, and 
one of the founders of the Chicago Theological 
Seminary (Congregational); also President, for 
several years, of the Chicago Home for the Friend- 
less. Died, April 15, 1884. 

HAMPSHIRE, a village of Kane County, on 
the Omaha Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railway, 51 miles west-northwest from 
Chicago. There are brick and tile works, a large 
canning factory, pickle factory, and machine 
shop; dairy and stock interests are large. The 
place has a bank, electric lights and water-works, 
and a weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 696; (1900), 760. 

HANCOCK COUNTY, on the western border of 
the State, bounded on the west by the Mississippi 
River ; was organized in 1825 and named for John 
Hancock ; has an area of 769 square miles ; popu- 
lation (1900), 32,215. Its early settlers were 
chiefly from the Middle and Southern States, 



among them being I. J. Waggen, for nearly sixty 
years a resident of Montebello Township. Black 
Hawk, the famous Indian Chief, is reputed to 
have been born within the limits of Camp Creek 
Township, in this county. Fort Edwards was 
erected on the present site of Warsaw, soon after 
the War of 1812, but was shortly afterwards evac- 
uated. Abraham Lincoln, a cousin of the Presi- 
dent of that name, was one of the early settlers. 
Among the earliest were John Day, Abraham 
Brevier, Jacob Compton, D. F. Parker, the Dixons, 
Mendenhalls, Logans, and Luther Whitney. 
James White, George Y. Cutler and Henry Nich- 
ols were the first Commissioners. In 1839 the 
Mormons crossed the Mississippi, after being 
expelled from Missouri, and founded the city of 
Nauvooin this county. (See Mormo7is, Nauvoo.) 
Carthage and Appanoose were surveyed and laid 
out in 1835 and 1836. A ferry across the Missis- 
sippi was established at Montebello (near the 
present site of Hamilton) in 1829, and another, 
two years later, near the site of old Fort Edwards. 
The county is crossed by six lines of railway, has 
a fine public school system, numerous thriving 
towns, and is among the wealthy counties of the 
State. 

HANDY, Moses Pnrnell, journalist, was born 
at Warsaw, Mo., April 14, 1847; before he was 
one year old was taken back to Maryland, his 
parents' native State. He was educated at Ports- 
mouth, Va., and was a student at the Virginia 
Collegiate Institute at the breaking out of the 
Civil War, when he joined the Confederate army 
at the age of seventeen. When the war ended 
Handy found himself penniless. He was school- 
teacher and book-canvasser by turns, meantime 
writing some for a New York paper. Later he 
became a clerk in the office of "The Christian 
Observer'" in Richmond. In 1867, by some clever 
reporting for "The Richmond Dispatch," he was 
able to secure a regular position on the local staff 
of that paper, quickly gaining a reputation as a 
successful reporter, and, in 1869, becoming city 
editor. From this time until 1887 his promotion 
was rapid, being employed at different times upon 
many of the most prominent and influential 
papers in the East, including "The New York 
Tribune," "Richmond Enquirer," and, in Phila- 
delphia, upon "The Times," "The Press" and 
"Daily News. " In 1893, at the request of Director- 
General Davis of the World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion, Mr. Handy accepted the position of Chief of 
the Department of Publicity and Promotion, pre- 
ferring this to the Consul-Generalship to Egypt, 
tendered him about the same time by President 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



319 



Harrison. Later, as a member of the National 
Commission to Europe, he did much to arouse the 
interest of foreign countries in the Exposition. 
For some time after the World's Fair, he was 
associate editor of "The Chicago Times-Herald." 
In 1897, having been appointed by President 
•McKinley United States Commissioner to the 
Paris Exposition of 1900, he visited Paris. Upon 
his return to this country lie found himself in 
very poor health, and went South in a v^in 
attempt to regain his lost strength and vigor, but 
died, at Augusta, Ga., Jan. 8, 1898. 

HANKS, Dennis, pioneer, born in Hardin 
County, Ky., May 10, 1799; was a cousin of the 
mother of Abraham Lincoln and, although ten 
years the senior of the latter, was his intimate 
friend in boyhood. Being of a sportive disposi- 
tion, he often led the future President in boyish 
pranks. About 1818, he joined the Lincoln house- 
hold in Spencer County, Ind. , and finally married 
Sarah Johnston, the step-sister of Mr. Lincoln, 
the families removing to Macon County, 111., 
together, in 1830. A year or so later, Mr. Hanks 
removed to Coles County, where he remained 
until some three years before his death, when he 
went to reside with a daughter at Paris, Edgar 
County. It has been claimed that he first taught 
the youthful Abraham to read and write, and 
this has secured for him the title of Mr. Lincoln's 
teacher. He has also been credited with having 
once saved Lincoln from death by drowning while 
crossing a swollen stream. Austin Gollaher, a 
school- and play-mate of Lincoln's, has also made 
the same claim for himself — the two stories pre- 
sumably referring to the same event After the 
riot at Charleston, 111,, in March, 1863, in which 
several persons were killed, Hanks made a visit 
to President Lincoln in Washington in the inter- 
est of some of the arrested rioters, and, although 
they were not immediately released, the fact that 
they were ordered returned to Charleston for 
trial and finally escaped punishment, has been 
attributed to Hanks' influence with the President. 
He died at Paris, Edgar County, Oct. 31. 1892, in 
the 94th year of his age, as the result of injuries 
received from being run over by a buggy while 
returning from an Emancipation-Day celebra- 
tion, near that city, on the 32d day of September 
previous. 

HANKS, John, pioneer, a cousin of the mother 
of Abraham Lincoln, was born near Bardstown, 
Ky., Feb. 9, 1802; joined the Lincolns in Spencer 
County, Ind., in 1822, and made his home with 
them two years; engaged in flat-boating, making 
numerous trips to New Orleans, in one of them 



being accompanied by Abraham Lincoln, then 
about 19 years of age, who then had his feelings 
aroused against slavery by his first sight of a 
slave-mart. In 1828 Mr. Hanks removed to 
Macon County, 111., locating about four miles 
west of Decatur, and it was partly through his 
influence that the Lincolns were induced to emi- 
grate to the same locality in 1830. Hanks had 
cut enough logs to build the Lincolns a house 
when they arrived, and these were hauled by 
Abraham Lincoln to the site of the house, which 
was erected on the north bank of the Sangamon 
River, near the present site of Harristown. Dur- 
ing the following summer he and Abraham Lin- 
coln worked together splitting rails to fence a 
portion of the land taken up by the elder Lincoln 
— some of these rails being the ones displayed 
during the campaign of 1860. In 1831 Hanks and 
Lincoln worked together in the construction of a 
flat-boat on the Sangamon River, near Spring- 
field, for a man named Offutt, which Lincoln took 
to New Orleans — Hanks only going as far as 
St. Louis, when he returned home. In 1832, 
Hanks served as a soldier of the Mexican War in 
the company commanded by Capt. I. C. Pugh. 
afterwards Colonel of the Forty-first Illinois 
Volunteer Infantrj' during the Civil War. He 
followed the occupation of a farmer until 1850, 
when he went to California, where he spent three 
years, returning in 1853. In 1861 he enlisted as 
a soldier in the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry (afterwards commanded by General 
Grant), but being already 59 years of age. was 
placed by Grant in charge of the baggage-train, 
in which capacity he remained two years, serving 
in Missoui-i, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, 
Alabama and Mississippi. While Grant was with 
the regiment. Hanks had charge of the staff team. 
Being disabled by rheumatism, he was finally 
discharged at Winchester, Tenn. He made 
three trips to California after the war. Died, 
July 1, 1891. 

HANNIIUL & NAPLES KAILROAD. (See 
Wabash Railroad.) 

HANON, Martin, pioneer, was born near Nash- 
ville, Tenn., April, 1799; came with his father to 
Gallatin County, Illinois Territory, in 1812, and, 
in 1818, to what is now a portion of Christian 
County, being the first white settler in that 
region. Died, near Sharpsburg, Christian County, 
April 5, 1879. 

HANOVER, a village in Jo Daviess County, on 
Apple River, 14 miles south-southeast of Galena. 
It has a woolen factory, besides five churches and 
a graded school. The Township (also called Han- 



220 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



over) extends to the Mississippi, and has a popu- 
lation of about 1.700. Population of the village 
(1890), 743; (1900), 785. 

HARDIN, the county-seat of Calhoun County, 
situated in Hardin Township, on the west bank 
of the Illinois River, some 30 miles northwest of 
Alton. It has two churches, a graded school and 
two newspaper offices. Population (1880), 500; 
(1890), 311; (1900). 494. 

HAKDIN, John J., lawyer. Congressman and 
soldier, was born at Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 6, 1810. 
After graduating from Transylvania University 
and being admitted to the bar, he began practice 
at Jacksonville, 111., in 1830; for several years he 
was Prosecuting Attorney of Morgan County, 
later being elected to the lower house of the 
Legislature, where he served from 1836 to '42. 
The latter year he was elected to Congress, his 
term expiring in 1845. During the later period 
of his professional career at Jacksonville he was 
the partner of David A. Smith, a prominent law- 
yer of that city, and had Richard Yates for a 
pupil. At the outbreak of the Mexican War he 
was commissioned Colonel of the First Illinois 
Volunteers (June 30, 1846) and was killed on the 
second day of the battle of Buena Vista (Feb. 27, 
1847) while leading the final charge. His remains 
were brought to Jacksonville and buried with 
distinguished honors in the cemetery there, his 
former pupil, Richard Yates, delivering the fu- 
neral oration. — Gen. Martin D. (Hardin), soldier, 
son of the preceding, was born in Jacksonville, 111., 
June 26, 1837 ; graduated at West Point Military 
Academy, in 1859, and entered the service as 
brevet Second Lieutenant of the Third Artillery, 
a few months later becoming full Second Lieu- 
tenant, and, in May, 1861, First Lieutenant. 
Being assigned to the command of volunteer 
troops, he passed through various grades until 
May, 1864, when he was brevetted Colonel of 
Volunteers for meritorious conduct at North 
River, Va., became Brigadier-General of Volun- 
teers, July 2, 1864, was brevetted Brigadier- 
General of the regular army in March, 1865, 
for service during the war, and was finally mus- 
tered out of the volunteer service in January, 
1866. He continued in the regular service, how- 
ever, until December 15, 1870, when he was 
retired with the rank of Brigadier-General. 
General Hardin lost an arm and suffered other 
wounds during the war. His home is in Chicago. 
— Ellen Hardin (Walworth), author, daughter of 
Col. John J. Hardin, was born in Jacksonville, 
111., Oct. 20, 1832, and educated at the Female 
Seminary in that place; was married about 1854 



to Mansfield Tracy Walworth (son of Chancellor 
R. H. Walworth of New York). Her husband 
became an author of considerable repute, chiefly in 
the line of fiction, but was assassinated in 1873 by 
a son who was acquitted of the charge of murder 
on the ground of insanity. Mrs. Walworth is a 
leader of the Daughters of the Revolution, and- 
has given much attention, of late years, to literary 
pursuits. Among her works are accounts of the 
Burgoyne Campaign and of the battle of Buena 
Vista — the latter contributed to "The Magazine 
of American History"; a "Life of Col. John J. 
Hardin and History of the Hardin Family," 
besides a number of patriotic and miscellaneous 
poems and essays. She served for several years 
as a member of the Board of Education, and was 
for six years principal of a young ladies' school 
at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 

HARDIN COUNTY, situated on the southeast 
border of the State, and bounded on the east and 
south by the Ohio River. It has an area of 194 
square miles, and was named for a county in 
Kentucky. The surface is broken by ridges and 
deep gorges, or ravines, and well timbered with 
oak, hickory, elm, maple, locust and cotton- 
wood. Corn, wheat and oats are the staple 
agricultural products. The minerals found are 
iron, coal and lead, besides carboniferous lime- 
stone of the Keokuk group. Elizabethtown is 
the county-seat. Population (1880), 6,024; (1890), 
7,234; (1900), 7,448. 

HARDING, Abner Clark, soldier and Member 
of Congress, born in East Hampton, Middlesex 
County, Conn., Feb. 10, 1807; was educated chiefly 
at Hamilton Academy, N. Y. , and, after practic- 
ing law for a time, in Oneida County, removed to 
Illinois, resuming practice and managing several 
farms for twenty-five years. He was also a mem- 
ber of the State Constitutional Convention of 
1847 from Warren County, and of the lower 
branch of the Sixteenth General Assembly 
(1848.50). Between 1850 and 1860 he was engaged 
in railroad enterprises. In 1862 he enlisted as a 
private in the Eighty-third Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, was commissioned Colonel and, in less 
than a year, was promoted to Brigadier-General. 
In 1864 he was elected to Congress and re-elected 
in 1866. He did much for the development of the 
western part of the State in the construction of 
railroads, the Peoria & Oquawka (now a part of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) being one of 
the lines constructed by him. He left a fortune 
of about $2,000,000, and, before his death, en- 
dowed a professorship in Monmouth College. 
Died, July 19, 1874. 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



221 



HARGRAVE, Willis, pioneer, came from Ken- 
tucky to Illinois in 1816. settling near Carmi in 
White County; served in the Third Territorial 
Legislature (1817-18; and in the First General 
Assembly of the State (1818-20). His business- 
life in Illinois was devoted to farming and salt- 
manufacture. 

HARLAN, James, statesman, was born in Clark 
County, 111. , August 25, 1820 ; graduated at Asbury 
University, Ind. ; was State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction in Iowa (1847), President of 
Iowa Wesleyan University (1853), United States 
Senator (1855-65), Secretary of the Interior 
(1865-66), but re-elected to the Senate the latter 
year, and, in 1869, chosen President of Iowa Uni- 
versity. He was also a member of the Peace 
Conference of 1861, and a delegate to the Phila- 
delphia Loyalists' Convention of 1866; in 1873, 
after leaving the Senate, was editor of "The 
Washington Chronicle," and, from 1882 to 1885. 
presiding Judge of the Court of Commissioners of 
the Alabama Claims. A daughter of ex-Senator 
Harlan married Hon. Robert. T. Lincoln, son of 
President Lincoln, and (1889-93) United States 
Minister to England. Mr. Harlan's home is at 
Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Died, Oct. 5, 1899. 

HARLAN, Justin, jurist, was born in Ohio 
about 1801 and, at the age of 25, settled in Clark 
County, 111. ; served in the Black Hawk War of 
1832 and, in 1885, was appointed a Justice of the 
Circuit Court; was a Delegate to the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1847 and the following year 
was elected to the Circuit bench under the new 
Constitution, being re-elected in 1855. In 1862 
he was appointed by President Lincoln Indian 
Agent, continuing in ofKce until 1865; in 1872 
was elected County Judge of Clark County. 
Died, while on a visit in Kentucky, in March, 
1879. 

HARLOW, George H., ex-Secretary of State, 
born at Sackett's Harbor. N. Y., in 1830, removed 
to Tazewell County, 111., in 1854, and engaged in 
business as a commission merchant ; also served 
a term as Mayor of Pekin. For many years he 
took a prominent part in the history of the State. 
Early in the '60's he was one of seven to organize, 
at Pekin, the "Union League of America," a 
patriotic secret organization sworn to preserve 
the Union, working in harmony with the war 
party and against the "Sons of Liberty." In 
1862 he enlisted, and was about to go to the front, 
when Governor Yates requested him to remain at 
home and continue his effective work in the 
Union League, saying that he could accomplish 
more for the cause in this way than in the field. 



Accordingly Mr. Harlow continued to labor as an 
organizer, and the League became a powerful 
factor in State politics. In 1865 he was made 
First Assistant Secretary of the State Senate, 
but soon after became Governor Oglesby's private 
secretary. For a time he also served as Inspector- 
General on the Governor's staff, and had charge 
of the troops as they were mustered out. During 
a portion of Mr. Rummel's term (1869-73) as Secre- 
tary of State, he served as Assistant Secretary, 
and, in 1872, was elected as successor to Secretary 
Rummel and re-elected in 1876. While in Spring- 
field he acted as correspondent for several news- 
papers, and, for a year, was city editor of "The 
Illinois State Journal." In 1881 he took up his 
residence in Chicago, where he was engaged at 
different periods in the commission and real 
estate business, but has been retired of late years 
on account of ill health. Died May 16, 1900. 

HARPER, William H., legislator and commis- 
sion merchant, born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., 
May 4, 1845 ; was brought by his parents in boy- 
hood to Woodford County, 111., and served in the 
One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteers; 
took a course in a commercial college and engaged 
in the stock and grain-shipi^ing business in Wood- 
ford County until 1868, when he entered upon the 
commission business in Chicago. From 1872 to 
'75 he served, by appointment of the Governor, 
as Chief of the Grain Inspection Department of 
the city of Chicago; in 1882 was elected to the 
Thirty-third General Assembly and re-elected in 
1884. During his first term in the Legislature, 
Mr. Harper introduced and secured the passage 
of the "High License Law," which has received 
his name. Of late years he has been engaged in 
the grain commission business in Chicago. 

HARPER, William Rainey, clergyman and 
educator, was born at New Concord, Ohio, July 
26, 1856 ; graduated at Muskingum College at the 
age of 14, delivering the Hebrew oration, this 
being one of the principal coniraencement honors 
in that institution. After three years' private 
study he took a post-graduate course in philology 
at Yale, receiving the degree of Ph. D., at the age 
of 19. For several years he was engaged in 
teaching, at Macon, Tenn., and Denison Uni- 
versity, Ohio, meanwhile continuing his philo- 
logical studies and devoting special attention to 
Hebrew. In 1879 he accepted the chair of 
Hebrew in the Baptist Union Theological Semi- 
nary at Morgan Park, a suburb of Chicago. Here 
he laid the foundation of the "inductive method" 
of Hebraic study, which rapidly grew in favor. 
The school by correspondence was known as the 



Z%2 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



"American Institute of Hebrew," and increased 
so rapidly that, by 1885, it had enrolled 800 stu- 
dents, from all parts of the world, many leading 
professors co-operating. In 1886 he accepted the 
professorship of Semitic Language and Literature 
at Yale University, having in the previous year 
become Principal of the Chautauqua College of 
Liberal Arts, and, in 1891, Principal of the 
entire Chautauqua system. During the winters 
of 1889-91, Dr. Harper delivered courses of lec- 
tvires on the Bible in various cities and before 
several universities and colleges, having been, 
in 1889, made Woolsey Professor of Biblical 
Literature at Yale, although still filling his 
former chair. In 1891 he accepted an invitation 
to the Presidency of the then incipient new Chi- 
cago University, which has rapidly increased in 
wealth, extent and influence. (See University 
of Chicago.) He is also at present (1899) a mem- 
ber of the Chicago Board of Education. Dr. 
Harper is the author of numerous philological 
text-books, relating chiefly to Hebrew, but ap- 
plying the "inductive method" to the study of 
Latin and Greek, and has also sought to improve 
the study of English along these same lines. In 
addition, he has edited two scientific periodicals, 
and published numerous monographs. 

HARRIS, Thomas L., lawyer, soldier and Mem- 
ber of Congress, was born at Norwich, Conn., 
Oct. 29, i816; graduated at Trinity College, Hart- 
ford, in 1841, studied law with Gov. Isaac Toucey, 
and was admitted to the bar in Virginia in 1843, 
the same year removing to Petersburg, Menard 
County, 111. Here, in 1845, he was elected School 
Commissioner, in 1846 raised a company for the 
Mexican War, joined the Fourth Regiment (Col. 
E. D. Baker's) and was elected Major. He was 
present at the capture of Vera Cruz and the 
battle of Cerro Gordo, after the wounding of 
General Shields at the latter, taking command of 
the regiment in place of Colonel Baker, who had 
assumed command of the brigade. During his 
absence in the army (1846) he was chosen 
to the State Senate; in 1848 was elected to 
the Thirty-first Congress, but was defeated by 
Richard Yates in 1850; was re-elected in 1854, 
'56, and '58, but died Nov. 24, 1858, a few days after 
his fourth election and before completing his 
preceding term. 

HARRIS, William Logan, Methodist Episcopal 
Bishop, born near Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1817; 
was educated at Norwalk Seminary, licensed to 
preach in 1836 and soon after admitted to the 
Michigan Conference, being transferred to the 
Ohio Conference in 1840. In 1845-46 he was a 



tutor in the Ohio Wesleyan University; then, 
after two years" pastoral work and some three 
years as Principal of Baldwin Seminarj', in 1851 
returned to the Wesleyan, filling the position 
first of Principal of the Academic Department 
and then a professorship; was Secretary of the 
General Conferences (1856-72) and, during 1860-72, 
Secretary of the Church Missionary Society ; in 
1872 was elected Bishop, and visited the Methodist 
Mission stations in China, Japan and Europe; 
joined the Illinois Conference in 1874, remaining 
until his death, which occurred in New York, 
Sept. 2, 1887. Bishop Harris was a recognized au- 
thority on Methodist Church law, and published 
a small work entitled "Powers of the General 
Conference" (1859), and, in connection with 
Judge William J. Henry, of this State, a treatise 
on "Ecclesiastical Law," having special refer- 
ence to the Methodist Church. 

HARRISBURti, county seat of Saline County, 
on the Cleveland, Cincinnati. Chicago & St. 
Louis Railway, 70 miles northeast of Cairo The 
region is devoted to agriculture and fruit-grow- 
ing, and valuable deposits of salt, coal and iron 
are found. The town has flour and saw mills, 
coal mines, dairy, brick and tile works, carriage 
and other wood-working establishments, two 
banks and three weekly newspapers. Population 
(1890), 1,723; (1900), 2,202. 

HARRISON, Carter Henry, politician, Con- 
gressman and JIayor of Chicago, was born in 
Fayette County, Ky., Feb. 15, 1825; at the age of 
20 years graduated from Yale College and began 
reading law, but later engaged in farming. After 
spending two years in foreign travel, he entered 
the Law Department of Transylvania Universitj', 
at Lexington, Ky., and, after graduation, settled 
at Chicago, where he soon became an operator in 
real estate. In 1871 he was elected a Commis- 
sioner of Cook County, serving three years. In 
1874 he again visited Europe, and, on his return, 
was elected to Congress as a Democrat, being 
re-elected in 1876. In 1879 he was chosen Mayor 
of Chicago, filling that oflSce for four successive 
biennial terms, but was defeated for re-election 
in 1887 by his Republican competitor, John A. 
Roche. He was the Democratic candidate for 
Governor in 1888, but failed of election. He 
thereafter made a trip around the world, and, on 
his return, published an entertaining account of 
his journey under the title, "A Race with the 
Sun." In 1891 he was an Independent Demo- 
cratic candidate for the Chicago mayoralty, but 
was defeated by Hempstead Washburne, Repub- 
lican. In 1893 he received the regular nomina- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



223 



tion of his party for the office, and was elected. 
In 1892, in connection with a few associates, he 
purchased the plant of ' 'The Chicago Times, ' ' plac- 
ing his sons in charge. He was a man of strong 
character and intense personality, making warm 
friends and bitter enemies ; genial, generous and 
kindly, and accessible to any one at all times, at 
either his office or his home. Taking advantage 
of this latter trait, one Prendergast, on the night 
of Oct. 28, 1893 — immediately following the clos- 
ing exercises of the World's Columbian Exposition 
— gained admission to his residence, and, without 
the slightest provocation, shot him down in his 
library. He lived but a few hours. The assassin 
was subsequently tried, convicted and hung 

HARRISON, Carter Henry, Jr., son of the 
preceding, was born in Chicago, April 23, 1860, 
being a lineal descendant of Benjamin Harrison, 
an early Colonial Governor of Virginia, and lat- 
erally related to the signer of the Declaration 
of Independence of that name, and to President 
William Henry Harrison. Mr. Harrison was 
educated in the public schools of Chicago, at the 
Gymnasium, Altenburg, Germany, and St. Igna- 
tius College, Chicago, graduating from the latter 
in 1881. Having taken a course in Yale Law 
School, he began practice in Chicago in 1883, 
remaining until 1889, when he turned his atten- 
tion to real estate. His father having purchased 
the "Chicago Times" about 1892, he became 
associated with the editorship of that paper and, 
for a time, had charge of its publication until its 
consolidation with "The Herald" in 1895. In 
1897, he received the Democratic nomination for 
Mayor of Chicago, his popularity being shown by 
receiving a majority of the total vote. Again 
in 1899, he was re-elected to the same office, 
receiving a plurality over his Republican com- 
petitor of over 40,000. Mayor Harrison is one of 
the youngest men who ever held the office. 

HARRISON, William Henry, first Governor of 
Indiana Territory (including the present State of 
Illinois), was born at Berkeley, Va. , Feb 9, 1TT3, 
being the son of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of 
the Declaration of Independence ; was educated 
at Hampden Sidney College, and began the study 
of medicine, but never finished it. In 1791 he 
was commissioned an Ensign in the First U. S. 
Infantry at Fort Washington (the present site of 
Cincinnati), was promoted a Lieutenant a year 
later, and, in 1797, assigned to command of the 
Fort with the rank of Captain. He had pre- 
viously served as Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Wayne, 
by whom he was complimented for gallantry at 
the battle of Miami. In 1798 he was appointed by 



President Adams Secretary of the Northwest 
Territory, but resigned in 1799 to become Dele- 
gate in Congress ; in 1800 he was appointed Gov- 
ernor of the newly created Territory of Indiana, 
serving by reappointment some 12 years. During 
his incumbency and as Commissioner, a few years 
later, he negotiated many important treaties 
with the Indians. In 1811 he won the decisive 
victory over Chief Tecumseh and his followers 
at Tippecanoe. Having been made a Brigadier- 
General in the War of 1812, he was promoted to 
Major-General in 1813 and, as Commander of the 
Army of the Northwest, he won the important 
battle of the Thames. Resigning his commission 
in 1814, he afterwards served as Representative 
in Congress from Ohio (1816-1819) ; Presidential 
Elector in 1820 and 1824; United States Senator 
(1824-1828), and Minister to the United States of 
Colombia (1828-29). Returning to the United 
States, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas of Hamilton County, serving twelve 
years. In 1836 he was an unsuccessful Whig 
candidate for President, but was elected in 1840, 
dying in Washington City, April 4, 1841, just one 
month after his inauguration. 

HARTZELL, William, Congressman, was born 
in Stark County, Ohio, Feb. 20. 1837. When he 
was three years old his parents removed to Illi- 
nois, and, four years later (1844) to Texas. In 
18.53 he returned to Illinois, settling in Randolph 
County, which became his permanent home. He 
was brought up on a farm, but graduated at Mc- 
Kendree College, Lebanon, in June, 1859. Five 
years later he was admitted to the bar, and began 
practice. He was Representative in Congress for 
two terms, being elected as a Democrat, in 1874. 
and again in 1876. 

HARTARD, an incorporated city in McHenry 
County, 63 miles northwest of Chicago on the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It has elec- 
tric light plant, artesian water system, hardware 
and bicycle factories, malt house, cold storage 
and packing plant, a flouring mill, a carriage- 
wheel factory and two weekly papers. The 
region is agricultural. Population (1890), 1,967; 
(1900), 2,602. 

HASKELL, Harriet Newell, educator and third 
Principal of Monticello Female Seminary, was 
born at Waldboro, Lincoln County, Maine, Jan. 14, 
1835; educated at Castleton Seminary, Vt. , and 
Mount Holyoke Seminary, Mass., graduating 
from the latter in 1855. Later, she served as 
Principal of high schools in Maine and Boston 
until 1862, when she was called to the principal- 
ship of Castleton Seminary. She resigned this 



224 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



position in 1867 to assume a similar one at Monti- 
cello Female Seminary, at Godfrey, 111., where 
she has since remained. The main building of 
this institution liaving been burned in Novem- 
ber, 1889, it was rebuilt on an enlarged and 
improved plan, largely through the earnest efforts 
of Miss Haskell. (See Monticello Female Semi- 
nary. ) 

HATCH, Ozias Mather, Secretary of the State 
of Illinois (1857-'65), was born at Hillsborough 
Center, N. H., April 11, 1814, and removed to 
Griggsville, III, in 1836. In 1829 he began life as 
a clerk for a wholesale and retail grocer in Bos- 
ton. From 1836 to 1841 he was engaged in store- 
keeping at Griggsville. In the latter year he was 
appointed Circuit Court Clerk of Pike County, 
holding the office seven years. In 1858 lie again 
embarked in business at Meredosia, 111. In 1850 
he was elected to the Legislature, serving one 
term. An earnest anti-slavery man, he was, in 
1956, nominated by the newly organized Repub- 
lican party for Secretary of State and elected, 
being re-elected in 1860, on the same ticket with 
Mr. Lincoln, of whom he was a warm personal 
friend and admirer. During the war he gave a 
zealous and effective support to Governor Yates' 
administration. In 1864 he declined a renomi- 
nation and retired from political life. He was an 
original and active member of the Lincoln Monu- 
ment Association from its organization in 1865 to 
his death, and, in company with Gov. R. J. 
Oglesby, made a canvass of Eastern cities to col- 
lect funds for statuary to be placed on the monu- 
ment. After retiring from office he was interested 
to some extent in the banking business at Griggs- 
ville, and was influential in securing the con- 
struction of the branch of the Wabash Railway 
from Naples to Hannibal, IMo. He was, for over 
thirty-five years, a resident of Springfield, dying 
there, Marcli 12, 1893. 

HATFIELD, (Rev.) Robert Miller, clergy- 
man, was born at Mount Pleasant, Westchester 
County, N. Y., Feb. 19, 1819; in early life enjoyed 
only such educational advantages as could be 
obtained while living on a farm ; later, was em 
ployed as a clerk at White Plains and in New 
York City, but, in 1841, was admitted to the 
Providence Methodist Episcopal Conference, dur- 
ing the next eleven years supplying churches in 
Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1852 he 
went to Brooklyn and occupied pulpits in that 
vicinity until 1865, when he assumed the pastor- 
ship of the Wabash Avenue Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Chicago, two years later going to the 
Centenary Church in the same city. He subse- 



quently had charge of churches in Cincinnati and 
Philadelphia, but, returning to llUnois in 1877. 
he occupied pulpits for the next nine years m 
Evanston and Chicago. In 1886 he went to Sum- 
merfield Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, 
which was his last regular charge, as, in 1889, hfe 
became Financial Agent of the Northwestern 
University at Evanston, of which he had been a 
Trustee from 1878. As a temporary supply for 
pulpits or as a speaker in popular assemblies, his 
services were in constant demand during this 
period. Dr. Hatfield served as a Delegate to the 
General Conferences of 1860, '64, '76, '80 and '84, 
and was a leader in some of the most important 
debates in those bodies. Died, at Evanston, 
March 31, 1891. 

HATTON, Frank, journalist and Postmaster- 
General, was born at Cambridge, Ohio, April 28, 
1846; entered his father's newspaper office at 
Cadiz, as an apprentice, at 11 years of age, be- 
coming foreman and local editor ; in 1862, at the 
age of 16, he enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Ohio 
Infantry, but, in 1864, was transferred to the One 
Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio and commis- 
sioned Second Lieutenant — his service being 
chiefly in the Army of the Cumberland, but par- 
ticipating in Sherman's March to the Sea. After 
the war he went to Iowa, whither his father had 
preceded him, and where he edited "The Mount 
Pleasant Journal" (1869-74) ; then removed to Bur- 
lington, where he secured a controlling interest 
in "The Hawkeye, " which he brought to a point 
of great prosperity ; was Postmaster of that city 
under President Grant, and, in 1881, became 
First Assistant Postmaster-General. On the 
retirement of Postmaster-General Gresham in 
1884, he was appointed successor to the latter, 
serving to the end of President Arthur's adminis- 
tration, being the youngest man who ever held 
a cabinet position, except Alexander Hamilton. 
From 1882 to 1884, Mr. Hatton managed "The 
National Republican" in Washington; in 1885 
removed to Chicago, where he became one of the 
proprietors and editor-in-chief of "The Evening 
Mail"; retired from the latter in 1887, and, pur- 
chasing the plant of "The National Republican" 
in Washington, commenced the publication of 
"The Washington Post," with which he was con- 
nected until his death, April 30, 1894. 

HAVANA, the county-seat of JIason County, an 
incorporated city founded in 1827 on the Illinois 
River, opposite the mouth of Spoon River, and a 
point of junction for three railways. It is a ship- 
ping-point for corn and osage orange hedge 
plants. A number of manufactories are located 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



225 



here. The city has several churches, three pub- 
lic schools and three newspapers. Population 
(1890). 3,525; (1900), 3,268. 

HAVANA, RANTOUL & EASTERN RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Illinois Central Railroad. ) 

HAVEN, Erastus Otis, Methodist Episcopal 
Bishop, was born in Boston, Mass., Nov. 1, 1820; 
graduated at the Wesleyan University in 1843, 
and taught in various institutions in Massachu- 
setts and New York, meanwhile studying theol- 
og.y. In 1848 he entered the Methodist ministry 
as a member of the New York Conference; five 
years later accepted a professorship in Michigan 
University, but resigned in 1856 to become editor 
of "Zion's Herald," Boston, for seven years — in 
that time serving two terms in the State Senate 
and a part of the time being an Overseer of Har- 
vard University. In 1863 he accepted the Presi- 
dency of Northwestern University at Evanston, 
111. ; in 1872 became Secretary of the Methodist 
Board of Education, but resigned in 1874 to 
become Chancellor of Syracuse University, N.Y. 
In 1880 he was elected a Bishop of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Died, in Salem, Oregon, in 
August, 1881. Bishop Haven was a man of great 
versatility and power as an orator, wrote much 
for the periodical press and published several 
volumes on religious topics, besides a treatise on 
rhetoric. 

HAVEN, Lnther, educator, was born near 
Framingham, Mass., August 6, 1806. With a 
meager country-school education, at the age of 
17 he began teaching, continuing in this occupa- 
tion six or seven years, after which he spent 
three years in a more liberal course of study in a 
private academy at Ellington, Conn. He was 
next employed at Leicester Academy, first as a 
teacher, and, for eleven years, as Principal. He 
then engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1849, 
when he removed to Chicago. After several 
years spent in manufacturing and real-estate 
business, in 1854 he became proprietor of "The 
Prairie Farmer," of which he remained in con- 
trol until 1858. Mr. Haven took an active interest 
in public affairs, and was an untiring worker for 
the promotion of popular education. For ten 
years following 1853, he was officially connected 
with the Chicago Board of Education, being for 
four years its President. The comptroUership of 
the city was offered him in 1860, but declined. 
During the war he was a zealous supporter of the 
Union cause. In October, 1861, he was appointed 
by President Lincoln Collector for the Port of 
Chicago, and Sub-Treasurer of the United States 
for the Department of the Northwest, serving in 



this capacity during a part of President Johnson's 
administration. In 1866 he was attacked vrith 
congestion of the lungs, dying on March 6, of 
that year. 

HAWK, Robert M. A., Congressman, was born 
in Hancock County, Ind., April 33, 1839; came to 
Carroll County, 111. , in boyhood, where he attended 
the common schools and later graduated from Eu- 
reka College. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union 
army, was commissioned First Lieutenant, next 
promoted to a Captaincy and, finally, brevetted 
Major for soldierly conduct in the field. In 1865 
he was elected County Clerk of Carroll County, 
and three times re-elected, serving from 1865 to 
1879. The latter year he resigned, having been 
elected to Congress on the Republican ticket in 
1878. In 1880 he was re-elected, but died before 
the expiration of his term, his successor being 
Robert R. Hitt, of Mount Morris, who was chosen 
at a special election to fill the vacancy. 

HAWLEY, John B., Congressman and First 
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, was born in 
Fairfield County, Conn. , Feb. 9, 1831 ; accompa- 
nied his parents to Illinois in childhood, residing 
in his early manhood at Carthage, Hancock 
County. At the age of 23 (1854) he was admitted 
to the bar and began practice at Rock Island. 
From 1856 to 1860 he was State's Attorney of 
Rock Island County. In 1861 he entered the 
Union army as Captain, but was so severely 
wounded at Fort Donelson (1862) that he was 
obliged to quit the service. In 1865 President 
Lincoln appointed him Postmaster at Rock Island, 
but one year afterward he was removed by Presi- 
dent Johnson. In 1868 he was elected to Congress 
as a Republican, being twice reelected, and, in 
1876, was Presidential Elector on the Hayes- 
Wheeler ticket. In the following year he was 
appointed by President Hayes First Assistant 
Secretary of the Treasury, serving until 1880, 
when he resigned. During the last six years of 
his life he was Solicitor for the Chicago & North • 
western Railroad, with headquarters at Omaha, 
Neb. Died, at Hot Springs, South Dakota, May 
24, 1895. 

HAT, John, author, diplomatist and Secretary 
of State, was born in Salem, Ind., Oct. 8, 1888, of 
Scottish ancestry; graduated at Brown Univer- 
sity', 1858, and studied law at Springfield, 111., his 
father, in the meantime, having become a resi- 
dent of Warsaw, 111. ; was admitted to practice 
in 1861, but immediately went to Washington as 
assistant private secretary of President Lincoln, 
acting part of the time as the President's aid-de- 
camp, also serving for some time under General 



236 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Hunter andGilmore, with the rank of Major and 
Adjutant-General. After President Lincoln's 
assassination lie served as Secretary of Legation 
at Paris and Madrid, and as Charge d'Affaires at 
Vienna; was also editor for a time of "The Illi- 
nois State Journal" at Springfield, and a leading 
editorial writer on "The New York Tribune." 
Colonel Hay's more important literary works 
include "CastilianDays," "Pike County Ballads, " 
and the ten- volume "History of the Life and 
Times of Abraham Lincoln," written in collabo- 
ration with John G. Nicolay. In 1875 he settled 
at Cleveland, Ohio, but, after retiring from "The 
New York Tribune," made Washington his home. 
In 1897 President McKinley appointed him Am- 
bassador to England, where, by his tact, good 
judgment and sound discretion manifested as a 
diplomatist and speaker on public occasions, he 
won a reputation as one of the most able and ac- 
complished foreign representatives America has 
produced. His promotion to the position of 
Secretary of State on the retirement of Secretary 
William R. Day, at the close of the Spanish - 
American War, in September, 1898, followed 
naturally as a just tribute to the rank which he 
had won as a diplomatist, and was universally 
approved throughout the np.tion. 

HAY, John B., ex-Congressman, was born at 
Belleville, 111., Jan. 8, 1834; attended the com- 
mon schools and worked on a farm until he was 
16 years of age, when he learned the printer's 
trade. Subsequently he studied law, and won 
considerable local prominence in his profession, 
being for eight years State's Attorney for the 
Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit. He served in 
the Union army during the War of the Rebellion, 
and, in 1868, was elected a Representative in the 
Forty-first Congress, being re-elected in 1870. 

HAY, Milton, lawyer and legislator, was born 
in Fayette County, Ky., July 3, 1817; removed 
with his father's family to Springfield, 111., in 
1833 ; in 1838 became a student in the law office 
of Stuart & Lincoln ; was admitted to the 
bar in 1840, and began practice at Pittsfield, 
Pike County. In 1858 he returned to Springfield 
and formed a partnership with Judge Stephen 
T. Logan (afterwards his father-in-law), which 
ended by the retirement of the latter from prac- 
tice in 1861. Others who were associated with 
him as partners, at a later date, were Hon. Shelby 
M. Cullom, Gen. John M. Palmer, Heniy S. 
Greene and D. T. Littler. In 1869 he was elected 
a Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention 
and, as Chairman of the Committee on Revenue 
and member of the Judiciary Committee, was 



prominent in shaping the Constitution of 1870. 
Again, as a member of the lower branch of the 
Twenty-eighth General Assembly (1873-74), he 
assisted in revising and adapting the laws to the 
new order of things under the new Constitution. 
The estimate in which he was held by his associ- 
ates is shown in the fact that he was a member 
of the Joint Committee of five appointed by the 
Legislature to revise the revenue laws of the 
State, which was especially complimented for 
the manner in which it performed its work by 
concurrent resolution of the two houses. A con- 
servative Republican in politics, gentle and unob- 
trusive in manner, and of calm, dispassionate 
judgment and unimpeachable integrity, no man 
was more frequently consulted by State execu- 
tives on questions of great delicacy and public 
importance, during the last thirty years of his 
life, than Mr. Hay. In 1881 he retired from the 
active prosecution of his profession, devoting his 
time to the care of a handsome estate. Died, 
Sept. 15, 1893. 

HAYES, Philip C, ex-Congressman, was born 
at Granb}-, Conn., Feb. 3, 1833. Before he wa.s a 
year old his parents removed to La Salle County, 
111. , where the first twenty years of his life were 
spent upon a farm. In 1860 he graduated from 
Oberlin College, Ohio, and, in April, 1861, en- 
listed in the Union army, being commissioned 
successively. Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel and 
Colonel, and finally brevetted Brigadier-General. 
After the war he engaged in journalism, becom- 
ing the publisher and senior editor of "The Morris 
Herald," a weekly periodical issued at Morris, 
Grundy County. In 1872 he was a delegate to the 
National Republican Convention at Philadelphia 
which renominated Grant, and represented liis 
district in Congress from 1877 to 1881. Later he 
became editor and part proprietor of "The Repub- 
lican" at Joliet, 111., but retired some years since. 

HATES, Samuel Snowden, lawyer and politi- 
cian, was born at Nashville. Tenn., Dec. 25, 1820; 
settled at Shawneetown in 1838, and engaged in 
the drug business for two years ; then began the 
study of law and was admitted to practice in 
1842, settling first at Mount Vernon and later at 
Carmi. He early took an interest in politics, 
stumping the southern counties for the Demo- 
cratic party in 1843 and '44. In 1845 he was a 
delegate to the Memphis Commercial Convention 
and, in 1846, was elected to the lower House of 
the State Legislature, being re-elected in '48. In 
1847 he raised a company for service in the 
Mexican War, but, owing to its distance from 
the seat' of government, its muster rolls were not 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



227 



received until the quota of the State had been 
filled. The same year he was chosen a Delegate 
to the State Constitutional Convention for White 
County, and, in 1848, was a Democratic Presi- 
dential Elector. About 1853 he removed to Chi- 
cago, where he was afterwards City Solicitor and 
(1862-05) City Comptroller. He was a delegate 
to the National Democratic Conventions at 
Charleston and Baltimore in 1860, and an earnest 
worker for Douglas in the campaign which fol- 
lowed. "While in favor of the Union, he was 
strongly opposed to the policy of the administra- 
tion, particularly in its attitude on the question 
of slaverj'. His last public service was as a Dele- 
gate from Cook County to the State Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1869-70. His talents as an 
orator, displayed both at the bar and before popu- 
lar assemblies, were of a very high order. 

HATMARKET RIOT, THE, an anarchistic 
outbreak which occurred in Chicago on the 
evening of May 4, 1886. For several days prior, 
meetings of dissatisfied workingmen had been 
addressed by orators who sought to inflame the 
worst passions of their hearers. The excitement 
(previously more or less under restraint) culmi- 
nated on the date mentioned. Haymarket 
Square, in Chicago, is a broad, open space formed 
by the widening of West Randolph Street for an 
open-air produce-market. An immense concourse 
assembled there on the evening named ; inflam- 
matory speeches were made from a cart, which 
was used as a sort of improvised platform. Dur- 
ing the earlier part of the meeting the Mayor 
(Carter H. Harrison) was present, but upon his 
withdrawal, the oratory became more impassioned 
and incendiary. Towards midnight, some one 
whose identity has never been thoroughly proved, 
threw a dynamite bomb into the ranks of the 
police, who, under com:nand of Inspector John 
Bonfield, had ordered the dispersal of the crowd 
and were endeavoring to enforce the command. 
Simultaneously a score of men lay dead or bleed- 
ing in the street. The majority of the crowd 
fled, pursued by the officers. Numerous arrests 
followed during the night and the succeeding 
morning, and search was made in the ofiBce of 
the principal Anarchistic organ, which resulted 
in the discovery of considerable evidence of an 
incriminating character. A Grand Jury of Cook 
County found indictments for murder against 
eight of the suspected leaders, all of whom were 
convicted after a trial extending over several 
months, both the State and the defense being 
represented by some of the ablest counsel at the 
Chicago bar. Seven of the accused were con- 



demned to death, and one (Oscar Neebe) was 
given twenty years' imprisonment. The death 
sentence of two — Samuel Fielden and Justus 
Schwab— was subsequently commuted by Gov- 
ernor Oglesby to life-imprisonment, but executive 
clemency was extended in 1893 by Governor 
Altgeld to all three of those serving terms in the 
penitentiary. Of those condemned to execution, 
one (Louis Linng) committed suicide in the 
county-jail by exploding, between his teeth, a 
small dynamite bomb which he had surrepti- 
tiously obtained; the remaining four (August 
Spies, Albert D. Parsons, Louis Engel and Adolph 
Fischer) were hanged in the county-jail at 
Chicago, on November 14, 1887. The affair 
attracted wide attention, not only throughout the 
United States but in other countries also. 

HATNIE, Ishani Nicolas, soldier and Adju- 
tant-General, was born at Dover, Tenn., Nov. 18, 
1824; came to Illinois in boyhood and received 
but little education at school, but worked on a 
farm to obtain means to study law, and was 
licensed to practice in 1846. Throughout the 
Mexican War he served as a Lieutenant in the 
Sixth Illinois Volunteers, but, on his return, 
resumed practice in 1849, and, in 18.50, was 
elected to the Legislature from Marion County. 
He graduated from the Kentucky Law School in 
1833 and, in 1856, was appointed Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas at Cairo. In 1860 he was a 
candidate for Presidential Elector on the Doug- 
las ticket. In 1861 he entered the army as 
Colonel of the Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry, 
which he had assisted in organizing. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, 
and was severely wounded at the latter. In 1862 
he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress as 
a War Democrat, being defeated by W. J. Allen, 
and the same year was commissioned Brigadier- 
General of Volunteers. He resumed practice at 
Cairo in 1864, and, in 1865, was appointed by 
Governor Oglesby Adjutant-General as successor 
to Adjutant-General Fuller, but died in office, at 
Springfield, November, 1868. 

HAYWARD COLLEGE AND COMMERCIAL 
SCHOOL, at Fairfield, Wayne County ; ineoi-po- 
rated in 1886; is co-educational ; had 160 pupils in 
1898, with a faculty of nine instructors. 

HEACOCK, Russell E., pioneer lawyer, was 
born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1770; having lost his 
father at 7 years of age, learned the carpenter's 
trade and came west early in life ; in 1806 was 
studying law in Missouri, and, two years later, 
was licensed to practice in Indiana Territor}', of 
which Illinois then formed a part, locating first 



228 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



at Kaskaskia and afterwards at Jonesboro, in 
Union County; in 1823 went to Buffalo, N. Y., 
but returned west in 1827, arriving where Chi- 
cago now stands on July 4 ; in 1828 was living 
inside Fort Dearborn, but subsequently located 
several miles up the South Branch of the Chicago 
River, where he opened a small farm at a place 
which went by the name of "Heacock's Point." 
In 1831 he obtained a license to keep a tavern, in 
1833 became a Justice of the Peace, and, in 1835, 
had a law office in the village of Chicago, He 
took a prominent part in the organization of Cook 
County, invested liberally in real estate, but lost 
it in the crash of 1837. He was disabled by par- 
alysis in 1843 and died of cholera, June 28, 1849. 
— Reuben E. (Heacock), a son of Mr. Heacock, 
was member of the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1847, from Cook County. 

HEALTH, BOARD OF, a bureau of the State 
Government, created by act of May 2.5, 1877. It 
consists of seven members, named by the Gov- 
ernor, who hold office for seven years. It is 
charged with "general supervision of the inter- 
ests connected with the health and life of the 
citizens of the State. " All matters pertaining to 
quarantine fall within its purview, and in this 
respect it is invested with a power which, while 
discretionary, is well-nigh autocratic. The same 
standard holds good, although to a far less ex- 
tent, as to its supervisory power over conta- 
gious diseases, of man or beast. The Board also 
has a modified control over medical practitioners, 
under the terms of the statute popularly known 
as the "Medical Practice Act." Through its 
powers thereunder, it has kept out or expelled 
from the State an army of irregular practition- 
ers, and has done much toward raising the stand- 
ard of professional qualification. 

HEALT, George P. A., artist, was born in 
Boston, July 15, 1808, and early manifested a 
predilection for art, in which he was encouraged 
by the painter ScuUj'. He struggled in the face 
of difficulties until 1836, when, having earned 
some money by his art, he went to Europe to 
study, spending two years in Paris and a like 
period in London. In 1855 he came to Chicago, 
contemplating a stay of three weeks, but re- 
mained until 1867. During this time he is said 
to have painted 575 portraits, many of them 
being likenesses of prominent citizens of Chicago 
and of the State. Many of his pictures, deposited 
in the rooms of the Chicago Historical Society 
for safe-keeping, were destroyed by the fire of 
1871. From 1869 to '91 his time was spent chiefly 
in Rome. During his several visits to Europe he 



painted the portraits of a large number of royal 
personages, including Louis Phillippe of France, 
as also, in this country, the portraits of Presidents 
and other distinguished persons. One of his his- 
torical pictures was "Webster Replying to 
Hayne," in which 150 figures are introduced. A 
few years before his death, Mr. Healy donated a 
large number of his pictures to the Newberry 
Library of Chicago. He died in Chicago, June 
24, 1894. 

HEATOX, William Weed, lawyer and jurist, 
was born at Western, Oneida County, X. Y., 
April 18, 1814. After completing his academic 
studies he engaged, for a short time, in teaching, 
but soon began the study of law, and, in 1838, 
was admitted to tlie bar at Terre Haute, Ind. In 
1840 he removed to Dixon, 111., where he resided 
until his death. In 1861 he was elected Judge of 
the Circuit Court for the Twenty-second Circuit, 
and occupied a seat upon the bench, through 
repeated re-elections, until his death, which 
occurred Dec. 26, 1877, while serving as a mem- 
ber of the Appellate Court for the First District. 

HECKER, Friedrich Karl Franz, German pa- 
triot and soldier, was born at Baden, Germany, 
Sept. 28, 1811. He attained eminence in his 
native country as a lawyer and politician ; was a 
member of the Baden Assembly of 1842 and a 
leader in the Diet of 1846-47, but, in 1848, was 
forced, with many of his compatriots, to find a 
refuge in the United States. In 1849 he settled 
as a farmer at Summerfield, in St. Clair County, 
111. He took a deep interest in politics and, being 
earnestly opposed to slavery, ultimately joined 
the Republican party, and took an active part in 
the campaigns of 1856 and "60. In 1861 he was 
commissioned Colonel of the Twenty-fourth Illi- 
nois Volunteers, and was later transferred to the 
command of the Eighty-second. He was a brave 
soldier, and actively participated in the battles 
of Missionary Ridge and Chancellorsville. In 
1864 he resigned his commission and returned to 
his farm in St. Clair County. Died, at St. Louis, 
Mo., March 24, 1881. 

HEDDING COLLEGE, an institution incorpo- 
rated in 1875 and conducted under the auspices of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Abingdon, 
Knox County, 111. ; has a faculty of seventeen 
instructors, and reports (1895-96), 403 students, 
of whom 212 were male and 181 female. The 
branches taught include the sciences, the classics, 
music, fine arts, oratory and preparatory courses. 
Tlie institution has funds and endowment 
amounting to $55,000, and property valued at 
$158,000. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



229 



HEMPSTEAD, Charles S., pioneer lawyer and 
first Mayor of Galena, was born at Hebron, Tol- 
land County, Conn., Sept. 10, 1794 — the son of 
Stephen Hempstead, a patriot of the Revolution. 
In 1809 he came west in company with a brother, 
descending the Ohio River in a canoe from Mari- 
etta to Shawueetown, and making his way across 
the "Illinois Country" on foot to Kaskaskia and 
finally to St. Louis, where he joined another 
brother (Edward), with whom he soon began the 
study of law. Having been admitted to the bar 
in both Missouri Territory and Illinois, he re- 
moved to St. Genevieve, where he held the office 
of Prosecuting Attorney by appointment of the 
Governor, but retxu'ned to St. Louis in 1818-19 
and later became a member of the Missouri Legis- 
lature. In 1839 Mr. Hempstead located at Galena, 
111. , which continued to be his home for the re- 
mainder of his life, and where he was one of the 
earliest and best known lawyers. The late Minis- 
ter E. B. Washburne became a clerk in Mr. 
Hempstead's law office in 1840, and, in 1845, a 
partner. Mr. Hempstead was one of the pro- 
moters of the old Chicago & Galena Union Rail- 
road (now a part of the Chicago & Northwestern), 
serving upon the first Board of Directors; was 
elected the first Mayor of Galena in 1841, and, in 
the early days of the Civil War, was appointed 
by President Lincoln a Paymaster in the Army. 
Died, in Galena, Dec. 10, 1874. — Edward (Hemp- 
stead), an older brother of the preceding, already 
mentioned, came west in 1804, and, after holding 
various positions at Vincennes, Indiana Territory, 
under Gov. William Henry Harrison, located at 
St Louis and became the first Territorial 
Delegate in Congress from Missouri Territory 
(1811-14). His death occurred as the result of an 
accident, August 10, 1817. — Stephen (Hemp- 
stead), another member of this historic family, 
was Governor of Iowa from 1850 to '54. Died, 
Feb. 16, 1883. 

HENDERSON, Thomas J., ex-Congressman, 
was born at Brownsville, Tenu., Nov. 19, 1824; 
came to Illinois in 1837, and was reared upon a 
farm, but received an academic education. In 
1847 he was elected Clerk of the County Com- 
missioners' Court of Stark County, and, in 1849, 
Clerk of the County Court of the same county, 
serving in that capacity for four years. Jlean- 
while he had studied law and had been admitted 
to the bar in 1852. In 1855 and '56 he was a 
member of the lower house of the Legislature, 
and State Senator from 1857 to '60. He entered 
the Union army, in 1863, as Colonel of the One 
Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteers, and 



served until the close of the war, being brevetted 
Brigadier-General in January, 1865. He was a 
Republican Presidential Elector for the Stateat- 
large in 1868, and, in 1874, was elected to Congress 
from the Seventh Illinois District, serving con- 
tinuously until March, 1895. His home is at 
Princeton. 

HENDERSON, William H., politician and legis- 
lator, was born in Garrard County, Ky. , Nov. 16, 
1793. After serving in the War of 1813, he settled 
in Tennessee, where he held many positions of 
public trust, including that of State Senator. In 
1836 he removed to Illinois, and, two years later, 
was elected to the General Assembly as Repre- 
sentative from Bureau and Putnam Counties, 
being re-elected in 1840. In 1842 he was the 
unsuccessful Whig candidate for Lieutenant- 
Governor, being defeated by John Moore. In 
1845 he migrated to Iowa, wliere he died in 1864. 
HENDERSON COUNTY, a county comprising 
380 square miles of territory, located in the west- 
ern section of the State and bordering on the Mis- 
sissippi River. The first settlements were made 
about 1827-28 at Yellow Banks, now Oquawka. 
Immigration was checked by the Black Hawk 
War, but revived after the removal of the Indians 
across the Mississippi. The county was set off 
from Warren in 1841, with Oquawka as the 
county-seat. Population (1880), 10,733; (1890), 
9,876. The soil is fertile, and underlaid by lime- 
stone. The surface is undulating, and well tim- 
bered. Population (1900), 10,836. 

HENNEPIN, the county-seat of Putnam 
County, situated on the left bank of the Illinois 
River, about 28 miles below Ottawa, 100 miles 
southwest of Chicago, and 3 miles southeast of 
Bureau Junction. It has a courthouse, a bank, 
two grain elevators, three churches, a graded 
school, a newspaper. It is a prominent shipping 
point for produce by the river. The Hennepin 
Canal, now in process of construction from the 
Illinois River to the Mississippi at the mouth of 
Rock River, leaves the Illinois about two miles 
above Hennepin. Population (1880), 623; (1890), 
574; (1900), 533. 

HENNEPIN, Louis, a Franciscan (Recollect) 
friar and explorer, born at Ath, Belgium, about 
1640. After several years of clerical service in 
Belgium and Holland, he was ordered (1675) by 
his ecclesiastical superiors to proceed to Canada. 
In 1679 he accompanied La Salle on his explo- 
rations of the great lakes and the upper Missis- 
sippi. Having reached the Illinois by way of 
Lake Michigan, early in the following year (1680;, 
La Salle proceeded to construct a fort on the east 



230 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



side of the Illinois River, a little below the 
present site of Peoria, which afterwards received 
the name of Fort Creve-Cceur. In February, 
1680, Father Hennepin was dispatched by La 
Salle, with two companions, by way of the 
mouth of the Illinois, to explore the upper Mis- 
sissippi. Ascending the latter stream, his party 
was captured bj' the Sioux and carried to tlie 
villages of that tribe among the Minnesota lakes, 
but finally rescued. During his captivity he 
discovered the Falls of St. Anthony, which he 
named. After his rescue Hennepin returned to 
Quebec, and thence sailed to France. There he 
published a work describing La Salle's first 
expedition and his own explorations. Although 
egotistical and necessarih' incorrect, this work 
was a valuable contribution to history. Because 
of ecclesiastical insubordination he left France 
for Holland. In 1697 lie published an extraordi- 
nary volume, in which he set forth claims as a 
discoverer which have been wholly discredited. 
His third and last work, published at Utrecht, in 
1698, was entitled a "New Voyage in a Country 
Larger than Europe." It was a compilation 
describing La Salle's voyage to the mouth of the 
Mississippi. His three works have been trans- 
lated into twenty-four different languages. He 
died, at Utrecht, between 1702 and 1705. 

HENXEPIX CAJfAL. (See Illinois & Missis- 
sippi Canal.) 

HENRY, a city in Marshall County, situated on 
the west bank of the Illinois River and on the 
Peoria branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railway, 33 miles north-northeast of 
Peoria. There is a combination railroad and 
wagon bridge, lock and dam across the river at 
this point. The city is a thriving commercial 
center, among its industries being grain eleva- 
tors, flour mills, and a windmill factory ; has 
two national banks, eight churches and two 
newspapers. Population (ISWO), 1,728; (1890) 
1..512; (1900). 1,037. 

HENRY, James D., pioneer and soldier, was born 
in Pennsylvania, came to Illinois in 1822, locating 
at Edwardsville. where, being of limited educa- 
tion, he labored as a mechanic during the day 
and attended school at night; engaged in mer- 
chandising, removed to Springfield in 1836, and 
was soon after elected Sheriff ; served in the Win- 
nebago War (1827) as Adjutant, and, in the 
Black Hawk War (1831-32) as Lieutenant-Colonel 
and Colonel, finallj' being placed in command of 
a brigade at the battle of Wisconsin and the Bad 
Axe, his success in both winning for him great 
popularity. His exposures brought on disease of 



the lungs, and. going South, he died at New 
Orleans, March 4, 1834. 

HENRY COUNTY, one of the middle tier of 
counties of Northern Illinois, near the western 
border of the State, having an area of 830 square 
miles, — named for Patrick Henry. The Ameri- 
can pioneer of the region was Dr. Baker, who 
located in 1835 on what afterwards became the 
town of Colona. During the two years following 
several colonies from the eastern States settled at 
different points (Geneseo, Wethersfield, etc.;. 
The act creating it was passed in 1825, though 
organization was not completed until 1837. The 
first county court was held at Dayton. Subse- 
quent county-seats have been Richmond (1837) ; 
Geneseo (1840); Morristown (1842); and Cam- 
bridge (1843). Population (1870), 36,597; (1890), 
33,338, (1900), 40,049. 

HERNDON, Archer G., one of the celebrated 
"Long Nine" members of the General Assembly 
of 1836-37, was born in Culpepper County, Va., 
Feb. 13, 1795; spent his youth in Green County, 
Ky. , came to Madison County, 111., 1820, and to 
Sangamon in 1821, becoming a citizen of Spring- 
field in 1825, where he engaged in mercantile 
business ; served eight years in the State Senate 
(1834-42), and as Receiver of the Land Office 
1842-49. Died, Jan. 3, 1867. Mr. Herndon was 
the father of William H. Herndon, the law part- 
ner of Abraham Lincoln. 

HERNDON, WiUiam H., lawyer, was born at 
Greensburg, Ky., Dec. 25, 1818; brought to Illi- 
nois by his father. Archer G. Herndon, in 1820, 
and to Sangamon County in 1821 ; entered Illinois 
College in 1836, but remained only one year on 
account of his father's hostility to the supposed 
abolition influences prevailing at that institution ; 
spent several years as clerk in a store at Spring- 
field, studied law two years with the firm of Lin- 
coln & Logan (1842-44), was admitted to the bai 
and became the partner of Mr. Lincoln, so con- 
tinuing until the election of the latter to the 
Presidency. Mr. Herndon was a radical oppo- 
nent of slavery and labored zealously to promote 
the advancement of his distinguished partner. 
The offices he held were those of City Attorney, 
Mayor and Bank Commissioner under three Gov- 
ernors. Some years before his death he wrote, 
and, in conjunction with Jesse W. Weik, published 
a Life of Abraham Lincoln in three volumes — 
afterwards revised and issued in a two-volume 
edition by the Messrs. Appleton, New York. 
Died, near Springfield, March 18. 1891. 

HERRINGTON, Ausrustus M., lawyer and poli- 
tician, was born at or near Meadville. Pa., in 1823; 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



231 



when ten years of age was brought by his father 
to Chicago, the family removing two years later 
(1835) to Geneva, Kane Count}', where the elder 
Herrington opened the first store. Augustus was 
admitted to the bar in 1844 ; obtained great promi- 
nence as a Democratic politician, serving as 
Presidential Elector for the Stateat-large in 
1856, and as a delegate to Democratic National 
Conventions in 1860, '64, '68, '76 and '80, and was 
almost invariably a member of the State Conven- 
tions of his party during the same period. He 
also served for many years as Solicitor of the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Died, at Ge- 
neva, Kane County, August 14, 1883. — James 
(Herrington), brother of the preceding, was born 
in Mercer County, Pa., June 6, 1824; came to 
Chicago in 1833, but, two years later, was taken 
by his parents to Geneva, Kane County. In 1848 
he was apprenticed to the printing business on 
the old "Chicago Democrat" (John 'Wentworth, 
publisher), remaining until 1848, when he returned 
to Geneva, where he engaged in farming, being 
also connected for a year or two with a local 
paper. In 1849 he was elected County Clerk, re- 
maining in office eight years ; also served three 
terms on the Board of Supervisors, later serving 
continuously in the lower branch of the General 
Assembly from 1872 to 1886. He was also a mem- 
ber of the State Board of Agriculture and a fre- 
quent delegate to Democratic State Conventions. 
Died, July 7, 1890. — James Herrington, Sr., 
father of the two preceding, was a Representative 
in the Fifteenth General Assembly (1846-48) for 
the District embracing the counties of Kane, 
McHenry, Boone and De Kalb. 

HERTZ, Henry L., ex-State Treasurer, was 
born at Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1847; gradu- 
ated from the University of Copenhagen in 1866, 
and after pursuing the study of medicine for two 
years, emigrated to this country in 1869. After 
various experiences in selling sewing-machines, 
as bank-clerk, and as a farm-hand, in 1876 Mr. 
Hertz was employed in the Recorder's office of 
Cook County; in 1878 was record-writer in the 
Criminal Court Clerk's office; in 1884 was elected 
Coroner of Cook County, and re-elected in 1888. 
In 1892, as Republican candidate for State Treas- 
urer, he was defeated, but, in 1896, again a 
candidate for the same office, was elected by a 
majority of 115,000, serving until 1899. He is 
now a resident of Chicago. 

HESING, Antone Caspar, journalist and politi- 
cian, was born in Prussia in 1823; left an orphan at 
the age of 15, he soon after emigrated to America, 
landing at Baltimore and going thence to Cin- 



cinnati. From 1840 to 1842 he worked in a gro- 
cery store in Cincinnati, and later opened a small 
hotel. In 18.54 he removed to Chicago, where he 
was for a time engaged in the manufacture of 
brick. In 1860 he was elected Sheriff of Cook 
County, as a Republican. In 1862 he purchased 
an interest in "The Chicago Staats Zeitung," 
and in 1867 became sole proprietor. In 1871 he 
admitted his son, Washington Hesing, to a part- 
nership, installing him as general manager. 
Died, in Chicago, March 31, 1895. — Washington 
(Hesing), son of the preceding, was born in Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, May 14, 1849, educated at Chicago 
and Yale College, graduating from the latter in 
1870. After a j-ear spent in study abroad, he 
returned to Chicago and began work upon "The 
Staats Zeitung," later becoming managing editor, 
and finallj' editor-in-chief. While yet a young 
man he was made a member of the Chicago 
Board of Education, but declined to serve a 
second term. In 1872 he entered actively into 
politics, making speeches in both English and 
German in support of General Grant's Presi- 
dential candidacy. Later he affiliated with the 
Democratic party, as did his father, and, in 1893, 
was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic 
nomination for the Chicago mayoralty, being 
defeated by Carter H. Harrison. In December, 
1893, he was appointed by President Cleveland 
Postmaster of the city of Chicago, serving four 
years. His administration was characterized by 
a high degree of efficiency and many improve- 
ments in the service were adopted, one of the 
most important being the introduction of postal 
cars on the street-railroads for the collection of 
mail matter. In April, 1897, he became an Inde- 
pendent candidate for Ma}"or. but was defeated 
by Carter H. Harrison, the regular Democratic 
nominee. Died, Dec. 18, 1897. 

HETWORTH, a village of McLean County, on 
the Illinois Central Railway, 10 miles south of 
Bloomington; has a bank, cliurches, gas wells, 
and a newspaper. Pop (1890), 566; (1900), 683. 

HIBBARD, Homer Nash, lavpyer, was born at 
Bethel, Windsor County, "7t., Nov. 7, 1824, his 
early life being spent upon a farm and in attend- 
ance upon the common schools. After a short 
term in an academy at Randolph, Vt. , at the age 
of 18 he began the study of law at Rutland — also 
fitting himself for college with a private tutor. 
Later, having obtained means by teaching, he 
took a course in Castleton Academy and "Ver- 
mont University, graduating from the latter in 
1850. Then, having spent some years in teach- 
ing, he entered the Dane Law School at Harvard, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



later continuing his studies at Burlington and 
finally, in the fall of 1853, removing to Chicago. 
Here he opened a law office in connection with 
his old classmate, the late Judge John A. Jame- 
son, but early in the following year removed to 
Freeport, where he subsequently served as City 
Attorney, Master in Chancery and President of 
the City School Board. Returning to Chicago in 
1860, he became a member of the law firm of 
Cornell, Jameson & Hibbard, and still later the 
head of the firm of Hibbard, Rich & Noble. In 
1870 he was appointed by Judge Drummond 
Register in Bankruptcy for the Chicago District, 
serving during the life of the law. He was also, 
for some time, a Director of the National Bank 
of Illinois, and Vice-President of the American 
Insurance Companj-. Died, Nov. 14, 1897. 

HICKS, Stephen (J., lawyer and soldier of 
three wars, was born in Jackson County, Ga., 
Feb. 22, 1807 — the son of John Hicks, one of the 
seven soldiers killed at the battle of New Orleans, 
Jan. 8, 1815. Leaving the roof of a stepfather 
at an early age, he found his way to Illinois, 
working for a time in the lead mines near Galena, 
and later at the carpenter's trade with an uncle ; 
served as a Sergeant in the Black Hawk War, 
finally locating in Jefferson County, where he 
studied law and was admitted to the bar. Here 
he was elected to the lower branch of the Twelfth 
General Assembly (1840) and re-elected succes- 
sively to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth. Early 
in the Mexican War (1846) he recruited a com- 
pany for the Tliird Regiment, of which he was 
chosen Captain, a year later becoming Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of the Sixth. At the beginning of 
the Civil War Colonel Hicks was practicing liis 
profession at Salem, Marion Count}'. He 
promptly raised a company which became a jjart 
of the Fortieth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, of 
which he was commissioned Colonel. The regi- 
ment saw active service in the campaign in West- 
ern Tennessee, including the battle of Shiloh, 
where Colonel Hicks was dangerously wounded 
through the lungs, only recovering after some 
months in hospital and at his home. He rejoined 
his regiment in July following, but found him- 
self compelled to accept an honorable discharge, 
a few months later, on account of disability. 
Having finally recovered, he was restored to his 
old command, and served to the close of the war. 
In October, 1863, he was placed in command at 
Paducah, Ky., where he remained eighteen 
months, after which he was transferred to Colum- 
bus, Ky. While in command at Paducah, the 
place was desperately assaulted by the rebel 



Colonel Forrest, but successfully defended, the 
rebel assailants sustaining a loss of some 1,200 
killed and wounded. After the war Colonel 
Hicks returned to Salem, where he died, Dec. 14, 
1869, and was buried, in accordance with his 
request, in tlie folds of the American flag. Born 
on Washington's birthday, it is a somewhat 
curious coincidence that the death of this brave 
soldier should have occurred on the anniversary 
of that of the "Father of His Country." 

HKiBEE, Chauncey L., lawyer and Judge, was 
born in Clermont Count}', Ohio, Sept. 7, 1821, 
and settled in Pike County, 111., in 1844. He 
early took an interest in politics, being elected to 
the lower house of the Legislature in 1854, and 
two years later to the State Senate. In 1861 he 
was elected Judge of the Fifth Circuit Court, and 
was re-elected in 1867, '73, and '79. In 1877, and 
again in '79, he was assigned to the bench of the 
Appellate Court. Died, at Pittsfleld, Dec. 7, 1884. 

HIGCiilNS, Van Hollis, lawyer, was born in 
Genessee County, N. Y., and received his early 
education at Auburn and Seneca Falls ; came to 
Chicago in 1837 and, after spending some time as 
clerk in his brother's store, taught some months 
in Vermilion County; then went to St. Louis, 
%vhere he spent a year or two as reporter on "The 
Missouri Argus," later engaging in commercial 
pursuits; in 1842 removed to Iroquois Coimty, 
111. , where he read law and was admitted to the 
bar; in 1845, established himself in practice in 
Galena, served two years as City Attorney there, 
but returned to Chicago in 1852, where he contin- 
ued to reside for the remainder of his life. In 1858 
he was elected as a Republican Representative in 
the Twenty-first General Assembly ; served sev- 
eral years as Judge of the Chicago City Court, 
and was a zealous supporter of the Government 
during the War of the Rebellion. Judge Higgins 
was successful as a lawyer and business man, and 
was connected with a number of important busi- 
ness enterprises, especially in connection with 
real-estate operations ; was also a member of sev- 
eral local societies of a professional, social and 
patriotic character. Died, at Darien, Wis. , April 
17, 1893. 

HIGGINSON, Charles M., civil engineer and 
Assistant Railway President, was born in Chica- 
go, July 11, 1846 — the son of George M.Higginson, 
who located in Chicago about 1843 and engaged 
in the real-estate business; was educated at the 
Lawrence Scientific School, Cambridge, Mass., 
and entered the engineering department of the 
Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in 1867, 
remaining until 1875. He then became the pur- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



333 



chasing agent of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw 
Railroad, but, a year later, returned to Chicago, 
and soon after assumed the same position in con- 
nection with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, 
being transferred to the Auditorship of the 
latter road in 1879. Later, he became assistant 
to President Ripley of the Atchison, Topeka & 
Santa Fe Line, where he remained until his 
death, which occurred at Riverside, 111., May 6, 
1899. Mr. Higginson was, for several years, 
President of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, 
and a member of the Board of Managers of the 
Young Men's Christian Association of Chicago. 

HIGH, James L., lawyer and author, was born 
at Belleville, Ohio, Oct. 6, 1844; in boyhood came 
to Wisconsin, and graduated at Wisconsin State 
University, at Madison, in 18C4, also serving for 
a time as Adjutant of the Forty-ninth Regiment 
Wisconsin Volunteers; studied law at the Michi- 
gan University Law School and. in 1867, came to 
Chicago, where he began practice. He spent the 
winter of 1871-72 in Salt Lake City and, in the 
absence of the United States District Attorney, 
conducted the trial of certain Mormon leaders for 
connection with the celebrated Mountain Meadow 
Massacre, also acting as correspondent of "The 
New York Times,"' his letters being widely 
copied. Returning to Chicago he took a high 
rank in his profession. He was the author of 
several volumes, including treatises on "The Law 
of Injunctions as administered in the Courts of 
England and America, " and "Extraordinary Legal 
Remedies, Mandamus, Quo Warranto and Prohibi- 
tions," which are accepted as high authority with 
the profession. In 1870 he published a revised 
edition of Lord Erskine's Works, including all 
his legal arguments, together with a memoir of 
his life. Died, Oct. 3, 1898. 

HIGHLAND, a city in the southeastern part of 
Madison County, founded in 1836 and located on 
the Vandalia line, 32 miles east of St. Louis. Its 
manufacturing industries include a milk-con- 
densing plant, creamery, flour and planing mills, 
breweries, embroidery works, etc. It contains 
several churches and schools, a Roman Catholic 
Seminary, a hospital, and has three newspapers — 
one German. The early settlers were Germans 
of the most thrifty and enterprising classes. 
The surrounding country is agricultuial. Popu- 
lation (1880). 1,960; (1890), 1,857; (1900, decennial 
census), 1,970. 

HIGHLAND PARK, an incorporated city of 
Lake County, on the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad, 23 miles north-northwest of Chicago. 
It has a salubrious site on a bluff 100 feet above 



Lake Michigan, and is a favorite residence and 
health resort. It has a large hotel, several 
churches, a military academy, and a weekly 
paper. Two Waukegan papers issue editions 
here. Population (1890), 2,163; (1900), 2,806. 

HILDRUP, Jesse S., lawyer and legislator, 
was bom in Middletown, Conn., March 14, 1833, at 
15 removed to the State of New York and after- 
wards to Harrisburg, Pa. ; in 1860 came to Belvi- 
dere. 111., where he began the practice of law, 
also serving as Corporation Trustee and Township 
Supervisor, and, during the latter years of the 
war, as Deputy Provost Marshal. His first im- 
portant elective office was tliat of Delegate to the 
State Constitutional Convention of 1870, but he 
was elected Representative in the General Assem- 
bly the same year, and again in 1872. While in 
the House he took a prominent part in the legis- 
lation which resulted in the organization of the 
Railroad and Warehouse Board. Mr. Hildrup 
was also a Republican Presidential Elector in 
1868, and United States Marshal for the Northern 
District of Illinois from 1877 to 1881. During 
the last few years much of his time has been 
spent in California for the benefit of the health 
of some members of his family. 

HILL, Charles Augustus, ex-Congressman, 
was born at Truxton, Cortland County, N. Y., 
August 23, 1833. He acquired his early education 
by dint of hard labor, and much privation. In 
1854 he removed to Illinois, settling in Will 
County, where, for several years, he taught 
school, as he had done while in New York. 
Meanwhile he read law, his last instructor being 
Hon. H. C. Newcomb, of Indianapolis, where he 
was admitted to the bar. He returned to Will 
County in 1860, and, in 1862, enlisted in the 
Eighth Illinois Cavalry, participating in the 
battle of Antietam. Later he was commissioned 
First Lieutenant in the First United States Regi- 
ment of Colored Troops, with which he remained 
until the close of the war, rising to tlie rank of 
Captain. In 1865 he returned to Joliet and to the 
practice of his profession. In 1868 he was elected 
State's Attorney for the district comprising Will 
and Grundy Counties, but declined a renomina- 
tion. In 1888 he was the successful Republican 
candidate for Congress from the Eighth Illinois 
District, but was defeated for re-election in 1890 
by Lewis Steward, Democrat. 

HILLSBORO, an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Montgomery Coimty, on the Cleveland. 
Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway, 67 
miles northeast of St. Louis. Its manufactures 
are flour, brick and tile, carriages and harness. 



234 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



fumitTure and woolen goods. It has a high 
school, banks and two weekly newspapers. The 
surrounding region is agricultural, though con- 
siderable coal is mined in the vicinity. Popula- 
tion (1880V 2,858; (1890), 3,500; (1900), 1,937. 

HINCKLEY, a village of De Kalb County, on 
the Rochelle Division of the Chicago, Burlington 
& Quinoy Railroad, 18 miles west of Aurora; in 
rich agricultural and dairying region ; has grain 
elevators, brick and tile works, water system and 
electric light plant. Pop. (1890), 496; (1900). 587. 

HINRICHSEN, William H., ex-Secretary of 
State and ex-Congressman, was born at Franklin, 
Morgan County, 111., May 27, 1850; educated at 
the University of Illinois, spent four years in the 
office of his father, who was stock-agent of the 
Wabash Railroad, and six years (1874-80) as 
Deputy Sheriff of Morgan County ; then went 
into the newspaper business, editing the Jackson- 
ville "Evening Courier," until 1886, after which 
he was connected with "The Quincy Herald," to 
1890, when he returned to Jacksonville and re- 
sumed his place on "The Courier. " He was Clerk 
of the House of Representatives in 1891, and 
elected Secretary of State in 1892, serving until 
January, 1897. Mr. Hinrichsen has been a mem- 
ber of the Democratic State Central Committee 
since 1890, and was Chairman of that body dur- 
ing 1894-96. In 1896 Mr. Hinrichsen was the 
nominee of his party for Congress in the Six- 
teenth District and was elected by over 6,000 
majority, but failed to secure a renomination in 
1898. 

HINSDALE, a village in Du Page County and 
popular residence suburb, on the Cliioago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad, 17 miles west-south- 
west of Chicago. It has four churches, a graded 
school, an academy, electric light plant, water- 
works, sewerage system, and two weekly news- 
papers. Population (1890), 1,584; (1900), 2.578. 

HITCHCOCK, Charles, lawyer, was born at 
Hanson, Plymouth County, Mass., April 4, 1837; 
studied at Dartmouth College and at Harvard 
Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1854, 
soon afterward establishing himself for the prac- 
tice of his profession in Chicago. In 1869 Mr. 
Hitchcock was elected to the State Constitutional 
Convention, which was the only important pub- 
lic oflSoe that he held, though his capacity was 
recognized by his election to the Presidency of 
that body. Died, May 6, 1881. 

HITCHCOCK, Luke, clergyman, was born 
April 13, 1813, at Lebanon, N. Y., entered the 
ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
1834, and, after supplying various charges in 



that State during the next five years, in 1839 
came to Chicago, becoming one of the most 
influential factors in the Methodist denomination 
in Northern Illinois. Between that date and 
1860 he was identified, as regular pastor or Pre- 
siding Elder, with churches at Dixon, Ottawa, 
Belvidere, Rockford, Mount Morris, St. Charles 
and Chicago (the old Clark Street church), with 
two years' service (1841-43) as agent of Rock 
River Seminary at Mount Morris — his itinerant 
labors being interrupted at two or three periods 
by ill-health, compelling him to assume a super- 
annuated relation. From 1852 to '80, inclusive, 
he was a delegate every four years to the General 
Conference. In 1860 he was appointed Agent of 
the Western Book Concern, and, as the junior 
representative, was placed in charge of the 
depository at Chicago — in 1868 becoming the 
Senior Agent, and so remaining until 1880. His 
subsequent service included two terms as Presid- 
ing Elder for the Dixon and Chicago Districts; 
the position of Superintendent of the Chicago 
Home Missionary and Church Extension Society ; 
Superintendent of the Wesley Hospital (which he 
assisted to organize), his last position being that 
of Corresponding Secretary of the Superannu- 
ates' Relief Association. He was also influential 
in securing the establishment of a church paper 
in Chicago and the founding of the Northwestern 
University and Garrett Biblical Institute. Died, 
while on a visit to a daughter at East Orange, 
N. J., Nov. 12, 1898. 

HITT, Daniel F., civil engineer and soldier, 
was born in Bourbon County, Ky., June 13, 1810 
— the son of a Methodist preacher who freed his 
slaves and removed to Urbana, Ohio, in 1814. In 
1829 the son began the study of engineering and; 
removing to Illinois the following year, was ap- 
pointed Assistant Engineer on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, later being employed in survey- 
ing some sixteen years. Being stationed at 
Prairie du Chien at the time of the Black Hawk 
War (1832), he was attached to the Stephenson 
Rangers for a year, but at the end of that period 
resumed surveying and, having settled in La 
Salle County, became the first Surveyor of that 
county. In 1861 he joined Colonel Cushman, of 
Ottawa, in the organization of the Fifty-third 
Illinois Volunteers, was mustered into the service 
in March, 1863, and commissioned its Lieutenant- 
Colonel. The regiment took part in various 
battles, including those of Shiloh, Corinth and 
La Grange, Tenn. In the latter Colonel Hitt 
received an injury by being thrown from his 
horse which compelled his resignation and from 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



235 



which he never fully recovered. Returning to 
Ottawa, he continued to reside there until his 
death, May 11, 1899. Colonel Hitt was father of 
Andrew J. Hitt, General Superintendent of the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and 
uncle of Congressman Robert R. Hitt of Mount 
Morris. Originally a Democrat, he allied himself 
with the Republican party on the breaking out 
of the Civil War. He was a thirty-second degree 
Mason and prominent in Grand Army circles. 

HITT, Isaac R., real-estate operator, was bom 
at Boonsboro, Md., June 2, 1828; in 1845 entered 
the freshman class at Asbury University, Ind., 
graduating in 1849. Then, removing to Ottawa, 
111., he was engaged for a time in farming, but, 
in 1852, entered into the forwarding and com- 
mission business at La Salle. Having meanwhile 
devoted some attention to real-estate law, in 1853 
he began buying and selling real estate while 
continuing his farming operations, adding thereto 
coal-mining. In May, 1856, he was a delegate 
from La Salle County to the State Convention at 
Bloomington which resulted in the organization 
of the Republican party in Illinois. Removing 
to Chicago in 1860, he engaged in the real-estate 
business there ; in 1862 was appointed on a com- 
mittee of citizens to look after the interests of 
wounded Illinois soldiers after the battle of Fort 
Donelson, in that capacity visiting hospitals at 
Cairo, Evansville, Paducah and Nashville. Dur- 
ing the war he engaged to some extent in the 
business of prosecuting soldiers' claims. Mr. 
Hitt has been a member of both the Chicago and 
the National Academy of Sciences, and, in 1869, 
was appointed by Governor Palmer on the Com- 
mission to lay out the park system of Chicago. 
Since 1871 he has resided at Evanston, where he 
aided in the erection of the "Woman's College in 
connection with the Northwestern University. 
In 1876 he was appointed by the Governor agent 
to prosecute the claims of the State for swamp 
lands within its limits, and has given much of 
his attention to that business since. 

HITT, Robert Roberts, Congressman, was born 
at Urbana, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1834. When he was 
three years old his parents removed to Illinois, 
settling in Ogle County. His education was 
acquired at Rock River Seminary (now Mount 
Morris College), and at De Pauw University, Ind. 
In 1858 Mr. Hitt was one of the reporters who 
reported the celebrated debate of that year 
between Lincoln and Douglas. From December, 
1874, until March, '81, he was connected with the 
United States embassy at Paris, serving as First 
Secretary of Legation and Charge d'Affaires ad 



interim. He was Assistant Secretary of State in 
1881, but resigned the post in 1883, having been 
elected to Congress from the Sixth Illinois Dis- 
trict to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death 
of R. M. A. Hawk. By eight successive re-elec- 
tions he has represented the District continuously 
since, his career being conspicuous for long serv- 
ice. In that time he has taken an important 
part in the deliberations of the House, serving as 
Chairman of many important committees, not- 
ably that on Foreign Affairs, of which he has 
been Chairman for several terms, and for which 
his diplomatic experience well qualifies him. In 
1898 he was appointed by President McKinley a 
member of the Committee to visit Hawaii and 
report upon a form of government for that por- 
tion of the newly acquired national domain. Mr. 
Hitt was strongly supported as a candidate for 
the United States Senate in 1895, and favorably 
considered for the position of Minister to Eng- 
land after the retirement of Secretary Day in 
1898. 

HOBART, Horace R., was born in Wisconsin 
in 1839 ; graduated at Beloit College and, after a 
brief experience in newspaper work, enlisted, in 
1861, in the First Wisconsin Cavalry and was 
assigned to duty as Battalion Quartermaster. 
Being wounded at Helena, Ark., he was com- 
pelled to resign, but afterwards served as Deputy 
Provost Marshal of the Second Wisconsin Dis- 
trict. In 1866 he re-entered newspaper work as 
reporter on "The Chicago Tribune," and later 
was associated, as city editor, with "The Chicago 
Evening Post" and "Evening Mail"; later was 
editor of "The Jacksonville Daily Journal" and 
"The Chicago Morning Courier, " also being, for 
some years from 1869, Western Manager of the 
American Press Association. In 1876, Mr. Hobart 
became one of the editors of "The Railway Age" 
(Chicago), with which he remained imtil the 
close of the year 1898, when he retired to give his 
attention to real-estate matters. 

HOFFMAjV, Francis X., Lieutenant-Governor 
(1861-65), was born at Herford, Prussia, in 1822, 
and emigrated to America in 1839, reaching Chica- 
go the same year. There he became a boot-black in 
a leading hotel, but within a month was teaching 
a small German school at Dunkley's Grove (now 
Addison), Du Page County, and later oflSciating 
as a Lutheran minister. In 1847 he represented 
that county in the River and Harbor Convention 
at Chicago. In 1852 he removed to Chicago, and, 
the following year, entered the City Council. 
Later, he embarked in the real-estate business, 
and, in 1854, opened a banking house, but was 



236 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



forced to assign in 1861. He early became a 
recognized anti-slavery leader and a contributor 
to the German press, and, in 1856, was nominated 
for Lieutenant-Governor on the first Republican 
State ticket with William H. Bissell, but was 
found ineligible by reason of his short residence 
in the United States, and withdrew, giving place 
to John Wood of Quincy. In 1860 he was again 
nominated, and having in the meantime become 
eligible, was elected. In 1864 he was a Repub- 
lican candidate for Presidential Elector, and 
assisted in Mr. Lincoln's second election. He 
was at one time Foreign Land Commissioner for 
the Illinois Central Railroad, and acted as Consul 
at Chicago for several German States. For a 
number of years past Mr. Hoffman has been 
editor of an agricultural paper in Southern 
Wisconsin. 

H(KiAX, Jolin, clergyman and early politician, 
was born in the city of Mallow, County of Cork, 
Ireland, Jan. 2, 1805; brought in childhood to 
Baltimore, Md., and having been left an orphan at 
eight years of age, learned the trade of a shoe- 
maker. In 1826 he became an itinerant Metho- 
dist preacher, and, coming west the same year, 
preached at various points in Indiana, Illinois 
and Missouri. In 1830 he was married to Miss 
Mary Mitcliell West, of Belleville, 111., and soon 
after, having retired from the itinerancy, engaged 
in mercantile business at Edwardsville and Alton. 
In 1836 he was elected Representative in the 
Tenth General Assembly from Madison County, 
two years later was appointed a Commissioner of 
Public AVorks and, being re-elected in 1840, was 
made President of the Board; in 1841 was ap- 
pointed by President Harrison Register of the 
Land Office at Dixon, where he remained until 
1845. During the anti-slavery excitement which 
attended the assassination of Elijah P. Lovejoy 
in 1837, he was a resident of Alton and was re- 
garded by the friends of Lovejoy as favoring the 
pro-slavery faction. After retiring from the 
Land Office at Dixon, he removed to St. Louis, 
where he engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- 
ness. In his early political life he was a Whig, 
but later co-operated with the Democratic party ; 
in 1857 he was appointed by President Buchanan 
Postmaster of the city of St. Louis, serving until 
the accession of Lincoln in 1861; in 1864 was 
elected as a Democrat to the Tliirty-ninth Con- 
gress, serving two years. He was also a delegate 
to the National Union (Democratic) Convention 
at Philadelphia in 1806. After his x-etirement 
from the Methodist itinerancy he continued to 
officiate as a "local" preacher and was esteemed 



a speaker of Unusual eloquence and ability. His 
death occurred, Feb. 5, 1892. He is author of sev- 
eral volumes, including "The Resources of Mis- 
souri," "Commerce and Manufactures of St. 
Louis," and a "History of Methodism." 

HOGE, Joseph P., Congressman, was born in 
Ohio early in the century and came to Galena, 
111., in 1836, where he attained prominence as a 
lawyer. In 1842 he was elected Representative 
in Congress, as claimed at the time by the aid of 
the Mormon vote at Nauvoo, serving one term. 
In 1853 he went to San Francisco, Cal., and be- 
came a Judge in that State, dying a few years 
since at the age of over 80 years. He is repre- 
sented to have been a man of much ability and a 
graceful and eloquent orator. Mr. Hoge was a 
son-in-law of Thomas C. Browne, one of the Jus- 
tices of the first Supreme Court of Illinois who 
held office until 1848. 

HOLLISTER, (Dr.) John Hamilton, physi- 
cian, was born at Riga, N. Y., in 1824; was 
brought to Romeo, Slich., by his parents in in- 
fancy, but his father having died, at the age of 17 
went to Rochester, N. Y., to be educated, finally 
graduating in medicine at Berkshire College, 
Mass., in 1847, and beginning practice at Otisco, 
Mich. Two years later he removed to Grand 
Rapids and, in 1855, to Chicago, where he held, 
for a time, the position of demonstrator of anat- 
omy in Rush Medical College, and, in 1856, be- 
came one of the founders of the Chicago Medical 
College, in which he has held various chairs. He 
also served as Surgeon of Mercy Hospital and 
was, for twenty years. Clinical Professor in the 
same institution; was President of the State 
Medical Society, and, for twenty years, its Treas- 
urer. Other positions held by him have been 
those of Trustee of the American Medical Associ- 
ation and editor of its journal, President of the 
Young Men's Christian Association and of the 
Chicago Congregational Club. He has also been 
prominent in Sunday School and church work in 
connection with the Armour Mission, with which 
he has been associated for many years. 

HOME FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS, (FE- 
MALE). The establishment of this institution 
was authorized by act of June 22, 1893, which 
appropriated §75,000 towards its erection and 
maintenance, not more than §15,000 to be ex- 
pended for a site. (See also State Guardians for 
Girls. ) It is designed to receive girls between the 
ages of 10 and 16 committed thereto by any court 
of record upon conviction of a misdemeanor, the 
term of commitment not to be less than one 
year, or to exceed minority. Justices of the 




2>J 
5Q 



o 

Q 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



837 



Peace, however, may send girls for a term not 
less than three months. The act of incorporation 
provides for a commutation of sentence to be 
earned by good conduct and a prolongation of 
the sentence by bad behavior. The Trustees are 
empowered, in their discretion, either to appren- 
tice the girls or to adopt them out during their 
minority. Temporary quarters were furnished 
for the Home during the first two years of its 
existence in Chicago, but permanent buildings 
for the institution have been erected on the 
banks of Fox River, near Geneva, in Kane County. 

HOMER, a village in Champaign County, on 
the Wabash Railway, 20 miles west-southwest 
from Danville and about 18 miles east-southeast 
from Champaign. It supports a carriage factory ; 
also has two banks, several churches, a seminary, 
an opera house, and one weekly paper. The 
region is chiefly agricultural. Population (1880), 
93-1; (1890), 917; (1900), 1,080. 

HOMESTEAD LAWS. In general such laws 
have been defined to be "legislation enacted to 
secure, to some extent, the enjoyment of a home 
and shelter for a family or individual by exempt- 
ing, under certain conditions, the residence occu- 
pied by the family or individual, from liability to 
be sold for the payment of the debts of its owner, 
and by restricting his rights of free alienation." 
In Illinois, this exemption extends to the farm 
and dwelling thereon of every liouseholder hav- 
ing a family, and occupied as a residence, 
whether owned or possessed imder a lease, to the 
value of §1,000. The exemption continues after 
death, for the benefit of decedent's wife or hus- 
band occupying the homestead, and also of the 
children, if any, until the youngest attain the 
age of 21 years. Husband and wife must join in 
releasing the exemption, but the property is 
always liable for improvements thereon. — In 1863 
Congress passed an act knowTi as the "Homestead 
Law" for the protection of the rights of settlers 
on public lands under certain restrictions as to 
active occupancj-, under which most of that 
class of lands since taken for settlement have 
been purchased. 

HOMEWOOD, a village of Cook County, on the 
Illinois Central Railway, 23 nailes south of Chi- 
cago. Population, (1900), 353. 

HOOLEY, Richard M., theatrical manager, 
was born in Ireland, April 13, 1833; at the age of 
18 entered the theater as a musician and, four 
years later, came to America, soon after forming 
an association with E. P. Christy, the originator 
of negro minstrelsy entei'tainments which went 
under his name. In 1848 Mr. Hooley conducted 



a company of minstrels through the principal 
towns of England, Scotland and Ireland, and to 
some of the chief cities on the continent; re- 
turned to America five years later, and subse- 
quently managed houses in San Francisco, 
Philadelphia, Brooklyn and New York, finally 
locating in Chicago in 1869, where he remained 
the rest of his life, — his theater becoming one of 
the most widely known and popular in the city. 
Died, Sept. 8, 1893. 

HOOPESTOJf, a prosperous city in Vermilion 
County, at the intersection of the Chicago & East- 
ern Illinois and the Lake Erie & Western Rail- 
roads, 99 miles south of Chicago. It has grain 
elevators, a nail factory, brick and tile works, 
carriage and machine shops, and two large can- 
ning factories, besides two banks and one daily 
and three weekly newspapers, several churches, 
a high school and a business college. Population 
(1890), 1,911; (1900), 3,833; (1904), about 4,500. 

HOPKIXS, Albert J., Congressman, was born 
in De Kalb County, 111., August 15, 1846. After 
graduating from Hillsdale College, Mich., in 1870, 
he studied law and began practice at Aurora. 
He rapidly attained prominence at the bar, and, 
in 1873, was elected State's Attorney for Kane 
County, serving in that capacity for four years. 
He is an ardent Republican and high in the 
party's councils, having been Chairman of the 
State Central Committee from 1878 to 1880, and a 
Presidential Elector on the Blaine & Logan 
ticket in 1884. The same year he was elected to 
the Forty-ninth Congress from the Fifth District 
(now the Eighth) and has been continuously re- 
elected ever since, receiving a clear majority in 
1898 of more than 18,000 votes over two competi- 
tors. At present fl898) he is Chairman of the 
Select House Committee on Census and a member 
of the Committees on Ways and Means, and Mer- 
chant Marine and Fisheries. In 1886 he was 
strongly supported for the Republican nomina- 
tion for Governor. 

HOUGHTON, Horace Hocking', pioneer printer 
and journalist, was born at Springfield, Vt., Oct. 
26, 1806, spent his youth on a farm, and at eight- 
een began learning the printer's trade in the otfice 
of "The Woodstock Overseer" ; on arriving at his 
majority became a journeyman printer and, in 
1828, went to New York, spending some time in 
the employment of the Harper Brothers. After 
a brief season spent in Boston, he took charge of 
"The Statesman" at Castleton, Vt., but, in 1834, 
again went to New York, taking with him a 
device for throwing tlje printed sheet off the 
press, which was afterwards adopted on the 



23S 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Adams and Hoe printing presses. His next 
move was to Marietta, Ohio, in 1834, thence by 
way of Cincinnati and Louisville to St. Louis, 
working for a time in the oflQce of the old "St. 
Louis Republican." He soon after went to 
Galena and engaged in lead-mining, but later 
became associated with Sylvester 5L Bartlett in 
the management of "The Northwestern Gazette 
and Galena Advertiser," finally becoming sole 
proprietor. In 1842 he sold out the paper, but 
resumed his connection with it the following 
year, remaining until 1863, when he finally sold 
out. He afterwards spent some time on the 
Pacific slope, was for a time American Consul to 
the Sandwich Islands, but finally returned to 
Galena and, during the later years of his life, 
was Postmaster there, dying April 30, 1879. 

HOVEY, Charles Edward, educator, soldier 
and lawyer, was born in Orange County, Tt., 
April 26, 1827 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 
18.52, and became successively Principal of high 
schools at Farmington, Mass., and Peoria, 111. 
Later, he assisted in organizing the Illinois State 
Normal School at Normal, of which he was 
President from 1857 to 1861 — being also President 
of the State Teachers' Association (1856), mem- 
ber of the State Board of Education, and, for some 
years, editor of "The Illinois Teacher." In Au- 
gust, 1861, he assisted in organizing, and was com- 
missioned Colonel of, the Thirty-third Illinois 
Volunteers, known as the "Normal" or "School- 
Masters' Regiment," from the fact that it was 
composed largely of teachers and young men 
from the State colleges. In 1862 he was promoted 
to the rank of Brigadier-General and, a few 
months later, to brevet Major-General for gallant 
and meritorious conduct. Leaving the military 
service in May, 1863, he engaged in the practice 
of law in "Washington, D. C. Died, in Washing- 
ton, Nov 17, 1897. 

HOWLAJfD, George, educator and author, was 
born (of Pilgrim ancestry) at Conway, Mass., 
July 30, 1824. After graduating from Amherst 
College in 1850, he devoted two years to teaching 
in the public schools, and three years to a tutor- 
ship in his Alma Mater, giving instruction in 
Latin, Greek and French. He began the study 
of law, but, after a year's reading, he abandoned 
it, removing to Chicago, where he became Assist- 
ant Principal of the city's one high school, in 
1858. He became its Principal in 1860, and, in 
1880, was elected Superintendent of Chicago City 
Schools. This position he filled until August, 
1891, when he resigned. _ He also served as Trus- 
tee of Amherst Cpllege for several years, and as a 



member of the Illinois State Board of Education, 
being President of that body in 1883. As an 
author he was of some note; his work being 
chiefly on educational lines. He published a 
translation of the ^neid adapted to the use of 
schools, besides translations of some of Horace's 
Odes and portions of the Iliad and Odyssey. He 
was also the author of an English grammar. 
Died, in Chicago, Oct. 21, 1892. 

HOTXE, Philip A., lawyer and United States 
Commissioner, was born in New York City, Nov. 
20, 1824; came to Chicago in 1841, and, after 
spending eleven years alternately in Galena and 
Chicago, finally located permanently in Chicago, 
in 1852 ; in 1853 was elected Clerk of the Record- 
er's Court of Chicago, retaining the position five 
years; was admitted to the bar in March, 1856, 
and appointed United States Commissioner the 
same year, remaining in office until his death, 
Nov. 3, 1894. Mr. Hoyne was an oflScer of the 
Chicago Pioneers and one of the founders of the 
Union League Club. 

HUBBARD, Gordon Saltonstall, pioneer and 
Indian trader, was born at "Windsor, Vt., August 
22, 1802. His early youth was passed in Canada, 
chiefly in the employ of the American Fur Com- 
pany. In 1818 he first visited Fort Dearborn, and 
for nine years traveled back and forth in the 
interest of his employers. In 1827, having em- 
barked in business on his own account, he estab- 
lished several trading posts in Illinois, becoming 
a resident of Chicago in 1832. From this time 
forward he became identified with the history 
and development of the State. He served with 
distinction diiring the Black Hav,-k and Winne- 
bago Wars, was enterprising and public-spirited, 
and did much to promote the early development 
of Chicago. He was elected to the Legislature 
from Vermilion Coxmty in 1832, and, in 1835, 
was appointed by Governor Duncan one of the 
Commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. 
Died, at Chicago, Sept. 14, 1886. From the time 
he became a citizen of Chicago, for fifty years, 
no man was more active or public-spirited 
in promoting its commercial development and 
general prosperity. He was identified with 
almost every branch of business upon which its 
growth as a commercial city depended, from that 
of an early Indian trader to that of a real-estate 
operator, being manager of one of the largest pack- 
ing houses Of his time, as well as promoter of 
early railroad enterprises. A zealous Republican, 
he was one of the most earnest supporters of 
Abraham Lincoln in the campaign of 1800, was 
prominently identified with every local measure 



IISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



'Z'69 



for the maintenance of the Union cause, and, for 
a year, held a commission as Captain in the 
Eighty-eighth Regiment Illinois Volmiteers. 
known as the "Second Board of Trade Regiment. " 

HUGHITT, Marvin, Railway President, was 
born, August, 1837, and, in 1856, began his rail- 
road experience on the Chicago & Alton Railway 
as Superintendent of Telegraph and Train-de- 
spatcher. In 1862 he entered the service of the 
Illinois Central Company in a similar capacity, 
still later occupying the positions of Assistant 
Superintendent and General Superintendent, re- 
maining in the latter from 1865 to 1870, when he 
resigned to become Assistant General Manager 
of the Chicago, Slilwaukee & St. Paul. In 1872 
he became associated with the Chicago Sc North- 
western Railroad, in connection with which he 
has held the positions of Superintendent, General 
Manager, Second Vice-President and President — 
the last of which (1899) he still occupies. 

HULETT, Alta M., lawyer, was born near 
Rockford, 111., June 4, 1854; early learned teleg- 
raphy and became a successful operator, but sub- 
sequently engaged in teaching and the study of 
law. In 1872, having passed the required exami- 
nation, she applied for admission to the bar, but 
was rejected on account of sex. She then, in 
conjunction with Mrs. Bradwell and others, 
interested herself in securing the passage of an 
act by the Legislature giving women the right 
that had been denied her, which having been 
accomplished, she went to Chicago, was admitted 
to the bar and began practice. Died, in Cali- 
fornia, March 27, 1877. 

HUNT, Daniel D., legislator, was bom in 
Wyoming County, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1835, came to 
De Kalb County, 111., in 1857, and has since been 
engaged in hotel, mercantile and farming busi- 
ness. He was elected as a Republican Represent- 
ative in the Thirty-fifth General Assembly in 
1886, and re elected in 1888. Two years later he 
was elected to the State Senate, re-elected in 
1894, and again in 1898 — giving him a continuous 
service in one or the other branch of the General 
Assembly of sixteen years. During the session 
of 1895, Senator Hunt was especially active in 
the legislation which resulted in the location of 
the Northern Illinois Normal Institute at De 
Kalb. 

HUXT, George, lawyer and ex- Attorney-Gen- 
eral, was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1841; 
having lost both parents in childhood, came, 
with an uncle, to Edgar County, 111., in 1855. In 
July, 1861, at the age of 20, he enlisted in the 
Twelfth Illinois Infantry, re-enlisting as a veteran 



in 1864, and rising from the ranks to a captaint^y. 
After the close of the war, he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, and, locating at Paris, Edgar 
County, soon acquired a large practice. He was 
elected State Senator on the Republican ticket in 
1874, and re-elected in 1878 and '82. In 1884 he 
received his first nomination for Attorney-Gen- 
eral, was renominated in 1888, and elected both 
times, serving eight years. Among the im- 
portant questions with which General Hunt had 
to deal during his two terms were the celebrated 
"anarcliist cases" of 1887 and of 1890-92. In tlie 
former the condemned Chicago anarchists applied 
through their counsel to the Supreme Court of 
the United States, for a writ of error to the Su- 
preme Court of Illinois to compel the latter to 
grant them a new trial, which was refused. The 
case, on the part of the State, was conducted by 
General Hunt, while Gen. B. F. Butler of Massa- 
chusetts, John Randolph Tucker of Virginia. 
Roger A. Pryor of New York, and Messrs. W. P. 
Black and Solomon of Chicago appeared for the 
plaintiffs. Again, in 1890, Fielden and Schwab, 
who had been condemned to life imprisonment, 
attempted to secure their release — the former by 
an application similar to that of 1887, and the 
latter by appeal from a decision of Judge Gresham 
of the United States Circuit Court refusing a, 
writ of habeas corpus. The final hearing of 
these cases was had before the Supreme Court of 
the United States in January, 1892, General 
Butler again appearing as leading counsel for the 
plaintiffs — but with the same result as in 1887. 
General Hunt's management of these cases won 
for him much deserved commendation both at 
home and abroad. 

HUNTER, Andrew J., was bom in Greencastle, 
Ind., Dec. 17, 1831, and removed in infancy by 
his parents, to Edgar County, this State. His 
early education was received in the common 
schools and at Edgar Academy. He commenced 
his business life as a civil engineer, but, after 
three years spent in that profession, began the 
study of law and was admitted to the bar. He 
has since been actively engaged in practice at 
Paris, Edgar County. From 1864 to 1868 he repre- 
sented that county in the State Senate, and, in 
1870, led the Democratic forlorn hope in the Fif- 
teenth Congressional District against General 
Jesse H. Moore, and rendered a like service to his 
party in 1882, when Joseph G. Cannon was his 
Republican antagonist. In 1886 he was elected 
Judge of the Edgar County Court, and, in 1890, 
was re-elected, but resigned this office in 1892, 
having been elected Congressman for the State- 



240 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



at-large on the Democratic ticket. He was a can- 
didate for Congress from the Nineteenth District 
again in 1896, and was again elected, receiving a 
majority of 1,200 over Hon. Benson Wood, his 
Republican opponent and immediate predecessor. 
HUNTER, (Gen.) David, soldier, was born in 
Washington, D. C, July 21, 1802; graduated at 
the United States Military Academy in 1823, 
and assigned to the Fifth Infantry with the rank 
of Second Lieutenant, becoming First Lieutenant 
in 1828 and Captain of Dragoons in 1833. During 
this period he twice crossed the plains to the 
Rocky Moimtains, but, in 1836, resigned his com- 
mission and engaged in business in Chicago, 
Re-entering the service as Paymaster in 1843, he 
was Chief Paymaster of General Wool's command 
in'the Mexican War, and was afterwards stationed 
at New Orleans, Washington, Detroit, St. Louis 
and on the frontier. He was a personal friend of 
President Lincoln, whom lie accompanied when 
the latter set out for Washington in February, 
1861, but was disabled at Buffalo, having his 
collar-bone dislocated by the crowd. He was 
appointed Colonel of the Sixth United States 
Cavalry, May 14, 1861, three days later commis- 
sioned Brigadier-General and, in August, made 
Major-General. In the Manassas campaign he 
commanded the main column of McDowell's 
army and was severely wounded at Bull Run; 
served under Fremont in Missouri and succeeded 
him in command in November, 1861, remaining 
until March, 1863. Being transferred to the 
Department of the South in May following, he 
issued an order declaring the persons held as 
slaves in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina 
free, which order was revoked by President Lin- 
coln ten days later. On account of the steps 
taken by him for the organization of colored 
troops, Jefferson Davis issued an order declaring 
him, in case of capture, subject to execution as 
a felon. In May, 1864, he was placed in com- 
mand of the Department of the West, and, in 

1865, served on various courts-martial, being 
President of the commission that tried Mr. Lin- 
coln's assassins ; was brevetted Major-General in 
March, 1865, retired from active service July, 

1866, and died in AVashington, Feb. 2, 1886. Gen- 
eral Hunter married a daughter of John Kinzie, 
the first permanent citizen of Chicago. 

HURD, Harvey B., lawyer, was born in Fair- 
field County, Conn., Feb. 24, 1827. At the age of 
15 he walked to Bridgeport, where he began life 
as office-boy in "The Bridgeport Standard," a 
journal of pronounced Whig proclivities. In 
1844 he came to Illinois, entering Jubilee College, 



but, after a brief attendance, came to Chicago in 
1846. There he found temporary employment 
as a compositor, later commencing the study of 
law, and being admitted to the bar in 1848. A 
portion of the present cit}' of Evanston is built 
upon a 248-acre tract owned and subdivided by Mr. 
Hurd and his partner. Always in sympathy 
with the old school and most radical type of 
Abolitionists, he took a deep interest in the Kan- 
sas-Missouri troubles of 1856, and became a mem- 
ber of the "National Kansas Committee" 
appointed by the Buffalo (N. Y. ) Convention, of 
which body he was a member. He was chosen 
Secretary of the executive committee, and it is 
not too much to say that, largely through his 
earnest and poorly requited labors, Kansas was 
finally admitted into the Union as a free State. 
It was mainly through his efforts that seed for 
planting was gratuitously distributed among the 
free-soil settlers. In 1869 he was appointed a 
member of the Commission to revise the statutes 
of Illinois, a large part of the work devolving 
upon him in consequence of the withdrawal of 
his colleagues. The revision was completed in 
1874, in conjunction with a Joint Committee of 
Revision of both Houses appointed by the Legis- 
lature of 1873. While no statutory revision has 
been ordered by subsequent Legislatures, Mr. 
Hurd has carried on the same character of work 
on independent lines, issuing new editions of the 
statutes from time to time, which are regarded as 
standard works by the bar. In 1875 he was 
nominated by the Republican party for a seat on 
the Supreme bench, but was defeated by the late 
Judge T. Lyle Dickey. For several years he 
filled a chair in the faculty of the Union College 
of Law. His home is in Evanston. 

HTJRLBUT, Stephen A., soldier. Congressman 
and Foreign Minister, was born at Charleston, 
S. C, Nov. 29, 1815, received a thorough liberal 
education, and was admitted to the bar in 1837. 
Soon afterwards he removed to Illinois, making 
his home at Belvidere. He was a member of the 
Constitutional Convention of 1847, in 1848 was an 
unsuccessful candidate for Presidential Elector 
on the Whig ticket, but, on the organization of 
the Republican party in 1856, promptly identified 
himself with that party and was elected to the 
lower branch of the General Assembly as a 
Republican in 1858 and again in 1860. During 
the War of the Rebellion he served with distinc- 
tion from May, 1861, to July, 1865. He entered 
the service as Brigadier-General, commanding 
the Fourth Division of Grant's army at Pittsburg 
Landing ; was made a Major-General in Septeni- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



241 



ber, 1862, and later assigned to the command of 
the Sixteenth Army Corps, at Memphis, and sub- 
sequently to the command of the Department of 
the Gulf (1864-65). After the close of the war he 
served another term in the General Assembly 
(1867), was chosen Presidential Elector for the 
State-at-large in 1868, and. in 1869. was appointed 
by President Grant Minister Resident to the 
United States of Colombia, serving until 1872. 
The latter year he was elected Representative to 
Congress, and re-elected two years later. In 
1876 he was a candidate for re-election as an 
independent Republican, but was defeated by 
William Lathrop, the regular nominee. In 1881 
he was appointed Minister Resident to Peru, and 
died at Lima, March 27, 1882. 

HTJTCHIXS, Thomas, was born in Monmouth, 
N. J., in 1730, died in Pittsburg, Pa., April 28, 
1789. He was the first Government Surveyor, fre- 
quently called the "Geographer"; was also an 



officer of the Sixtieth Royal (British) regiment, 
and assistant engineer under Bouquet. At the 
outbreak of the Revolution, while stationed at 
Fort Chartres, he resigned his commission be- 
cau.se of his sympathy with the patriots. Three 
years later he was charged with being in treason- 
able correspondence with FrankUn, and im- 
prisoned in the Tower of London. He is said to 
have devised the present system of Government 
surveys in this country, and his services in carry- 
ing it into effect were certainly of great value. 
He was the author of several valuable works, the 
best known being a "Topographical Description 
of Virginia." 

HUTSOTILLE, a village of Crawford County, 
on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 
Louis Railway, and the Wabash River, 34 miles 
south of Paris. The district is agricultural. The 
town has a bank and a weekly paper. Population 
(1890), 582; (1900), 743. 



ILLi:^OIS. 

(general history.) 



Illinois is the twenty-first State of the Federal 
Union in the order of its admission, the twentieth 
in present area and the third in point of popula- 
tion. A concise history of the region, of which it 
constituted the central portion at an early period, 
will be found in the following pages: 

The greater part of the territory now comprised 
within the State of Illinois was known and at- 
tracted eager attention from the nations of the 
old world — especially in France, Germany and 
England — before the close of the third quarter of 
the seventeenth century. More than one hun- 
dred years before the struggle for American Inde- 
pendence began, or the geographical division 
known as the "Territory of the Northwest" had 
an existence; before the names of Kentucky, 
Tennessee, Vermont or Ohio had been heard of, 
and while the early settlers of New England and 
Virginia were still struggling for a foothold 
among the Indian tribes on the Atlantic coast, 
the "Illinois Country" occupied a place on the 
maps of North America as distinct and definite 
as New York or Pennsylvania. And from that 
time forward, until it assumed its position in the 
Union with the rank of a State, no other section 
has been the theater of more momentous and 
stirring events or has contributed more material, 
affording interest and instruction to the archfeol- 
ogist, the ethnologist and the historian, than 



that portion of the American Continent now 
known as the "State of Illinois." 

The "Illinois Country." — What was known 
to the early French explorers and their followers 
and descendants, for the ninety years which 
intervened between the discoveries of Joliet and 
La Salle, down to the surrender of this region to 
the English, as the "Illinois Country," is de- 
scribed with great clearness and definiteness by 
Capt. Philip Pittman, an English engineer who 
made the first survey of the Mississippi River 
soon after the transfer of the French possessions 
east of the Mississippi to the British, and who 
published the result of his observations in London 
in 1770. In this report, which is evidently a 
work of the highest authenticity, and is the more 
valuable because written at a transition period 
when it was of the first importance to preserve 
and hand down the facts of early French history 
to the new occupants of the soil, the boundaries 
of the "Illinois Country" are defined as follows: 
"The Country of the Illinois is bounded by the 
Mississippi on the west, by the river Illinois on 
the north, by the Ouabache and Miamis on the 
east and the Ohio on the south." 

From this it would appear that the country lying 
between the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers to 
the west and northwest of the former, was not 
considered a part of the "Illinois Country," and 



242 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



this agrees generally witli the records of the 
early French explorers, except that they regarded 
the region which comprehends the site of the 
present city of Chicago — the importance of which 
appears to have been appreciated from the first 
as a connecting link between the Lakes and the 
upper tributaries of the rivers falling into the 
Gulf of Mexico — as belonging thereto 

Origin of the Name. — The "Country" appears 
to have derived its name from Inini, a word of 
Algonquin origin, signifying "the men," eu- 
phemized by the French into lUini with the 
suffix ois, signifying "tribe." The root of the 
term, applied both to the country and the Indians 
occupying it, has been still further defined as "a 
perfect man" (Haines on "Indian Names"), and 
the derivative has been used by the French 
chroniclers in various forms though always with 
the same signification— a signification of which 
the earliest claimants of the appellation, as well 
as their successors of a different race, have not 
failed to be duly proud. 

Boundaries and Area. — It is this region 
wliich gave the name to the State of which it 
constituted so large and important a part. Its 
boundaries, so far as the Wabash and the Ohio 
Rivers (as well as the Mississippi from the mouth 
of the Ohio to the mouth of the Illinois) are con- 
cerned, are identical with those given to the 
"Illinois Country" by Pittman. The State is 
bounded on the north by Wisconsin ; on the east 
by Lake Michigan, the State of Indiana and the 
Wabash River; southeast by the Ohio, flowing 
between it and the State of Kentucky ; and west 
and southwest by the Mississippi, which sepa- 
rates it from the States of Iowa and Missouri. A 
peculiarity of the Act of Congress defining the 
boundaries of the State, is the fact that, while 
the jurisdiction of Illinois extends to the middle 
of Lake Michigan and also of the channels of the 
Wabash and the Mississippi, it stops at the north 
bank of the Ohio River ; this seems to have been 
a sort of concession on the part of the framers of 
the Act to our proud neighbors of the "Dark and 
Bloody Ground." Geographically, the State lies 
between the parallels of 36° 59' and 43° 30' north 
latitude, and the meridian of 10° 30' and 14° of 
longitude west from the city of Washington. 
From its extreme southern limit at the mouth of 
the Ohio to the Wisconsin boundary on the nortli, 
its estimated length is 385 miles, with an extreme 
breadth, from the Indiana State line to the Mis- 
sissippi River at a point between Quincy and 
Warsaw, of 218 miles. Owing to the tortuous 
course of its river and lake boundaries, which 



comprise about three-fourths of the whole, its 
pliysical outline is extremely irregular. Between 
tlie limits described, it has an estimated area of 
56,650 square miles, of which 650 square miles is 
water — the latter being chiefly in Lake Michigan. 
This area is more than one and one-half times 
that of all New England (Maine being excepted), 
and is greater than that of any other State east 
of the Mississippi, except Michigan, Georgia and 
Florida — Wisconsin lacking only a few hundred 
square miles of the same. 

When these figures are taken into account 
some idea may be formed of the magnificence of 
the domain comprised within the limits of the 
State of Illinois — a domain larger in extent than 
that of England, more than one-fourth of that of 
all France and nearly half that of the British 
Islands, including Scotland and Ireland. The 
possibilities of such a country, possessing a soil 
unequaled in fertility, in proportion to its area, 
by any other State of the Union and with re- 
sources in agriculture, manufactures and com- 
merce unsurpassed in any country on the face of 
the globe, transcend all human conception. 

Streams and Navigation. — Lying between 
the Mississippi and its chief eastern tributary, the 
Ohio, with the Wabash on the east, and inter- 
sected from northeast to southwest by the Illinois 
and its numerous affluents, and with no moun- 
tainous region within its limits, Illinois is at once 
one of the best watered, as well as one of the most 
level States in the Union. Besides the Sanga- 
mon, Kankakee, Fox and Des Plaines Rivers, 
chief tributaries of the Illinois, and the Kaskaskia 
draining the region between the Illinois and the 
Wabash, Rock River, in the northwestern portion 
of the State, is most important on account of its 
valuable water-power. All of these streams were 
regarded as navigable for some sort of craft, dur- 
ing at least a portion of the year, in the early 
history of the country, and with the magnificent 
Mississippi along the whole western border, gave 
to Illinois a larger extent of navigable waters 
than that of any other single State. Although 
practical navigation, apart from the lake and by 
natural water courses, is now limited to the Mis- 
sissippi, Illinois and Ohio — making an aggregate 
of about 1,000 miles — the importance of the 
smaller streams, when the people were dependent 
almost wholly upon some means of water com- 
munication for the transportation of heavy com- 
modities as well as for travel, could not be 
over-estimated, and it is not without its effect 
upon the productiveness of the soil, now that 
water transportation has given place to railroads. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



243 



The whole number of streams shown upon the 
best maps exceeds 280. 

Topography. — In physical conformation the 
surface of the State presents the a.spect of an 
inclined plane with a moderate descent in the 
general direction of the streams toward the south 
and southwest. Cairo, at the extreme southern 
end of the State and the point of lowest depres- 
sion, has an elevation above sea-level of about 
300 feet, while the altitude of Lake Michigan at 
Chicago is 583 feet. The greatest elevation is 
reached near Scale's Mound in the northwestern 
part of the State — 1,257 feet — while a spur from 
the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, projected across 
the southern part of the State, rises in Jackson 
and Union Counties to a height of over 900 feet. 
The eastern end of this spur, in the northeast 
comer of Pope County, reaches an elevation of 
1,046 feet. South of this ridge, the surface of 
the country between the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers was originally covered with dense forests. 
These included some of the most valuable species 
of timber for lumber manufacture, such as the 
different varieties of oak, walnut, poplar, ash, 
sugar-maple and cypress, besides elm. Linden, 
hickory, honey-locust, pecan, hack-berry, cotton- 
wood, sycamore, sassafras, black-gum and beech. 
The native fruits included tbe persimmon, wild 
plum, grape and pawpaw, with various kinds of 
berries, such as blackberries, raspberries, straw- 
berries (in the prairie districts) and some others. 
Most of the native grow^ths of woods common to 
the south were found along the streams farther 
north, except the cypress beech, pecan and a few 
others. 

Prairies. — A peculiar feature of the country, 
in the middle and northern portion of the State, 
which excited the amazement of early explorers, 
was the vast extent of the prairies or natural 
meadows. The origin of these has been attril> 
uted to various causes, such as some peculiarity of 
the soil, absence or excess of moisture, recent 
upheaval of the surface from lakes or some other 
bodies of water, the action of fires, etc. In many 
sections there appears little to distinguish the 
soil of the prairies from that of the adjacent 
woodlands, that may not be accounted for by the 
character of their vegetation and other causes, 
for the luxuriant growth of native grasses and 
other productions has demonstrated that they do 
not lack in fertility, and the readiness with 
which trees take root when artificially propa- 
gated and protected, has shown that there is 
nothing in the soil itself unfavorable to their 
growth. Whatever may have been the original 



cause of the prairies, however, there is no doubt 
that annually recurring fires have had much to 
do in perpetuating their existence, and even 
extending their limits, as the absence of the same 
agent has tended to favor the encroachments of 
the forests. While originally regarded as an 
obstacle to the occupation of the coimtry by a 
dense population, there is no doubt that their 
existence has contributed to its rapid develop- 
ment when it was discovered with what ease 
these apparent wastes could be subdued, and how 
productive they were capable of becoming when 
once brought under cultivation. 

In spite of the uniformity in altitude of the 
State as a whole, many sections present a variety 
of surface and a mingUng of plain and woodland 
of the most pleasing character. This is espe- 
cially the case in some of the prairie districts 
where the undulating landscape covered with 
rich herbage and brilliant flowers must have 
presented to the first explorers a scene of ravish- 
ing beauty, which has been enhanced rather than 
diminished in recent times by the hand of culti- 
vation. Along some of the streams also, espe- 
cially on the upper Mississippi and Illinois, and 
at some points on the Ohio, is found scenery of 
a most picturesque variety. 

Animals, etc.— From this description of the 
country it will be easy to infer what must have 
been the varieties of the animal kingdom which 
here found a home. These included the buffalo, 
various kinds of deer, the bear, panther, fox, 
wolf, and wild-cat, while swans, geese and ducks 
covered the lakes and streams. It was a veritable 
paradise for game, both large and small, as well 
as for their native hunters. "One can scarcely 
travel," wrote one of the earliest priestly explor- 
ers, "without finding a prodigious multitude of 
turkeys, that keep together in flocks often to the 
number of ten hundred." Beaver, otter, and 
mink were found along the streams. Most of 
these, especially the larger species of game, have 
disappeared before the tide of civilization, but the 
smaller, such as quail, prairie chicken, duck and 
the different varieties of fish in the streaons, pro- 
tected by law during certain seasons of the year, 
continue to exist in considerable numbers. 

Soil and Climate.— The capabiUties of the 
soil in a region thus situated can be readily under- 
stood. In proportion to the extent of its surface, 
Illinois has a larger area of cultivable land than 
any other State in the Union, with a soil of supe- 
rior quality, much of it imsurpaased in natural 
fertility. This is especially true of the "American 
Bottom," a region extending a distance of ninety 



244 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



miles along the east bank of the Mississippi, from 
a few miles below Alton nearly to Chester, and 
of an average width of five to eight miles. This 
wiis the seat of the first permanent white settle- 
ment in the Mississippi Valley, and portions of it 
have been under cultivation from one hundred to 
one hundred and fifty years without exliaustion. 
Other smaller areas of scarcely less fertility are 
found both upon the bottom-lands and in the 
prairies in the central portions of the State. 

Extending through five and one-half degrees of 
latitude, Illinois has a great variety of climate. 
Though subject at times to sudden alternations 
of temperature, these occasions have been rare 
since the country has been thoroughly settled. 
Its mean average for a series of years has been 48° 
in the northern part of the State and 56° in the 
southern, differing little from other States upon 
the same latitude. The mean winter temper- 
ature has ranged from 25° in the north to 34° in 
the south, and the summer mean from 67° in the 
north to 78° in the south. The extreme winter 
temperature has seldom fallen below 20° below 
zero in the northern portion, wliile the highest 
summer temperature ranges from 95° to 102°. 
The average diflerence in temperature between 
the northern and southern portions of the State 
is about 10°, and the difference in the progress of 
the seasons for the same sections, from four to six 
weeks. Such a wide variety of climate is favor- 
able to the production of nearly all the grains 
and fruits peculiar to the temperate zone. 

Contest for Occupation. — Three powers 
early became contestants for the supremacy on 
the North American Continent. The first of 
these was Spain, claiming possession on the 
ground of the discovery by Columbus ; England, 
basing her claim upon the discoveries of the 
Cabots, and France, maintaining her right to a 
considerable part of the continent by virtue of 
the discovery and exploration by Jacques Cartier 
of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, in 1534-35, 
and the settlement of Quebec by Chaniplain 
seventy-foiir years later. The claim of Spain 
was general, extending to both North and South 
America; and, while she early established her 
colonies in Mexico, the West Indies and Peru, 
the country was too vast and her agents too busy 
seeking for gold to interfere materially with her 
competitors. The Dutch, Swedes and Germans 
established small, though flourishing colonies, but 
they were not colonizers nor were they numeric- 
ally as strong as their neighbors, and their settle- 
ments were ultimately absorbed by the latter. 
Both the Spaniards and the French were zealous 



in proselyting the aborigines, but while the 
former did not hesitate to torture their victims 
in order to extort their gold while claiming to 
save their souls, the latter were more gentle and 
beneficent in their policy, and, by their kindness, 
succeeded in winning and retaining the friend- 
ship of the Indians in a remarkable degree. They 
were traders as well as missionaries, and this fact 
and the readiness with which they adapted them- 
selves to the habits of those whom they found in 
possession of the soil, enabled them to make the 
most extensive explorations in small numbers 
and at little cost, and even to remain for un- 
limited periods among their aboriginal friends. 
On the other hand, the English were artisans and 
tillers of the soil with a due proportion engaged 
in commerce or upon the sea; and, while they 
were later in planting their colonies in Virginia 
and New England, and less aggressive in the 
work of exploration, they maintained a surer 
foothold on the soil when they had once estab- 
lished themselves. To this fact is due the per- 
manence and steady growth of the English 
colonies in the New World, and the virtual domi- 
nance of the Anglo-Saxon race over more than 
five-sevenths of the North American Continent — 
a result which has been illustrated in the history 
of every people that has made agriculture, manu- 
factures and legitimate commerce the basis of 
their prosperity. 

Early Explor.a.tions. — The French explorers 
were the first Europeans to visit the "Country of 
the Illinois," and, for nearly a century, they and 
their successors and descendants held undisputed 
possession of the country, as well as the greater 
part of the Mississippi Valle}-. It is true that 
Spain put in a feeble and indefinite claim to this 
whole region, but she was kept too busy else- 
where to make her claim good, and, in 1763, she 
relinquished it entirely as to the Mississippi 
Valley and west to the Pacific Ocean, in order to 
strengthen herself elsewhere. 

There is a peculiar coincidence in the fact that, 
while the English colonists who settled about 
Massachusetts Bay named that region "New 
England," the French gave to their possessions, 
from tlie St. Lawrence to the mouth of the 5Iis- 
sissippi, the name of "New France," and the 
Spaniards called all the region claimed by them, 
extending from Panama to Puget Sound, "New 
Spain. " The boundaries of each were verj' indefi- 
nite and often conflicting, but -^ere settled by tlie 
treaty of 1763. 

As early as 1634, Jean Nicolet, coming by way 
of Canada, discovered Lake Michigan — then 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



245 



called by the French, "Lac des Illinois" — entered 
Green Bay and visited some of the tribes of 
Indians in that region. In 1641 zealous mission- 
aries had reached the Falls of St. Mary (called by 
the French "Sault Ste. Marie'"), and, in 1658, two 
French fur-traders are alleged to have penetrated 
as far west as "La Pointe" on Lake Superior, 
where they opened up a trade with the Sioux 
Indians and wintered in the neighborhood of the 
Apostle Islands near wliere the towns of Ashland 
and Bayfield, Wis., now stand. A few years later 
(1665), Fathers Allouez and Dablon, French mis- 
sionaries, visited the Chippewas on the southern 
shore of Lake Superior, and missions were estab- 
lished at Green Bay, Ste. Marie and La Pointe. 
About the same time the mission of St. Ignace 
■was established on the north shore of the Straits 
of Mackinaw (spelled by the French "Miohilli- 
macinac"). It is also claimed that the French 
traveler, Radisson, during the year of 1658-59, 
reached the upper Mississippi, antedating the 
claims of Joliet and Marquette as its discoverers 
by fourteen years. Nicholas Perrot, an intelli- 
gent chronicler who left a manuscript account of 
his travels, is said to have made extensive explor- 
ations about the head of the great lakes as far 
south as the Fox River of Wisconsin, between 
1670 and 1690, and to have held an important 
conference with representatives of numerous 
tribes of Indians at Sault Ste. Marie in June, 
1671. Perrot is also said to have made the first 
discovery of lead mines in the West. 

Up to this time, however, no white man appears 
to have reached the "Illinois Country," though 
much bad been heard of its beauty and its wealth 
in game. On May 17, 1673, Louis Joliet, an enter- 
prising explorer who had already visited tlie Lake 
Superior region in search of copper mines, under 
a commission from the Governor of Canada, in 
company with Father Jacques Marquette and 
five voyageurs, with a meager stock of provisions 
and a few trinkets for trading with the natives, 
set out in two birch-bark canoes from St. Ignace 
on a tour of exploration southward. Coasting 
along the west shore of Lake Michigan and Green 
Bay and through Lake Winnebago, they reached 
the country of the JIascoutins on Fox River, 
ascended that stream to the portage to the Wis- 
consin, then descended the latter to the Mis- 
sissippi, which they discovered on June 17. 
Descending the Mississippi, which they named 
"Rio de la Conception, "they passed the mouth of 
the Des Moines, where they are supposed to have 
encountered the first Indians of the Illinois 
tribes, by whom they were hospitably enter- 



tained. Later they discovered a rude painting 
upon the rocks on the east side of the river, 
which, from the description, is supposed to have 
been the famous "PiasaBird," which was still to 
be seen, a short distance above Alton, witliin the 
present generation. (See Piasa Bird, The 
Legend of.) Pa.ssing the mouth of the Missouri 
River and the present site of the city of St. 
Louis, and continuing past the mouth of the 
Ohio, they finally reached what Marquette called 
the village of the Akanseas, which has been 
assumed to be identical with the mouth of the 
Arkansas, though it has been questioned whether 
they proceeded so far south. Convinced that the 
Mississippi "had its mouth in Florida or the Gulf 
of Mexico," and fearing capture by the Spaniards, 
they started on their return. Reaching the 
mouth of the Illinois, they entered that stream 
and ascended past the village of the Peorias and 
the "Illinois town of the Kaskaskias" — the 
latter being about where the town of Utica, La 
Salle County, now stands — at each of which they 
made a brief stay. Escorted by guides from the 
Kaskaskias, they crossed the portage to Lake 
Michigan where Chicago now stands, and re- 
turned to Green Bay, which they reached in the 
latter part of September. (See Joliet and Mar- 
quette. ) 

The next and most important expedition to Illi- 
nois — important because it led to the first per- 
manent settlements — was undertaken by Robert 
Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in 1679. This eager 
and intelligent, but finally unfortunate, discov- 
erer had spent several years in exploration in 
the lake region and among the streams south of 
the Lakes and west of the Alleghenies. It has 
been claimed that, during this tour, he descended 
the Ohio to its junction with the Mississippi; 
also that he reached the Illinois by way of the 
head of Lake Michigan and the Chicago portage, 
and even descended the Mississippi to the 36th 
parallel, antedating Marquette's first visit to 
that stream by two years. The chief authority 
for this claim is La Salle's biographer, Pierre 
Margry, who bases his statement on alleged con- 
versations with La Salle and letters of his friends. 
The absence of any allusion to these discoveries 
in La Salle's own papers, of a later date, addressed 
to the King, is regarded as fatal to this claim. 
However this may have been, there is conclusive 
evidence that, during this period, he met with 
Joliet while the latter was returning ."'rom one of 
his trips to the Lake Superior country. With an 
imagination fired by what he then learned, he 
made a visit to his native country, receiving a 



246 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



liberal grant from the French Government which 
enabled him to carry out his plans. With the 
aid of Henry de Tonty. an Italian who afterward 
accompanied him in his most important expedi- 
tions, and who proved a most valuable and effi- 
cient CO- laborer, under the auspices of Frontenac, 
then Governor of Canada, he constructed a small 
vessel at the foot of Lake Erie, in which, with a 
company of thirty-four persons, he set sail on 
the seventh of August, 1679, for the West. This 
vessel (named the "Griffon") is believed to have 
been the first sailing-vessel that ever navigated 
the lakes. His object was to reach the Illinois, 
and he carried with him material for a boat 
which he intended to put together on that 
stream. Arriving in Green Bay early in Septem- 
ber, by way of Lake Huron and the straits of 
Mackinaw, he disembarked his stores, and, load- 
ing the Griffon with furs, started it on its return 
with instructions, after discharging its cargo at 
the starting point, to join him at the head of 
Lake Michigan. With a force of seventeen men 
and three missionaries in four canoes, he started 
southward, following the western shore of Lake 
Michigan past the mouth of the Chicago River, 
on Nov. 1, 1679, and reached the mouth of 
the St. Joseph River, at the southeast corner of 
the lake, which had been selected as a rendez- 
vous. Here he was joined by Tonty, three weeks 
later, with a force of twenty Frenchmen who 
had come by the eastern shore, but the Grififon 
never was heard from again, and is supposed to 
have been lost on the return voyage. While 
waiting for Tonty he erected a fort, afterward 
called Fort Miami. The two parties here united, 
and, leaving four men in charge of the fort, with 
the remaining thirty-three, he resumed his 
journey on the third of December. Ascending 
the St. Joseph to about where South Bend, Ind., 
now stands, he made a portage with his canoea 
and stores across to the headwaters of the Kan- 
kakee, which he descended to the Illinois. On 
the first of January he arrived at the great Indian 
town of the Kaskaskias, which Marquette had 
left for the last time nearly five years before, but 
found it deserted, the Indians being absent on a 
hunting expedition. Proceeding down the Illi- 
nois, on Jan. 4, 1680, he passed through Peoria 
Lake and the next morning reached the Indian 
village of that name at the foot of the lake, and 
established friendly relations with its people 
Having determined to set up his vessel here, he 
constructed a rude fort on the eastern bank of 
the river about four miles south of the village. 
With the exception of the cabin built for Mar- 



quette on the South Branch of the Chicago River 
in the winter of 1674-75, this was probably the 
first structure erected by white men in Illinois. 
This received the name "Creve-Cceur — "Broken 
Heart" — which, from its subsequent history, 
proved exceedingly appropriate. Having dis- 
patched Father Louis Hennepin with two com- 
panions to the Upper Mississippi, by way of the 
mouth of the Illinois, on an expedition which 
resulted in the discovery of the Falls of St. 
Anthony, La Salle started on his return to 
Canada for additional assistance and the stores 
which he had failed to receive in consequence of 
the loss of the Griffon. Soon after his depar- 
ture, a majority of the men left with Tonty at 
Fort Creve-Coeur mutinied, and, having plundered 
the fort, partially destroyed it. This compelled 
Tonty and five companions who had remained 
true, to retreat to the Indian village of the Illi- 
nois near "Starved Rock," between where the 
cities of Ottawa and La Salle now stand, where 
he spent the summer awaiting the return of La 
Salle. In September, Tonty's Indian allies hav- 
ing been attacked and defeated by the Iroquois, 
he and his companions were again compelled to 
flee, reaching Green Bay the next spring, after 
having spent the winter among the Pottawato- 
mies in the present State of Wisconsin. 

During the next three years (1681-83) La Salle 
made two other visits to Illinois, encountering 
and partially overcoming formidable obstacles at 
each end of the journey. At the last visit, in 
company with the faithful Tonty, whom he had 
met at Mackinaw in the spring of 1681, after a 
separation of more than a year, he extended his 
exploration to the mouth of the Mississippi, of 
which he took formal possession on April 9, 1683, 
in the name of "Louis the Grand, King of France 
and Navarre." This was the first expedition of 
white men to pass down the river and determine 
the problem of its discharge into the Gulf of 
Mexico. 

Returning to Mackinaw, and again to Illinois.- 
in the fall of 1682, Tonty set about carrying into 
effect La Salle's scheme of fortifj'ing "The Rock, " 
to which reference has been made under the 
name of "Starved Rock." The buildings are said 
to have included store-houses (it was intended as 
a trading post), dwellings and a block-house 
erected on the summit of the rock, and to which 
the name of "Fort St. Louis" was given, while a 
village of confederated Indian tribes gathered 
about its base on tlie south which bore the name 
of La Vantum. According to the historian, 
Parkman, the population of this colony, in the 





HEXItY 1>E TONTY. 




FORT DEARBORN FROM THE WEST. ISOS. 




WAR EAGLE. 



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FORT DEAHBORN 2D, IN lSr,3. FROM THE SOUTHWEST. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



247 



days of its greatest prosperity, was not less than 
20 000. Tonty retained his headquarters at Fort 
St. Louis for eighteen years, during which he 
made extensive excursions throughout the West. 
The proprietorship of the fort was granted to 
him in 1690. but. in 1702, it was ordered by the 
Governor of Canada to be discontinued on the 
plea that the charter had been violated. It con- 
tinued to be used as a trading post, however, as 
late as 1718, when it was raided by the Indians 
and burned. (See La Salle; Tonty; Hennepin, 
and Starved Bock. ) 

Other explorers who were the contemporaries 
or early successors of Marquette, Joliet, La Salle, 
Tonty, Hennepin and their companions in the 
Northwest, and many of whom are known to have 
visited the "Illinois Country," and probably all 
of whom did so, were Daniel Greysolon du Lhut 
(called by La Salle, du Luth), a cousin of Tonty, 
who was the first to reach the Mississippi directly 
from Lake Superior, and from whom the city of 
Duluth has been named ; Henry Joutel, a towns- 
man of La Salle, who was one of the survivors of 
the ill-fated Matagorda Bay colony; Pierre Le 
Sueur, the discoverer of the Minnesota River, 
and Baron la Hontan, who made a tour through 
Illinois in 1688-89, of which he published an 
account in 1703. 

Chicago River early became a prominent point 
in the estimation of the French explorers and 
was a favorite line of travel in reaching the Illi- 
nois by way of the Des Plaines, though probably 
sometimes confounded with other streams about 
the head of the lake. The Calumet and Grand 
Calumet, allowing easy portage to the Des Plaines, 
were also used, while the St. Joseph, from which 
portage was had into the Kankakee, seems to 
have been a part of the route first used by La 
Salle. 

Aborigines and Early Missions. — When the 
early French explorers arrived in the "Illinois 
Country" they found it occupied by a number of 
tribes of Indians, the most numerous being the 
"Illinois," which consisted of several families or 
bands that spread themselves over the country on 
both sides of the Illinois River, extending even 
west of the Mississippi ; the Piankeshaws on the 
east, extending beyond the present western 
boundary of Indiana, and the Miamis in the 
northeast, with whom a weaker tribe called the 
Weas were allied. The Illinois confederation 
included the Kaskaskias, Peorias, Cahokias, 
Tamaroas and Mitchigamies — the last being the 
tribe from which Lake Michigan took its name. 
(See Illinois Indians. ) There seems to have been 



a general drift of some of the stronger tribes 
toward the south and east about this time, as 
Allouez represents that lie found the Miamis and 
their neighbors, the Mascoutins, about Green Bay 
when he arrived there in 1670. At the same 
time, there is evidence that the Pottawatomies 
were located along the southern shore of Lake 
Superior and about the Sault Ste. Marie (now 
known as "The Soo"), though within the next 
fifty years they had advanced southward along 
the western shore of Lake Michigan until they 
reached where Chicago now stands. Other tribes 
from the north were the Kickapoos, Sacs and 
Foxes, and Winnebagoes, while the Shawnees 
were a branch of a stronger tribe from the south- 
east Charlevoix, who wrote an account of his 
visit to the "Illinois Country" in 1721, says: 
"Fifty years ago the Miamis were settled on the 
southern extremity of Lake Michigan, in a place 
called Chicago from the name of a small river 
which runs into the lake, the source of which is 
not far distant from that of the River Illinois. " 
It does not follow necessarily that this was the 
Chicago River of to-day, as the name appears to 
have been applied somewhat indefinitely, by the 
early explorers, both to a region of country 
between the head of the lake and the Illinois 
River, and to more than one stream emptying 
into the lake in that vicinity. It has been con- 
jectured that the river meant by Charlevoix 
was the Calumet, as his description would apply 
as well to that as to the Chicago, and there is 
other evidence that the Miamis, who were found 
about the mouth of the St. Joseph River during 
the eighteenth century, occupied a portion of 
Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana, ex- 
tending as far east as the Scioto River in Ohio. 

From the first, the Illinois seem to have con- 
ceived a strong liking for the French, and being 
pressed by the Iroquois on the east, the Sacs and 
Foxes, Pottawatomies and Kickapoos on the 
north and the Sioux on the west, by the begin- 
ning of the eighteenth century we find them, 
much reduced in numbers, gathered about the 
French settlements near the mouth of the Kas- 
kaskia (or Okaw) River, in the western part of 
the present counties of Randolph, Monroe and St. 
Clair. In spite of the zealous efforts of the mis- 
sionaries, the contact of these tribes with the 
whites was attended with the usual results — 
demoralization, degradation and gradual extermi- 
nation. The latter result was hastened by the 
frequent attacks to which they were exposed 
from their more warlike enemies, so that by the 
latter part of the eighteenth century, they were 



348 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



reduced to a few hundred dissolute and depraved 
survivors of a once vigorous and warlike race. 

During the early part of the French occupation, 
there arose a chief named Chicagou (from whom 
the city of Chicago received its name) who ap- 
pears, like Red Jacket, Tecumseh and Logan, to 
have been a man of unusual intelligence and 
vigor of character, and to have exercised great 
influence with his people. In 1725 he was sent to 
Paris, where he received the attentions due to a 
foreign potentate, and, on his return, was given a 
command in an expedition against the Chicka- 
saws, who had been making incursions from the 
south. 

Such was the general distribution of the Indians 
in the northern and central portions of the State, 
within the first iif ty years after the arrival of the 
French. At a later period the Kickapoos ad- 
vanced farther south and occupied a considerable 
share of the central portion of the State, and even 
extended to the mouth of the Wabash. The 
southern part was roamed over by bands from 
beyond the Ohio and the Mississippi, including 
the Cherokee.? and Chickasaws, and the Arkansas 
tribes, some of whom were very powerful and 
ranged over a vast extent of country. 

The earliest civilized dwellings in Illinois, after 
the forts erected for purposes of defense, were 
undoubtedly the posts of the fur-traders and the 
missionary stations. Fort Miami, the first mili- 
tary post, established by La Salle in the winter 
of 1679-80, was at the mouth of the St. Joseph 
River within the boundaries of what is now the 
State of Michigan. Fort Creve-Coeur, partially 
erected a few months later on the east side of the 
Illinois a few miles below where the city of 
Peoria now stands, was never occupied. Mr. 
Charles Ballance, the historian of Peoria, locates 
this fort at the present village of Wesley, in 
Tazewell County, nearly opposite Lower Peoria. 
Fort St. Louis, built by Tonty on the summit of 
"Starved Rock," in the fall and winter of 1682, 
was the second erected in the "Illinois Countrj'," 
but the first occupied. It has been claimed that 
Marquette established a mission among the Kas 
kaskias, opposite "The Rock," on occasion of his 
first visit, in September, 1673, and that he re- 
newed it in the spring of 1675, when he visited 
it for the last time. It is doubtful if tliis mission 
was more than a season of preaching to the 
natives, celebrating mass, administering baptism, 
etc. ; at least the story of an established mission 
has been denied. That this devoted and zealous 
propagandist regarded it as a mission, however, 
is evident from his own journal. He gave to it 



the name of the "Mission of the Immaculate 
Conception, ' ' and, although he was compelled by 
failing health to abandon it almost immediately, 
it is claimed that it was renewed in 1677 by 
Father Allouez, who had been active in founding 
missions in the Lake Superior region, and that it 
was maintained until the arrival of La Salle in 
1680. The hostility of La Salle to the Jesuits led 
to Allouez' withdrawal, but he subsequently 
returned and was succeeded in 1688 by Father 
Gravier, whose labors extended from Mackinaw 
to Biloxi on the Gulf of Mexico. 

There is evidence that a mission had been 
established among the Miamis as early as 1698, 
under the name "Chicago," as it is mentioned by 
St. Cosme in the report of his visit in 1699-1700. 
This, for the reasons already given showing the 
indefinite use made of tlie name Chicago as 
applied to streams about the head of Lake Michi- 
gan, probably referred to some other locality in 
the vicinity, and not to the site of the present 
city of Chicago. Even at an earlier date there 
appears, from a statement in Tonty 's Memoirs, to 
have been a fort at Chicago — probably about the 
same locality as the mission. Speaking of his 
return from Canada to the "Illinois Country" in 
1685, he says: "I embarked for the Illinois 
Oct. 30, 1685, but being stopped by the ice, I 
was obliged to leave my canoe and proceed by 
land. After going 120 leagues, I arrived at Fort 
Chicagou, where M. de la Durantaye com- 
manded." 

According to the best authorities it was during 
the year 1700 that a mission and permanent settle- 
ment was estaiblished by Father Jacques Pinet 
among the Tamaroas at a village called Cahokia 
(or "Sainte Famille de Caoquias"), a few miles 
south of the present site of the city of East St. 
Louis. This was the first permanent settlement 
by Europeans in Illinois, as that at Kaskaskia on 
the Illinois was broken up the same year. 

A few months after the establishment of the 
mission at Cahokia (which received the name of 
"St. Sulpice"), but during the same year, the 
Kaskaskias, having abandoned their village on 
the upper Illinois, were induced to settle near the 
mouth of the river which bears their name, and 
the mission and village — the latter afterward 
becoming the first capital of the Territory and 
State of Illinois — came into being. This identity 
of names has led to some confusion in determin- 
ing the date and place of the first permanent 
settlement in Illinois, the date of Marquette's 
first arrival at Kaskaskia on the Illinois being 
given by some authors as that of the settlement 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



249 



at Kaskaskia on the Mississippi, twenty-seven 
years later. 

Period of French Occupation. — As may be 
readily inferred from the methods of French 
colonization, the first permanent settlements 
gathered about the missions at Cahokia and Kas- 
kaskia, or rather were parts of them. At later 
periods, but during the French occupation of the 
country, other villages were established, the 
most imj5ortant being St. Philip and Prairie du 
Eocher ; all of these being located in the fertile 
valley now known as the "American Bottom," 
between the older towns of Cahokia and Kaskas- 
kia. There were several Indian villages in the 
vicinity of the French settlements, and this 
became, for a time, the most populous locality in 
the Mississippi Valley and the center of an active 
trade carried on with the settlements near the 
mouth of the Mississippi. Large quantities of 
the products of the country, such as flour, bacon, 
pork, tallow, lumber, lead, peltries, and even 
wine, were transported in keel-boats or batteaus 
to New Orleans; rice, manufactured tobacco, 
cotton goods and such otlier fabrics as the simple 
wants of the people required, being brought back 
in return. These boats went in convoys of seven 
to twelve in number for mutual protection, three 
months being required to make a trip, of which 
two were made annually — one in the spring and 
the other in the autumn. 

The French possessions in North America went 
under the general name of "New France, ' ' but their 
boundaries were never clearly defined, though an 
attempt was made to do so through Commission- 
ers who met at Paris, in 1752. They were under- 
stood by the French to include the valley of the 
St. Lawrence, with Labrador and Nova Scotia, to 
the northern boundaries of the British colonies; 
the region of the Great Lakes ; and the Valley of 
the Mississippi from the headwaters of the Ohio 
westward to the Pacific Ocean and south to the 
Gulf of Mexico. While these claims were con- 
tested by England on the east and Spain on the 
southwest, they comprehended the very heart of 
the North American continent, a region unsur- 
passed in fertility and natural resources and 
now the home of more than half of the entire 
population of the American Republic. That 
the French should have reluctantly yielded 
up so magnificent a domain is natural. And 
yet they did this by the treaty of 1763, sur- 
rendering the region east of the Mississippi 
(except a comparatively small district near 
the mouth of that stream) to England, and the 
remainder to Spain — an evidence of the straits to 



which they had been reduced by a long series of 
devastating wars. (See French and Indian 
Wars. ) 

In 1712 Antoine Crozat, under royal letters- 
patent, obtained from Louis XIV. of France a 
monopoly of the commerce, with control of the 
country, "from the edge of the sea (Gulf of 
Mexico) as far as the Illinois." This grant hav- 
ing been surrendered a few years later, was re- 
newed in 1717 to the "Company of the West," of 
which the celebrated John Law was the head, 
and under it jurisdiction was exercised over the 
trade of Illinois. On September 27 of the same 
year (1717), the "Illinois Country," which had 
been a dependency of Canada, was incorporated 
with Louisiana and became part of that province. 
Law's company received enlarged powers under 
the name of the "East Indies Company," and 
although it went out of existence in 1731 with 
the opprobrious title of the "South Sea Bubble," 
leaving in its wake hundreds of ruined private 
fortunes in France and England, it did much to 
stimulate the population and development of the 
Mississippi Valley. During its existence (in 1718) 
New Orleans was founded and Fort Chartres 
erected, being named after the Due de Chartres, 
son of the Regent of France. Pierre Duque Bois- 
briant was the first commandant of Illinois and 
superintended the erection of the fort. (See Fort 
Chartres. ) 

One of the privileges granted to Law's com- 
pany was the importation of slaves ; and under 
it, in 1721, Philip F. Renault brought to the 
country five hundred slaves, besides two hundred 
artisans, mechanics and laborers. Two years 
later he received a large grant of land, and 
founded the village of St. Philip, a few miles 
north of Fort Chartres. Thus Illinois became 
slave territory before a white settlement of any 
sort existed in what afterward became the slave 
State of Missouri. 

During 1721 the country under control of the 
East Indies Company was divided into nine civil 
and military districts, each presided over by a 
commandant and a judge, with a superior coun- 
cil at New Orleans. Of these, Illinois, the largest 
and, next to New Orleans, the most populous, 
was the seventh. It embraced over one-half the 
present State, with the country west of the Mis- 
ssisippi, between the Arkansas and the 43d degree 
of latitude, to the Rocky Mountains, and included 
the present States of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, 
Kansas and parts of Arkansas and Colorado. In 
1732, the Indies Company surrendered its charter, 
and Louisiana, including the District of Illinois, 



250 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



was afterwards governed by officers appointed 
directly by the crown. (See French Oovernors.) 

As early as September, 1699, an attempt was 
made by an expedition fitted out by the English 
Government, under command of Captains Barr 
and Clements, to take possession of the country 
about the mouth of the Mississippi on the ground 
of prior discovery; but they found the French 
under Bienville alreadj- in possession at Biloxi, 
and they sailed away without making any further 
effort to carry the scheme into effect- Mean- 
while, in the early part of the next century, the 
English were successful in attaching to their 
interests the Iroquois, who were the deadly foes 
of the French, and held possession of Western 
New York and the region around the headwaters 
of the Ohio River, extending their incursions 
against the Indian allies of the French as far west 
as Illinois. The real struggle for territory be- 
tween the English and French began with the 
formation of the Ohio Land Company in 1748-49, 
and the grant to it by the English Government 
of half a million acres of land along the Ohio 
River, with the exclusive right of trading with 
the Indian tribes in that region. Out of this 
grew the establishment, in the next two years, of 
trading posts and forts on the Miami and Maumee 
in Western Ohio, followed by the protracted 
French and Indian War, wliich was prosecuted 
with varied fortunes until the final defeat of the 
French at Quebec, on the thirteenth of Septem- 
ber, 1759, which broke their power on the Ameri- 
can continent. Among those who took part in 
this struggle, was a contingent from the French 
garrison of Fort Chartres. Neyon de Villiers, 
commandant of the fort, was one of these, being 
the only survivor of seven brothers who partici- 
pated in the defense of Canada. Still hopeful of 
saving Louisiana and Illinois, he departed with 
a few followers for New Orleans, but the treaty 
of Paris, Feb. 10, 1763, destroyed all hope, for by 
its terms Canada, and all other territory east of 
the Mississippi as far south as the northern 
boundary of Florida, was surrendered to Great 
Britain, while the remainder, including the vast 
territory between the Mississippi and the Rocky 
Mountains, was given up to Spain. 

Thus the "Illinois Country'" fell into the hands 
of the British, although the actual transfer of 
Fort Chartres and the country dependent upon it 
did not take place until Oct. 10, 1765, when its 
veteran commandant, St. Ange — who had come 
from Vincennes to assume command on the 
retirement of Villiers, and who held it faithfully 
for the conqueror — surrendered it to Capt. 



Thomas Stirling as the representative of the Eng- 
lish Government. It is worthy of note that this 
was the last place on the North American con- 
tinent to lower the French flag. 

British Occupation. — The delay of the British 
in taking possession of the "Illinois Country," 
after the defeat of the French at Quebec and the 
surrender of their possessions in America by the 
treaty of 1763, was due to its isolated position 
and the difficulty of reaching it with sufficient 
force to establish the British authority. The 
first attempt was made in the spring of 1764, 
when Maj. Arthur Loftus, starting from Pensa- 
cola, attempted to ascend the Mississippi with a 
force of four hundred regulars, but, being met 
by a superior Indian force, was compelled to 
retreat. In August of the same year, C*pt 
Thomas Morris was dispatched from Western 
Pennsylvania with a small force "to take posses- 
sion of the Illinois Country." This expedition 
got as far as Fort Miami on the Maumee, when its 
progress was arrested, and its commander nar- 
rowly escaped death. The next attempt was 
made in 1765, when Maj. George Croghan, a Dep- 
uty Superintendent of Indian affairs whose name 
has been made historical by the celebrated speech 
of the Indian Chief Logan, was detailed from 
Fort Pitt, to visit Illinois. Croghan being detained, 
Lieut. Alexander Frazer, who was to accompany 
him, proceeded alone. Frazer reached Kaskas- 
kia, but met with so rough a reception from 
both the French and Indians, that he thought it 
advisable to leave in disguise, and escaped by 
descending the Mississippi to New Orleans. 
Croghan started on his journey on the fifteenth 
of May, proceeding down the Ohio, accompanied 
by a party of friendly Indians, but having been 
captured near the mouth of the Wabash, he 
finally returned to Detroit without reaching his 
destination. The first British official to reach 
Fort Chartres was Capt. Thomas Stirling. De- 
scending the Ohio with a force of one hundred 
men, he reached Fort Chartres, Oct. 10, 1765, and 
received the surrender of the fort from the faith- 
ful and courteous St. Ange. It is estimated that 
at least one-third of the French citizens, includ- 
ing the more wealthy left rather than become 
British subjects. Those about Fort Chartres left 
almost in a body. Some joined the French 
colonies on the lower Mississippi, while others, 
crossing the river, settled in St. Genevieve, then 
in Spanish territory. Much the larger number 
followed St. Ange to St. Louis, which had been 
established as a trading post by Pierre La Clede, 
during the previous year, and which now received 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



251 



■what, in these later days, would be called a great 
"boom."' 

Captain Stirling was relieved of his conimand 
at Fort Chartres, Dec. -1, bj' Maj. Robert Farmer. 
Other British Commandants at Fort Chartres 
were Col. Edward Cole, Col. John Reed, Colonel 
Wilkins, Capt. Hugh Lord and Francois de Ras- 
tel, Clievalier de Rocheblave. The last had been 
an oflScer in the French army, and, having resided 
at Kaskaskia, transferred his allegiance on occu- 
pation of the country by the British. He was the 
last oflScial representative of the British Govern- 
ment in Illinois. 

The total population of the French villages in 
Illinois, at the time of their transfer to England, 
has been estimated at about 1,600, of which 700 
■were about Kaskaskia and 450 in the vicinity of 
Cahokia. Captain Pittman estimated the popu- 
lation of all the French villages in Illinois and on 
the Wabash, at the time of his visit in 1770, at 
about 2.000. Of St. Louis — or "Paincourt," as it 
was called — Captain Pittman said: "There are 
about forty private houses and as many families." 
Most of these, if not all, had emigrated from the 
French villages. In fact, although nominally in 
Spanish territor}% it was essentially a French 
town, protected, as Pittman said, by "a French 
garrison" consisting of "a Captain-Commandant, 
two Lieutenants, a Fort Major, one Sergeant 
one Corporal and twenty men." 

Action of Continental. Congress. — The first 
oflBcial notice taken of the "Illinois Country" by 
the Continental Congress, was the adoption by 
that body, July 13, 1775, of an act creating three 
Indian Departments — a Northern, Middle and 
Southern. Ilhnois was assigned to the second, 
with Benjamin Franklin and James Wilson, of 
Pennsj'lvania, and Patrick Henry, of Virginia, 
as Commissioners. In April, 1776, Col. George 
Morgan, who had been a trader at Kaskaskia, was 
appointed agent and successor to these Commis- 
sioners, with headquarters at Fort Pitt. The 
promulgation of the Declaration of Independence, 
on the Fourth of July, 1776, and the events im- 
mediately preceding and following that event, 
directed attention to the colonies on the Atlantic 
coast; yet the frontiersmen of Virginia were 
watching an opportunity to deliver a blow to the 
Government of King George in a quarter where 
it was least expected, and where it was destined 
to have an immense influence upon the future of 
the new nation, as well as that of the American 
continent. 

Col. George Rogers Clark's Expedition. 
— During the year 1777, Col. George Rogers Clark, 



a native of Virginia, then scarcely twenty-five 
years of age, having conceived a plan of seizing 
the settlements in the Mississippi Valley, sent 
trusty spies to learn the sentiments of the people 
and the condition of affairs at Kaskaskia. The 
report brought to him gave him encouragement, 
and, in December of the same year, he laid before 
Gov. Patrick Henry, of Virginia, his plans for 
the reduction of the posts in Ilhnois. These were 
approved, and, on Jan. 3, 1778, Clark received 
authority to recruit seven companies of fifty men 
each for three months' service, and Governor 
Henry gave him §6,000 for expenses. Proceeding 
to Fort Pitt, he succeeded in recruiting three 
companies, who were directed to rendezvous at 
Com Island, opposite the present city of Louis- 
ville. It has been claimed that, in order to 
deceive the British as to his real destination, 
Clark authorized the announcement that the 
object of the expedition was to protect the settle- 
ments in Kentucky from the Indians. At Corn 
Island another company was organized, making 
four in all, under the command of Captains Bow- 
man, Montgomery, Helm and Harrod, and having 
embarked on keel-boats, they passed the Falls of 
the Ohio, June 24. Reacliing the island at the 
mouth of the Tennessee on the '38th, he was met 
by a party of eight American hunters, who had 
left Kaskaskia a few days before, and who, join- 
ing his command, rendered good service as 
guides. He disembarked his force at the mouth 
of a small creek one mile above Fort Massac. 
June 29, and, directing his course across the 
country, on the evening of the sixth day (July 4, 
1778) arrived within three miles of Kaskaskia. 
The surprise of the unsuspecting citizens of Kas- 
kaskia and its small garrison was complete. His 
force having, under cover of darkness, been 
ferried across the Kaskaskia River, about a mile 
above the town, one detachment surrounded the 
town, while the other seized the fort, capturing 
Rocheblave and his little command without fir- 
ing a gun. The famous Indian fighter and 
hunter, Simon Kenton, led the way to the fort. 
This is supposed to have been what Captain Pitt- 
man called the "Jesuits' house," which had been 
sold bj' the French Government after the country 
was ceded to England, the Jesuit order having 
been suppressed. A wooden fort, erected in 1736, 
and known afterward bj- the British as Fort 
Gage, had stood on the bluff opposite the town, 
but, according to Pittman, this was burnt in 1766, 
and there is no evidence that it was ever rebuilt. 
Clark's expedition was thus far a complete suc- 
cess. Rocheblave, proving recalcitrant, was 



252 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



placed in irons and sent as a prisoner of war to 
Williamsburg, while his slaves were confiscated, 
the proceeds of their sale being divided among 
Clark's troops. The inhabitants were easily 
conciliated, and Cahokia having been captured 
without bloodshed, Clark turned his attention to 
Vincennes. Through the influence of Pierre 
Gibault — the Vicar-General in charge at Kaskas- 
kia — the people of Vincennes were induced to 
swear allegiance to the United States, and, 
altliough the place was afterward captured by a 
British force from Detroit, it was, on Feb. 
24, 1779, recaptured by Colonel Clark, together 
with a bodj' of prisoners but little smaller than 
the attacking force, and §50,000 worth of prop- 
erty. (See Clark, Col. George Rogers.) 

Under Government of Virginia. — Seldom 
in tlie history of the world have such important 
results been achieved by such insignificant instru- 
mentalities and with so little sacrifice of life, as 
in this almost bloodless campaign of the youthful 
conqueror of Illinois. Having been won largely 
through Virginia enterprise and valor and by 
material aid furnished through Governor Henry, 
tbe Virginia House of Delegates, in October, 
1778, proceeded to assert the jurisdiction of that 
commonwealth over the settlements of the North- 
west, by organizing all the country west and 
north of the Ohio River into a county to be called 
"Illinois," (see Illinois County), and empowering 
the Governor to appoint a "County-Lieutenant or 
Commandant-in-Chief" to exercise civil author- 
ity during the pleasure of the appointing power. 
Thus "Illinois County" was older than the States 
of Ohio or Indiana, while Patrick Henry, the elo- 
quent orator of the Revolution, became ex-officio 
its first Governor. Col. Jolm Todd, a citizen of 
Kentucky, was appointed "County-Lieutenant," 
Dec. 12, 1778, entering upon his duties in 
May following. The militia was organized, 
Deputy-Commandants for Kaskaskia and Cahokia 
appointed, and the first election of civil officers 
ever had in Illinois, was held under Colonel 
Todd's direction. His record-book, now in posses- 
sion of the Chicago Historical Society, shows 
that he was accustomed to exercise powers 
scarcely inferior to those of a State Executive. 
(See Todd, Col. John.) 

In 1783 one "Thimothe Demunbrunt" sub- 
scribed himself as "Lt. comd'g par interim, etc." 
— but the origin of his authority is not clearly 
understood. He assumed to act as Commandant 
until the arrival of Gov. Arthur St. Clair, first 
Territorial Governor of the Northwest Territory, 
in 1790. After the close of the Revolution, courts 



ceased to be held and civil affairs fell into great 
disorder. "In effect, there was neither law nor 
order in the 'Illinois Country' for the seven 
years from 1783 to 1790." 

During the progress of the Revolution, there 
were the usual rumors and alarms in the "Illinois 
Country" peculiar to frontier life in time of war. 
Tlie country, however, was singularly exempt 
from any serious calamity sucli as a general 
massacre. One reason for this was the friendly 
relations which had existed between the French 
and their Indian neighbors previous to the con- 
quest, and which the new masters, after the cap- 
ture of Kaskaskia, took pains to perpetuate. 
Several movements were projected by the British 
and their Indian allies about Detroit and in Can- 
ada, but they were kept so busy elsewhere that 
they had little time to put their plans into execu- 
tion. One of these was a proposed movement 
from Pensacola against the Spanish posts on tlie 
lower Mississippi, to punish Spain for having 
engaged in the war of 1779, but the promptness 
with which the Spanish Governor of New Orleans 
proceeded to capture Fort Manchac, Baton Rouge 
and Natchez from their British {possessors, con- 
vinced the latter that this was a "game at which 
two could play." In ignorance of these results, 
an expedition, 750 strong, composed largely of 
Indians, fitted out at Mackinaw under command 
of Capt. Patrick St. Clair, started in the early 
part of May, 1780, to co-operate with the expedition 
on the lower Mississippi, but intending to deal a 
destructive blow to the Illinois villages and the 
Spanish towns of St. Louis and St. Genevieve on 
the way. This expedition reached St. Louis, Jlay 
26, but Col. George Rogers Clark, having arrived 
at Cahokia with a small force twenty-four hours 
earlier, prepared to co-operate with the Spaniards 
on the western shore of the Mississippi, and the 
invading force confined their depredations to kill- 
ing seven or eight villagers, and then beat a 
hasty retreat in the direction they had come. 
These were the last expeditions organized to 
regain the "Country of the Illinois" or captiure 
Spanish posts on the Mississippi. 

Expeditions Aq.unst Foet St. Joseph. — An 
expedition of a different sort is worthy of mention 
in this connection, as it originated in Illinois. 
This consisted of a company of seventeen men, 
led by one Thomas Brady, a citizen of Caliokia, 
who, marching across the country, in the month 
of October, 1780, after tlie retreat of Sinclair, 
from St. Louis, succeeded in surprising and cap 
turing Fort St. Joseph about where La Salle liad 
erected Fort Miami, near the mouth of the St. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



253 



Joseph River, a hundred years before. Brady 
and his party captured a few British prisoners, 
and a large quantity of goods. On their return, 
while encamped on the Calumet, they were 
attacked by a band of Pottawatomies, and all 
were killed, wounded or taken prisoners except 
Brady and two others, who escaped. Early in 
January, 1781, a party consisting of sixty-five 
whites, organized from St. Louis and Cahokia, 
with some 200 Indians, and headed by Don 
Eugenio Pourre, a Spaniard, started on a second 
expedition against Fort St. Joseph. By silencing 
the Indians, whom they met on their way, with 
promises of plunder, they were able to reach the 
fort without discovery, captured it and, raising 
the Spanish flag, formally took possession in the 
name of the King of Spain. After retaining pos- 
session for a few days, the party returned to St. 
Louis, but in negotiating the treaty of peace at 
Paris, in 1783, this incident was made the basis 
of a claim put forth by Spain to ownership of 
the "Illinois Country" "by right of conquest." 

The Territorial Period. — At the very outset 
of its existence, the new Government of the 
United States was confronted with an embarrass- 
ing question which deeply alTecteil the interests 
of the territory of which Illinois formed a part. 
This was the claim of certain States to lands 
lying between their western boundaries and the 
Mississippi River, then the western boundary of 
the Republic. These claims were based either 
upon the terms of their original charters or upon 
the cession of lands by the Indians, and it was 
under a claim of the former character, as well as 
by right of conquest, that Virginia assumed to ex- 
ercise authority over the "Illinois Country" after 
its capture by the Clark expedition. This con- 
struction was opposed by the States which, from 
their geographical position or other cause, had 
no claim to lands beyond their own boundaries, 
and the controversy was waged with considerable 
bitterness for several years, proving a formidable 
obstacle to the ratification of the Articles of Con- 
federation. As early as 1779 the subject received 
the attention of Congress in the adoption of a 
resolution requesting the States having such 
claims to "forbear settling or issuing warrants 
for unappropriated lands or granting the same 
during the continuance of the present (Revolu- 
tionary) War. " In the following year, New York 
authorized her Delegates in Congress to limit its 
boundaries in such manner as they might think 
expedient, and to cede to the Government its 
claim to western lands. The case was further com- 
plicated by the claims of certain land companies 



which had been previously organized. New York 
filed her cession to the General Government of 
lands claimed by her in October, 1782, followed 
by Virginia nearly a year later, and by Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut in 1785 and 1786. Other 
States followed somewhat tardily, Georgia being 
the last, in 1802. The only claims of this charac- 
ter affecting lands in Illinois were those of Vir- 
ginia covering the southern part of the State, and 
Connecticut and Massachusetts applying to the 
northern portion. It was from the splendid 
domain north and west of the Ohio thus acquired 
from Virginia and other States, that the North- 
west Territory was finally organized. 

Ordinance of 1787, — The first step was taken in 
the passage by Congress, in 1784, of a resolution 
providing for the temporary government of the 
Western Territory, and this was followed three 
years later by the enactment of the celebrated 
Ordinance of 1787. While this latter document 
contained numerous provisions which marked a 
new departure in the science of free government 
— as, for instance, that declaring that "religion, 
morality and knowledge being necessary to good 
government and the happiness of mankind, 
schools and the means of education shall forever 
be encouraged" — its crowning feature was the 
sixth article, as follows: "There shall be neither 
slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said 
Territory, otherwise than in the punishment of 
crime, whereof the party shall have been duly 
convicted." 

Although there has been considerable contro- 
vecsy as to the authorship of the above and other 
provisions of this immortal document, it is 
worthy of note that substantially the same lan- 
guage was introduced in the resolutions of 1784, 
by a Delegate from a slave State— Thomas Jeffer- 
son, of Virginia —though not, at that time, 
adopted. Jefferson was not a member of the 
Congress of 1787 (being then Minister to France), 
and could have had nothing directly to do with 
the later Ordinance; yet it is evident that the 
principle which he had advocated finally received 
the approval of eight out of the thirteen States, — 
all that were represented in that Congress — includ- 
ing the slave States of Virginia, Delaware, North 
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. (See 
Ordinance of 17S7.) 

Northwest Territory Organized.— Under 
the Ordinance of 1787, organizing the Northwest 
Territory, Gen. Arthur St, Clair, who had been a 
soldier of the Revolution, was appointed the 
first Governor on Feb. 1, 1788, with Winthrop 
Sargent, Secretary, and Samuel Holden Parsons, 



254 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



James Mitchell Varnum and John Cleves 
Symmes, Judges. All these were reappointed by 
President Washington in 1789. The new Terri- 
torial Government was organized at Marietta, a 
settlement on the Ohio, July 15, 1788, but it was 
nearly two years later before Governor St. Clair 
visited Illinois, arriving at Kaskaskia, March 5, 
1790. The County of St. Clair (named after him) 
was organized at this time, embracing all the 
settlements between the Wabash and the Missis- 
sippi. (See St. Clair County.) He found the 
inhabitants generally in a deplorable condition, 
neglected by the Government, the courts of jus- 
tice practically abolished and many of the citizens 
sadly in need of tlie obligations due them from 
the Government for supplies furnished to Colonel 
Clark twelve years before. After a stay of three 
montlis, the Governor returned east. In 1795, 
Judge Turner held the first court in St. Clair 
County, at Cahokia, as the county-seat, although 
both Cahokia and Kaskaskia had been named as 
county-seats by Governor St. Clair. Out of the 
disposition of the local authorities to retain the 
official records at Cahokia, and consequent dis- 
agreement over the county-seat question, at least 
in part, grew the order of 1795 organizing the 
second county (Randolph), and Kaskaskia became 
its county-seat. In 1796 Governor St. Clair paid 
a second visit to Illinois, accompanied by Judge 
Symmes, who held court at both county-seats. 
On Nov. 4, 1791, occurred the defeat of Gov- 
ernor St. Clair, in the western part of the present 
State of Ohio, by a force of Indians under com- 
mand of Little Turtle, in which the whites sus- 
tained a heavy loss of both men and property — 
an event which had an unfavorable effect upon 
conditions throughout the Northwest Territory 
generally. St. Clair, having resigned his com- 
mand of the army, was succeeded by Gen. 
Anthony Wayne, who, in a vigorous campaign, 
overwhelmed the Indians with defeat. This 
resulted in the treaty with the Western tribes at 
Greenville, August 3, 1795, which was the begin- 
ning of a period of comparative peace with the 
Indians all over the Western Country. (See 
Wayne, (Oen.) Anthony.) 

First Territorial Legislation.— In 1798, the 
Territory having gained the requisite population, 
an election of members of a Legislative Council 
and House of Representatives was held in accord- 
ance with the provisions of the Ordinance of 1787. 
This was the first Territorial Legislature organized 
in the historj' of the Republic. It met at Cincin- 
nati, Feb. 4, 1799, Shadrach Bond being the 
Delegate from St. Clair County and John Edgar 



from Randolph. Gen. William Henry Harrison, 
who had succeeded Sargent as Secretary of the 
Territory, June 26, 1798, was elected Delegate to 
Congress, receiving a majority of one vote over 
Arthur St. Clair, Jr., son of the Governor. 

Ohio and Indiana Territories. — By act of 
Congress, May 7, 1800, the Northwest Territory 
was divided into Ohio and Indiana Territories ; 
the latter embracing the region west of the pres- 
ent State of Ohio, and having its capital at "Saint 
Vincent" (Vincennes). May 13, William Henry 
Harrison, who had been the first Delegate in Con- 
gress from the Northwest Territor}-, was ap- 
pointed Governor of Indiana Territory, which at 
first consisted of three counties : Knox, St. Clair 
and Randolph — the two latter being within the 
boundaries of the present State of Illinois. Their 
aggregate population at this time was estimated 
at less than 5,000. During his administration 
Governor Harrison concluded thirteen treaties 
with the Indians, of which six related to the ces- 
sion of lands in Illinois. The first treaty relating 
to lands in Illinois was that of Greenville, con- 
cluded by General Wayne in 1795, By this the 
Government acquired six miles square at the 
mouth of the Chicago River ; twelve miles square 
at the mouth of the Illinois; six miles square at 
the old Peoria fort ; the post of Fort Massac ; and 
150,000 acres assigned to General Clark and his 
soldiers, besides all other lands "in possession of 
the French people and all other white settlers 
among them, the Indian title to which had been 
thus extinguished." (See Indian Treaties; also, 
Oreenville, Treaty of. ) 

During the year 1803, the treaty with France 
for the purchase of Louisiana and West Florida 
was concluded, and on March 26, 1804, an act was 
passed by Congress attaching all that portion of 
Louisiana lying north of the thirtj'-third parallel 
of latitude and west of the Mississippi to Indiana 
Territory for governmental purposes. This in- 
cluded the present States of Arkansas, Missouri, 
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, the two 
Dakotas and parts of Colorado, Wyoming and Mon- 
tana. This arrangement continued only until 
the following March, when Louisiana was placed 
under a separate Territorial organization. 

P'or four years Indiana Territory was governed 
under laws framed by the Governor and Judges, 
but, the population having increased to the re- 
quired number, an election was held, Sept. 
11, 1804, on the proposition to advance the gov- 
ernment to the "second grade" by the election of 
a Territorial Legislature. The smallness of the 
vote indicated the indifference of the people on 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



255 



the subject Out of 400 votes cast, the proposition 
received a majority of 138. The two Illinois 
counties cast a total of 142 votes, of which St. 
Clair furnished 81 and Randolph 61. The former 
gave a majority of 37 against the measure and 
the latter 19 in its favor, sliowing a net negative 
majority of 18. The adoption of the proposition 
was due, therefore, to the affirmative vote in the 
other counties. There were in the Territory at 
this time six counties; one of tliese (Wayne) was 
in Michigan, which was set off, in 180.5, as a sep- 
arate Territory. At the election of Delegates to 
a Territorial Legislature, lield Jan. 3, 180.5, Shad- 
rach Bond, Sr. , and William Biggs were elected 
for St. Clair County and George Fisher for Ran- 
dolph. Bond having meanwhile become a mem- 
ber of the Legislative Council, Shadrach Bond, 
Jr., was chosen his successor. The Legislature 
convened at Vincennes, Feb. 7, 180.5, but only 
to recommend a list of persons from whom 
it was the duty of Congress to select a Legislative 
Council. In addition to Bond, Pierre Menard 
was chosen for Randolph and John Hay for St. 
Clair. 

Illinois Territory Organized. — The Illinois 
counties were represented in two regular and one 
special session of the Territorial Legislature dur- 
ing the time they were a part of Indiana Terri- 
tory. By act of Congress, which became a law 
Feb. 3, 1809, the Territory was divided, the west- 
ern part being named Illinois. 

At this point the history of Illinois, as a sepa- 
rate political division, begins. While its bounda- 
ries in all other directions were as now, on the 
north it extended to the Canada line. From 
what has already been said, it appears that the 
earliest white settlements were established by 
French-Canadians, chiefly at Kaskaskia, Cahokia 
and the other villages in the southern part of the 
American Bottom. At the time of Clark's in- 
vasion, there were not known to have been more 
than two Americans among these people, except 
such hunters and trappers as paid them occasional 
visits. One of the earliest American settlers in 
Southern Illinois was Capt. Nathan Hull, who 
came from Massachusetts and settled at an early 
day on the Ohio, near where Golconda now 
stands, afterward removing to the vicinity of 
Kaskaskia, where he died in 1806. In 1781, a 
company of immigrants, consisting (with one or 
two exceptions) of members of Clark's command 
in 1778, arrived with their families from Mary- 
land and Virginia and established themselves on 
the American Bottom The "New Design" set- 
tlement, on the boundary line between St. Clair 



and Monroe Counties, and the first distinctively 
American colony in the "Illinois Country," was 
established by this party. Some of its members 
aftertvard became prominent in the history of the 
Territory and the State. William Biggs, a mem- 
ber of tlie first Territorial Legislature, with 
others, settled in or near Kaskaskia about 1783, 
and William Arundel, the first American mer- 
chant at Cahokia, came there from Peoria during 
the same year. Gen. John Edgar, for many years 
a leading citizen and merchant at the capital, 
arrived at Kaskaskia in 1784, and William Mor- 
rison, Kaskaskia's principal merchant, came from 
Philadelphia as early as 1790, followed some years 
afterward by several brothers. James Lemen 
came before the beginning of the present cen- 
tury, and was the founder of a large and influ- 
ential family in the vicinity of Shiloh, St. Clair 
County, and Rev. David Badgley headed a colony 
of 154 from Virginia, who arrived in 1797. 
Among other prominent arrivals of this period 
were John Rice Jones, Pierre Menard (first 
Lieutenant-Governor of the State), Shadrach 
Bond, Jr. (first Governor), John Hay, John 
Messinger, William Kinney, Capt. Joseph Ogle; 
and of a later date, Nathaniel Pope (afterward 
Secretary of the Territory, Delegate to Congress. 
Justice of the United States Court and father of 
the late Maj.-Gen. John Pope), Elias Kent Kane 
(first Secretary of State and afterward United 
States Senator), Daniel P. Cook (first Attorney- 
General and second Representative in Congress), 
George Forquer (at one time Secretary of State), 
and Dr. George Fisher — all prominent in Terri- 
torial or State history. (See biographical 
sketches of these early settlers imder their re- 
spective names.) 

The government of the new Territory was 
organized by the appointment of Ninian Ed- 
wards, Governor; Nathaniel Pope, Secretary, 
and Alexander Stuart, Obadiah Jones and Jesse 
B. Thomas, Territorial Judges. (See Edwards, 
Ninian.) Stuart having been transferred to 
Missouri, Stanley Griswold was appointed in 
his stead. Governor Edwards arrived at Kas- 
kaskia, the capital, in June, 1809. At that 
time the two counties of St. Clair and Randolpli 
comprised the settled portion of tlie Territory, 
with a white population estimated at about 9,000. 
The Governor and Judges immediately proceeded 
to formulate a code of laws, and the appoint- 
ments made by Secretary Pope, who had preceded 
the Governor in his arrival in the Territory, were 
confirmed. Benjamin H. Doyle was the first 
Attorney-General, but he resigned in a few 



256 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



months, when the place \vas offered to John J. 
Crittenden — the well-known United States Sen- 
ator from Kentucky at the beginning of the 
Civil War — but by him declined. Thomas T. 
Crittenden was then appointed. 

An incident of the year 181.1 was the battle of 
Tippecanoe, resulting in the defeat of Tecumseh, 
the great cliief of the Shawnees, by Gen. William 
Henr3' Harrison. Four companies of mounted 
rangers were raised in Illinois this year under 
direction of Col. William Russell, of Kentucky, 
who built Camp Russell near Edwardsville the 
following year. They were commanded bj- Cap- 
tains Samuel Whiteside, William B. Whiteside, 
James B. Moore and Jacob Short. The memo- 
rable earthquake which had its center about New 
Madrid, Mo., occurred in December of this 
year, and was quite violent in some portions of 
Southern Illinois. (See Earthquake of IS 11.) 

War of 1812. — During the following year the 
second war with England began, but no serious 
outbreak occurred in Illinois until August, 1813, 
when the massacre at Fort Dearborn, where 
Chicago now stands, took place. This had long 
been a favorite trading post of the Indians, at 
first vinder French occupation and afterward 
under the Americans. Sometime during 1803-04, 
a fort had been built near the mouth of Chicago 
River on the south side, on land acquired from the 
Indians by the treaty of Greenville in 1795. (See 
Fort Dearborn.) In the spring of 1812 some 
alarm had been caused bj- outrages committed by 
Indians in the vicinity, and in the early part of 
August, Capt. Nathan Heald, commanding the 
garrison of less than seventy-five men, received 
.instructions from General Hull, in command at 
Detroit, to evacuate the fort, disposing of the 
public property as he might see fit. Friendly 
Indians advised Heald either to make prepara- 
tions for a vigorous defense, or evacuate at once. 
Instead of this, he notified the Indians of his in- 
tention to retire and divide the stores among 
them, with the conditions subsequently agreed 
upon in council, that his garrison should be 
afforded an escort and safe passage to Fort 
Wayne. On the 14th of August he proceeded to 
distribute the bulk of the goods as promised, but 
the ammunition, guns and liquors were de- 
stroyed. This he justified on the ground that a 
bad use would be made of them, while the 
Indians construed it as a violation of the agree- 
ment. The tragedy which followed, is thus de- 
scribed in Moses' "History of Illinois;" 

"Black Partridge, a Pottawatomie Chief, who 
had been on terms of friendship with the whites, 



appeared before Captain Heald and informed 
him plainly Wiat his young men intended to 
imbrue their hands in the blood of the whites ; 
that he was no longer able to restrain them, and, 
surrendering a medal he had worn in token of 
amity, closed by saying: 'I will not wear a 
token of peace while I am compelled to act as an 
enemy. ' In the meantime tlie Indians were riot- 
ing upon the provisions, and becoming so aggres- 
sive in their bearing that it was resolved to inarch 
out the next day. The fatal fifteenth arrived. 
To each soldier was distributed twenty-five 
rounds of reserved ammunition. The baggage 
and ambulance wagons were laden, and the gar- 
rison slowly wended its way outside the protect- 
ing walls of the fort — the Indian escort of 500 
following in the rear. What next occurred in 
this disastrous movement is narrated by Captain 
Heald in his report, as follows: 'The situation of 
the country rendered it necessary for us to take 
the beach, with the lake on our left, and a high 
sand bank on our right at about three hundred 
yards distance. We had proceeded about a mile 
and a half, when it was discovered (by Captain 
Wells) that the Indians were prepared to attack 
us from behind the bank. I immediately marched 
up with the company to the top of the bank, 
when the action commenced: after firing one 
round, we charged, and the Indians gave way in 
front and joined those on our flanks. In about fif- 
teen minutes they got possession of all our horses, 
provisions and baggage of every description, and 
finding the Miamis (who had come from Fort 
Wayne with Captain Wells to act as an escort) 
did not assist us, I drew off the few men I had 
left and took possession of a small elevation in 
the open prairie out of shot of the bank, or any 
other cover. The Indians did not follow me but 
assembled in a body on top of tlie bank, and after 
some consultation among themselves, made signs 
for me to approach them. I advanced toward 
them alone, and was met by one of the Potta- 
watomie chiefs called Black Bird, with an inter- 
preter. After shaking hands, he requested me to 
surrender, promising to spare the lives of all the 
prisoners. On a few moments' consideration I 
concluded it would be most prudent to comply 
with this request, although I did not put entire 
confidence in his promise. The troops had made 
a brave defense, but what could so small a force 
do against such overwhelming numbers? It was 
evident with over half their number dead upon 
the field, or wounded, further resistance would 
be hopeless. Twenty-six regulars and twelve 
militia, with two women and twelve children, 
were killed. Among the slain were Captain 
Wells, Dr. Van Voorhis and Ensign George 
Ronan. (Captain Wells, wlien young, had been 
captured by Indians and had married among 
them.) He (Wells) was familiar with all the 
wiles, stratagems, as well as the vindictiveness 
of the Indian character, and when the conflict 
began, he said to his niece (Mrs. Heald), by 
whose side he was standing, 'We have not the 
slightest chance for life; we must part to meet 
no more in this world. God bless you.' With 
these words he dashed forward into the thickest 
of the fight. He refused to be taken prisoner, 
knowing what his fate would be, when a young 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



257 



red-skin cut him down with his tomahawk, 
jumped upon his bod}', cut out liis heart and ate 
a portion of it with sarage deligiit. 

"The prisoners taken were Captain Heald and 
wife, both wounded. Lieutenant Helm, also 
wounded, and wife, witli twentj'-five non-com- 
missioned officers and privates, and eleven women 
and children. The loss of the Indians was fifteen 
killed. Mr. Kinzie's family had been entrusted 
to the care of some friendly Indians and were not 
with the retiring garrison. The Indians engaged 
in this outrage were principally Pottawatomies, 
with a few Chippewas, Ottavi'as, Winnebagoes, 
and Kickapoos. Fort Dearborn was plundered 
and burned on the next morning." (See Fort 
Dearborn: also War of IS 12.) 

Thus ended the most bloody tragedy that ever 
occurred on the soil of Illinois with Americans as 
victims. The place where this affair occurred, 
as described by Captain Heald, was on the lake 
shore about the foot of Eighteenth Street in 
the present city of Chicago. After the destruction 
of the fort, the site of the pre.sent City of Chicago 
remained unoccupied until 1816, when the fort 
was rebuilt. At that time the bones of the vic- 
tims of the massacre of 1813 still lay bleaching 
upon the sands near the lake shore, but they 
were gathered up a few years later and buried. 
The new fort continued to be occupied somewhat 
irregularly until 1837, when it was finally aban- 
doned, there being no longer any reason for 
maintaining it as a defense against the Indians. 

Other Events of the War. — The part played 
by Illinois in the War of 1813, consisted chiefly 
in looking after the large Indian population 
within and near its borders. Two expeditions 
were undertaken to Peoria Lake in the Fall of 
1813; the first of these, under the direction of 
Governor Edwards, burned two Kickapoo vil- 
lages, one of them being that of "Black Part- 
ridge," who had befriended the whites at Fort 
Dearborn. A few weeks later Capt. Thomas E. 
Craig, at the head of a company of militia, made a 
descent upon the ancient French village of Peoria, 
on the pretext that the inhabitants had har- 
bored hostile Indians and fired on his boats. He 
burned a part of the town and, taking the people 
as prisoners down the river, put them ashore 
below. Alton, in the beginning of winter. Both 
these affairs were severely censured. 

There were expeditions against the Indians on 
the Illinois and Upper Mississippi in 1813 and 
1814. In the latter year, Illinois troops took part 
with credit in two engagements at Rock Island — 
the last of these being in co-operation with regu- 
lars, under command of JIaj. Zachary Taylor, 
afterwards President, against a force of Indians 
supported by the British. Fort Clark at Peoria 



was erected in 1813, and Fort Edwards at War- 
saw, opposite the mouth of the Des Moines, at 
the close of the campaign of 1814. A council 
with the Indians, conducted by Governors 
Edwards of Illinois and Clarke of Missouri, and 
Auguste Chouteau, a merchant of St. Louis, as 
Government Commissioners, on the Mississippi 
just below Alton, in July, 1815, concluded a 
treaty of peace with the principal Northwestern 
tribes, thus ending the war. 

First Territorial Legislature.— By act of 
Congress, adopted May 21, 1813, the Territory of 
Illinois was raised to the second grade — i. e., em- 
powered to elect a Territorial Legislature. In 
September, three additional counties — Madison, 
Gallatin and Johnson — were organized, making 
five in all, and, in October, an election for the 
choice of five members of the Council and seven 
Representatives was held, resulting as follows: 
Councilmen — Pierre Menard of Randolph County ; 
William Biggs of St. Clair; Samuel Judy of 
Madison; Thomas Ferguson of Johnson, and 
Benjamin Talbot of Gallatin. Representatives — 
George Fisher of Randolph ; Joshua Oglesby and 
Jacob Short of St. Clair ; William Jones of Madi- 
son; Philip Trammel and Alexander Wilson of 
Gallatin, and John Grammar of Johnson. The 
Legislature met at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, the Coun- 
cil organizing with Pierre Menard as President 
and John Thomas, Secretary; and the House, 
with George Fisher as Speaker and William C. 
Greenup, Clerk. Shadrach Bond was elected the 
first Delegate to Congress. 

A second Legislature was elected in 1814, con- 
vening at Kaskaskia. Nov. 14. Menard was con- 
tinued President of the Council during the whole 
Territorial period ; while George Fisher was 
Speaker of each House, except the Second. The 
county of Edwards was organized in 1814, and 
White in 1815. Other counties organized under 
the Territorial Government were Jackson, Mon- 
roe, Crawford and Pope in 1816; Bond in 1817, 
and Franklin, Union and Washington in 1818, 
making fifteen in all. Of these all but the 
three last-named were organized previous to the 
passage by Congress of the enabling act author- 
izing the Territory of Illinois to organize a State 
government. In 1816 the Bank of Illinois was 
established at Shawneetown, with branches at 
Edwardsville and Kaskaskia. 

Early Towns.— Besides the French villages in 
the American Bottom, there is said to have been 
a French and Indian village on the west bank of 
Peoria Lake, as early as 1711. This site appears 
to have been abandoned about 1775 and a new 



258 



niSTOmCAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



village establislied on the present site of Peoria 
soon after, which was maintained until 1812, 
when it was broken up by Captain Craig. Other 
early towns were Shawneetown, laid out in 1808 ; 
Belleville, established as the county-seat of St. 
Clair County, in 1814; Edwardsville, founded in 
1815; Upper Alton, in 1816, and Alton, in 1818. 
Carmi, Fairfield, Waterloo, Golconda, Lawrence- 
ville. Mount Carmel and Vienna also belonged to 
this period; while Jacksonville, Springfield and 
Galena were settled a few years later. Chicago 
is mentioned in "Beck's Gazetteer" of 1823, as "a 
village of Pike County." 

Admission as a State. — The preliminary steps 
for the admission of Illinois as a State, were taken 
in the passage of an Enabling Act by Congress, 
April 13, 1818. An imjjortant incident in this 
connection was tlie amendment of the act, mak- 
ing the parallel of -12' 30' from Lake Jlichigan to 
the Mississippi River the nortliern boundary, 
instead of a line extending from the southerji 
extremity of the Lake. This was obtained 
through the influence of Hon. Nathaniel Pope, 
then Delegate from Illinois, and by it the State 
secured a strip of country fifty-one miles in 
width, from the Lake to the Mississippi, embrac- 
ing what have since become fourteen of the most 
populous counties of the State, including the city 
of Chicago. The political, material and moral 
results which have followed this important act, 
have been the subject of much interesting dis- 
cussion and cannot be easily over-estimated. 
(See Northern Boundary Question; also Pope, 
Nathaniel.) 

Another measure of great importance, which Mr. 
Pope secured, was a modification of the provision 
of the Enabling Act requiring the appropriation of 
five per cent of the proceeds from the sale of pub- 
lic lands within the State, to tlie construction of 
roads and canals. Tlie amendment which he 
secured authorizes the application of two-fifths 
of this fund to tlie making of roads leading to the 
State, but requires "the residue to be appropri- 
ated bj- the Legislature of the State for the 
encouragement of learning, of which one-sixth 
part shall be exclusively bestowed on a college or 
university." This was the beginning of that 
system of liberal encouragement of education by 
the General Government, which has been at- 
tended with such beneficent results in the younger 
States, and has reflected so much honor upon the 
Nation. (See Education; Railroads, and Illinois 
& Michigan Canal.) 

The Enabling Act required as a precedent con- 
dition that a census of the Territory, to be taken 



that j'ear, should show a population of 40,000. 
Sucli a result was shown, but it is now confessed 
that the number was greatly exaggerated, the 
true population, as afterwards given, being 34,020. 
According to the decennial census of 1820, the 
population of the State at that time was .55,162. 
If there was any short-coming in this respect in 
1818, the State has fully compensated for it by 
its unexampled growth in later years. 

An election of Delegates to a Convention to 
frame a State Constitution was held July 6 to 8, 
1818 (extending through three days), thir*)'-three 
Delegates being chosen from the fifteen counties 
of the State. The Convention met at Kaskaskia, 
August 3, and organized by the election of Jesse 
B. Thomas, President, and "William C. Greenup, 
Secretary, closing its labors, August 26. The 
Constitution, which was modeled largely upon 
the Constitutions of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, 
was not submitted to a vote of the people. (See 
Constitutional Conventions, especially Conven- 
tion of 1S18. ) Objection was made to its accept- 
ance by Congress on the ground that the 
population of the Territory was insufficient and 
that the prohibition of slavery was not as ex- 
plicit as required by the Ordinance of 1787 ; but 
these arguments were overcome and the docu- 
ment accepted by a vote of 117 yeas to 34 nays. 
The only officers whose election was provided for 
by popular vote, were the Governor, Lieutenant- 
Governor, Sheriffs, Coroners and County Commis- 
sioners. The Secretary of State, State Treasurer, 
Auditor of Public Accounts, Public Printer and 
Supreme and Circuit Judges were all appointive 
either by the Governor or General Assembly. 
The elective franchise was granted to all white 
male inhabitants, above the age of 21 years, who 
had resided in the State six months. 

The first State election was held Sept. 17, 
1818, resulting in the choice of Shadrach Bond 
for Governor, and Pierre Menard. Lieutenant- 
Governor. The Legislature, cliosen at the same 
time, consisted of thirteen Senators and twenty- 
seven Representatives. It commenced its session 
at Kaskaskia, Oct. 5, 1818. and adjourned after a 
session of ten days, awaiting the formal admis- 
sion of the State, which took place Dec. 3. A 
second session of the same Legislature was held, 
extending from Jan. 4 to March 31, 1819. 
Risdon Moore was Speaker of the first House. 
The other State officers elected at the first ses- 
sion were Elijah C. Berry, Auditor : John Thomas, 
Treasurer, and Daniel P. Cook, Attorney-General. 
Elias Kent Kane, having been appointed Secre- 
tary of State by the Governor, was confirmed by 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



259 



the Senate. Ex-Governor Edwards and Jesse B. 
Thomas were elected United States Senators, the 
former drawing the short term and serving one 
year, when he was re-elected. Thomas served 
two terms, retiring in 1829. The first Supreme 
Court consisted of Joseph PhilUps, Chief Justice, 
with Thomas C. Browne, WilUam P. Foster and 
John Reynolds, Associate Justices. Foster, who 
was a mere adventurer without any legal knowl- 
edge, left the State in a few months and was 
succeeded by William Wilson. (See State Officers, 
United States Senators, and Judiciary.) 

Menard, who served as Lieutenant-Governor 
four years, was a noteworthy man. A native of 
Canada and of French descent, he came to Kas- 
kaskia in 1790, at the age of 24 years, and 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was hos- 
pitable, frank, liberal and enterprising. The fol- 
lowing story related of him illustrates a pleas- 
ant feature of his character : "At one time there 
was a scarcity of salt in the country, and Menard 
held the only supply outside of St. Louis. A 
number of his neighbors called upon him for 
what they wanted ; he declined to let them know 
whether he could supply them or not, but told 
them to come to his store on a certain day, when 
he would inform them. They came at the time 
appointed, and were seated. Menard passed 
around among them and inquired of each, 'You 
got money?' Some said they had and some that 
they had not, but would pay as soon as they 
killed their hogs. Those who had money he 
directed to range themselves on one side of the 
room and those who had none, on the other. Of 
course, those who had the means expected to get 
the salt and the others looked very much dis- 
tressed and crestfallen. Menard then spoke up 
in his brusque way, and said, 'You men who got 
de money, can go to St. Louis for your salt. 
Dese poor men who got no money shall have my 
salt, by gar.' Such was the man — noble-hearted 
and large-minded, if unpolished and uncouth." 
(See Menard, Pierre.) 

Removal of the Capital to Vandalia. — 
At the second session of the General Assembly, 
five Commissioners were appointed to select a 
new site for the State Capital. What is now the 
city of Vandalia was selected, and. in December, 
1820, the entire archives of the State were re- 
moved to the new capital, being transported in 
one small wagon, at a cost of $25.00, under the 
supervision of the late Sidney Breese, who after- 
wards became United States Senator and Justice 
of the Supreme Court. (See State Capitals.) 

Uurine the session of the Second General 



Assembly, which met at Vandalia, Dec. 4, 
1820, a bill was passed establishing a State Bank 
at Vandalia. with branches at Shawneetown, 
Edwardsville and Brownsville. John McLean, 
who had been the first Representative in Con- 
gress, was Speaker of the House at this session. 
He was twice elected to the United States Senate, 
though he served only about two years, dying In 
1830. (See State Bank.) 

IXTRODUCTIOS OF THE SLAVERY QUESTION. — 

The second State election, which occurred in 
August, 1822, proved the beginning of a turbu- 
lent period through the introduction of some 
exciting questions into State politics. There 
were four candidates for gubernatorial honors in 
the field : Chief-Justice Phillips, of the Supreme 
Court, supported by the friends of Governor 
Bond; Associate- Justice Browne, of the same 
court, supported by the friends of Grovernor 
Edwards; Gen. James B. Moore, a noted Indian 
fighter and the candidate of the "Old Rangers," 
and Edward Coles. The latter was a native of 
Virginia, who had served as private secretary of 
President Monroe, and had been employed as a 
special messenger to Russia. He had made two 
visits to Illinois, the first in 1815 and the second 
in 1818. The Convention to form a State Constit u- 
tion being in session at the date of the latter 
visit, he took a deep interest in the discussion of 
the slavery question and exerted his influence in 
securing the adoption of the prohibitory article 
in the organic law. On April 1, 1819, he started 
from his home in Virginia to remove to Edwards- 
ville, 111., taking with him his ten slaves. The 
journey from Brownsville, Pa., was made in 
two flat-boats to a point below Louisville, where 
he disembarked, traveling by land to Edwards- 
ville. While descending the Ohio River he sur- 
prised his slaves by announcing that they were 
free. The scene, as described by himself, was 
most dramatic. Having declined to avail them- 
selves of the privilege of leaving him, he took 
them with him to his destination, where he 
eventually gave each head of a family IGO acres 
of land. Arrived at Edwardsville, he assumed 
the position of Register of the Land Oflice, to 
which he had been appointed by President Mon- 
roe, before leaving Virginia. 

The act of Coles with reference to his slaves 
established his reputation as an opponent of 
slavery, and it was in this attitude that he stood 
as a candidate for Governor — both Phillips and 
Browne being friendly to "the institution," 
which had had a virtual existence in the "Illinois 
Country" from the time Renavilt brought 500 



260 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



slaves to the vicinity of Kaskaskia, one hun- 
dred years before. Although the Constitution 
declared that "neither slavery nor involuntary 
servitude shall hereafter be introduced into the 
State," this had not been effectual in eliminating 
it. In fact, while this language was construed, 
so long as it remained in the Constitution, as 
prohibiting legislation authorizing the admission 
of slaves from without, it was not regarded as 
inimical to the institution as it already existed ; 
and, as the population came largely from the 
slave States, there had been a rapidly growing 
sentiment in favor of removing the inhibitory 
clause. Although the pro-slavery party was 
divided between two candidates for Governor, 
it had hardly contemplated the possibility of 
defeat, and it was consequently a surprise when 
the returns showed that Coles was elected, receiv- 
ing 2,854 votes to 2,687 for Phillips, 2,443 for 
Browne and 622 for Moore — Coles' plurality 
being 167 in a total of 8,606. Coles thus became 
Governor on less than one-third of the popular 
vote. Daniel P. Cook, who had made the race 
for Congress at the same election against 
McLean, as an avowed opponent of slavery, was 
successful by a majority of 876. (See Coles, 
Edicard; also Cook. Daniel Pope. ) 

The real struggle was now to occur in the Legis- 
lature, which met Dec. 2, 1822. The House 
organized with William M. Alexander as Speaker, 
while the Seilate elected Thomas Lippincott 
(afterwards a prominent Presbyterian minister 
and the father of the late Gen. Charles E. Lippin- 
cott), Secretary, and Henry S. Dodge, Enrolling 
and Engrossing Clerk. The other State officers 
appointed by the Governor, or elected by the 
Legislature, were Samuel D. Lookwood, Secretary 
of State: Elijah C. Berry, Auditor: Abner Field, 
Treasurer, and James Turney, Attornej'-General. 
Lockwood had served nearly two years previously 
as Attorney-General, but remained in the office 
of Secretary of State only three months, when he 
resigned to accept the position of Receiver for 
the Land Office. (See Lockwood, Samuel Drake.) 

The slavery question came up in the Legisla- 
ture on the reference to a special committee of a 
portion of the Governor's message, calling atten- 
tion to the continued existence of slaverj' in spite 
of the ordinance of 1787, and recommending that 
steps be taken for its extinction. Majority and 
minority reports were submitted, the former 
claiming the right of the State to amend its Con- 
stitution and thereby make such disposition of 
the slaves as it saw proper. Out of this grew a 
resolution submitting to the electors at the next 



election a proposition for a convention to revise 
the Constitution. This passed the Senate by the 
necessary two-thirds vote, and, having come up 
in the House (Feb. 11, 1823), it failed by a single 
vote — Nicholas Hansen, a Representative from 
Pike County, whose seat had been unsuccessfully 
contested by John Shaw at the beginning of the 
session, being one of those voting in the negative. 
The next day, without further investigation, the 
majority proceeded to reconsider its action in 
seating Hansen two and a half months previ- 
ously, and Shaw was seated in his place: though, 
in order to do this, some crooked work was nec- 
essary to evade the rules. Shaw being seated, 
the submission resolution was then passed. No 
more exciting campaign was ever had in Illinois. 
Of five papers then published in the State, "The 
Edwardsville Spectator," edited by Hooper 
Warren, opposed the measure, being finally rein- 
forced by "The Illinois Intelligencer," which had 
been removed to Vandalia; "The Illinois Gaz- 
ette," at Shawneetown, published articles on 
both sides of the question, though rather favoring 
the anti-slavery cause, while "The Republican 
Advocate," at Kaskaskia, the organ of Senator 
Elias Kent Kane, and "The Republican," at 
Edwardsville, under direction of Judge Theophi- 
lus W. Smith, Emanuel J. West and Judge 
Samuel McRoberts (afterwards United States 
Senator), favored the Convention. The latter 
paper was established for the especial purpose of 
supporting the Convention scheme and was 
promptly discontinued on the defeat of the meas- 
ure. (See Newspapers, Early.) Among other 
supporters of the Convention proposition were 
Senator Jesse B. Thomas, John McLean, Richard 
M. Young, Judges Phillips, Browne and Reynolds, 
of the Supreme Court, and many more ; while 
among the leading champions of the opposition, 
were Judge Lockwood, George Forquer (after- 
ward Secretary of State), Morris Birkbeck, George 
Churchill, Thomas Mather and Rev. Thomas Lip- 
pincott. Daniel P Cook, then Representative in 
Congress, was the leading champion of freedom 
on the stump, while Governor Coles contributed 
the salary of his entire term (84,000), as well as 
his influence, to the support of the cause. Gov- 
ernor Edwards (then in the Senate) was the owner 
of slaves and occupied a non-committal position. 
The election was held August 2, 1824, resulting in 
4,972 votes for a Convention, to 6,640 against it, 
defeating the proposition by a majority of 1,668. 
Considering the size of the aggregate vote 
(11,612), the result was a decisive one. By it 
Illinois escaped the greatest danger it ever en- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



261 



countered previous to the War of the Rebellion. 
(See Slavery and Slave Lairs. ) 

At the same election Cook was re-elected to 
Congress by 3,016 majority over Shadrach Bond. 
The vote for President was divided between John 
Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay 
and William H. Crawford — Adams receiving a 
plurality, but much below a majority. The Elect- 
oral College failing to elect a President, the 
decision of the question passed into the hands of 
the Congressional House of Representatives, 
when Adams was elected, receiving the vote of 
Illinois through its only Representative, Mr. Cook. 

During the remainder of his term, Governor 
Coles was made the victim of much vexatious 
litigation at the hands of his enemies, a verdict 
being rendered against him in the sum of $3,000 
for bringing his emancipated negroes into the 
State, in violation of the law of 1819. The Legis- 
lature having passed an act releasing him from 
the penalty, it was declared unconstitutional by 
a malicious Circuit Judge, though his decision 
was promptly reversed by the Supreme Court. 
Having lived a few years on his farm near 
Edwardsville, in 1832 he removed to Philadelphia, 
where he spent the remainder of his days, his 
death occurring there, July 7, 1868. In the face 
of opprobrium and defamation, and sometimes in 
danger of mob violence. Governor Coles per- 
formed a service to the State which has scarcely 
yet been fully recognized. (See Coles, Edward.) 

A ridiculous incident of the closing year of 
Coles' administration was the attempt of Lieut. - 
Gov. Frederick Adolphus Hubbard, after having 
tasted the sweets of executive power during the 
Governor's temporary absence from the State, to 
usurp the position after the Governor's return. 
The ambitious aspirations of the would-be usurper 
were suppressed by the Supreme Court. 

An interesting event of the year 1825, was the 
visit of General La Fayette to Kaskaskia. He 
was welcomed in an address by Governor Coles, 
and the event was made the occasion of much 
festivity by the French citizens of the ancient 
capital. (See La Fayette, Visit of .) 

The first State House at Vandalia having been 
destroyed by fire, Dec. 9, 1823, a new one was 
erected during the following year at a cost of 
112,381.50, toward which the people of Vandalia 
contributed §5,000. 

Edwards' Administration.— The State elec- 
tion of 1826 resulted in again calling Ninian 
Edwards to the gubernatorial chair, which he 
had filled during nearly the whole of the exist- 
ence of Illinois as a Territory. Elected one of the 



first United States Senators, and re-elected for a 
second term in 1819, he had resigned this oflice in 
1824 to accept the position of Minister to Mexico, 
by appointment of President Monroe. Having 
become involved in a controversy with William 
H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury, he 
resigned the Mexican mission, and, after a period 
of retirement to private life for the first time 
after he came to Illinois, he appealed to the 
people of the State for endorsement, with the 
result stated. His administration was unevent- 
ful except for the "Winnebago War," which 
caused considerable commotion on the frontier, 
without resulting in much bloodshed. Governor 
Edwards was a fine specimen of the "old school 
gentleman" of that period — dignified and polished 
in his manners, courtly and precise in his address, 
proud and ambitious, with a tendency to the 
despotic in his bearing in consequence of having 
been reared in a slave State and his long connec- 
tion with the executive office. His early educa- 
tion had been under the direction of the 
celebrated William Wirt, between whom and 
himself a close friendship existed. He was 
wealthy for the time, being an extensive land- 
owner as well as slave-holder and the proprietor of 
stores and mills, which were managed by agents, 
but he lost heavily by bad debts. He was for 
many years a close friend of Hooper Warren, the 
pioneer printer, furnishing the material with 
which the latter published his papers at Spring- 
field and Galena. At the expiration of his term 
of office near the close of 1830, he retired to his 
home at Belleville, where, after making an un- 
successful campaign for Congress in 1882, in 
which he was defeated by Charles Slade, he 
died of cholera, July 20, 1833. (See Edwards, 
Ninian. ) 

William Kinney, of Belleville, who was a can- 
didate for Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket 
opposed to Edwards, was elected over Samuel M. 
Thompson. In 1830, Kinney became a candidate 
for Governor but was defeated by John Reynolds, 
known as the "Old Ranger." One of the argu- 
ments used against Kinney in this campaign was 
that, in the Legislature of 1823, he was one of 
three members who voted against the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, on the ground that "it (the 
canal) would make an opening for the Yankees 
to come to the country." 

During Edwards' administration the first steps 
were taken towards the erection of a State peni- 
tentiary at Alton, funds therefor being secured 
by the sale of a portion of the saline lands in Gal- 
latin County. (See Alton Penitentiary.) The first 



262 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Commissioners having charge of its construction 
were Shadraoh Bond, William P. MoKee and 
Dr. Gershom Jayne — the last-named the father of 
Dr. William Jayne of Springfield, and father-in- 
law of the late Senator Lyman Trumbull. 

Governor Reynolds — Black Hawk War. — 
The election of 1830 resulted in the choice of John 
Reynolds for Governor over William Kinney, by 
a majority of 3,899, in a total vote of 49,051, 
while Zadoc Casey, the candidate on the Kinney 
ticket, was elected Lieutenant-Governor. (See 
Reynolds, John.) 

The most important event of Reynolds' admin- 
istration was the "Black-Hawk War." Eight 
thousand militia were called out during this war 
to reinforce 1,500 regular troops, the final result 
being the driving of 400 Indians west of the Mis- 
sissippi. Rock Island, which had been the favor- 
ite rallying point of the Indians for generations, 
was the central point at the beginning of this 
war. It is impossible to give the details of this 
complicated struggle, which was protracted 
through two campaigns (1831 and 1832), though 
there was no fighting worth speaking of except 
in the last, and no serious loss to the whites in 
that, except the surprise and defeat of Stillman's 
command. Beardstown was the base of opera- 
tions in each of these campaigns, and that city 
has probably never witnessed such scenes of 
bustle and excitement since. The Indian village 
at Rock Island was destroyed, and the fugitives, 
after being pursued through Northern Illinois 
and Southwestern Wisconsin without being 
allowed to surrender, were driven beyond the 
Mississippi in a famishing condition and with 
spirits completely broken. Galena, at that time 
the emporium of the "Lead Mine Region," and 
the largest town in the State north of Springfield, 
was the center of great excitement, as the war 
was waged in the region surrounding it. (See 
Black Hatrk War.) Although cool judges have 
not regarded this campaign as reflecting honor 
upon either the prowess or the magnanimity of 
the whites, it was remarkable for the number of 
those connected with it whose names afterwards 
became famous in the history of the State and 
the Nation. Among them were two who after- 
wards became Presidents of the United States — 
Col. Zachary Taylor of the regular army, and 
Abraham Lincoln, a Captain in the State militia 
— besides Jefferson Davis, then a Lieutenant in 
the regular army and afterwards head of the 
Southern Confederacy; three subsequent Gov- 
ernors — Duncan, Carlin and Ford — besides Gov- 
ernor Reynolds, who at that time occupied the 



gubernatorial chair; James Semple, afterwards 
United States Senator; John T. Stuart, Lincoln's 
law preceptor and partner, and later a Member 
of Congress, to say nothing of many others, who, in 
after years, occupied prominent positions as mem- 
bers of Congress, the Legislature or otherwise. 
Among the latter were Gen. John J. Hardin; 
the late Joseph Gillespie, of Edwardsville ; Col. 
John Dement; William Thomas of Jackson- 
ville; Lieut. -Col. Jacob Fry; Henry Dodge and 
others. 

Under the census of 1830, Illinois became 
entitled to three Representatives in Congress 
instead of one, by whom it had been represented 
from the date of its admission as a State. Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Case}-, having been elected to 
the Twenty-third Congress for the Second Dis- 
trict under the new apportionment, on March 1, 
1833, tendered his resignation of the Lieutenant- 
Governorship, and was succeeded by William L. 
D. Ewing, Temporary President of the Senate. 
(See Apportionment, Congressional; Casey, Zadoc, 
and Representatives in Congress.) Within two 
weeks of the close of his term (Nov. 17, 1834), 
Governor Reynolds followed the example of his 
associate in office by resigning the Governorship 
to accept the seat in Congress for the First (or 
Southern) District, which had been rendered 
vacant by the death of Hon. Charles Slade, the 
incumbent in office, in July previous. This 
opened the way for a new promotion of acting 
Lieutenant-Governor Ewing, who thus had the 
distinction of occupying the gubernatorial oflSce 
for the brief space of two weeks. (See Reynolds, 
John, a.nd Slade, Charles.) 

Ewing probably held a greater variety of 
oflSces under the State, than any other man who 
ever lived in it. Repeatedly elected to each 
branch of the General Assembly, he more than 
once filled the chair of Speaker of the House and 
President of the Senate ; served as Acting Lieu- 
tenant-Governor and Governor by virtue of the 
resignation of his superiors; was United States 
Senator from 1835 to 1837; still later became 
Clerk of the House where he had presided as 
Speaker, finally, in 1843, being elected Auditor of 
Public Accounts, and dying in that office three 
years later. In less than twenty years, he held 
eight or ten different offices, including the high- 
est in the State. (See Eicing, William Lee David- 
son. ) 

Duncan's Administration. — Joseph Duncan, 
who had served the State as its only Represent- 
ative in three Congresses, was elected Governor, 
August, 1834, over four competitors — William 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



263 



Kinney, Robert K. McLaughlin, James Evans 
and W. B. Archer. (See Duncan, Joseph. ) 

His administration was made memorable by 
the large number of distinguished men who 
either entered public life at this period or gained 
additional prominence by their connection with 
public affairs. Among these were Abraliam Lin- 
coln and Stephen A. Douglas; Col. E. D. Baker, 
who afterward and at different times represented 
Illinois and Oregon in the councils of the Nation, 
and who fell at Ball's Bluff in 1862 ; Orville H. 
Browning, a prospective United States Senator 
and future cabinet oificer; Lieut.-Gov. John 
Dougherty; Gen. James Shields, Col. John J. 
Hardin, Archibald Williams, Cyrus and Ninian 
W. Edwards; Dr. John Logan, father of Gen. 
John A. Logan ; Stephen T. Logan, and many 
more. 

During this administration was begun that 
gigantic scheme of "internal improvements," 
which proved so disastrous to the financial inter- 
ests of the State. The estimated cost of the 
various works undertaken, was over §11,000,000, 
and though little of substantial value was real- 
ized, yet, iu 1853, the debt (principal and inter- 
est) thereby incurred (including that of the 
canal), aggregated nearly .$17,000,000. The col- 
lapse of the sclieme was, no doubt, hastened by 
the unexpected suspension of specie payments 
by the banks all over the country, which followed 
soon after its adoption. (See Internal Improve- 
ment Policy; also State Debt.) 

Capital Removed to Springfield. — At the 
session of the General Assembly of 1836-37, an act 
was passed removing the State capital to Spring- 
field, and an appropriation of §50,000 was made to 
erect a building ; to this amount the city of Spring- 
field added a like sum, besides donating a site. In 
securing the passage of these acts, the famous 
"Long Nine," consisting of A. G. Herndon and 
Job Fletcher, in tlie Senate; and Abraham Lin- 
coln, Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew 
McCormick, Dan Stone, William F. Elkin and 
Robert L. Wilson, in the House — all Representa- 
tives from Sangamon County — played a leading 
part. 

The Murder of Lovejoy. — An event occurred 
near the close of Governor Duncan's term, which 
left a stain upon the locality, but for which his 
administration had no direct responsibility; to- 
wit, the murder of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy, by a 
pro-slavery mob at Alton. Lovejoy was a native 
of Maine, who, coining to St. Louis in 1837, had 
been employed upon various papers, the last 
being "The St. Louis Observer. " The outspoken 



hostility of this paper to slavery aroused a bitter 
local opposition which led to its removal to 
Alton, where the first number of "The Alton 
Observer" was issued, Sept. 8, 1836, though not 
until one press and a considerable portion of the 
material had been destroyed by a mob. On the 
night of August 21, 1837, there was a second 
destruction of the material, when a third press 
having been procured, it was taken from the 
warehouse and thrown into the Mississippi. A 
fourth press was ordered, and, pending its 
arrival, Lovejoy appeared before a public meet- 
ing of his opponents and, in an impassioned 
address, maintained his right to freedom of 
speech, declaring in conclusion: "If the civil 
authorities refuse to protect me, I must look to 
God ; and if I die, I have determined to make my 
grave in Alton." These words proved prophetic. 
The new press was stored in the warehouse of 
Godfrey, Gillman & Co., on the night of Nov. 6, 
1837. A guard of sixty volunteers remained 
about the building the next day, but when night 
came all but nineteen retired to their homes. 
During the night a mob attacked the building, 
when a shot from the inside killed Lyman Bishop. 
An attempt was then made by the rioters to fire 
the warehouse by sending a man to the roof. To 
dislodge the incendiary, Lovejoy, with two 
others, emerged from the building, when two or 
three men in concealment fired upon him, the 
shots taking effect in a vital part of his body, 
causing his death almost instantly. He was 
buried the following day %vithout an inquest. 
Several of the attacking party and the defenders 
of the building were tried for riot and acquitted 
— the former probably on account of popular 
sympathy with the crime, and the latter because 
they were guiltless of any crime except that of 
defending private property and attempting to 
preserve the law. The act of firing the fatal 
shots has been charged upon two men — a Dr. 
Jennings and his comrade. Dr. Beall. The 
former, it is said, was afterwards cut to pieces yi 
a bar-room fight in Vicksburg, Miss., while the 
latter, having been captured by Comanche 
Indians in Texas, was burned alive. On the 
other hand, Lovejoy has been honored as a 
martyr and the sentiments for which he died 
have triumphed. (See Lovejoy, Elijah Parish; 
also Alton Riots.) 

Carlin Succeeds to the Governorship. — 
Duncan was succeeded by Gov. Thomas Carlin, 
who was chosen at the election of 1838 over 
Cyrus Edwards (a younger brother of Gov. 
Ninian Edwards), who was the Wliig candidate. 



264 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



The successful candidate for Lieutenant-Governor 
was Stinson H. Anderson of Jefferson County. 
{See CarIin,{Goi:} Thomas; Anderson. Stinson H.) 

Among the members of the Legislature chosen 
at this time we find the names of Orville H. 
Browning, Robert Blackwell, George Churchill, 
William G. Gatewood, Ebenezer Peck (of Cook 
County), William A. Richardson, Newton Cloud, 
J«sse K. Dubois, O. B. Ficklin, Vital Jarrot, 
John Logan, William F. Thornton and Archibald 
Williams — all men of prominence in the subse- 
quent history of the State. This was the last 
Legislature that assembled at Vandalia, Spring- 
field becoming the capital, July 4, 1839. The 
corner-stone of the first State eapitol at Spring- 
field was laid with imposing ceremonies, July 4, 
1837, Col. E. D. Baker delivering an eloquent 
address. Its estimated cost was 8130,000, but 
$240,000 was expended upon it before its com- 
pletion. 

An incident of this campaign was the election 
to Congress, after a bitter struggle, of John T. 
Stuart over Stephen A. Douglas from the Third 
District, bj' a majority of fourteen votes. Stuart 
was re-elected in 1840, but in 1842 he was suc- 
ceeded, under a new apportionment, by Col. John 
J. Hardin, while Douglas, elected from the 
Quincy District, then antered the National Coun- 
cils for the first time. 

Field-McClernand Contest. — An exciting 
event connected with Carlin's administration was 
the attempt to remove Alexander P. Field from 
the office of Secretary of State, which he had 
held .since 1828. Under the Constitution of 1818, 
this office was filled by nomination by the Gov- 
ernor "with the advice and consent of the 
Senate." Carlin nominated John A. McCler- 
nand to supersede Field, but the Senate refused to 
confirm the nomination. After adjournment of 
the Legislature, McClernand attempted to obtain 
possession of the office by writ of quo warranto. 
The Judge of a Circuit Court decided the case in 
his favor, but this decision was oven-uled by the 
Supreme Court. A special session having been 
called, in November, 1840, Stephen A. Douglas, 
then of Morgan County, was nominated and con- 
firmed Secretary of State, but held the position 
only a few months, when lie resigned to accept a 
place on the Supreme bench, being succeeded as 
Secretary by Lyman Trumbull. 

Supreme Court Revolutionized. — Certain 
decisions of some of the lower courts about this 
time, bearing upon the suffrage of aliens, excited 
the apprehension of the Democrats, who had 
heretofore been in political control of the State, 



and a movement was started in the Legislature 
to reorganize the Supreme Court, a majority of 
whom were Whigs. The Democrats were not 
unanimous in favor of the measure, but, after a 
bitter struggle, it was adopted, receiving a bare 
majority of one in the House. Under this act 
five additional Judges were elected, viz. : Thomas 
Ford, Sidney Breese, Walter B. Scates, Samuel 
H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas — all Demo- 
crats. Mr. Ford, one of the new Judges, and 
afterwards Governor, has characterized this step 
as "a confessedly violent and somewhat revolu- 
tionary measure, which could never have suc- 
ceeded except in times of great party excite- 
ment." 

The great Whig mass-meeting at Springfield, 
in June, 1840, was an incident of the political 
campaign of that year. No such popular assem- 
blage had ever been seen in the State before. It 
is estimated that 20.000 people — nearly five per 
cent of the entire population of the State — were 
present, including a large delegation from Chi- 
cago who marched overland, under command of 
the late Maj -Gen. David Hunter, bearing with 
them many devices so popular in that memorable 
campaign. 

Ford Elected Governor. — Judge Thomas 
Ford became the Democratic candidate for Gov- 
ernor in 1842, taking the place on the ticket of 
Col. Adam W. Snyder, who had died after nomi- 
nation. Ford was elected by more than 8,000 
majority over ex-Governor Duncan, the Whig 
candidate. John Moore, of McLean County (who 
had been a member of the Legislature for several 
terms and was afterwards State Treasurer), 
was elected Lieutenant-Governor. (See Ford, 
Thomas; Snyder, Adam W., and Moore, John.) 

Emb.4^rrassing Questions. — The failure of the 
State and the Shawneetown banks, near the close 
of Carlin's administration, had produced a condi- 
tion of business depression that was felt all over 
the State. At the beginning of Ford's adminis- 
tration, the State debt was estimated at §15,657,- 
950 — within about one million of the highest 
point it ever reached — while the total population 
was a little over half a million. In addition to 
these drawbacks, the Mormon question became a 
source of embarrassment. This people, after 
having been driven from Missouri, settled at 
Nauvoo, in Hancock County: they increased 
rapidly in numbers, and, by the arrogant course 
of their leaders and their odious doctrines — 
especially with reference to "celestial marriage. " 
and their assumptions of authority — aroused the 
bitter hostility of neighboring communities not 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



265 



of their faith. The popular indignation became 
greatly intensified by the course of unscrupulous 
politicians and the granting to the Mormons, by 
the Legislature, of certain charters and special 
privileges. Various charges were made against 
the obnoxious sect, including rioting, kidnap- 
ing, robbery, coxmterfeiting, etc., and the Gov- 
ernor called out the militia of the neighboring 
counties to preserve the peace. Joseph Smith — 
the founder of the sect — with his brother Hyrum 
and three others, were induced to surrender to 
the authorities at Carthage, on the 23d of June, 
1844, under promise of protection of their per- 
sons. Then the charge was changed to treason 
and they were thrown into jail, a guard of eight 
men being placed about the building. A con- 
siderable portion of the militia had disbanded and 
returned home, while others were openly hostile 
to the prisoners. On June 27 a band of 150 
disguised men attacked the jail, finding little 
opposition among those set to guard it. In 
the assault which followed both of the Smiths 
were killed, while John Taylor, another of 
the prisoners, was wounded. The trial of the 
murderers was a farce and they were acquitted. 
A state of virtual war contiuued for a year, 
in which Governor Ford's authority was openly 
defied or treated with contempt by those whom 
he had called upon to preserve the peace. In 
the fall of 1845 the Mormons agreed to leave 
the State, and the following spring the pilgrim- 
age to Salt Lake began. Gen. John J. Hardin, 
who afterward fell at Buena Vista, was twice 
called on by Governor Ford to head parties of 
militia to restore order, while Gen. Mason Bray- 
man conducted the negotiations which resulted 
in the promise of removal. The great body of 
the refugees spent the following winter at Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Iowa, arriving at Salt Lake in June 
following. Another considerable body entered 
the service of the Government to obtain safe con- 
duct and sustenance across the plains. While 
the conduct of the Mormons during their stay 
at Nauvoo was. no doubt, very irritating and 
often lawless, it is equally true that the dis- 
ordered condition of affairs was taken advantage 
of by unscrupulous demagogues for dishonest 
puqioses, and this episode has left a stigma 
upon the name of more than one over-zealous anti- 
Mormon hero. (See Mormons; Smith, Joseph.) 

Though Governor Ford's integrity and ability 
in certain directions have not been questioned, 
his administration was not a successful one, 
largely on account of the conditions which pre- 
vailed at the time and the embarrassments which 



he met from his own party. (See Ford, Tliomas.) 
Mexican War. — A still more tragic chapter 
opened during the last year of Ford's administra- 
tion, in the beginning of the war with Mexico. 
Three regiments of twelve months' volunteers, 
called for by the General Government from the 
State of Illinois, were furnished with alacrity, 
and many more men offered their services than 
could be accepted. The names of their respective 
commanders — Cols. John J. Hardin, William H. 
Bissell and Ferris Forman — have been accorded 
a high place in the annals of the State and the 
Nation. Hardin was of an honorable Kentucky 
family; he had achieved distinction at the bar 
and served in the State Legislature and in Con- 
gress, and his death on the battlefield of Buena 
Vista was universally deplored. (See Hardin, 
John J.) Bissell afterward served with distinc- 
tion in Congress and was the first Republican 
Governor of Illinois, elected in 1856. Edward D. 
Baker, then a Whig member of Congress, re- 
ceived authority to raise an additional regiment, 
and laid the foundation of a reputation as broad 
as the Nation. Two other regiments were raised 
in the State "for the war" during the next j'ear, 
led respectively by Col. Edward W. B. Newby and 
James Collins, beside four independent companies 
of mounted volunteers. The whole number of 
volunteers furnished by Illinois in this conflict 
was 6,123, of whom 86 were killed, and 182 
wounded, 12 dying of their wounds. Their loss 
in killed was greater than that of any other 
State, and the number of %vounded only exceeded 
by those from South Carolina and Pennsylvania. 
Among other lUinoisans who participated in this 
struggle, were Thomas L. Harris, William A. 
Richardson, J. L. D. Morrison, Murray F. Tuley 
and Charles C. P. Holden, while still otliers. 
either in the ranks or in subordinate positions, 
received the "baptism of fire" which prepared 
them to win distinction as commanders of corps, 
divisions, brigades and regiments during the War 
of the Rebellion, including such names as John 
A. Logan, Richard J. Oglesby, Benjamin M. 
Prentiss. James D. Morgan. W. H. L. Wallace 
(who fell at Pittsburg Landing), Stephen G. 
Hicks, Michael K. Lawler, Leonard F. Ross, 
Isham N. Haynie, Theophilus Lyle Dickey, 
Dudley Wickersham, Isaac C. Pugh, Thomas H. 
Flynn, J. P. Post, Nathaniel Niles, W. R. Morri- 
son, and others. (%&e Mexican War.) 

French's ADiirMSTRATioN-MASSAC Rebellion. 
—Except for the Mexican War, which was still 
in progress, and acts of mob violence in certain 
portions of the State— especially bv a band of self- 



266 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



styled "regulators" in Pope and Massac Counties 
— the administration of Augustus C. French, 
•which began with the close of the year 1846, was 
a quiet one. French was elected at the previous 
August election by a vote of 58,700 to 36,775 for 
Thomas M. Kilpatrick, the Wliig candidate, and 
5,112 for Richard Eels, the Free-Soil (or Aboli- 
tion) c^andidate. The Whigs held their first State 
Convention this year for the nomination of a 
State ticket, meeting at Peoria. At the same 
election Abraham Lincoln was elected to Con- 
gress, defeating Peter Cartwright, the famous 
pioneer Methodist preacher, who was the Demo- 
cratic candidate. At the session of the Legisla- 
ture which followed, Stephen A. Douglas was 
elected to the United States Senate as successor 
to James Semple. 

New Convention Movement. — Governor 
French was a native of New Hampshire, born 
August 2, 1808; he had practiced his profession 
as a lawyer in Crawford County, had been a 
member of the Tentli and Eleventh General 
Assemblies and Receiver of the Land Office at 
Palestine. The State had now begun to recover 
from the depression caused by the reverses of 
1837 and subsequent years, and for some time its 
growth in population had been satisfactory. The 
old Constitution, however, had been felt to be a 
hampering influence, especially in dealing with 
the State debt, and, as early as 1842, the question 
of a State Convention to frame a new Constitu- 
tion had been submitted to popular vote, but was 
defeated by the narrow margin of 1,039 votes. 
The Legislature of 1844-45 adopted a resolution 
for resubmission, and at the election of 1846 it 
was approved by the people by a majority of 
35,326 in a total vote of 81,353. The State then 
contained ninety-nine counties, with an aggregate 
population of 662,1.50. The assessed valuation of 
property one year later was $92,206,493, while 
the State debt was 816,661,795 — or more than 
eighteen per cent of the entire assessed value of 
the property of the State. 

Constitutional Convention of 1847. — The 
election of members of a State Convention to 
form a second Constitution for the State of Illi- 
nois, was held April 19, 1847. Of one hundred 
and sixty-two members chosen, ninety-two were 
Democrats, leaving seventy members to all 
shades of the opposition. The Convention 
assembled at Springfield, June 7, 1847; it was 
organized by the election of Newton Cloud, Per- 
manent President, and concluded its labors after 
a session of nearly three months, adjourning 
August 31. The Constitution was submitted to 



a vote of the people, March 6, 1848, and was rati 
fied by 59,887 votes in its favor to 15,859 against. 
A special article prohibiting free persons of color 
from settling in the State was adopted by 49,060 
votes for, to 20,883 against it; and another, pro- 
viding for a two-mill tax, by 41,017 for, to 30,586 
against. The Constitution went into effect April 
1, 1848. (See Constitutions: also Constitutional 
Convention of 1847. ) 

The provision imposing a special two-mill tax, 
to be applied to the payment of the State in- 
debtedness, was the means of restoring the State 
credit, while that prohibiting the immigration 
of free persons of color, though in accordance 
with the spirit of the times, brought upon the 
State much opprobrium and was repudiated 
with emphasis during the War of the Rebellion. 
The demand for retrenchment, caused by the 
financial depression following the wild legislation 
of 1837, led to the adoption of many radical pro- 
visions in the new Constitution, some of which 
were afterward found to be serious errors open- 
ing the way for grave abuses. Among these 
was the practical limitation of the biennial ses- 
sions of the General Assembly to forty-two days, 
while the per diem of members was fixed at two 
dollars. The salaries of State officers were also 
fixed at what would now be recognized as an 
absurdly low figure, that of Governor being 
$1,500; Supreme Court Judges, §1,200 each; Cir- 
cuit Judges, §1,000; State Auditor, $1,000; Secre- 
taiy of State, and State Treasurer, $800 each. 
Among less objectionable provisions were those 
restricting the right of suffrage to white male 
citizens above the age of 21 years, which excluded 
(except as to residents of the State at the time of 
the adoption of the Constitution) a class of 
unnaturalized foreigners who had exercised the 
privilege as "inliabitants" imder the Constitu- 
tion of 1818; providing for the election of all 
State, judicial and county officers by popular 
vote; prohibiting the State from incurring in- 
debtedness in excess of $50,000 without a special 
vote of the people, or granting the credit of the 
State in aid of any individual association or cor- 
poration; fixing the date of the State election 
on the Tuesday after the first Monday in Novem- 
ber in every fourth year, instead of the firs*- 
Monday in August, as had been the rule under 
the old Constitution. The tenure of office of all 
State officers was fixed at four years, except that 
of State Treasurer, which was made two years, 
and the Governor alone was made ineligible to 
immediate re-election. The number of members 
of the General Assembly was fixed at twenty-five 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



26r 



in the Senate and seventy-five in the House, 
subject to a certain specified ratio of in- 
crease when the population should exceed 
1,000,000. 

As the Constitution of 1818 had been modeled 
upon the form then most popular in the Southern 
States — especially with reference to the large 
number of officers made appointive by the Gov- 
ernor, or elective by the Legislature — so the new 
Constitution was, in some of its features, more in 
harmony with those of other Northern States, 
and indicated the growing influence of New Eng- 
land sentiment. This was especially the case 
with reference to the section providing for a sys- 
tem of township organization in the several 
counties of the State at the pleasure of a majority 
of the voters of each county. 

Elections of 1848. — Besides the election for 
the ratification of the State Constitution, three 
other State elections were held in 1848, viz.: (1) 
for the election of State oflScers in August; (2) 
an election of Judges in September, and (3) the 
Presidential election in November. At the first 
of these. Governor French, whose first term had 
been cut short two years by the adoption of the 
new Constitution, was re-elected for a second 
term, practically without opposition, the vote 
against him being divided between Pierre Menard 
and Dr. C. V. Dyer. French tlius became his 
own successor, being the first Illinois Governor 
to be re-elected, and, though two years of his 
first term had been cut off by the adoption of the 
Constitution, he served in the gubernatorial 
ofHce six years. The other State ofiicers elected, 
were William McMurtry, of Knox, Lieutenant- 
Governor ; Horace S. Cooley, of Adams, Secretary 
of State; Thomas H. Campbell, of Randolph, 
Auditor; and Milton Carpenter, of Hamilton, 
State Treasurer — all Democrats, and all but 
McMurtry being their own successors. At the 
Presidential election in November, the electoral 
vote was given to Lewis Cass, the Democratic 
candidate, who received .56,300 votes, to 53,047 
for Taylor, the Whig candidate, and 1.5,774 for 
Martin Van Buren, the candidate of the Free 
Democracy or Free-Soil party. Thus, for the first 
time in the history of the State after 1824, the 
Democratic candidate for President failed to 
receive an absolute majority of the popular vote, 
being in a minority of 12,.521, while having a 
plurality over the Whig candidate of 3,2.53. The 
only noteworthy results in the election of Con- 
gressmen this year were the election of Col. E. D. 
Baker (Whig), from the Galena District, and 
that of Maj. Thomas L. Harris (Democrat), from 



the Springfield District. Both Baker and Harris 
had been soldiers in the Mexican War, which 
probably accounted for their election in Districts 
usually opposed to them politically. The other 
five Congressmen elected from the State at the 
same time — including John Wentworth, then 
chosen for a fourth term from the Chicago Dis- 
trict — were Democrats. The Judges elected to 
the Supreme bench were Lyman Trumbull, from 
the Southern Division; Samuel H. Treat, from 
the Central, and John Dean Caton, from the 
Northern — all Democrats. 

A leading event of this session was the election 
of a United States Senator in place of Sidney 
Breese. Gen. James Shields, who had been 
severely wounded on the battle-field of Cerro 
Gordo ; Sidney Breese, who had been the United 
States Senator for six years, and John A. Mc- 
Clernand, then a member of Congress, were 
arrayed against each other before the Democratic 
caucus. After a bitter contest. Shields was 
declared the choice of his party and was finally 
elected. He did not immediately obtain his seat, 
however. On presentation of his credentials, 
after a heated controversy in Congress and out of 
it, in which he injudiciously assailed his prede- 
cessor in very intemperate language, he was 
declared ineligible on the ground that, being of 
foreign birth, the nine years of citizenship 
required by the Constitution after naturalization 
had not elapsed previous to his election. In 
October, following, the Legislature was called 
together in special session, and. Shields' disabil- 
ity having now been removed by the expiration 
of the constitutional period, he was re-elected, 
though not without a renewal of the bitter con- 
test of the regular session. Another noteworthy 
event of this special session was the adoption of 
a joint resolution favoring the principles of the 
"Wilmot Proviso. '■ Although this was rescinded 
at the next regular session, on the ground that the 
points at issue had been settled in the Compro- 
mise measures of 1850, it indicated the drift of 
sentiment in Illinois toward opposition to the 
spread of the institution of slavery, and this was 
still more strongly emphasized by the election of 
Abraham Lincoln in 1860. 

Illinois Central Railroad.— Two important 
measures which passed the General Assembly at 
the session of 1851, were the Free-Banking Law, 
and the act incorporating the Illinois Central 
Railroad Company. The credit of first suggest- 
ing this great thoroughfare has been claimed for 
William Smith Waite, a citizen of Bond County, 
111. , as early as 1835, although a special charter 



268 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS 



for a road over a part of this line had been passed 
by the Legislature in 1834. W. K. Ackerman, in 
his "Historical Sketch" of the Illinois Central 
Railroad, awards the credit of originating this 
enterprise to Lieut. -Gov. Alexander M. Jenkins, 
in the Legislature of 1832, of which he was a 
member, and Speaker of the House at the time. 
He afterwards became President of the first Illi- 
nois Central Railroad Company, organized under 
an act passed at the session of 1836, which pro- 
vided for the construction of a line from Cairo to 
Peru, 111., but resigned the next year on the sur- 
render by the road of its charter. The first step 
toward legislation in Congress on this subject 
was taken in the introduction, by Senator Breese, 
of a bill in March, 1843; but it was not until 1850 
that the measure took the form of a direct grant 
of lands to the State, finally passing the Senate 
in May, and the House in September, following. 
The act ceded to the State of Illinois, for the pur- 
pose of aiding in the construction of a line of 
railroad from the junction of the Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi, with branches to Chicago and Dubuque, 
Iowa, respective!)', alternate sections of land on 
each side of said railroad, aggregating 2,595,000 
acres, the length of the main line and branches 
exceeding seven hundred miles. An act incorpo- 
rating the Illinois Central Railroad Company 
passed the Illinois Legislature in February, 1851. 
The company' was thereupon promptly organized 
with a number of New York capitalists at its 
head, including Robert Schuyler, George Gris- 
wold and Gouverneur Morris, and the grant was 
placed in the hands of trustees to be used for the 
purpose designated, under the pledge of the 
Company to build the road by July 4, 1854, and 
to pay seven per cent of its gross earnings into 
the State Treasury perpetually. A large propor- 
tion of the line was constructed through sections 
of country either sparsely settled or wholly 
unpopulated, but which have since become 
among the richest and most populous portions of 
the State. The fund already received by the State 
from the road exceeds the amount of the State 
debt incurred under the internal improvement 
scheme of 1837. (See Illinois Central Railroad.) 
Election of 1852. — Joel A. Matteson (Demo- 
crat) was elected Governor at the November 
election, in" 1852, receiving 80,645 votes to 64,405 
for Edwin B. Webb, Whig, and 8,809 for Dexter 
A. Knowlton, Free Soil. The other State officers 
elected, were Gustavus Kcerner, Lieutenant- 
Governor ; Alexander Starne, Secretary of State ; 
Thomas H. Campbell, Auditor ; and John Moore, 
Treasurer. The Whig candidates for these 



offices, respectively, were James L. D. Morrison, 
Buckner S. Morris, Charles A. Betts and Francis 
Arenz. John A. Logan appeared among the new 
members of the House chosen at this election as 
a Representative from Jackson County; while 
Henry W. Blodgett, since United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, and 
late Counsel of the American Arbitrators of the 
Behring Sea Commission, was the only Free-Soil 
member, being the Representative from Lake 
County. John Reynolds, who had been Gov- 
ernor, a Justice of the Supreme Court and Mem- 
ber of Congress, was a member of the House and 
was elected Speaker. (See Webb, Edwin B.; 
Knowlton, Dexter A.; Koerner, Gustainis; Starne, 
Alexander;.. Moore, John; Morrison, James L. D.; 
Morris, Buckner S.; Arenz, Francis A. ; Blodgett 
Henry W.) 

Reduction of State Debt Begins.— The 
State debt reached its maximum at the beginning 
of Matteson's administration, amoimting to 
116,724,177, of which §7,259.823 was canal debt. 
The State had now entered upon a new and pros- 
perous period, and, in the next four years, the 
debt was reduced by the sum of §4,564,840, 
leaving the amount outstanding, Jan. 1, 1857, 
§12,834,144. The three State institutions at 
Jacksonville — ■ the Asj'lums for the Deaf and 
Dumb, tlie Blind and Insane — had been in suc- 
cessful operation several years, but now internal 
dissensions and dissatisfaction with their man- 
agement seriously interfered with their prosperity 
and finally led to revolutions which, for a time, 
impaired their usefulness. 

Kansas-Nebr.\ska Excitement. — During Mat- 
teson's administration a period of political ex- 
citement began, caused by the introduction in 
the United States Senate, in January, 1854, by 
Senator Douglas, of Illinois, of the bill for the 
repeal of the Missouri Compromise — otherwise 
known as the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. Although 
this belongs rather to National history, the 
prominent part played in it by an Illinois states- 
man who had won applause three or four years 
before, by the service he had performed in secur- 
ing the passage of the Illinois Central Railroad 
grant, and the effect which his course had in 
revolutionizing the politics of the State, justifies 
reference to it here. After a debate, almost 
unprecedented in bitterness, it became a law, 
May 30, 1854. The agitation in Illinois was 
intense. At Chicago, Douglas was practically 
denied a hearing. Going to Springfield, where 
the State Fair was in progress, during the first 
week of October, 1854, he made a speech in the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



269 



State Capitol in his defense. This was replied to 
by Abraham Lincoln, then a private citizen, to 
whom Douglas made a rejoinder. Speeches were 
also made in criticism of Douglas' position by 
Judges Breese and Trumbull (both of whom had 
been prominent Democrats), and other Demo- 
cratic leaders were understood to be ready to 
assail the champion of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, 
though they afterwards reversed their position 
imder partisan pressure and became supporters of 
the measure. The first State Convention of the 
opponents of the Nebraska Bill was held at the 
same time, but the attendance was small and the 
attempt to effect a permanent organization was 
not successful. At the session of the Nineteenth 
General Assembly, which met in January, fol- 
lowing, Lyman Trumbull was chosen the first 
Republican United States Senator from Illinois, 
in place of General Shields, whose term was about 
to expire. Trumbull was elected on tne tenth 
ballot, receiving fifty-one votes to forty-seven 
for Governor Matteson, though Lincoln had led 
on the Republican side at every previous ballot, 
and on the first had come within six votes of an 
election. Although he was then the choice of a 
large majority of the opposition to the Demo- 
cratic candidate, when Lincoln saw that the 
original supporters of Trumbull would not cast 
their votes for himself, he generouslj- insisted 
that his friends should support his rival, thus 
determining the result. (See Matteson, Joel A.; 
Trumbull, Lyman, and Lincoln, Abraham.) 

Decatue Editorial Convention. — On Feb. 
22, 1856. occurred the convention of Anti-Neb- 
raska (Republican) editors at Decatur, which 
proved the first effective step in consolidating 
the opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Bill into a 
compact political organization. The main busi- 
ness of this convention consisted in the adoption 
of a series of resolutions defining the position of 
their authors on National questions — especially 
with reference to the institution of slavery — and 
appointing a State Convention to be held at 
Bloomington, May 29, following. A State Cen- 
tral Committee to represent the new party was 
also appointed at this convention. With two or 
three exceptions the Committeemen accepted and 
joined in the call for the State Convention, which 
was held at the time designated, when the first 
Republican State ticket was put in the field. 
Among the distinguished men who participated 
in this Convention were Abraham Lincoln. O. H. 
Browning, Richard Yates, Owen Lovejoy, John 
M. Palmer, Isaac N. Arnold and John Went 
worth. Palmer presided, while Abraham Lin- 



coln, who was one of the chief speakers, was one 
of the delegates appointed to the National Con- 
vention, held at Philadelphia on the 17th of June. 
The candidates put in nomination for State offices 
were: William H. Bissell for Governor; Francis 
A. Hoffman for Lieutenant-Governor (afterward 
replaced by John Wood on account of Hoffman's 
ineligibility) ; Ozias M. Hatch for Secretary of 
State; Jesse K. Dubois for Auditor; James H. 
Miller for State Treasurer, and William H. Powell 
for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The 
Democratic ticket was composed of William A. 
Richardson for Governor; R. J. Hamilton, Lieu- 
tenant-Governor; W. H. Snyder, Secretary of 
State ; S. K. Casey, Auditor ; John Moore, Treas- 
urer, and J. H. St. Matthew, Superintendent of 
Public Instruction. The American organization 
also nominated a ticket headed by Buckner S. 
Morris for Governor. Although the Democrats 
carried the State for Buchanan, their candidate 
for President, by a plurality of 9,1.59, the entire 
Republican State ticket was elected by pluralities 
ranging from 3,031 to 30,213— the latter being the 
majority for Miller, candidate for State Treas- 
urer, whose name was on both the Republican and 
American tickets. (See Anti-Nebraska Editorial 
Convention, and Bloomington Convention of 
1856.) 

Administration of Governor Bissell. — 
With the inauguration of Governor Bissell,, the 
Republican party entered upon the control of the 
State Government, which was maintained with- 
out interruption until the close of the administra- 
tion of Governor Fifer, in January, 1893— a period 
of thirty -six years. On account of physical disa- 
bility Bissell's inauguration took place in the 
executive mansion, Jan. 12, 18.57. He was 
immediately made the object of virulent personal 
abuse in the House, being charged with perjury 
in taking the oath of office in face of the fact 
that, while a member of Congress, he had accepted 
a challenge to fight a duel with Jefferson Davis. 
To this, the reply was made that the offense 
charged took place outside of the State and be- 
yond the legal jurisdiction of the Constitution of 
Illinois. (See Bissell, William H. ) 

While the State continued to prosper under 
Bissell's administration, the most important 
events of this period related rather to general 
than to State policy. One of these was the deliv- 
ery by Abraham Lincoln, in the Hall of Repre- 
sentatives, on the evening of June 17, 1858, of the 
celebrated speech in which he announced the 
doctrine that "a house divided against itself can- 
not stand." This was followed during the next 



270 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



few months by the series of memorable debates 
between those two great champions of their 
respective parties — Lincoln and Douglas— which 
attracted the attention of the whole land. The 
result was the re-election of Douglas to the 
United States Senate for a third term, but it 
also made Abraham Lincoln President of the 
United States. (See Lincoln and Doiighix 
Debates.) 

About the middle of Bissell's term (February, 
1859), came the discovery of what has since been 
known as the celebrated "Canal Scrip Fraud." 
This consisted in the fraudulent funding in State 
bonds of a large amount of State scrip which had 
been issued for temporary purposes during the 
construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
but wliich had been subseq\iently redeemed. A 
legislative investigation proved the amount ille- 
gally funded to have been 8323, 182, and that the 
bulk of the bonds issued therefor — so far as they 
could be traced — had been delivered to ex-Gov. 
Joel A. Matteson. For this amount, with ac- 
crued interest, he gave to the State an indemnity 
bond, secured by real-estate mortgages, from 
which the State eventually realized §238,000 out 
of $255,000 then due. Further investigation 
proved additional frauds of like character, aggre- 
gating .$165, 346, which the State never recovered. 
An attempt was made to prosecute Matteson 
criminally in the Sangamon County Circuit 
Court, but the grand jury failed, by a close vote, 
to find an indictment against him. (See Canal 
Scrip Fraud. ) 

An attempt was made during Bissell's adminis- 
tration to secure the refunding (at par and in 
violation of an existing law) of one hundred and 
fourteen .§1,000 bonds hypothecated with Maealis- 
ter & Stebbins of New York in 1841, and for 
which the State had received an insignificant 
consideration. The error was discovered when 
new bonds for the principal had been issued, but 
the process was immediately stopped and the 
new bonds surrendered — the claimants being 
limited by law to 28.64 cents on the dollar. This 
subject is treated at length elsewhere in this vol- 
ume. (See Maeali.iter & Stebbins Bonds. ) Governor 
BLssell's administration was otherwise unevent- 
ful, although the State continued to prosper 
under it as it had not done since the "internal 
improvement craze'' of 1837 had resulted in im- 
posing such a burden of debt upon it. At the 
time of his election Governor Bissell was an 
invalid in consequence of an injury to his spine, 
from which he never recovered. He died in 
office, March 18, 1860, a little over two months 



after having entered upon the last year of his 
term of office, and was succeeded bj' Lieut. -Gov. 
John Wood, who served out the unexpired term. 
(See Bissell, William H.: also Wood, John.) 

Political Campaign of 1860. — The political 
campaign of 1860 was one of unparalleled excite- 
ment throughout the nation, but especially in 
Illinois, which became, in a certain sense, the 
chief battle-ground, furnishing the successful 
candidate for the Presidency, as well as being the 
State in which the convention which nominated 
him met. The Republican State Conventinii, 
held at Decatur, May 9, put in nomination 
Richard Yates of Morgan County, for Governor; 
Francis A. Hoffman for Lieutenant-Governor, 
O. M. Hatch for Secretary of State, Jesse K. 
Dubois for Auditor, William Butler for Treasurer, 
and Newton Bateman for Superintendent of Pub- 
lic Instruction. If this campaign was memorable 
for its excitement, it was also memorable for the 
large number of National and State tickets in the 
field. The National Republican Convention 
assembled at Chicago, May 16, and, on the third 
ballot, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for 
President amid a whirlwind of enthusiasm unsur- 
passed in the history of National Conventions, of 
which so many have been held in the "conven- 
tion city" of the Northwest. The campaign was 
what might have been expected from such a 
beginning. Lincoln, tliough receiving consider- 
ably less than one-half the popular vote, had a 
pluralitj' over his highest competitor of nearly 
half a million votes, and a majority in the elect- 
oral colleges of fifty-seven. In Illinois he 
received 172.161 votes to 160,215 for Douglas, his 
leading opjionent. The vote for Governor stood : 
Yates (Republican), 172,196; Allen (Douglas- 
Democrat), 159,253; Hope (BreckinridgeDemo- 
crat), 2,049; Stuart (American), 1,626. 

Among the prominent men of different parties 
who appeared for the first time in the General 
Assembly chosen at this time, were William B. 
Ogden, Richard J. Oglesbj-, AVashington Bushnell, 
and Henry E. Dummer, of the Senate, and Wil- 
liam R. Archer, J. Russell Jones, Robert H. 
McClellan, J. Young Scammon, William H. 
Brown, Lawrence Weldon, N. M. Broadwell, and 
John Scholfield. in the House. Slielby M. Cul- 
lom, who had entered the Legislature at the 
previous session, was re-elected to this and was 
chosen Speaker of the House over J. W. Single- 
ton. Lyman Trumbull was re-elected to the 
United States Senate by the votes of the Repub- 
licans over Samuel S. Marshall, the Democratic 
candidate. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



271 



Beginning of the Rebellion. — Almost simul- 
taneously with the accession of the new State 
Government, and before the inauguration of the 
President at Washington, began that series of 
startling events which ultimately culminated in 
the attempted secession of eleven States of the 
Union — the first acts in the great drama of war 
which occupied the attention of the world for the 
next four years. On Jan. 14, 1861, the new 
State administration was inaugurated ; on Feb. 2, 
Commissioners to the futile Peace Conven- 
tion held at Wasliington, were appointed from 
Illinois, consisting of Stephen T. Logan, John M. 
Palmer, ex-Gov. John Wood, B. C. Cook and T. J. 
Turner; and on Feb. 11, Abraham Lincoln 
took leave of his friends and neighbors at Spring- 
field on his departure for Washington, in that 
simple, touching speech which has taken a place 
beside his inaugural addresses and his Gettysburg 
speech, as an American classic. The events 
which followed ; the firing on Fort Sumter on the 
twelfth of April and its surrender; the call for 
75.000 troops and the excitement which prevailed 
all over the country, are matters of National his- 
tory. Illinoisans responded with promptness and 
enthusiasm to the call for six regiments of State 
militia for three months' service, and one week 
later (April 21), Gen. R. K. Swift, of Chicago, at 
the head of seven companies numbering 595 men, 
was en route for Cairo to execute the order of the 
Secretary of War for the occupation of that 
place. The offer of military organizations pro- 
ceeded rapidly, and by the eighteenth of April, 
fifty companies had been tendered, while tlie 
public-spirited and patriotic bankers of the prin- 
cipal cities were ofi'ering to supply the .State with 
money to arm and equip the hastily organized 
troops. Following in order the six regiments 
which Illinois had sent to the Mexican War, 
those called out for the three months' service in 
1861 were numbered consecutively from seven to 
twelve, and were commanded by the following 
officers, respectively: Cols. John Cook, Richard 
J. Oglesby, Eleazer A. Paine, James D. Morgan, 
W. H. L. Wallace and John McArthur, with 
Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss as brigade com- 
mander. The rank and file numbered 4,680 men, 
of whom 2,000, at the end of their term of serv- 
ice, re-enlisted for three years. (See War of the 
Rebellion. ) 

Among the many who visited the State Capitol 
in the early months of war to offer their services 
to the Government in suppressing the Rebellion, 
one of the most modest and unassuming was a 
gentleman from Galena who brought a letter of 



introduction to Governor Yates from Congress- 
man E. B. Washburne. Though he had been a 
Captain in the regular army and had seen service 
in the war with Mexico, he set up no pretension 
on that account, but after days of patient wait- 
ing, was given temporary employment as a clerk 
in the office of the Adjutant-General, Col. T. S. 
Mather. Finally, an emergency having arisen 
requiring the services of an officer of military 
experience as commandant at Camp Yates (a 
camp of rendezvous and instruction near Spring- 
field), he was assigned to the place, rather as an 
experiment and from necessity than from convic- 
tion of anj- peculiar fitness for the position. 
Having acquitted himself creditably liere, he was 
assigned, a few weeks later, to the command of a 
regiment (The Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers) 
which, from previous bad management, had 
manifested a mutinous tendency. And thus 
L^lysses S. Grant, the most successful leader of 
the war, the organizer of final victory over the 
Rebellion, the Lieutenant-General of the armies 
of the Union and twice elected President of the 
United States, started upon that career which 
won for liim the plaudits of the Nation and the 
title of the grandest soldier of his time. (See 
Grant, Ulysses S.) 

The responses of Illinois, under the leadership 
of its patriotic "War Governor," Richard Yates, 
to the repeated calls for volunteers through the 
four years of war, were cheerful and prompt. Illi- 
nois troops took part in nearly every important 
battle in the Mississippi Valley and in many of 
those in the East, besides accompanying Sher- 
man in his triumphal "March to the Sea." Illi- 
nois blood stained tlie field at Belmont, at 
Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Forts Donelson and 
Henry ; at Shiloh, Corinth, Nashville, Stone River 
and Chickamauga; at Jackson, during the siege 
of Vicksburg, at AUatoona Pass, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, in 
the South and West; and at Chancellorsville, 
Antietam, Gettysburg, Petersburg and in the 
battles of "the Wilderness" in Virginia. Of all 
the States of the Union, Illinois alone, up to 
Feb. 1, 1864, presented the proud record of hav- 
ing answered every call upon her for troops 
without a draft. The whole number of enlist- 
ments from the State under the various calls from 
1861 to 1865, according to the records of the War 
Department, was 255,057 to meet quotas aggi'e- 
gating 244,496. The ratio of troops furnished to 
population was 15.1 per cent, which was only 
exceeded by the District of Columbia (whicli 
had a large influx from the States), and Kansas 



272 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and Nevada, each of which had a much larger 
proportion of adult male population. The whole 
number of regimental organizations, according 
to the returns in the Adjutant General's office, 
was 151 regiments of infantry (numbered con- 
secutirely from the Sixth to the One Hundred 
and Fifty-seventh), 17 regiments of cavalry and 3 
regiments of artillery, besides 9 independent bat- 
teries. The total losses of Illinois troops, officially 
reported by the War Department, were 34,834 
(13.65 per cent), of which 5,874 were killed in 
battle, 4,020 died of wounds, 22,786 died of disease, 
and 2.154 from other causes. Besides the great 
Commander-in-Chief, Abraham Lincoln, and 
Lieut. -Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Illinois furnished 
11 full Major-Generals of volunteers, viz.: 
Generals John Pope, John A. McClernand, S. A. 
Hurlbut, B. M. Prentiss, John 51. Palmer, R. J. 
Oglesby, John A. Logan, John M. Schofield, Giles 
A. Smith, Wesley Merritt and Benjamin H. 
Grierson ; 20 Brevet Major-Generals ; 24 Brigadier- 
Generals, and over 120 Brevet Brigadier-Generals. 
(See sketches of these officers under their respec- 
tive names. ) Among the long list of regimental 
officers who fell upon the field or died from 
wounds, appear the names of Col. J. R. Scott of 
the Nineteenth ; Col. Thomas D. Williams of the 
Twenty-fifth, and Col. F. A. Harrington of the 
Twenty -seventh — all killed at Stone River; Col. 
John W. S. Alexander of the Twenty-first; Col. 
Daniel Gilmer of the Thirty -eighth ; Lieut-Col. 
Duncan J. Hall of the Eighty-ninth ; Col. Timothy 
O'Meara of the Ninetieth, and Col. Holden Put- 
nam, at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge; 
Col. John B. Wyman of tlie Thirteenth, at 
Chickasaw Bayou; Lieut.-Col. Thomas W. Ross, 
of the Thirty -second, at Shiloh; Col. John A. 
Davis of the Forty -sixth, at Hatchie; Col. Wil- 
liam A. Dickerman of the One Hundred and 
Third, at Resaca; Col. Oscar Harmon, at Kene- 
saw; Col. John A. Bross, at Petersburg, besides 
Col. Mihalotzy, Col. Silas Miller, Lieut.-Col. 
Melancthon Smith, Maj. Zenas Applington, Col. 
John J. Mudd, Col. Matthew H. Starr, Maj. Wm. 
H. Medill, Col. Warren Stewart and many more 
on other battle-fields. (Biographical sketches of 
many of these officers will be found under the 
proper heads elsewhere in this volume.) It 
would be a grateful task to record here the names 
of a host of others, who, after acquitting them- 
selves bravely on the field, survived to enjoy the 
plaudits of a grateful people, were this within 
the design and scope of the present work. One 
of the most brilliant exploits of the War was the 
raid from La Grange, Tenn., to Baton Rouge, 



La., in May, 1863, led by Col. B. H. Grierson, of 
the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, in co-operation with 
the Seventh under command of Col. Edward 
Prince. 

Constitutional Convention of 1862. — An 
incident of a different character was the calling 
of a convention to revise the State Constitu- 
tion, which met at Springfield, Jan. 7, 1862. A 
majority of this body was composed of those 
opposed to the war policy of the Government, 
and a disposition to interfere with the affairs of 
the State administration and the General Gov- 
ernment was soon manifested, whicli was resented 
by the executive and many of the soldiers in the 
field. The convention adjourned March 24, and 
its work was submitted to vote of the people, 
June 17, 1862, when it was rejected by a majority 
of more than 16,000, not counting the soldiers in 
the field, who were permitted, as a matter of 
policy, to vote upon it, but who were practically 
unanimous in opposition to it. 

Death of Douglas.— A few days before this 
election (June 3, 1862), United States Senator 
Stephen A. Douglas died, at the Tremont House 
in Chicago, depriving the Democratic party of 
the State of its most sagacious and patriotic 
adviser. (See Douglas, Stephen A. ) 

Legislature of 1863.— Another political inci- 
dent of this period grew out of the session of the 
General Assembly of 1863. This body having 
been elected on the tide of the political revulsion 
which followed the issuance of President Lin- 
coln's preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation, 
was Democratic in both branches. One of its 
first acts was the election of William A. Richard- 
son United States Senator, in place of O. H. 
Browning, who had been appointed by Governor 
Yates to the vacancy caused by the death of 
Douglas. This Legislature early showed a tend- 
ency to follow in the footsteps of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1863, by attempting to 
cripple the State and General Governments in 
the prosecution of the war. Resolutions on the 
subject of the war, which the friends of the 
Union regarded as of a most mischievous charac- 
ter, were introduced and passed in the House, but 
owing to the death of a member on the majority 
side, they failed to pass the Senate. These 
denounced the suspension of the writ of habeas 
corpus; condemned "the attempted enforcement 
of compensated emancipation" and "the transpor- 
tation of negroes into the State;" accused the 
General Government of "usurpation," of "sub- 
verting the Constitution" and attempting to 
establish a "consolidated military despotism;" 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



273 



charged that the war had been "diverted from its 
first avowed object to that of subjugation and 
the abolition of slavery;" declared the belief of 
the authors that its "further prosecution .... 
cannot result in the restoration of the Union 
.... unless the President's Emancipation Proc- 
lamation be withdrawn;'' appealed to Congress 
to secure an armistice with the rebel States, and 
closed by appointing six Commissioners (who 
were named) to confer with Congress, with a 
view to the holding of a National Convention to 
adjust the differences between the States. These 
measures occupied the attention of the Legisla- 
ture to the exclusion of subjects of State interest, 
so that little legislation was accomplished — not 
even the ordinary appropriation bills being passed. 

Legislature Prorogued. — At this juncture, 
the two Houses having disagreed as to the date 
of adjournment, Governor Yates exercised the 
constitutional prerogative of proroguing them, 
which he did in a message on June 10, declaring 
them adjourned to the last day of their constitu- 
tional term. The Republicans accepted the result 
and withdrew, but the Democratic majority in 
the House and a minority in the Senate continued 
in session for some days, without being able to 
transact any business except the filing of an 
empty protest, when they adjourned to the first 
Monday of Januarj', 1864. The excitement pro- 
duced by this affair, in the Legislature and 
throughout the State, was intense ; but the action 
of Governor Yates was sustained by the Supreme 
Court and the adjourned session was never held. 
The failure of the Legislature to make provision 
for the expenses of the State Government and the 
relief of the soldiers in the field, made it neces- 
sary for Governor Yates to accept that aid from 
the public-spirited bankers and capitalists of the 
State which was never wanting when needed 
during this critical period. (See Twenty-Third 
General Assembly.) 

Peace Conventions.— Largely attended "peace 
conventions" were held during this year, at 
Springfield on June 17, and at Peoria in Septem- 
ber, at which resolutions opposing the "further 
offensive prosecution of the war" were adopted. 
An immense Union mass-meeting was also held 
at Springfield on Sept. 3, which was addressed 
by distinguished speakers, including both Re- 
publicans and 'War-Democrats. An important 
incident of this meeting was the reading of the 
letter from President Lincoln to Hon. James C. 
Conkling, in which he defended his war policy, 
and especially his Emancipation Proclamation, 
in a characteristically logical manner. 



Political Campaign of 1864.— The year 1864 
was full of exciting political and military events. 
Among the former was the nomination of George 
B. McClellan for President by the Democratic Con- 
vention held at Chicago, August 29, on a platform 
declaring the wara "failure" as an "experiment" 
for restoring the Union, and demanding a "cessa- 
tion of hostilities" with a view to a convention for 
the restoration of peace. Mr. Lincoln had been 
renominated by the Republicans at Philadelphia, 
in June previous, with Andrew Johnson as the 
candidate for Vice-President. The leaders of the 
respective State tickets were Gen. Richard J. 
Oglesby, on the part of the Republicans, for Gov- 
ernor, with 'William Bross, for Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, and James C. Robinson as the Democratic 
candidate for Governor. 

Camp Douglas Conspiracy. — For months 
rumors had been rife concerning a conspiracy of 
rebels from the South and their sympathizers in 
the North, to release the rebel prisoners confined 
in Camp Douglas, Chicago, and at Rock Island, 
Springfield and Alton — aggregating over 25,000 
men. It was charged that the scheme was to be 
put into effect simultaneously with the Novem- 
ber election, but the activity of the military 
authorities in arresting the leaders and seizing 
their arms, defeated it. The investigations of a 
military court before whom a number of the 
arrested parties were tried, proved the existence 
of an extensive organization, calling itself 
"American Knights" or "Sons of Liberty," of 
which a number of well-known politicians in 
Illinois were members. (See Camp Douglas 
Conspiracy.) 

At the November election Illinois gave a major- 
ity for Lincoln of 30,7.56, and for Oglesby, for 
Governor, of 33,675, with a proportionate major- 
ity for the rest of the ticket. Lincoln's total vote 
in the electoral college was 212, to 21 for McClellan. 

Legislature of 1865. — The Republicans had a 
decided majority in both branches of the Legis- 
lature of 1865, and one of its earliest acts was the 
election of Governor Yates, United States Sena- 
tor, in place of William A. Richardson, who had 
been elected two years before to the seat formerly 
held by Douglas. This was the last public posi- 
tion held by the popular Illinois "AVar Gov- 
ernor." During his official term no more popular 
public servant ever occupied the executive chair 
— a fact demonstrated by the promptness with 
which, on retiring from it, he was elected to the 
United States Senate. His personal and political 
integrity was never questioned by his most bitter 
political opponents, while those who had known 



274 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



him longest and most intimatelj', trusted him 
most implicitly. The service which he performed 
iu giving direction to the patriotic sentiment of 
the State and in marshaling its heroic soldiers 
for the defense of the Union can never be over- 
estimated. (See Yates, Richard.) 

Oglesby's Administration. — Governor Ogles- 
by and the other State officers were inaugu- 
rated Jan. 17, 186.5. Entering upon its duties 
with a Legislature in full sympathy with it, the 
new administration was confronted by no such 
difficulties as those with which its predecessor 
had to contend. Its head, who had been identi- 
fied with the war from its beginning, was one of 
the first lUinoisans promoted to the rank of 
Major-General, was personally popular and 
enjoyed the confidence and respect of the people 
of the State. Allen C. Fuller, who had retired 
from a position on the Circuit bench to accept 
that of Adjutant-General, which he held during 
the last three years of the war, was Speaker of 
the House. This Legislature was the first among 
those of all the States to ratify the Thirteenth 
Amendment of the National Constitution, abolish- 
ing slavery, which it did in both Houses, on the 
evening of Feb. 1, 1865 — the same day the resolu- 
tion had been finally acted on by Congress and 
received the sanction of the President. The 
odious "black laws," which had disgraced the 
State for twelve years, were wiped from the 
statute-book at this session. The Legislature 
adjourned after a session of forty-six days, leav- 
ing a record as creditable in the disposal of busi- 
ness as that of its predecessor had been discredit- 
able. (See Oglesby, Richard J.) 

Assassination of Lincoln. — The war was now 
rapidly approaching a successful termination. 
Lee had surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, 
April 9, 1865, and the people were celebrating 
this event with joyful festivities through all the 
loyal States, but nowhere with more enthusiasm 
than in Illinois, the home of the two great 
leaders — Lincoln and Grant. In the midst of 
these jubilations came the assassination of Presi- 
dent Lincoln by John "Wilkes Booth, on the 
evening of April 14, 1865, in Ford's Theater, 
Washington. The appalling news was borne on 
the wings of the telegraph to every corner of the 
land, and instantly a nation in rejoicing was 
changed to a nation in mourning. A pall of 
gloom hung over every part of the land. Public 
buildings, business houses and dwellings in every 
city, village and hamlet throughout the loyal 
States were draped with the insignia of a univer- 
sal sorrow. Millions of strong men, and tender. 



patriotic women who had given their husbands, 
sons and brothers for the defense of the Union, 
wept as if overtaken by a great personal calam- 
ity. If the nation mourned, much more did Illi- 
nois, at the taking off of its chief citizen, the 
grandest character of the age, who had served 
both State and Nation with such patriotic fidel- 
ity, and perished in the very zenith of his fame 
and in the hour of his country's triumph. 

The Funeral. — Then came the sorrowful 
march of the funeral cortege from Washington 
to Springfield — the most impressive spectacle 
witnessed since the Day of the Crucifixion. In 
aU this, Illinois bore a conspicuous part, as on the 
fourth day of May, 1865, amid the most solemn 
ceremonies and in the presence of sorrowing 
thousands, she received to her bosom, near his 
old home at the State Capital, the remains of the 
Great Liberator. 

The part which Illinois played in the great 
struggle has already been dwelt upon as fully as 
the scope of this work will permit. It only 
remains to be said that the patriotic service of 
the men of the State was grandlj- supplemented 
by the equally patriotic service of its women in 
"Soldiers' Aid Societies," "Sisters of the Good 
Samaritan," "Needle Pickets," and in sanitary 
organizations for the purpose of contributing to 
the comfort and health of the soldiers in camp 
and in hospital, and in giving them generous 
receptions on their return to their homes. The 
work done by these organizations, and by indi- 
vidual nurses in the field, illustrates one of the 
brightest pages in the historj- of the war. 

Election of 1866.— The administration of Gov- 
ernor Oglesby was as peaceful as it was prosper- 
ous. The chief political events of 1866 were the 
election of Newton Bateman, State Superintend- 
ent of Public Instruction, and Gen. Geo. W. 
Smith, Treasurer, while Gen. John A. Logan, as 
Representative from the State-at-large. re-entered 
Congress, from which he had retired in 1861 to 
enter the Union army. His majority was un- 
precedented, reaching 55,987. The Legislature 
of 1867 reelected Judge Trumbull to the United 
States Senate for a third term, his chief competi- 
tor in the Republican caucus being Gen. John M. 
Palmer. The Fourteenth Amendment to the 
National Constitution, conferring citizenship 
upon persons of color, was ratified by this Legis- 
lature. 

Election of 1868. — The Republican State Con- 
vention of 1868, held at Peoria, May 6, nominated 
the following ticket: For Governor, John M. 
Palmer, Lieutenant-Governor, John Dougherty; 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



275 



Secretary of State, Edward Rummell; Auditor, 
Charles E. Lippincott, State Treasurer, Erastus N. 
Bates; Attorney General. Washington Bushnell. 
John R. Eden, afterward a member of Congress 
for three terms, headed the Democratic ticket as 
candidate for Governor, with William H. Van 
Epps for Lieutenant-Governor. 

The Republican National Convention was held 
at Chicago, May 21, nominating Gen. U. S. Grant 
for President and Schuyler Colfax for Vice- 
President. They were opposed by Horatio 
Seymour for President, and F. P. Blair for Vice- 
President. The result in November was the 
election of Grant and Colfax, who received 214 
electoral votes from 26 States, to 80 electoral 
votes for Seymour and Blair from 8 States — three 
States not voting. Grant's majority in Illinois 
was 51,150. Of course the Republican State 
ticket was elected. The Legislature elected at 
the same time consisted of eighteen Republicans 
to nine Democrats in the Senate and fifty-eight 
Republicans to twenty-seven Democrats in the 
House. 

P.\lmer's Adjiinistr.\tion — Governor Palm- 
er's administration began auspiciously, at a time 
when the passions aroused by the war were sub- 
siding and the State was recovering its normal 
prosperity. (See Palmer, John 31.) Leading 
events of the next four years were the adoption 
of a new State Constitution and the Chicago fire. 
The first steps in legislation looking to the con- 
trol of railroads were taken at the session of 

1869, and although a stringent law on the subject 
passed both Houses, it was vetoed by the Gov- 
ernor. A milder measure was afterward enacted, 
and, although superseded by the Constitution of 

1870. it furnished the key-note for much of the 
legislation since had on the subject. The cele- 
brated "Lake Front Bill," conveying to the city 
ot Chicago and the Illinois Central Railroad the 
title of the State to certain lands included in 
what was known as the "Lake Front Park," was 
passed, and although vetoed by the Governor, 
was re-enacted over his veto. This act was 
finally repealed by the Legislature of 1873, and 
after many years of litigation, the rights claimed 
under it by the Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany have been recently declared void by the 
Supreme Court of the United States. The Fif- 
teenth Amendment of the National Constitution, 
prohibiting the denial of the right of suffrage to 
"citizens of the United States .... on account 
of race, color or previous condition of servitude," 
was ratified by a strictly party vote in each 
House, on March 5. 



The first step toward the erection of a new 
State Capitol at Springfield had been taken in an 
appropriation of §450,000, at the session of 1867, 
the total cost being limited to §3,000,000. A 
second appropriation of $650,000 was made at the 
session of 1869. The Constitution of 1870 limited 
the cost to §3,500,000, but an act passed by the 
Legislature of 1883, making a final appropriation 
of 1531,713 for completing and furnishing the 
building, was ratified by the people in 1884. The 
original cost of the building and its furniture 
exceeded §4,000,000. (See State Houses. ) 

The State Convention for framing a new Con- 
stitution met at Springfield, Dec. 13, 1869. 
It consisted of eighty-five members — forty-four 
Republicans and fortj'-one Democrats. A num- 
ber classed as Republicans, however, were elected 
as "Independents" and co-operated with the 
Democrats in the organization. Charles Hitch- 
cock was elected President. The Convention 
terminated its labors, May 13, 1870; the Constitu- 
tion was ratified by vote of the people, July 2, 
and went into effect, August 8, 1870. A special 
provision establishing the principle of "minority 
representation" in tlie election of Representatives 
in the General Assembly, was adopted by a 
smaller vote than the main instrument. A lead- 
ing feature of the latter was the general restric- 
tion upon special legislation and the enumeration 
of a large variety of subjects to be provided for 
under general laws. It laid the basis of our 
present railroad and warehouse laws; declared 
the inviolability of the Illinois Central Railroad 
tax; prohibited the sale or lease of the Illinois 
& Michigan Canal without a vote of the people; 
prohibited municipalities from becoming sub- 
scribers to the stock of any railroad or private 
corporation; limited the rate of taxation and 
amount of indebtedness to be incurred ; required 
tlie enactment of laws for the protection of 
miners, etc. The restriction in the old Constitu- 
tion against the re-election of a Governor as his 
own immediate successor was removed, but placed 
upon the office of State Treasurer. The Legisla- 
ture consists of 204 members— 51 Senators and 153 
Representatives — one Senator and three Repre- 
sentatives being chosen from each district. (.See 
Constitutional Convention of 1869-70; also Con- 
stitution of 1S70. ) 

At the election of 1870, General Logan was re- 
elected Congressman-at-large by 24,672 majority; 
Gen. E. N. Bates, Treasiuer, and Newton Bate- 
man, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Legislature of 1871. — The Twenty -seventh 
General Assembly (1871), in its various sessions, 



276 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



spent more time in legislation than any other in 
the history of the State — a fact to be accounted 
for, in part, by the Chicago Fire and the exten- 
sive revision of the laws required in consequence 
of the adoption of the new Constitution. Besides 
the regular session, there were two special, or 
called, sessions and an adjourned session, cover- 
ing, in all, a period of 293 days. This Legislature 
adopted the system of "Stat« control" in the 
management of the labor and discipline of the 
convicts of the State penitentiary, which was 
strongly urged by Governor Palmer in a special 
message. General Logan having been elected 
United States Senator at this session, Gen. John 
L. Beveridge was elected to the vacant position 
of Congressman-at- large at a special election held 
Oct. 4. 

Chicago Fire of 1871. — The calamitous fire 
at Chicago, Oct. 8-9, 1871, though belonging 
rather to local than to general State history, 
excited the profound sympathy, not only of the 
people of the State and the Nation, but of the 
civilized world. The area burned over, including 
streets, covered 3,134 acres, with 13,500 buildings 
out of 18,000, leaving 93,000 persons homeless. 
The loss of life is estimated at 250, and of prop- 
erty at §187,927,000. Governor Palmer called the 
Legislature together in special session to act upon 
the emergency, Oct. 13, but as the State was pre- 
cluded from affording direct aid, the plan was 
adopted of reimbursing the city for the amount 
it had expended in the enlargement of the Illinois 
& Michigan Canal, amounting to §2,955,340. 
The unfortunate shooting of a citizen by a cadet 
in a regiment of United States troops organized 
for guard duty, led to some controversy between 
Governor Palmer, on one side, and the Mayor of 
Chicago and the military authorities, including 
President Grant, on the other; but the general 
verdict was, that, while nice distinctions between 
civil and military authoritj- may not have been 
observed, the service rendered b)- the military, in 
a great emergency, was of the highest value and 
was prompted by the best intentions. (See Fire 
of 1S71 under title Chicago. ) 

Political CAiiPAiON of 1873.— The political 
campaign of 1873 in Illinois resulted in much con- 
fusion and a partial reorganization of parties. 
Dissatisfied with the administration of President 
Grant, a number of the State officers (including 
Governor Palmer) and other prominent Repub- 
licans of the State, joined in what was called the 
"Liberal Republican" movement, and supported 
Horace Greeley for the Presidency. Ex-Gov- 
ernor Oglesby again became the standard-bearer 



of the Republicans for Governor, with Gen. John 
L. Beveridge for Lieutenant-Governor. At the 
November election, the Grant and Wilson (Repub- 
Ucan) Electors in Illinois received 241,944 votes, 
to 184,938 for Greeley, and 3,138 for O'Conor. 
The plurality for Oglesby, for Governor, was 
40,690. 

Governor Oglesby's second administration was 
of brief duration. Within a week after his in- 
auguration he was nominated by a legislative 
caucus of his party for United States Senator to 
succeed Judge Trumbull, and was elected, receiv- 
ing an aggregate of 117 votes in the two Houses 
against 78 for Trumbull, who was supported by 
the party whose candidates he had defeated at 
three previous elections. (See Oglesby, Richard J. ) 
Lieutenant-Governor Beveridge thus became 
Governor, filling out the imexpired term of his 
chief. His administration was high-minded, 
clean and honorable. (See Beveridge, John L.) 

Republican Reverse of 1874. —The election 
of 1874 resulted in the first serious reverse the 
Republican party had experienced in Illinois 
since 1863. Although Thomas S. Ridgway, the 
Republican candidate for State Treasurer, was 
elected by a plvirality of nearly 35,000, by a com- 
bination of the opposition, S. M. Etter (Fusion) 
was at the same time elected State Superintend- 
ent, while the Fusionists secured a majority in 
each House of the General Assembly. After a 
protracted contest, E. M. Haines — wlio had been 
a Democrat, a Republican, and had been elected 
to this Legislature as an "Independent"^ — was 
elected Speaker of the House over Shelbs* M. Cul- 
lom, and A. A. Glenn (Democrat) was chosen 
President of the Senate, thus becoming ex-officio 
Lieutenant-Governor. The session which fol- 
lowed — especially in the House — was one of the 
most turbulent and disorderly in the history of 
the State, coming to a termination, April 15, 
after having enacted very few laws of any im- 
portance. (See Twenty-ninth General Assembly.) 

Campaign of 1876. — Shelby M. Cullom was the 
candidate of the Republican partj^ for Governor 
in 1876, with Rutherford B. Hayes heading the 
National ticket. The excitement which attended 
the campaign, the closeness of the vote between 
the two Presidential candidates — Hayes and 
Tilden — and the determination of the result 
through the medium of an Electoi'al Commission, 
are fresh in the memorj' of the present gener- 
ation. In Illinois the Republican plurality for 
President was 19,631, but owing to the combina- 
tion of the Democratic and Greenback vote on 
Lewis Steward for Governor, the majority for 







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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



277 



Ouilom was reduced to 6,798. The other State 
officers elected were: Andrew Shuman, Lieu- 
teuant-Governor; George H. Harlow, Secretary 
of State; Thomas B. Needles, Auditor; Edward 
Rutz, Treasurer, and James K. Edsall, Attorney- 
General. Each of these had pluralities exceeding 
20,000, except Needles, who, having a single com- 
petitor, had a smaller majority than Cullom. 
The new State House was occupied for the first 
time by the State officers and the Legislature 
chosen at this time. Although the Republicans 
had a majority in the House, the Independents 
held the "balance of power" in joint session of 
the General Assembly. After a stubborn and 
protracted struggle in the effort to choose a 
United States Senator to succeed Senator John A. 
Logan, David Davis, of Bloomington, was 
elected on the fortieth ballot. He had been a 
Whig and a warm personal friend of Lincoln, by 
whom he was appointed Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court of the United States in 1863. His 
election to the L'nited States Senate by the Demo- 
crats and Independents led to his retirement from 
the Supreme bench, thus preventing his appoint- 
ment on the Electoral Commission of 1877 — a cir- 
cumstance which, in the opinion of many, may 
have had an important bearing upon the decision 
of that tribunal. In the latter part of his term 
he served as President pro tempore of the Senate, 
and more frequently acted with the Republicans 
than with their opponents. He supported Blaine 
and Logan for President and Vice-President, in 
1884. (See Davis, Daind. ) 

Strike of 1877. — The extensive railroad strike, 
in July, 1877, caused widespread demoralization 
of business, especially in the railroad centers of 
the State and throughout the country generally. 
The newly -organized National Guard was called 
out and rendered efficient service in restoring 
order. Governor Cullom's action in the premises 
was prompt, and has been generally commended 
as eminently wise and discreet. 

Election of 1878. — Four sets of candidates 
were in the field for the offices of State Treasurer 
and Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1878 
— Republican, Democratic, Greenback and Pro- 
hibition. The Republicans were successful, Gen. 
John C. Smith being elected Treasurer, and 
James P. Slade, Superintendent, by pluralities 
averaging about 35,000. The .same party also 
elected eleven out of nineteen members of Con- 
gress, and, for the first time in six years, secured 
a majority in each branch of the General Assem- 
bly. At the session of this Legislature, in Janu- 
ary following, John A. Logan was elected to the 



United States Senate as successor to Gen. R. J. 
Oglesby, whose term expired in March following. 
Col. William A. James, of Lake County, served 
as Speaker of the House at this session. (See 
Smith, John Corson; Slade, James P.; sdso Thirty- 
first General Assembly.) 

Campaign of 1880. — The political campaign 
of 1880 is memorable for the determined struggle 
made by the friends of General Grant to secure 
liis nomination for the Presidency for a third 
term. The Republican State Convention, begin- 
ning at Springfield, May 19, lasted three days, 
ending in instructions in favor of General Grant 
by a vote of 399 to 285. These were nullified, 
however, by the action of the National Conven- 
tion two weeks later. Governor Cullom was 
nominated for re-election ; John M. Hamilton for 
Lieutenant-Governor ; Henry D. Dement for Sec- 
retary of State; Charles P. Swigert for Auditor; 
Edward Rutz (for a third term) for Treasurer, 
and James McCartney for Attorney-General. 
(See Dement, Henry D.; Swigert, Charles P.; 
Rutz, Edward, and 3IcCartney, James.) Ex-Sena- 
tor Trumbull headed the Democratic ticket as its 
candidate for Governor, with General L. B. Par- 
sons for Lieutenant-Governor. 

The Republican National Convention met in 
Chicago, June 2. After tliirty-six ballots, in 
which 306 delegates stood unwaveringly by Gen- 
eral Grant, James A. Garfield, of Ohio, was 
nominated, with Chester A. "Arthur, of New 
York, for Vice-President. Gen. Winfield Scott 
Hancock was the Democratic candidate and Gen. 
James B. Weaver, the Greenback nominee. In 
Illinois, 622,156 votes were cast, Garfield receiv- 
ing a plurality of 40,716. The entire Republican 
State ticket was elected by nearly the same plu- 
ralities, and the Republicans again had decisive 
majorities in both branches of the Legislature. 

No startling events occuiTed during Governor 
Cullom's second term. The State continued to 
increase in wealth, population and prosperity, 
and the heavy debt, by which it had been bur- 
dened thirty years before, was practically "wiped 
out." 

Election of 1882. — At the election of 1882, 
Gen. John C. Smith, who had been elected State 
Treasirrer in 1878, was re-elected for a second 
term, over Alfred Orendorff, while Charles T. 
Strattau, the Republican candidate for State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, was de- 
feated by Henry Raab. The Republicans again 
had a majority in each House of the General 
Assembly, amounting to twelve on joint ballot. 
Loren C. Collins was elected Speaker of the 



278 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



House. In the election of United States Senator, 
which occurred at this session, Governor Cullom 
was chosen as the successor to David Davis, Gen. 
John M. Palmer receiving the Democratic vote. 
Lieut.-Gov. John M. Hamilton thus became Gov- 
ernor, nearly in the middle of his term. (See 
Cullom, Shelby M.; Hamilton, John M.; Collins, 
Loren C, and Haab, HeiiriJ.) 

The "Harper High License Law," enacted by 
the Thirty-third General Assembly (1883), has 
become one of the permanent features of the Illi- 
nois statutes for the control of the liquor traffic, 
and has been more or less closely copied in other 
States. 

Political Camp.'UGN op 1884. — In 1884, Gen. 
R. J. Oglesby again became the choice of the 
Republican party for Governor, receiving at 
Peoria the conspicuous compliment of a nomina- 
tion for a third term, by acclamation. Carter H. 
Harrison was the candidate of the Democrats. 
The Republican National Convention was again 
held in Chicago, meeting June 3, 1884; Gen. John 
A. Logan was the choice of the Illinois Repub- 
licans for President, and was put in nomination 
in the Convention by Senator Cullom. The 
choice of the Convention, however, fell upon 
James G. Blaine, on the fourth ballot, his leading 
competitor being President Arthur. Logan was 
then nominated for Vice-President by acclama- 
tion. 

At the election in November the Republican 
party met its first reverse on the National battle- 
field since 1856, Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. 
Hendricks, the Democratic candidates, being 
elected President and Vice-President by the nar- 
row margin of less than 1,200 votes in the State 
of New York. The result was in doubt for sev- 
eral days, and the excitement throughout the 
country was scarcely less intense than it had 
been in the close election of 1876. Tlie Green- 
back and Prohibition parties both had tickets in 
Illinois, polling a total of nearly 28,000 votes. 
The plurality in the State for Blaine was 25,118. 
The Republican State officers elected were Richard 
J. Oglesby, Governor; John C. Smith, Lieuten- 
ant-Governor; Henry D. Dement, Secretary of 
State; Charles P. Swigert, Auditor; Jacob Gross, 
State Treasurer; and George Hunt, Attorney- 
General — receiving pluralities ranging from 14,- 
000 to 25,000. Both Dement and Swigert were 
elected for a second time, while Gross and Hunt 
were chosen for first terms. (See Gross, Jacob, 
and Hunt, George. ) 

Chicago Election Frauds. — An incident of 
this election was the fraudulent attempt to seat 



Rudolph Brand (Democrat) as Senator in place of 
Henry W. Leman, in the Sixth Senatorial Dis- 
trict of Cook County. The fraud was exposed 
and Joseph C. Mackin, one of its alleged perpe- 
trators, was sentenced to the penitentiarj' for four 
years for perjury growing out of the investiga- 
tion. A motive for this attempted fraud was 
found in the close vote in the Legislature for 
United States Senator — Senator Logan being a 
candidate for re-election, while tlie Legislature 
stood 102 Republicans to 100 Democrats and two 
Greenbackers on joint ballot. A tedious contest 
on the election of Speaker of the House finally 
resulted in the success of E. M. Haines. Pending 
the struggle over the Senatorship, two seats in 
the House and one in the Senate were rendered 
vacant by death — the deceased Senator and one of 
the Representatives being Democrats, and the 
other Representative a Republican. The special 
election for Senator resulted in filling the vacancy 
with a new member of the same political faith as 
liis predecessor ; but both vacancies in the House 
were filled by Republicans. The gain of a Repub- 
lican member in place of a Democrat in the 
House was brought about by the election of 
Captain AVilliam H. Weaver Representative from 
the Thirty-fourth District (composed of Mason, 
Menard, Cass and Schuyler Counties) over the 
Democratic candidate, to fill the vacancy caused 
by the death of Representative J. Henry Shaw, 
Democrat. Tliis was accomplished by what is 
called a ''still hunt" on the part of the Repub- 
licans, in whicli the Democrats, being taken by 
surprise, suffered a defeat. It furnished the sen- 
sation not only of the session, but of special elec- 
tions generally, especially as every county in the 
District was strongly Democratic. This gave the 
Republicans a majoritj' in eacli House, and tlie 
re-election of Logan followed, though not until 
two months had been consumed in the contest. 
(See Logan, John A.) 

Oolesby's Third Term. — The only disturbing 
events during Governor Oglesby 's third term were 
strikes among the quarrymen at Joliet and 
Lemont, in May, 1885 ; by the railroad switchmen 
at East St. Louis, in April, 1886, and among the 
employes at the Union Stock-Yards, in November 
of the same year. In each case troops were called 
out and order finally restored, but not until sev- 
eral persons had been killed in the two former, 
and both strikers and employers had lost heavily 
in the interruption of business. 

At the election of 1886, John R. Tanner and 
Dr. Richard Edwards (Republicans) were respec- 
tively elected State Treasurer and State Superin- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



279 



tendent of Public Instruction, by 34,816 plurality 
for the former and 29,938 for the latter. (See 
Tanner, John R.; Edwards, Richard.) 

In the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, which 
met January, 1887, the Republicans had a major- 
it}- in each House, and Charles B. Farwell was 
elected to the United States Senate in place of 
Gen. John A. Logan, deceased. (See Fa^-u-ell, 
Charles B. ) 

FiFER Elected Governor. — The political 
campaign of 1888 was a spirited one, though less 
bitter than the one of four years previous. Ex- 
Senator Joseph W. Fifer, of McLean County, and 
Ex-Gov. John M. Palmer were pitted against each 
other as opposing candidates for Governor. (See 
Fifer, Joseph W. ) Prohibition and Labor tickets 
were also in the field The Republican National 
Convention was again held in Chicago, June 
20-25, resulting in the nomination of Benjamin 
Harrison for President, on the eighth ballot. The 
delegates from Illinois, with two or three excep- 
tions, voted steadily for Judge Walter Q. 
Gresham. (See Gresham, Walter Q.) Grover 
Cleveland headed the Democratic ticket as a 
candidate for re-election. At the November elec- 
tion, 747,683 votes were cast in Illinois, giving 
the Republican Electors a plurality of 22,104. 
Fifer's plurality over Palmer was 12,547, and that 
of the remainder of the Republican State ticket, 
still larger. Those elected were Lyman B. Ray, 
Lieutenant-Governor; Isaac N. Pearson, Secre- 
tary of State ; Gen. Charles W. Pavey, Auditor ; 
Charles Becker, Treasurer, and George Hunt, 
Attorney-General. (See Ray, Lyman B.; Pear- 
son, Isaac N.; Bavcy, Charles W; and Becker, 
Charles.) The Reiiublicans secured twenty-six 
majority on joint ballot in the Legislature — the 
largest since 1881. Among the acts of the Legis- 
lature of 1889 were the reelection of Senator 
Cullom to the United States Senate, practically 
w'thout a contest ; the revision of the compulsory 
education law, and the enactment of the Chicago 
drainage law. At a special session held in July, 
1890, the first steps in the preliminary legislation 
looking to the holding of the World's Columbian 
Exposition of 1893 in the city of Chicago, were 
taken. (See World's Columbian E.r2Msifio7i.) 

Republican Defe.^t of 1890. — The campaign 
of 1890 resulted in a defeat for the Republicans on 
both the State and Legislative tickets. Edward 
S. Wilson was elected Treasurer by a pluralitj' of 
9,847 and Prof. Henry Raab, who had been Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction between 1883 and 
1887, was elected for a second term by 34,042. 
Though lacking two of an absolute majority on 



joint ballot in the Legislature, the Democrats 
were able, with the aid of two members belonging 
to the Farmers' Alliance, after a prolonged and 
exciting contest, to elect Ex-Gov. John M. 
Palmer United States Senator, as successor to 
C. B. Farwell. The election took place on Slarch 
11, resulting, on the 154th ballot, in 103 votes for 
Palmer to 100 for Cicero J. Lindlej' (Republican) 
and one for A. J. Streeter. (See Palmer, John M. ) 
Elections op 1892. — At the elections of 1892 
the Republicans of Illinois sustained their first 
defeat on both State and National issues since 
1856. The Democratic State Convention was 
held at Springfield, April 27, and that of the 
Republicans on May 4. The Democrats put in 
nomination John P. Altgeld for Governor; 
Joseph B. Gill for Lieutenant-Governor; William 
II. Hiurichsen for Secretary of State; Rufus N. 
Ramsay for State Treasurer; David Gore for 
Auditor ; JIaurice T. Sloloney for Attorney-Gen- 
eral, with John C. Black and Andrew J. Hunter 
for Congressmen-at-large and three candidates for 
Trustees of the University of Illinois. The can- 
didates on the Republican ticket were : For Gov- 
ernor, Joseph W. Fifer; Lieutenant-Governor, 
Lyman B. Ray ; Secretary of State, Isaac N. Pear- 
son; Auditor, Charles W. Pavey; Attorney-Gen- 
eral, George W. Prince; State Treasurer, Henry 
L. Hertz ; Congressmen-at-large, George S. Willits 
and Richard Yates, with three University Trus- 
tees. The first four were all incumbents nomi- 
nated to succeed themselves. The Republican 
National Convention held its session at Minneapo- 
lis June 7-10, nominating President Harrison for 
re-election, while that of the Democrats met 
in Chicago, on June 21, remaining in session 
until June 24, for the third time choosing, as its 
standard-bearer, Grover Cleveland, with Adlai T. 
Stevenson, of Bloomington, 111., as his running- 
mate for Vice-President. The Prohibition and 
People's Party also had complete National and 
State tickets in the field. The State campaign 
was conducted with great vigor on both sides, the 
Democrats, under the leadership of Altgeld, mak- 
ing an especially bitter contest upon some features 
of the compulsory school law, and gaining many 
votes from the ranks of the German-Republicans. 
The result in the State showed a plurality for 
Cleveland of 26,993 votes out of a total 873,646— 
the combined Prohibition and People's Party vote 
amounting to 48,077. The votes for the respec- 
tive heads of the State tickets were: Altgeld 
(Dem.), 425,498; Fifer (Rep.). 402,659; Link 
(Pro.), 25,628 :Barnet (Peo.), 20, 108— plurality for 
Altgeld, 33,808. The vote for Fifer was the high- 



280 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



est given to any Republican candidate on either 
the National or the State ticket, leading that of 
President Harrison by nearly 3,400, while the 
vote for Altgeld, though falling behind that of 
Cleveland, led the votes of all his associates on the 
Democratic State ticket with the single exception 
of Ramsay, the Democratic Candidate for Treas- 
urer. Of the twenty-two Representatives in 
Congress from the State chosen at this time, 
eleven were Republicans and eleven Democrats, 
including among the latter the two Congressmen 
from the State-at-large. Tlie Thirty-eighth Gen- 
eral Assembly stood twenty-nine Democrats to 
twenty-two Republicans in the Senate, and 
seventy-eight Democrats to seventy-five Republic- 
ans in the House. 

The administration of Governor Fifer — the last 
in a long and unbroken line under Republican Gov- 
ernors — closed with the financial and industrial 
interests of the State in a prosperous condition, 
the State out of debt with an ample surplus in its 
treasury. Fifer was the first private soldier of 
the Civil War to be elected to the Governorship, 
though the result of the next two elections have 
shown that he was not to be the last — both of his 
successors belonging to the same class. Governor 
Altgeld was the first foreign-born citizen of the 
State to be elected Governor, though the State 
has had four Lieutenant-Governors of foreign 
birth, viz. : Pierre Menard, a French Canadian ; 
John Moore, an Englishman, and Gustavus 
Koerner and Francis A. Hoffman, both Germans. 

Altgeld's Administration. — The Thirty- 
eighth General Assembly began its session, Jan. 
4, 1893, the Democrats having a majority in each 
House. (See Thirty-eighth General Assembly.) 
The inaugiiratiou of the State officers occurred on 
January 10. The most important events con- 
nected with Governor Altgeld's administration 
were the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, 
and the strike of railway employes in 1894. Both 
of these have been treated in detail under their 
proper heads. (See World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion, and Labor Troubles.) A serious disaster 
befell the State in the destruction by fire, on the 
night of Jan. 3, 189.5, of a portion of the buildings 
connected with the Southern Hospital for the 
Insane at Anna, involving a loss to the State of 
nearly $200,000, and subjecting the inmates and 
officers of the institution to great risk and no 
small amount of suffering, although no lives were 
lost. The Thirty-ninth General Assembly, which 
met a few days after the fire, made an appropri- 
ation of §171,970 for the restoration of the build- 
ings destroyed, and work was begun immediately. 



The defalcation of Charles W. Spalding, Treas- 
urer of the University of Illinois, which came to 
light near the close of Governor Altgeld's term, 
involved the State in heavy loss (the exact 
amount of which is not even yet fully known), 
and operated mifortunately for the credit of the 
retiring administration, in view of the adoption of 
a policy which made the Governor more directly 
responsible for the management of the State in- 
stitutions than that pursued by most of his prede- 
cessors. The Governor's course in connection 
with the strike of 1894 was also severely criticised 
in some quarters, especially as it brought him in 
opposition to the policy of the National adminis- 
tration, and exposed him to the charge of sympa- 
thizing with the strikers at a time when they 
were regarded as acting in open violation of law. 

Election of 1894. — The election of 1894 showed 
as surprising a reaction against the Democratic 
pai'ty, as that of 1892 had been in an opposite 
direction. The two State offices to be vacated 
this year — State Treasurer and State Superintend- 
ent of Public Instruction — were filled by the elec- 
tion of Republicans by unprecedented majorities. 
The plurality for Henry Wulff for State Treas- 
urer, was 133,427, and that in favor of Samuel M. 
Inglis for State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, scarcely 10,000 less. Of twenty -two Repre- 
sentatives in Congress, all but two returned as 
elected were Republicans, and these two were 
unseated as the result of contests. The Legisla- 
ture stood thirty-three Republicans to eighteen 
Democrats in the Senate, and eighty-eight Repub- 
licans to sixty -one Democrats in the House. 

One of the most important acts of the Thirty- 
ninth General Assembly, at the following session, 
was the enactment of a law fixing the compensa 
tion of members of the General Assembly at 51,000 
for each regular session, with five dollars per day 
and mileage for called, or extra, sessions. This 
Legislature also passed acts making appropriations 
for the erection of buildings for the use of the 
State Fair, which had been permanently located 
at Springfield ; for the establishment of two ad- 
ditional hospitals for the insane, one near Rock 
Island and the other (for incurables) near Peoria; 
for the Northern and Eastern Illinois Normal 
Schools, and for a Soldiers' Widows' Home at 
Wilmington. 

Perm.\nent Location of the State Fair. — 
In consequence of the absorption of public atten- 
tion — especially among the industrial and manu- 
facturing classes — by the World's Columbian 
Exposition, the holding of the Annual Fair of the 
Illinois State Board of Agriculture for 1893 was 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



281 



omitted for the first time since the Civil War. 
The initial steps were taken by the Board at its 
annual meeting in Springfield, in January of that 
year, looking to the permanent location of the 
Fair ; and, at a meeting of the Board held in Chi- 
cago, in October following, formal specifications 
were adopted prescribing the conditions to be met 
in securing the prize. These were sent to cities 
intending to compete for the location as the basis 
of proposals to be submitted by them. Responses 
were received from the cities of Bloomington, 
Decatur, Peoria and Springfield, at the annual 
meeting in January, 1894, with the result that, 
on the eighth ballot, the bid of Springfield was 
accepted and the Fair permanently located at 
that place by a vote of eleven for Springfield to 
ten divided between five other points. The 
Springfield proposal provided for conveyance to 
the State Board of Agriculture of 155 acres of 
land — embracing the old Sangamon County Fair 
Grounds immediately north of the city — besides 
a cash contribution of §50,000 voted by the San- 
gamon County Board of Supervisors for the 
erection of permanent buildings. Other contri- 
butions increased the estimated value of the 
donations from Sangamon County (including the 
land) to S139,800, not including the pledge of the 
citj' of Springfield to pave two streets to the gates 
of the Fair Grounds and furnish water free, be- 
sides an agreement on the part of the electric 
liglit company to furnish light for two years free 
of charge. The construction of buildings was 
begun the same year, and the first Fair held on 
the site in September following. Additional 
buildings have been erected and other improve- 
ments introduced each year, until the grounds 
are now regarded as among the best equipped for 
exhibition purposes in the United States. In the 
meantime, the increasing success of the Fair 
from year to year has demonstrated the wisdom 
of the action taken by the Board of Agriculture 
in the matter of location. 

Campaign op 1896. — The political campaign 
of 1896 was one of almost unprecedented activity 
in Illinois, as well as remarkable for the variety 
and character of the issues involved and the 
number of party candidates in the field. As 
usual, the Democratic and the Republican parties 
were the chief factors in the contest, although 
there was a wide diversity of sentiment in each, 
which tended to the introduction of new issues 
and the organization of parties on new lines. 
The Republicans took the lead in organizing for 
the canvass, holding their State Convention at 
Springfield on April 29 and 30, while the Demo- 



crats followed, at Peoria, on June 23. Tlie former 
put in nomination John R. Tanner for Governor; 
William A. Northcott for Lieutenant-Governor; 
James A. Rose for Secretary of State; James S. 
McCullough for Auditor; Henry L. Hertz for 
Treasurer, and Edward C. Akin for Attorney- 
General, with Mary Turner Carriel, Thomas J. 
Smyth and Francis M. McKay for University 
Trustees. The ticket put in nomination by the 
Democracy for State ofBcers embraced John P. 
Altgeld for re-election to the Governorship ; for 
Lieutenant-Governor, Monroe C. Crawford; Sec- 
retary of State, Finis E. Downing; Auditor, 
Andrew L. Maxwell; Attorney-General, George 
A. Trude, with three candidates for Trustees. 

The National Republican Convention met at St. 
Louis on June 16, and, after a three days' session, 
put in nomination William McKinley, of Ohio, 
for President, and Garret A. Hobart, of New 
Jersey, for Vice-President; while their Demo- 
cratic opponents, following a policy which had 
been maintained almost continuously by one or 
the other party since 1860, set in motion its party 
machinery in Chicago — holding its National Con- 
vention in that city, July 7-11, when, for the first 
time in the history of the nation, a native of 
Illinois was nominated for the Presidency in the 
person of William J. Bryan of Nebraska, with 
Arthur Sewall, a ship-builder of Maine; for the 
second place on the ticket. The main issues, as 
enunciated in the platforms of the respective 
parties, were industrial and financial, as shown by 
the prominence given to the tariff and monetary 
questions in each. This was the natural result of 
the business depression which had prevailed since 
1893. While the Republican platform adhered to 
the traditional position of the party on the tariff 
issue, and declared in favor of maintaining the 
gold standard as the basis of the monetary system 
of the countr}^ that of the Democracy took a new 
departure by declaring unreservedlj- for the "free 
and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold at 
the present legal ratio of 16 to 1;" and this be- 
came the leading issue of the campaign. The 
fact that Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia, who 
had been favored by the Populists as a candidate 
for Vice President, and was afterwards formally 
nominated by a convention of that party, with 
Mr. Bryan at its head, was ignored by the Chi- 
cago Convention, led to much friction between 
the Populist and Democratic wings of the party. 
At the same time a very considerable body — in 
influence and political prestige, if not in numbers 
—in the ranks of the old- line Democratic party, 
refused to accept the doctrine of the free-silver 



282 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



section on the monetary question, and, adopting 
the name of "Gold Democrats,'" put in nomination 
a ticket composed of John M. Palmer, of Illinois, 
for President, and Simon B. Buckner, of Ken- 
tucky, for Vice-President. Besides these, the Pro- 
hibitionists, Nationalists, Socialist-Labor Party 
and "Middle-of-the-Road" (or "straight-out") 
Populists, had more or less complete tickets in the 
field, making a total of seven sets of candidates 
appealing for the votes of the people on issues 
assumed to be of National importance. 

The fact that the two gi'eat parties — Democratic 
and Republican — established their principal head- 
quarters for the prosecution of the campaign in 
Chicago, liad the effect to make that city and 
the State of Illinois the center of political activ- 
itj^ for the nation. Demonstrations of an impos- 
ing character were held by both parties. At the 
November election the Republicans carried the 
day by a plurality, in Illinois, of 141,517 for their 
national ticket out of a total of 1,090,869 votes, 
while the leading candidates on the State ticket 
received the following pluralities : John R. Tan- 
ner (for Governor), 113,381; Northcott (for Lieu- 
tenant-Governor), 137,834; Rose (for Secretary of 
State), 136,611; McCuUough (for Auditor), 138,- 
013; Hertz (for Treasurer), 116,064; Akin (for 
Attorney-General), 132,650. The Republicans also 
elected seventeen Representatives in Congress to 
three Democrats and two People's Part}' men. 
The total vote cast, in this campaign, for the "Gold 
Democratic" candidate for Governor %vas 8,100. 

Gov. Tanner"s Adiiinistr.\tion — The Fortieth 
■ jeneral Assembly met Jan. 6, 1897, consisting of 
eighty-eight Republicans to sixty-three Demo- 
crats and two Populists in the House, and thirty- 
nine Republicans to eleven Democrats and one 
Populist in the Senate. The Republicans finally 
gained one member in each house by contests. 
Edward C. Curtis, of Kankakee County, was 
chosen Speaker of the House and Hendrick V. 
F-sher, of Henry County, President pro tem. of 
the Senate, with a full set of Republican officers 
in the subordinate positions. The inauguration 
of the newly elected State officers took place on 
the 11th, the inaugural address of Governor 
Tanner taking strong ground in favor of main- 
taining the issues indorsed by the people at the 
late election. On Jan. 20, William E. Mason, 
of Chicago, was elected United States Senator, as 
the successor of Senator Palmer, whose term was 
about to expire. Mr. Mason received the full 
Republican strength (125 votes) in the two 
Houses, to the 77 Democratic votes cast for John 
P. Altgeld. (See Fortieth General Axsembly. ) 



Among the principal measures enacted by the 
Fortieth General Assembly at its regular session 
were: The "Torrens Land Title Sjstem, " regu- 
lating the conveyance and registration of land 
titles (svhich see) ; the consolidation of the three 
Supreme Court Districts into one and locating the 
Supreme Court at Springfield, and the Allen 
Street-Railroad Law, empowering City Councils 
and other corporate authorities of cities to grant 
street railway franchises for a period of fifty 
j-ears. On Dec. 7, 1897, the Legislature met in 
special session under a call of the Governor, nam- 
ing five subjects upon which legislation was sug- 
gested. Of these only two were acted upon 
affirmatively, viz. ; a law prescribing the manner 
of conducting the election of delegates to nomi- 
nating political conventions, and a new revenue 
law regulating the assessment and collection of 
taxes. The main feature of the latter act is the 
requirement that property shall be entered upon 
the books of the assessor at its cash value, subject 
to revision by a Board of Review, the basis of 
valuation for purposes of taxation being one-fifth 
of this amount. 

The Sp-\nish- American War.— The most not- 
able event in the history of Illinois during the 
year 1898 was the Spanish-American War, and 
the part Illinois played in it. In this contest 
lUinoisans manifested the same eagerness to 
serve their country as did their fathers and fel- 
low citizens in the War of the Rebellion, a third 
of a century ago. The first call for volunteers 
was responded to with alacrity by the men com- 
posing the Illinois National Guard, seven regi- 
ments of infantry, from the First to Seventh 
inclusive, besides one regiment of Cavalry and 
one Battery of Artillery — in all about 9,000 men 
— being mustered in between Jlay 7 and May 21. 
Although only one of these — the First, under the 
command of Col. Henry L. Turner of Chicago — 
saw practical service in Cuba before the surrender 
at Santiago, others in camps of instruction in the 
South stood ready to respond to the demand for 
their service in the field. Under the second call 
for troops two other regiments — the Eighth and 
the Ninth — were organized and the former (com- 
posed of Afro-Americans officered by men of 
their own race) relieved the First Illinois on guard 
duty at Santiago after the surrender. A body of 
engineers from Compan}' E of the Second United 
States Engineers, recruited in Chicago, were 
among the first to see service in Cuba, while 
many Illinoisans belonging to the Naval Reserve 
were assigned to duty on United States war 
vessels, and rendered most valuable service in the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



283 



naval engagements in Cuban waters. The Third 
Regiment (Col. Fred. Bennitt) also took part in 
the movement for the occupation of Porto Rico. 
The several regiments on their return for muster- 
out, after the conclusion of terms of peace with 
Spain, received most enthusiastic ovations from 
their fellow-citizens at home. Besides the regi- 
ments mentioned, several Provisional Regiments 
were organized and stood ready to respond to the 
call of the Government for their services had the 
emergency required. (See War. The Spanish 
American.) 

Labor Disturbances. — The principal labor 
disturbances in the State, under Governor Tan- 
ner's administration, occurred during the coal- 
miners' strike of 1897, and the lock-out at the 
Pana and Virden mines in 1898. The attempt to 
introduce colored laborers from the South to 
operate these mines led to violence between the 
adherents of the "Miners' Union" and the mine- 
owners and operators, and their employes, at 
these points, during which it was necessary to 
call out the National Guard, and a number of 
lives were sacrificed on both sides. 

A flood in the Ohio, during the spring of 1898, 
caused the breaking of the levee at Shawneetown, 
111., on the 3d day of April, in consequence of 
which a large proportion of the city was flooded, 
many homes and business liouses wrecked or 
greatly injured, and much other property de- 
stroyed. The most serious disaster, however, was 
the loss of some twenty-five lives, for the most 
part of women and children who, being surprised 
in tlieir homes, were unable to escape. Aid was 
promptly furnished by the State Government in 
the form of tents to shelter the survivors and 
rations to feed them ; and contributions of money 
and provisions from the citizens of the State, col- 
lected by relief organizations during the next two 
or three months, were needed to moderate the 
suffering. (See Inundations, Remai-kable.) 

Campaign of 1898. — The political campaign of 
1898 was a quiet one, at least nominally conducted 
on the same general issues as that of 1896, al- 
though the gradual return of business prosperity 
had greatly modified the intensity of interest 
with which some of the economic questions of 
the preceding campaign had been regarded. The 
only State officers to be elected were a State- 
Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, 
and three State University Trustees — the total 
vote cast for the former being 878,622 against 
1,090,869 for President in 1896. Of the former, 
Floyd K. Whittemore (Republican candidate for 
State Treasurer) received 448,940 to 405,490 for 



M. F. Dunlap (Democrat), with 24,193 divided 
between three other candidates; while Alfred 
Bayliss (Republican) received a plurality of 
68,899 over his Democratic competitor, with 23,- 
190 votes cast for three others. The Republican 
candidates for University Trustees were, of course, 
elected. The Republicans lost heavily in their 
representation in Congress, though electing thir- 
teen out of twenty-two members of the Fifty- 
sixth Congress, leaving nine to their Democratic 
opponents, who were practically consolidated in 
this campaign with the Populists. 

Forty-first General Assembly. — The Forty- 
first General Assembly met, Jan. 4, 1899, and 
adjourned, April 14, after a session of 101 days, 
with one exception (that of 1875), the shortest 
regular session in the history of the State Gov- 
ernment since the adoption of the Constitution of 
1870. The House of Representatives consisted of 
eighty-one Republicans to seventy-one Democrats 
and one Prohibitionist ; and the Senate, of thirty- 
four Republicans to sixteen Democrats and one 
Populist — giving a Republican majorit}- on joint 
ballot of twenty-si.\. Of 176 bills which passed 
both Houses, received the approval of the Gov- 
ernor and became laws, some of the more impor- 
tant were the following: Amending the State 
Arbitration Law by extending its scope and the 
general powers of the Board ; creating the oflSce 
of State Architect at a salarj' of $5,000 per annum, 
to furnish plans and specifications for public 
buildings and supervise the construction and 
care of the same ; authorizing the consolidation 
of the territory of cities under township organi- 
zation, and consisting of five or more Congres- 
sional townships, into one township : empowering 
each Justice of the Supreme Court to employ a 
private secretary at a salary of §2,000 per annum, 
to be paid by the State; amending the State 
Revenue Law of 1898 ; authorizing the establish- 
ment and maintenance of parental or truant 
schools; and empowering the State to establish 
Free Employment Offices, in the proportion of one 
to each city of 50,000 inhabitants, or three in 
cities of 1,000,000 and over. An act was also 
passed requiring the Secretary of State, when an 
amendment of the State Constitution is to be 
voted upon by the electors at any general elec- 
tion, to prepare a statement setting forth the pro- 
visions of the same and furnish copies thereof to 
each County Clerk, whose duty it is to have said 
copies pubUshed and posted at the places of voting 
for the information of voters. One of the most 
important acts of this Legislature was the repeal, 
by a practically unanimous vote, of the Street- 



284 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



railway P^anchise Law of the previous session, 
the provisious of which, empowering City Coun- 
cils to grant street-railway franchises extending 
over a period of fifty years, had been severely 
criticised by a portion of the press and excited 
intense hostility, especially in some of the larger 
cities of the State. Although in force nearly two 
years, not a single corporation had succeeded in 
obtaining a franchise under it. 

A Retrospect and a Look into The Future. — 
The history of Illinois has been traced concisely 
and in outline from the earUest period to the 
present time. Previous to the visit of Joliet and 
Marquette, in 1G~3, as unknown as Central Africa, 
for a century it continued the hunting ground of 
savages and the home of wild animals common to 
the plains and forests of the Mississippi Valley. 
The region brought under the influence of civili- 
zation, such as then existed, comprised a small 
area, scarcely larger than two ordinarily sized 
counties of the present day. Thirteen years of 
nominal British control( 1705-78) saw little change, 
except the exodus of a part of the old French 
population, who preferred Spanish to British rule. 

The period of development began with the 
occuijation of Illinois by Clark in 1778. That 
saw the "Illinois Count)'," created for the gov- 
ernment of the settlements northwest of the 
Ohio, expanded into five States, with an area of 
250,000 square miles and a population, in 1890, of 
13,500,000. In 1880 the population of the State 
equaled that of the Thirteen Colonies at the 
close of the Revolution. The eleventh State in 
the Union in this respect in 1850, in 1890 it had 
advanced to third rank. With its luisurpassed 
fertility of soil, its inexhaustible supplies of fuel 
for manufacturing purposes, its system of rail- 
roads, surpassing in extent that of any other State, 
there is little risk in predicting that the next 
forty years will see it advanced to second, if not 
first rank, in both wealth and i^opulation. 

But if the development of Illinois on material 
lines has been marvelous, its contributions to the 
Nation in philanthropists and educators, soldiers 
and statesmen, have rendered it conspicuous. A 
long list of these might be mentioned, but two 
names from the ranks of Illinoisans have been, by 
common consent, assigned a higher place than all 
others, and have left a deeper impress upon the 
history of the Nation than any others since the 
days of Washington. These are, Ulysses S. Grant, 
the Organizer of Victory for the Union arms 
and Conqueror of the Rebellion, and Abraham 
Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, the Preserver of 
the Republic, and its Martyred President. 



CIIKONOLOGICAL RECORD. 

Important Events in Illinois History. 

1673.— Joliet and Marquette reach Illinois from Green Bay by 
way of the Upper Mississippi and IlliDOis Rivers. 

1674-.J.— Mar(iuette makes a secutid visit to Illinois and spends 
the winter on the present site of Chicago. 

1680.- La Salle and Tonty descend the Illinois to Peoria Lake. 

1681.— Tonty begins the erection of Fort St. Louis on " Starved 
Rock " in La Salle County. 

1682.— La Salle and Tonty descend the Illinois and ilissi.ssippl 
Rivers to the mouth of the latter, and take possession 
(April 9, 1682) in the name of the King of France. 

1700.— First permanent French settlement in Illinois and Mis- 
sion of St. Sulpice established at Cahokia. 

1700.— Kaskaskia Indians remove from the Upper Illinois and 



locate near the mouth of the Kaskaskia 

settlement established here the same year becomes the 

town of Kaskaskia and future capital of Illinois. 

.—The Hrst Fort Chartres. erected near Kaskaskia. 

—Fort St. Louis, on the Upper Illinois, burned by Indians. 

—Fort Chartres rebuilt and strengthened. 

—The Illinois country surrendered by the French to the 
British under the treaty of 1763. 

—I July 4 1 Col. George Rogers Clark, at the head of an expe- 
dition organized under authority of Gov. Patrick Ilnnry of 
Virginia, arrives at Kaskaskia. The occupatiouof Illinois 
by the American troops follows. 

-Illinois County created by Act of the Virginia House of 
Delegates, for the government of the settlements north- 
west of the Ohio River. 

—Congress adopts the Ordinance of 1787. organizing the 
Northwest Territory, embracing the present Slates of 
Ohio. Indiana, Illinois. Michigan and Wisconsin. 

—General Arthur St. Clair appointed Governor of North- 
west Territory. 

—St Clair County organized. 

— Randolph County organized. 

— Northwest Territory divided into Ohio and Indiana Ter- 
ritories, Illinois being embraced in the latter. 

—Illinois Territory set off from Indiana, and Ninian 
Edwards appointed Governor. 

—(Dec. 3) Illinois admitted as a State. 

-Stale capital removed from Kaskaskia to Vandalia. 

24.— Uii.successful attempt to make Illinois a slave State. 

— ( April 30) General La Fayette visits Kaskaskia. 

-Black Hawk War. 

—(July 4 ( .Springfield becomes the third capital of the State 
under an Act of the Legislature passed in 1837. 

—The second Constitution adopted. 

—Abraham Lincoln is elected President. 

—War of the Rebellion begins. 

—(Jan. 1) Lincoln issues his final Proclamation of Eman. 
cipation. 

—Lincoln's second election to the Presidency. 

— ( .\pril 141 Abraham Lincoln assassinated in Washington. 

— ( May 4) President Lincoln's funeral in Springfield. 

-The War of the Rebellion ends. 

-Gen. U. S. Grant elected to the Presidency. 

—The third State Constitution adopted. 



POPULATION OF ILLINOIS 
At Each Decennial Census from J810 to 1900. 



1810 (23) 12,282 

1820 (24) 55.162 

1830 (20) 157,445 

1840 (141 476,183 

1850 (II) 851,470 



1860 (4) 1,711,951 

1870 (4) 2,539,891 

1880 (4) 3.077,871 

1890 (3) 3826,3.51 

1900 (3) 4,821,550 



ILLINOIS CITIES 

Having a Population of 10,000 and Over (1900). 

Name. Population. 

Chicago 1,698.755 

Peoria 56,100 

Qulncy 36.252 

Springfield 34.159 

Rockford «I,ft51 

Joliet 29,353 

EastSt Louis 29,655 

Aurora 24,147 

Bloomiiigton '23.286 

Elgin 22,433 

Decalur '20.754 

Rock Island 19,498 

Evauston 19,259 



Belleville 

Moline 

Danville.. 


.... 17,484 

.... 17,'248 

16,354 










Kankakee 

Freeport 


.... 13,595 
.... 13.258 


Ottawa 

LaSaUe.. 


.... 10,588 
10,446 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



385 



INDEX, 



Thia index relatescxcluslvely to matter embraced In the articl** under the title "Illinois." Subjects of general State history 
will be found treated at length, under topical heads, in the body of the Encyclopedia. 



Admission of Illinois as a State, 258. 

Altgeld, John P., administration as Gov- 
ernor, 279-80 ; defeated for re-election, 281 . 

Anderson, Stinson H.,264. 

Anti-Nebraska Editorial Convention. 25fi. 

Anti-slavery contest of 1822-24; defeat of a 
convention scheme. 260. 

Baker, Col. E. D., 26.3; orator at laying 
the corner-stone of State capitol. 264. 

Bateman, Newton, State Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, 270.274,275. 

Beveridge, John L.. Congressman and 
Lieutenant-Governor: becomes Governor 
by resignation of Governor Oglesby,276. 

Birkbeck, Morris. 260. 

BisseU, William H., Colonel in Mexican 
War._265: Governor. 2t)9; death, 27u. 



the Legislature, 263 

Bloomington Convention (1856 1, 269. 

Boisbriant, first French Commandant, 249. 

Bond, Shadrach, 255; Delegate in Congress, 
257; first Governor, 258. 

Breese, Sidney, 259. 

Browne. Thomas C, 260. 

Browning. Orville H., in Bloomington 
Convention. 269; U. S. Senator. 278. 

CahoklB, first French settlement at, 252. 

Camp Douglas conspiracy, 273. 

Canal Scrip Fraud, 270. 

Carlin, Thomas, elected Governor, 26.3, 

Casey, Zadoc, elected to Congress; re- 
signs the Lieutenant-Governorship, 262. 

Charlevoix visits Illinois. 247 

Chicago and Calumet Rivers, importance 
of in estimation of early explorers, 247 

Chicago election frauds, 278. 

Chicago, fire of 1871,276. 

Chicagou, Indian Chief for whom Chicago 
was named, 248. 

Clark, Col. George Rogers, expedition to 
Illinois; capture of Kaskaskia. -51. 

Coles, Edward, emancipates his slaves; 
candidate forGovernor,269; his election, 
260; persecuted by his enemies. 261. 

Constitutional Convantion of 1818, 258. 

Constitutional Convention of 1847,266. 

Constitutional Convention of 1862,^2. 

Constitutional Convention of 1870.2(5. 

Cook, Daniel P,. 255; Attorney -General, 
258; elected to Congress, 260-61. 

Craig, Capt. Thomas, expedition against 
Indiana at Peuna. 257. 

Cullom, Shelby M., Speaker of General As- 
sembly, 270; elected Governor. 276; fea- 
tures of his administration: re-elected, 
277; elected to U. S. Senate. 278. 

Davis. David. United States Senator, 277. 

Douglas, .Stephen A., 263: Justice Supreme 
Court, 264, U.S. Senator, 266; debates 
with Lincoln. 268-70: re-elected IT. S. Sen- 
ator. 270; deatll, 272. 

Duncan, Josepn, Governor; character of 
his administration, 262-63. 

Early towns. 258. 

Earthquake of 1811.256. 

Edwards. Ninlan, Governor Illinois Terri- 
tory. 255, elected V. .S. Senator. 259; 
elected Governor; adniinistratiou and 
death, 261. 

Ewing, William L. D., becomes acting 
Governor; occupant of many offices, 2^2. 

Explorers, early French, 244-5. 

Farwell, Charles B.,279. 

Field-McClernand contest. 264. 

Fifer, Joseph W., elected Governor, 279. 

Fisher, Dr. George. Speaker of Territorial 
Houseof Representatives, 257. 

Ford, Thomas, Governor; embarrassing 
questions of his administration, 264. 

Fort Chartresi surrendered to British, 250. 

Fort Dearborn massacre, 256-57. 

Fort Gage burned. 251. 

Fort Massac, starting point on the Ohio of 
Clark's expedition, 251. 

Fort St. Louis, 246; raided and burned by 
Indians. 247 

Franklin, Benjamin, Indian Commissioner 
for Illinois ill 1775, 251. 

French, Augustus C, Governor, 265-7. 

French and Indian War, 250. 



French occupation; settlement about Kas- 
kaskia and Cahokia. 249. 

French villages, population of in 1765, 251. 

Gibault. Pierre, 2-52. 

Grant, Ulysses S., arrival at Springfield; 
Colonel of Twenty-first Illinois Volun- 
teers, 271; elected President. 275. 

Gresham. Walter Q.. supported byHllnoia 
Republicans for the Presidency, 279. 

Hamilton, John M., Lieutenant-Governor, 
277; succeeds Gov. Cullom, 278. 

Hansen-Shaw contest, 260. 

Hardin, John J., 263; elected to Congress, 
264; killed at Buena Vista. 265. 

Harrison. William Henry, first Governor 
of Indiana Territory, 254. 

Henry, Patrick, Indian Commissioner for 
Illinois Country: assists in planning 
Clark's expedition, 261; ex-offlcio Gov- 
ernor of territory northwest of the Ohio 
River 

Illin 



242: topographv, faun; 
flora, 243; soil and climate, 243-44; con- 
test for occupation, 244: part of Louisi- 
ana ill 1721. 249; surrendered to the 
British rn 1765, 251 ; under government of 
Virginia. 252: part of Indiana Territory, 
254; Territorial Government organized; 
Ninian Edwards appointed Governor, 
255; admitted as a State. 258 

Illinois &MichiganCanai,261. 

Illinois Central Railroad, 267-68. 

■Illinois Country," boundaries defined bj' 
Captain Pittman. 241; Patrick Henry, 
first American Governor, 252. 

Ulinois County organized by Virginia 
House of Delegates, 252. 

Illinois Territory organized; first Territo- 
rial officers. 255. 

Indiana Territory organized. 254; first 
Territorial Legislature elected. 255. 

Indian tribes; location in Illinois, 247. 

Internal improvement scheme, 263. 

Joliet, Louis, accompanied by Marquette, 
visits Illtnois in 1673, 245. 

Kane, Ellas Kent. 258. 

Kansas-Nebraska contest, 268. 

Kaskaskia Indians remove from Upper 
Illinois to mouth of Kaskaskia. 248. 

Kenton, Simon, guide fur Clark's expedi- 
tion against Kaskaskia, 2-51. 

Labor disturbances. 27o. 280, 283. 

La Fayette, visit of, to Kaskaskia. 261. 

La Salle, expedition to Illinois in 1679-80, 
245; builds Fort Miami, near mouth of 
St. Joseph; disasterof Fort Creve-Creur; 
erection of Fort St. Louis, 246. 

Lincoln, Abraham. Representative in the 
General Assembly. 2ij3; elected to Con- 
gress, 266; unsuccessful candidate for 
the United States Senate; member of 
Bloomington Convention of 1856; 
" House-divided-against-itself" speech, 
269; elected President, 270: departure for 
W^ashington, 271; elected for a second 
term, 273: assassination and funeral, 274. 

Lincoln-Douglas debates. 270. 

Lockwood, Samuel D., Attorney-General; 
Secretary of State; opponent of pro- 
slavery convention scheme, 260. 

Logan. Gen. John A., prominent Union 
soldier, 272: Cougressnian-at-large.274-76; 
elected United States Senator. 276: Re- 
publican nominee for Vlce-Preaideut; 
third election as Senator, 278- 

"LongNine."263. 

Louisiana united with Illinois, 254. 

Lovejoy, Elijah P., murdered at Alton, 263. 

Macalister andStebbins bonds, 270. 

Marquette. Father Jacques (see Joliet); 
his mission among the Kaskaskias. 248. 

Mason, William E., U. S. Senator, 282. 

McLean, John, Speaker; first Representa- 
tive in Congress: U.S Senator: death, 265. 

Menard. Pierre, 255; President of Terri- 
torial Council, 257; elected Lieutenant- 
Governor. 25S; anecdote of , 259. 

Mexican War. 265. 



Morgan, Col. George, Indian Agent at Kas- 
kaskia in 1776, 251. 

Mormon War, 264-65. 

New Design Settlement, 255. 

New France, 244. 249. 

Nicolet. Jean, French explorei, 244-5. 

Northwest Territory organized: Gen. Ar- 
thur St. Clair appointed Governor. 253; 
first Territorial Legislature; aeparated 
into Territories of Ohio and Indiana. 2-34. 

Oglesby, Richard J., soldier in Civil War, 
271; elected Governor, 274; second elec- 
tion; chosen V. S. Senator. 276; third 
election to governorship, 278 . 

Ordinance of 1787, 253. 

"Paincourt" (early name for St Louis) 
settled by French from Illinois, 251. 

Palmer, John M., member of Peace Con- 
ference of 1861, 271; elected Governor; 
prominent events of his administration. 
",.;75; unsuccessful Democratic candidate 
for Governor; elected U.S. Senator. 279; 
candidate for President, 282. 

Peace Conference of 1861,271.. 

Peace conventions of 1863,273. 

Perrot. Nicholas, explorer, 245. 

Pittman, Capt. Philip, defines the bounda- 
ries of the "Illinois Country," 241. 

Pope, Nathaniel, Secretary of Illinois Ter- 
ritory, 253; Delegate in Congress; serv- 
ice infixing northern boundary, 258. 

Prairies, origin of, 243. 

Randolph County organized, 254. 

Renault, Philip F., first importer of Afri- 
can slaves to Illinois. 249. 

RepublicanState Convention of 1856,269. 

Reynolds, John, elected Governor: resigns 
to take seat in Congress, 262; Speaker of 
Illinois Houseof Representatives. 268. 

Richardson, William A., candidate for 
Governor, 270; U.S. Senator, 272. 

Rocheblave, Chevalier de. last British 
Commandant in Illinois. 251; sent as a 
prisoner of war to Williamsburg, 252. 

Shawneetown Bank, 257. 

Shawneetuwn flood, 283, 

Shields, Gen. James. 263; elected U. S. Sen- 
ator,267; del'eated for re-election, 269. 

Southern Hospital for Insane burned, 230. 

.spani3h-.\merican War. 281. 

Springfield, third State capital, 263; erec- 
tion of new State capitol at, auihorizeu, 
275; State Bank, 259. 

St. Clair, Arthur, fii-st Governor of North- 
west Territory, 253; visits Illinois, 254. 

St. Clair County organized, 254. 

State debt reaches its maximum. 268. 

State Fair permanently located, 281. 

Streams and navigation. 242. 

Supreme Court revolutionized. 264. 

Tanner. John K., State Treasurer, 278; 
elected Governor, 281-2. 

Thomas. Jesse B., 255; President of Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1818. 258; 
elected United States Senator, 259. 

Todd, Col . John. Co uuty-Lieu tenant of Illi- 
nois County, 252. 

Tonty, Henry de (see La'Salle). 

Treaty wi th Indians near AI ton, 257. 

Trumbull, Lyman. Secretary of State. 264; 
elected United States Senator. 269-70; 
Democratic candidate for Governor, 277. 

Vandalia, the second State capital, 2-59. 

War of 1812, 2-56; expeditions to Peoria 
Lake. 257. 

War of the Rebellion; some prominent 
Illinois actors: number of troops fur- 
nished by Illinois: important battles par- 
ticipated in, 271-72; some officers who 
fell;, Grierson raid. 272. 

Warren, Hooper, editor Edwardsville 
Spectator, 260. 

Wayne. Gen. Anthony. 254. 

Whig mass-meeting at Springfield. 264. 

Wilmot Proviso, action of Illiuoi* Legisla- 
ture upon. 267. 

Wood. John, Lieutenant-Governor, fills 
Bissell's unexpired term. 270. 

Yates, Richard, at Bloomington Conven- 
tion of 1856. 269; Governor, 270; prorogues 
Legislature of 1863; elected United States 
Senator, 273. 



286 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ILES, Elijah, pioneer merchant, was bom in 
Kentucky, March 28, 1796; received the rudiments 
of an education in two winters' schooling, and 
began his business career by purchasing 100 head 
of yearling cattle upon which, after herding 
them three years in the valleys of Eastern Ken- 
tucky, he realized a profit of nearly §3,000. In 
1818 he went to St. Louis, then a French village 
of 2,500 inhabitants, and, after spending three 
years as clerk in a frontier store at "Old Frank- 
lin, " on the Missouri River, nearly opposite the 
present town of Boonville, in 1821 made a horse- 
back tour through Central Illinois, finally locating 
at Springfield, which had just been selected by 
a board of Commissioners as the temporary 
county -seat of Sangamon County. Here he soon 
brought a stock of goods by keel-boat from St. 
Louis and opened the first store in tlie new town. 
Two years later (1823), in conjunction with 
Pascal P. Enos, Daniel P. Cook and Thomas Cox, 
he entered a section of land comprised within the 
present area of the city of Springfield, which 
later became the permanent county-seat and 
finally the State capital. Mr. lies became the 
first postmaster of Springfield, and, in 1826, was 
elected State Senator, served as Major in the 
Winnebago War (1827), enlisted as a private in 
the Black Hawk War (1831-32), but was soon 
advanced to the rank of Captain. In 1830 he 
sold his store to John Williams, who had been 
his clerk, and, in 1838-39, built the "American 
House," which afterwards became the temporary 
stopping-place of many of Illinois' most famous 
statesmen. He invested largely in valuable 
farming lands, and, at his death, left a large 
estate. Died, Sept. 4, 1883. 

ILLINOIS ASYLUM FOR INCURABLE IN 
SANE, an institution founded under an act of the 
General Assembly, passed at the session of 1895, 
making an appropriation of §65,000 for the pur- 
chase of a site and the erection of buildings with 
capacity for the accommodation of 200 patients. 
The institution was located by the Trustees at 
Bartonville, a suburb of the city of Peoria, and 
the erection of buildings begun in 1896. Later 
these were found to be located on ground which 
had been undermined in excavating for coal, and 
their removal to a different location was under- 
taken in 1898. The institution is intended to 
relieve the other hospitals for the Insane by the 
reception of patients deemed incurable. 

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL, a water- 
way connecting Lake Michigan with the Illinois 
River, and forming a connecting link in the 
water-route between the St. Lawrence and the 



Gulf of Mexico. Its summit level is about 580 
feet above tide water. Its point of beginning is 
at the South Branch of the Chicago River, about 
five miles from the lake. Thence it flows some 
eight miles to the valley of the Des Plaines, fol- 
lowing the valley to the mouth of the Kankakee 
(forty-two miles), thence to its southwestern 
terminus at La Salle, tlie head of navigation on 
the Illinois. Between these points the canal has 
four feeders — the Calumet, Des Plaines, Du Page 
and Kankakee. It passes through Lockport, 
Joliet, Morris, and Ottawa, receiving accessions 
from the waters of the Fox River at the latter 
point. The canal proper is 96 miles long, and it 
has five feeders whose aggregate length is 
twentj'-five miles, forty feet wide and four feet 
deep, with four aqueducts and seven dams. The 
difference in level between Lake Michigan and 
the Illinois River at La Salle is one hundred and 
forty-five feet. To permit the ascent of vessels, 
there are seventeen locks, ranging from three 
and one half to twelve and one-half feet in lift, 
their dimensions being 110x18 feet, and admitting 
the passage of boats carrying 150 tons. At Lock- 
port, Joliet, Du Page, Ottawa and La Salle are 
large basins, three of which supply power to fac- 
tories. To increase the water supply, rendered 
necessary by the high summit level, pumping 
works were erected at Bridgeport, having two 
thirty -eight foot independent wheels, each capa- 
ble of delivering (through buckets of ten feet 
length or width) 15,000 cubic feet of water per 
minute. These pumping works were erected in 
1848, at a cost of 915,000, and were in almost con- 
tinuous use until 1870. It was soon found that 
these machines might be utilized for the benefit 
of Chicago, by forcing the sewage of the Chicago 
River to the summit level of the canal, and allow- 
ing its place to be filled by pure water from the 
lake. This pumping, however, cost a large siun, 
and to obviate this expense §2,955,340 was ex- 
pended by Chicago in deepening the canal be- 
tween 1865 and 1871, so that the sewage of the 
south division of the city might be carried through 
the canal to the Des Plaines. This sum was 
returned to the City by the State after the great 
fire of 1871. (As to further measures for carry- 
ing off Chicago sewage, see Chicago Drainage 
Canal.) 

In connection with the canal three locks and 
dams have been built on the Illinois River, — one 
at Henry, about twenty-eight miles below La 
Salle ; one at the mouth of Copperas Creek, about 
sixty miles oelow Henry; and another at La 
Grange. The object of these works (the first 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



287 



two being practically au extension of the canal) 
is to furnish slack-water navigation through- 
out the year. Tlie cost of that at Henry (S400,000) 
was defrayed by direct appropriation from the 
State treasury. Copperas Creek dam cost §410,831, 
of which amount the United States Government 
paid $62, .360. The General Government also con- 
structed a dam at La Grange and appropriated 
funds for the building of another at Kampsville 
Landing, with a view to making the river thor- 
ouglil}' navigable the year round. The beneficial 
results expected from these works have not been 
realized and their demolition is advocated. 

History. — The early missionaries and fur- 
traders first directed attention to the nearness of 
the waters of Lake Michigan and the Illinois. 
The project of the construction of a canal was 
made the subject of a report by Albert Gallatin, 
Secretary of the Treasury in 1808, and, in 1811, a 
bill on the subject was introduced in Congress in 
connection with the Erie' and other canal enter- 
prises. In 1823 Congi'ess granted the right of 
way across the i)ublic lands "for the route of a 
canal connecting the Illinois River with the 
south bend of Lake Michigan," which was fol- 
lowed five years later by a grant of 300,000 acres 
of land to aid in its construction, which was to 
be undertaken by the State of Illinois. The 
earliest surveys contemplated a channel 100 miles 
long, and the original estimates of cost varied 
between $689,000 and §716,000. Later surveys 
and estimates (1833) placed the cost of a canal 
forty feet wide and four feet deep at $4,040,000. 
In 1836 another Board of Commissioners was 
created and surveys were niade looking to the 
construction of a waterway sixty feet wide at the 
surface, thirty-six feet at bottom, and six feet in 
depth. Work was begun in June of that year; 
was suspended in 1841 ; and renewed in 1846, 
when a canal loan of $1,000,000 was negotiated. 
The channel was opened for navigation in April, 
1848, by which time the total outlay had readied 
$6,170,236. By 1871, Illinois had liquidated its 
entire indebtedness on account of the canal and 
the latter reverted to the State. The total cost 
up to 1879 — including amount refunded to Chi- 
cago — was $9,.513,831, while the sum returned to 
the State from earnings, sale of canal lands, etc., 
amounted to $8,819,731. In 1883 an offer was 
made to cede the canal to tlie United States upon 
condition that it should be enlarged and ex- 
tended to the Mississippi, was repeated in 1887, 
but has been declined. 

ILLINOIS AND MISSISSIPPI CANAL (gener- 
ally known as "Hennepin Canal"), a projected 



navigable water-way in course of construction 
(1899) by the General Government, designed to 
connect the Upper Illinois with the Mississippi 
River. Its object is to furnish a continuous 
navigable water-channel from Lake Michigan, at 
or near Chicago, by way of the Illinois & Michi- 
gan Canal (or the Sanitary Drainage Canal) and 
the Illinois River, to the Mississippi at the mouth 
of Rock River, and finally to the Gulf of Mexico. 

The Route. —The canal, at its eastern end, 
leaves the Illinois River one and three-fourths 
miles above the city of Hennepin, where the 
river makes the great bend to the south. Ascend- 
ing the Bureau Creek valley, the route passes 
over the dividing ridge between the Illinois River 
and the Mississippi to Rock River at the mouth 
of Green River; thence by slack-water down 
Rock River, and around the lower rapids in that 
stream at Milan, to tlie Mississippi. The esti- 
mated length of the main channel between its 
eastern and western termini is seventy-five miles 
— the distance having been reduced by changes 
in the route after the first survey. To this is to 
be added a "feeder" extending from the vicinity 
of Shefiield, on the summit-level (twenty-eight 
miles west of the starting point on the Illinois), 
north to Rock Falls on Rock River opposite the 
city of Sterling in Wliiteside County, for the 
purpose of obtaining an adequate supply of water 
for the main canal on its highest level. The 
length of this feeder is twenty-nine miles and, as 
its dimensions are the same as those of the main 
channel, it will be navigable for vessels of the 
same class as the latter. A dam to be constructed 
at Sterling, to turn water into the feeder, will 
furnish slack-water navigation on Rock River to 
Dixon, practically lengthening the entire route 
to that extent. 

History. — The subject of such a work began to 
be actively agitated as early as 1871, and, under 
authority of various acts of Congress, preliminary 
surveys began to be made by Government engi- 
neers that year. In 1890 detailed plans and esti- 
mates, based upon these preliminary surveys, 
were submitted to Congress in accordance with 
the river and harbor act of August, 1888. Thi.s 
report became tho basis of an appropriation in 
the river and harbor act of Sept. 19, 1890, for 
carrj'ing the work into practical execution. 
Actual work was begun on the western end of the 
canal in July, 1892, and at the eastern end in the 
spring of 1894. Since then it has been prosecuted 
as continuously as the appropriations made by 
Congress from year to year would permit. Ac- 
cording to the report of Major Marshall, Chief of 



288 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Engineers in charge of t}ie work, for the fiscal 
j'ear ending June 30, 1898, the construction of the 
canal around the lower rapids of Rock River (four 
and one-half miles), with three locks, three 
swing bridges, two dams, besides various build- 
ings, was completed and that portion of the canal 
opened to navigation on April 17. 1895. In the 
early part of 1899, the bulk of the excavation 
and masonry on the eastern section was practi- 
cally completed, the feeder line under contract, 
and five out of the eighteen bridges required to 
be constructed in place; and it was estimated 
that the whole line, with locks, bridges, culverts 
and aqueducts, will be completed within two 
years, at the farthest, by 1902. 

Dimensions, Methods of Construction, Cost. 
ETC. — As already stated, the length of the main 
line is seventy-five miles, of which twenty-eight 
miles (the eastern section) is east of the junction 
of the feeder, and forty-seven miles (the western 
section) west of that point — making, with the 
twenty-nine miles of feeder, a total of one hun- 
dred and four miles, or seven miles longer than 
the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The rise from the 
Illinois River datum to the summit-level on the 
eastern section is accomplished by twenty-one 
locks with a lift of six to fourteen feet each, to 
reach an altitude of 196 feet ; while the descent 
of ninety-three feet to the low- water level of the 
Mississippi on the western end is accomplished 
through ten locks, varying from six to fourteen 
feet each. The width of the canal, at tlie water 
surface, is eighty feet, with a depth below the 
surface-line of seven feet. The banks are rip- 
rapped with stone the entire length of the canal. 
The locks are one hundred and seventy feet long, 
between the quoins, by thirty-five feet in width, 
admitting the passage of vessels of one hundred 
and forty feet in length and thirty-t (vo feet beam 
and each capable of carrying six hundred tons of 
freight. 

The bulk of the masonry employed in the con- 
struction of locks, as well as abutments for 
bridges and aqueducts, is solid concrete manufac- 
tured In place, while the lock-gates and aque- 
ducts proper are of steel — the use of tliese 
materials resulting in a large saving in the first 
cost as to the former, and securing greater solid- 
ity and permanence in all. The concrete work, 
already completed, is found to have withstood 
the effects of ice even more successfully than 
natural stone. The smaller culverts are of iron 
piping and the framework of all the bridges of 
steel. 

The earlier estimates placed the entire cost of 



construction of the canal, locks, bridges, build- 
ings, etc., at §5,068,000 for the main channel and 
$1,808,000 for the Rock River feeder— a total of 
56,926,000. This has been reduced, however, by 
changes in the route and unexpected saving in 
the material employed for masonry work. The 
total expenditure, as shown bj- official reports, 
up to June 30, 1898, was 81,748,905.13. The 
amount expended up to March 1, 1899, approxi- 
mated §2,500,000, while the amount necessary to 
complete the work (exclusive of an unexpended 
balance) was estimated, in round numbers, at 
$3,500,000. 

The completion of this work, it is estimated, 
will result in a saving of over 400 miles in water 
transportation between Chicago and the western 
terminus of the canal. In order to make the 
canal available to its full capacity between lake 
points and the Mississippi, the enlargement of 
the Illinois & Michigan Canal, both as to width 
and depth of channel, will be an indispensable 
necessity ; and it is anticipated that an effort will 
be made to secure action in this direction by the 
Illinois Legislature at its next session. Another 
expedient likely to receive strong support will be, 
to induce the General Government to accept the 
tender of the Illinois & Michigan Canal and, by 
the enlargement of the latter through its whole 
length — or, from Lockport to the Illinois River 
at La Salle, with the utilization of the Chicago 
Drainage Canal — furnish a national water-way 
between the lakes and the Gulf of Jlexico of 
sufficient capacity to accommodate steamers and 
other vessels of at least 600 tons burthen. 

ILLIXOIS BAND, THE, an association consist- 
ing of seven young men, then students in Yale 
College, who, in the winter of 1828-29, entered 
into a mutual compact to devote their lives to the 
promotion of Christian education in the West, 
especially in Illinois. It was composed of Theron 
Baldwin, John F. Brooks, Mason Grosvenor, 
Elisha Jenney, William Kirby, Julian M. Sturte- 
vant and Asa Turner. All of these came to Illi- 
nois at an early day, and one of the first results 
of their efforts was the founding of Illinois Col- 
lege at Jacksonville, in 1829, with which all 
became associated as members of the first Board 
of Trustees, several of them so remaining to the 
close of their lives, while most of them were con- 
nected with the institution for a considerable 
period, either as members of the faculty or finan- 
cial agents — Dr. Sturtevant having been Presi- 
dent for thirty-two years and an instructor or 
professor fifty-six years. (See Baldwin, Theron; 
Brooks, John F. ; and Sturtevant, Julian M. ) 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



289 



ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD, a corpo 
ration controlling the principal Line of railroad 
extending through the entire length of the State 
from north to south, besides numerous side 
branches acquired by lease during the past few 
years. The main lines are made up of three gen- 
eral divisions, extending from Chicago to Cairo, 
111. (364.73 miles); from Centralia to Dubuque, 
Iowa. (340.77 miles), and from Cairo to New 
Orleans, La. (547.79 miles) — making a total of 
1,353.29 miles of main line, of which 705.5 miles 
are in Illinois. Besides this the company con- 
trols, through lease and stock ownership, a large 
number of lateral branches which are operated 
by the company, making the total mileage 
officially reported up to Jime 30, 1898, 3,130.21 
miles. — (History.) The Illinois Central Railroad 
is not only one of the lines earliest projected in 
the history of the State, but has been most inti- 
mately connected with its development. The 
project of a road starting from the mouth of the 
Ohio and extending northward through tlie State 
is said to have been suggested by Lieut. -Gov. 
Alexander M. Jenkins as early as 1832; was 
advocated by the late Judge Sidney Breese and 
others in 1835 under the name of the Wabash & 
Mississippi Railroad, and took the form of a 
charter granted by the Legislature in January, 
1836, to the fir.st "Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany," to construct a road from Cairo to a point 
near the southern terminus of the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal. Nothing was done under this 
act, although an organization was effected, with 
Governor Jenkins as President of the Company. 
The Company sm-rendered its charter the next 
year and the work was undertaken bj' the State, 
under tlie internal improvement act of 1837, and 
considerable money expended without complet- 
ing any portion of the line. The State having 
abandoned the enterprise, the Legislature, in 
1843, incorporated the "Great Western Railwaj' 
Company" under what came to be known as the 
"Holbrook charter," to be organized under the 
auspices of the Cairo City & Canal Company, 
the line to connect the termini named in the 
charter of 1836, via Vandalia, Shelbyville, 
Decatur and Bloomington. Considerable money 
was expended under this charter, but the scheme 
again failed of completion, and the act was 
repealed in 1845. A charter under the same 
name, with some modification as to organization, 
was renewed in 1849. — In January, 1850, Senator 
Douglas introduced a bill in the United States 
Senate making a grant to the State of Illinois of 
alternate sections of land along the line of a 



proposed road extending from Cairo to Dunleithin 
the northwest corner of the State, with a branch 
to Chicago, which bill passed the Senate in May 
of the same year and the House in September, 
and became the basis of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road Company as it exists to- day. Previous to 
the passage of this act, however, the Cairo City 
& Canal Company had been induced to execute a 
full surrender to the State of its rights and privi- 
leges under the "Holbrook charter." This was 
followed in February, 1851, by the act of the 
Legislature incorporating the Illinois Central 
Railroad Company, and assigning thereto (under 
specified conditions) the grant of lands received 
from the General Government. This grant 
covered alternate sections within six miles of the 
line, or the equivalent thereof (when such lands 
were not vacant), to be placed on lands within 
fifteen miles of the line. The niunber of acres 
thus assigned to the Company was 2,595,000, 
(about 3,840 acres per mile), which were con- 
veyed to Trustees as security for the performance 
of the work. An engineering party, organized 
at Chicago, May 21, 1851, began the prelim- 
inary survey of the Chicago branch, and 
before the end of the year the whole line was 
surveyed and staked out The first contract for 
grading was let on March 15, 1852. being for that 
portion between Chicago and Kensington (then 
known as Calumet), 14 miles. This was opened 
for traffic, May 24, 1852, and over it the Michigan 
Central, which had been in course of construction 
from the east, obtained trackage rights to enter 
Chicago. Later, contracts were let for other 
sections, some of them in June, and the last on 
Oct. 14, 1853. In May, 1853, the section from 
La Salle to Bloomington (61 miles) was com- 
pleted and opened for business, a temporary 
bridge being constructed over the Illinois near 
La Salle, and cars hauled to the top of the bluff 
with chains and cable by means of a stationary 
engine. In July, 1854, the Chicago Division was 
put in operation to Urbana, 128 miles; the main 
line from Cairo to La Salle (301 miles), completed 
Jan. 8, 1855, and the line from La Salle to Dunleith 
(now East Dubuque), 146.73 miles, on June 12, 
1855— the entire road (705.5 miles) being com- 
pleted, Sept. 27, 1856.— (Financial Statement.) 
The share capital of the road was originally 
fixed at .$17,000,000, but previous to 1869 it had 
been increased to §25,500,000, and during 1873-74 
to 529,000,000. The present capitalization (1898) 
is §163.352,593, of which §52,500,000 is in stock. 
§53,680,925 in bonds, and §51,367.000 in miscel 
laneous obligations. The total cost of the road 



290 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



in Illinois, as shown by a report made in 1889, was 
§35,110,609. By the terms of its charter the 
corporation is exempt from taxation, but in lieu 
thereof is required to pay into the State treasury, 
semiannually, seven per cent upon the gross 
earnings of the line in Illinois. The sum thus 
paid into the State treasurj' from Oct. 31, 18f)5. 
when the first payment of $39,751,59 was made, 
up to and including Oct. 31, 1898, aggregated 
$17,315,193.24. The last payment (October, 1898), 
amounted to !5334,.527.01. The largest paj'ment 
in the history of the road was that of October, 
1893, amounting, for the preceding six months, to 
.54.50,176 34. The net income of the main line in 
Illinois, for the year ending June 30, 1898, was 
§13,399,031, and the total expenditures within the 
State §13,831,161.— (Leased Lines ) The first 
addition to the Illinois Central System was made 
in 1867 in the acquisition, by lease, of the Dubuque 
& Sioux City Railroad, extending from Dubuviue 
to Sioux Falls, Iowa. Since then it lias extended 
its Iowa connections, by the construction of new 
lines and tlie acquisition or extension of others. 
The most important addition to the line outside 
of the State of Illinois was an arrangement 
effected, in 1873, with the New Orleans, Jackson & 
Great Northern, and the Mississippi Central Rail- 
roads — with which it previously had traffic con- 
nections — giving it control of a line from Jackson, 
Tenn., to New Orleans, La. At first, connection 
was had between the Illinois Central at Cairo and 
the Southern Divisions of the system, bj' means 
of transfer steamers, but subsequently the gap 
was filled in and the through line opened to traffic 
in December, 1873. In 1874 the New Orleans, 
Jackson & Great Northern and the Mississippi 
Central roads were consolidated under the title 
of the New Orleans, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad, 
but the new corporation defaulted on its interest 
in 1876. The Illinois Central, which was tlie 
owner of a majority of the bonds of the constitu- 
ent lines which went to make up tlie New Orleans, 
St Louis & Chicago Railroad, tlien acquired 
ownership of the whole line by foreclosure pro- 
ceedings in 1877, and it was reorganized, on Jan. 
1, 1878, under the name of the Chicago, St. Louis 
& New Orleans Railroad, and placed in charge of 
one of the Vice-Presidents of the Illinois Central 
Company.— (Illinois Branches.) The more im- 
portant branches of the Illinois Central witliin the 
State include: (1) The Springfield Division from 
Chicago to Springfield (111.47 miles), chartered 
in 1867, and opened in 1871 as the Gilman, Clinton 
& Springfield Railroad ; passed into the hands of 
a receiver in 1873, sold under foreclosure in 1876, 



and leased, in 1878, for fifty years, to the Illinois 
Central Railroad: (3) The Rantoul Division from 
Leroy to the Indiana State line (66.31 miles in 
Illinois), chartered in 1876 as the Havana, Ran- 
toul & Eastern Railroad, built as a narrow-gauge 
line and operated in 1881 ; afterwards changed to 
standard-gauge, and controlled by tlie Wabash, 
St. Louis & Pacific until May, 1884, when it passed 
into the hands of a receiver ; in December of the 
same year taken in charge by the bondholders ; in 
1885 again placed in the hands of a receiver, and, 
in October, 1886, sold to the Illinois Central: (3) 
The Chicago, Havana & Western Railroad, from 
Havana to Cliampaign, witli a branch from White- 
heath to Decatur (total, 131.68 miles), constructed 
as the western extension of the Indianapolis, 
Bloomington & Western, and opened in 1873; sold 
under foreclosure in 1879 and organized as the 
Champaign, Havana & Western; in 1880 pur- 
chased by the Wabash, St, Louis & Pacific; in 
1884 taken possession of by the mortgage trustees 
and, in September, 1886. sold under foreclosure to 
the Illinois Central Railroad; (4) The Freeport 
Division, from Chicago by way of Freeport to 
Madison, Wis. (140 miles in Illinois), constructed 
under a charter granted to the Chicago, Madison 
& Northern Railroad (wliich see), opened for 
traffic in 1888, and transferred to the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company in January, 1889; (5) 
The Kankakee & Southwestern (131.36 miles), 
constructed from Kankakee to Bloomington 
under tlie charters of tlie Kankakee & Western 
and the Kankakee & Southwestern Railroads; 
acquired by the Illinois Central in 1878, begun in 
1880, and extended to Bloomington in 1883 ; and 
(6) The St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute (which 
see under its old name). Other Illinois branch 
lines of less importance embrace the Blue Island ; 
the Chicago & Texas ; the Mound City ; the South 
Chicago; the St. Louis, Belleville & Southern, 
and the St. Charles Air-Line, which furnishes 
an entrance to the City of Chicago over an ele- 
vated track. The total length of these Illinois 
branches in 1898 was 919.72 miles, with the main 
lines making the total mileage of the company 
within the State 1,624.33 miles. For several years 
up to 1895 the Illinois Central had a connection 
with St. Louis over the line of the Terre Haute & 
Indianapolis from Effingliam, but this is now 
secured by way of the Springfield Division and 
the main line to Pana, whence its trains pass over 
the old Indianapolis & St. Louis — now the Cleve- 
land, Cinciunati. Chicago & St. Louis Railway. 
Between June 30, 1897 and April 30, 1898, branch 
lines in the Southern States (chiefly in Kentucky 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



291 



and Tennessee), to the extent of 670 miles, were 
added to the Illinois Central System. The Cairo 
Bridge, constructed across the Ohio River near 
its mouth, at a cost of §3,000,000, for the purpose of 
connecting the Northern and Southern Divisions 
of the Illinois Central System, and one of the 
most stupendous structures of its kind in the 
world, belongs wholly to the Illinois Central 
Railroad Company. (See Cairo Bridge.) 

ILLINOIS COLLEGE, an institution of learn- 
ing at Jacksonville, 111., which was the first to 
graduate a collegiate class in the history of the 
State. It had its origin in a movement inaugu- 
rated about 1827 or 1838 to secure the location, at 
some point in Illinois, of a seminary or college 
which would give the youth of the State the 
opportunity of acquiring a higher education. 
Some of the most influential factors in this move- 
ment were already citizens of Jacksonville, or 
contemplated becoming such. In January, 1828, 
the outline of a plan for such an institution was 
drawn up by Rev. John M. Ellis, a home missionary 
of the Presbyterian Church, and Hon. Samuel D. 
Lockwood, then a Justice of the Supreme Court 
of the State, as a basis for soliciting subscriptions 
for the organization of a stock-company to carry 
the enterprise into execution. The plan, as then 
proposed, contemplated provision for a depart- 
ment of female education, at least until a separate 
institution could be furnished — which, if not a 
forerunner of the co-educational system now so 
much in vogue, at least foreshadowed the estab- 
lishment of the Jacksonville Female Seminary, 
which soon followed the founding of the college. 
A few months after these preliminar}' steps were 
taken, Mr. Ellis was brought into communication 
with a group of young men at Yale College (see 
"Illinois Band") who had entered into a com- 
pact to devote their lives to the cause of educa- 
tional and missionary work in the West, and out 
of the union of these two forces, soon afterwards 
effected, grew Illinois College. The organization 
of the "Illinois" or "Yale Band," was formally 
consummated in February, 1829, and before the 
close of the year a fund of §10,000 for the purpose 
of laying the foundation of the proposed institu- 
tion in Illinois had been pledged by friends of 
education in the East, a beginning had been made 
in the erection of buildings on the present site of 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, and, in Decem- 
ber of the same year, the work of instruction of 
a preparatory class had been begun by Rev. Julian 
M. Sturtevant, who had taken the place of ' 'avant- 
courier" of the movement. A year later (1831) 
Rev. Edward Beecher, the oldest son of the inde- 



fatigable Lyman Beecher, and brother of Henry 
Ward — already then well known as a leader in 
the ranks of those opposed to slavery — had be- 
come identified with the new enterprise and 
assumed the position of its first President. Such 
was the prejudice against "Yankees" in Illinois 
at that time, and the jealousy of theological influ- 
ence in education, that it was not until 1835 that 
the friends of the institution were able to secure 
a charter from the Legislature. An ineffectual 
attempt had been made in 1830, and when it was 
finally granted, it was in the form of an "omni- 
bus bill" including three other institutions, but 
with restrictions as to the amount of real estate 
that might be held, and prohibiting the organiza- 
tion of theological departments, both of which 
were subsequently repealed. (See Early Col- 
leges.) The same year the college graduated its 
first class, consisting of two members — Richard 
Yates, afterwards War Governor and United 
States Senator, and Rev. Jonathan Spillman, the 
composer of "Sweet Afton." Limited as was this 
first output of alumni, it was politically and 
morally strong. In 1843 a medical department 
was established, but it was abandoned five years 
later for want of adequate support. Dr. Beecher 
retired from the Presidency in 1844, when he was 
succeeded by Dr. Sturtevant, who continued in 
that capacity until 1876 (thirty-two years), when 
he became Professor Emeritus, remaining until 
188.5 — his connection with the institution cover- 
ing a period of fifty-six years. Others who have 
occupied the position of President include Rufus 
C. Crampton (acting), 1876-82; Rev, Edward A. 
Tanner, 1882-92; and Dr. John E. Bradley, the 
incumbent from 1892 to 1899. Among the earli- 
est and influential friends of the institution, 
besides Judge Lockwood already mentioned, may 
be enumerated such names as Gov. Joseph Dun- 
can, Thomas Mather, Winthrop S. Oilman, 
Frederick Collins and William H. Brown (of 
Chicago), all of whom were members of the early 
Board of Trustees. It was found necessary to 
maintain a preparatory department for many 
years to fit pupils for the college classes proper, 
and, in 1866, Whipple Academy was established 
and provided with a separate building for this 
purpose. The standard of admission to the col- 
lege course has been gradually advanced, keeping 
abreast, in this respect, of other American col- 
leges. At present the institution has a faculty of 
15 members and an endowment of some $1.50,000, 
with a library (1898) numbering over 15,000 vol- 
umes and property valued at $360,000. Degrees 
are conferred in both classical and scientific 



292 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



courses in the college proper. The list of alumni 
embraces some 750 names, including many who 
have been prominent in State and National 
affairs. 

ILLI^VOIS COUiVTY, the name given to the 
first civil organization of the territory northwest 
of the Ohio River, after its conquest by Col. George 
Rogers Clark in 1778. This was done by act of 
the Virginia House of Delegates, passed in 
October of the same year, which, among other 
things, provided as follows: "The citizens of the 
commonwealth of Virginia, who are already set- 
tled, or shall hereafter settle, on the western side of 
the Ohio, shall be included in a distinct county 
which shall be called Illinois County; and the 
Governor of this commonwealth, with the advice 
of the Council, may appoint a County-Lieutenant 
or Commandant-in-chief of the county during 
pleasure, who shall take the oath of fidelity to 
this commonwealth and the oath of office accord- 
ing to the form of their own religion. And all 
civil offices to which the inhabitants have been 
accustomed, necessary for the preservation of the 
peace and the administration of justice, shall be 
chosen by a majority of the citizens of their re- 
spective districts, to be convened for that purpose 
by the County-Lieutenant or Commandant, or his 
deputy, and shall be commissioned by said 
County-Lieutenant." As the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, by virtue of Colonel Clark's conquest, 
then claimed jurisdiction over the entire region 
west of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, 
Illinois County nominally embraced the territory 
comprised within the limits of the present States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wiscon- 
sin, though the settlements were limited to the 
vicinity of Kaskaskia, Vincennes (in the present 
State of Indiana) and Detroit. Col. John Todd, 
of Kentucky, was appointed by Gov. Patrick 
Henry, the first Lieutenant-Commandant under 
this act, holding ofiice two years. Out of Illinois 
County were subsequently organized the follow- 
ing counties by "order" of Gov. Arthur St. Clair, 
after his assumption of the duties of Governor, 
following the passage, by Congress, of the Ordi- 
nance of 1787, creating the Northwest Territory, 



VIZ. : 

Name 


County-Seat 


Date op Obgaxizatio 


Wasbington 


Marietta 


July 27, 1788 


HamiltoD 


Cincinnati 
f Cahobia 


Jan. 4, 1791) 


St. Clair 


! Prairie du Rocher April 27, 17S 




( Ka.sliaakia 




Knox 


Post St. Vincenr 


lea June 20. 17! 


Randolph 


Kaskaskia 


Oct. 5, 1795 



Washington, originally comprising the State of 
Ohio, was reduced, on the organization of Hamil- 
ton County, to the eastern portion, Hamilton 



County embracing the west, with Cincinnati 
(originally called "Losantiville, " near old Fort 
Washington) as the county-seat. St. Clair, the 
third county organized out of this territory, at 
first had virtually three county-seats, but divi- 
sions and jealousies among the people and oflicials 
in reference to the place of deposit for the records, 
resulted in the issue, five years later, of an order 
creating tlie new county of Randolph, the second 
in the "Illinois Country" — these (St. Clair and 
Randolph) constituting the two counties into 
which it was divided at the date of organization 
of Illinois Territory. Out of these events grew 
the title of "Mother of Counties" given to Illinois 
County as the original of all the counties in the 
five States northwest of the Oliio, while St. Clair 
County inherited the title as to the State of 
Illinois. (See Illinois; also St. Clair, Arthur, 
and Todd, (Col.) John.) 

ILLIIVOIS FARMERS' RAILROAD. (See 
Jacksonville & St. Louis Railway.) 

ILLINOIS FEMALE COLLEGE, a flourishing 
institution for the education of women, located 
at Jack.sonville and incorporated in 1847. While 
essentially unsectarian in teaching, it is con- 
trolled by the Methodist Episcopal denomination. 
Its first charter was granted to the "Illinois Con- 
ference Female Academy" in 1847, but four years 
later the charter was amended and the name 
changed to the present cognomen. The cost of 
building and meager .support in early years 
brought on bankruptcj-. The friends of the insti- 
tution rallied to its -support, however, and the 
purchasers at the foreclosure sale (all of whom 
were friends of Methodist education) donated tlie 
property to what was technically a new institu- 
tion. A second charter was obtained from the 
State in 1863, and the restrictions imposed upon 
the grant were such as to prevent ahenation of 
title, by either conveyance or mortgage. While 
the college has only a small endowment fund 
(52,000) it owns 860,000 worth of real property, 
besides 59,000 invested in apparatus and library. 
Preparatory and collegiate departments are main- 
tained, both classical and scientific courses being 
established in the latter. Instruction is also 
given in fine arts, elocution and music. The 
faculty (1898) numbers 15, and there are about 170 
students. 

ILLINOIS FEMALE REFORM SCHOOL. (See 
Home for Female Offenders.) 

ILLIIVOIS INDIANS, a confederation belong- 
ing to the Algonquin family and embracing five 
tribes, viz. : the Cahokias, Kaskaskias, Mitcha- 
gamies, Peorias and Tamaroas. They early ocou- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



293 



pied Illinois, with adjacent portions of Iowa, 
Wisconsin and Slissouri. The name is derived 
from mini, "man," the Indian plural "ek'" being 
changed by the French to "ois. " They were 
intensely warlike, being almost constantly in 
conflict with the Winnebagoes, the Iroquois, 
Sioux and other tribes. They were migi-atory 
and depended for subsistence largely on the sum- 
mer and winter hunts. They dwelt in rudely 
constructed cabins, each accommodating about 
eight families. They were always faithful alhes 
of the French, whom they heartily welcomed in 
1673. French missionaries labored earnestly 
among them — notably Fathers Marquette, AUouez 
and Gravier — who reduced their language to 
grammatical rules. Their most distinguished 
Chief was Chicagou, who was sent to France, 
where he was welcomed with the honors accorded 
to a foreign prince. In tlieir wars with the 
Foxes, from 1713 to 1719, they suffered severely, 
their numbers being reduced to 3,000 souls. The 
assassination of Pontiac by a Kaskaskian in 1765, 
was avenged by the lake tribes in a war of ex- 
termination. After taking part with the Miamis 
in a war against the United States, thej' partici- 
pated in the treaties of Greenville and Vincennes, 
and were gradually removed farther and farther 
toward the West, the small remnant of about 175 
being at present (1896) on the Quapaw reservation 
in Indian Territory. (See also Cahokias; Foxes; 
Iroquois; Kaskaskias; Mitchagamies; Peorias; 
Tamaroas: and Winnebagoes.) 

ILLINOIS IXSTITUTION FOR THE EDU- 
CATION OF THE BLIND, located at Jackson- 
ville. Tlie institution had its inception in a school 
for the blind, opened in that town in 1847, by 
Samuel Bacon, who was himself blind. The 
State Institution was created by act of the Legis- 
lature, passed Jan. 13, 1849, which was introduced 
by Richard Yates, then a Representative, and 
was first opened in a rented house, early in 1850, 
under the temporary supervision of Mr. Bacon. 
Soon afterward twenty-two acres of ground were 
purchased in the eastern part of the city and the 
erection of permanent buildings commenced. By 
January, 1854. they were ready for use, but fif- 
teen years later were destroyed by fire. Work on 
a new bmlding was begun without unnecessary 
delay and the same was completed by 1874. 
Numerous additions of wings and shops have 
since been made, and the institution, in its build- 
ings and appointments, is now one of the most 
complete in the country. Instruction (as far as 
practicable) is given in rudimentary English 
branches, and in such mechanical trades and 



avocations as may best qualify the inmates to be- 
come self-supporting upon their return to active 
life. 

ILLINOIS MASONIC ORPHANS' HO.ME, an 
institution established in the city of Cliicago 
under the auspices of the Masonic Fraternity of 
Illinois, for the purpose of furnishing a home for 
the destitute children of deceased members of the 
Order. The total receipts of the institution, dur- 
ing the year 1895, were 829,304.98, and the 
expenditures, §27,258.70. The number of bene- 
ficiaries in the Home, Dec. 31, 1895, was 61. The 
Institution owns real estate valued at §75,000. 

ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILROAD. (See Terre 
Haute & Peoria Railroad.) 

ILLINOIS RITER, the most important stream 
within the State ; lias a length of about 500 miles, 
of which about 245 are navigable. It is formed 
by the junction of the Kankakee and Des Plaines 
Rivers at a point in Grundy County, some 45 
miles southwest of Chicago. Its course is west, 
then southwest, and finally south, until it 
empties into the Mississippi about 30 miles north 
of the mouth of tlie Missouri. The Illinois & 
Michigan Canal connects its waters with Lake 
Michigan. Marquette and JoUet ascended the 
stream in 1673 and were probably its first white 
visitants. Later (1679-82) it was explored by 
La Salle, Tonty, Hennepin and others. 

ILLINOIS RIVER RAILROAD. (See Cliicago, 
Peoria & St. Louis Railroad of Illinois.) 

ILLINOIS SANITARY COMMISSION, a vol 
untary organization formed pursuant to a sug- 
gestion of Governor Yates, shortly after the 
battle of Fort Donelsoh (1862). Its object was 
the relief of soldiers in actual service, whether on 
the march, in camp, or in hospitals. State Agents 
were appointed for the distribution of relief, for 
which purpose large sums were collected and dis- 
tributed. The work of the Commission was later 
formally recognized by the Legislature in the 
enactment of a law authorizing the Governor to 
appoint "Military State Agents," who should 
receive compensation from the vState treasury. 
Many of these "agents" were selected from the 
ranks of the workers in the Sanitary Commission, 
and a great impetus was thereby imparted to its 
volimtary work. Auxiliary . associations were 
formed all over the State, and funds were readily 
obtained, a considerable proportion of which was 
derived from "Sanitary Fairs." 

ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND 
MANUAL TRAINING FOR BOYS, an institution 
for the training of dependent boys, organized 
under the act of March 28, 1895, which was in 



294 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



effect a re-enactment of tlie statute approved in 
1883 and amended in 1885. Its legally defined 
object is to provide a home and proper training 
for such boys as may be committed to its charge. 
Commitments are made by tlie County Courts of 
Cook and contiguous counties. The school is 
located at Glenwood, in the county of Cook, and 
was first opened for the reception of inmates in 
1888. Its revenues are derived, in part, from 
voluntary contributions, and in part from pay- 
ments by the counties sending boys to the institu- 
tion, which payments are fixed by law at ten 
dollars per month for each boy, during the time 
he is actually an inmate. In 1898 nearly one-half 
of the entire income came from the former 
source, but the surplus remaining in the treasury 
at the end of any fiscal year is never large. The 
school is under the inspectional control of the 
State Commissioners of Public Charities, as 
though it were an institution founded and main- 
tained by the State. The educational curriculum 
closely follows that of the ordinary grammar 
schools, pupils being trained in eight grades, sub- 
stantially along the lines established in the public 
schools. In addition, a military drill is taught, 
with a view to developing physical strength, 
command of limbs, and a graceful, manly car- 
riage. Since the Home was organized there have 
been received (down to 1899), 2.333 boys. The 
industrial training given the inmates is both 
agricultural and mechanical, — the institution 
owning a good, fairly-sized farm, and operating 
well equipped industrial shops for the education 
of pupils. A fair proportion of the boys devote 
themselves to learning trades, and not a 
few develop into excellent workmen. One of the 
purposes of the school is to secure homes for those 
thought likely to prove creditable members of 
respectable households. During the eleven years 
of its existence nearly 2,200 boys have been placed 
in homes, and usually with the most satisfactory 
results. The legal safeguards thrown around 
the ward are of a comprehensive and binding 
sort, so far as regards the parties who take the 
children for either adoption or apprenticeship— 
the welfare of the ward always being the object 
primarily aimed at. Adoption is preferred to 
institutional life by the administration, and the 
result usually justifies their judgment. Many of 
the pupils are returned to their families or 
friends, after a mild course of correctional treat- 
ment. The system of government adopted is 
analogous to that of the "cottage plan" employed 
in many reformatory institutions throughout the 
country. An "administration building" stands 



in the center of a group of structures, each of 
which has its own individual name: — Clancy 
Hall, Wallace, Plymouth, Beeoher, Pope, Windsor, 
Lincoln, Sunnyside and Sheridan. While never 
a suppliant for benefactions, the Home has always 
attracted the attention of philanthropists who 
are interested in the care of society's waifs. The 
average annual number of inmates is about 27.5. 

ILLINOIS WESLEYAX UMTERSITT, the 
leading educational institution of the Methodist 
Church in Illinois, south of Chicago; incorpo- 
rated in 1853 and located at Bloomington. It is 
co-educational, has a faculty of 34 instructors, 
and reports 1,106 students in 1896 — 458 male and 
648 female. Besides the usual literary and scien- 
tific departments, instruction is given in theology, 
music and oratory. It also has preparatory and 
business courses. It has a library of 6,000 vol- 
umes and reports funds and endowment aggre- 
gating .§187, 999, and property to the value of 
.?380,999. 

ILLINOIS & INDIANA KAILROAD. (See 
Indiana, Decatur & Western RaUiray.) 

ILLINOIS & SOUTHEASTERN RAILROAD. 
(See Baltimore <£• Ohio Southwestern Tiailroad.) 

ILLINOIS & SOUTHERN IOWA RAILROAD. 
(See Wabash Railroad.) 

ILLINOIS & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD & COAL 
COMPANY. (See Louisville, Evansville & St. 
Louis (consolidated) Railroad.) 

ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago & Northwestern Railway.) 

ILLIOPOLIS, a village in Sangamon County, 
on the Wabash Railway, 20 miles east of Spring- 
field. It occupies a position nearly in the geo- 
graphical center of the State and is in the heart 
of what is generally termed the corn belt of Cen- 
tral Illinois. It has banks, several churches, a 
graded school and three newspapers. Population 
(1880), 686; (1890), 689; (1900), 744. 

INDIAN MOUNDS. (See Mound-Builders, 
Works of The.) 

INDIAN TREATIES. The various treaties 
made by the General Government with the 
Indians, which affected Illinois, may be summa- 
rized as follows : Treaty of Greenville, August 3, 
1795 — ceded 11,808,409 acres of land for the sum 
of $210,000; negotiated by Gen. Anthony Wayne 
with the Delawares, Ottawas, Miamis, Wyandots, 
Shawnees, Pottawatomies, Chippewas, Kaskas- 
kias, Kickapoos, Piankeshaws and Eel River 
Indians: First Treaty of Fort Wayne, June 7, 
1803— ceded 2,038,400 acres in consideration of 
$4,000; negotiated by Governor Harrison with 
the Delawares, Kickapoos, Miamis, Pottawato- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



295 



mies, and Shawnees: First Treaty of Vincennes, 
August 13, 1803— ceded 8,911,850 acres for $13, 000; 
negotiated by Governor Harrison with the Caho- 
kias, Kaskaskias and Mitchagamies . First Treaty 
of St. Louis, Nov. 3, 1804— ceded 14,803,520 acres 
in consideration of $33,234; negotiated by Gov- 
ernor Harrison with the Sacs and Foxes- Second 
Treaty of Vincennes, Dec. 30, 180.5— ceded 2,676,150 
acres for $4, 100 ; negotiated by Governor Harrison 
with the Piankeshaws: Second Treaty of Fort 
AVayne, Sept. 30, 1809 — ceded 2,900,000 acres; 
negotiated by Governor Harrison with the Dela- 
wares, Eel River, Miamis, Pottawatomies and 
Weas: Third Treaty of Vincennes, Dec. 9, 1809 
— ceded 138,240 acres for 827,000; negotiated by 
Governor Harrison with the Kickapoos: Second 
Treaty of St. Louis, Aug. 24, ISIG— ceded 1,418,400 
acres in consideration of $12,000; negotiated by 
Governor Edwards, William Clark and A. Chou- 
teau with the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawato- 
mies: Treaty of Edwardsville, Sept. 30, 1818— 
ceded 6,865,380 acres for §6,400; negotiated by 
Governor Edwards and A. Cliouteau with the 
Illinois and Peorias: Treaty of St. Mary's, Oct. 
2, 1818— ceded 11,000,000 acres for §33,000; nego- 
tiated by Gen. Lewis Cass and others with the 
Weas: Treaty of Fort Harrison, Aug. 30, 1819— 
negotiated by Benjamin Parke with the Kicka- 
poos of the Vermilion, ceding 3,173,130 acres for 
$33,000: Treaty of St. Joseph, Sept. 20, 1828— 
ceded 990,720 acres in consideration of $189,795; 
negotiated by Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard with 
the Pottawatomies: Treaty of Prairie du Chien, 
Jan. 3, 1830— ceded 4,160,000 acres for §390,601; 
negotiated by Pierre Menard and others with 
the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawatomies: 
First Treaty of Chicago, Oct. 20, 1832— ceded 
1,536,000 acres for §460,348; negotiated with 
the Pottawatomies of the Prairie: Treaty of 
Tippecanoe, Oct. 27, 1832 — by it tlie Pottawato- 
mies of Indiana ceded 737,000 acres, in consider- 
ation of §406, 121 : Second Treaty of Chicago, Sept. 
26, 1833 — by it the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pot- 
tawatomies ceded 5,104,960 acres for §7, 624,289-, 
Treaties of Fort Armstrong and Prairie du Chien, 
negotiated 1829 and '33— by wliich the Winne- 
bagoes ceded 10,346,000 acres in exchange for 
§5,195,253: Second Treaty of St. Louis, Oct. 27. 
1833 — the Kaskaskias and Peorias ceding 1,900 
acres in consideration of §155,780 (See also 
Oreenville, Treaty of.) 

INDIAJf TRIBES. (See Algonquins; niinois 
Indians: Kaskxiskias; Kiekapoos: Miamis; Outa- 
ganiies; Piankeshaws: Potfaicatomies; Sacs and 
Foxes; Weas; Winnebagoes.) 



IIVDIAIVA, BLOOMINtJTON & WESTERN 
RAILWAY. (See Peoria dr Eastern Railroad. ) 

INDIANA, DECATUR & WESTERN RAIL- 
WAY. The entire length of line is 153.5 miles, of 
which 75.75 miles (with yard-tracks and sidings 
amounting to 8 86 miles) lie within Illinois. It 
extends from Decatur almost due east to the 
Indiana State line, and has a single track of 
standard gauge, with a right of way of 100 feet 
The rails are of steel, well adapted to the traffic, 
and the ballasting is of gravel, earth and cinders. 
The bridges (chiefly of wood) are of standard 
design and well maintained. The amount of 
capital stock outstanding (1898) is §1,834,000, or 
11,998 per mile; total capitalization (including 
stock and all indebtedness) 3,733,983. The total 
earnings and income in Illinois, §240,850. (His- 
tory.) The first organization of this road em- 
braced two companies — the Indiana & Illinois and 
the Illinois & Indiana — which were consolidated, 
in 1853, under the name of the Indiana & Illinois 
Central Railroad Company. In 1875 the latter 
was sold under foreclosure and organized as the 
Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railway 
Company, at which time the section from Decatur 
to Montezuma, lud., was opened. It was com- 
pleted to Indianapolis in 1880. In 1882 it was 
leased to the Indiana, Bloomington & Western 
Railroad Company, and operated to 1885, when 
it passed into the hands of a receiver, was sold 
under foreclosure in 1887 and reorganized under 
the name of the Indianapolis, Decatur & West- 
ern. Again, in 1889, default was made and the 
property, after being operated by trustees, was 
sold in 1894 to two companies called the Indiana, 
Decatur & Western Railway Company (in Indi- 
ana) and the Decatur & Eastern Railway Com- 
pany (in Illinois), These were consolidated in 
July, 1895, under the present name (Indiana, 
Decatur & Western Railway Company). In 
December, 1895, the entire capital stock was 
purchased by the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton 
Railway Company, and the line is now operated 
as a part of that system. 

INDIANA, ILLINOIS & IOWA RAILROAD. 
This line extends from Streator Junction 1.8 
miles south of Streator, on the line of the Streator 
Division of the Wabash Railroad, easterly to the 
Indiana State Line. The total length of the line 
is 151.78 miles, of which 69.61 miles are in Illi- 
nois. Between Streator Junction and Streator, 
the line is owned by the Wabash Company, but 
this company pays rental for trackage facilities. 
About 75 per cent of the ties are of white-oak, 
the remainder being of cedar ; the rails are 56-lb. 



296 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS 



steel, and the ballasting is of broken stone, gravel, 
sand, cinders and earth. A policy of permanent 
improvements has been adopted, and is being 
carried forward. The principal traffic is the 
transportation of freight. The outstanding capi- 
tal stock (June 30, 1898) was $3,597,800; bonded 
debt, §1.800,000; total capitalization, §5,517,739; 
total earnings and income in Illinois for 1898, 
$413,967; total expenditures in the State, §303,- 
344. — (History.) This road w-as chartered Dec. 
27, 1881, and organized by the consolidation of 
tliree roads of the same name (Indiana, Illinois & 
Iowa, respectively), opened to Momence, 111., in 
1882, and through its entire length. Sept. 15, 1883. 

INDIAJfA & ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Indiana, Decatur & Western Rail- 
way.) 

INDIANA & ILLINOIS RAILROAD. (See 
Indiana, Decatur & Western Railway.) 

INDIANA & ILLINOIS SOUTHERN RAIL- 
ROAD. (See St. Louis, Indianapolis & Eastern 
Railroad. ) 

INDIANAPOLIS, BLOOMINtHON & WEST- 
ERN RAILROAD. (See Illinois Central Rail- 
road; also Peoria <fc Eastern Railroad. ) 

INDIANAPOLIS, DECATUR & SPRING- 
FIELD RAILROAD. (See Indiana, Decatur & 
Western Railway.) 

INDIANAPOLIS, DECATUR & WESTERN 
RAILWAY. (See Indiana, Decatur <& Western 
Railway. ) 

INDIANAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY. 
(See St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad.) 

INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR THE BLIND, a 
State Institution designed to furnish the means 
of employment to dependent blind persons of 
both sexes, established under authority of an act 
of the T,egislature passed at the session of 1893. 
The institution is located at Douglas Park Boule- 
vard and West Nineteenth Street, in the city of 
Chicago. It includes a four-story factory with 
steam-plant attached, besides a four-story build- 
ing for residence purposes. It was opened in 
1894, and, in December, 1897, had 63 inmates, of 
whom 12 were females. The Fortieth General 
Assembly appropriated §13,900 for repairs, appli- 
ances, library, etc., and §8,000 per annum for 
ordinarj' expenses 

INGERSOLL, Ebon C, Congressman, was born 
in Oneida County, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1831. His first 
remove was to Paducah, Ky., where he com- 
pleted his education. He studied law and was 
admitted to the bar; removing this time to Illi- 
nois and settling in Gallatin County, in 1842. In 
1856 he was elected to represent Gallatin County 



in the lower house of the General Assembly ; in 
1862 was the Republican candidate for Congress 
for the State-at-large, but defeated by J. C. 
Allen; and, in 1864, was chosen to fill the unex- 
pired term of Owen Lovejoy, deceased, as Repre- 
sentative in the Thirty -eighth Congress. He was 
re-elected to the Thirty-ninth, Fortieth and 
Forty-first Congresses, his term expiring, March 
4, 1871. He was a brother of Col. Robert G. 
IngersoU, and was, for some years, associated with 
him in the practice of law at Peoria, his home. 
Died, in Washington, May 31, 1879. 

INGERSOLL, Robert Green, lawyer and sol- 
dier, was born at Dresden, Oneida County, N. Y., 
August 11, 1833. His father, a Congregational 
clergyman of pronounced liberal tendencies, 
removed to the West in 1843, and Robert's boy- 
hood was spent in Wisconsin and Illinois. After 
being admitted to the bar, he opened an office at 
Shawneetown, in partnership with his brother 
Ebon, afterwards a Congressman from Illinois. 
In 1857 they removed to Peoria, and, in 1860, 
Robert G. was an unsuccessful Democratic can- 
didate for Congress. In 1863 he was commis- 
sioned Colonel of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, 
which had been mustered in in December, 1861, 
and, in 1864, identified hirhself with the Repub- 
lican party. In February, 1867, he was appointed 
by Governor Oglesby the first Attorney-General 
of the State under the new law enacted that year. 
As a lawyer and orator he won great distinction. 
He nominated James G. Blaine for the Presidency 
in the Republican Convention of 1876, at Cincin- 
natij in a speech that attracted wide attention by 
its eloquence. Other oratorical efforts which 
added greatly to his fame include "The Dream of 
the Union Soldier," delivered at a Soldiers' 
Reunion at Indianapolis, his eulogy at his brother 
Ebon's grave, and his memorial address on occa- 
sion of the death of Roscoe Conkling. For some 
twenty years he was the most popular stiunp 
orator in the West, and his services in political 
campaigns were in constant request throughout 
the Union. To the country at large, in his later 
years, he was known as an uncompromising 
assailant of revealed religion, by both voice and 
pen. Among his best-known publications are 
"The Gods" (Washington, 1878); "Ghosts" 
(1879); "Mistakes of Moses" (1879); "Prose 
Poems and Selections" (1884); "The Brain and 
the Bible" (Cincinnati, 1883). Colonel IngersoU's 
home for some twenty years, in the later part of 
his life, was in the city of New York. Died, 
suddenly, from heart disease, at his summer 
home at Dobb's Ferry, Long Island, July 21, 1899 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



297 



IXGLIS, Samuel M., Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, born at Marietta, Pa., August 15, 
1838 ; received his early education in Ohio and, 
in 1856, came to Illinois, graduating with first 
honors from the Mendota Collegiate Institute in 
1801. The following year he enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry, but, hav- 
ing been discharged for disability, his place was 
filled by a brother, who was killed at KnoxviUe, 
Tenn. In 1865 he took charge of an Academy at 
Hillsboro, meanwhile studying law with the late 
Judge E. Y. Kice; in 1868 he assumed the super- 
intendency of the public schools at Greenville, 
Bond County, remaining until 1883, when he 
became Professor of Mathematics in the Southern 
Normal University at Carbondale, being trans- 
ferred, three years later, to the chair of Literature, 
Rhetoric and Elocution. In 1894 he was nomi- 
nated as the Republican candidate for State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, receiving 
a plurality at the November election of 123,593 
votes over his Democratic opponent. Died, sud- 
denlv, at Kenosha, "VVis. , Jiuie 1, 1898. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT POLICY, a 
name given to a scheme or plan of internal im- 
provement adopted by the Tenth General Assem- 
bly (1887), in compliance with a general wish of 
the people voiced at many public gatherings. It 
contemplated the construction of an extensive 
system of public works, chiefly in lines of rail- 
road which were not demanded by the commerce 
or business of the State at the time, but which, it 
was believed, would induce immigration and 
materially aid in the development of the State's 
latent resources. The plan adopted provided for 
the construction of such works by the State, and 
contemplated State ownership and management 
of all the lines of traffic thus constructed. The 
bill passed the Legislature in February, 1837, 
but was disapproved by the Executive and the 
Council of Revision, on the ground that such 
enterprises might be more successfully under- 
taken and conducted by individuals or private 
corporations. It was, however, subsequently 
passed over the veto and became a law, the dis- 
astrous effects of whose enactment were felt for 
many years. The total amount appropriated by 
the act was §10,200,000, of which §400,000 was 
devoted to the improvement of waterways; §250,- 
000 to the improvement of the "Great Western 
Mail Route"; 89,350,000 to the construction of 
railroads, and §200,000 was given outright to 
counties not favored by the location of railroads 
or other improvements within their borders. In 
addition, the sale of §1,000,000 worth of canal 



lands and the issuance of §500,000 in canal bonds 
were authorized, the proceeds to be used in the 
construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 
§500,000 of this amount to be expended in 1838. 
Work began at once. Routes were surveyed and 
contracts for construction let, and an era of reck- 
less speculation began. Large sums were rapidly 
expended and nearly §6,500,000 quickly added to 
the State debt. The system was soon demon- 
strated to be a failure and was abandoned for 
lack of funds, some of the "improvements" 
already made being sold to private parties at a 
heavy loss. This scheme furnished the basis of 
the State debt under which Illinois labored for 
many years, and which, at its maximum, reached 
nearly §17,000,000. (See 3Iacallisfer & Stebbins 
Bonds; State Debt; Tenth General Assembly; 
Eleventh General Assembly.) 

INUNDATIONS, REMARKABLE. The most 
remarkable freshets (or floods) in Illinois history 
have been those occurring in the Mississippi 
River ; though, of course, the smaller tributaries 
of that stream have been subject to similar con- 
ditions. Probably the best account of early 
floods has been furnished by Gov. John Reynolds 
in his "Pioneer History of Illinois," — he having 
been a witness of a number of them. The first 
of which any historical record has been pre- 
served, occurred in 1770. At that time the only 
white settlements within the present limits of 
the State were in the American Bottom in the 
vicinity of Kaskaskia, and there the most serious 
results were produced. Governor Reynolds says 
the flood of that year (1770) made considerable 
encroachments on the east bank of the river 
adjacent to Fort Chartres, which had originally 
been erected by the French in 1718 at a distance 
of three-quarters of a mile from the main 
channel. The stream continued to advance in 
this direction until 1772, when the whole bottom 
was again inundated, and the west wall of the 
fort, having been undermined, fell into the river. 
The next extraordinary freshet was in 1784, when 
the American Bottom was again submerged and 
the residents of Kaskaskia and the neighboring 
villages were forced to seek a refuge on the bluffs 
— some of the people of Cahokia being driven to 
St. Louis, then a small French village on Spanish 
soil. The most remarkable flood of the present 
century occurred in Slay and June, 1844, as the 
result of extraordinary rains preceded by heavy 
winter snows in the Rocky Mountains and rapid 
spring thaws. At this time the American Bot- 
tom, opposite St. Louis, was inundated from bluff 
to bluff, and large steamers passed over the sub- 



298 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



merged lands, gathering up cattle and other kinds 
of property and rescuing the imperiled owners. 
Some of the villages affected by this flood — as 
Cahokia, Prairie du Rocher and Kaskaskia — have 
never fully recovered from the disaster. Another 
considerable flood occurred in 1826, but it was 
inferior to those of 1784 and 1844. A notable 
flood occurred in 1851, when the Mississippi, 
though not so high opposite St. Louis as in 1844, 
is said to have been several feet higher at Quincy 
than in the previous year — the difference being 
due to the fact that the larger portion of the 
flood of 1844 came from the Missouri River, its 
effects being most noticeable below the mouth of 
that stream. Again, in 1868, a flood did con- 
siderable damage on the Upper Mississippi, reach- 
ing the highest point since 1851. Floods of a more 
or less serious character also occurred in 1876, 
1880 and again in 1893. Although not so high as 
some of those previously named, the loss was pro- 
portionately greater owing to the larger area of 
improved lands. The flood of 1893 did a great 
deal of damage at East St. Louis to buildings and 
railroads, and in the destruction of other classes 
of property. — Floods in the Ohio River have been 
frequent and very disastrous, especially in the 
upper portions of that stream — usuallj- resulting 
from sudden thaws and ice-gorges in the early 
spring. "With one exception, the highest flood in 
the Ohio, during the present century, was that of 
February, 1832, when the water at Cincinnati 
reached an altitude of sixty-four feet three 
inches. The recorded altitudes of others of more 
recent occurrence have been as follows: Dec. 
17, 1847 — sixty - three feet seven inches ; 
1863— fifty-seven feet four inches; 1882— fifty- 
eight feet seven inches. The highest point 
reached at New Albany, Ind., in 1883, was 
seventy-three feet — or four feet higher than the 
flood of 1832. The greatest altitude reached in 
historic times, at Cincinnati, was in 1884— the re- 
corded height being three-quarters of an inch in 
excess of seventy-one feet. Owing to the smaller 
area of cultivated lands and other improvements 
in the Ohio River bottoms within the State of 
Illinois, the loss has been comparatively smaller 
than on the Mississippi, although Cairo has suf- 
fered from both streams. The most serious dis- 
asters in Illinois territory from overflow of the 
Ohio, occurred in connection with the flood of 
1883, at Shawneetown, when, out of six hundred 
houses, all but twenty-eight were flooded to the 
second story and water ran to a depth of fifteen 
feet in the main street. A levee, which had been 
constructed for the protection of the city at great 



expense, was almost entirely destroyed, and an 
appropriation of $60,000 was made by the Legis- 
lature to indemnify the corporation. On April 
3, 1898, the Ohio River broke through the levee 
at Shawneetown, inundating the whole city and 
causing the loss of twenty-five lives. Much 
suffering was caused among the people driven 
from their homes and deprived of the means of 
subsistence, and it was found necessarj- to send 
them tents from Springfield and supplies of food 
by the State Government and by private contri- 
butions from the various cities of the State. The 
inundation continued for some two or three 
weeks. — Some destructive floods have occurred 
in the Chicago River — the most remarkable, since 
the settlement of the citj- of Chicago, being that 
of March 12, 1849. This was the result of an ice- 
gorge in the Des Plaines River, turning the 
waters of that stream across "the divide" into 
Mud Lake, and thence, by way of the South 
Branch, into the Chicago River. The accumula- 
tion of waters in the latter broke up the ice, 
which, forming into packs and gorges, deluged 
the region between the two rivers. Wlien the 
superabundant mass of waters and ice in the Chi- 
cago River began to flow towards the lake, it bore 
before it not only the accumulated pack-ice, but 
the vessels which had been tied up at the wharves 
and other points along the banks for the winter. 
A contemporaneous history of the event says that 
there were scattered along the stream at the time. 
four steamers, six propellers, two sloops, twenty- 
four brigs and fifty-seven canal boats. Those in 
the upper part of the stream, being hemmed in 
by surrounding ice, soon became a part of the 
moving mass ; chains and hawsers were snapped 
as if they had been whip-cord, and the whole 
borne lakeward in indescribable confusion. The 
bridges at Madison, Randolph and Wells Streets 
gave way in succession before the immense 
mass, adding, as it moved along, to the general 
wreck by falling spars, crushed keels and crashing 
bridge timbers. "Opposite KiiLzie wharf," says 
the record, "the river was choked with sailing- 
craft of every description, piled together in inex- 
tricable confusion." "While those vessels near 
the mouth of the river escaped into the lake with 
comparatively little damage, a large number of 
those higher up the stream were caught in the 
gorge and either badly injured or totally wrecked. 
The loss to the city, from the destruction of 
bridges, was estimated at §20,000, and to vessels at 
$88,000 — a large sum for that time. The wTeck 
of bridges compelled a return to the primitive 
system of ferries or extemporized bridges made 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



299 



of boats, to furnisli means of communication 
between the several divisions of the city — a con- 
dition of affairs which lasted for several months. 
— Floods about the same time did considerable 
damage on the Illinois, Fox and Rock Rivers, 
their waters being higher than in 1838 or 1833, 
which were memorable flood years on these in- 
terior streams. On the former, the village of 
Peru was partially destroyed, while the bridges 
on Rock River were all swept away. A flood in 
the Illinois River, in the spring of 1855, resulted in 
serious damage to bridges and other property in 
the vicinit)- of Ottawa, and there were extensive 
inundations of the bottom lands along that 
stream in 1859 and subsequent years. — In Febru- 
ary, 1857, a second flood in the Chicago River, 
similar to that of 1849, caused considerable dam- 
age, but was less destructive than that of the 
earlier date, as the bridges were more substan- 
tially constructed. — One of the most extensive 
floods, in recent times, occurred in the Mississippi 
River during the latter part of the month of 
April and early in May, 1897. The value of prop- 
erty destroyed on the lower Mississippi was 
estimated at many millions of dollars, and many 
lives were lost. At Warsaw, 111., the water 
reached a height of nineteen feet four inches 
above low-watermark on April 24, and, atQuincy, 
nearly nineteen feet on the 28th, while the river, 
at points between these two cities, was from ten 
to fifteen miles wide. Some 25,000 acres of farm- 
ing lands between Quincy and Warsaw were 
flooded and the growing crops destroyed. At 
Alton the height reached by the water was 
twenty-two feet, but in consequence of the 
strength of the levees protecting the American 
Bottom, the farmers in that region suffered less 
than on some previous years. 

IPATA,a town in Fulton County, on one of the 
branches o' the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad, 10 miles west-southwest of Lewistown, 
and some 44 miles north of Jacksonville. The 
county abounds in coal, and coal-mining, as well 
as agriculture, is a leading industry in the sur- 
rounding country. Other industries are the 
manufacture of flour and woolen goods; two 
banks, four churches, a sanitarium, and a weekly 
newspaper are also located here. Population 
(1880). 675; (1890), 667; (1900), 749. 

IRON MANUFACTURES. The manufacture 
of iron, both pig and castings, direct from the 
furnace, has steadily increased in this State. In 
1880, Illinois ranked seventh in the list of States 
producing manufactured iron, while, in 1890, it 
had risen to fourth place, Pennsylvania (which 



produces nearly fifty per cent of the total product 
of the country) retaining the lead, with Oliio and 
Alabama following. In 1890 Illinois had fifteen 
complete furnace stacks (as against ten in 1880), 
turning out 674,506 tons, or seven per cent of the 
entire output. Since then four additional fur- 
naces have been completed, but no figures are at 
hand to show the increase in production. During 
the decade between 1880 and 1890, the percentage 
of increase in output was 616.53. The fuel used 
is chiefly the native bituminous coal, which is 
abundant and cheap. Of this, 674,506 tons were 
used; of anthracite coal, only 38,618 tons. Of 
the total output of pig-iron in the State, during 
1890, 616,659 tons were of Bessemer. Charcoal 
pig is not made in Illinois. 

IRON MOUNTAIN, CHESTER & EASTERN 
RAILROAD. (See Wabash. Chester & Western 
Railroad.) 

IROQUOIS COUNTY, a large county on the 
eastern border of the State; area, 1,120 square 
miles; population (1900), 38,014. In 1830 two 
pioneer settlements mere made almost simultane- 
ously, — one at Bunkum (now Concord) and the 
other at Milford. Among tliose taking up homes 
at the former were Gurdou S. Hubbard, Benja- 
min Fry, and Messrs. Cartwright, Thomas, New- 
comb, and Miller. At Milford located Robert 
Hill, Samuel Rush, Messrs. Miles, Pickell and 
Parker, besides the Cox, Jloore and Stanley 
families. Iroquois County was set off from Ver- 
milion and organized in 1833. — named from the 
Iroquois Indians, or Iroquois River, which flows 
through it. The Kickapoos and Pottawatomies 
did not remove west of the Mississippi until 
1836-37, but were always friendly. The seat of 
government was first located at Montgomery, 
whence it was removed to Middleport, and finally 
to Watseka. The county is well timbered and 
the soil underlaid by both coal and building 
stone. Clay suitable for brick making and the 
manufacture of crockery is also found. The 
Iroquois River and the Sugar, Spring and Beaver 
Creeks thoroughly drain the county. An abun- 
dance of pure, cold water may be found anywhere 
by boring to the depth of from tliirty to eighty 
feet, a fact which encourages grazing and the 
manufacture of dairy products. The soil is rich, 
and well adapted to fruit growing. The prin- 
cipal towns are Oilman (population 1,112), Wat- 
seka (2.017). and Milford (957). 

IROQUOIS RITER, (sometimes called Picka- 
minki, rises in AVestern Indiana and runs 
westward to Watseka. 111. ; thence it flows north- 
ward through IroQUois and part of Kankakee 



300 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Counties, entering the Kankakee River some five 
miles southeast of Kankakee. It is nearly 120 
miles long. 

IRVING, a village in Montgomery County, on 
the line of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, 
54 miles east-northeast of Alton, and 17 miles 
east by north of Litchfield; has five churches, 
flouring and saw mills, creamery, and a weekly 
newspaper. Population (1890), 630; (1900), 675. 

ISHAM, Edward S., lavryer, was born at 
Bennington, Vt., Jan. 13, 1836; educated at 
Lawrence Academy and Williams College, Mass., 
taking his degree at the latter in 1857; was 
admitted to the bar at Rutland, Vt., in 1858, 
coming to Chicago the same year. Mr. Isham 
was a Representative in the Twenty-fourth 
General Assembly (1864-66) and, in 1881, his 
name was prominently considered for a position 
on the Supreme bench of the United States. He 
is the senior member of the firm of Isham, Lin- 
coln & Beale, which has had the management of 
some of the most important cases coming before 
the Chicago courts. 

JACKSON, Huntington Wolcott, lawyer, born 
in Newark, N. J., Jan. 28, 1841, being descended 
on the maternal side from Oliver Wolcott, one of 
the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; 
received his education at Phillips Academy, 
Andover, Mass., and at Princeton College, leav- 
ing the latter at the close of his junior year to 
enter the army, and taking part in tlie battles of 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, 
a part of tlie time being on the staff of Maj.-Gen. 
John Newton, and, later, with Sherman from 
Chattanooga to Atlanta, finally receiving the 
rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel for gallant and 
meritorious service. Returning to civil life in 
1865, he entered Harvard Law .School for one 
term, then spent a year in Europe, on his return 
resuming his legal studies at Newark, N. J. ; 
came to Chicago in 1867, and the following year 
was admitted to the bar ; has served as Supervisor 
of South Chicago, as President of the Chicago 
Bar Association, and (by appointment of the 
Comptroller of the Currency) as receiver and 
attorney of the Third National Bank of Chicago. 
Under the will of the late John Crerar he became 
an executor of the estate, and a trustee of tlie 
Crerar Library. Died at Newark, N. J., Jan 3, 1901. 

JACKSON COUNTY, organized in 1816. and 
named in honor of Andrew Jackson; area, 580 
square miles; population (1900), 33,871. It lies 
in the southwest portion of the State, the Mis- 
sissippi River forming its principal western 



boundary. The bottom lands along the river are 
wonderfully fertile, but liable to overflow. It is 
crossed by a range of hills regarded as a brancli 
of the Ozark range. Toward the east the soil is 
warm, and well adapted to fruit-growing. One 
of the richest beds of bituminous coal in the State 
crops out at various points, varying in depth from 
a few inches to four or five hundred feet below the 
surface. Valuable timber and good building 
stone are found and there are numerous saline 
springs. AVheat, tobacco and fruit are principal 
crops. Early pioneers, with the date of their 
arrival, were as follows: 1814, W. Boon; 1815, 
Joseph Duncan (afterwards Governor) ; 1817, 
Oliver Cross, Mrs. William Kimmel, S. Lewis, E. 
Harrold, George Butcher and W. Eakin; 1818, 
the Bysleys, Mark Bradley, James Huglies and 
John Barron. Brownsville was the first county- 
seat and an important town, but owing to a dis- 
astrous fire in 1843, the government was removed 
to Murphysboro, where Dr. Logan (father of Gen. 
John A. Logan) donated a tract of land for 
county-buildings. John A. Logan was born here. 
The principal towns (with tlieir respective popu- 
lation, as shown by the United States Census of 
1890), were: Murphysboro, 3,880; Carbondale, 
2,382; and Grand Tower, 634. 

JACKSONVILLE, the coimty-seat of Morgan 
County, and an important railroad center ; popu- 
lation (1890) about 13,000. The town was laid 
out in 1825, and named in honor of Gen. Andrew 
Jackson. The first court house was erected in 
1826, and among early lawyers were Josiah Lam- 
born, John J. Hardin, Stephen A. Douglas, and 
later Richard Yates, afterwards the "War Gov- 
ernor" of Illinois. It is the seat of several im- 
portant State institutions, notably the Central 
Hospital for the Insane, and Institutions for the 
Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind — 
besides private educational institutions, including 
Illinois College, Illinois Conference Female Col- 
lege (Methodist), Jacksonville Female Academy, 
a Business College and others. The city has 
several banks, a large woolen mill, carriage fac- 
tories, brick yards, planing mills, and two news- 
paper establishments, each publishing daily and 
weekly editions. It justly ranks as one of the 
most attractive and interesting cities of the State. 
noted for the hospitality and intelligence of its 
citizens. Although immigrants from Kentucky 
and other Southern States predominated in its 
early settlement, the location there of Illinois 
College and the Jacksonville Female Academy, 
about 1830, brought to it many settlers of New 
England birth, so that it early came to be 




INSTITUTION FOR DEAF AND DUMB, JACKSONVILLE. 




if 




y A A / 



4 A A A A A^^TA a a A^A^MjLA: A A 4 







.M.iin I'.uilclins aud CirU' (;utla;;e. 
INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND, JACKSONVILLE. 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



301 



regarded as more distinctively New England in 
the character of its population than any other 
town in Southern Illinois. Pop. (1900), 15,078. 

JACKSONVILLE FEMALE ACADEMY, an 
institution for the education of young ladies, at 
Jacksonville, the oldest of its class in the State. 
The initial steps for its organization were taken 
in 1830, the year after the establishment of Illinois 
College. It may be said to have been an oflfshoot 
of the latter, these two constituting the originals 
of that remarkable group of educational and 
State Institutions which now exist in that city. 
Instruction began to be given in the Academy in 
May, 1833, under the principalship of Miss Sarah 
C. Crocker, and, in 1835, it was formally incorpo- 
rated by act of the Legislature, being the first 
educational institution to receive a charter from 
that body ; though Illinois, SIcKendree and 
Shurtleff Colleges were incorporated at a later 
period of the same session. Among its founders 
appear the names of Gov. Joseph Duncan, Judge 
Samuel D. Lockwood, Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant 
(for fifty years the President or a Professor of Illi- 
nois College), John P. Wilkinson, Rev. John M. 
Ellis, David B. Ayers and Dr. Ero Chandler, all 
of whom, except the last, were prominently 
identified with the early history of Illinois Col- 
lege. The list of the alumnEe embraces over five 
hundred names. The Illinois Conservatory of 
Music (founded in 1871) and a School of Fine Arts 
are attached to the Academy, all being under the 
management of Prof. E. F. Bullard, A.M. 

JACKSONVILLE, LOUISVILLE & ST. LOUIS 
RAILWAY. (See Jacksonville & St. Louis Rail- 
way. ) 

JACKSONVILLE, NORTHWESTERN & 
SOUTHEASTERN RAILROAD. (See Jackson- 
ville & St. Louis Railway.) 

JACKSONVILLE & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY. 
Originallj' chartered as the Illinois Farmers' Rail- 
road, and constructed from Jacksonville to 
Waverly in 1870 ; later changed to the Jacksonville, 
Northwestern cSc Southeastern and track extended 
to Virden (31 miles) ; in 1879 passed into the 
hands of a new company under the title of the 
Jacksonville Southeastern, and was extended as 
follows: to Litchfield (1880), 23 miles; to Smith- 
boro (1883), 39 miles; to Centralia (1883), 29 miles 
— total, 113 miles. In 1887 a section between 
Centralia and Driver's (I614 miles) was con- 
structed by the Jacksonville Southeastern, and 
operated under lease by the successor to that 
line, but, in 1893, was separated from it under 
the name of the Louisville & St. Louis Railway. 
By the use of five miles of trackage on the Louis- 



ville & Nashville Railroad, connection was 
obtained between Driver's and Mount Vernon. 
The same year (1887) the Jacksonville Southeast- 
ern obtained control of the Litchfield, CarroUton 
& Western Railroad, from Litchfield to Columbi- 
ana on the Illinois River, and the Chicago, Peoria 
& St. Louis, embracing lines from Peoria to St. 
Louis, via Springfield and Jacksonville. The 
Jacksonville Southeastern was reorganized in 1890 
under the name of the Jacksonville, Louisville 
& St. Louis Railway, and, in 1893, was placed in 
the hands of a receiver. The Chicago, Peoria & 
St. Louis Divisions were subsequently separated 
from the Jacksonville line and placed in charge 
of a separate receiver. Foreclosure proceedings 
began in 1894 and, during 1890, the road was sold 
under foreclosure and reorganized under its pres- 
ent title. (See Chicago, Peoria <fc St. Louis Rail- 
road of Illinois.) The capital stock of the 
Jacksonville & St. Louis Railway (June 30, 1897) 
was $1,500,000; funded debt, §3,300,000— total, 
§3,800,000. 

JAMES, CoHii D., clergyman, was born in Ran- 
dolph County, now in West Virginia, Jan. 15, 
1808 ; died at Bonita, Kan. , Jan. 30, 1888. He was 
the son of Rev. Dr. William B. James, a pioneer 
preacher in the Ohio Valle}', who removed to 
Ohio in 1813, settling first in Jefferson County in 
that State, and later (1814) at Mansfield. Subse- 
quently the family took up its residence at Kelt's 
Prairie in Vigo (now Vermilion) County, Ind. 
Before 1830 Colin D. James came to Illinois, and, 
in 1834, became a minister of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, remaining in active ministerial 
work until 1871, after which he accepted a super- 
annuated relation. During his connection with 
the church in Illinois he served as station preacher 
or Presiding Elder at the following points: Rock 
Island (1834); Platteville (1836); Apple River 
(1837) ; Paris (1838, '43 and '43) ; Eugene (1839) ; 
Georgetown (1S40); Shelbyville (1841); Grafton 
(1844 and '45) ; Sparta District (1845-47) ; Lebanon 
District (1848-49) ; Alton District (1850); Bloom- 
ington District (1851-52) ; and later at Jackson- 
ville, Winchester, Greenfield, Island Grove, 
Oldtown, Heyworth, Normal, Atlanta, McLean 
and Shirley. During 1861-63 he acted as agent 
for the Illinois Female College at Jacksonville, 
and, in 1871, for the erection of a Metho- 
dist church at Normal. He was twice married. 
His first wife (Eliza A. Plasters of Living- 
ston) died in 1849. The following year he mar- 
ried Amanda K. Casad, daugliter of Dr. Anthony 
W. Casad. He removed from Normal to Evans- 
ton in 1876, and from the latter place to 



302 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS, 



Kansas in 1879. Of his surviving children, 
Edmund J. is (1898) Professor in tlie University 
of Chicago; John N. is in charge of the mag- 
netic laboratory in the National Observatory 
at Washington, D. C. ; Benjamin B. is Professor 
in the State Normal School at St. Cloud, Minn., 
and George F. is instructor in the Cambridge 
Preparatory School of Chicago. 

JAMES, Edmund Janes, was born. May 21, 
1855, at Jacksonville, Morgan County, 111., the 
fourtli son of Rev. Colin Dew James of the Illi- 
nois Conference, grandson on his mother's side 
of Rev. Dr. Anthony Wayne Casad and great- 
grandson of Samuel Stites (all of whose sketches 
appear elsewhere in this volume) ; was educated 
in the Model Department of the Illinois State 
Normal School at Bloomington (Normal), from 
which he graduated in June, 1873, and entered 
the Northwestern University, at Evanston, III, 
in November of the same year. On May 1, 1874, 
he was appointed Recorder on the United States 
Lake Survey, where he continued during one 
season engaged in work on the lower part of Lake 
Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence. He entered 
Harvard College, Nov. 2, 1874, but went to 
Europe in August, 1875, entering the University 
of Halle, Oct. 16, 1875, where he graduated, 
August 4, 1877, with the degrees of A.M. and 
Ph.D. On his return to the United States he was 
elected Principal of the Public High School in 
Evanston, 111., Jan. 1, 1878, but resigned in June, 
1879, to accept a position in the Illinois State 
Normal School at Bloomington as Professor of 
Latin and Greek, and Principal of the High 
School Department in connection with the Model 
School. Resigning this position at Christmas 
time, 1882, he went to Europe for study ; accepted 
a position in the University of Pennsylvania as 
Professor of Public Administration, in Septem- 
ber, 1883, where he remained for over thirteen 
years. While here he was, for a time. Secretary 
of the Graduate Faculty and organized the in- 
struction in this Department. He was also 
Director of the Wharton School of Finance and 
Economy, the first attempt to organize a college 
course in the field of commerce and industry. 
During this time he officiated as editor of "The 
Political Economy and Public Law Series" issued 
by the University of Pennsylvania. Resigning 
his position in the University of Pennsylvania On 
Feb. 1, 1896, he accepted that of Professor of Pub- 
lic Administration and Director of the University 
Extension Division in the University of Chicago, 
where he has since continued. Professor James 
has been identified with the progress of economic 



studies in the United States since the early 
eighties. He was one of the organizers and one 
of the first Vice-Presidents of the American 
Economic Association. On Dec. 14, 18sy, he 
founded the American Academy of Political and 
Social Science with headquarters at Philadelphia, 
became its first President, and has continued such 
to the present time. He was also, for some years, 
editor of its publications. The Academy has 
now become the largest Association in the world 
devoted to the cultivation of economic and social 
subjects. He was one of the originators of, and 
one of the most frequent contributors to, "Lalor's 
Cyclopaedia of Political Science"; was also the 
pioneer in the movement to introduce into the 
United States the scheme of public instruction 
known as University Extension; was the first 
President of the American Society for the Exten- 
sion of University Teaching, under whose auspices 
the first effective extension work was done in this 
country, and has been Director of the Extension 
Division in the University of Chicago since Febru- 
ary, 1896. He has been especiallj' identified with 
the development of higher commercial education 
in the United States. From his position as 
Director of the AVharton School of Finance and 
Economy he lias affected the course of instruc- 
tion in this Department in a most marked way. 
He was invited by the American Bankers' 
Association, in the year 1892, to make a careful 
study of the subject of Commercial Education in 
Europe, and his report to this association on the 
Education of Business Men in Europe, republished 
by the University of Chicago in the year 1898, 
has become a standard autliority on tliis subject. 
Owing largely to his eiforts, departments similar 
to the Wharton School of Finance and Economy 
have been established under the title of College 
of Commerce, College of Commerce and Politics, 
and Collegiate Course in Commerce, in the Uni- 
versities of California and Chicago, and Columbia 
University. He has been identified with the 
progress of college education in general, espe- 
cially in its relation to secondary and elementary 
education, and was one of the early advocates of 
the establishment of departments of education in 
our colleges and universities, the policy of which 
is now adopted by nearly all the leading institu- 
tions. He was, for a time. State Examiner of 
High Schools in Illinois, and was founder of "The 
Illinois School Journal," long one of the most 
influential educational periodicals in tlie State, 
now changed in name to "School and Home." 
He has been especially active in the establish- 
ment of public kindergartens in different cities, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



303 



and has been repeatedlj- offered the headship of 
important iustitutions, among them being the 
University of Iowa, the University of Illinois, 
and the University of Cincinnati. He has served 
as Vice-President of the National Municipal 
League; of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, and the American 
Economic Association, and of the Board of Trus- 
tees of the Illinois State Historical Library ; is a 
member of tlie American Philosophical Society, 
of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, of the 
National Council of Education, and of the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science. He 
was a member of the Committee of Thirteen of 
the National Teachers' Association on college 
entrance requirements; is a member of various 
patriotic and historical societies, including the 
Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of 
the Colonial Wars, the Holland and the Huguenot 
Society. He is the author of more than one hun- 
dred papers and monographs on various economic, 
educational, legal and administrative subjects. 
Professor James was married, August 22, 1879, to 
Anna Margarethe Lange, of Halle, Prussia, 
daughter of the Rev. Wilhelm Roderich Lange, 
and granddaughter of the famous Professor Ger- 
lach of the University of Halle. 

JAMESON, John Alexander, lawyer and jur- 
ist, was born at Irasburgh, Vt., Jan. 25, 1824; 
graduated from the University of Vermont in 
1846. After several j-eai-s spent in teaching, he 
began the study of law, and graduated from the 
Dane Law School (of Harvard College) in 1853. 
Coming west the same year he located at Free- 
port, 111., but removed to Chicago in 1856. In 
1865 he was elected to the bench of the Superior 
Court of Chicago, remaining in office until 1883. 
During a portion of this period he acted as lec- 
turer in the Union College of Law at Chicago, 
and as editor of "The American Law Register." 
His literary labors were unceasing, his most 
notable work being entitled "Constitutional Con- 
ventions; their History, Power and Modes of 
Proceeding." He was also a fine classical 
scholar, speaking and reading German, French, 
Spanish and Italian, and was deeply interested 
in charitable and reformatory work. Died, sud- 
denly, in Chicago, June 16, 1890. 

JARROT, Nicholas, early French settler of St. 
Clair County, was born in France, received a 
liberal education and, on account of the disturbed 
condition there in the latter part of the last cen- 
tury, left his native country about 1790. After 
spending some time at Baltimore and New 
Orleans, he arrived at Cahokia, 111., in 1794, and 



became a permanent settler there He early be- 
came a Major of militia and engaged in trade 
with the Indians, frequently visiting Prairie du 
Chien, St. Anthony's Falls (now Minneapolis) and 
the niinois River in his trading expeditions, and, 
on one or two occasions, incurring great risk of 
life from hostile savages. He acquired a large 
property, especially in lands, built mills and 
erected one of the earliest and finest brick houses 
in that part of the country. He also served as 
Justice of the Peace and Judge of the County 
Court of St. Clair County. Died, in 1823.— Vital 
(Jarrot), son of the preceding, inherited a large 
landed fortune from his father, and was an 
enterprising and public-spirited citizen of St. 
Clair County during the last generation. He 
served as Representative from St. Clair County 
in the Eleventh, Twentieth, Twenty-first and 
Twenty-second General Assemblies, in tlie first 
being an associate of Abraham Lincoln and 
always his firm friend and admirer. At the 
organization of the Twenty-second General 
Assembly (1857), he received the support of the 
Republican members for Speaker of the House in 
opposition to Col. W. R. Morrison, who was 
elected. He sacrificed a large share of his prop- 
erty in a public-spirited eifort to build up a 
rolling mill at East St. Louis, being reduced 
thereby from affluence to poverty. President 
Lincoln appointed him an Indian Agent, which 
took him to the Black Hills region, where he 
died, some years after, from toil and exposure, at 
the age of 73 years. 

JASPER COUNTY, in the eastern part of 
Southern Illinois, having an area of 506 square 
miles, and a population (in 1900) of 20, 160. It was 
organized in 1831 and named for Sergeant Jasper 
of Revolutionary fame. The county was placed un- 
der township organization in 1860. The first Board 
of County Commissioners consisted of B. Rey- 
nolds, "W Richards and George Mattingley. The 
Embarras River crosses the county. The general 
surface is level, although gently undulating in 
some portions. Manufacturing is carried on in a 
small way; but the people are principally inter- 
ested in agriculture, the chief products consisting 
of wheat, potatoes, sorghum, fruit and tobacco. 
Wool-growing is an important industry. Newton 
is the county-seat, with a population (in 1890) of 
1,428. 

JAYNE, (Dr.) Gershom, early physician, was 
born in Orange County, N. Y., October, 1791 ; served 
as Surgeon in the AVar of 1812, and came to Illinois 
in 1819, settling in Springfield in 1821; was one 
of the Commissioners appointed to construct the 



304 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



first State Penitentiary (1827), and one of the first 
Commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. 
His oldest daughter (Julia Maria) became the 
wife of Senator Trumbull. Dr. Jayne died at 
Springfield, in 1867.— Dr. William (Jayne), son of 
the preceding, was born in Springfield, IlL , Oct. 8, 
1826; educated by private tutors and at Illinois 
College, being a member of the class of 1847, later 
receiving the degree of A.5L He was one of the 
founders of the Phi Alpha Society while in that 
institution ; graduated from the Medical Depart- 
ment of Missouri State University; in 1860 was 
elected State Senator for Sangamon County, and, 
the following year, was appointed by President 
Lincoln Governor of the Territory of Dakota, 
later serving as Delegate in Congress from that 
Territory. In 1869 he was appointed Pension 
Agent for Illinois, also served for four terms as 
Mayor of his native city, and is now Vice-Presi- 
dent of the First National Bank, Springfield. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY, a south-central county, 
toit off from Edwards and White Counties, in 
JI&19, when it was separately organized, being 
named in honor of Thomas Jefl'erson. Its area is 
580 square miles, and its population (1900), 38,133. 
The Kig Muddy River, with one or two tributa- 
ries, flows tnrough the county in a southerly direc- 
tion. Along tne banks of streams a variety of 
hardwood timber is found. The railroad facilities 
are advantageous. Tne surface Is level and the 
soil rich. Cereals and trult are easily produced. 
A fine bed of limestone (seven to fifteen feet 
thick) crosses the middle ot tne county. It has 
been quarried and tounft well adapted to building 
purposes. The county possesses an abundance of 
running water, much of wiilch is slightly im- 
pregnated with salt. The upper coal measure 
underlies the entire county, but the seam is 
scarcely more than two reet thick at any point. 
The chief industry is agriculture, though lumber 
is manufactured to some extent. Mount Vernon, 
the county -seat, was incorporated as a city in 1873. 
Its population in 1890 was 3,283. It lias several 
manufactories and is the seat of the Appellate 
Court for the Southern Judicial District of tlie 
State. 

JEFFERT, Edward Turner, Railway President 
and Manager, born in Liverpool, Eng., April 6, 
1843, his father being an engineer in the British 
navy ; about 1850 came with his widowed mother 
to Wheeling, Va., and, in 1856, to Chicago, wliere 
he secured employment as oflice-boy in the 
machinery department of the Illinois Central 
Railroad. Here he finally became an apprentice 
and, passing through various grades of the me- 



chanical department, in May, 1877, became General 
Superintendent of the Road, and, in 1885, (Jeneral 
Manager of the entire line. In 1889 he withdrew 
from the Illinois Central and, for several years 
past, has been President and General Manager of 
the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, with head- 
quarters at Denver, Colo. Mr. Jeff'ery's career as 
a railwa}- man has been one of the most conspicu- 
ous and successful in the historj' of American 
railroads 

JENKINS, Alexander M., Lieutenant-Governor 
(1834-36), came to Illinois in his youth and located 
in Jackson County, being for a time a resident of 
Brownsville, the first county-seat of Jackson 
County, where he was engaged in trade. Later 
he studied law and became eminent in his pro- 
fession in Southern Illinois. In 1830 Mr. Jenkins 
was elected Representative in the Seventh General 
Assembly, was re-elected in 1833, serving during 
his second term as Speaker of the House, and took 
part the latter year in the Black Hawk War as 
Captain of a company. In 1834 Mr. Jenkins was 
elected Lieutenant-Governor at the same time 
with Governor Duncan, though on an opposing 
ticket, but resigned, in 1830, to become President 
of the first Illinois Central Railroad Company, 
which was chartered that year. The charter of 
the road was surrendered in 1837, when tiie State 
had in contemplation the policy of building a 
system of roads at its own cost. For a time he 
was Receiver of Public Moneys in the Land Office 
at Edwardsville, and, in 1847, was elected to the 
State Constitutional Convention of that year. 
Other positions held by him included that of Jus- 
tice of the Circuit Court for the Third Judicial 
Circuit, to which he was elected in 1859, and 
re-elected in 1861, but died in office, February 13, 
1864. Mr. Jenkins was an uncle of Gen. John A. 
Logan, who read law with him after his return 
from the Jlexican War. 

JENNET, ■William Le Baron, engineer and 
arcliitect, born at Fairhaven, Mass., Sept. 25, 
1833; was educated at Phillips Academy, An- 
dover, graduating in 1849; at 17 took a trip 
around the world, and, after a year spent in tlie 
Scientific Department of Harvard College, took a 
course in the Ecole Centrale des Artes et Manu- 
factures in Paris, graduating in 1856. He tlien 
served for a year as engineer on the Tehuantepec 
Railroad, and, in 1861, was made an Aid on the 
staff' of General Grant, being transferred the next 
year to tlie staff of General Sherman, with whom 
he remained three years, participating in many 
of the most important battles of the war in the 
West. Later, he was engaged in the preparation 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



305 



of maps of General Sherman's campaigns, which 
were published in the "Memoirs" of the latter. 
In 1868 he located in Chicago, and has since given 
his attention almost solely to architecture, the 
result being seen in some of Chicago's most 
noteworthy buildings. 

JERSEY COUXTT, situated in the western 
portion of the middle division of the State, 
bordering on the Illinois and Mississippi Elvers. 
Originally a part of Greene Covmty, it was sepa- 
rately organized in 1839, with an area of 360 square 
miles. There were a few settlers in the county 
as early as 1816-17 Jerseyville, the county-seat, 
was platted in 1834, a majority of the early resi- 
dents being natives of, or at least emigrants from. 
New Jersey. The mild climate, added to the 
character of the soil, is especially adapted to 
fruit- growing and stock-raising. The census of 
1900 gave the population of the county as 14,612 
and of Jerseyville, 3,517. Grafton, near the 
junction of the Mississippi with the Illinois, had 
a population of 937. The last mentioned town is 
noted for its stone quarries, which employ a 
nvunber of men. 

JERSEfVILLE, a city and county -seat of Jer- 
sey County, the point of junction of the Chicago 
& Alton and the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis 
Railways, 19 miles north of Alton and 45 miles 
north of St. Louis, Mc. The city is in an agri 
cultural district, but has manufactories of flour, 
plows, carriages and wagons, shoe factory and 
watch-making machinery. It contains a hand- 
some courthouse, completed in 1894. nine 
churches, a graded public school, besides a sep- 
arate school for colored children, a convent, 
library, telephone system, electric lights, artesian 
wells, and three papers. Population (1890), 3,207; 
(1900), 3,517; (1903, est), 4,117. 

JO DATIESS COUNTY, situated in the north- 
west corner of the State ; has an area of 663 square 
miles; population (1900), 24,533. It was first 
explored by Le Seuer, who reported the discovery 
of lead in 1700. Another Frenchman (Bouthil- 
lier) was the first permanent white settler, locat- 
ing on the site of the present city of Galena in 
1820. About the same time came several Ameri- 
can families; a trading post was established, and 
the hamlet was known as Fredericks' Point, so 
called after one of the pioneers. In 1822 the 
Government reserved from settlement a tract 10 
miles square along the Mississippi, with a view of 
controlling the mining interest. In 1823 mining 
privileges were granted upon a royalty of one- 
sixth, and the first smelting furnace was erected 
the same year. Immigration increased rapidly 



and, inside of three years, the "Point" had a popu- 
lation of 150, and a post-office was established 
with a fortnightly mail to and from Vandalia, 
then the State capital. In 1827 county organiza- 
tion was effected, the county being named in 
honor of Gen. Joseph Hamilton Daviess, who was 
kiUed in the Battle of Tippecanoe. The original 
tract, however, has been subdivided until it now 
constitutes nine counties. The settlers took an 
active part in both the Winnebago and Black 
Hawk Wars. In 1846-47 the mineral lands were 
placed on the market by the Government, and 
quickly taken by corporations and individuals. 
The scenery is varied, and the soil (particularly 
in the east) well suited to the cultivation of 
grain. The county is well wooded and well 
watered, and thoroughly drained by the Fever 
and Apple Rivers. The name Galena was given 
to the county-seat (originally, as has been said, 
Fredericks' Point) by Lieutenant Thomas, Gov- 
ernment Surveyor, in 1827, in which year it was 
platted. Its general appearance is picturesque. 
Its early gro^vth was extraordinary, but later 
(particularly after the growth of Chicago) it 
received a set-back. In 1841 it claimed 2,000 
population and was incorporated , in 1870 it had 
about 7,000 population, and, in 1900, 5,005. The 
names of Grant, Rawlins and E. B. Washburne 
are associated with its history. Other important 
towns in the county are Warren (population 
1,327), East Dubuque (1,146) and Elizabeth (659). 

JOHNSON, Caleb C, lawyer and legislator, 
was born in Whiteside County, 111. , May 23, 1844, 
educated in the common schools and at the 
Military Academj- at Fulton, 111. ; served during 
the Civil War in the Sixty-ninth and One Hun- 
dred and Fortieth Regiments Illinois Volunteers ; 
in 1877 was admitted to the bar and, two years 
later, began practice. He has served upon the 
Board of Township Supervisors of Whiteside 
County; in 1884 was elected to the House of 
Representatives of the Thirty-fourth General 
Assembly, was re-elected in 1886, and again in 
1896. He also held the position of Deputj' Col- 
lector of Internal Revenue for his District during 
the first Cleveland administration, and was a 
delegate to the Democratic National Convention 
of 1888. 

JOHNSON, (Rev.) Herrick, clergyman and 
educator, was born near Fonda, N. Y., Sept. 31, 
1832; graduated at Hamilton College, 1857, and 
at Auburn Theological Seminary, 1860 ; held Pres- 
byterian pastorates in Troy, Pittsburg and Phila- 
delphia ; in 1874 became Professor of Homiletics 
and Pastoral Theology in Auburn Theological 



306 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Seminary, and, in 1880, accepted a pastorate in 
Chicago, also becoming Lecturer on Sacred Rhet- 
oric in McCormick Theological Seminary. In 
1883 he resigned his pastorate, devoting his atten- 
tion thereafter to the duties of his professorship. 
He was Moderator of the Presbyterian General 
Assembly at Springfield, in 1882, and has served 
as President, for many years, of the Presbyterian 
Church Board of Aid for Colleges, and of the 
Board of Trustees of Lake Forest University. 
Besides many periodical articles, he has published 
several volumes on religious subjects. 

JOHNSON, Hosmer A., M.D., LL.D., physi- 
cian, was born near Buffalo, N Y., Oct. 6, 1822; 
at twelve removed to a farm in Lapeer County, 
Mich. In spite of limited school privileges, at 
eighteen he secured a teachers' certificate, and, 
by teaching in the winter and attending an 
academy in the summer, prepared for college, 
entering the Universitj' of Michigan in 1846 and 
graduating in 1849. In 1850 he became a student 
of medicine at Rush Medical College in Chicago, 
graduating in 18.'32, and the same year becoming 
Secretary of the Cook County Medical Society, 
and, the year following, associate editor of "The 
Illinois Medical and Surgical Journal." For 
three years he was a member of the faculty of 
Rush, but, in 1858, resigned to become one of the 
founders of a new medical school, which has now 
become a part of Northwestern University. 
During the Civil War, Dr. Johnson was Chair- 
man of the State Board of Medical Examiners ; 
later serving upon the Board of Health of Chi- 
cago, and upon the National Board of Health. He 
was also attending physician of Cook County 
Hospital and consulting physician of the Chicago 
Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary. At the time 
of the great fire of 1871, he was one of the Direct- 
ors of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society. His 
connections with local. State and National Soci- 
eties and organizations (medical, scientific, social 
and otherwise) were very numerous. He trav- 
eled extensively, both in this country and in 
Europe, during his visits to the latter devoting 
much time to the study of foreign sanitary con- 
ditions, and making further attainments in medi- 
cine and surgery. In 1883 the degree of LL.D. 
was conferred upon him by Northwestern Uni- 
versity. During his later years, Dr. Johnson was 
engaged almost wholly in consultations. Died, 
Feb. 26, 1891. 

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ues in the southern por- 
tion of the State, and is one of the smallest 
counties, having an area of only 340 square miles, 
and a population (1900) of 15,667— named for CoL 



Richard M, Johnson. Its organization dates back 
to 1812. A dividing ridge (forming a sort of 
water shed) extends from east to west, the 
waters of the Cache and Bay Rivers running 
south, and those of the Big Muddy and Saline 
toward the north. A minor coal seam of variable 
thickness (perhaps a spur from the regular coal- 
measures) crops out here and there. Sandstone 
and limestone are abundant, and, under cliffs 
along the bluffs, saltpeter has been obtained in 
small quantities. Weak copperas springs are 
numerous. The soil is rich, the principal crops 
being wheat, corn and tobacco. Cotton is raised 
for home consumption and fruit-culture receives 
some attention. Vienna is the county-seat, with 
a population, in 1890, of 828. 

JOHNSTON, Noah, pioneer and banker, was 
born in Hardy County, Va. , Dec. 20, 1799. and, 
at the age of 12 years, emigrated with his father 
to Woodford County, Ky. In 1824 he removed 
to Indiana, and, a few years later, to Jefferson 
County, 111., where he began farming. He sub- 
sequently engaged in merchandising, but proving 
unfortunate, turned his attention to politics, 
serving first as County Commissioner and then as 
County Clerk. In 1838 he was elected to the 
State Senate for the counties of Hamilton and 
Jefferson, serving four years ; was Enrolling and 
Engrossing Clerk of the Senate during the session 
of 1844-45, and, in 1846, elected Representative in 
the Fifteenth General Assembly. The following 
year he was made Paymaster in the United States 
Army, serving through the Mexican War; in 
1852 served with Abraham Lincoln and Judge 
Hugh T. Dickey of Chicago, on a Commission 
appointed to investigate claims against the State 
for the construction of the Illinois & Michiean 
Canal, and, in 1854, was appointed Clerk of the 
Supreme Court for the Third Division, being 
elected to the same position in 1861. Other posi- 
tions held by him included those of Deputy United 
States Marshal under the administration of Presi- 
dent Polk, Commissioner to superintend the con- 
struction of the Supreme Court Building at Mount 
Vernon, and Postmaster of that city. He was 
also elected Representative again in 1866. The 
later years of his life were spent as President of 
the Mount Vernon National Bank. Died, No- 
vember, 1891, in his 92d year. 

JOLIET, the county-seat of Will County, situ- 
ated in the Des Plaines River Valley, 36 miles 
southwest of Chicago, on the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal, and the intersecting point of five lines of 
railway. A good quality of calcareous building 
stone underlies the entire region, and is exten- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



30'. 



sively quarried. Gravel, sand, and clay are also 
easily obtained in considerable quantities. 
Within twenty miles are productive coal mines. 
The Northern Illinois Penitentiary and a female 
penal institute stand just outside the city limits 
on the north. Joliet is an important manufac- 
turing center, the census of 1900 crediting the 
city with 455 establishments, having §15,453,136 
capital, employing 6.523 hands, paying §3,957,529 
wages and §17,891,836 for raw material, turning 
out an annual product valued at §'i7,765,104. The 
leading industries are the manufacture of foundry 
and machine-shop products, engines, agricultural 
implements, pig-iron. Bessemer steel, steel 
bridges, rods, tin cans, wallpaper, matches, beer, 
saddles, paint, furniture, pianos, and stoves, 
besides quarrying and stone cutting. The Chi- 
cago Drainage Canal supplies valuable water- 
power. The city has many handsome public 
buildings and private residences, among the 
former being four high schools. Government 
postoffice building, two public libraries, and two 
public hospitals. It also has two public and two 
school parks. Population (1880), 11,657; (1890), 
23,254. (including suburbs), 34,473; (1900), 29,353. 

JOLIET, AURORA & yORTHERX RAIL- 
WAT. (See Elgin, Joliet <f- Eastei-it Railway.) 

JOLIET, Lonls, a French explorer, born at 
Quebec, Canada, Sept. 21, 1645, educated at the 
.Jesuits' College, and early engaged in the fur- 
trade. In 1669 he was sent to investigate the 
copper mines on Lake Superior, but his most 
important servioe began in 1673, when Frontenae 
commissioned him to explore. Starting from the 
missionary station of St. Ignace, with Father 
Marquette, he went up the Fox River within the 
present State of "Wisconsin and down the "Wis- 
consin to the Mississippi, which he descended as 
.far as the mouth of the Arkansas. He was the 
first to discover that the Mississippi flows to the 
Gulf rather than to the Pacific. He returned to 
Green Bay via the Illinois River, and (as believed) 
the sites of the present cities of Joliet and Chicago. 
Although later appointed royal hydrographer 
and given the island of Anticosti, he never 
revisited the Mississippi. Some historians assert 
that this was largely due to the influential jeal- 
ousy of La Salle. Died, in Canada, in May, 1700, 

JOLIET & BLUE ISLAND RAILWAY, con- 
stituting a part of and operated by the Calumet 
& Blue Island— a belt line, 21 miles in length, of 
standard gauge and laid with 60-lb. steel rails. 
The company provides terminal facilities at Joliet, 
although originally projected to merely run from 
that city to a connection with the Calumet & 



Blue Island Railway. The capital stock author- 
ized and paid in is §100,000. The company's 
general offices are in Chicago. 

JOLIET & NORTHERN INDIANA RAIL- 
ROAD, a road running from Lake, Ind., to Joliet, 
111., 45 miles (of which 29 miles are in Illinois), 
and leased in perpetuity, from Sept. 7, 1854 (the 
date of completion), to the Michigan Central Rail- 
road Company, which owns nearly all its stock. 
Its capital stock is §300,000, and its funded debt, 
$80,000. Other forms of indebtedness swell the 
total amount of capital invested (1895) to §1,- 
143,201. Total earnings and income in Illinois in 
1894, §89,017; total expenditures, §62,370. (See 
Michigan Central Railroad.) 

JONES, Alfred M., politician and legislator, 
was born in New Hampshire, Feb. 5, 1837, brought 
to McHenry County, 111., at 10 years of age, and, 
at 16, began life in the pineries and engaged in 
rafting on the Mississippi. Then, after two 
winters in school at Rockford, and a short season 
in teaching, he spent a year in the book and 
jewelry business at "Warren, Jo Daviess County. 
The following year (1858) he made a trip to Pike's 
Peak, but meeting disappointment in his expec- 
tations in regard to mining, returned almost 
immediately. The next few years were spent in 
various occupations, including law^ and real 
estate business, until 1872, when he was elected 
to the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, ?..nd 
re-elected two years later. Other positions 
successively held by him were those of Commis- 
sioner of the Joliet Penitentiary, Collector of 
Internal Revenue for the Sterling District, and 
United States Marshal for the Northern District 
of Illinois. He was, for fomt;een years, a member 
of the Republican State Central Committee, dur- 
ing twelve years of that period being its chair- 
man. Since 1885, Mr. Jones has been manager 
of the Bethesda Mineral Springs at "Waukesha, 
"Wis., but has found time to make his mark in 
"Wisconsin politics also. 

JONTS, John Rice, first English lawyer in Illi- 
nois, was bom in "Wales, Feb. 11, 1739; educated 
at Oxford in medicine and law, and, after prac- 
ticing the latter in London for a short time, came 
to America in 1784, spending two years in Phila- 
delphia, where he made the acquaintance of 
Dr. Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin; in 
1786, having reached the Falls of the Ohio, he 
joined Col. George Rogers Clark's expedition 
against the Indians on the "Wabash. This having 
partially failed through the discontent and 
desertion of the troops, he remained at Vincennes 
four years, part of the time as Commissary- 



308 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



General of the garrison there. In 1790 he went to 
Kaskaskia, but eleven years later returned to Vin- 
cennes, being commissioned the same year by 
Gov. William Henry Harrison, Attorney-General 
of Indiana Territory, and, in 1805, becoming a 
member of the first Legislative Council. He was 
Secretary of the convention at Vincennes, in 
December, 1802, which memorialized Congress to 
suspend, for ten years, the article in tlie Ordi- 
nance of 1787 forbidding slavery in the Northwest 
Territory. In 1808 he removed a second time to 
Kaskaskia, remaining two years, when he located 
within the present limits of the State of Jlissouri 
(then the Territory of Louisiana), residing suc- 
cessivelj' at St. Genevieve, St. Louis and Potosi, 
at the latter place acquiring large interests in 
mineral lands. He became prominent in Mis- 
souri politics, served as a member of the Conven- 
tion which framed the first State Constitution, 
was a prominent candidate for United States 
Senator before the first Legislature, and finally 
elected by the same a Justice of the Supreme 
Court, dying in office at St. Louis, Feb. 1, 1824. 
He appears to have enjoyed an extensive practice 
among the early residents, as shown by the fact 
that, the year of his return to Kaskaskia, he paid 
taxes on more than 16,000 acres of land in Monroe 
County, to say nothing of his possessions about 
Vincennes and his subsequent acquisitions in 
Missouri. He also prepared the first revision of 
laws for Indiana Territory when Illinois com- 
posed a part of it. — Bice (Jones), son of the pre- 
ceding by a first marriage, was born in Wales, 
Sept. 28, 1781; came to America with his par- 
ents, and was educated at Transylvania University 
and the University of Pennsylvania, taking a 
medical degree at the latter, but later studying 
law at Litchfield, Conn., and locating at Kaskas- 
kia in 1806. Described as a young man of brilliant 
talents, he took a prominent part in politics and, 
at a special election held in September, 1808, was 
elected to the Indiana Territorial Legislature, by 
the party known as "Divisionists" — i. e., in favor 
of the division of the Territory — which proved 
successful in the organization of Illinois Territory 
the following year. Bitterness engendered in 
this contest led to a cliallenge from Shadrach 
Bond (afterwards first Governor of the State)^ 
which Jones accepted; but the affair was ami- 
cably adjusted on the field without an exchange of 
shots. One Dr. James Dunlap, who had been 
Bond's second, expressed dissatisfaction with the 
settlement; a bitter factional fight was main- 
tained between the friends of the respective 
parties, ending in the assassination of Jones, who 



was shot by Dunlap on the street in Kaskaskia, 
Deo. 7, 1808 — Jones dying in a few minutes, 
while Dunlap fled, ending his days in Texas. — 
Gen. John Rice (Jones), Jr., another son, was 
born at Kaskaskia, Jan. 8, 1792, served under 
Capt. Henry Dodge in the War of 1812, and, in 
1831, went to Texas, where he bore a conspicuous 
part in securing the independence of tliat State 
from Mexico, dying there in 1845 — the year of its 
annexation to the United States. — George 
Wallace (Jones), fourth son of John Rice Jones 
(1st), was born at Vincennes, Indiana Territory, 
April 12, 1804; graduated at Transylvania Uni- 
versity, in 1825; served as Clerk of the United 
States District Court in Missouri in 1826, and as 
Aid to Gen. Dodge in the Black Hawk War ; in 
1834 was elected Delegate in Congress from 
Michigan Territory (then including the present 
States of Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa), later 
serving two terms as Delegate from Iowa Terri- 
tory, and, on its admission as a State, being elected 
one of the first United States Senators and re- 
elected in 1852; in 1859, was appointed b}' Presi- 
dent Buchanan Minister to Bogota, Colombia^ 
but recalled in 1861 on account of a letter to 
Jefferson Davis expressing sympathy with the 
cause of the South, and was imprisoned for two 
months in Fort Lafayette. In 1838 he was the sec- 
ond of Senator Cilley in the famous Cilley-Graves 
duel near Washington, which resulted in the 
death of the former. After his retirement from 
office. General Jones' residence was at Dubuque, 
Iowa, where he died, July 22, 1896, in the 93d 
year of his age. 

JONES, Miehae'S, early politician, was a Penn- 
sylvanian by birth, who came to Illinois in Terri- 
torial days, and, as early as 1809, was Register of 
the Land Office at Kaskaskia; afterwards 
removed to Shawneetown and represented 
Gallatin County as a Delegate to the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1818 and as Senator in the 
first four General Assemblies, and also as Repre- 
sentative in the Eighth. He was a candidate for 
United States Senator in 1819, but was defeated 
by Governor Edwards, and was a Presidential 
Elector in 1820. He is represented to have been a 
man of considerable ability but of bitter passions, 
a supporter of the scheme for a pro-slavery con- 
stitution and a bitter opponent of Governor 
Edwards. 

JONES, J. Rnssell, capitalist, was born at 
Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1823; 
after spending two j-ears as clerk in a store in his 
native town, came to Chicago in 1838; spent the 
next two years at Rockton, when he accepted a 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



309 



clerkship in a leading mercantile establishment 
at Galena, finally being advanced to a partner- 
ship, which was dissolved in 185G. In 1860 he 
was elected, as a Republican, Representative in 
the Twenty-second General Assembly, and, in 
March following, was appointed by President 
Lincoln United States Marshal for the Northern 
District of Illinois. In 1869, by appointment of 
President Grant, he became Minister to Belgium, 
remaining in office until 1875, when he resigned 
and returned to Chicago. Subsequently he 
declined the position of Secretary of the Interior, 
but was appointed Collector of the Port of Chi- 
cago, from which he retired in 1888. Mr. Jones 
served as member of the National Republican 
Committee for Illinois in 1868. In 1863 he organ- 
ized the West Division Street Railway, laying 
the foundation of an ample fortune. 

JONES, William, pioneer merchant, was born 
at Charlemont, Mass., Oct. 23, 1789, but spent his 
boyhood and early manhood in New Yorli State, 
ultimately locating at Buffalo, where he engaged 
in business as a grocer, and also held various 
public positions. In 1831 he made a tour of 
observation westward by way of Detroit, finally 
reaching Fort Dearborn, which he again visited 
in 1833 and in '33, making small investments each 
time in real estate, which afterwards appreciated 
immensely in value. In 1834, in partnership 
with Byram King of Buffalo, Mr. Jones engaged 
in the stove and hardware business, founding in 
Chicago the firm of Jones & King, and the next 
year brought his family. While he never held 
any important public office, he was one of the 
most prominent of those early residents of Chicago 
through whose enterprise and public spirit the 
city was made to prosper. He held the office of 
Justice of the Peace, served in the City Council, 
was one of the founders of the city fire depart- 
ment, served for twelve years (1840-53) on the 
Board of School Inspectors (for a considerable 
time as its President), and contributed liberally 
to the cause of education, including gifts of 
$50,000 to the old Chicago University, of which 
he was a Trustee and, for some time. President of 
its Executive Committee. Died, Jan. 18, 1868. — 
Fernando (Jones), son of the preceding, was born 
at Forestville, Chautauqua County, N. Y., May 
26, 1830, having, for some time in his boyhood, 
Millard Fillmore (afterwards President) as his 
teaclier at Buffalo, and, still later, Reuben E. Fen- 
ton (afterwards Governor and a United States 
Senator) as classmate. After coming to Chicago, 
in 1835, he was emploj'ed for some time as a clerk 
in. Government offices and by the Trustees of the 



Illinois & Michigan Canal; spent a season at 
Canandaigua Academy, N. Y. ; edited a periodical 
at Jackson, Mich., for a year or two, but finally 
coming to Cliicago, opened an abstract and title 
office, in which he was engaged at the time of the 
fire of 1871, and which, by consolidation with two 
other firms, became the foundation of the Title 
Guarantee and Trust Company, which still plays 
an important part in the real-estate business of 
Chicago. Mr. Jones has held various public posi- 
tions, including that of Trustee of the Hospital 
for the Insane at Jacksonville, and has for years 
been a Trustee of the University of Chicago. -Kiler 
Kent (Jones), another son, was one of the found- 
ers of "The Gem of the Prairies" newspaper, out 
of which grew "The Chicago Tribune"; was for 
many years a citizen of Quincy, 111., and promi- 
nent member of the Republican State Central 
Committee, and, for a time, one of the publishers 
of "The Prairie Farmer." Died, in Quincy, 
August 30. 1886. 

JONESBORO, the county-seat of Union County, 
situated about a mile west of the line of tlie Illi- 
nois Central Railroad. It is some 30 miles north 
of Cairo, with which it is connected by the Mobile 
& Ohio R. R. It stands in the center of a fertile 
territory, largely devoted to fruit-growing, and is 
an important shipping-point for fruit and early 
vegetables; has a silica mill, pickle factory and a 
bank. Tliere are also four churches, and one 
weekly newspaper, as well as a graded school. 
Popiilation (1900), 1.130. 

JOSLTN, Merritt L., lawyer, was bom in 
Livingston County, N. Y., in 1827, came to Illi- 
nois in 1839, his father settling in McHenry 
County, where the son, on arriving at manhood, 
engaged in the practice of the law. The latter 
became prominent in political circles and, in 
1856, was a Buchanan Presidential Elector. On 
the breaking out of the war he allied himself 
with the Republican party ; served as a Captain 
in the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and, in 1864, was elected to the Twenty-fourth 
General Assembly from McHenry County, later 
serving as Senator during the sessions of the 
Thirtieth and Thirty-first Assemblies (1876-80). 
After the death of President Garfield, he was 
appointed by President Arthur Assistant Secre- 
tary of the Interior, serving to the close of the 
administration. Returning to his home at Wood- 
stock, 111. , he resumed the practice of his profes- 
sion, and, since 1889, has discharged the duties of 
Master in Chancer}' for McHenry County. 

JOUETT, Charles, Chicago's first lawyer, was 
born in Virginia in 1773, studied law at Charlottes- 



310 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



vUle in that State; in 1802 was appointed by 
President Jefferson Indian Agent at Detroit and, 
in 1805, acted as Commissioner in conducting a 
treaty witli the Wyandottes, Ottawas and other 
Indians of Northwestern Oliio and Michigan at 
Maumee City, Ohio. In the fall of the latter year 
he was appointed Indian Agent at Fort Dearborn, 
serving there until the year before the Fort Dear- 
born Massacre. Removing to Mercer County, 
Ky., in 1811, he was elected to a Judgeship there, 
but, in 1815, was reappointed by President Madi- 
son Indian Agent at Fort Dearborn, remaining 
until 1818, when he again returned to Kentucky. 
In 1819 he was appointed to a United States 
Judgeship in the newly organized Territory of 
Arkansas, but remained only a few months, when 
he resumed his residence in Kentucky, dying 
there, May 28, 1834. 
JOURNALISM. (See Newspapers, Early.) 
JUDD, Norman Buel, lawyer, legislator. For- 
eign Minister, was born at Rome, N. Y., Jan. 10, 
1815, where he read law and was admitted to the 
bar. In 1836 he removed to Cliicago and com- 
menced practice in the (tlien) frontier settle- 
ment. He early rose to a position of prominence 
and influence in public affairs, holding various 
municipal offices and being a member of the 
State Senate from 1844 to 1860 continuously. In 
1860 he was a Delegate-at-large to the Republican 
National Convention, and, in 1861, President Lin- 
coln appointed him Minister Plenipotentiary to 
Prussia, where he represented this country for 
four years. He was a warm personal friend of 
Lincoln, and accompanied him on his memorable 
journey from Springfield to Washington in 1861. 
In 18T0 he was elected to tlie Forty-first Congress. 
Died, at Chicago, Nov. 10, 1878. 

JUDD, S. Corning, lawyer and politician, born 
in Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1827; was 
educated at Aurora Academy, taught for a time in 
Canada and was admitted to the bar in New York 
in 1848; edited "The Syracuse Daily Star" in 1849, 
and, in 1850, accepted a position in the Interior 
Department in Washington. Later, he resumed 
his place upon "The Star," but, in 1854, removed 
to Lewistown, Fulton County, 111., and began 
practice with his brother-in-law, the late W C. 
Goudy. In 1873 he removed to Chicago, entering 
into partnership with William Fitzhugh Wliite- 
house, son of Bishop Whitehouse, and became 
prominent in connection with some ecclesiastical 
trials which followed. In 1860 he was a Demo- 
cratic candidate for Presidential Elector and. 
during the war, was a determined opponent of 
the war policy of the Government, as such mak- 



ing an unsuccessful campaign for Lieutenant- 
Governor in 1864. In 1885 he was appointed 
Po-stmaster of the city of Chicago, serving until 
1889. Died, in Chicago, Sept. 22, 1895. 

JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THE. The Constitution 
of 1818 vested the judicial power of the State in 
one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as 
the Legislature might establish. The former 
consisted of one Chief Justice and three Associ- 
ates, appointed by joint ballot of the Legislature ; 
but, until 1825, when a new act went into effect, 
they were required to perform circuit duties in 
the several counties, while exercising appellate 
jurisdiction in their united capacity. In 1824 the 
Legislature divided the State into five circuits, 
appointing one Circuit Judge for each, but, two 
years later, these were legislated out of office, and 
circuit court duty again devolved upon the 
Supreme Judges, the State being divided into 
four circuits. In 1829 a new act authorized the 
appointment of one Circuit Judge,' who was 
assigned to duty in the territory northwest of the 
Illinois River, the Supreme Justices continuing 
to perform circuit duty in the four other circuits. 
This arrangement continued until 1835, when the 
State was divided into six judicial circuits, and, 
five additional Circuit Judges having been 
elected, the Supreme Judges were again relieved 
from circuit court service. After this no mate- 
rial changes occurred except in the increase of the 
number of circuits until 1841, the whole number 
then being nine. At this time political reasons 
led to an entire reorganization of the courts. An 
act passed Feb. 10, 1841, repealed all laws author- 
izing the election of Circuit Judges, and provided 
for the appointment of five additional x\.ssociate 
Judges of the Supreme Court, making nine in 
all ; and, for a third time, circuit duties devolved 
upon the Supreme Court Judges, the State being 
divided at the same time into nine circuits. 

By the adoption of the Constitution of 1848 the 
judiciary system underwent an entire change, all 
judicial officers being made elective by the 
people. The Constitution provided for a Supreme 
Court, consisting of three Judges, Circuit Courts, 
County Courts, and courts to be held by Justices 
of the Peace. In addition to these, the Legisla- 
ture had the power to create inferior civil and 
criminal courts in cities, but only upon a uniform 
plan. For the election of Supreme Judges, the 
State was divided into three Grand Judicial Divi- 
sions. The Legislature might, however, if it saw 
fit, provide for the election of all three Judges on 
a general ticket, to be voted throughout the 
State-at-large ; but this power was never exer- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



311 



cised. Appeals lay from the Circuit Courts to the 
Supreme Court for tlie particular division in 
which the county might be located, although, by 
unanimous consent of all parties in interest, an 
appeal miglit be transferred to another district. 
Nine Circuit Courts were established, but the 
number might be increased at the discretion of 
the General Assembly. Availing itself of its 
constitutional power and providing for the needs 
of a rapidly growing community, the Legislature 
gradually increased the number of circuits to 
thirty. The term of office for Supreme Court 
Judges was nine, and, for Circuit Judges, six 
years. Vacancies were to be filled by popular 
election, unless the unexpired term of the 
deceased or retiring incumbent was less than one 
year, in which case the Governor was authorized 
to appoint. Circuit Courts were vested with 
appellate jurisdiction from inferior tribunals, and 
each was required to hold at least two terms 
annually in each county, as might be fixed by 
statute. 

The Constitution of 1870, without changing the 
mode of election or term of office, made several 
changes adapted to altered conditions. As 
regards the Supreme Court, the three Grand 
Divisions were retained, but the number of 
Judges was increased to seven, chosen from a like 
number-of districts, but sitting together to con- 
stitute a full court, of which four members con- 
stitute a quorum. A Chief Justice is chosen by 
the Court, and is usually one of the Judges 
nearing the expiration of his term. The minor 
officers include a Reporter of Decisions, and one 
Clerk in each Division. By an act passed in 1897, 
the three Supreme Court Divisions were consoli- 
dated in one, the Court being required to hold its 
sittings in Springfield, and hereafter only one 
Clerk will be elected instead of three as hereto- 
fore. The salaries of Justices of the Supreme 
Court are fixed by law at S5,000 each. 

The State was divided in 1873 into twenty-seven 
circuits (Cook County being a circuit by itself), 
and one or more terms of the circuit court are 
required to be held each year in each county in 
the State. The jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts 
is both original and appellate, and includes mat- 
ters civil and criminal, in law and in equity. 
The Judges are elected by districts, and hold office 
for six years. In 1877 the State was divided into 
thirteen judicial circuits (exclusive of Cook 
Coimty), but without reducing the mmiber of 
Judges (twenty- six) already in office, and the 
election of one additional Judge (to serve two 
years) was ordered in each district, thus increas- 



ing tlie number of Judges to thirty-nine. Again 
in 1897 the Legislature passed an act increasing 
the number of judicial circuits, exclusive of Cook 
County, to seventeen, while the number of 
Judges in each circuit remained the same, so 
that the whole number of Judges elected that 
year outside of Cook Counts' was fifty-one. The 
salaries of Circuit Judges are .?3.500 per year, 
except in Cook County, where they are .?7,000. 
The Constitution also provided for the organiza- 
tion of Appellate Courts after the year 1874, hav- 
ing uniform jurisdiction in districts created for 
that purpose. These courts are a connecting 
link between the Circuit and the Supreme Courts, 
and greatly relieve the crowded calendar of the 
latter. In 1877 the Legislature established four 
of these tribunals: one for the County of Cook; 
one to include all the Northern Grand Division 
except Cook Countj'; the third to embrace the 
Central Grand Division, and the fourth tlie South- 
ern. Each Appellate Court is held by three Cir- 
cuit Court Judges, named by the Judges of the 
Supreme Court, each assignment covering three 
years, and no Judge either allowed to receive 
extra compensation or sit in review of his own 
rulings or decisions. Two terms are held in each 
District every year, and these courts have no 
original jurisdiction. 

Cook County. — The judicial system of Cook 
County is different from that of the rest of the 
State. The Constitution of 1870 made tlie county 
an independent district, and exempted it from 
being subject to any subseqtient redistricting. 
The bench of the Circuit Court in Cook County, 
at first fixed at five Judges, has been increased 
under the Constitution to fourteen, ' who receive 
additional compensation from the county treas- 
ury. The Legislature has the constitutional 
right to increase the number of Judges according 
to population. In 1849 the Legislature estab- 
lished the Cook County Court of Common Pleas. 
Later, this became the Superior Court of Cook 
County, V7hicli now (1898) consists of thirteen 
Judges. For this court there exists the same 
constitutional provision relative to an increase of 
Judges as in the case of the Circuit Court of Cook 
County. 

JUDT, Jacob, pioneer, a native of Switzer- 
land, who, having come to the United States at 
an early day, remained some years m Maryland, 
when, in 1786, he started west, spending two 
years near Louisville, Ky., finally arriving at 
Kaskaskia, 111., in 1788. In 1792 he removed to • 
New Design, in Monroe County, and, in 1800, 
located within the present limits of JIadison 



312 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



County, where he died in 1807. — Samuel (Judy), 
son of the preceding, born August 19, 1773, was 
brought by his father to Illinois in 1788, and after- 
wards became prominent in political affairs and 
famous as an Indian fighter. On the organization 
of Madison County he became one of the first 
County Commissioners, serving many years. He 
also commanded a body of "Rangers" in the 
Indian campaigns during the War of 1813, gain- 
ing the title of Colonel, and served as a member 
from JIadison County in tlie Second Territorial 
Council (1814-1.-)). Previous to 1811 he built the 
first brick house within the limits of Madison 
County, which still stood, not many years since, 
a few miles from Edwardsville. Colonel Judy 
died in 1838. — Jacob (Judy), eldest son of Samuel, 
was Register of the Land Office at Edwardsville, 
1845-49.— Thomas (Judy), younger son of Samuel, 
was born, Dec. 19, 1804, and represented Madison 
County in the Eighteenth General Assembly 
(1853-54). His death occurred Oct. 4, 1880. 

JUDY, James WiUlam, soldier, was born in 
Clark County, Ky., May 8, 1823 — his ancestors 
on his father's side being from Switzerland, and 
those on his mother's from Scotland ; grew up on 
a farm and, in 1852, removed to Menard Countj', 
111., where he has since resided. In August, 1863, 
he enlisted as a private soldier, was elected Cap- 
tain of his company, and, on its incorporation as 
part of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regi- 
ment Illinois Volunteers at Camp Butler, was 
chosen C61onel by acclamation. The One Him- 
dred and Fourteenth, as part of the Fifteenth 
Army Corps under command of that brilliant 
soldier. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, was attached to 
the Army of the Tennessee, and took part in the 
entire siege of Vicksburg, from May, 1863, to the 
surrender on the 3d of July following. It also 
participated in the siege of Jackson, Miss., and 
numerous other engagements. After one year's 
service. Colonel Judy was compelled to resign by 
domestic affliction, having lost two children by 
death within eight days of each other, while 
others of liis family were dangerously ill. On 
his retirement from the army, he became deeply 
interested in thorough-bred cattle, and is now the 
most noted stock auctioneer in the United States 
— having, in the past thirty years, sold more 
thorough-bred cattle than any other man living 
— his operations extending from Canada to Cali- 
fornia, and from Minnesota to Texas. Colonel 
Judy was elected a member of the State Board of 
Agriculture in 1874, and so remained continu- 
ously until 1896 — except two years — also serving 
as Ftesident of the Board from 1894 to 1896. He 



bore a conspicuous part in securing the location 
of the State Fair at Springfield in 1894, and the 
improvements there made under his administra- 
tion have not been paralleled in any other State. 
Originally, and up to 1856, an old-line Whig, 
Colonel Judy has since been an ardent Repub- 
lican ; and though active in political campaigns, 
has never held a political office nor desired one, 
being content with the discharge of his duty as a 
patriotic private citizen. 

KAXAN, Michael F., soldier and legislator, was 
born in Essex County, N. Y., in November, 1837, 
at twenty j-ears of age removed to Macon County, 
111., and engaged in farming. Dvu'ing the Civil 
War he enlisted in the Forty-first Illinois Volun- 
teers (Col. I. C. Pugh's regiment), serving nearly 
four years and retiring with the rank of Captain. 
After the war he served six years as JIayor of the 
city of Decatur. In 1894 he was elected State 
Senator, serving in the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth 
General Assemblies. Captain Kanan was one of 
the founders of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
and a member of the first Post of the order ever 
established — that at Decatur. 

KAXE, a village of Greene County, on the 
Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton 
Railway, 40 miles south of Jacksonville. It has 
a bank and a weekly paper. Population (1880), 
408: (1890), 551; (1900). 588. 

KAXE, Ellas Kent, early United States Sena- 
tor, is said by Lanman's "Dictionary of Congress" 
to have been born in New York, June 7, 1796. 
The late Gen. Geo. W. Smith, of Chicago, a rela- 
tive of Senator Kane's by marriage, in a paper 
read before the Illinois State Bar Associatior 
(1895), rejecting other statements assigning the 
date of the Illinois Senator's birth to various 
years from 1786 to 1796, expresses the opinion, 
based on family letters, that he was really born 
in 1794. He was educated at Yale CoUege, gradu- 
ating in 1812, read law in New York, and emi- 
grated to Tennessee in 1813 or early in 1814, but, 
before the close of the latter year, removed to Illi- 
nois, settling at Kaskaskia. His abilities were 
recognized by his appointment, early in 1818, as 
Judge of the eastern circuit under the Territorial 
Government. Before the close of the same year 
he served as a member of the first State Consti- 
tutional Convention, and was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Bond the first Secretary of State under the 
new State Government, but resigned on the 
accession of Governor Coles in 1822. Two years 
later he was elected to the General Assembly as 
Representative from Randolph County, but 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



313 



resigned before the close of the year to accept a 
seat in the United States Senate, to which he was 
elected in 1824, and re-elected in 1830. Before 
the expiration of his second term (Dec. 13, 1835), 
having reached the age of a little more than 40 
years, he died in "Washington, deeply mourned 
by his fellow-members of Congress and by his 
constituents. Senator Kane was a cousin of the 
distinguished Chancellor Kent of New York, 
through his mother's family, while, on his 
father's side, he was a relative of the celebrated 
Arctic explorer, Elisha Kent Kane. 

KA>'E COUNTY, one of the wealthiest and 
most progressive counties in the State, situated in 
the northeastern quarter. It has an area of 540 
square miles, and population (1900) of 7S,792; 
was named for Senator Elias Kent Kane. Tim- 
ber and water are abundant, Fox River flowing 
through the county from north to south. Immi- 
gration began in 1833, and received a new impetus 
in 1835, when the Pottawatomies were removed 
west of the Mississippi, A school was established 
in 1834, and a church organized in 1835. County 
organization was effected in June, 1836, and the 
public lands came on the market in 1843. The 
Civil War record of the county is more than 
creditable, the number of volunteers exceeding 
the assessed quota. Farming, grazing, manufac- 
turing and dairy industries chiefly engage the 
attention of the people. The county has many 
flourishing cities and towns. Geneva is the county- 
seat. (See Aurora, Dundee, Eldora, Elgin, Geneva 
and St. Charles.) 

KAXGLET, a village of La Salle County, on 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railwa)-, three 
miles northwest of Streator. There are several 
coal shafts here. Population (1900), 1,004. 

KANKAKEE, a city and county-seat of Kanka- 
kee County, on Kankakee River and 111. Cent. 
Raihoad, at intersection of the "Big Four" with 
the Indiana, 111. & Iowa Railroad, 56 miles south of 
Chicago. It is an agricultural and stock-raising 
region, near extensive coal fields and bog iron 
ore; has water-power, flour and paper mills, agri- 
cultural implement, furniture, and piano fac- 
tories, knitting and novelty works, besides two 
quarries of valuable building stone. The East- 
ern Hospital for the Insane is located here. 
There are four papers, four banks, five schools, 
water-works, gas and electric light, electric car 
lines, and Government postofl5ce building. Popu- 
lation (1890). 9,035; (1900), 13,595. 

KANKAKEE COUNTY, a wealthy and popu- 
lous county in the northeast section of the State, 
having an area of 680 square miles — receiving its 



name from its principal river. It was set apart 
from AViU and Iroquois Counties under the act 
passed in 1851, the owners of the site of the 
present city of Kankakee contributing 55,000 
toward the erection of county buildings. Agri- 
culture, manufacturing and coal-mining are the 
principal pursuits. The first white settler was 
one Noah Vasseur, a Frenchman, and the first 
American, Thomas Durham. Population (1880), 
25,047; (1890), 28,783; (1900), 37,154. 

KANKAKEE RUYER, a sluggish stream, rising 
in St. Joseph County, Ind., and flowing west- 
southwest through English Lake and a flat marshy 
region, into Illinois. In Kankakee County it 
unites with the Iroquois from the south and the 
Des Plaines from the north, after the junction 
with the latter, taking tlie name of the Illinois. 

KANKAKEE & SENECA RAILROAD, a line 
lying wholly in Illinois, 42.08 miles in length. It 
has a capital stock of §10,000, bonded debt of 
§650,000 and other forms of indebtedness (1895) 
reaching §557,629; total capitalization, §1,217,629. 
This road was chartered in 1881, and opened in 
1882. It connects with the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, and the Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific, and is owned jointly by 
these two lines, but operated by the former. (See 
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Rail- 
road.) 

KANSAS, a village in Edgar County, on the 
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis and 
the Chicago & Ohio River Railways, 156 miles 
northeast of St. Louis, 104 miles west of Indian- 
apolis, 13 miles east of Charleston and 11 miles 
west-southwest of Paris. The surrounding region 
is agricultural and stock-raising. Kansas has tile 
works, two grain elevators, a canning factory, 
and railway machine shops, beside four churches, 
a collegiate institute, a National bank and a 
weekly newspaper. Population (1880), 723; (1890), 
1,037; (1900), 1,049. 

KASKASKI.\, a village of the Illinois Indians, 
and later a French trading post, first occupied in 
1700. It passed into the hands of the British 
after the French-Indian War in 1765, and was 
captured by Col. George Rogers Clark, at the head 
of a force of Virginia troops, in 1778. (See Clai-k, 
George Rogers.) At that time the white inhab- 
itants were almost entirely of French descent. 
The first exercise of the elective franchise in Illi- 
nois occurred here in the year last named, and, in 
1804, the United States Government opened a 
land office there. For many years the most 
important commercial town in the Territory, it 
remained the Territorial and State capital down 



314 



niSTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



to 1819, when the seat of government was re- 
moved to Vandalia. Originally situated on the 
west side of tlie Kaskaskia River, some six miles 
from the Mississippi, early in 1899 its site had 
been swept away by the encroachments of the 
latter stream, so that all that is left of the princi- 
pal town of Illinois, in Territorial days, is simply 
its name. 

KASKASKIA INDIANS, one of the five tribes 
constituting the Illinois confederation of Algon 
quin Indians. About the year 1700 they removed 
from what is now La Salle County, to Southern 
Illinois, where they established themselves along 
the banks of the river which bears their name. 
They were finally removed, with their b-ethren 
of the Illinois, west of the Mississippi, and, as a 
distinct tribe, have become extinct. 

KASKASKIA RITER, rises in Champaign 
County, and flows southwest through the coun- 
ties of Douglas, Coles, Moultrie, Shelby, Fayette, 
Clinton and St. Clair, thence southward through 
Randolph, and empties into the Mississippi River 
near Chester. It is nearly 300 miles long, and 
flows through a fertile, undulating country, which 
forms part of the great coal field of the State. 

KEITH, Edson, Sr., merchant and manufac- 
turer, born at Barre, Vt., Jan. 38, 1833, was edu- 
cated at home and in the district schools ; spent 
1850-54 in Montpelier, coming to Chicago the 
latter year and obtaining employment in a retail 
dry-goods store. In 1860 he assisted in establish- 
ing the firm of Keith, Faxon & Co. , now Edson 
Keith & Co. ; is also President of the corporation 
of Keith Brothers & Co. , a Director of the Metro- 
politan National Bank, and the Edison Electric 
Light Company. — Elbridge G. (Keith), banker, 
brother of the preceding, was born at Barre, Vt., 
July IG, 1840; attended local schools and Barre 
Academy ; came to Chicago in 1857, the next year 
taking a position as clerk in the house of Keith, 
Faxon & Co., in 1865 becoming a partner and, in 
1884, being chosen President of the Metropolitan 
National Bank, where he still remains. Mr. 
Keith was a member of the Republican National 
Convention of 1880, and belongs to several local 
literary, political and social clubs ; was also one 
of the Directors of the World's Columbian Expo- 
sition of 1893-93. 

KEITHSBURG, a town in Mercer County on 
the Mississippi River, at the intersection of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Iowa Cen- 
tral Railways; 100 miles west-northwest of 
Peoria. Principal industries are fisheries, ship- 
ping, manufacture of pearl buttons and oilers ; has 
one paper. Pop. (1900), 1,566; (1903, est.), 2,000. 



KELLOGG, Hiram Huntington, clergyman 
and educator, was born at Clinton (then Whites- 
town), N. Y., in February, 1803, graduated at 
Hamilton College and Auburn Seminary, after 
which he served for some years as pastor at 
various places in Central New York. Later, he 
established the Young Ladies' Domestic Seminary 
at Clinton, claimed to be the first ladies' semi- 
nary in the State, and the first experiment in the 
country uniting manual training of girls with 
scholastic in.struction, antedating Mount Hoi 
yoke, Oberlin and other institutions which adopted 
this .system. Color was no bar to admission to 
the institution, though the daughters of some of 
the wealthiest families of the State were among 
its pupils. Mr. Kellogg was a co-laborer with 
Gerritt Smith, Beriah Green, the Tappans, Garri- 
son and others, in the effort to arouse public senti- 
ment in opposition to slavery. In 1836 he united 
with Prof. George W. Gale and others in the 
movement for the establishment of a colony and 
the building up of a Christian and anti-slavery 
institution in the West, which resulted in the 
location of the town of Galesburg and the found, 
ing there of Knox College. Mr. Kellogg was 
chosen the first President of the institution and, 
in 1841, left his thriving school at Clinton to 
identify himself with the new enterprise, which, 
in its infancy, was a manual-labor school. In the 
West he soon became the ally and co- laborer of 
such men as Owen Lovejoy, Ichabod Codding, 
Dr. C. V. Dyer and others, in the work of extirpat- 
ing slavery. In 1843 he visited England as a 
member of the World's Peace Convention, re- 
maining abroad about a year, during which time 
he made the acquaintance of Jacob Bright and 
others of the most prominent men of that day in 
England and Scotland. Resigning the Presidency 
of Knox College in 1847, he returned to Clinton 
Seminary, and was later engaged in various busi- 
ness enterprises until 1861, when he again re- 
moved to Illinois, and was engaged in preaching 
and teaching at various points during the 
remainder of his life, dying suddenly, at his 
home school at Mount Forest, 111., Jan. 1, 1881. 

KELLOGG, WilHam Pitt, was born at Orwell, 
Vt., Dec. 8, 1831, removed to Illinois in 1848, 
studied law at Peoria, was admitted to the bar in 
1854, and began practice in Fulton County. He 
was a candidate for Presidential Elector on the 
Republican ticket in 1856 and 1860, being elected 
the latter year. Appointed Chief Justice of 
Nebraska in 1861, he resigned to accept the 
colonelcy of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry Fail- 
ing health caused his retirement from the army 




—Old Kaskaskia from Garrison Hill (1893). 2.— Kaskaskia Hotel where LaFayette was feted in 
1875 3— First Illinois State House, 1818. 4.— Interior of Room (1893) where LaFayette 
banquet was held. 5.— Pierre Menard Mansion. 6.— House of Chief Ducoign, last of the 
Cascasquias (Kaskaskias). 




1— Remnant of Old Kaskaskia (1898). 2.— View on Principal Street (1891). 3— Gi^n. John 
Edgar's House (1891). 4.— House of Gov. Bond (1891). 5.— "Chenu Mansion where La- 
Fayettc was entertained, as it appeared in 1898. 



6._01d State House (1900). 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



315 



after the battle of Corinth. In ISG."/ he was 
appointed Collector of the Port at New Orleans. 
Thereafter he became a conspicuous figure in 
both Louisiana and National politics, serving as 
United States Senator from Louisiana from 18G8 
to 1871, and as Governor from 1873 to 1876, during 
the stormiest period of reconstruction, and mak- 
ing hosts of bitter personal and political enemies 
as well as warm friends. An unsuccessful attempt 
was made to impeach him in 1876. In 1877 lie was 
elected a second time to the United States Senate 
by one of two rival Legislatures, being awarded 
his seat after a bitter contest. At the close of his 
term (1883) he took his seat in the lower house to 
which he was elected in 1882, serving until 1885. 
While retaining his residence in Louisiana, Mr. 
Kellogg has spent much of his time of late years 
in "Washington City. 

KEXD.VLL COUNTY, a northeastern county, 
with an area of 330 square miles and a population 
(1900) of 11,467. The surface is rolling and the 
soil fertile, although generally a light, sandy 
loam. The count)- was organized in 1841, out of 
parts of Kane and La Salle, and was named in 
honor of President Jackson"s Postmaster General. 
The Fox River (running southwestwardly 
through the county), with its tributaries, affords 
ample drainage and considerable water power; 
the railroad facilities are admirable; timber is 
abundant. Yorkville and Oswego have been 
rivals for the county-seat, the distinction finally 
resting with the former. Among the pioneers 
may be mentioned Messrs. John AVilson, Ed- 
ward Anient, David Carpenter, Samuel Smith, 
the Wormley and Pierce brothers, and E. 
Morgan. 

KEXDRICK, Adin A., educator, was born at 
Ticonderoga, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1836; educated at 
Granville Academy, N. Y., and Middlebury Col- 
lege; removed to Janesville, Wis., in 1857, studied 
law and began practice at Monroe, in that State, 
a j'ear later removing to St. Louis, where he con- 
tinued practice for a short time. Then, having 
abandoned the law, after a course in the Theolog- 
ical Seminary at Rochester, N. Y. , in 1861 he 
became pastor of the North Baptist Church in 
Chicago, but, in 1865, removed to St. Louis, 
where he remained in pastoral work until 1873, 
when he assumed the Presidency of Shurtleflf 
College at Upper Alton, 111. 

KENKEY, a village and railway station in 
Devritt County, at the intersection of the Spring- 
field Division of the Illinois Central and the 
Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railroads, 36 miles 
northeast of Springfield. The town has two banks 



and two newspapers ; the district is agricultural. 
Population (1880), 418; (1890), 497; (1900y, 584. 

KEXT, (Rev.) Aratus, pioneer and Congrega- 
tional missionary, was born in SufBeld, Conn, in 
1794, educated at Yale and Princeton and, in 1829, 
as a Congregational missionary, came to the 
Galena lead mines — then esteemed "a place so 
hard no one else would take it. "' In less than two 
years he had a Sunday-school witli ten teachers 
and sixty to ninety scholars, and had also estab- 
lished a day-school, which he conducted himself 
In 1831 he organized the First Presbyterian 
Church of Galena, of which he remained pastor 
until 1848, when he became Agent of the Home 
Missionary Society. He was prominent in laying 
the foundations of Beloit College and Rockford 
Female Seminary, meanwhile contributing freely 
from his meager salary to charitable purposes. 
Died at Galena, Nov. 8, 1869. 

KEOKUK, (interpretation, "The Watchful 
Fox"), a Chief of the Sacs and Foxes, born on 
Rock River, about 1780. He had the credit of 
shrewdness and bravery, which enabled him 
finally to displace his rival. Black Hawk. He 
always professed ardent friendship for the whites, 
although this was not infrequently attributed to 
a far-seeing policy. He earnestly dissuaded 
Black Hawk from the formation of his confeder- 
acy, and wlien the latter was forced to surrender 
himself to the United States authorities, he was 
formally delivered to the custody of Keokuk. By 
the Rock Island treaty, of September, 1832, Keo- 
kuk was formally recognized as the principal 
Chief of the Sacs and Foxes, and granted a reser- 
vation on the Iowa River, 40 miles square. Here 
he lived until 1845, when he removed to Kansas, 
where, in June, 1848, he fell a victim to poison, 
supposedly administered by some partisan of 
Black Hawk. (See Black Hawk and Black Hawk 
War.) 

KERFOOT, Samuel H., real-estate operator, 
was born in Lancaster, Pa., Dec. 18, 1823, and 
educated under the tutorship of Rev. Dr. Muh- 
lenburg at St. Paul's College, Flushing, Long 
Island, graduating at the age of 19. He was 
then associated with a brother in founding St. 
James College, in Washington County, Md., but, 
in 1848, removed to Chicago and engaged in the 
real-estate business, in which he was one of the 
oldest operators at the time of his death, Dec. 28, 
1896. He was one of the founders and a life 
member of the Chicago Historical Society and of 
the Chicago Academy of Sciences, and associated 
with other learned and social organizations. He 
was also a member of the original Real Estate 



316 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and Stock Board of Chicago and its first Presi- 
dent. 

KEWAJfEE, a city in Henry County, on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 131 
miles southwest of Chicago. Agriculture and 
coal-mining are chief industries of the surround- 
ing country. The city contains eighteen churches, 
six graded schools, a public library of 10,000 
volumes, three national banks, one weekly and 
two daily papers. It has extensive manufactories 
employing four to five thousand liands, the out- 
put including tubing and soil-pipe, boilers, pumps 
and heating apparatus, agricultural implements, 
etc. Population (1890), 4,569 ; (1900), 8,383 ; (1903, 
est.), 10,000. 

KEYES, Willard, pioneer, was born at New- 
fane, Windsor County, Vt., Oct. 28, 1792; spent 
his early life on a farm, enjoying only such edu- 
cational advantages as could be secured by a few 
months' attendance on school in winter; in 1817 
started west by way of Mackinaw and, crossing 
Wisconsin (then an unbroken wilderness), finally 
reached Prairie du Chien, after which he spent a 
year in the "pineries." In 1819 he descended the 
Mississippi with a raft, his attention en route 
being attracted by the present site of the city of 
Quincy, to which, after two years spent in exten- 
sive exploration of the "Militarj' Tract" in the 
interest of certain owners of bounty lands, he 
again returned, finding it still unoccupied. 
Then, after two years spent in farming in Pike 
County, in 1824 he joined his friend, the late 
Gov. John Wood, who had built the first house in 
Quincy two years previous. Jlr. Keyes thus 
became one of the three earliest settlers of 
Quincy, the other two being John Wood and a 
Major Rose. On the organization of Adams 
County, in January, 1825, he was appointed a 
member of the first Board of County Commission- 
ers, which held its first meeting in his house. 
Mr. Keyes acquired considerable landed property 
about Quincy, a portion of which he donated to 
the Chicago Theological Seminary, thereby fur- 
nishing means for the erection of "Willard Hall" 
in connection with that institution. His death 
occurred in Quincy, Feb. 7, 1872. 

KICKAPOOS, a tribe of Indians whose eth- 
nology is closely related to that of the Mascou- 
tins. The French orthography of the word was 
various, the early explorers designating them as 
"Kic-a-pous, " "Kick-a-poux," "Kickabou," and 
"Quick-apous." The significance of the name is 
uncertain, different authorities construing it to 
mean "the otter's foot" and the "rabbit's ghost. " 
according to dialect. From 1603, when the tribe 



was first visited bj' Samuel Champlain, the Kicka- 
poos were noted as a nation of warriors. They 
fought against Christianization, and were, for 
some time, hostile to the French, although they 
proved eflScient allies of the latter during the 
French and Indian War. Their first formal 
recognition of the authority of the United States 
was in the treaty of Edwardsville (1819), in which 
reference was made to the treaties executed at 
Vincennes (1805 and 1809). . Nearly a century 
before, they had left their seats in Wisconsin and 
established villages along the Rock River and 
near Chicago (1712-15). At the time of the 
Edwardsville treaty they had settlements in the 
valleys of the Wabash, Embarras, Kaskaskia, 
Sangamon and Illinois Rivers. While they 
fought bravely at the battle of Tippecanoe, their 
chief military skill lay in predatory warfare. As 
compared with other tribes, they were industri- 
ous, intelligent and cleanlj'. In 1832-33 they 
were removed to a reservation in Kansas. Thence 
many of them drifted to the southwest, join- 
ing roving, plundering bands. In language, 
manners and customs, the Kickapoos closely 
resembled the Sacs and Foxes, with whom some 
ethnologists believe them to have been more or 
less closely connected. 

KILPATRICK, Thomas M., legislator and 
soldier, was born in Crawford County, Pa., June 
1, 1807. He learned the potter's trade, and, at 
the age of 37, removed to Scott County, 111. He 
was a deep thinker, an apt and reflective student 
of public affairs, and naturally eloquent. He 
was twice elected to the State Senate (1840 and 
'44), and, in 1846, was the Whig candidate for 
Governor, but was defeated by Augustus C. 
French, Democrat. In 1850 he emigrated to 
California, but, after a few years, returned to 
Illinois and took an active part in the campaigns 
of 1858 and 1860. On the outbreak of the Civil 
War he was commissioned Colonel of the Twenty- 
eighth Illinois Volunteers, for which regiment he 
had recruited a company. He was killed at the 
battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, while leading a 
charge. 

KINDERHOOK, a village and railway station 
in Pike County, on the Hannibal Division of the 
Wabash Railway, 13 miles east of Hannibal. 
Population (1890), 473; (1900), 370. 

KING, John Lyle, lawyer, was born in Madison, 
Ind., in 1825 — the son of a pioneer settler who 
was one of the founders of Hanover College 
and of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary 
there, which afterwards became the "Presby- 
terian Theological Seminary of the Northwest, " 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDLV OF ILLINOIS. 



317 



now the McCormick Theological Seminary of 
Chicago. After graduating at Hanover, Mr. King 
began the study of law with an uncle at Madison, 
and tlie following year was admitted to the bar. 
In 1853 he was elected to the Indiana Legislature 
and, while a member of that body, acted as Chair- 
man of the Committee to present Louis Kossuth, 
the Hungarian jiatriot and exile, to the Legisla- 
ture ; also took a prominent part, during the next 
few j'ears, in the organization of the Republican 
party. Removing to Chicago in 1856, he soon 
became prominent in his profession there, and, in 
1860, was elected City Attorney over Col. James A. 
Mulligan, who became eminent a year or two later, 
in connection with the war for the Union. Hav- 
ing a fondness for literature, Mr. King wrote much 
for the press and, in 1878, published a volume of 
sporting experiences with a party of professional 
friends in the woods and waters of Northern Wis- 
consin and Michigan, under the title. "Trouting 
on the Brule River, or Summer Wayfaring in the 
Northern Wilderness. " Died in Chicago, April 17, 
1893. 

KIX6, William H., lawyer, was born at CUfton 
Park, Saratoga Cormty, N.Y., Oct. 33, 1817; gradu- 
ated from Union College in 1846, studied law at 
Waterford and, having been admitted to the bar 
the following year, began practice at the same 
place. In 1853 he removed to Chicago, where he 
held a number of important positions, including 
the Presidency of the Chicago Law Institute, the 
Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Board of 
Education, and the Union College Alumni 
Association of the Northwest. In 1870 he was 
elected to the lower branch of the Twenty- 
seventh General Assembly, and, during the ses- 
sions following the fire of 1871 prepared the act 
for the protection of titles to real estate, made 
necessary by the destruction of the records in the 
Recorder's office. Mr. King received the degree 
of LL. D from his Alma Mater in 1879. Died, in 
Chicago, Feb. 0, 1893. 

KIKCtMAN, Martin, was born at Deer Creek, 
Tazewell County, 111., April 1, 1844; attended 
school at Washington, 111., then taught two or 
three years, and, in June, 1863, enlisted in the 
Eight5'-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, serv- 
ing three years without the loss of a day — a part 
of the time on detached service in charge of an 
ambulance corps and, later, as Assistant Quarter- 
master. Returning from the war with the rank 
of First Lieutenant, in August, 1865, he went to 
Peoria, where he engaged in business and has re- 
mained ever since. He is now connected with the 
following business concerns: Kingman & Co., 



manufacturers and dealers in farm machinery, 
buggies, wagons, etc. ; The Kingman Plow Com- 
pany, Bank of Illinois, Peoria Cordage Company, 
Peoria General Electric Company, and National 
Hotel Company, besides various outside enter- 
prises — all large concerns in each of which he is a 
large stockholder and a Director. Mr. Kingman 
was Canal Commissioner for six years — this being 
his only connection with politics. During 1898 he 
was also chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the Peoria 
Provisional Regiment organized for the Spanish- 
American War. His career in connection with 
the industrial development of Peoria has been 
especially conspicuous and successful. 

KINKADE (or Kinkead), William, a native of 
Tennessee, settled in what is now Lawrence 
County, in 1817, and was elected to the State 
Senate in 1833, but appears to have served only 
one session, as he was succeeded in the Fourth 
General Assembly bj- James Bird. Although a 
Tenqesseean by birth, he was one of the most 
aggressive opponents of the scheme for making 
Illinois a slave State, being the only man who- 
made a speech against the pro-slavery convention 
resolution, though this was cut short by the 
determination of the pro-conventionists to permit 
no debate. Mr. Kinkade was appointed Post- 
master at Lawrenceville by President John 
Quincy Adams, and held the position for many 
years. He died in 1846. 

KINMUJfDY, a city in Marion County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 239 miles south of 
Chicago and 24 miles northeast of Centralia. 
Agriculture, stock-raising, fruit-growing and 
coal-mining are the principal industries of the 
surrounding country. Kinmundy has flouring 
mills and brick-making plants, with other 
manufacturing establishments of minor impor- 
tance. There are five churches, a bank and a 
weekly newspaper. Population (1880), 1,096; 
(1890), 1,045; (1900), 1,231. 

KIJfNEY, William, Lieutenant-Governor of 
Illinois from 1820 to 1830 ; was born in Kentucky in 
1781 and came to Illinois early in life, finally 
settling in St. Clair County. Of Limited educa- 
tional advantages, he was taught to read by his 
wife after marriage. He became a Baptist 
preacher, was a good stump-orator; served two 
sessions in the State Senate (the First and Third), 
was a candidate for Governor in 1834, but was 
defeated by Joseph Duncan ; in 1838 was elected 
by the Legislature a member of the Board of 
Public Works, becoming its President. Died 
in 1843. — William C. (Kinney), son of the preced- 
ing, was born in Illinois, served as a member of 



318 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the Constitutional Convention of 1847 and as 
Representative in the Nineteenth General Assem- 
bly (1855), and, in 1857, was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Bissell Adjutant-General of the State, 
dying in office tlie following year. 

KIXZIE, John, Indian-trader and earliest citi- 
zen of Chicago, was born in Quebec, Canada, in 
1763. His father was a Scotchman named 
McKenzie, but the son dropped the prefix "Mc," 
and the name soon came to be spelled "Kinzie"' 
— an orthography recognized by the family. Dur- 
ing his early childhood his father died, and his 
mother gave him a stepfather by the name of 
William Forsythe. When ten years old he left 
home and, for three years, devoted himself to 
learning the jeweler's trade at Quebec. Fasci- 
nated by stories of adventure in the West, he 
removed thither and became an Indian-trader. 
In 1804 he established a trading post at what is 
now the site of Chicago, being the first solitary 
white settler. Later he established other posts 
on the Rock, Illinois and Kankakee Rivers. He 
was twice married, and the father of a numerous 
family. His daughter Maria married Gen. 
David Hunter, and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. 
John H. Kinzie, achieved literary distinction as 
the authoress of "Wau Bun," etc. (N. Y. 1850.) 
Died in Chicago, Jan. 6, 1828.— John Harris 
(Kinzie), son of the preceding, was born at Sand- 
wich, Canada, July 7, 1803, brought by his par- 
ents to Chicago, and taken to Detroit after the 
massacre of 1813, but returned to Chicago in 
1816. Two years later his father placed him at 
Mackinac Agency of the American Fur Com- 
pany, and, in 1824, he was transferred to Prairie 
du Chien. The following year he was Sub-Agent 
of Indian affairs at Fort Winnebago, where he 
witnessed several important Indian treaties. In 
1830 he went to Connecticut, where he was 
married, and, in 1833, took up his permanent resi- 
dence in Chicago, forming a partnership with 
Gen. David Hunter, his brother-in-law, in the 
forwarding business. In 1841 he was appointed 
Registrar of Public Lands by President Harrison, 
but was removed by Tyler. In 1848 he was 
appointed Canal Collector, and. in 1849, President 
Taylor commissioned him Receiver of Public 
Moneys. In 1861 he was commissioned Pay- 
master in the army by President Lincoln, which 
office he held until his death, which occurred on 
a railroad train near Pittsburg, Pa., June 21, 1865. 
KIRBY, Edward P., lawyer and legislator, 
was born in Putnam County, 111., Oct. 28, 1834— 
the son of Rev. William Kirby, one of the found- 
ers and early professors of Illinois College at 



Jacksonville ; graduated at Illinois College in 
1854, then taught several years at St. Louis and 
Jacksonville; was admitted to the bar in 1864, 
and, in 1873, was elected County Judge of Morgan 
County as a Republican; was Representative in 
the General Assembly from Morgan County 
(1891-93) ; also served for several years as Trustee 
of the Central Hospital for the Insane and, for a 
long period, as Trustee and Treasurer of Illinois 
College. 

KIRK, (tien.) Edward N., soldier, was born of 
Quaker parentage in Jefferson County, Ohio, Feb. 
29, 1828; graduated at the Friends' Academy, at 
Mount Pleasant in the same State, and, after 
teacliing for a time, began the study of law, 
completing it at Baltimore, Md., where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1853. A year later he 
removed to Sterling, 111., where he continued in 
his profession until after the battle of the first 
Bull Run, when he raised a regiment. The quota 
of the State being already full, this was not im- 
mediatel}' accepted; but, after some delay, was 
mu.stered in in September, 1861, as the Thirty- 
fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, with the 
subject of this sketch as Colonel. In the field he 
soon proved himself a brave and dashing officer; 
at the battle of Shiloh, though wounded through 
the shoulder, he refused to leave the field. After 
remaining with the army several days, inflam- 
matory fever set in, necessitating his removal to 
the hospital at Louisville, where he lay between 
life and death for some time. Having partially 
recovered, in August, 1863, he set out to rejoin 
his regiment, but was stopped en route by an 
order assigning him to command at Louisville. 
In November following he was commissioned 
Brigadier-General for "heroic action, gallantry 
and ability" displayed on the field. In the last 
days of December, 1802, he had sufficiently re- 
covered to take part in the series of engagements 
at Stone River, where he was again wounded, 
this time fatally. He was taken to his home in 
Illinois, and, although he survived several 
months, the career of one of the most brilliant 
and promising soldiers of the war was cut short 
by his death, July 31, 1863. 

KIRKLAND, Joseph, joui-nalist and author, 
was born at Geneva, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1830 — the son 
of Prof. William Kirkland of Hamilton College ; 
was brought by his parents to Michigan in 1835, 
where he remained until 1856, when he came to 
the city of Chicago. In 1861 he enlisted as a 
private in the Twelfth Illinois Infantry (three- 
months' men), was elected Second Lieutenant, 
but later became Aid-de-Camp on the staff of 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



319 



General McClellan, serving there and on the staff 
of General Fitz-John Porter until the retirement 
of the latter, meanwhile taking part in the Pen- 
insular campaign and in the battle of Antietam. 
Returning to Chicago he gave attention to some 
coal-mining property near Danville, but later 
studied law and %vas admitted to the bar in 1880. 
A few years later he produced his first novel, 
and, from 1890. devoted his attention solely to 
literary pursuits, for several years being liter- 
ary editor of "The Chicago Tribune." His works 
■ — several of which first appeared as serials in the 
magazines — include "Zury, the Meanest Man in 
Spring County" (1885); "The MoVeys" (1887); 
"The Captain of Co. K." (1889), besides the "His- 
tory of the Chicago Massacre of 1812," and "The 
Story of Chicago" — the latter in two volumes. At 
the time of his death he had just concluded, in 
collaboration with Hon. Jolm Moses, the work of 
editing a two- volume "History of Chicago," pub- 
lished by Messrs. Jlunsell & Co. (1895). Died, in 
Chicago, April 29, 1894.— Ellzabetli Stansbury 
(Kirkland), sister of the preceding — teacher and 
author — was born at Geneva, N. Y. , came to Chicago 
in 1867 and, five years later, established a select 
school for young ladies, out of which grew what 
is known as the "Kirkland Social Settlement," 
which was continued until her death, July 30, 
1896. She was the author of a number of vol- 
umes of decided merit, written with the especial 
object of giving entertainment and instruction to 
the young — including "Six Little Cooks, ' ' "Dora's 
Housekeeping," "Speech and Manners," a Child's 
"History of France," a "History of England," 
"History of English Literature," etc. At her 
death she left a "History of Italy" ready for the 
liands of the publishers. 

KIRKPATRICK, John, pioneer Methodist 
preacher, was born in Georgia, whence he emi- 
grated in 1802; located at Springfield, 111., at an 
early day, where he built the first horse-mill in 
that vicinity ; in 1829 removed to Adams County, 
and finally to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he died in 
1845. Mr. Kirkpatrick is believed to have been the 
first local Methodist preacher licensed in Illinois. 
Having inherited three slaves (a woman and two 
boys) while in Adams County, he brought them 
to Illinois and gave them their freedom. The 
boys were bound to a man in Quincy to learn a 
trade, but mysteriously disappeared— presumably 
having been kidnaped with the connivance of 
the man in whose charge they had been placed. 

KIRKWOOD, a city in Warren County, once 
known as "Young America," situated about six 
miles southwest of Monmouth, on the Chicago, 



Burlington & Quincy Railroad; is a stock-ship- 
ping point and in an agricultural region. The 
town has two banks, five churches, and two 
weekly newspapers. Pop. (1890), 949; (1900), 1,008. 

KISHWAUKEE RIVER, rises in McHenry 
County, runs west through Boone, and enters 
Rock River in Winnebago County, eight miles 
below Rockford. It is 75 miles long. An afflu- 
ent called the South Kishwaukee River runs 
north-northeast and northwest througli De Kalb 
County, and enters the Kiskwaukee in Winne- 
bago County, about eight miles southeast of 
Rockford. 

KITCHELL, Wickliff, lawyer and Attorney- 
General of Illinois, was born in New Jersey, 
May 21, 1789. Feb. 29, 1812, he was married, 
at Newark, N. J., to Miss Elizabeth Ross, 
and the same year emigrated west, passing 
down the Ohio on a flat-boat from Pittsburg, 
Pa., and settled near Cincinnati In 1814 
he became a resident of Southern Indiana, 
where he was elected sheriff, studied law 
and was admitted to the bar, finally becom- 
ing a successful practitioner. In 1817 he removed 
to Palestine. Crawford County, III., where, in 
1820, he was elected Representative in the Second 
General Assembly, and was also a member of the 
State Senate from 1828 to 1832. In 1838 he re- 
moved to Hillsboro, Montgomery County, was 
appointed Attorney-General in 1839, serving until 
near the close of the following year, when he 
resigned to take his seat as Representative in 
the Twelfth General Assembly. Between 1846 
and 1854 he was a resident of Fort Madison, Iowa, 
but the latter year returned to Hillsboro. During 
his early political career Mr. Kitchell had been a 
Democrat ; but, on the passage of the Kansas-Neb- 
raska act, became an earnest Republican. Pub- 
lic-spirited and progressive, he was in advance of 
his time on many public questions. Died, Jan. 
2, 1869.— Alfred (Kitchell), son of the preceding, 
lawyer and Judge, born at Palestine, 111., March 
29, 1820 ; was educated at Indiana State Univer- 
sity and Hillsboro Academj', admitted to the bar 
in 1841, and, the following year, commenced 
practice at Olney ; was elected State's Attorney 
in 1843, through repeated re-elections holding the 
office ten years ; was a member of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1847 and, in 1849, was 
elected Judge of Richland County ; later assisted 
in establishing the first newspaper published in 
Olney, and in organizing the Republican party 
there in 1856; in 18.59 was elected Judge of the 
Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, serving one term. 
He was also influential in procuring a charter for 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and in the con- 
struction of the line, being an original corporator 
and subsequently a Director of the Company. 
Later he removed to Galesburg, where he died, 
Nov. 11, 1876.— Edward (Kitchell), another son, 
was born at Palestine, III, Dec. 21, 1829; was 
educated at Hillsboro Academy until 1846, when 
he removed with his father's family to Fort 
Madison, Iowa, but later returned to Hillsboro to 
continue his studies ; in 1852 made the trip across 
the plains to California to engage in gold mining, 
but the following year went to Walla Walla, 
Washington Territory, where he opened a law 
office; in 1854 returned to Illinois, locating at 
Olney, Richland County, forming a partnership 
with Horace Hayward, a relative, in the practice 
of law. Here, having taken position against the 
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, he became, 
in 1856, the editor of the first Republican news- 
paper published in that part of Illinois known as 
"Egypt," with his brother. Judge Alfred Kitchell, 
being one of the original thirty-nine Republicans 
in Richland County. In 1863 he assisted in 
organizing the Ninety-eighth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers at Centralia, which, in the following 
year having been mounted, became a part of the 
famous "Wilder Brigade." At first he was com- 
missioned Lieutenant-Colonel, but succeeded to 
the command of the regiment after the wounding 
of Colonel Funkhouser at Chickamauga in Sep- 
tember, 1863; was finally promoted to the colo- 
nelcy in Julj', 1865, and mustered out with the 
rank of Brigadier-General by brevet. Resuming 
the practice of his profession at Olney, he was, 
in 1866, the Republican candidate for Congress in 
a district strongly Democratic; also served as 
Collector of Internal Revenue for a short time 
and, in 1868, was Presidential Elector for the 
same District. Died, at Olney, July 11, 1869. — 
John Wickliff (Kitchell), youngest son of Wick- 
liff Kitchell, was born at Palestine, Crawford 
County, 111. , May 30, 1835, educated at Hillsboro, 
read law at Fort Madison, Iowa, and admitted to 
the bar in that State. At the age of 19 years he 
served as Assistant Clerk of the House of Repre- 
sentatives at Springfield, and was Reading Clerk 
of the same body at the session of 1861. Previous 
to the latter date he had edited "The Jlontgomery 
County Herald," and later, "The Charleston 
Courier." Resigning his position as Reading 
Clerk in 1861, he enlisted under the fir.st call of 
President Lincoln in the Nintli Illinois Volun- 
teers, served as Adjutant of the regiment and 
afterwards as Captain of his company. At the 
expiration of his term of enlistment he established 



"The Union Monitor" at Hillsboro, which he con- 
ducted until drafted into the service in 1864, 
serving until the close of the war. In 1866 he 
removed to Pana (his present residence), resum- 
ing practice there ; was a candidate for the State 
Senate the same year, and, in 1870, was the 
Republican nominee for Congress in that District. 

KMCKERBOCKER, Joshua C, lawyer, was 
born in Gallatin, Columbia County, N. Y. , Sept. 
26, 1827 ; brought by his father to Alden, McHenry 
County, 111., in 1844, and educated in the com- 
mon schools of that place ; removed to Chicago in 
1860, studied law and was admitted to practice in 
1862 ; served on the Board of Supervisors and in 
the City Council and, in 1868, was elected Repre- 
sentative in the General Assembly, serving one 
term. He was also a member of the State Board 
of Education from 1875 to '77, and the latter 
year was elected Probate Judge for Cook County, 
serving until his death, Jan. 5, 1890. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, a secret semi-mili- 
tary and benevolent association founded in the 
City of Washington, D. C, Feb. 19, 1864, Justus 
H. Rathbone (who died Dec. 9, 1889) being its 
recognized founder. The order was established 
in Illinois, May 4, 1869, by the organization of 
"Welcome Lodge, No. 1," in the city of Chicago. 
On July 1, 1869, this Lodge had nineteen mem- 
bers. At the close of the year four additional 
Lodges had been instituted, having an aggregate 
membership of 245. Early in the following year, 
on petition of these five Lodges, approved by the 
Grand Chancellor, a Grand Lodge of the Order 
for the State of Illinois was instituted in Chicago, 
with a membership of twenty-nine Past Chancel- 
lors as representatives of the five subordinate 
Lodges — the total membership of these Lodges at 
that date being 382. December 31, 1870, the 
total membership in Illinois had increased to 850. 
June 30, 1895, the total number of Lodges in the 
State was 525, and the membership 38,441. The 
assets belonging to the Lodges in Illinois, on 
Jan. 1, 1894, amounted to §418,151.77. 

KNOWLTON, Dexter A., pioneer and banker, 
was born in Fairfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., 
March 3, 1812, taken to Chautauqua County in 
infancy and passed his childhood and youth on a 
farm. Having determined on a mercantile ca- 
reer, he entered an academy at Fredonia, paying 
his own way ; in 1838 started on a peddling tour 
for the West, and, in the following year, settled 
at Freeport, 111., where he opened a general store; 
in 1843 began investments in real estate, finally 
laying off sundry additions to the city of Free- 
port, from which he realized large profits. He 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



331 



was also prominently connected with the Galena 
& Chicago Union Railroad and, in 1850, becanae 
a Director of the Company, remaining in office 
some twelve years. In 1852 he was the Free-Soil 
candidate for Governor of Illinois, but a few years 
later became extensively interested in the Con- 
gress & Empire Spring Company at Saratoga, 
N. Y. ; then, after a four years' residence in 
Brookl3-n, returned to Freeport in 1870, where he 
engaged in banking business, dying in that city, 
March 10, 1876. 

KNOX, Joseph, lawyer, was born at Blanford, 
Mass., Jan. 11, 180.5; studied law with his 
brother, Gen. Alanson Knox, in his native town, 
was admitted to the bar in 1828, subsequently 
removing to Worcester, in the same State, where 
he began the practice of his profession. In 1837 
be removed west, locating at Stephenson, now 
Rock Island, 111. , where he continued in practice 
for twenty-three years. During the greater part 
of that time he was associated with Hon. John 
W. Drury, under the firm name of Knox & Drury, 
gaining a wide reputation as a lawyer throughout 
Northern Illinois. Among the important cases in 
wliich he took part during his residence in Rock 
Island was the prosecution of the murderers of 
Colonel Davenport in 1845. In 1852 he served as a 
Democratic Presidential Elector, but in the next 
campaign identified himself with the Republican 
party as a supporter of John C. Fremont for the 
Presidency. In 1860 he removed to Chicago and, 
two years later, was appointed State's Attorney 
by Governor Yates, remaining in office until suc- 
ceeded by his partner, Charles H. Reed. After 
coming to Chicago he was identified with a num- 
ber of notable cases. His death occurred, August 
6, 1881. 

KNOX COLLEGE, a non-sectarian institution 
for the higher education of the youth of both 
sexes, located at Galesburg, Knox County. It 
was founded in 1837, fully organized in 1841, and 
graduated its first class in 1846. The number of 
graduates from that date until 1894, aggregated 
867. In 1893 it had 663 students in attendance, 
and a faculty of 20 professors. Its library con- 
tains about 6,000 volumes. Its endowment 
amounts to 5300,000 and its buildings are valued 
at §150,000. Dr. Newton Bateman was at its 
head for more than twenty years, and, on his res- 
ignation (1893), John H. Finley, Ph.D., became 
its President, but resigned in 1899. 

KNOX COUNTY, a wealthy interior county 
west of the Illinois River, having an area of 720 
square miles and a population (1900) of 43,612. It 
was named in honor of Gen. Henry Knox. Its 



territorial limits were defined by legislative 
enactment in 1825, but the actual organization 
dates from 1830, when Riggs Pennington, Philip 
Hash and Charles Hansford were named the first 
Commissioners. Knoxville was the first countj'- 
seat selected, and here (in the winter of 1830-31) 
was erected the first court house, constructed 
of logs, two stories in height, at a cost of 
5192. The soil is rich, and agricultxrre flour- 
ishes. The present county-seat (1899) is Gales- 
burg, well known for its educational institutions, 
the best known of which are Knox College, 
founded in 1837, and Lombard University, 
founded in 1851. A flourishing Episcopal Semi- 
nary is located at Knoxville, and Hedding Col- 
lege at Abingdon. 

KNOXVILLE, a city in Knox County, on the 
Galesburg-Peoria Division of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad, 50 miles west of 
Peoria, and 5 miles east of Galesburg: was 
formerly the county-seat, and still contains the 
fair grounds and almshouse. The municipal gov- 
ernment is composed of a mayor, six aldermen, 
with seven heads of departments. It has electric 
lighting and street-car service, good water-works, 
banks, numerous churches, three public schools, 
and is the seat of St. Mary's school for girls, and 
St. Alban's, for boys. Population (1890), 1,728; 
(1900), 1,857. 

KOERNER, Gustavus, lawyer and Lieutenant- 
Governor, was born in Germany in 1809, and 
received a university education. He was a law- 
yer by profession, and emigrated to Illinois in 
1833, settling finally at Belleville. He at once 
affiliated with the Democratic party, and soon 
became prominent in politics. In 1842 he was 
elected to the General Assembly, and three years 
later was appointed to tlie bencli of the State 
Supreme Court. In 1852 he was elected Lieuten- 
ant-Governor on the ticket headed by Joel A. 
Matteson; but, at the close of his term, became 
identified with the Republican party and was a 
staunch Union man during the Civil War, serving 
for a time as Colonel on General Fremont's and 
General Halleck's staflis. In 1863 President Lin- 
coln made him Minister to Spain, a post wliich he 
resigned in January, 1865. He was a member of 
the Chicago Convention of 1860 that nominated 
Lincoln for the Presidency; was a Republican 
Presidential Elector in 1868, and a delegate to the 
Cincinnati Convention of 1872 that named Horace 
Greelej' for the Presidency. In 1867 he served as 
President of the first Board of Trustees of the 
Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and, in 1870, was 
elected to the Legislature a second time. The 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



following year he was appointed a member of tlie 
first Board of Railroad and Warehouse Commis- 
sioners, and served as its President. He is tlie 
author of "Collection of the Important General 
Laws of Illinois, with Comments" (in German, 
St. Louis, 1838); "From Spain" (Frankfort on- 
the-Main, 1866); "Das Deutsche Element in den 
Vereiningten Staaten" (Cincinnati, 1880, second 
edition, New York, 1885) ; and a number of mono- 
graphs. Died, at Belleville, April 9, 1896. 

KOHLSAAT, Christian C, Judge of United 
States Court, was born in Edwards County, 111., 
Jan. 8, 1844 — his father being a native of Germany 
who settled in Edwards County in 183.5, while his 
mother was born in England. The family 
removed to Galena in 18.')4, where young Kohlsaat 
attended the public schools, later taking a course 
in Chicago University, after which he began the 
study of law. In 1867 he became a reporter on 
"The Chicago Evening Journal," was admitted 
to the bar in the same year, and, in 1868, accepted 
a position in the office of the County Clerk, where 
he kept the records of the County Court under 
Judge Bradwell's administration. During the 
sessions of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly 
(1871-72) , he served as First Assistant Enrolling 
and Engrossing Clerk of the House, after which 
he began practice; in 1881 was the Republican 
nominee for County Judge, but was defeated by 
Judge Prendergast; served as member of the 
Board of West Side Park Commissioners, 1884-90 ; 
in 1890 was appointed Probate Judge of Cook 
County (as successor to Judge Knickerbocker, 
who died in January of that year), and was 
elected to the office in November following, and 
re-elected in 1894, as he was again in 1898. Early 
in 1899 he was appointed, by President McKinley, 
Judge of the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of Illinois, as successor to Judge 
Grossoup, who had been appointed United States 
Circuit Judge in place of Judge Showalter, 
deceased. 

KOHLSAAT, Herman H., editor and news- 
paper publisher, was born in Edwards County, 
111., March 23, 1853, and taken the following year 
to Galena, where he remained until 13 years of 
age, when the family removed to Chicago. Here, 
after attending the public schools some three 
years, he became a cash-boy in the store of Car- 
son, Pirie & Co., a year later rising to the position 
of cashier, remaining two years. Then, after 
having been connected with various business 
concerns, he became the junior member of the 
firm of Blake, Shaw & Co., for whom he had been 
a traveling salesman some five years. In 1880 he 



became associated with the Dake Bakery, in con- 
nection with which he laid the foundation of an 
extensive business by establishing a system of 
restaurants and lunch counters in the business 
portions of the city. In 1891, after a somewhat pro- 
tracted visit to Europe, Mr Kohlsaat bought a con- 
trolling interest in "The Chicago Inter Ocean," 
but withdrew early in 1894. In April, 1895, he be- 
came principal proprietor of "The Chicago Times- 
Ilerald," as the successor of the late James W. 
Scott, who died suddenly in New York, soon after 
effecting a consolidation of Chicago's two Demo- 
cratic papers, "The Times" and "Herald," in one 
concern. Although changing the political status 
of the paper from Democratic to Independent, 
IMr. Kohlsaat's liberal enterprise has won for it 
an assured success. He is also owner and pub- 
lisher of "The Chicago Evening Post." His 
whole business career has been one of almost 
phenomenal success attained by vigorous enter- 
prise and high-minded, honorable methods. Mr. 
Kohlsaat is one of the original incorporators of 
the University of Chicago, of which he continues 
to be one of the Trustees. 

KROME, William Henry, lawyer, born of Ger- 
man parentage, in Louisville, Ky., July 1, 1842; 
in 1851 was brouglit by his father to Madison 
County, 111. , where he lived and worked for some 
years on a farm. He acquired his education in 
the common schools and at McKendree College, 
graduating from the latter in 1863. After spend- 
ing his summer months in farm labor and teach- 
ing school during the winter, for a year or two, 
he read law for a time with Judge M. G. Dale of 
Edwardsville, and, in 1866, entered the law 
department of Michigan University, gradu- 
ating in 18G9, though admitted the year previous 
to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Mr. 
Krome has been successively the partner of 
Judge John G. Irwin, Hon. W. F. L. Hadley (late 
Congressman from the Eighteenth District) and 
C. W. Terry. He has held the office of Mayor of 
Edwardsville (1873), State Senator (1874-78), and, 
in 1893, was a prominent candidate before the 
Democratic judicial convention for the nomina- 
tion for Justice of the Supreme Court, to succeed 
Justice Scbolfield, deceased. He is also President 
of the Madison County State Bank. 

KUEFFNER, William C, lawyer and soldier, 
was born in Germany and came to St. Clair 
County, 111., in 1861 Early in 1865 he was com- 
missioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- 
ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of the 
latest regiments organized for the Civil War, and 
was soon after promoted to the rank of Brevet 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



323 



Brigadier-General, serving until January, 1866. 
Later, General Kueffner studied law at St. Louis, 
and having graduated in 1871, established himself 
in practice at Belleville, where he has since 
resided. He was a successful contestant for a 
seat in the Republican National Convention of 
1880 from the Seventeenth District. 

KUYKEXDALL, Andrew J., lawyer and legis- 
lator, was born of pioneer parents in Gallatin 
(now Hardin) County, 111., March 3, 1815; was 
self-educated chiefly, but in his earlj' manhood 
adopted the law as a profession, locating at 
Vienna in Johnson County, where he continued 
to reside to the end of his life. In 1843 he was 
elected a Representative in the Thirteenth Gen- 
eral Assembly, and re-elected two years later ; in 
1850 became State Senator, serving continuously 
in the same body for twelve years; in 1861 en- 
listed, and was commissioned Major, in the 
Thirty-first Illinois Volunteers (Gen. John A. 
Logan's regiment), but was compelled to resign, 
in May following, on acount of impaired health. 
Two years later (1864) he was elected Represent- 
ative in the Thirty-ninth Congress, serving one 
term; and, after several years in private life, was 
again returned to the State Senate in 1878, serving 
in the Thirty-first and Thirty-second General 
Assemblies. In all. Major Kuykendall saw 
twenty years' service in the State Legislature, of 
which sixteen were spent in the Senate and four 
in the House, besides two years in Congress. A 
zealous Democrat previous to the war, he was an 
ardent supporter of the war policy of the Govern- 
ment, and, in 1864, presided over the "Union" 
(Republican) State Convention of that year. He 
was also a member of the Senate Finance Com- 
mittee in the session of 1859, which had the duty 
of Investigating the Matteson "canal scrip fraud. " 
Died, at Vienna, 111., May 11, 1891. 

LABOR TROUBLES. 1. The Railroad 
Strike of 1877. — By this name is generally char- 
acterized the labor disturbances of 1877, which, 
beginning at Pittsburg in July, spread over the 
entire country, interrupting transportation, and, 
for a time, threatening to paralyze trade. Illi- 
nois suffered severely. The primary cause of the 
troubles was the general prostration of business 
resulting from the depression of values, which 
affected manufacturers and merchants alike. A 
reduction of expenses became necessary, and the 
wages of employes were lowered. Dissatisfaction 
and restlessness on the part of the latter ensued, 
which found expression in the ordering of a strike 
among railroad operatives on a larger scale than 



had ever been witnessed in this country. In Illi- 
nois, Peoria, Decatur, Braidwood, East St. Louis, 
Galesburg, La Salle and Chicago were the prin- 
cipal points affected. In all these cities angry, 
excited men formed themselves into mobs, which 
tore up tracks, took possession of machine shops, 
in some cases destroyed roundhouses, applied tlie 
torch to warehouses, and, for a time, held com- 
merce by the throat, not only defying the law, 
but even contending in arms against the military 
sent to disperse them. The entire force of the 
State militia was called into service, Major- 
General Arthur C. Ducat being in command. 
The State troops were divided into three brigades, 
commanded respectively by Brigadier-Generals 
Torrence, Bates and Pavey. General Ducat 
assumed personal command at Braidwood, where 
were sent the Third Regiment and the Tenth 
Battalion, who suppressed the riots at that point 
with ease. Col. Joseph W. Stambaugh and 
Lieut. -Col. J. B. Parsons were the respective 
regimental commanders. Generals Bates and 
Pavey were in command at East St. Louis, 
where the excitement was at fever heat, the 
mobs teiTorizing peaceable citizens and destroy- 
ing much property. Governor CuUom went to 
this point in person. Chicago, however, was the 
chief railroad center of the State, and only 
prompt and severely repressive measures held in 
check one of the most dangerous mobs which 
ever threatened property and life in that city. 
The local police force was inadequate to control 
the rioters, and Mayor Heath felt himself forced 
to call for aid from the State. Brig. -Gen. Joseph 
T. Torrence then commanded the First Brigade, 
I. N. G., with headquarters at Chicago. Under 
instructions from Governor Cullom, he promptly 
and effectively co-operated with the municipal 
authorities in quelling the uprising. He received 
valuable support from volunteer companies, some 
of which were largely composed of Union veter- 
ans. The latter were commanded by such ex- 
perienced commanders as Generals Reynolds, 
Martin Beem, and O. L. Mann, and Colonel Owen 
Stuart. General Lieb also led a company of 
veterans enlisted by himself, and General Shaff- 
ner and Major James H. D. Daly organized a 
cavalry force of 150 old soldiers, who rendered 
efficient service. The disturbance was promptly 
subdued, transportation resumed, and trade once 
more began to move in its accustomed channels 
3. The Strike op 1894.— This was an uprising 
which originated in Chicago and was incited by a 
comparatively young labor organization called 
the American Railway Union. In its inception it 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



was sympathetic, its ostensible motive, at the 
outset, being the righting of wrongs alleged to 
have been suflfered by employes of the Pullman 
Palace Car Company. The latter quit work on 
May 11, and, on June 22, the American Railway 
Union ordered a general boycott against all rail- 
road companies hauling Pullman cars after June 
26. The General Managers of the lines entering 
Chicago took prompt action (June 25) looking 
toward mutual protection, protesting against the 
proposed boycott, and affirming their resolution 
to adhere to existing contracts, any action on the 
part of the strikers to the contrary notwithstand- 
ing. Trouble began on the 26th. The hauling of 
freight was necessarily soon discontinued ; sub- 
urban traffic was interrupted; switching had to 
be done by inexperienced hands under police or 
military protection (officials and clerks some- 
times throwing the levers), and in the presence of 
Jarge crowds of law-defying hoodlums gathered 
along the tracks, avowedly through sympathy 
with the strikers, but actually in the hope of 
plunder. Trains were sidetracked, derailed, and, 
in not a few instances, valuable freight %vas 
burned. Passengers were forced to undergo the 
inconvenience of being cooped up for hours in 
crowded cars, in transit, without food or water, 
sometimes almost within sight of their destina- 
tion, and sometimes threatened with death should 
they attempt to leave their prison houses. The 
mobs, intoxicated by seeming success, finally ven- 
tured to interfere with the passage of trains 
carrying the United States mails, and, at this 
juncture, the Federal authorities interfered. 
President Cleveland at once ordered the protec- 
tion of all mail trains by armed guards, to be 
appointed by the United States Marshal. An 
additional force of Deputy Sheriffs was also sworn 
in by the Sheriff of Cook Coimty, and the city 
police force was augmented. The United States 
District Court also issued a restraining order, 
directed against the officers and members of the 
American Railway Union, as well as against all 
other persons interfering with the business of 
railroads carrying the mails. Service was readily 
accepted by the officers of the Union, but the 
copies distributed among the insurgent mob were 
torn and trampled upon. Thereupon the Presi- 
dent ordered Federal troops to Chicago, both to 
protect Government property (notably the Sub- 
treasiu-y) and to guard mail trains. The Gov- 
ernor (John P. Altgeld) protested, but without 
avail. A few days later, the Mayor of Chicago 
requested the State Executive to place a force of 
State militia at his control for the protection of 



property and the prevention of bloodshed. Gen- 
eral Wheeler, with the entire second division of 
the I. N. G., at once received orders to report to 
the municipal authorities. The presence of the 
militia greatly incensed the turbulent crowds, 
yet it proved most salutary. The troops displayed 
exemplary firmness under most trying circum- 
stances, dispersing jeering and threatening 
crowds by physical force or bayonet charges, the 
rioters being fired upon only twice. Gradually 
order was restored. The disreputable element 
subsided, and wiser and more conservative coun- 
sels prevailed among the ranks of the strikers. 
Impediments to traffic were removed and trains 
were soon running as though no interruption had 
occurred. The troops %vere withdrawn (first the 
Federal and afterwards those of the State), and 
the courts were left to deal with the subject in 
accordance with the statutes. The entire execu- 
tive board of the American Railway Union were 
indicted for conspiracy, but the indictments were 
never pressed. The officers, however, were all 
found guilty of contempt of court in having dis- 
obeyed the restraining order of the Federal 
court, and sentenced to terms in the county jail. 
Eugene V. Debs, the President of the Union, was 
convicted on two charges and given a sentence 
of six months on each, but the two sentences were 
afterward made concurrent. The other members 
of the Board received a similar sentence for three 
months each. All but the Vice-President, George 
W, Howard, served their terms at Woodstock, 
McHenry County. Howard was sent to the Will 
County jail at Joliet. 

LACET, Lyman, lawyer and jurist, was born in 
Tompkins County, N. Y., May 6, 1832. In 1837 
his parents settled in Fulton County, 111. He 
graduated from Illinois College in 1855 and was 
admitted to the bar in 1856, commencing practice 
at Havana, Mason County, the same year. In 
1862 he was elected, as a Democrat, to represent 
the counties of Mason and Menard in the lower 
house of the Legislature ; was elected to the Cir- 
cuit Court bench in 1873, and re-elected in 1879, 
'85 and '91 ; also ser%'ed for several years upon 
the bench of the Appellate Court. 

LACON, a city and county-seat of Marshall 
County, situated on the Illinois River, and on the 
Dwight and Lacon branch of the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad, 130 miles southwest of Chicago. 
A pontoon bridge connects it with Spar land on 
the opposite bank of the Illinois. The surround- 
ing country raises large quantities of grain, for 
which Lacon is a shipping point. The river is 
navigable by steamboats to this point. The city 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



325 



has grain elevators, woolen mills, marble works, 
a carriage factory and a national bank. It also has 
water works, an excellent telephone system, good 
drainage, and is lighted by electricity. There 
are seven churches, a graded school and 'two 
weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 1,814; 
(1890), 1,649. (1900), 1,601. 

LA FAYETTE (Marquis de), TISIT OF. An 
event of profound interest in the history of Illi- 
nois, during the year 1825, was the visit to the 
State by the Marquis de La Fayette, who had 
been the ally of the American people during 
their struggle for independence. The distin- 
guished Frenchman having arrived in the coun- 
try during the latter part of 1824, the General 
Assembly in session at Vandalia, in December of 
that year, adopted an address inviting him to 
Tisit Illinois. This was communicated to La 
Fayette by Gov. Edward Coles, who had met the 
General in Europe seven years before. Governor 
Coles" letter and the address of the General 
Assembly were answered with an acceptance by 
La Fayette from Washington, under date of Jan. 
16, 1825. The approach of the latter was made by 
way of New Orleans, the steamer Natchez (by 
which General La Fayette ascended the Mis- 
sissippi) arriving at the old French village of 
Carondelet, below St. Louis, on the 28th of April. 
Col. William S. Hamilton, a son of Alexander 
Hamilton, and at that time a Representative in 
the General Assembly from Sangamon County, 
as well as an Aid-de-Camp on the staff of Gov- 
ernor Coles, was dispatched from the home of the 
latter at Edwardsville, to meet the distinguished 
visitor, which he did at St. Louis. On Saturday, 
April 30, the boat bearing General La Fayette, 
with a large delegation of prominent citizens of 
Missouri, left St. Louis, arriving at Kaskaskia, 
where a reception awaited him at the elegant 
residence of Gen. John Edgar, Governor Coles 
delivering an address of welcome. The presence 
of a number of old soldiers, who had fought under 
La Fayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, consti- 
tuted an interesting feature of the occasion. This 
was followed by a banquet at the tavern kept by 
Colonel Sweet, and a closing reception at the house 
of William Morrison, Sr., a member of the cele- 
brated family of that name, and one of the lead- 
ing merchants of Kaskaskia. Among those 
participating in the reception ceremonies, who 
were then, or afterwards became, prominent 
factors in State history, appear the names of Gen. 
John Edgar, ex-Governor Bond, Judge Nathaniel 
Pope, Elias Kent Kane, ex-Lieutenant-Govemor 
Menard, Col. Thomas Mather and Sidney Breese, 



a future United States Senator and Justice of the 
Supreme Court. The boat left Kaskaskia at 
midnight for Nashville, Tenn., Governor Coles 
accompanying the party and returning with it to 
Shawneetown, where an imposing reception was 
given and an address of welcome delivered by 
Judge James Hall, on May 14, 1825. A few 
hours later General La Fayette left on his way up 
the Ohio. 

LAFAYETTE, BLOOMINGTON & MISSIS- 
SIPPI RAILROAD. (See Lake Erie <£- Western 
Railroad.) 

LAFLIJf, Matthew, manufacturer, was born 
at Southwick, Hampden County, Mass., Dec. 16, 
1803; in his youth was clerk for a time in the 
store of Laflin & Loomis, powder manufactiu'ers, 
at Lee, Mass., later becoming a partner in the 
Canton Powder Mills. About 1832 he engaged in 
the manufacture of axes at Saugerties, N. Y., 
which proving a failure, he again engaged in 
powder manufacture, and, in 183T, came to Chi- 
cago, where he finally established a factory — his 
firm, in 1840, becoming Laflin & Smith, and, 
later, Laflin, Smith & Co. Becoming largely 
interested in real estate, he devoted his atten- 
tion chieflj' to that business after 1849, with 
great success, not only in Chicago but else- 
where, having done much for the develop- 
ment of Waukesha, Wis. , where he erected one 
of the principal hotels — the "Fountain Spring 
House"' — also being one of the original stock- 
holders of the Elgin Watch Company. Mr. 
Laflin was a zealous supporter of the Government 
during the war for the preservation of the Union, 
and, before his death, made a donation of $75,- 
000 for a building for the Chicago Academy of 
Sciences, which was erected in the western part 
of Lincohi Park. Died, in Chicago, May 20. 1897. 

LA GRANGE, a village in Cook County, and 
one of the handsomest suburbs of Chicago, from 
which it is distant 15 miles, south-southwest, on 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The 
streets are broad and shaded and there are many 
handsome residences. The village is lighted by 
electricity, and has public water-works, seven 
churches, a high school and a weekly paper. 
Population (1880), 531 ; (1890), 2,314; (1900), 3,969. 

LA HARPE, a city in Hancock County, on the 
Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway, 70 miles west 
by south from Peoria and 20 miles south-south- 
east of Burlington, Iowa. Brick, tile and cigars 
constitute the manufactured output. La Harpe 
has two banks, five cliurches, a graded and a 
high school, a seminary, and two newspapers. 
Population (1880), 9.58; (1890), 1,113; (1900), 1,591. 



326 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



LAKE COUNTY, in the extreme northeast 
corner of the State, having an area of 490 square 
miles, and a population (1900) of 34,504. It was 
cut off from McHenry County and separately 
organized in 1839. Pioneer settlers began to 
arrive in 1839, locating chiefly along the Des 
Plaines River. The Indians vacated the region 
the following year. The first County Commission- 
ers (E. E. Hunter, William Brown and E. C. 
Berrey) located the county-seat at Libertyville, 
but, in 1841, it was removed to Little Fort, now 
Waukegan. The county derives its name from 
the fact that some forty small lakes are found 
within its limits. The surface is undulating and 
about equally divided between sand, prairie and 
second-growth timber. At Waukegan there are 
several maufacturing establishments, and the 
Glen Flora medicinal spring attracts many in- 
valids. Highland Park and Lake Forest are resi- 
dence towns of great beauty situated on the lake 
bluff, populated largely by the families of Chicago 
business men. 

LAKE ERIE & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 
(See Lake Erie & Western Railroad.) 

LAKE ERIE & WESTER\ RAILROAD. Of 
the 710.61 miles which constitute the entire 
length of this line, only 118.6 are within Illinois. 
This portion extends from the junction of the 
Peoria & Pekin Union Railway, on the east side 
of the Illinois River opposite Peoria, to the Indi- 
ana State line. It is a single-track road of 
standard gauge. About one-sixth of the line in 
Illinois is level, the grade nowhere exceeding 40 
feet to the mile. The track is of 56 and 60-pound 
steel rails, and lightly ballasted. The total 
capital of the road (1898)— including §33,680,000 
capital stock, §10,875,000 bonded debt and a float- 
ing debt of 51,479,809— was $36,034,809, or |50,- 
708 per mile. The total earnings and income in 
Illinois for 1898 were §559,743, and the total 
expenditures for the same period, §457,713. — 
(History.) The main line of the Illinois Division 
of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad was acquired 
by consolidation, in 1880, of the Lafayette, Bloom- 
ington & Mississippi Railroad (81 miles in length), 
which had been opened in 1871, with certain Ohio 
and Indiana lines. In May, 1885, the line thus 
formed was consolidated, without change of name, 
with the Lake Erie & Mississippi Railroad, organ- 
ized to build an extension of the Lake Erie & 
Western from Bloomington to Peoria (43 miles). 
The road was sold under foreclosure in 1886, and 
the present company organized, Feb. 9, 1887. 

LAKE FOREST, a city in Lake County, on 
Lake Michigan and Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 



way, 38 miles north by west from Chicago. It is 
the seat of Lake Forest Uniyersity; has four 
schools, five churches, one bank, gas and electric 
light system, electric car line, water system, fire 
department and hospital. Population (1890), 
1,203; (1900), 3,315; (1904, est.), 3,800. 

LAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, an institution 
of learning comprising six distinct schools, viz. : 
Lake Forest Academy, Ferry Hall Seminary, 
Lake Forest College, Rush Medical College, Chi- 
cago College of Dental Surgery, and the Chicago 
College of Law. The three first named are 
located at Lake Forest, while the three profes- 
sional schools are in the city of Chicago. The 
college charter was granted in 1857, but the 
institution was not opened until nineteen years 
later, and the professional schools, which were 
originally independent, were not associated until 
1887. In 1894 there were 316 undergraduates at 
Lake Forest, in charge of forty instructors. Dur- 
ing the same year there were in attendance at the 
professional schools. 1,557 students, making a 
total enrollment in the University of 1,873. 
While the institution is affiliated with the Pres- 
byterian denomination, the Board of Trustees is 
self-perpetuating. The Academy and Seminary- 
are preparatory schools for the two sexes, re- 
spectively. Lake Forest College is co-educational 
and organized upon the elective plan, having 
seventeen departments, a certain number of 
studies being required for graduation, and work 
upon a major subject being required for three 
years. The schools at Lake Forest occupy fifteen 
buildings, standing within a campus of sixty-five 
acres. 

LAKE MICHIGAN, one of the chain of five 
great northern lakes, and the largest lake lying 
wholly within the United States. It lies between 
the parallels of 41' 35' and 46° North latitude, its 
length being about 335 miles. Its width varies 
from 50 to 88 miles, its greatest breadth being 
opposite Milwaukee. Its surface is nearly 600 
feet above the sea-level and its maximum depth 
is estimated at 840 feet. It has an area of about 
20,000 square miles. It forms the eastern bound- 
ary of Wisconsin, the western boundary of the 
lower peninsula of Michigan and a part of the 
northern boundary of Illinois and Indiana. Its 
waters find their outlet into Lake Huron through 
the straits of Mackinaw, at its northeast extrem- 
ity, and are connected with Lake Superior by the 
Sault Ste. Marie River. It contains few islands, 
and these mainly in its northern part, the largest 
being some fifteen miles long. The principal 
rivers which empty into this lake are the Fox, 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



327 



Menominee, Manistee, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, 
Grand and St. Joseph. Chicago, Milwaukee, 
Racine and Manitowoc are the chief cities on its 
banks. 

LAKE SHORE & MICHIGAX SOUTHERN 
RAILWAY. The main line extends from Buffalo, 
N. Y., to Chicago, 111., a distance of 539 miles, 
with various branches of leased ,ind proprietary 
lines located in the States of Michigan, New 
York and Ohio, making the mileage of lines 
operated 1,415.63 miles, of which 862.1.5 are owned 
by the company — only 14 miles being in Illinois. 
The total earnings and income in Illinois, in 1898, 
were $453,946, and the expenditures for the same 
period, §360,971. — (History.) The company was 
formed in 1869, from the consolidation of the 
Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana, the 
Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula, and the 
Buffalo & Erie Railroad Companies. The propri- 
etary roads have been acquired since the consoli- 
dation. 

LAMB, James L., pioneer merchant, was born 
in Connellsville, Pa., Nov. 7, 1800; at 12 years of 
age went to Cincinnati to serve as clerk in the 
store of a distant relative, came to Kaskaskia, 111., 
in 1820, and soon after engaged in mercantile 
business with Tliomas Mather, who had come to 
Illinois two years earlier. Later, the firm estab- 
lished a store at Chester and shipped the first 
barrels of pork from Illinois to the New Orleans 
market. In 1831 Mr. Lamb located in Springfield, 
afterwards carrying on merchandising and pork- 
packing extensively ; also established an iron 
foundry, which continued in operation until a few 
years ago. Died, Dec. 3, 1873. * 

LAMB, Martha J. R. ?(., magazine editor and 
historian, was born (Martha Joan Reade Nash) at 
Plainfield, Mass., August 13, 1829, received a 
thorough education and, after her marriage in 
1852 to Charles A. Lamb, resided for eight years 
in Chicago, 111. , where she was one of the prin- 
cipal founders of the Home for the Friendless and 
Half Orphan Asj'lum, and Secretary of the 
Sanitary Fair of 1863. In 1866 she removed to 
New York and gave her after Ufe to literary work, 
from 1883 until her death being editor of "The 
Magazine of American History," besides furnish- 
ing numerous papers on historical and other sub- 
jects ; also publisliing some sixteen volumes, one 
of her most important works being a "History o' 
New York City," in two volumes. She was a 
member of nearly thirty historical and other 
learned societies. Died, Jan. 2, 1893. 

LAMBORN, Josiah, early lawyer and Attor- 
ney-General; born in "Washington County, Ky., 



and educated at Transylvania University; was 
Attorney-General of the State by appointment of 
Governor Carlin, 1840-43, at that time being a 
resident of Jacksonville. He is described by his 
contemporaries as an able and brilliant man, but 
of convivial habits and unscrupulous to such a 
degree that liis name was mixed up with a num- 
ber of official scandals. Separated from his 
family, he died of delirium tremens, at White- 
hall, Greene County. 

LAMOILLE, a village of Bureau County, on the 
Mendota-Fulton branch of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railway, 9 miles northwest of Men- 
dota; in rich farming and stock-raising region; 
has a bank, three churches, fine school-building, 
and a newspaper. Pop. (1890), 516; (1900), 576. 

LAMON, Ward Hill, lawyer, was born at 
Mill Creek, Frederick County, W. Va., Jan. 6, 
1828; received a common school education and 
was engaged in teaching for a time ; also began 
the study of medicine, but relinquished it for the 
law. About 1847-48 he located at Danville, 111., 
subsequently read law with the late Judge Oliver 
L. Davis, attending lectures at the Louisville 
Law School, where he had Gen. John A. Logan 
for a class-mate. On admission to the bar, he 
became the Danville partner of Abraham Lincoln 
— the partnership being in existence as early as 
1852. In 1859 he removed to Bloomington, and, 
in the Presidential campaign of 1860, was a zeal- 
ous supporter of Mr. Lincoln. In February, 1861, 
he was chosen by Mr. Lincoln to accompany him 
to Wasliington, making the perilous night jour- 
ney through Baltimore in 5Ir. Lincoln's company. 
Being a man of undoubted courage, as well as 
almost giant stature, he soon received the ap- 
pointment of Marshal of tlie District of Columbia, 
and, in the first weeks of the new administration, 
made a confidential visit to Colonel Anderson, 
then in command at Fort Sumter, to secure 
accurate information as to the situation there. 
In May. 1861, he obtained authority to raise a 
regiment, of which he was commissioned Colonel, 
remaining in the field to December, when he 
returned to the discharge of his duties as Marshal 
at Washington, but was absent from Washington 
on the night of the assassination — April 14, 1865. 
Resigning his office after this event, he entered 
into partnersliip for the practice of law with the 
late Jeremiah S. Black of Pennsylvania. Some 
years later he published the first volume of a pro- 
posed Life of Lincoln, using material which he 
obtained from Mr. Lincoln's Springfield partner. 
William H. Herndon, but the second volume was 
never issued. His death occurred at Martins- 



328 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



burg, W. Va., not far from his birthplace, May 
7, 1893. Colonel Lamon married a daughter of 
Judge Stephen T. Logan, of Springfield. 

LANARK, a city in Carroll County, 19 miles by 
rail southwest of Freeport, and 7 miles east of 
Mount Carroll The surrounding country is 
largely devoted to grain-growing, and Lanark 
has two elevators and is an important shipping- 
point. Manufacturing of various descriptions is 
carried on. The city has two banks (one Na- 
tional and one State), eight churches, a graded 
and high school, and a weekly newspaper. Popu- 
lation (1880), 1,198; (1890), 1,295; (1900), 1,306. 

LANDES, Silas Z., ex-Congressman, was born 
in Augusta County, Va., May 15, 1843. In early 
youth he removed to Illinois, and was admitted 
to the bar of this State in August, 1863, and has 
been in active practice at Mount Carmel since 
1864. In 1872 he was elected State's Attorney 
for Wabash County, was re-elected in 1876, and 
again in 1880. He represented the Sixteenth Illi- 
nois District in Congress from 1885 to 1889, being 
elected on the Democratic ticket. 

LANDRIGAJf, John, farmer and legislator, was 
born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1833, and 
brought to America at one year of age, his 
parents stopping for a time in New Jersey. liis 
early life was spent at Lafaj'ette, Ind. After 
completing his education in the seminary there, 
he engaged in railroad and canal contracting. 
Coming to Illinois in 1858, he purchased a farm 
near Albion, Edwards County, where he has 
since resided. He has been twice elected as a 
Democrat to the House of Representatives (1868 
and '74) and twice to the State Senate (1870 
and "96), and has been, for over twenty years, 
a member of the State Agricultural Society^ 
for four years of that time being President 
of the Board, and some sixteen years Vice-Presi- 
dent. 

LANE, Albert Grannis, educator, was born in 
Cook County, 111., March 15, 1841, and educated 
in the public schools, graduating with the first 
class from the Chicago High School in 1858. He 
immediately entered upon the business of teach- 
ing as Principal, but, in 1869, was elected Super- 
intendent of Schools for Cook County. After 
three years' service as cashier of a bank, he was 
elected County Superintendent, a second time, in 
1877, and regularly every four j'ears thereafter 
until 1890. In 1891 he was chosen Superintend- 
ent of Schools for the city of Chicago, to fill the 
vacancy caused by the resignation of Superin- 
tendent Howland — a position which he continued 
to fill until the appointment of E. B. Andrews, 



Superintendent, when he became First Assistant 
Superintendent . 

LANE, Edward, ex-Congressman, was born in 
Cleveland, Ohio, March 27, 1842, and became a 
resident of Illinois at the age of 16. After receiv- 
ing an academic education he studied law and 
was admitted to the Illinois bar in February, 
1865. Since then he has been a successful prac- 
titioner at Hillsboro. From 1869 to 1873 he served 
as County Judge. In 1886 he was the successful 
Democratic candidate for Congress from the 
Seventeenth Illinois District and re-elected for 
three successive terms, but was defeated by 
Frederick Remann (Republican) in 1894, and 
again by W. F. L. Hadley, at a special election, in 
1895, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of 
Mr. Remann. 

LANPHIER, Charles H., journalist, was born 
at Alexandria, Va., April 14, 1820; from 4 years 
of age lived in Washington City ; in 1836 entered 
the office as an apprentice of "The State Regis- 
ter" at Vandalia, 111., (then owned by his brother- 
in-law, William Walters). Later, the paper was 
removed to Springfield, and Walters, having 
enlisted for the Mexican war in 1846, died at St. 
Louis, en route to the field. Lanphier, having 
thus succeeded to the management, and, finally, 
to the proprietorship of the paper, was elected 
public printer at the next session of the Legisla- 
ture, and, in 1847, took into partnership George 
Walker, who acted as editor until 1858. Jlr. Lan- 
phier continued the publication of the paper until 
1863, and then sold out. During the war he 
was one of the State Board of Army Auditors 
appointed by Governor Yates ; was elected 
Circuit Clerk in 1864 and re-elected in 1868, 
and, in 1872, was Democratic candidate for 
County Treasurer but defeated with the rest of 
his party. 

LARCOM, Lucy, author and teacher, born at 
Beverly, Mass., in 1826; attended a grammar 
school and worked in a cotton mill at Lowell, 
becoming one of the most popular contributors to 
"The Lowell Offering," a magazine conducted by 
the factory girls, thereby winning the acquaint- 
ance and friendship of the poet Whittier. In 
1846 she came to Illinois and, for three years, was 
a student at Monticello Female Seminary, near 
Alton, meanwhile teaching at intervals in tlie 
vicinity. Returning to Massachusetts she taught 
for six years; in 1865 established "Our Young 
Folks," of which she was editor until 1874. Her 
books, both poetical and prose, have taken a 
liigh rank for their elevated literary and moral 
tone. Died, in Boston, April 17, 1893. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



329 



LARNED, EdTfard Channing, lawyer, was born 
in Providence, R. I., Julj- 14, 1820; graduated at 
Brown University in 1841) ; was Professor of Mathe- 
matics one year in Kemper College, Wis., then 
studied law and, in 1847, came to Chicago. He 
was an earnest opponent of slaverj' and gained 
considerable deserved celebrity by a speech 
which he delivered in 18.51, in opposition to the 
fugitive slave law. He was a warm friend of 
Abraham Lincoln and, in 1860, made speeches in 
his support; was an active member of the Union 
Defense Committee of Chicago during the war, 
and, in 1861, was appointed by Mr. Lincoln 
United States District Attorney of the Northern 
District of Illinois, but compelled to resign by 
failing health. Being absent in Europe at the 
time of the fire of 1871, he returned immediately 
and devoted his attention to the work of the 
ReUef and Aid Society. Making a second visit to 
Europe in 1873-73, he wrote many letters for the 
press, also doing much other literary work in 
spite of declining health. Died at Lake Forest, 
111., September, 1884. 

LA SALLE, a city in La Salle County, 99 miles 
southwest of Chicago, situated on the Illinois 
River at southern terminus of the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, and at intersection of three 
trunk lines of railroads. Bituminous coal 
abounds and is exten.sively mined ; zinc smelting 
and the manufacture of glass and hydraulic and 
Portland cement are leading industries; also has 
a large ice trade with the South annually. It is 
connected with adjacent towns by electric rail- 
ways, and with Peoria by daily river packets. 
Population (1890), 9,85.5; (1900), 10,446. 

LA SALLE, Rent Robert Cavelier, Sieur de, 
a famous explorer, born at Rouen. France, in 
1643; entered the Jesuit order, but conceiving 
that he had mistaken his vocation, came to 
America in 1666. He obtained a grant of land 
about the Lachine Rapids of the St. Lawrence, 
above Montreal. It was probably his intention 
to settle there as a grand seigneur ; but, becoming 
interested in stories told him by some Seneca 
Indians, he started two years later in quest of a 
great waterway, which he believed led to the 
South Sea (Pacific Ocean) and afforded a short 
route to China. He passed through Lake Ontario, 
and is believed to have discovered the Ohio. The 
claim that he reached the Illinois River at this 
time has been cjuestioned. Having re-visited 
France in 1677 he was given a patent of nobility 
and extensive land-grants in Canada. In 1679 he 
visited the Northwest and explored the great 
lakes, finally reaching the head of Lake Michi- 



gan and erecting a fort near the mouth of the St. 
Joseph River. From there he made a portage to 
the Illinois, which he descended early in 1680 to 
Lake Peoria, where he began the erection of a 
fort to which, in consequence of the misfortunes 
attending the expedition, was given the name of 
Creve-Coeur. Returning from here to Canada for 
supplies, in the following fall he again appeared 
in Illinois, but found his fort at Lake Peoria a 
ruin and his followers, whom he had left there, 
gone. Compelled again to return to Canada, in 
the latter part of 1681 he set out on his third 
expedition to Illinois, and making the portage by 
way of the Cliicago and Des Plaines Rivers, 
reached "Starved Rock," near the present city of 
Ottawa, where his lieutenant, Tonty, had already 
begun the erection of a fort. In 1682, accom- 
panied by Tonty, he descended the Illinois and 
Mississippi Rivers, reaching the Gulf of Mexico on 
April 9. He gave the region the name of Louisi- 
ana. In 1683 lie again returned to France and 
was commissioned to found a colony at the mouth 
of the Mississippi, which he unsuccessfully 
attempted to do in 1684, the expedition finally 
lauding about Matagorda Bay in Texas. After 
other fruitless attempts (death and desertions 
having seriously reduced the number of his colo- 
nists) , while attempting to reach Canada, he was 
murdered by his companions near Trinity River 
in the present State of Texas, March 19, 1687. 
Another theory regarding La Salle's ill-starred 
Texas expedition is, that he intended to establish 
a colony west of the Mississippi, with a view to 
contesting with the Spaniards for the possession 
of that region, but that the French government 
failed to give him the support which had been 
promised, leaving him to his fate. 

LA SALLE COUXXr, one of the wealthiest 
counties in the northeastern section, being second 
in size and in population in the State It was 
organized in 1831, and has an area of 1,152 square 
miles; population (1900), 87,776. The history of 
this region dates back to 1675, when Marquette 
established a mission at an Indian village on the 
Illinois River about where Utica now stands, 
eight miles west of Ottawa. La Salle (for whom 
the county is named) erected a fort here in 1682, 
which was, for many years, the headquarters for 
FVench missionaries and traders. Later, the 
Illinois Indians were well-nigh exterminated 
by starvation, at the same point, which has be- 
come famous in Western history as "Starved 
Rock." The surface of the county is undulat- 
ing and slopes toward the Illinois River. The 
soil is rich, and timber abounds on the bluffs and 



330 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



along the streams. Water is easily procured. 
Four beds of coal underlie the entire county, and 
good building stone is quarried at a depth of 150 
to 200 feet. Excellent liydraulic cement is made 
from the calciferous deposit, Utica being espe- 
cially noted for this industry. The First Ameri- 
can settlers came about the time of Captain Long's 
survey of a canal route (1816). The Illinois & 
Michigan Canal was located by a joint corps of 
State and National engineers in 1830. (See Illi- 
nois & Michigan Canal.) During the Black 
Hawk War, La Salle County was a prominent 
base of military operations. 

LATHROP, William, lawyer and Congress- 
man, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., April 
17, 182.5. His early education was acquired in 
the common schools. Later he read law and was 
admitted to the bar, commencing practice in 
1851, making his home in Central New York until 
his removal to Illinois. In 1856 he represented 
the Rockford District in the lower house of the 
General Assembly, and, in 1876, was elected, as a 
Republican, to represent the (then) Fourth Illi- 
nois District in Congress. 

LA VANTUM, the name given, in the latter 
part of the seventeenth century, to the principal 
village of the Illinois Indians, situated on the 
Illinois River, near the present town of Utica, in 
La Salle County. (See Stari'ed Rock.) 

LAWLER, Frank, was born at Rochester, 
N. Y., June 25, 1842. His first active occupation 
was as a news-agent on railroads, which business 
he followed for three years. He learned the 
trade of a shipcalker, and was elected to the 
Presidency of the Ship-Carpenters' and Ship- 
Calkers" Association. "While yet a young man he 
settled in Chicago and, in 1869, was appointed to 
a clerical position in the postoffice in that city ; 
later, served as a letter-carrier, and as a member 
of the City Council (1876-84). In 1884 he was 
elected to Congress from the Second District, 
which he represented in that body for three suc- 
cessive terms. While serving his last year in 
Congress (1890) he was an unsuccessful candidate 
on the Democratic ticket for Slieriflf of Cook 
County; in 1893 was an unsuccessful applicant 
for the Chicago postmastership, was defeated as 
an Independent-Democrat for Congress in 1894, 
but, in 1895, was elected Alderman for the Nine- 
teenth Ward of the city of Chicago. Died, Jan. 
17, 1896. 

LAWLER, (Gen.) Michael K., soldier, was 
born m County Kildare, Ireland, Nov. 16, 1814, 
brought to the United States in 1816, and, in 1819, 
to Gallatin County, 111., where his father began 



farming. The younger Lawler early evinced a 
military taste bj- organizing a military company 
in 1842, of which he served as Captain three or 
four years. In 1846 he organized a companj- for the 
Mexican War, wliich was attached to the Tliird 
Regiment Illinois Volunteers (Colonel Forman's), 
and, at the end of its term of enlistment, raised 
a company of cavalry, with which he served 
to the end of the war — in all, seeing two and 
a half jears" service. He then resumed the 
peaceful life of a farmer; but, on the breaking 
out of the rebellion, again gave proof of his patri- 
otism by recruiting the Eighteenth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry — the first regiment organized in 
the Eighteenth Congressional District — of which 
he was commissioned Colonel, entering into the 
three years' service in May, 1861. His regiment 
took part in most of the early engagements in 
Western Kentucky and Tennessee, including the 
capture of Fort Donelson, where it lost heavily, 
Colonel Lawler himself being severely wounded. 
Later, he was in command, for some time, at 
Jackson, Tenn. , and, in November, 1862, was com- 
missioned Brigadier-General "for gallant and 
meritorious service." He was also an active 
participant in the operations against Vicksburg, 
and was thanked on the field liy General Grant 
for his service at the battle of Big Black, pro- 
nounced by Charles A. Dana (then Assistant 
Secretary of War) "one of the most splendid 
exploits of the war. " After the fall of Vicksburg 
he took part in the siege of Jackson, Miss., and 
in the campaigns on the Teche and Red River, and 
in Texas, also being in command, for six months, 
at Baton Rouge, La. In March, 1865, he was 
brevetted Major-General, and mustered out, 
January, 1866, after a service of four years and 
seven months. He then returned to his Gallatin 
County farm, where he died, July 26, 1882. 

LAWLER, Thomas G., soldier and Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, was born in Liverpool, Eng., April 
7, 1844; was brought to Illinois by his parents 
in childhood, and, at 17 years of age, enlisted 
in the Nineteenth Illinois Vohmteers, serv- 
ing first as a private, then as Sergeant, later 
being elected First Lieutenant, and (although 
not mustered in, for two months) during tlie 
Atlanta campaign being in command Of his com- 
pany, and placed on the roll of honor by order of 
General Rosecrans. He participated in every 
battle in wliich his regiment was engaged, and, 
at the battle of Missionary Ridge, was the first 
man of his command over the enemy's works. 
After the war he became prominent as an officer 



HISTORICAL EKCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



331 



of the Illinois National Guard, organizing the 
Rockford Rifles, in 1876. and serving as Colonel of 
the Third Regiment for seven years; was ap- 
pointed Postmaster at Rockford by President 
Hayes, but removed by Cleveland in 1885; re- 
appointed by Harrison and again displaced on the 
accession of Cleveland. He was one of the 
organizers of G. L. Nevius Post, G. A. R., of 
which he served as Commander twenty-six years ; 
in 1882 was elected Department Commander for 
the State of Illinois and, in 1894, Commander-in- 
Chief, serving one year. 

LAWRENCE, Charles B., jurist, was born at 
Vergennes, Vt. . Dec. 17. 1820. After two 5'ears 
spent at Middlebury College, he entered the 
junior class at Union College, graduating from 
the latter in 1841. He devoted two years to 
teaching in Alabama, and began reading law at 
Cincinnati in 1843, completing his studies at St. 
Louis, where he was admitted to the bar and 
began practice in 1844. Tlie following year he 
removed to Quincy, III., where he was a promi- 
nent practitioner for ten years. The years 
1856-58 he spent in foreign travel, with the pri- 
mary object of restoring his impaired health. On 
his return home he began farming in Warren 
Count}-, with the sarhe end in view. In 1861 he 
accepted a nomination to the Circuit Court bench 
and was elected without opposition. Before the 
expiration of his term, in 1864, he was elected a 
Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court for the 
Northern Grand Division, and, in 1870, became 
Chief Justice. At this time his home was at 
Galesburg. Failing of a re-election in 1873, he 
removed to Chicago, and at once became one of 
the leaders of the Cook County bar. Although 
persistently urged by personal and political 
friends, to permit his name to be used in connec- 
tion with a vacancy on the bench of the United 
States Supreme Court, he steadfastly declined. 
In 1877 he received the votes of the Republicans 
in the State Legislature for United States Senator 
against David Davis, who was elected. Died, at 
Decatur, Ala., April 9. 1883. 

LAWREXCE COUNTY, one of the eastern 
counties in the "southern tier," originally a part 
of Edwards, but separated from the latter in 
1821, and named for Commodore La^vrence. In 
1900 its area was 360 square miles, and its popu- 
lation. 16,523. The first English speaking settlers 
seem to have emigrated from the colony at Vin- 
cennes, lud. St. Francisville, in the southeast- 
ern portion, and Allison prairie, in the nortlieast, 
were favored by the American pioneers. Settle- 
ment was more or less desultory until after the 



War of 1812. Game was abundant and the soil 
productive. About a dozen negro families found 
homes, in 1819, near Lawrenceville, and a Shaker 
colony was established about Charlottesville the 
same year. Among the best remembered pio- 
neers are the families of Lautermann, Chubb, 
Kincaid, Buchanan and Laus — the latter having 
come from South Carolina. Toussaint Dubois, 
a Frenchman and father of Jesse K. Dubois, State 
Auditor (1857-64), was a large land proprietor at 
an early day, and his house was first utilized as a 
court house. The county is richer in historic 
associations than in populous towns. La^vrence- 
ville, the countj-seat, was credited with 865 
inhabitants by the census of 1890. St. Francis- 
ville and Sumner are flourishing towns. 

LAWRENCEVILLE, the county-seat of Law- 
rence County, is situated on the Erabarras River, 
at the intersection of the Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railways, 9 miles west of 
Vincennes, Ind., and 139 miles east of St. Louis. 
It lias a courthouse, four churches, a graded 
school and two weekly newspapers. Population 
(1890), 865; (1900), 1,300; (1903, est), 1,600. 

L.iWSON, Victor F., journalist and newspaper 
proprietor, was born in Chicago, of Scandinavian 
parentage, Sept 9, 1850. After graduating at the 
Chicago High School, he prosecuted his studies 
at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and at 
Harvard University. In August. 1876, he pur- 
chased an interest in "The Chicago Daily News," 
being for some time a partner of Melville E. 
Stone, but became sole proprietor in 1888, pub- 
lishing morning and evening editions. He 
reduced the price of the morning edition to one 
cent, and changed its name to "The Chicago 
Record." He has always taken a deep interest 
in the cause of popular education, and, in 1888, 
established a fund to provide for the distribution 
of medals among public school children of Chi- 
cago, the award to be made upon the basis of 
comparative excellence in the preparation of 
essays upon topics connected with American 
history. 

LEBANON, a city in St. Clair County, situated 
on Silver Creek, and on the Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern Railroad, 11 miles northeast of 
Belleville and 24 miles east of St. Louis; is lo- 
cated in an agricultural and coal-mining region. 
Its manufacturing interests are limited, a flour- 
ing miU being the chief industry of this charac- 
ter. The city has electric lights and electric 
trolley line connecting with Belleville and St. 
Louis; also has a bank, eight churches, two 



332 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



newspapers and is an important educational cen- 
ter, being the seat of McKendree College, founded 
in 1828. Population (1890), 1.030; (1900), 1,812. 

LEE COUNTY, one of the third tier of counties 
south of the Wisconsin State line; named for 
Richard Henry Lee of Revolutionary fame : area, 
740 square miles; population (1900), 29.894. It 
was cut off from Ogle County, and separately 
organized in 1839. In 1840 the population was 
but little over 2,000. Charles F. Ingals, Nathan 
R. Whitney and James P. Dixon were the first 
County-Commissioners. Agriculture is the prin- 
cipal pursuit, although stone quarries are found 
here and there, notably at Ashton. The county- 
seat is Dixon, where, in 1828, one Ogee, a half- 
breed, built a cabin and established a ferry across 
the Rock River In 1830, John Dixon, of New 
York, purchased Ogee's interest for 81,800. Set- 
tlement and progress were greatly retarded by 
the Black Hawk War, but immigration fairly set 
in in 1838. The first court house was built in 
1840, and the same year the United States Land 
Office was removed from Galena to Dixon, Colo., 
John Dement, an early pioneer, being appointed 
Receiver. Dixon was incorporated as a city in 
1859, and, in 1900, had a population of 7,917. 

LEGISLATIVE APPORTIOXMENT. (See 
Apportion inenf. Legislative.) 

LEGISLATURE. (See General Assemblies.) 

LELA?{D, a village of La Salle County, on the 
Cliicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, 29 miles 
southwest of Aurora. Population (1900), 634. 

LELAJfD, Edwin S., lawyer and Judge, was 
born at Dennysville, Me., August 28, 1812, and 
admitted to the bar at Dedham, Mass., in 1834. 
In 1835 he removed to Ottawa, 111., and, in 1839, 
to Oregon, Ogle County, where he practiced for 
four years. Returning to Ottawa in 1843, he 
rapidly rose in his profession, until, in 1852, he 
was elected to the Circuit Court bench to fill the 
unexpired term of Judge T. Lyle Dickey, who 
had resigned. In 1866 Governor Oglesby ap- 
pointed him Circuit Judge to fill the unexpired 
term of Judge HoUister. He was elected by 
popular vote in 1867, and re-elected in 1873, being 
assigned to the Appellate Court of the Second 
District in 1877. He was prominentlj' identified 
with the genesis of the Republican party, whose 
tenets he zealously championed. He was also 
prominent in local affairs, having been elected 
the first Republican Mayor of Ottawa (1856), 
President of the Board of Education and County 
Treasurer. Died, June, 24, 1889. 

LEMEX, James, Sr., pioneer, was born in Berk- 
eley County, Va., Nov. 20, 1760; served as a soldier 



in the War of the Revolution, being present at 
the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781 ; 
in 1786 came to Illinois, settling at the village of 
New Design, near the present site of Waterloo, in 
Monroe County. He was a man of enterprise 
and sterling integrity, and ultimately became the 
head of one of the most prominent and influential 
families in Southern Illinois. He is said to have 
been the first person admitted to the Baptist 
Church by immersion in Illinois, finally becoming 
a minister of that denomination. Of a family of 
eight children, four of his sons became ministers. 
Mr. Lemen's prominence was indicated by the 
fact that he was approached by Aaron Burr, with 
offers of large rewards for his influence in found- 
ing that ambitious schemer's projected South- 
western Empire, but the proposals were 
indignantly rejected and the scheme denounced. 
Died, at Waterloo, Jan. 8, 1822.— Robert (Lemen), 
oldest son of the preceding, was born in Berkeley 
County, Va., Sept. 25, 1783; came with his father 
to Illinois, and, after his marriage, settled in St. 
Clair County. He held a commission as magis- 
trate and, for a time, was United States Marshal 
for Illinois under the administration of John 
Quincy Adams. Died in Ridge Prairie, St. Clair 
County, August 24, I860.— Rev. Joseph (Lemen), 
the second son, was born in Berkeley County, 
Va., Sept. 8, 1785, brought to Illinois in 1786, and, 
on reaching manhood, married Mary Kinney, a 
daughter of Rev. WiUiam Kinney, who after- 
wards became Lieutenant-Governor of the State. 
Joseph Lemen settled in Ridge Prairie, in the 
northern part of St. Clair County, and for many 
years supplied the pulpit of the Bethel Baptist 
church, which had been founded in 1809 on the 
principle of opposition to human slavery. His 
death occurred at his home, June 29, 1861. — Rev. 
James (Lemen), Jr., the third son, was born in 
Monroe County, 111., Oct. 8, 1787; early united 
with the Baptist Church and became a minister 
— assisting in the ordination of his father, whose 
sketch stands at the head of this article. He 
served as a Delegate from St. Clair County in the 
first State Constitutional Convention (1818). and as 
Senator in the Second, Fourth and Fifth General 
Assemblies. He also preached extensively in 
Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky, and assisted in 
the organization of many churches, although his 
labors were chiefly within his own. Mr. Lemen 
was the second child of American parents born in 
Illinois — Enoch Moore being the first. Died, 
Feb. 8, 1870,— William (Lemen), the fourth son, 
born in Monroe County, 111., in 1791 ; served as a 
soldier in the Black Hawk War. Died in Monroe 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



333 



County, in 1857. — Rev. Josiah (Lemen), the 
fifth son, born in Monroe Count)', 111., August 15, 
1794; was a Baptist preacher. Died near Du- 
quoin, July 11, 1867.— Rev. Moses (Lemen), the 
sixth son, born in Monroe County, 111., in 1797; 
became a Baptist minister early in life, served as 
Representative in the Sixth General Assembly 
(1828-30) for Monroe County. Died, in Montgom- 
ery County, 111., March 5, 1859. 

LEMONT, a city in Cook County, 25 miles 
southwest of Chicago, on the Des Plaines River 
and the Chicago & Alton Railroad. A thick 
vein of Silurian limestone (Athens marble) is 
extensively quarried here, constituting the chief 
industry. Owing to the number of industrial 
enterprises, Lemont is at times the temporary 
home of a large number of workmen. The city 
has a bank, electric lights, six churches, two 
papers, five public and four private schools, one 
business college, aluminum and concrete works. 
Population of the township (1890), 5,.539; (1900), 
4,441. 

LE MOTXE, John V., ex-Congressman, was 
born in Washington County, Pa., in 1828, and 
graduated from Washington College, Pa., in 
1847. He studied law at Pittsburg, where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1852. He at once removed 
to Chicago, where he continued a permanent 
resident and active practitioner. In 1872 he was 
a candidate for Congress on the I..iberal Repub- 
lican ticket, but was defeated by Charles B. Far- 
well. Republican. In 1874 he was again a 
candidate against Mr. Farwell. Both claimed 
the election, and a contest ensued which was 
decided by the House in favor of Mr. Le Moyne. 
LENA, a village in Stephenson County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, l.S miles northwest of 
Freeport and 38 miles east of Galena. It is in a 
farming and dairying district, but has some 
manufactures, the making of caskets being the 
principal industry in this line. There are six 
cliurches, two Danks, and two newspapers. Pop- 
ulation (1890), 1,270; (1900), 1,2.52. 

LEONARD, Edward F., Railway President, 
was born in Connecticut in 1836 ; graduated from 
Union College, N. Y., was admitted to the bar 
and came to Springfield, 111., in 1858; served for 
several years as clerk in the office of the State 
Auditor, was afterwards connected with the con- 
struction of the "St. Louis Short Line" (now a 
part of the Illinois Central Railway), and was 
private secretary of Governor Cullom during his 
first term. For several years he has been Presi- 
dent of the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad, 
with headquarters at Peoria. 



LEROT, a city in McLean County, 15 miles 
southwest of Bloomington; has two banks, sev- 
eral churches, a graded school and a plow factory. 
Two weekly papers are published there. Popu- 
lation (1880), 1,068; (1890), 1,258; (1900), 1,639. 

LEVERETT, TVashington and Warren, edu- 
cators and twin-brothers, whose careers were 
strikingly similar ; born at Brookline, Mass., Dec. 
19, 1805, and passed their boyhood on a farm; in 
1827 began a preparatory course of study under 
an elder brother at Roxbury, Mass., entered 
Brown University as freshmen, the next year, and 
graduated in 1832. Warren, being in bad health, 
spent the following winter in South Carolina, 
afterwards engaging in teaching, for a time, and 
in study in Newton Theological Seminary, while 
Washington served as tutor two years in his 
Alma Mater and in Columbian College in Wash- 
ington, D. C, then took a course at Newton, 
graduating there in 1836. The same year he 
accepted the chair of Mathematics in Shurtleflf 
College at Upper Alton, remaining, with slight 
interruption, until 1868. Warren, after suffering 
from hemorrhage of the lungs, came west in the 
fall of 1837, and, after teaching for a few months 
at Greenville, Bond County, in 1839 joined his 
brother at Shurtleff College as Principal of the 
preparatory department, subsequently being 
advanced to the chair of Ancient Languages, 
which he continued to occupy until June, 1868, 
when he retired in the same year with his brother. 
After resigning he established himself in the book 
business, which was continued until his death. 
Not. 8, 1872. Washington, the surviving brother, 
continued to be a member of the Board of Trus- 
tees of Shurtleff College, and to discharge the 
duties of Librarian and Treasurer of the institu- 
tion. Died, Dec. 13, 1889. 

LEWIS INSTITUTE, an educational institu- 
tion based upon a bequest of Allen C. Lewis, in 
the city of Chicago, established in 1895. It main- 
tains departments in law, the classics, prepara- 
torj' studies and manual training, and owns 
property valued at .51,600,000, vrith funds and 
endowment amounting to §1,100,000. No report 
is made of the number of pupils. 

LEWIS, John H., ex-Congressman, was born 
in Tompkins County, N. Y., July 21, 1830. 
When six years old he accompanied his parents 
to Knox County, 111., where he attended the 
public schools, read law, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1860. The same year he was elected Clerk 
of the Circuit Court of Knox County. In 1874 he 
was elected to the lower house of the General 
Assembly, and, in 1880, was the successful Repub- 



334 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



lican candidate for Congress from the old Ninth 
District. In 1882, he was a candidate for re- 
election from the same district (then the Tentli), 
but was defeated by Nicholas E. Worthington, 
his Democratic opponent. 

LEWISTOWX, the county-seat of Fulton 
County, located on two lines of railway, fifty 
miles southwest of Peoria and sixty miles north- 
west of Springfield. It contains flour and saw- 
mills, carriage and wagon, can-making, 
duplex-scales and evener factories, six churches 
and four newspapers, one issuing a daily edition ; 
also excellent public schools. Population (1880), 
1.771; (1890), 2,166; (1900), 2,504, 

LEXINGTON, a city in McLean County, on the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, 110 miles south of 
Cliicago and 16 miles northeast of Bloomington. 
The surrounding region is agricultural and stock- 
raising, and the town has a flourishing trade in 
horses and other live-stock. Tile is manufac- 
tured here, and the town has two banks, five 
churches, a high school and two weekly news- 
papers. Population (1890), 1,187; (1900), 1,415. 

LIBERTTVILLE, a village of Lake County, on 
the main line of the Chicago & Madison Division 
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 
35 miles north-northwest of Chicago. The region 
is agricultural. The town has some manufac- 
tures, two banks and a weekly paper. Popula- 
tion (1890), .5.50; (1900), 864. 

LIBRARIES. (Statistical. )— A report of the 
Commissioner of Education for 1895-96, on the 
subject of "Public, Society and Scliool Libraries 
in the United States, " ' jiresents some approximate 
statistics of libraries in tlie several States, based 
upon the reports of librarians, so far as they 
could be obtained in reply to inquiries sent out 
from the Bureau of Education in Washington. 
As shown by the statistical tables embodied in 
tills i-eport, there were 348 libraries in Illinois 
reporting 300 volumes and over, of which 134 
belonged to the smallest class noted. or those con- 
taining less than 1,000 volumes. The remaining 
214 were divided into the following classes ; 

Containing 300.000 and less than 500,000 volumes 1 



1 00, 000 


" 300,000 


2 


50.000 


" 100,000 


1 


25,000 


" 50,000 


5 


10,000 


" 2,5,000 


" 27 


5,000 


10,000 


" 34 


1,000 


5,000 


" 144 



A general classification of libraries of 1,000 
■volumes and over, as to character, divides them 
into, General, 91; School, 36; College, 42; College 
Society, 7 ; Law, 3 ; Theological, 7 ; State, 2 ; Asy- 



lum and Reformatory, 4; Young Men's Christian 
Association, 2; Scientific, 0; Historical, 3; Soci- 
ety, 8; Medical, Odd Fellows and Social, 1 each. 
The total number of volumes belonging to the 
class of 1,000 volumes and over was 1,822,580 with 
447,108 pamphlets; and, of the class between 300 
and 1 , 000 volumes, 66, 992 — making a grand total of 
1,889,572 volumes. The library belonging to the 
largest (or 300,000) class, is that of tlie University 
of Chicago, reporting 305,000 volumes, with 
180,000 pamphlets, while the Chicago Public 
Library and the Newberry Library belong to the 
second class, reporting, respectively, 217,065 vol- 
umes with 42,000 pamphlets, and 135.244 volumes 
and 35,654 pamphlets. (The report of the Clii- 
cago Public Library for 1898 shows a total, for 
that 3'ear, of 235,385 volumes and 44,009 pam- 
phlets.) 

As to sources of support or method of adminis- 
tration, 42 of the class reporting 1,000 volumes 
and over, are supported by taxation ; 27, by appro- 
priations by State, County or City ; 20, from 
endowment funds; 54, from membership fees and 
dues; 16, from book-rents; 26, from donations, 
leaving 53 to be supported from sources not 
stated. The total income of 131 reporting on this 
subject is §787,262; the aggregate endowment 
of 17 of this class is $2,283,197, and the value of 
buildings belonging to 36 is estimated at •S2,981,- 
575. Of the 214 libraries reporting 1,000 volmnes 
and over, 88 are free, 28 are reference, and 158 
are botli circulating and reference. 

The free public libraries in the State containing 
3.000 volumes and over, in 1896, amounted to 39. 
Tlie following list includes those of this class con- 
taining 10,000 volumes and over: 

Chicago, Public Library . . (1896)217,065 

Peoria. " " 57,604 

Springfield, " " 28,639 

Rockford, " " 28.000 

Quincy, " " and Reading Room 19,400 

Galesburg " " 18,409 

Elgin, Gail Borden Public Librarv . . 17,000 

Bloomington, Withers " " ... 16,068 

Evanston, Free " " ... 15,515 

Decatur, " " " . . . 14,766 

BelleviUe, " " ... 14,511 

Aurora, " " ... 14,350 

Rock Island, " " ... 12,634 

Joliet, " " ... 22,325 

The John Crerar Library (a scientific reference 
library) — established in the City of Chicago in 
1894, on the basis of a bequest of the late John 
Crerar, estimated as amounting to fully 83,000,- 
000 — is rapidly adding to its resources, having, 
in the four years of its history, acquired over 
40,000 volumes. With its princely endowment, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



335 



it is destined, in the course of a few years, to be 
reckoned one of the leading libraries of its class 
in the United States, as it is one of the most 
modern and carefully selected. 

The Newberry and Chicago Historical Society 
Libraries fill an important place for reference pur- 
poses, especially on historical subjects. A tardy 
beginning has been made in building up a State 
Historical Library in Springfield; but, owing to 
the indifference of the Legislature and the meager 
support it has received, the State which was, for 
nearly a hundred years, the theater of the most 
important events in the development of the Mis- 
sissippi Valley, has, as yet, scarcely accomplished 
anything worthy of its name in collecting and 
preserving the records of its own history. 

In point of historical origin, next to the Illinois 
State Library, which dates from the admission 
of the State into the Union in 1818, the oldest 
library in the State is that of the JlcCormick 
Theological Seminary, which is set down as hav- 
ing had its origin in 1825, though this occurred 
in another State. The early State College Li- 
braries follow next in chronological order : Shurt- 
leff College, at Upper Alton, 1837 ; Illinois College, 
at Jacksonville, 1839; McKendree College, at 
Lebanon, 1834; Rockford College, 1849; Lombard 
University, at Galesburg, 1858. In most cases, 
however, these are simply the dates of the estab- 
lishment of the institution, or the period at which 
instruction began to be given in the school which 
finally developed into the college. 

The school library is constantly becoming a 
more important factor in the liberal education of 
the youth of the State. Adding to this the "Illi- 
nois Pupils' Reading Circle," organized by the 
State Teachers' Association some ten years ago, 
but still in the experimental stage, and the sys- 
tem of "traveling libraries," set on foot at a later 
period, there is a constant tendency to enlarge 
the range of popular reading and bring the public 
library, in some of its various forms, within the 
reach of a larger class. 

The Free Public Library Law of Illinois. 
— The following history and analysis of the Free 
Public Library Law of Illinois is contributed, for 
the "Historical Encyclopedia," by E. S. Willcox, 
Librarian of the Peoria Public Library : 

The Library Law passed by the Legislature 
of Illinois in 1872 was tlie first broadly planned, 
comprehensive and complete Free Public Li- 
brary Law placed on the statute book of any 
State in the Union. It is true. New Hamp- 
shire, in 1849, and Massachusetts, in 1851, 
had taken steps in this direction, with three or 
four brief sections of laws, permissive in their 



character rather than directive, but lacking the 
vitalizing qualities of our Illinois law. in that 
they provided no sufficiently specific working 
method — no sailing directions — for starting and 
administering such free public libraries. They 
seem to have had no influence on subsequent 
library legislation, while, to quote the language 
of Mr. Fletcher in his "Public Libraries in 
America," "the wisdom of the Illinois law, in this 
regard, is probably the reason why it has been so 
widely copied in other States." 

By this law of 1872 Illinois placed herself at the 
head of her sister States in encouraging the 
spread of general intelligence among the people; 
but it is also a record to he equally proud of, that, 
within less than five years after her admission to 
the Union, Dec. 3, 1818 — that is. at the first ses- 
sion of her Third General Assembly — a general 
Act was passed and approved, Jan. 31, 1828, 
entitled: "An act to incorporate such persons as 
may associate for the purpose of procuring and 
erecting public libraries in this State," with the 
following preamble • 

"Whereas, a disposition for improvement in useful 
knowledge has manifested itseif in various parts of ttiis 
State, by associating for procuring and erecting public 
libraries; and, wliereas, it is of the utmost importance to 
the public tliat the sources of information should be multi- 
piied. and institutions for that purpose encouraged and pro- 
moted; Seel. Be it enacted, " etc. 

Then follow ten sections, covering five and a 
half pages of the published laws of that session, 
giving explicit directions as to the organizing 
and maintaining of such Associations, with pro- 
visions as enlightened and liberal as we could ask 
for to-day. The libraries contemplated in this act 
are, of course, subscription libraries, the only 
kind known at that time, free public libraries 
supported by taxation not having come into 
vogue in that early day. 

It is the one vivifying quality of the Illinois 
law of 1873, that it showed how to start a free 
public library, how to manage it when started 
and how to provide it with the necessary funds. 
It furnished a full and minute set of sailing 
directions for the ship it launched, and. moreover, 
was not loaded down with useless limitations. 

With a few exceptions — notably the Boston 
Public Library, working under a special charter, 
and an occasional endowed library, like the Astor 
Library — all public libraries in those days were 
subscription libraries, like the great Mercantile 
Libraries of New York, St. Louis and Cincinnati, 
with dues of from ,$3 to SIO from each member 
per year. With dues at $4 a year, our Peoria 
Mercantile Library, at its best, never had over 
286 members in any one year. Compare this with 
our present public membership of 6,500, and it 
will be seen that some kind of a free public 
library law was needed. That was the conclu- 
sion I, as one of the Directors of the Peoria Mer- 
cantile Library, came to in 1869. We had tried 
every expedient for years, in the way of lecture 
courses, concerts, spelling matches, "Drummer 
Boy of Shiloh, " and begging, to increase our 
membership and revenue. So far, and no farther, 
seemed to be the rule with all subscription 
libraries. They did not reach the masses who 
needed them most. And. for this manifest rea- 



33« 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



son: the necessary cost of annual dues stood in 
the way : the women and young people who 
wanted something to read, who thirsted for 
knowledge, and who are the principal patrons of 
the free public library to-day, did not hold the 
family purse-strings; while the men, who did 
hold the purse-strings, did not particularly care 
for books. 

It was my experience, derived as a Director in 
the Peoria Mercantile Library when it was still a 
small, struggling subscription library, that sug- 
gested the need of a State law authorizing cities 
and towns to tax themselves for the support of 
public libraries, as thej' already did for the sup- 
port of public schools. When, in 1870, I 
submitted the plan to some of my friends, they 
pronounced it Quixotic — the people would never 
consent to pay taxes for libraries. To which I 
replied, that, imtil sometime in the '50's, we 
had no free public schools in this State. 

I then drew up the form of a law, substantially 
as it now stands; and, after submitting it to 
Justin Winsor, then of the Boston Public Li- 
brary' ; William F. Poole, then in Cincinnati, and 
William T. Harris, then in St. Louis, I placed it 
in the hands of my friend, Mr. Samuel Caldwell, 
in December, 1870, who took it with him to 
Springfield, promising to do what he could to get 
it through the Legislature, of which he was a 
member from Peoria. The bill was introduced 
by Mr. Caldwell, March 23, 1871, as House bill 
No. 563, and as House bill No. 563 it finally 
received the Governor's signature and became a 
law, March 7, 1872. 

The essential features of our Illinois law are: 

I. Tlie pou'!er of initiative in starting a free 
public library lies in the City Council, and not in 
an appeal to the voters of the city at a general 
election. 

It is a weak point in the English public libra- 
ries act that this initiative is left to the electors or 
voters of a city, and, in several London and pro- 
vincial districts, the proposed law has been 
repeatedly voted down by the very people it was 
most calculated to benefit, from fear of a little 
extra taxation. 

//. The amount of tax to be levied is permissive, 
not mandatory. 

We can trust to the public spirit of our city 
authorities, supported by an intelligent public 
sentiment, to provide for the library needs. A 
mandatory law, requiring the levying of a certain 
fixed percentage of the city's total assessment, 
might invite extravagance, as it has in several 
instances where a mandatory law is in force. 

III. Tlte Library Board has exclusive control of 
libra ry appropriations. 

This is to be interpreted that Public Library 
Boards are separate and distinct departments of 
the city administration ; and experience has 
shown that they are as capable and honest in 
handling money as School Boards or City 
Councils. 

IV. Library Boards consist of nine members to 
serve for three years. 

V. The members of the Board are appointed by 
the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City 
Council, from the citizens at large tvith reference 
to their Jit ness for such office. 



VI. A7i annual report is to be made by the 
Board to the City Council, stating the condition 
of their trust on the first day of June of each 
year. 

This, with slight modifications adapting it to 
villages, towns and townships, is, in substance, 
the Free Public Library Law of Illinois. Under 
its beneficent operation flourishing free public 
libraries have been established in the principal 
cities and towns of our State — slowly, at first, 
but, of late years, more rapidly as their usefulness 
has become apparent. 

No argument is now needed to show the im- 
portance — the imperative necessity — of the widest 
possible diffusion of intelligence among the people 
of a free State. Knowledge and ignorance — the 
one means civilization, the other, barbarism. 
Give a man the taste for good books and the 
means of gratifying it, and you can hardly fail of 
making him a better, happier man and a wiser 
citizen. You place him in contact with the best 
society in every period of history ; you set before 
him nobler examples to imitate and safer paths 
to follow. 

We have no way of foretelling how many and 
how great benefits will accrue to society and the 
State, in the future, from the comparatively 
modern introduction of the free public library 
into our educational system; but when some 
youthful Abraham Lincoln, poring over ^^sop's 
Fables, Weems' Life of Washington and a United 
States History, by the flickering light of a pine- 
knot in a log-cabin, rises at length to be the hope 
and bulwark of a nation, then we learn what the 
world may owe to a taste for books. In the gen- 
eral spread of intelligence through our free 
schools, our free press and our free libraries, lies 
our only hope that our free American institutions 
shall not decay and perish from the earth. 

" Knowledge Is the only Rood, isnorance the only evil." 
" Let knowledge grow from more to more." 

LIEUTEXAKT-GOTERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 

The office of Lieutenant-Governor, created by the 
Constitution of 1818, has been retained in each of 
the subsequent Constitutions, being elective by 
the people at the same time with that of Gov- 
ernor. The following is a list of the Lieutenant- 
Governors of the State, from the date of its 
admission into the Union to the present time 
(1899), with the date and length of each incum- 
bent's term: Pierre Menard, 1818-22; Adolphus 
Frederick Hubbard, 1823-26; William Kinney, 
1826-30; Zadoc Casey, 1830-33; William Lee D. 
Ewing (succeeded to the office as President of the 
Senate), 1833-34; Alexander M. Jenkins, 1834-36 
William H. Davidson (as President of the 
Senate), 1836-38; Stinson H. Anderson, 1838-42 
John Moore, 1842-46; Joseph B. Wells, 1846-49 
William McMurtry, 1849-53; Gustavus Koerner, 
1853-57; John Wood, 1857-60; Thomas A. Mar- 
shall (as President of the Senate), Jan. 7-14, 1861 
Francis A. Hoffman, 1861-65; William Bross 
1865-69; John Dougherty, 1869-73; John L 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



337 



Beveridga, Jan. 13-23, 1873; John Early (as 
President of the Senate). 1873-75; Archibald A. 
Glenn (as President of the Senate), 1875-77; 
,i.ndrew Shuman, 1877-81 ; John M. Hamilton, 
J881-83; William J. Campbell (as President of 
the Senate), 1888-85; John C. Smith. 1885-89; 
Lyman B. Ray, 1889-93; Joseph B. Gill, 1893-97; 
William A. Northcott, 1897 — . 

LIMESTONE. Illinois ranks next to Pennsyl- 
vania in its output of limestone, the United 
States Census Report for 1890 giving tlie number 
of quaiTies as 104, and the total value of the 
product as §2,190,604. In the value of stone used 
for building purposes Illinois far exceeds anj- 
other State, the greater proportion of the output 
in Pennsylvania being suitable only for flux. 
Next to its employment as building stone, Illinois 
limestone is chiefly used for street-work, a small 
percentage being used for flux, and still less for 
bridge-work, and but little for burning into lime. 
The quarries in this State employ 3,383 hands, and 
represent a capital of 53,316,616, in the latter par- 
ticular also ranking next to Pennsylvania. The 
quarries are found in various parts of the State, 
but the most productive and most vali»ble are in 
the northern section. 

LlNCOLJf, an incorporated city, and county- 
seat of Logan County, at the intersection of the 
Chicago & Alton, the Champaign and Havana 
and the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Divi- 
sions of the IlUnois Central Railroad ; is 28 miles 
northeast of Springfield, and 157 miles southwest 
of Chicago. The surrounding country is devoted 
to agriculture, stock-raising and coal-mining. 
Considerable manufacturing is carried on, among 
the products being flour, brick and drain tile. 
The city has water-works, fire department, gas 
and electric lighting plant, telephone system, 
machine shops, eighteen churches, good schools, 
three national banks, a public Ubrary, electric 
street railways, and several newspapers. Besides 
possessing good schools, it is the seat of Lincoln 
University (a Cumberland Presbyterian institu- 
tion, founded in 1865). The Odd Fellows' 
Orphans' Home and the Illinois (State) Asylum 
for Feeble-Minded Children are also located here. 
Population (1890), 6,735; (1900), 8,962; (1903, est.), 
12,000. 

LINCOLN, Abraham, sixteenth President of the 
United States, was born in Hardin County, Ky., 
Feb. 12, 1809, of Quaker-English descent, his 
grandfather having emigrated from Virginia to 
Kentucky about 1780, where he was killed by the 
Indians in 1784. Thomas Lincoln, the father of 
Abraham, settled in Indiana in 1816, and removed 



to Macon County in 1830. Abraham was the 
issue of his father's first marriage, his mother's 
maiden name being Nancy Hanks. The early 
occupations of the future President were varied. 
He served at different times as farm-laborer, flat- 
boatman, country salesman, merchant, surveyor, 
lawyer. State legislator, Congressman and Presi- 
dent. In 1832 he enlisted for the Black Hawk 
War, and was chosen Captain of his companj 
was an unsuccessful candidate for the Legislature 
the same year, but elected two years later 
About this time he turned his attention to the 
study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1836, 
and, one year later, began practice at Springfield. 
By successive re-elections he served in the House 
until 1842, when he declined a re-election. In 
1838, and again in 1840, he was the Whig candi- 
date for Speaker of the House, on both occasions 
being defeated by William L. D. Ewing. In 1841 
he was an applicant to President William Henry 
Harrison for the position of Commissioner of the 
General Land Office, the appointment going to 
Justin Butterfield. His next official position was 
that of Representative in the Thirtieth Congress 
(1847-49). From that time he gave his attention 
to his profession until 1855, when he was a lead- 
ing candidate for the United States Senate in 
opposition to the principles of the Nebraska Bill, 
but failed of election, Lyman TrimibuU being 
chosen. In 1856, he took a leading part in the 
organization of the Republican party at Bloom- 
ington, and, in 1858, was formally nominated by 
the Republican State Convention for the United 
States Senate, later engaging in a joint debate 
with Senator Douglas on party issues, during 
which they delivered speeches at seven different 
cities of the State. Although he again failed to 
secure the prize of an election, owing to the char- 
acter of the legislative apportionment then in 
force, which gave a majority of the Senators and 
Representatives to a Democratic minority of the 
voters, his burning, incisive utterances on the 
subject of slavery attracted the attention of the 
whole country, and prepared tlie way for the 
future triumph of the Republican party. Previ- 
ous to this he had been four times (1840, '44, '52. 
and '56) on the ticket of his party as candidate 
for Presidential Elector. In 1860, he was the 
nominee of the Republican party for the Presi- 
dency and was chosen by a decisive majority in 
the Electoral College, though receiving a minor- 
itj' of the aggregate popular vote. Unquestion- 
ably his candidacy was aided by internal 
dissensions in the Democratic party. His election 
and his inauguration (on March 4, 1861) were 



338 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



made a pretext for secession, and he met the 
issue with promptitude and firmness, tempered 
with kindness and moderation towards the se- 
cessionists. He was re-elected to the Presidency 
in 1864, the vote in the Electoral College standing 
212 for Lincoln to 21 for his opponent, Gen. 
George B. McClellan. The history of Mr. Lin- 
coln's life in the Presidential chair is the history 
of the whole country during its most dramatic 
period. Next to his success in restoring the 
authority of the Government over the whole 
Union, history will, no doubt, record his issuance 
of the Emancipation Proclamation of January, 
1863, as the most important and far-reaching act 
of his administration, And yet to this act, which 
has embalmed his memory in the hearts of the 
lovers of freedom and human justice in all ages 
and in all lands, the world over, is due his death 
at the hands of the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth, in 
Washington City, April ID, 1865, as the result of 
an assault made upon him in Ford's Theater the 
evening previous — his death occurring one week 
after the fall of Richmond and the surrender of 
Lee's army — just as peace, with the restoration of 
the Union, was assured. A period of National 
mourning ensued, and he was accorded the honor 
of a National funeral, his remains being finally 
laid to rest in a mausoleum in Springfield. His 
profound sympathy with every class of sufferers 
during the War of the Rebellion ; his forbearance 
in the treatment of enemies; his sagacity in 
giving direction to public sentiment at home and 
in dealing with international questions abroad ; 
his courage in preparing the way for the removal 
of slavery — the bone of contention between the 
warring sections — have given him a place in the 
affections of the people beside that of Washington 
himself, and won for him the respect and admi- 
ration of all civilized nations. 

LINCOLN, Robert Todd, lawyer, member of 
the Cabinet and Foreign Minister, the son of 
Abraham Lincoln, was born in Springfield, III., 
August 1, 1843, and educated in the home schools 
and at Harvard University, graduating from the 
latter in 1864. During the last few months of 
the Civil War, he served on the staff of General 
Grant with the rank of Captain. After the war 
he studied law and, on his admission to the bar, 
settled in Chicago, finally becoming a member of 
the firm of Lincoln & Isham In 1880, he was 
chosen a Presidential Elector on the Republican 
ticket, and, in March following, appointed Secre- 
tary of War by President Garfield, serving to the 
close of the term. In 1889 he became Minister to 
England by appointment of President Harrison, 



gaining high distinction as a diplomatist. This 
was the last public office held by him. After the 
death of George M. Pullman he became Acting 
President of the Pullman Palace Car Company, 
later being formally elected to that office, which 
(1899) he still holds. Mr. Lincoln's name has 
been frequently mentioned in connection with 
the Republican nomination for the Presidency, 
but its use has not been encouraged by him. 

LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS DEBATE, a name 
popularly given to a series of joint discussions 
between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug- 
las, held at different points in the State during tlie 
summer and autumn of 1858. while both were 
candidates for the position of United States Sena- 
tor. The places and dates of holding tliese 
discussions were as follows: At Ottawa, August 
21; at Freeport, August 27; at Jonesboro, Sept. 
15; at Charleston, Sept. 18; at Galesburg, Oct. 7; 
at Quinc}-, Oct. 13; at Alton, Oct. 15. Immense 
audiences gathered to hear these debates, which 
have become famous in the political history of 
the Nation, and the campaign was the most noted 
in th: history of any State. It resulted in the 
securing Ijy Douglas of a re-election to the Senate ; 
but his answers to the shrewdly-couched interrog- 
atories of Lincoln l:d to the alienation of his 
Southern following, the disruption of the Demo- 
cratic party in 1860, and the defeat of his Presi- 
dential aspirations, with the placing of Mr. 
Lincoln prominently before the Nation as a 
sagacious political leader, and his final election 
to the Presidency. 

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, an institution located 
at Lincoln, Logan County, 111., incorporated in 
1865. It is co-educational, has a faculty of eleven 
instructors and, for 1896-8, reports 209 pupils — 
ninety-one male and 118 female. Instruction 
is given in the classics, the sciences, music, fine 
arts and preparatory studies. The institution 
has a library of 3,000 volumes, and reports funds 
and endowment amounting to §60,000, with 
property valued at 155,000. 

LINDER, Usher F., lawyer and politician, was 
born in Elizabethtown. Hardin County, Ky. (ten 
miles from the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln), 
March 20, 1809; came to Illinois in 1835, finally 
locating at Charleston, Coles Coimty ; after travel- 
ing the circuit a lew montlis was elected Repre- 
sentative in the Tenth General Assembly (1836), 
but resigned before the close of the session to 
accept the office of Attorney-General, which h<» 
held less than a year and a half, when he resigned 
that also. Again, in 1846, he Was elected to the 
Fifteenth General Assembly and re-elected to the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



339 



Sixteenth and Seventeenth, afterwards giving his 
attention to the practice of his profession. Mr. 
Linder, in his best days, was a fluent speaker with 
some elements of eloquence which gave him a 
wide popularity as a campaign orator. Originally 
a Whig, on the dissolution of that party he 
became a Democrat, and, in 1860, was a delegate 
to the Democratic National Convention at 
Charleston, SO., and at Baltimore. During the 
last four years of his life he wrote a series of 
articles under the title of "Reminiscences of the 
Early Bench and Bar of Illinois,'" which was pub- 
lished in book form in 1876. Died in Chicago, 
June 5, 1876. 

LI>E(iAR, David T., legislator, was born in 
Ohio, Feb. 12, 1830; came to Spencer County, 
Ind., in 1840, and to Wayne County, 111., in 1858, 
afterward locating at Cairo, where he served as 
Postmaster during the Civil War ; was a Repub- 
lican Presidential Elector in 187"3, but afterwards 
became a Democrat, and served as such in the 
lower branch of the General Assembly (1880-86). 
Died at Cairo, Feb. 2, 1886. 

LIPPINCOTT, Charles E., State Auditor, was 
born at Edwardsville, 111., Jan. 26, 182.5; attended 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, but did not 
graduate; in 1849 graduated from the St. Louis 
Medical College, and began the practice of medi- 
cine at Chandlerville, Cass County. In 18.52 he 
went to California, remaining there five years, 
taking an active part in the anti-slavery contest, 
and serving as State Senator (18.53-55). In 1857, 
having returned to Illinois, he resumed practice 
at Chandlerville, and, in 1861, under authority of 
Governor Yates, recruited a company which was 
attached to the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry as 
Company K, and of which he was commissioned 
Captain, having declined the lieutenant-colo- 
nelcy. Within twelve months he became Colonel, 
and, on Sept. 16, 1865, was mustered out as brevet 
Brigadier-General. In 1866 he reluctantly con- 
sented to lead the Republican forlorn hope as a 
candidate for Congress in the (then) Xinth Con- 
gressional District, largely reducing the Demo- 
cratic majority. In 1867 he was elected Secretary 
of the State Senate, and the same year chosen 
Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives at 
Washington. In 1868 he was elected State Audi- 
tor, and re-elected in 1872 ; also served as Perma- 
nent President of the Republican State Conven- 
tion of 1878. On the establishment of the Illinois 
Soldiers" and Sailors' Home at Quincy. he became 
its first Superintendent, assuming his duties in 
March. 1887, but died Sept. 13, following, as a 
result of injuries received from a runaway team 



while driving through the grounds of the institu- 
tion a few days previous. — Emily Webster 
Chandler (Lippincott), wife of the preceding, 
was born March 13, 1833, at Chandlerville. Cass 
County, 111., the daughter of Dr. Charles Chand- 
ler, a prominent physician widely known in that 
section of the State ; was educated at Jacksonville 
Female Academy, and married, Dec. 25, 1851, to 
Dr. (afterwards General) Charles E. Lippincott. 
Soon after the death of her husband, in Septem- 
ber, 1887, Mrs. Lippincott, who had already 
endeared herself by her acts of kindness to the 
veterans in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, was 
appointed Matron of the institution, serving until 
her death, May 21, 1895. Tlie respect in which 
she was held by the old soldiers, to whose com- 
fort and necessities she had ministered in hos- 
pital and elsewhere, was shown in a most touching 
manner at the time of her death, and on the 
removal of her remains to be laid by the side of 
her husband, in Oak Ridge Cemetery at Spring- 
field. 

UPPIXCOTT, (Rev.) Thomas, early clergy- 
man, was born in Salem, N. J., in 1791; in 1817 
started west, arriving in St. Louis in Februarj-, 
1818 ; the same year established himself in mer- 
cantile business at Milton, then a place of some 
importance near Alton. This place proving 
unhealthy, ho subsequently removed to Edwards- 
ville, where he was for a time employed as clerk 
in the Land Office. He afterwards served as 
Secretary of the Senate (1822-23). That he was a 
man of education and high intelligence, as well 
as a strong opponent of slavery, is shown by his 
writings, in conjunction with Judge Samuel D. 
Lockwood, George Churchill and others, in oppo- 
sition to the scheme for securing the adoption of 
a pro-slavery Constitution in Illinois in 1824. In 
1825 he purchased from Hooper Warren "The 
Edwardsville Spectator," which he edited for a 
year or more, but soon after entered the ministry 
of the Presbyterian Church and became an influ- 
ential factor in building up that denomination in 
Illinois. He was also partly instrumental in 
securing the location of Illinois College at Jack- 
sonville. He died at Pana, 111., April 13, 1869. 
Gen. Charles E. Lippincott, State Auditor 
(1869-77). was a son of the subject of this sketch. 

LIQl'OR LAWS. In the early history of the 
State, the question of the regulation of the sale of 
intoxicants was virtually relegated to the control 
of the local authorities, who granted license, col- 
lected fees, and fixed the tariff of charges. As 
early as 1851, however, the General Assembly, 
with a view to mitigating what it was felt had 



.•i40 



HISTORICAL KN(;YCL0PEDIA OK FliUNOIS. 



become a growing evil, enacted a law popularly 
known as the "(iimrt law," which, it was hoped, 
wouhl do iiwiiy with the indiHcjriniinate Male of 
liquor hy the gliiHU. The law failed to nietit the 
exiwctation of its franu^rH and HupporterH, and, in 
1855, a prohiliitory law wuh Buhniitted totheelect- 
ors, which waH rejected at the jioUn. Since that 
date a K(!neral licenflo HyHteni has prevailed, except 
in certain towns and cities where prohihitory 
ordinancdH were adopted. The n^gulations gov- 
erning the tniflic, therefore, have been widely 
variant in different localities. The Legi.slature, 
however, luis always posHeH.sed the same (U)nHlitu- 
tional power to regulate the sale of intoxicants, 
as aconite, henbane, strychnine, or other jjoi.sons. 
Tn 1H71) the Woman's Christian Tem|)erance 
Union liegan the agitation of the license (pu)stion 
from a im<w standpoint. Tn March of that year, a 
delegation of Illinois women, headed by Miss 
Franc(W E. Willard, pre.sente<l to the Legislature 
a monster petition, signed by 80,000 voters and 
100,000 women, i)raying for the amendment of 
the State Constit\ition, so as to give femali^s above 
the age of 31 the right to vole upon the granting 
(if licenses in the localities of their residences. 
Miss Willard and Mrs. J. KUen Foster, of Iowa, 
iiildn«s«ul the House in its favor, and Miss 
Willard siM)ke to the Senate on the same linos. 
The measure was defeato<l in the IIou.se by a vote 
of lifty five to lifty-threo, and the Senate took no 
action. In IHHl the .same bill was introduced 
anew, but again faihtd of passage. Nevertheless, 
persistent agitation was not without its results. 
In IHH;! Mill Legislature enacted what is generally 
term(^(l tll(^ "High Li(MMise Law," by the provi- 
sions of which a minimum lic(Miso of $500 per 
annum was imposed for the sale of alcoholic 
clrinks, and $150 for iiiiilt licpiors, with the 
authority on the part of nniiiicipalities to impose 
a still higlu^r r;ite by oriliniiiicc. This mciisure 
was made largely a parti.san issue, the Repub- 
licans voting almost solidly for it, and the Demo- 
crats almost solidly opposing it. The bill was 
j)romptly signed by (lovernor Hamilton. The 
li(luor laws of Illinois, therefore, at the present 
tim(Uire bas(«l npon local oi)tion, high license and 
local supervision. Tli<i criminal code of tlie State 
oontainH the cvistomary provisions res]>ecting the 
sale of Htimulants to minors and other prohibited 
parties, or at forbidden times, but, in the larger 
<Mti(\s, many of the jirovisioiis of the State law 
are rendered pnicli<'ally iiiopemlive by the 
municipal ordiiijuiccs, or absolutely nullilled by 
the indilToronce or studied neglect of the local 
officials. 



LITCIIFIKIil), the principal city of Montgom- 
ery County, at the intersection of Ciniunmiti, 
Chicago it St. Louis, the Wabash an<l the Illinois 
Central, with three other short-line railways, 4;j 
miles south of Springfield and 47 miles northea.st 
of St. Louis. The Burroimdiiig (lountry is fer- 
tile, undulating prairie, in which are found <!oal, 
oil and natural gas. A coal mine is operated 
within the corporate limits. Grain is extensively 
raised, an<l Litchfield luis several elevators, flour- 
ing mills, a can factory, bricpiette works, etc. 
The outjiut of the manufacturing establishments 
also includes foundry and machine shop prod- 
ucts, brick and tile, l)rooms, ginger ale and cider. 
The city is lighted by both gas and electricity, 
and has a Holly water-works .system, a |)ublio 
library and public parks, two banks, twelve 
churches, high and graded schools, and an Ursu- 
line convent, a Catholic hospital, and two 
monthly, two weekly, and two daily periodicals. 
Population (IHOO), 5,811; (1900), 5,918; (190:3, 
est ). 7,000. 

MTCIM'IKLD, CAKKOLLTON & Wl.STKRN 
RAILKOAII, a line which extends from C(dum- 
biaiui, on the Illinois IUvim-, to Harnett, 111., 51.5 
miles; is of standard gauge, the tra<^k being laid 
with fifly-six pound sle(^l rails. II was opened 
for business, in lhri« dilTorcnt sec^tions, from 1883 
to 1HS7, and for three ycNirs w:is operated in con- 
nection with the Ja<!ksonville Southeastern 
llailway. In May, 1890, the latter was sold under 
foreclosure, atul, in November, 189;i, the Litch- 
field, f!arrollton & Western reverted to the 
former owners. Six months lat(^r it jiassed into 
the h.'inds of a re<5eiver, by whom (up to 1898) it 
lijis siiure been operated. The g<meral ofTices 
arc .at ('arlinville. 

Lrri'LI'', (Jeorge, merchant ami banker, was 
l«irn in C!olumbia, I'u., in IHDH; came to Rush- 
ville, 111., in ln;i(l, emliarking in the mercantile 
business, which he iirosocuted sixty years. In 
1805 he established the Hank of Rushvillo, of 
which he was President, in these two branches of 
bu.siness amassing a large fortune. Died, March 
5, l.S9(i. 

LITTLE VKRMILION UIVKK rises in Ver- 
milion County, 111., and flows ea.stwardly into 
Indiana, emptying into the Wabash in Vermilion 
County, Ind. 

LITTLK WAUASH RIVER, rises in Efllngham 
and Cmnberland Couiitios, flows east and south 
through Clay, Wayne and White, and enters the 
Wabash River about 8 miles jibove the mouth of 
the latter. Its estimated length is about 180 
miles. 



1 



IITSTORICAL -RNrYCLOPEDIA OF ITvLINOIS. 



341 



LITTLKU, Diivid T., lawyer and State Senfttor. 
was 1)0111 ;it Clifton, (ireoiie County, Ohio, Feb. 
7, 18;!0; was ediionteil in tlio ooniinon Hcliools in 
liis native State aixl, at twenty-one, removeil to 
liincoln, 111., where lie worked at the carpenter's 
trade for two years, meanwhile Btudying law. lie 
was adiuitt(>d to the har in 1800, soon after was 
eleot(Ml a Justi('(( of (he Peace, and later api>oiiitod 
Master in Chaiicciy. In lK(i(! he was appointed 
by President Johnson Collector of Internal 
llevonne for the Eighth District, but resigned in 
IHfifl, removing to Sitringliold the same year, 
where lie «'iitoied into partnership with the late 
Henry S. (li(>ene, Ulillon Hay being admitted to 
the firm soon after, the partnership continuing 
until 1HH1. In 1883 Mr. Littler was elected 
ltoi)resentativo in the Thirty-fourth (leneral 
Assenildy from Sangamon County, was re-(dectcd 
in 18S(t, and returned to the Senate in 1891, serv- 
ing in the latter body four years. In both llou.ses 
Mr. Littler took a specially prominent jiart in 
legislation on t he n^vi'inie (luestion. 

LIVI'ltMOKK, Mary Ash (on, reformer and phi- 
lantlinipist, was born (Mary Ashton Kice) in 
Hoston, Mass., Dec. lit, 18^1; taught for a time in 
a female seminary in Charlestown, and sjieiit two 
years as a governess in Southern Virginia; later 
mairied Itev. Daniel P. Livermore, a Universalist 
minister, who held pastorates at various jdaces in 
Massachus(>tts and at Quincy. 111., becoming 
editor of "The New Covenant" at Cliicago. in 
18.')7. During this time Mrs. Livermore wrote 
mucli for (h'nominational pa|)ors and in assisting 
her husband; in 1803 was appointed an agent, 
and trav(ded extensively in the interest of the 
United States Sanitary Commis.sion, visiting 
ho.spitals and canijjs in the Mississippi Valley; 
also took a ]iroiiiiiicnt part in the great North- 
western Sanitary Pair at Chicago in 18(!l!. Of 
late years she h.as labored and lectured exten- 
sively in the interest of woman suffrage and tem- 
perance, besides being the author of several 
volumes, one of these being "Pen Pictures of 
Chicago" (IHfi.'i). Her liomo is in Boston. 

LIVINGSTON COUNTV, situated about mid- 
way between Cliicago and Springfield. The sur- 
face; is rolling toward the cast, but is levid in the 
west; area, 1,03(1 sepiare miles; population (1900), 
42,035, named for Kdward Livingston. It was 
organized in 181)7, the first Commissioners being 
Ivobert Breckenridgo, Jonathan Moon and Daniel 
Uockwood. Pontiac. was selected as the county- 
seat, the ])roprietors donating ample lands and 
iJH.OOO in cash for the erection of public buildings. 
Vermilion River and Indian Creek arc the jirin- 



ci|>al streams, ('oal underlies the entire county, 
and shafts are in sue^cessfid operation at various 
points. It is one of the chief agricultural coun- 
ties of tlie State, the yield of oats and corn being 
largo. Stoidi-raising is also i>xtensivi'ly carried 
on. The development of the county really dates 
from the opening of the (."hicago & Alton Hail- 
road in l8ril, since which date it has been cro.s,s(-d 
by numerous other lines. Pontiac, the county- 
seat, is situated on the Vermilion, is a railroad 
center and the site of the State Keform S(diool. 
Its population in 1890 was 2,781. Dwiglit has 
attained a wide reputation as tlut seat of tlie 
liarent "Keeley" Institute for the (uire of lh<' 
liquor habit. 

I,()('KrOKT,a village in Will County, laid out 
ill ls;tT anil imMirporated in \SM\ situated HI) 
miles .southwest of Chicago, on the Des Plaines 
Uiver. the Illinois it Mi(diigan (Janal, the Atchi- 
son, Topeka i*t Santa Fe and the Chicago it Alton 
Kailroads. The surrounding region is agricul- 
tural; limestone is extensively iiuarried. Manu- 
factures are Hour, oatmeal. hra.ss goods, paper 
and .strawboard. It has ten churches, a public 
and high school, parochial scdiools, a hank, gas 
plant, eleetrii; rnr lines, and one weekly pajier. 
The controlling works of the (^hii^ago Drainage 
Canal and ofUces of the Illinois A Michigan (Janal 
»re located here. Population (181)0). 3,44il; 
(liioo), 2,(ir)it, 

I,()('KWO(M», Sniiniel Ilrnke, jurist, was born 
at Poundridge, Westchester (.lounty, N. Y., 
August 2, 1789, left fatherless at the ago of ten, 
after a few mouths at a private siduKil in New 
Jersey, he went to live with an unide (Francis 
Drake) at Waterford, N. Y., with whom ho 
.studicid law, biding admitted to the bar at Datavia, 
N. Y., in 1811. In ]8i;i ho removed to Auburn, 
and later liecame Master in Chancery. In 1818 
he descended the Ohio River ujion a flat-boat in 
company with William If. Drown, afterwards <if 
Chicago, and walking airross the country from 
Shawneetown, arrived at Kaskaskia in De(!em- 
bor, but finally settled at (.arini, where he 
remained a year. In 1821 he was elected Attor- 
ney-General of the State, but resigniMl the fol- 
lowing year to accept the position of Secretary of 
State, to which he was appointed by (lovc^rnor 
Coles, and which he filled only thrcM) montliH, 
when President Monroe made him KcKreiver of 
Public Moneys at F.dwardsville. About the same 
time he was also apiiointeil agent of the First 
Board of Canal Comniissiiiiiers. The Legislature 
of 1821-2ri elected him .liiilge of the Supreme 
Court, his service extending until flu; aitoption 



342 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of tlie Constitution of 1848, which he assisted in 
framing as a Delegate from Morgan County. In 
1851 he was made State Trustee of the Illinois 
Central Railroad, which office he held until his 
death. He was always an uncompromising 
antagonist of slavery and a leading supporter of 
Governor Coles in opposition to the plan to secure 
a pro-slavery Constitution in 1834. His personal 
and political integrity was recognized by all 
parties. From 1838 to 1853 Judge Lockwood was 
a citizen of Jacksonville, where he proved him- 
self an efficient friend and patron of Illinois Col- 
lege, serving for over a quarter of a century as 
one of its Trustees, and was also influential in 
securing several of the State charitable institu- 
tions there. His later years were spent at 
Batavia, where he died, April 33, 1874, in the 85th 
year of his age. 

LODA, a village of Iroquois County, on the 
Chicago Division of the Illinois Central Railway, 
4 miles north of Paxton. The region is agricul- 
tural, and the town has considerable local trade. 
It also has a bank and one weekly paper. 
Population (1880), 635; (1890), 598; (1900), 668. 

LOGAN, Cornelius Ambrose, physician and 
diplomatist, born at Deerfield, Mass., August 6, 
1836, the son of a dramatist of the same name ; 
was educated at Auburn Academy and served as 
Medical Superintendent of St. John's Hospital, 
Cincinnati, and, later, as Professor in the Hos- 
pital at Leavenworth, Kan. In 1873 he was 
appointed United States Minister to Chili, after- 
wards served as Minister to Guatemala, and again 
(1881) as Minister to Chili, remaining until 1883. 
He was for twelve years editor of "The Medical 
Herald," Leavenworth, Kan., and edited the 
works of his relative. Gen. John A. Logan (1886), 
besides contributing to foreign medical publi- 
cations and publishing two or thi-ee volumes on 
medical and sanitary questions. Resides in 
Chicago. 

LOGAN, John, physician and soldier, was born 
in Hamilton County, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1809; at six 
years of age was taken to Missouri, his family 
settling near the Grand Tower among the Shaw- 
nee and Delaware Indians. He began business 
as clerk in a New Orleans commission house, but 
returning to Illinois in 1830, engaged in the 
blacksmith trade for two years; in 1831 enlisted 
in the Ninth Regiment Illinois Militia and took 
part in the Indian troubles of that year and the 
Black Hawk War of 1833, later being Colonel of 
the Forty-fourth Regiment State Militia. At the 
close of the Black Hawk War he settled in 
Carlinville, and having graduated in medicine. 



engaged in practice in that place until 1861. At 
the beginning of the war he raised a company 
for the Seventh Illinois Volunteers, but the quota 
being already full, it was not accepted. He was 
finally commissioned Colonel of the Thirty- 
second Illinois Volunteers, and reported to Gen- 
eral Grant at Cairo, in January, 1863, a few weeks 
later taking part in the battles of Forts Henry 
and Donelson. Subsequently he had command 
of the Fourth Division of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee under General Hurlbut. His regiment 
lost heavily at the battle of Shiloh, he himself 
being severely wounded and compelled to leave 
the field. In December, 1864, he was discharged 
with the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. In 
1866 Colonel Logan was appointed by Pre^dent 
Johnson United States Marshal for the Southern 
District of Illinois, serving until 1870, when he 
resumed the practice of his profession at Carlin- 
ville. Originally a Democrat, he became a 
Republican on the organization of that party, 
serving as a delegate to the first Republican State 
Convention at Bloomington in 1856. He was a 
man of strong personal characteristics and an 
earnest patriot. Died at his home at Carlinville, 
August 34, 1885. 

LOGAN, John Alexander, soldier and states- 
man, was born at old Brownsville, the original 
county-seat of Jackson County, 111., Feb. 9, 1836, 
the son of Dr. John Logan, a native of Ireland 
and an early immigrant into Illinois, where he 
attained prominence as a public man. Young 
Logan volunteered as a private in the Mexican 
War, but was soon promoted to a lieutenancy, 
and afterwards became Quartermaster of his 
regiment. He was elected Clerk of Jackson 
County in 1849, but resigned the office to prose- 
cute his law studies. Having graduated from 
Louisville University in 1851, he entered into 
partnership with his uncle, Alexander M. Jenk- 
ins ; was elected to the Legislature as a Democrat 
in 1853, and again in 1856, having been Prosecut- 
ing Attornej- in the interim. He was chosen a 
Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket in 
1856, was elected to Congress in 1858, and again 
in 1860, as a Douglas Democrat. During the 
special session of Congress in 1861, he left his 
seat, and fought in the ranks at Bull Run. In 
September, 1861, he organized the Thirty-first 
Regiment Illinois Infantry, and was commis- 
sioned by Governor Yates its Colonel. His mili- 
tary career was brilliant, and he rapidly rose to 
be Major-General. President Johnson tendered 
him the mission to Mexico, which he declined. 
In 1866 he was elected as a Republican to Con- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



343 



gress for the State-at-large, and acted as one of 
the managers in the impeachment trial of the 
President; was twice re-elected and, in 1871, was 
chosen United States Senator, as he was again in 
1879. In 1884 he was an unsuccessful candidate 
for the Presidential nomination at the Republican 
Convention in Chicago, but was finally placed on 
the ticket for tlie Vice-Presidency with James G. 
Blaine, the ticket being defeated in November 
following. In 1885 he was again elected Senator, 
but died during his term at Washington, Dec. 26, 
1886. General Logan was the author of "The 
Great Conspiracy" and of "The Volunteer Soldier 
of America." In 1897 an equestrian statue was 
erected to his memory on the Lake Front Park in 
Chicago. 

LOGAN, Stephen Trigg, eminent Illinois jurist, 
was born in Franklin County, Ky., Feb. 24, 1800; 
studied law at Glasgow, Kj-., and was admitted 
to the bar before attaining his majoritj'. After 
practicing in his native State some ten years, in 
1832 he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Sanga- 
mon County, one year later opening an office at 
Springfield. In 1835 he was elevated to the 
bench of the First Judicial Circuit ; resigned two 
years later, was re-commissioned in 1839, but 
again resigned. In 1842, and again in 1844 
and 1846, he was elected to the General Assem- 
bly ; also served as a member of the Consti- 
tutional Convention of 1847. Between 1841 
and 1844 he was a partner of Abraham Lin- 
coln. In 1854 he was again chosen a member 
of the lower house of the Legislature, was 
a delegate to the Republican National Conven- 
tion in 1860, and, in 1861. was commissioned 
by Governor Yates to represent Illinois in the 
Peace Conference, which assembled in Wash- 
ington. Soon afterward he retired to private 
life. As an advocate his ability was widely 
recognized. Died at Springfield, July 17, 1880. 

LOGAN COUNTY, situated in the central part 
of the State, and having an area of about 620 
square miles. Its surface is chiefly a level or 
moderately undulating prairie, with some high 
ridges, as at Elkhart. Its soil is extremely fertile 
and well drained by numerous creeks. Coal- 
mining is successfully carried on. The other 
staple products are corn, wheat, oats, hay, cattle 
and pork. Settlers began to locate in 1819-22, 
and the county was organized in 1839, being 
originally cut off from Sangamon. In 1840 a 
portion of Tazewell was added and, in 1845, a 
part of De AVitt County. It was named in honor 
of Dr. John Logan, father of Senator John A. 
Logan. Postville was the first county-seat, but. 



in 1847, a change was made to Mount Pulaski, 
and, later, to Lincoln, which is the present capi- 
tal. Population (1890), 25,489; (1900), 28,680. 

LOMBARD, a village of Dupage County, on the 
Chicago & Great Western and the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railways. Population (1880), 378; 
(1S90). 515; (1000), 590. 

LOMBARD UNIVERSITY, an institution at 
Galesburg under control of the Universalist 
denomination, founded in 1851. It has prepara- 
tory, collegiate and theological departments. 
The collegiate department includes both classical 
and scientific courses, with a specially arranged 
course of three years for young women, who con- 
stitute nearly half the number of students. The 
Universit}' has an endowment of §200,000, and 
owns additional property, real and personal, of 
the value of .$100,000. In 1898 it reported a fac- 
ulty of thirteen professors, with an attendance of 
191 students. 

LONDON MILLS, a village and railway station 
of Fulton County, on the Fulton Narrow Gauge 
and Iowa Central Railroads, 19 miles southeast 
of Galesburg. The district is agricultural; the 
town has two banks and a weekly newspaper; 
fine brick clay is mined. Pop. (1900), 528. 

LONG, Stephen Harriman, civil engineer, was 
born in Hopkinton, N. H., Dec. 30, 1784; gradu- 
ated at Dartmouth College in 1809, and, after 
teaching some years, entered the United States 
Army in December, 1814, as a Lieutenant in the 
Corps of Engineers, acting as Assistant Professor 
of Mathematics at West Point ; in 1816 was trans- 
ferred to the Topographical Engineers with the 
brevet rank of Major. From 1818 to 1823 he had 
charge of explorations between the Mississippi 
River and the Rocky Mountains, and, in 1823-24, 
to the sources of the Mississippi. One of the 
highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains was named 
in his honor. Between 1827 and 1830 he was 
employed as a civil engineer on the Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad, and from 1837 to 1840, as Engineer- 
in-Chief of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, in 
Georgia, where he introduced a system of curves 
and a new kind of truss bridge afterwards gener- 
ally adopted. On the organization of the Topo- 
graphical Engineers as a separate corps in 1838, 
he became Major of that body, and, in 1861, chief, 
with the rank of Colonel. An account of his 
first expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819-20) 
by Dr. Edwin James, was published in 1823, and 
the following year appeared "Long's Expedition 
to the Source of St. Peter's River, Lake of the 
Woods, Etc." He was a member of the Ameri- 
can Philosophical Society and the author of the 



344 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



first original treatise on railroad building ever 
published in this countrj-, under the title of 
"Railroad Manual" (1829). During the latter 
days of his life his home was at Alton, 111., where 
he died, Sept. 4, 1864. Though retired from 
active service in June, 1863, he continued in the 
discharge of important duties up to his death. 

LOXGENECKER, Joel M., lawyer, was born in 
Crawford County, 111., June 12, 1847; before 
reaching his eighteenth year he enlisted in the 
Fifth Illinois Cavalry, serving until the close of the 
war. After attending the high school at Robinson 
and teaching for some time, he began the study 
of law and was admitted to the bar at Olney in 
1870; served two years as City Attorney and four 
(1877-81) as Prosecuting Attorney, in the latter 
year removing to Chicago. Here, in 1884, he be- 
came the assistant of Luther Laflin Mills in the 
office of Prosecuting Attorney of Cook County, 
retaining that position with Mr. Mills' successor. 
Judge Grinnell. On the promotion of the latter 
to the bench, in 1886, Mr. Longenecker succeeded 
to the office of Prosecuting Attornej-, continuing 
in that position until 1892. While in this office 
he conducted a large number of important crimi- 
nal cases, the most important, perhaps, being the 
trial of the murderers of Dr. Cronin, in which he 
gained a wide reputation for skill and ability as 
a prosecutor in criminal cases. 

LOOMIS, (Rev.) Hubbell, clergyman and edu- 
cator, was born in Colchester, Conn., May 31, 
1775; prepared for college in the common schools 
and at Plainfield Academy, in his native State, 
finally graduating at Union College, N. Y., in 
1799 — having supported himself during a con- 
siderable part of his educational course by 
manual labor and teaching. He subsequently 
studied theology, and, for twenty-four years, 
served as pastor of a Congregational church at 
Willington, Conn., meanwhile fitting a number 
of young men for college, including among them 
Dr. Jared Sparks, afterwards President of Har- 
vard College and author of numerous historical 
works. About 1829 his views on the subject of 
baptism underwent a change, resulting in his 
uniting himself with the Baptist Church. Com- 
ing to Illinois soon after, he spent some time at 
Kaskaskia and Edwardsville, and, in 1832, located 
at Upper Alton, where he became a prominent 
factor in laying the foundation of Shurtleff Col- 
lege, first by the establishment of the Baptist 
Seminary, of which he was the Principal for 
several years, and later by assisting, in 1835, to 
secure tlie charter of the college in which the 
seminary was merged. His name stood first on 



the list of Trustees of the new institution, and, 
in proportion to his means, he was a liberal con- 
tributor to its support in the period of its infancy. 
The latter years of his life were spent among his 
books in literary and scientific pursuits. Died at 
Upper Alton, Dec. 15, 1872, at the advanced age 
of nearly 98 years.— A son of his— Prof. Ellas 
Loomls — ^an eminent mathematician and natural- 
ist, was the author of "Loomis' Algebra" and 
other scientific text-books, in extensive use in the 
colleges of the country. He held professorships 
in various institutions at different times, the last 
being that of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy 
in Yale College, from 1860 up to his death in 1889. 

LORIMER, William, Member of Congress, was 
born in Manchester, England, of Scotch parent- 
age, April 27, 1861 ; came with his parents to 
America at five years of age, and, after spending 
some years in Michigan and Ohio, came to Chi- 
cago in 1870, where he entered a private school. 
Having lost his father by death'at twelve years 
of age, he became an apprentice in the sign-paint- 
ing business; was afterwards an employe on a 
street-railroad, finally engaging in the real-estate 
business and serving as an appointee of Mayor 
Roche and Mayor Washburne in the city water 
department. In 1892 he was the Republican 
nominee for Clerk of the Superior Court, but was 
defeated. Two j'ears later he was elected to the 
Fifty- fourth Congress from the Second Illinois 
District, and re-elected in 1896, as he was again 
in 1898. His plurality in 1896 amounted to 26,736 
votes. 

LOUISVILLE, the county -seat of Clay County ; 
situated on the Little Wabash River and on the 
Springfield Division of the Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern Railroad. It is 100 miles south- 
southeast of Springfield and 7 miles north of 
Flora; has a courthouse, three churches, a high 
school, a savings bank and two weekly news- 
papers. Population (1890), 637; (1900). 646. 

LOUISVILLE, EVAJTSVILLE & NEW AL- 
BANT RAILROAD. (See Louisville, Evansville 
& St. Louis (Consolidated) Railroad.) 

LOUISVILLE, EVANSVILLE & ST. LOUIS 
(Consolidated) RAILROAD. The length of this 
entire line is 358.55 miles, of which nearly 150 
miles are operated in Illinois. It crosses the State 
from East St. Louis to Mount Carmel, on the 
Wabash River. Within Illinois the system uses 
a single track of standard gauge, laid with steel 
rails on white-oak ties. The grades are usually 
light, although, as the Une leaves the Mississippi 
bottom, the gradient is about two per cent or 
105.6 feet per mile. The total capitalization 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



345 



(1898) was $18,336,246, of which $4,347,909 was in 
stock and S10,,')68,350 in bonds.— (History.) The 
original corporation was organized in both Indi- 
ana and Illinois in 1869, and the Illinois section of 
i,he line opened from Jlount Carmel to Albion (18 
miles) in January, 1873. The Indiana division 
was sold under foreclosure in 1876 to the Louis- 
ville, New Albany & St. Louis Railway Com- 
pany, while the Illinois division was reorganized 
in 1878 under the name of the St. Louis, Mount 
Carmel & New Albany Railroad. A few months 
later the two divisions were consolidated under 
the name of the former. In 1881 this line was 
again consolidated with the Evansville, Rockport 
& Eastern Railroad (of Indiana), taking the name 
of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad. 
In 1889, by a still further consolidation, it 
absorbed several short lines in Indiana and Illi- 
nois — those in the latter State being the Illinois 
& St. Louis Railroad and Coal Company, the 
Belleville, Centralia & Eastern (projected from 
Belleville to Mount Vernon) and the Venice & 
Carondelet — the new organization assuming the 
present name — Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis 
(Consolidated) Railroad. 

LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE RAILROAD, a 
corporation operating an extensive system of 
railroads, chiefly south of the Ohio River and 
extending through Kentucky and Tennessee 
into Indiana. The portion of the line in Illinois 
(known as the St. Louis, Evansville & Nashville 
line) extends from East St. Louis to the Wabash 
River, in White County (133.64 miles), with 
branches from Belleville to O'Fallon (6.07 miles), 
and from McLeansboro to Shawneetown (40.7 
miles) — total, 180.41 miles. The Illinois Divi- 
sion, though virtually owned by the operating 
line, is formally leased from the Southeast & St. 
Louis Railway Company, whose corporate exist- 
ence is merely nominal. The latter company 
acquired title to the property after foreclosure 
in November, 1880, and leased it in perpetuity to 
the Louisville & Nashville Company. The total 
earnings and income of the leased line in Illinois, 
for 1898, were $1,053,789, and the total expendi- 
tures (including 847,198 taxes) were $657,135. 

LOUISVILLE & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY, (See 
Jacksonville <& St. Louis Railway.) 

LOVEJOY, Elijah Parish, minister and anti- 
slavery journalist, was born at Albion, Maine, 
Nov. 9, 1803 — the son of a Congregational minis- 
ter. He graduated at WaterviUe College in 1836, 
came west and taught school in St. Louis in 
1837, and became editor of a Whig paper there in 
1829. Later, he studied theology at Princeton 



and was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in 
1833, Returning to St. Louis, he started "The 
Observer"" — a religious weekly, which condemned 
slave-holding. Threats of violence from the 
pro-slavery party induced him to remove his 
paper, presses, etc., to Alton, in July, 1886. Three 
times within twelve months his plant was de- 
stroyed by a mob. A fourth press having been 
procured, a number of his friends agreed to pro- 
tect it from destruction in the warehouse where 
it was stored. On the evening of Nov. 7, 1837, a 
mob, having assemliled about the building, sent 
one of their number to the roof to set it on fire. 
Lovejoy, with two of his friends, stepped outside 
to reconnoiter, when he was shot down by parties 
in ambush, breathing his last a few minutes 
later. His death did much to strengthen the 
anti-slavery sentiment north of Mason and 
Dixon"s line. His party regarded him as a 
martyr, and his death was made the text for 
many impassioned and effective appeals in oppo- 
sition to an institution which employed moboc- 
racy and murder in its efforts to suppress free 
discussion. (See Alton Riots.) 

LOVEJOY, Owen, clergyman and Congressman, 
was born at Albion, Maine, Jan. 6, 1811. Being 
the son of a clergyman of small means, he was 
thrown upon his own resources, but secured a 
collegiate education, graduating at Bowdoin 
College. In 1836 he removed to Alton, 111., join- 
ing his brother, Elijah Parish Lovejoy, who was 
conducting an anti-slavery and religious journal 
there, and whose assassination by a pro-slavery 
mob he witnessed the following year. (See Alton 
Riots and Elijah P. Lovejoy. ) This tragedy 
induced him to devote his life to a crusade 
against slavery. Having previously begun the 
study of theology, he was ordained to the minis- 
try and officiated for several years as pastor of a 
Congregational church at Princeton. In 1847 he 
was an unsuccessful candidate for the Constitu- 
tional Convention on the "Liberty" ticket, but, in 
1854, was elected to the Legislature upon that 
issue, and earnestly supported Abraham Lincoln 
for United States Senator, Upon his election to 
the Legislature he resigned his pastorate at 
Princeton, his congregation presenting him with 
a solid silver service in token of their esteem. In 
1856 he was elected a Representative in Congress 
by a majority of 7,000, and was re-elected for 
three successive terms. As an orator he had few 
equals in the State, while his courage in the 
support of his principles was indomitable. In 
the campaigns of 1856, "58 and "60 he rendered 
valuable service to the Republican party, as he 



346 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



did later in upholding the cause of the Union in 
Congress. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 25, 
1864. 

LOVINtiTOX, a village of Moultrie County, on 
the Terre Haute-Peoria branch of the Vandalia 
Line and the Bemeut & Altamont Division of the 
Wabash Railway, 23 miles southeast of Decatur. 
The town has two banks, a newspaper, water- 
works, electric lights, telephones and volunteer 
fire department. Pop. (1890), 767; (1900), 815. 

LUDLAM, (Dr.) Reuben, physician and author, 
was born at Camden, N. J., Oct. 11, 1831, the son 
of Dr. Jacob Watson Ludlam, an eminent phy- 
sician who, in his later years, became a resident 
of Evanston, 111. The younger Ludlam, having 
taken a course in an academy at Bridgeton, 
N. J., at sixteen years of age entered upon the 
study of medicine with his fatlier, followed by a 
course of lectures at the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, where he graduated, in 1852. Having 
removed to Chicago the following year, he soon 
after began an investigation of the homoeopathic 
system of medicine, which resulted in its adop- 
tion, and, a few years later, had acquired such 
prominence that, in 1859, he was appointed Pro- 
fessor of Physiology and Pathology in the newly 
established Hahnemann Medical College in the 
city of Chicago, with which he continued to be 
connected for nearly forty years. Besides serving 
as Secretary of the institution at its inception, he 
had, as early as 1854, taken a position as one of the 
editors of "The Chicago Homoeopath," later 
being editorially associated with "The North 
American Journal of Homceopathy," published in 
New York City, and "The United States Medical 
and Surgical Journal' of Chicago. He also 
served as President of numerous medical associ- 
ations, and, in 1877, was appointed by Governor 
Cullom a member of the State Board of Health, 
serving, by two subsequent reappointments, for a 
period of fifteen years. In addition to his labors 
as a lecturer and practitioner, Dr. Ludlam was 
one of the most prolific authors on professional 
lines in the city of Chicago, besides numerous 
monographs on special topics, having produced a 
"Course of Clinical Lectures on Diphtheria" 
(1863); "Clinical and Didactic Lectures on the 
Diseases of Women" (1871), and a translation 
from the French of "Lectures on Clinical Medi- 
cine" (1880). The second work mentioned is 
recognized as a valuable text-book, and has 
passed through seven or eight editions. A few 
years after his first connection with the Hahne- 
mann Medical College, Dr. Ludlam became Pro- 
fessor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and, on the 



death of President C. S. Smith, was chosen 
President of the institution. Died suddenly from 
]ieart disease, while preparing to perform a surgi- 
cal operation on a patient in the Hahnemann 
Medical College, April 29, 1899. 

LUNDY, Benjamin, early anti-slavery journal- 
ist, was born in New Jersey of Quaker par- 
entage; at 19 worked as a saddler at Wheeling, 
Va., where he first gained a practical knowledge 
of the institution of slavery ; later carried on 
business at Mount Pleasant and St. Clairsville, O., 
wliere, in 1815, he organized an anti-slavery 
association under the name of the "Union 
Humane Society," also contributing anti-slavery 
articles to "The Philanthropist," a paper pub- 
lished at Mount Pleasant. Removing to St. 
Louis, in 1819, he took a deep interest in the con- 
test over the admission of Missouri as a slave State. 
Again at Mount Pleasant, in 1821, he began the 
issue of "The Genius of Universal Emancipation, " 
a monthly, which he soon removed to Jonesbor- 
ough, Tenn., and finally to Baltimore in 1824, 
when it became a weekly. Mr. Lundy's trend 
towards colonization is shown in the fact that he 
made two visits (1825 and 1829) to Hayti, with a 
view to promoting the colonization of emanci- 
pated slaves in that island. Visiting the East in 
1828, he made the acquaintance of William Lloyd 
Garrison, who became a convert to his views and 
a firm ally. The following winter he was as- 
saulted by a slave-dealer in Baltimore and nearly 
killed ; soon after removed his paper to Washing- 
ton and, later, to Philadelphia, where it took the 
name of "The National Enquirer," being finally 
merged into "The Pennsylvania Freeman." In 
1838 his property was burned bj' the pro-slavery 
mob which fired Pennsylvania Hall, and, in the 
following winter, he removed to Lowell, La Salle 
Co., 111., with a view to reviving his paper there, 
but the design was frustrated by his early death, 
which occurred August 22, 1839. The paper 
however, was revived by Zebina Eastman under 
the name of "The Genius of Liberty," but was re- 
moved to Chicago, in 1842, and issued under the 
name of "The Western Citizen." (See Eastman, 
Zebina.) 

LUNT, Orrington, capitalist and philanthro- 
pist, was born in Bowdoinham, Maine, Dec. 24, 
1815; came to Chicago in 1842, and engaged in 
the grain commission business, becoming a mem- 
ber of the Board of Trade at its organization. 
Later, he became interested in real estate oper- 
ations, fire and life insurance and in railway 
enterprises, being one of the early promoters of 
the Chicago & Galena Union, now a part of the 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



3-17 



Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He also took 
an active part in municipal affairs, and, during 
the War, was an efficient member of the "War 
Finance Committee." A liberal patron of all 
moral and benevolent enterprises, as shown by 
his cooperation with the "Relief and Aid Soci- 
ety" after the fire of 1871, and his generous bene- 
factions to the Young Men"s Christian Association 
and feeble churches, his most efficient service 
was rendered to the cause of education as repre- 
sented in the Northwestern Universit}', of which 
he was a Trustee from its organization, and much 
of the time an executive officer. To his noble 
benefaction the institution owes its splendid 
library building, erected some years ago at a 
cost of §100,000. In the future history of Chi- 
cago, Mr. Lunfs name will stand beside that of 
J. Young Scanimon, Walter L. Newberrj-, John 
Crerar, and others of its most liberal benefactors. 
Died, at his home in Evanston, April 5, 1897. 

LUSK, Joliii T., pioneer, was born in South 
Carolina, Nov. 7, 1784; brought to Kentucky in 
1791 by his father (James Lusk), who established 
a ferry across the Ohio, opposite the present town 
of Golconda, in Pope Count}-, 111. Lusk's Creek, 
which empties into the Ohio in that vicinity, 
took its name from this family. In 180.5 the sub- 
ject of this sketch came to Madison County, 111., 
and settled near Edwardsville. During the War 
of 1813-14 he was engaged in the service as a 
"Ranger." When Edwardsville began its 
growth, he moved into the town and erected a 
house of hewn logs, a story and a half high and 
containing three rooms, which became the first 
hotel in the town and a place of considerable 
historical note. Mr. Lusk held, at different 
periods, the positions of Deputy Circuit Clerk, 
County Clerk, Recorder and Postmaster, dying, 
Dec. 22, 1857. 

LUTHERANS, The. While this sect in Illi- 
nois, as elsewhere, is divided into many branches, 
it is a unit in accepting the Bible as the only in- 
fallible rule of faith, in the use of Luther's small 
Catechism in instruction of the young, in the 
practice of infant baptism and confirmation at 
an early age, and in acceptance of the Augsburg 
Confession. Services are conducted, in various 
sections of the country, in not less than twelve 
different languages. The number of Lutheran 
ministers in Illinois exceeds 400, who preach 
in the EngUsh, German, Danish, Swedish, Fin- 
nish and Hungarian tongues. The churches 
over which they preside recognize allegiance 
to eight distinct ecclesiastical bodies, denomi- 
nated synods, as follows; The Northern, South- 



ern, Central and Wartburg Synods of the 
General Synod; the Illinois-Missouri District of 
the Synodical Conference; the Synod for the 
Norwegian Evangelical Church; the Swedish- 
Augustana, and the Indiana Synod of the General 
Council. To illustrate the large proportion of the 
foreign element in this denommation, reference 
may be made to the fact that, of sixty-three 
Lutheran churches in Chicago, only four use the 
English language. Of the remainder, thirty- 
seven make use of the German, ten Swedish, nine 
Norwegian and three Danish. The whole num- 
ber of communicants in the State, in 1892, was 
estimated at 90,000. The General Synod sustains 
a German Theological Seminary in Chicago. 
(See also Religious Denominations. 

LYONS, a village of Cook County, 12 miles 
southwest of Chicago. Population (1880), 486; 
(1890), 733; (1900), 951 

MACALISTER & STEBBINS BONDS, the 

name given to a class of State indebtedness 
incurred in the year 1841, through the hypothe- 
cation, by John D.Whiteside (then Fund Com- 
missioner of the State of Illinois), with Messrs. 
Macalister & Stebbins, brokers of New York 
City, of 804 interest-bearing bonds of 51,000 each, 
payable in 1865, upon which the said Macalister 
& Stebbins advanced to the State 6361,560.83. 
This was done with the understanding that the 
firm would make further advances sufficient to 
increase the aggregate to forty per cent of the 
face value of the bonds, but upon which no 
fmther advances were actuallj' made. In addi- 
tion to these, there were deposited with the same 
firm, within the next few months, with a like 
understanding, internal improvement bonds and 
State scrip amounting to 5109,215.44 — making the 
aggregate of State securities in their hands §913,- 
215.44, upon which the State had received only 
the amount already named — being 28.64 per cent 
of the face value of such indebtedness. Attempts 
having been made by the holders of these bonds 
(with whom they had been hj'potheeated by 
Macalister & Stebbins), to secure settlement on 
their par face value, the matter became the sub 
jeot of repeated legislative acts, the most impor- 
tant of which were passed in 1847 and 1849 — both 
reciting, in their respective preambles, the history 
of the transaction. The last of these provided 
for the issue to Macalister & Stebbins of new 
bonds, payable in 1865, for the amount of princi- 
pal and interest of the sum actually advanced 
and found to be due, conditioned upon the sur- 
render, by them, of the original bonds and other 



348 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



evidences of indebtedness received by them in 
1841. This the actual holders refused to accept, 
and brought the case before the Supreme Court 
in an effort to compel the Governor (who was 
then ex-officio Fund Commissioner) to recognize 
the full face of their claim. This the Supreme 
Court refused to do, on the ground that, the 
executive being a co-ordinate branch of the Gov- 
ernment, they had no authority over his official 
acts. In 1859 a partial refunding of these bonds, 
to the amount of §114,000, was obtained from 
Governor Bissell, who, being an invalid, was 
probably but imperfectly acquainted with their 
history and previous legislation on the subject. 
Representations made to him led to a suspension 
of the proceeding, and, as the bonds were not 
transferable except on the books of the Funding 
Agency in the office of the State Auditor, they 
were treated as illegal and void, and were ulti- 
mately surrendered by the holders on the basis 
originally fixed, without loss to the State. In 
1865 an additional act was passed requiring the 
presentation, for payment, of the portion of the 
original bonds still outstanding, on pain of for- 
feiture, and this was finally done. 

MACE, Alonzo W., legislator, was born at More- 
town, Vt., in 1822; at 16 years of age settled at 
Kalamazoo, Mich. , later began the study of medi- 
cine and graduated at Laporte, Ind., in 1844. 
Then, having removed to Kankakee, III., he 
adopted the practice of law ; in 1858 was elected 
Representative, and, in 1860 and '64, to the 
Senate, serving through five continuous sessions 
(1858-68). In 1862 he assisted in organizing the 
Seventy-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of 
which he was commissioned Colonel, but resigned, 
in January following, to take his seat in the 
Senate. Colonel Mack, who was a zealous friend 
of Governor Yates, was one of the leading spirits 
in the establishment of "The Chicago Repub- 
lican, " in May, 1865, and was its business mana- 
ger the first year of its publication, but disagreeing 
with the editor, Charles A. Dana, both finally 
retired. Colonel Mack then resumed the practice 
of law in Chicago, dying there, Jan. 4, 1871. 

MACKINAW, the first county-seat of Tazewell 
County, at intersection of two railroad Unes, 18 
miles southeast of Peoria. The district is agri- 
cultural and stock-raising. There are manufacto- 
ries of farm implements, pressed brick, harness, 
wagons and carriages, also a State bank and a 
weekly paper. Population (1890). 545; (1900), 859. 

MAC MILLAN, Thomas C, Clerk of United 
States District Court, was born at Stranraer, 
Scotland, Oct. 4, 1850; came with his parents, in 



1857, to Chicago, where he graduated from the 
High School and spent some time in the Chicago 
University; in 1873 became a reporter on "The 
Chicago Inter Ocean;" two years later accom- 
panied an exploring expedition to the Black Hills 
and, in 1875-76, represented that paper with 
General Crook in the campaign against the Sioux, 
After an extended tour in Europe, he assumed 
charge of the "Curiosity Shop" department of 
"The Inter Ocean," served on the Cook County 
Board of Education and as a Director of the Chi 
cago Public Library, besides eight years in the 
General Assembly — 1885-89 in the House and 1889- 
93 in the Senate. In January, 1896, Mr. MacMillan 
was appointed Clerk of the United States District 
Court at Chicago. He has been a Trustee of Illi- 
nois College since 1886, and, in 1885, received the 
honorary degree of A.M. from that institution. 

MACOMB, the county-seat of McDonough 
County, situated on the Chicago, Bvu"lington & 
Quincy Railroad, 59 miles northeast of Quincy, 
39 miles southwest of Galesburg. The principal 
manufactures are sewer-pipes, drain-tile, pot- 
tery, and school-desk castings. The city has 
interurban electric car line, banks, nine churches, 
high school and four newspapers; is the seat of 
Western Illinois State Normal School, and West- 
ern Preparatory School and Business College. 
Population (1890), 4,052; (1900), 5,375. 

MACON, a village in Macon County, on the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, 10 miles sovith by west of 
Decatur. Macon County is one of the most fer- 
tile in the corn belt, and the city is an important 
shipping-point for corn. It has wagon and cigar 
factories, four churches, a graded school, and a 
weekly paper. Population (1890), 819; (1900), 705. 

MACON COUNTY, situated near the geograph- 
ical center of the State. The census of 1900 gave 
its area as 580 square miles, and its population, 
44,003. It was organized in 1829, and named for 
Nathaniel Macon, a revolutionary soldier and 
statesman. The surface is chiefly level prairie, 
although in parts there is a fair growth of timber. 
The county is well drained by the Sangamon 
River and its tributaries. The soil is that high 
grade of fertility which one might expect in the 
corn belt of the central portion of the State. 
Besides corn, oats, rye and barley are extensively 
cultivated, while potatoes, sorghum and wool are 
among the products. Decatur is the county -seat 
and principal city in the heart of a rich agricul- 
tural region. Maroa, in the northern part of the 
county, enjoys considerable local trade. 

MACOUPIN COUNTY, a south-central county, 
with an area of 864 square miles and a population 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



349 



of 42,356 in 1900. The word Macoupin is of 
Indian derivation, signifying '"white potato." 
The county, originally a part of Madison, and 
later of Greene, was separately organized in 1829, 
under the supervision of Seth Hodges, William 
Wilcox and Theodorus Davis. The first court 
house (of logs) was erected in 1830. It contained 
but two rooms, and in pleasant weather juries 
were wont to retire to a convenient grove to 
deliberate upon their findings. The surface of 
the county is level, with narrow belts of timber 
following the course of the streams. The soil is 
fertile, and both corn and wheat are extensively 
raised While agriculture is the chief industry 
in the south, stock-raising is successfully carried 
on in the north. Carlinville is the county-seat 
and Bunker Hill, Stanton, Virden and Girard the 
other principal towns. 

MAC VEAGH, Franklin, merchant, lawyer 
and politician, was born on a farm in Chester 
County, Pa., graduated from Yale University in 
1862, and, two years later, from Columbia Law 
School, New York. He was soon compelled to 
abandon practice on account of iU-health, and 
removed to Chicago, in September, 1865, where he 
embarked in business as a wholesale grocer. In 
1874 he was chosen President of the Volunteer 
Citizens" Association, which inaugurated many 
important municipal reforms. He was thereafter 
repeatedly urged to accept other offices, among 
them the mayorality, but persistently refused 
until 1894, when he accepted a nomination for 
United States Senator by a State Convention ot 
the Democratic Party. He made a thorough can- 
vass of the State, but the Republicans having 
gained control of the Legislature, he was 
defeated. He is the head of one of the most 
extensive wholesale grocery establishments in 
the city of Chicago. 

MADISON COUNTY, situated in the southwest 
division of the State, and bordering on the Mis- 
sissippi River. Its area is about 740 square miles. 
The surface of the county is hiUy along the Mis- 
sissippi bluffs, but generally either level or only 
slightly undulating in the interior. The "Ameri- 
can Bottom" occupies a strip of country along 
the western border, four to six miles wide, as far 
north as Alton, and is exceptionally fertile. The 
county was organized in 1812, being the first 
county set off from St. Clair County after the 
organization of Illinois Territory, in 1809, and the 
third within the Territory. It was named in 
honor of James Madison, then President of the 
United States. At that time it embraced sub- 
stantially the whole of the northern part of the 



State, but its limits were steadily reduced by 
excisions until 1843. The soil is fertile, corn, 
wheat, oats, hay, and potatoes being raised and 
exported in large quantities. Coal seams under- 
lie the soil, and carboniferous limestone crops out 
in the neighborhood of Alton. American settlers 
began first to arrive about 1800, the Judys, Gill- 
lianis and Whitesides being among the first, gen- 
erally locating in the American Bottom, and 
laying the foundation for the present county. 
In the early history of the State, Madison County 
was the home of a large number of prominent 
men %vho exerted a large influence in shaping its 
destiny. Among these were Governor Edwards. 
Governor Coles, Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, and 
many more whose names are intimately inter- 
woven with State liistory. The county-seat is at 
Edwardsville, and Alton is the principal city. 
Population (1890), 51,535; (1900), 04,694. 

MAGRUDER, Benjamin D., Justice of the 
Supreme Court, was born near Natchez, Miss., 
Sept. 27, 1838; graduated from Yale College in 
1856, and, for three years thereafter, engaged in 
teacliing in his father's private academy at 
Baton Rouge, La., and in reading law. In 1859 
he graduated from the law department of the 
University of Louisiana, and the same year 
opened an oflSce at Memphis, Tenn. At the out- 
break of the Civil War, his sympathies being 
strongly in favor of the Union, he came North, 
and, after visiting relatives at New Haven, 
Conn., settled at Chicago, in June, 1861. While 
ever radically loyal, he refrained from enhsting 
or taking part in political discussions during the 
war, many members of his immediate family 
being in the Confederate service. He soon 
achieved and easily maintained a high standing 
at the Chicago bar; in 1868 was appointed Master 
in Chancery of the Superior Court of Cook 
County, and, in 1885, was elected to succeed 
Judge T. Lyle Dickey on the bench of the 
Supreme Court, being re-elected for a full term 
of nine years in 1888, and again in 1897. He was 
Chief Justice in 1891-92. 

MAKANDA, a village of Jackson County, on 
the Illinois Central Railway, 49 miles north of 
Cairo, in South Pass, in spur of Ozark Mountains. 
It is in the midst of a rich fruit-growing region, 
large amounts of this product being shipped there 
and at Cobden. Tlie place has a bank and a 
weekly paper. Population (1900), 528. 

MALTBY, Jasper A., soldier, was born in Ash- 
tabula County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1826, served as a 
private in the Mexican War and was severely 
wounded at Chapultepec. After his discharge he 



350 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



established himself in the mercantile business at 
Galena, 111. ; in 1861 entered the volunteer service 
as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-fifth Illinois 
Infantry, was wounded at Fort Donelson, pro- 
moted Colonel in November, 1863, and wounded 
a second time at Vicksburg; commissioned 
Brigadier-General in August, 1863; served 
through the subsequent campaigns of the Army 
of the Tennessee, and was mustered out, January, 
1866. Later, he was appointed by the commander 
of the district Mayor of Vicksburg, dying in that 
office, Dec. 12, 1867. 

MANCHESTER, a town of Scott County, on 
the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton 
Railway, 16 miles south of Jacksonville; has 
some manufactures of pottery. Population 
(1890), 408; (1900), 430. 

MANIERE, George, early Chicago lawyer and 
jurist, born of Huguenot descent, at New Lon- 
don, Conn., in 1817. Bereft of his father in 1831, 
his mother removed to New York City, where he 
began the study of law, occasionally contributing 
to "The New York Mirror,"' then one of the 
leading literary periodicals of the country. In 
1835 he removed to Chicago, where he completed 
his professional studies and was admitted to the 
bar in 1839. His first office was a deputyship in 
the Circuit Clerk's office ; later, he was appointed 
Master in Chancery, and served one term as 
Alderman and two terms as City Attorney. 
While filling the latter office he codified the 
municipal ordinances. In 1855 he was elected 
Judge of the Circuit Court and re-elected in 1861 
without opposition. Before the expiration of his 
second term he died, May 21, 1863. He held the 
office of School Commissioner from 1844 to 1852, 
during which time, largely through his efforts, 
the school system was remodeled and the im- 
paired school fund placed in a satisfactory con- 
dition. He was one of the organizers of the 
Union Defense Committee in 1861, a member of 
the first Board of Regents of the (old) Chicago 
University, and prominently connected with 
several societies of a semi-public character. He 
was a polished writer and was, for a time, in edi- 
torial control of "The Chicago Democrat." 

MANN, James R., lawyer and Congressman, was 
born on a farm near Bloomington, 111., Oct. 20, 
1856, whence his father moved to Iroquois County 
in 1867; graduated at the University of Illinois 
in 1876 and at the Union College of Law in Chi- 
cago, in 1881, after which he established himself 
in practice in Chicago, finally becoming the head 
of the law firm of Mann, Hayes & Miller; in 1888 
was elected Attorney of the village of Hyde Park 



and, after the annexation of that municipality to 
the city of Chicago, in 1892 was elected Alderman 
of the Thirty-second Ward, and re-elected in 
1894, wldle in the City Council becoming one of 
its most prominent members; in 1894, served as 
Temporary Chairman of the Republican State 
Convention at Peoria, and, in 1895, as Chairman 
of the Cook County Republican Convention. In 
1896 he was elected, as a Republican, to the Fifty- 
fifth Congress, receiving a plurality of 28,459 
over the Free Silver Democratic candidate, and 
26,907 majority over all. In 1898 he was a can- 
didate for re-election, and was again successful, by 
over 17,000 plurality, on a largely reduced vote. 
Other positions held by Mr. Mann, previous to his 
election to Congress, include those of Master in 
Chancery of the Superior Court of Cook County 
and General Attorney of the South Park Com- 
missioners of the city of Chicago. 

MANN, Orrin L., lawyer and soldier, was born 
in Geauga County, Ohio., and, in his youth, 
removed to the vicinity of Ann Arbor, Mich., 
where he learned the blacksmith trade, but, 
being compelled to abandon it on account of an 
injurj', in 1851 began study with the late Dr. 
Hinman, then in charge of the Wesleyan Female 
College, at Albion. Mich. Dr. Hinman having, 
two years later, become President of the North- 
western University, at Evanston, Mr. Mann 
accompanied his preceptor to Chicago, continuing 
his studies for a time, but later engaging in 
teaching; in 1856 entered the University of 
Michigan, but left in his junior year. In 1860 he 
took part in the campaign which resulted in the 
election of Lincoln ; early in the following spring 
had made arrangements to engage in the lumber- 
trade in Chicago, but abandoned this purpose at 
the firing on Fort Sumter; then assisted in 
organizing the Thirty-ninth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers (the "Yates Phalanx""), which having 
been accepted after considerable delay, he 
was chosen Major. The regiment was first 
assigned to duty in guarding tlie Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad, but afterwards took part in the 
first battle of Winchester and in operations in 
North and South Carolina. Having previously 
been commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, Major 
Mann was now assigned to court-martial duty at 
Newborn and Hilton Head. Later, he partici- 
pated in the siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, 
winning a brevet Brigadier-Generalship for 
meritorious service. The Thirty-ninth, having 
"veteranized"" in 1864, was again sent east, and 
being assigned to the command of Gen B. F. 
Butler, took part in the battle of Bermuda 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



351 



Hundreds, where Colonel Mann was seriousl}' 
wounded, necessitating a stay of several months 
in liospital. Returning to duty, he was assigned 
to the staff of General Ord, and later served as 
Provost Marshal of the District of Virginia, with 
headquarters at Norfolk, being finally mustered 
out in December, 18G5. After the war he 
engaged in the real estate and loan business, 
but, in 1806, was appointed Collector of Internal 
Revenue for the Chicago District, sei'ving until 
1868, when he was succeeded by General Corse. 
Other positions held by him have been : Represent- 
ative in the Twenty-ninth General Assembly 
(1874-76), Coroner of Cook County (1878-80), and 
Sheriff (1880-82). General Mann was injured by 
a fall, some years since, inducing partial paraly- 
sis. 

MANNING, Joel, first Secretary of the Illinois 
& Michigan Canal Commissioners, was born in 
1793, graduated at Union College, N. Y., in 1818, 
and came to So'jthern Illinois at an early day, 
residing for a time at Brownsville, Jackson 
County, where he held the office of Countj-- 
Clerk. In 1836 he was practicing law, when he 
was appointed Secretary of the first Board of 
Commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 
remaining in office until 1845. He continued to 
reside at Lockport, Will County, until near the 
close of his life, when he removed to Joliet. dying 
there, Jan 8, 1869. 

MANNING, Jnlius, lawyer, was born in Can- 
ada, near Chateaugay, N. Y., but passed his 
earlier years chiefly in the State of New York, 
completing his education at Middlebury College, 
Vt. ; in 1839 came to Knoxville, 111., where he 
served one term as County Judge and two terms 
(1843-46) as Representative in the General Assem- 
bly. He was also a Democratic Presidential 
Elector in 1848. In 1853 he removed to Peoria, 
where he was elected, in 1861, a Delegate to the 
State Constitutional Convention of the following 
year. Died, at Knoxville, July 4, 1863. 

MANSFIELD, a village of Piatt County, at 
the intersection of the Peoria Division of the 
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis and 
the Chicago Division of the Wabasli Railways, 
32 miles southeast of Bloomington. It is in the 
heart of a rich agricultural region ; has one news- 
paper. Population (1890), 533; (1900). 708. 

MANTENO, a village of Kankakee County, 
on the Illinois Central Railroad, 47 miles south 
of Chicago; a shipping point for grain, live- 
stock, small fruits and dairy products; has 
one newspaper. Population (1880), 632; (1890), 
627; (1900), 933. 



MA(JUON, a village of Knox County, on the 
Peoria Division of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railway, 16 miles southeast of Gales- 
burg. The region is agricultural. The town lias 
banks and a weekly- paper. Population (1880), 
548; (1890). 501, (1900). 473. 

MARCY, (Dr.) Oliver, educator, was born in 
Coleraine, Mass., Feb. 13, 1830; received his early 
education in the grammar schools of his native 
town, graduating, in 1843, from t)ie Weslej-an 
University at Middleto'mi, Conn. He early mani- 
fested a deep interest in the natural sciences and 
became a teacher in an academy at Wilbraham, 
Mass., where he remained until 1863, meanwhile 
making numerous trips for geologic investigation 
One of these was made in 1849, overland, to 
Paget Sound, for the purpose of securing data 
for maps of the Pacific Coast, and settling dis- 
puted questions as to the geologic formation of 
the Rocky Mountains. During this trip he visited 
San Francisco, making maps of the mountain 
regions for the use of the Government. In 1862 
he was called to the professorship of Natural 
History in the Northwestern University, at 
Evanston, remaining there until his death. The 
institution was then in its infancy, and he taught 
mathematics in connection with his other duties. 
From 1890 he was Dean of the faculty. He 
received the degee of LL.D. from the University 
of Chicago in 1876. Died, at Evanston, March 
19, 1899. 

MAREDOSIA (MARAIS de OGEE), a peculiar 
depression (or slough) in the southwestern part of 
Whiteside County, connecting tlie Mississippi 
and Rock Rivers, through which, in times of 
freshets, the former sometimes discharges a part 
of its waters into the latter. On the other hand, 
when Rock River is relatively higher, it some- 
times discharges through the same channel into 
the Mississippi. Its general course is north and 
south. — Cat-Tuil Slough, a similar depression, 
runs nearly parallel with the Maredosia, at a dis- 
tance of five or six miles from the latter. The 
higliest point in the Maredosia above low water 
in the Mississippi is thirteen feet, and that in the 
Cat-Tail Slough is twenty-six feet. Each is 
believed, at some time, to have served as a 
channel for the Mississippi. 

MARENGO, a city of McHenry County, settled 
in 1835, incorporated as a town in 1857 and, as a 
city, in 1893; lies 68 miles northwest of Chicago, 
on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. It is 
in the heart of a dairying and fruit-growing dis- 
trict; has a foundry, stove works, condensed 
milk plant, canning factory, water-works, elec- 



352 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



trie lights, lias six churches, good schools and 
two weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 1,264; 
(1890), 1, 445; (1900), 2,005. 

MARINE, a village of Madison County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 27 miles northeast of 
St. Louis. Several of its eanliest settlers were 
sea captains from the East, from whom the 
"Marine Settlement" obtained its name. Popu- 
lation (1880) 774; (1890.), 637; (1900), 666. 

MARION, tlie county-seat of Williamson 
County, 173 miles southeast of Springfield, on the 
Illinois Central and Chicago & Eastern Illinois 
Railroads ; in agricultural and coal region ; has 
cotton and woolen mills, electric cars, water- 
works, ice and cold-storage plant, dry pressed 
brick factory, six churches, a graded scliool, and 
three newspapers. Pop. (1890), 1,338; (1900), 3,510. 

MARION COUNTY, located near the center of 
the southern half of the State, with an area of 
580 square miles ; was organized in 1823, and, by 
the census of 1900, had a population of 30,446. 
About half the county is prairie, the chief prod- 
ucts being tobacco, wool and fruit. The 
remainder is timbered land. It is watered by the 
tributaries of the Kaskaskia and Little Wabash 
Rivers. The bottom lands have a heavy growth 
of choice timber, and a deep, rich soil. A large 
portion of the county is underlaid with a thin 
vein of coal, and the rocks all belong to the upper 
coal measures. Sandstone and building sand are 
also abundant. Ample shipping facilities are 
afforded bj- the Illinois Central and theBaltimore & 
Ohio (S.W.) Railroads. Salem is the county-seat, 
but Centralia is the largest and most important 
town, being a railroad junction and center of an 
extensive fruit-trade. Sandoval is a thriving 
town at the junction of the Illinois Central and 
the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroads. 

MARISSA, a village of St. Clair County, on the 
St. Louis & Cairo Short Line Railroad, 39 miles 
southeast of St. Louis. It is in a farming and 
mining district; has two banks, a newspaper and 
a magazine. Population (1890), 876; (1900), 1,088. 

MAROA, a city in Macon County, on the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, 13 mUes north of Decatur 
and 31 miles south of Bloomington. The city has 
three elevators, an agricultural implement fac- 
tory, water-works system, electric light plant, 
telephone service, two banks, one newspaper, 
three churches and a graded school. Population 
(1880), 870; (1890), 1,164; (1900), 1,213. 

MARQUETTE, (Father) Jacques, a French 
missionary and explorer, born at Laon, France, 
in 1637. He became a Jesuit at the age of 17, and, 
twelve years later (1666), was ordained a priest. 



The same year he sailed for Canada, landing at 
Quebec. For eighteen months he devoted him- 
self chiefly to the study of Indian dialects, and, 
in 1668, accompanied a party of Nez-Perces to 
Lake Superior, where he founded the mission of 
Sault Ste. Marie. Later, after various vicissi- 
tudes, he went to Mackinac, and, in that vicinity, 
founded the Mission of St. Ignace and built a 
rude church. In 1673 he accompanied Joliet on 
his voyage of discovery down the Mississippi, the 
two setting out from Green Bay on May 17, and 
reaching the Mississippi, by way of the Fox and 
Wisconsin Rivers, June 17. (For an interesting 
translation of Marquette's quaint narrative of the 
e.xpedition, see Shea's "Discovery and Explo- 
ration of the Mississippi,'' N. Y., 1852.) In Sep- 
tember, 1673, after leaving the Illinois and stop- 
ping for some time among the Indians near 
"Starved Rock," he returned to Green Bay much 
broken in health. In October, 1674, under orders 
from his superior, he set out to establish a mis- 
sion at Kaskaskia on the Upper Illinois. In 
December he reached the present site of Chicago, 
where he was compelled to halt because of 
exhaustion. On March 29, 1675, he resumed his 
journey, and reached Kaskaskia, after much 
suffering, on April 8. After laboring indefati- 
gably and making many converts, failing heixlth 
compelled him to start on his return to Macki- 
nac. Before the voyage was completed he died. 
May 18, 1675, at the mouth of a stream which 
long bore his name — but is not the present Mar- 
quette River — on the eastern shore of Lake Michi- 
gan. His remains were subsequently removed to 
Point St. Ignace. He was the first to attempt to 
explain the lake tides, and modern science has 
not improved his theory. 

MARSEILLES, a city on the Illinois River, in 
La Salle County, 8 miles east of Ottawa, and 77 
miles southwest of Chicago, on the line of the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Ex- 
cellent water power is furnished by a dam across 
the river. The city has several factories, among 
the leading products being flour, paper and 
agricultural implements. Coal is mined in the 
vicinity. The grain trade is large, sufficient to 
support three elevators. There are three papers 
(one daily). Population (1890), 3,310; (1900), 
2,.5.59; (1903, est.), 3,100. 

MARSH, Bonjamin F., Congressman, born in 
Wythe Township. Hancock County, 111., was edu- 
cated at private schools and at Jubilee College, 
leaving the latter institution one year Ijefore 
graduation. He read law under the tutelage of his 
brother. Judge J. W. Marsh, of Warsaw, and was 



I 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



353 



admitted to the bar in 1860. The same year he was 
an unsuccessful candidate for State's Attorney. 
Immediately upon the first call for troops in 1861, 
he raised a company of cavalry, and, going to 
Springfield, tendered it to Governor Yates. No 
cavalry having been called for, the Governor felt 
constrained to decline it. On his way home Mr. 
Marsh stopped at Quincy and enlisted as a private 
in the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, in which regi- 
ment he served until July 4, 1861, when Gov- 
ernor Yates advised him by telegraph of his 
readiness to accept his cavalry company. 
Returning to Warsaw he recruited another com- 
pany within a few days, of which he was com- 
missioned Captain, and which was attached to 
the Second Illinois Cavalry. He served in the 
army until January, 1866, being four times 
wounded, and rising to the rank of Colonel. On 
his return home he interested himself in politics. 
In 1869 he was a Republican candidate for the 
State Constitutional Convention, and. in 1876, 
was elected to represent the Tenth Illinois Dis- 
trict in Congress, and re-elected in 1878 and 1880. 
In 1885 he was appointed a member of the Rail- 
road and Warehouse Commission, serving until 
1889. In 1894 he was again elected to Congress 
from his old district, which, under the new 
apportionment, had become the Fifteenth, was 
re-elected in 1896, and again in 1898. In the 
Fifty-fifth Congress he was a member of the 
House Committee on Military Affairs and Chair- 
man of the Committee on Militia. 

MARSH, William, jurist, was born at Moravia, 
N. Y., May 11, 1823; was educated at Groton 
Academy and Union College, graduating from 
the latter in 1843. He studied law, in part, in 
the office of Millard Fillmore, at Buffalo, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1845, practicing at Ithaca 
until 1854, when he removed to Quincy, 111. Here 
he continued in practice, in partnership, at differ- 
ent periods, with prominent lawyers of that city, 
until elected to the Circuit bench in 1885, serv- 
ing until 1891. Died, April 14, 1894. 

MARSHALL, the county -seat of Clark County, 
and an incorporated city, 16!^ miles southwest of 
Terre Haute, Ind., and a point of intersection of 
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
and the Vandalia Railroads. The surrounding 
country is devoted to farming and stock-raising. 
The city has woolen, flour, saw and planing mills, 
and milk condensing plant. It has two banks, 
eight churches and a good public school system, 
which includes city and township high schools, 
and three newspapers. Population (1890), 1,900; 
(1900), 2,077. 



MARSHALL, Samuel S., lawyer and Con- 
gressman, was born in Gallatin County, 111., in 
1824; studied law and soon after located at 
McLeansboro. In 1846 he was chosen a member 
of the lower house of the Fifteenth General 
Assembly, but resigned, early in the following 
j'ear, to become State's Attorney, serving until 
1848 ; was Judge of the Circuit Court from 1851 
to 1854, and again from 1861 to 1865 ; was delegate 
from the State-at-large to the Charleston and 
Baltimore Conventions of 1860, and to the 
National Union Convention at Philadelphia in 
1866. In 1861 he received the complimentary 
vote of his part}- in the Legislature for United 
States Senator, and was similarly honored in the 
Fortieth Congress (1867) by receiving the Demo- 
cratic support for Speaker of the House. He 
was first elected to Congress in 1854, re-elected in 
1856, and, later, served continuously from 1865 to 
1875, when he returned to the practice of his 
profession. Died, July 26, 1890. 

MARSHALL COUNTY, situated in the north- 
central part of the State, with an area of 400 
square miles — named for Chief Justice John Mar- 
shall. Settlers began to arrive in 1827, and 
county organization was effected in 1839. The 
Illinois River bisects the county, which is also 
drained by Sugar Creek. The surface is gener- 
ally level prairie, except along the river, although 
occasionally undulating. The soil is fertile, 
com, wheat, hay and oats forming the staple 
agricultural products. Hogs are raised in great 
number, and coal is extensively mined. Lacon 
is the county -seat. Population (1880), 15,053; 
(1890), 13,6.53; (1900), 16,370. 

MARTIN, (Gen.) James S., ex Congressman 
and soldier, was born in Scott County, Va., 
August 19, 1826, educated in the common 
schools, and, at the age of 30, accompanied his 
parents to Southern Illinois, settling in Marion 
County. He served as a non-commissioned 
officer in the war with Mexico. In 1849, he was 
elected Clerk of the Marion County Court, which 
office he filled for twelve years. By profession he 
is a lawyer, and has been in active practice when 
not in public or military life. For a number of 
years he was a member of the Republican State 
Central Committee. In 1862 he was commis- 
sioned Colonel of the One Hundred and Eleventh 
Illinois Volunteers, and, at the close of the war, 
brevetted Brigadier-General. On his return home 
he was elected County Judge of Marion County, 
and, in 1868, appointed United States Pension 
Agent. The latter post he resigned in 1872, hav- 
ing been elected, as a Republican, to represent 



354 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the Sixteenth District in the Forty-third Con- 
gress. He was Commander of the Grand Army 
for the Department of Illinois in 1889-90. 

MARTINSVILLE, a village of Clark County, 
on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis (Vandalia) 
Railroad. 11 miles southwe.st of Marshall; has 
twobanksand one newspaper. Population (1880), 
663; (1890), 779; (1900), 1,000. 

MASCOUTAH, a city in St. Clair County, 25 
miles from St. Louis and 11 miles east of Belle- 
ville, on the line of the Louisville & Nashville 
Railroad. Coal-mining and agriculture are the 
principal industries of the surrounding country. 
The city has flour mills, a brickyard, dairy, 
school, churches, and electric line. Population 
(1880), 3,558; (1890), 3.032; (1900), 2,171. 

MASON, Boswell B., civil engineer, was born 
in Oneida County, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1805; in his 
boyhood was employed as a teamster on the Erie 
Canal, a year later (1832) accepting a position as 
rodman under Edward F. Gay, assistant-engineer 
in charge of construction. Subsequently he was 
employed on the Schuylkill and Morris Canals, 
on the latter becoming assistant-engineer and, 
finally, chief and superintendent. Other works 
with which Mr. Mason was connected in a similar 
capacity were the Pennsylvania Canal and the 
Housatonic, New York & New Haven and the 
Vermont Valley Railroads. In 1851 he came 
west and took charge of the construction of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, a work which required 
five years for its completion. The next four 
years were spent as contractor in the construction 
of roads in Iowa and Wisconsin, until 1860, when 
he became Superintendent of the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad, but remained only one year, in 
1861 accepting the position of Controller of the 
land department of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
which he retained until 1867. The next two 
years were occupied in the service of the State in 
lowering the summit of the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal. In 1869 he was elected Mayor of the city 
of Chicago, and it was in the closing days of 
his term that the great fire of 1871 occurred, 
testing his executive ability to the utmost. From 
1873 to 1883 he served as one of the Trustees of 
the Illinois Industrial University, and was one of 
the incorporators, and a lifelong Director, of the 
Presbyterian Theological Seminarj- of the North- 
west. Died, Jan. 1, 1892.— Edward Gay (Mason), 
son of the preceding, was born at Bridgeport, 
Conn., August 23, 1839; came with his father's 
family, in 1853, to Chicago, where he attended 
school for several years, after which he entered 
Yale College, graduating there in 1860. He then 



studied law, and, later, became a member of the 
law firm of Mattocks & Mason, but subsequently, 
in conjunction with two brothers, organized tlie 
firm of Slason Brothers, for the prosecution of a 
real-estate and law business. In 1881 Mr. Mason 
was one of the organizers of the Chicago Musical 
Festival, which was instrumental in bringing 
Theodore Thomas to Chicago. In 1887 he became 
President of the Chicago Historical Society, as the 
successor of Elihu B. Washburne, retaining the 
position until his death, Dec. 18, 1898. During 
his incumbency, the commodious building, now 
occupied by the Historical Society Library, was 
erected, and he added largely to the resources of 
the Society by the collection of rare manuscripts 
and other historical records. He was the author 
of several historical works, including "Illinois in 
the Eighteenth Ceotury," "Kaskaskia and Its 
Parish Records," besides papers on La Salle and 
the first settlers of Illinois, and "The Story of 
James Willing — An Episode of the American 
Revolution." He also edited a volume entitled 
"Early Chicago and Illinois," which was pub- 
lished under the auspices of the Chicago Histor- 
ical Society. Mr. Mason was, for several years, a 
Trustee of Yale University and, about the time of 
his death, was prominently talked of for President 
of that institution, as successor to President 
Timothy Dwight. 

MASON, William E., United States Senator, 
was born at Franklinville, Cattaraugus County. 
N. Y., July 7, 1850, and accompanied his parents 
to Bentonsport, Iowa, in 1858. He was educated 
at the Bentonsport Academy and at Birmingham 
College. From 1866 to 1870 he taught school, the 
last two years at Des Moines. In that city he 
studied law with Hon. Thomas F. Withrow, who 
afterward admitted him to partnership. In 1872 
he removed to Chicago, where he has since prac- 
ticed his profession. He soon embarked in poli- 
tics, and, in 1878, was elected to the lower house 
of the General Assembly, and, in 1882, to the 
State Senate. In 1884 he was the regular Repub- 
lican candidate for Congress in the Third Illinois 
District (then strongly Republican), but, owing 
to party dissensions, was defeated by James H. 
Ward, a Democrat. In 1886, and again in 1888, 
he was elected to Congress, but, in 1890, was 
defeated for re-election by Allan C. Durborow. 
He is a vigorous and effective campaign speaker. 
In 1897 he was elected United States Senator, 
receiving in the Legislature 125 votes to 77 for 
John P. Altgeld, the Democratic candidate. 

MASON CITY, a prosperous city in Mason 
County, at the intersection of the Chicago & 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



355 



Alton and the Havana branch of the Illinois 
Central Railroads, 18 miles nest bj' north of 
Lincoln, and about 30 miles north of Springfield. 
Being in the heart of a rich corn-growing district, 
it is an important shipping point for that com- 
modity. It has four churches, two banks, two 
newspapers, brick work.s, flour-mills, grain-ele- 
vators and a carriage factory. Population (1880), 
1,7U: (1890), 1,869; (1900), 1,890. 

MASON COUNTY, organized in 1841, with a 
population of about 3,000; population (1900), 
17,491, and area of 560 square miles, — named for a 
county in Kentucky. It lies a little northwest 
of the center of the State, the Illinois and Sanga- 
mon Rivers forming its west and its south bound- 
aries. The soil, while sandy, is fertile. The 
chief staple is com, and the county offers excel- 
lent opportunities for viticulture. The American 
pioneer of Mason Covmty was probably Maj. 
Ossian B. Ross, who settled at Havana in 1833. 
Not until 1837, however, can immigration be said 
to have set in rapidly. Havana was first chosen 
as tlie county seat, but Bath enjoyed the honor 
for a few years, the county offices being per- 
manently removed to the former point in 1851. 
Mason City is an important shipping point on the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad 

MASONS, ANCIENT ORDER OF FREE AND 
ACCEPTED. (See Free-3Iasons.) 

MASSAC COUNTY, an extreme southern 
county of the State and one of the smallest, its 
area, being but little more than 340 square miles, 
with a population fl900) of 13,110 — named for 
Fort Massac, within its borders. The surface is 
hilly toward the north, but the bottom lands 
along the Ohio River are Bwampy and liable to 
frequent overflows. A considerable portion of the 
natural resources consists of timber — oak, wal- 
nut, poplar, hickory, cypress and Cottonwood 
abounding. Saw-mills are found in nearly every 
town, and considerable grain and tobacco are 
raised. The original settlers were largely from 
Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina, and hospi- 
tality is traditional. Metropolis, on the Ohio 
River, is the county-seat. It was laid off in 1839, 
although Massac County was not separately 
organized until 1843. At Massac City may be 
seen the ruins of the early French fort of that 
name. 

MASSAC COUNTY REBELLION, the name 
commonly given to an outbreak of mob violence 
which occurred in Massac County, in 1845-46. An 
arrested criminal having asserted that an organ- 
ized band of thieves and robbers existed, and 
having given the names of a large number of the 



alleged members, popular excitement rose to 
fever heat. A company of self-appointed "regu 
lators" was formed, whose acts were so arbitrary 
that, at the August election of 1846, a Sheriff and 
County Clerk were elected on the avowed issue 
of opposition to these irregular tactics. This 
served to stimulate the "regulators'" to renewed 
activity. Many persons were forced to leave the 
county on suspicion, and others tortured into 
making confession. In consequence, some leading 
"regulators" were thrown into jail, only to be soon 
released by their friends, who ordered the Sheriff 
and County Clerk to leave the county. The feud 
rapidly grew, both in proportions and in inten- 
sity. Governor French made two futile efforts to 
restore order through mediation, and the ordinary 
processes of law were also found unavailing. 
Judge Scates was threatened with lynching 
Only 60 men dared to serve in the Sheriff's posse, 
and these surrendered upon promise of personal 
immunity from violence. This pledge was not 
regarded, several members of the posse being led 
away as prisoners, some of whom, it was believed, 
were drowned in the Ohio River. All the incarcer- 
ated "regulators" were again released, the Sheriff 
and his supporters were once more ordered to 
leave, and fresh seizures and outrages followed 
each other in quick succession. To remedy this 
conation of affairs, the Legislature of 1847 enacted 
a laiv creating district courts, under the provi- 
sions of which a Judge might hold court in any 
county in his circuit. This virtually conferred 
upon the Judge the right to change the venue at 
his own discretion, and thus secure juries unbiased 
by local or partisan feeling. The effect of this 
legislation was highly beneficial in restoring 
quiet, although the embers of the feud still 
smoldered and intermittently leaped into flame 
for several years thereafter. 

MATHENY, Charles R., pioneer, was bom in 
Loudoun Coimty, Va., March 6, 1786, licensed as a 
Methodist preacher, in Kentucky, and, in 1805, 
came to St. Clair Coimty (then in Indiana Terri- 
tory), as a missionary. Later, he studied law and 
was admitted to the bar; served in the Third 
Territorial (1817) and the Second State Legisla- 
tures (1830-33) ; removed, in 1831, to the newly 
organized county of Sangamon, where he was 
appointed the first County Clerk, remaining in 
office eighteen years, also for some years holding, 
at the same time, the offices of Circuit Clerk, 
Recorder and Probate Judge. Died, while 
County Clerk, in 1839.— Noah TY. (Matheny), son 
of the preceding, was born in St. Clair County, 111. , 
July 31, 1815; was assistant of his father in the 



356 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



County Clerk's office in Sangamon County, and, 
on the death of the latter, (November, 1839), was 
elected his successor, and re-elected for eight con- 
secutive terms, serving until 1873. Died, April 
30, 1877. — James H. (Matheny), another son, 
born Oct. 30, 1818, in St. Clair County; served in 
his youth as Clerk in various local offices : was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1847, 
elected Circuit Clerk in 1853, at the close of his 
term beginning the practice of law ; was com- 
missioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred 
and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteers, in October, 
1862, and, after the siege of Vicksburg, served as 
Judge Advocate until July, 1864, when he 
resigned. He then returned to his profession, 
but, in 1873, was elected County Judge of Sanga- 
mon County, holding the office by repeated re- 
elections until his death, Sept. 7, 1890, — having 
resided in Springfield 68 years. 

MATHER, Thomas, pioneer merchant, was 
born, April 24, 1795, at Simsbury, Hartford 
County, Conn. ; in early manhood was engaged 
for a time in business in New York City, but, in 
the spring of 1818, came to Kaskaskia, 111., where 
he soon after became associated in business with 
James L. Lamb and others. This firm was 
afterwards quite extensively engaged in trade 
with New Orleans. Later he became one of the 
founders of the town of Chester. In 1820 Mr. 
Mather was elected to the lower branch of the 
Second General Assembly from Randolph 
County, was re-elected to the Third (serving for 
a part of the session as Speaker), and again to the 
Fourth, but, before the expiration of his last term, 
resigned to accept an appointment from Presi- 
dent John Quincy Adams as Commissioner to 
locate the military road from Independence to 
Santa Fe, and to conclude treaties with the 
Indians along the line. In the Legislature of 
1832 he was one of the most determined oppo- 
nents of the scheme for securing a pro-slavery 
Constitution. In 1828 he was again elected to 
the House and, in 1832, to the Senate for a term 
ot four years. He also served as Colonel on the 
staff of Governor Coles, and was supported for the 
United States Senate, to fill the vacancy caused 
by the death of John McLean, in 1830. Having 
removed to Springfield in 1835, he became promi- 
nent in business affairs there in connection with 
his former partner, Mr. James L. Lamb; in 1837 
was appointed a member of the first Board of 
Fund Commissioners for the State under the 
internal improvement system ; also served seven 
years as President of the Springfield branch of 
the State Bank; was connected, as a stock- 



holder, with the construction of the Sangamon & 
Morgan (now Wabash) Railroad, extending from 
Springfield to the Illinois river at Naples, and 
was also identified, financially, with the old Chi- 
cago & Galena Union Railroad. From 1835 until 
his death. Colonel Mather served as one of the 
Trustees of Illinois College at Jacksonville, and 
was a liberal contributor to the endowment of 
that institution. His death occurred during a 
visit to Philadelphia, March 28, 1853. 

MATTESON, Joel Aldrlch, ninth regularly 
elected Governor of Illinois (18.53-.57), was born 
in Watertown, N. Y., August 8, 1808; after some 
experience in business and as a teacher, in 1831 
he went to South Carolina, where he was foreman 
in the construction of the first railroad in that 
State. In 1834 he removed to Illinois, where he 
became a contractor on the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal, and also engaged in manufacturing at 
Joliet. After serving three terms in the State 
Senate, he was elected Governor in 1852, and, in 
1855, was defeated by Lyman Trumbull for the 
United States Senatorship. At the close of his 
gubernatorial term he was complimented by the 
Legislature, and retired to private life a popular 
man. Later, there were developed grave scandals 
in connection with the refunding of certain 
canal scrip, with which his name — unfortunately 
— was connected. He turned over property to 
the State of the value of nearly 8250,000, for its 
indemnification. He finally took up his resi- 
dence in Chicago, and later spent considerable 
time in travel in Europe. He was for many 
years the lessee and President of the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad. Died in Chicago, Jan. 31, 1873. 

MATTHEWS, Asa C, ex-Comptroller of the 
United States Treasury, was born in Pike County, 
111., March 22, 1833; graduated from Illinois Col- 
lege in 1855, and was admitted to the bar three 
years later. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, 
he abandoned a remunerative practice at Pitts- 
field to enlist in the army, and was elected and 
commissioned a Captain in the Ninety-ninth Illi- 
nois Volunteers. He rose to the rank of Colonel, 
being mustered out of the service in August, 
1865. He was appointed Collector of Internal 
Revenue in 1869, and Supervisor for the District 
composed of Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, in 
1875. Being elected to the Thirtieth General 
Assembly in 1876, he resigned his office, and was 
re-elected to the Legislature in 1878. On the 
death of Judge Higbee, Governor Hamilton 
appointed Mr. Matthews to fill the vacancy thus 
created on the bench of the Sixth Circuit, his 
term expiring in 1885. In 1888 he was elected to 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



357 



the Thirty-sixth General Assembly and was 
chosen Speaker of the House. In May, 1889, 
President Harrison named him First Comp- 
troller of the United States Treasury, and the 
House, by a unanimous vote, expressed its grati- 
fication at his selection. Since retiring from 
oflBce, Colonel Matthews has devoted his attention 
to the practice of his profession at Pittsfield. 

MATTHEWS, Milton W., lawyer and journal- 
ist, was born in Clark County, 111., March 1, 1846, 
educated in the common schools, and, near the 
close of the war, served in a 100-days" regiment ; 
began teaching in Champaign County in 1865, 
studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867 ; 
in 1873 was appointed Master in Chancery, served 
two terms as Prosecuting Attorney, and, in 1888, 
was elected to the State Senate, meanwhile, from 
1879, discharging the duties of editor of "The 
Champaign County Herald," of which he was 
also proprietor. During his last session in the 
State Senate (1891-93) he served as President pro 
tem. of that body; was also President of the 
State Press Association and served on the staff of 
Governor Fifer, with the rank of Colonel of the 
Illinois National Guard. Died, at Urbana. May 
10, 1892. 

MATTOON, an important city in Coles County, 
173 miles west of south from Chicago and 56 miles 
west of Terre Haute, Ind. ; a point of junction for 
three lines of railway, and an important shipping 
point for corn and broom corn, which are both 
extensively grown in the surrounding region. It 
has several banks, foundries, machine shops, 
brick and tile-works, flour-mills, grain-elevators, 
with two daily and four weekly newspapers ; also 
has good graded schools and a high school. The 
repair shops of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chi- 
cago & St. Louis Railroad are located here. 
Population (1890), 6,833; (1900), 9,622. 

MAXWELL, Pliilip, M.D., pioneer physician, 
was born at Guilford, Vt., April 3, 1799, graduated 
in medicine and practiced for a time at Sacketfs 
Harbor, also serving in the New York Legisla- 
ture; was appointed Assistant Surgeon at Fort 
Dearborn, in 1833, remaining intil the abandon- 
ment of the fort at the end of 1836. In 1838 he 
was promoted Surgeon, and served with Gen. 
Zachary Taylor in the campaign against the Semi- 
noles in Florida, but resumed private practice in 
Chicago in 1844; served two terms as Represent- 
ative in the General Assembly (1848-53) and, in 
1855, settled on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wis., 
where he died, Nov. 5, 1859. 

MAY, William L., early lawyer and Congress- 
man, was born in Kentucky, came at an early day 



to Edwardsville, 111., and afterwards to Jackson- 
ville; was elected from Morgan County to the 
Sixth General Assembly (1828), and the next year 
removed to Springfield, having been appointed by 
President Jackson Receiver of Public Moneys for 
the Land Office there He was twice elected to 
Congress (1834 and '36), the first year defeating 
Benjamin Mills, a brilliant lawj-er of Galena. 
Later, May became a resident of Peoria, but 
finall}- removed to California, where he died. 

MAYO, Walter L., legislator, was born in Albe- 
marle County Va., March 7, 1810; came to 
Edwards County, 111., in 1838, and began teach- 
ing. He took part in the Black Hawk War 
(1831-33), being appointed by Governor Reynolds 
Quartermaster of a battalion organized in that 
section of the State. He had previously been 
appointed County Clerk of Edwards County to fill 
a vacancy, and continued, by successive re-elec- 
tions, to occupy the position for thirty-seven 
years — also acting, for a portion of the time, as 
Circuit Clerk, Judge of Probate and County Treas- 
urer. In 1870 he was elected Representative in 
the Twenty-seventh General Assembly for the 
Edwards County District. On the evening of Jan. 
18, 1878, he mysteriously disappeared, having 
been last seen at the Union Depot at East St. 
Louis, when about to take the train for his home 
at Albion, and is supposed to have been secretly 
murdered. No trace of his body or of the crime 
was ever discovered, and the affair has remained 
one of the mysteries of the criminal history of 
Illinois. 

MAYWOOD, a village of Cook County, and 
suburb of Chicago, 10 miles west of that city, on 
the Chicago & Northwestern and the Chicago 
Great Western Railways; has churches, two 
weekly newspapers, public schools and some 
manufactures. Population (1900), 4,533. 

McAllister, WilUam K., jurist, was born in 
Washington County, N. Y., in 1818. After 
admission to the bar he commenced practice at 
Albion, N. Y. , and, in 1854, removed to Chicago. 
In 1866 he was a candidate for the bench of the 
Superior Court of that city, but was defeated by 
.ludge Jameson. Two years later he was chosen 
Judge of the Recorder's Com-t, and, in 1870, was 
elected a Justice of the Supreme Court, which 
position he resigned in 1875, having been elected 
a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to 
fill a vacancy. He was re-elected for a full term 
and assigned to Appellate Court duty in 1879. 
He was elected for a third time in 1885, but, 
before the expiration of his term, he died, Oct. 
29, 1888. 



358 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



McARTHUR, John, soldier, was born in Ers- 
kine, Scotland, Nov. 17, 1826; worked at his 
father's trade of blacksmith until 23 years old, 
when, coming to the United States, he settled in 
Chicago. Here he became foreman of a boiler- 
making establishment, later acquiring an estab- 
lishment of his own. Having joined the Twelfth 
Illinois Volunteers at the beginning of the war, 
with a company of which he was Captain, he 
was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel, still later Colonel, 
and, in March, 1862, promoted to Brigadier-Gen- 
eral for gallantry in the assault on Fort Donelson, 
where he commanded a brigade- At Shiloh he 
was wounded, but after having his wound dressed, 
returned to the fight and succeeded to the com- 
mand of the Second Division when Gen. W. H. L. 
Wallace fell mortally wounded. He commanded 
a division of McPherson's corps in the operations 
against Vicksburg, and bore a conspicuous part in 
the battle of Nashville, where he commanded a 
division under Gen. A. J. Smith, winning a brevet 
Major-Generalship by his gallantry. General 
McArthirr was Postmaster of Chicago from 1873 
to 1877. 

McCAGG, Ezra Butler, lawyer, was born at 
Kinderhook, N Y,, Nov. 22, 1825; studied law at 
Hudson, and, coming to Chicago in 1847, entered 
the law office of J. Young Scammon, soon after- 
wards becoming a member of the firm of Scam- 
mon & McCagg. During the war Mr. McCagg 
was an active member of the United States Sani- 
tary Commission, and (for some years after the 
fire of 1871) of the Relief and Aid Society; is also 
a life-member and officer of the Chicago Histori- 
cal Society, besides being identified with several 
State and municipal boards. His standing in his 
profession is shown by the fact that he has been 
more than once offered a non-partisan nomina- 
tion for Justice of the Supreme Court, but has de- 
clined. He occupies a high rank in literary circles, 
as well as a connoisseur in art, and is the owner of a 
large private library collected since the destruction 
of one of the best in the West by the fire of 1871. 

McCartney, James, lawyer and ex- Attorney 
General, was bom of Scotch parentage in the 
north of Ireland, Feb. 14, 1835; at two years of 
age was brought to the United States and, until 
1845, resided in Pennsylvania, when his parents 
removed to Trumbull County, Ohio. Here he 
spent his youth in general farm work, meanwhile 
attending a high school and finally engaging in 
teaching. In 1856 he began the study of law at 
Warren, Ohio, which he continued a year later in 
the office of Harding & Reed, at Monmouth, 111. ; 
was admitted to the bar in January, 1858, and 



began practice at Monmouth, removing the fol- 
lowing year to Galva. In April, 1861, he enlisted 
in what afterwards became the Seventeenth 
Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was commissioned 
a First Lieutenant, but, a year later, was com- 
pelled to resign on account of ill-health. A few 
months later he re-enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Twelfth Illinois, being soon promoted to a 
captaincy, although serving much of the time as 
Judge Advocate on courts-martial, and, for one 
year, as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General in the 
Army of the Ohio. At the conclusion of his term 
of service in the army, he resumed the practice 
of his profession at Fairfield, III. ; in 1880 was 
nominated and elected, as a Republican, Attorney- 
General of the State, and, during his last year in 
office, began the celebrated "Lake Front suits" 
which finally terminated successfully for the 
city of Chicago. Since retiring from office. Gen- 
eral McCartney has been engaged in the practice 
of his profession, chiefiy in Springfield and Chi- 
cago, having been a resident of the latter city 
since 1890. 

McCARTlVEY, Robert Wilson, lawyer and 
jurist, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, 
March 19, 1843, spent a portion of his boyhood in 
Pennsylvania, afterwards returning to Youngs- 
town, Ohio, where he enlisted as a private in the 
Sixth Ohio Cavalry. He was severely wounded 
at the battle of Gettysburg, lying two days and 
nights on the field and enduring untold suffering. 
As soon as able to take the field he was commis- 
sioned, by Governor Curtin, a Captain in the 
Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving in 
the army of the Potomac to the close of the war, 
and taking part in the grand review at Washing- 
ton, in May, 1865. After the war he took a course 
in a business college at Pittsburg, removed to 
Cleveland and began the study of law, but soon 
came to Illinois, and, having completed his law 
studies with his brother, J. T. McCartney, at 
Metropolis, was admitted to the bar in 1868 ; also 
edited a Republican paper there, became inter- 
ested in lumber manufacture and was one of the 
founders of the First National Bank of that city. 
In 1873 he was elected County Judge of Massac 
County, serving nine years, when (1882) he was 
elected Representative in the Thirty-third Gen- 
eral Assembly. At the close of his term in the 
Legislature he was elected Judge of the Circuit 
Court for the first Circuit, serving from 1885 to 
1891. Died, Oct. 27, 1893. Judge McCartney 
was able, public-spirited and patriotic. The city 
of Metropolis owes to him the Free Public Library 
bearing his name. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



359 



McCLAUGHRY, Robert Wilson, penologist, 
was born at Fountain Green, Hancock County, 
111., July 22, 1839, being descended from Scotch- 
Irish ancestry — his grandfather, who was a native 
of the North of Ireland, having come to America 
in his youth and served in the War of the Revolu- 
tion. The subject of this sketch grew up on a 
farm, attending school in the winter until 1854, 
then spent the next two winters at an academy, 
and, in 18.56, began a course in Monmouth Col- 
lege, where he graduated in 18G0. The following 
year he spent as instructor in Latin in the same 
institution, but, in 1861, became editor of "The 
Carthage Republican," a Democratic paper, 
which he made a strong advocate of the cause of 
the Union, meanwhile, both by his pen and on 
the stump, encouraging enlistments in the army. 
About the first of July, 1862, having disposed of 
his interest in the paper, he enlisted in a company 
of which he was unanimously chosen Captain, 
and which, with four other companies organized 
in the same section, became tlie nucleus of the 
One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers. 
The regiment having been completed at Camp 
Butler, he was elected Major, and going to the 
field in the following fall, took part in General 
Sherman's first movement against Vicksburg by 
way of Chickasaw Bayou, in December, 1863. 
Later, as a member of Osterhaus' Division of Gen- 
eral McClernand"s corps, he participated with liis 
regiment in the capture of Arkansas Post, and in 
the operations against Vicksburg which resulted 
in the capture of that stronghold, in July, 1863. 
He then joined the Department of the Gulf under 
command of General Banks, but was compelled 
by sickness to return north. Having sufficiently 
recovered, he spent a few months in the recruit- 
ing service (1864), but, in May of tliat year, was 
transferred, by order of President Lincoln, to the 
Pay Department, as Additional-Paymaster, with 
the rank of Major, being finally assigned to duty 
at Springfield, where he remained, paying off Illi- 
nois regiments as mustered out of the service, 
until Oct. 13, 1865, when he was honorably dis- 
charged. A few weeks later he was elected 
County Clerk of Hancock County, serving four 
years. In the meantime he engaged in the stone 
business, as head of the firm of R. W. McClaughry 
& Co. , furnishing stone for the basement of the 
State Capitol at Springfield and for bridges across 
the Mississippi at Quincy and Keokuk— later 
being engaged in the same business at St. Gene- 
vieve, Mo., with headquarters at St. Louis. Com- 
pelled to retire by failing health, lie took up his 
residence at Monmouth in 1873, but, in 1874, was 



called to the wardenship of the State Peniten- 
tiary at Joliet. Here he remained until December, 
1888, when he resigned to accept the superin- 
tendency of the Industrial Reformatory at 
Huntingdon, Pa., but, in May, 1891, accepted 
from Mayor Washburne the position of Chief of 
Police in Chicago, continuing in service, under 
Mayor Harrison, until August, 1893, when he 
became Superintendent of the Illinois State 
Reformatory at Pontiac. Early in 1897 he was 
again offered and accepted the position of Warden 
of the State Penitentiary at Joliet. Here he re- 
mained until 1899, when he received from Presi- 
dent McKinley the appointment of Warden of the 
Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., 
which position he now (1899) occupies. Major Mc- 
Claughry's administration of penal and reforma- 
tory institutions has been eminently satisfactoiy, 
and he has taken rank as one of the most success- 
ful penologists in the country. 

McCLELLAX, Robert H., lawyer and banker, 
was born in Washington County, N. Y. , Jan. 3, 
1823; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, 
in 1847, and then studied law with Hon. Martin I. 
Townsend, of Troj', being admitted to the bar in 
1850. The same year he removed to Galena, 111. ; 
during his first winter there, edited "The Galena 
Gazette," and the following spring formed a 
partnership with John M. Douglas, afterwards 
General Solicitor and President of the Illinois 
Central Railroad, which ended with the removal 
of the latter to Chicago, when Mr McClellan 
succeeded him as local attorney of the road at 
Galena. In 1834 Mr. McClellan became President 
of the Bank of Galena — later the "National Bank 
of Galena" — remaining for over twenty years. 
He is also largel}' interested in local manufac- 
tories and financial institutions elewhere. He 
served as a Republican Representative in the 
Twenty-second General Assembly (1861-62), and 
as Senator (1876-80), and maintained a high rank 
as a sagacious and judicious legislator. Liberal, 
public-spirited and patriotic, his name has been 
prominentlj' connected with all movements for 
the improvement of his locality and the advance- 
ment of the interests of the State. 

McCLERNAND, John Alexander, a volunteer 
officer in the Civil War and prominent Demo- 
cratic politician, was born in Breckenridge 
County, Ky., May 30, 1812, brought to Shawnee- 
town in 1816, was admitted to the bar in 1832. 
and engaged in journalism for a time. He served 
in the Black Hawk War, and was elected to the 
Legislature in 1836, and again in 1840 and '42. 
The latter year he was elected to Congress, serv- 



360 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ing four consecutive terms, but declining a 
renomination, being about to remove to Jackson- 
ville, where be resided from 1851 to 1856. Twice 
(1840 and "52) be was a Presidential Elector on 
the Democratic ticket. In 1856 he removed to 
Springfield, and, in 1859, re-entered Congress as 
Representative of the Springfield District; was 
re-elected in 1860, but resigned in 1861 to accept 
a commission as Brigadier-General of Volimteers 
from President Lincoln, being promoted Major- 
General early in 1862. He participated in the 
battles of Belmont, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and 
before Vicksburg, and was in command at the 
capture of Arkansas Post, but was severely criti- 
cised for some of his acts during the Vicksburg 
campaign and relieved of his command by Gen- 
eral Grant. Having finallj' been restored by 
order of President Lincoln, he participated in the 
campaign in Louisiana and Texas, but resigned 
liis commission in 1864. General McClernand 
presided over the Democratic National Conven- 
tion of 1876, and, in 1886, was appointed by Presi- 
dent Cleveland one of the members of the Utah 
Commission, serving through President Harri- 
son's administration. He was also elected 
Circuit Judge in 1870, as succ essor to Hon. B. S. 
Edwards, who had resigned. Died Sept. 30, 1900. 
McCLURtx, Alexander C, soldier and pub- 
lisher, was born in Philadelphia but grew up in 
Pittsburg, wliere his father was an iron manu- 
facturer. He graduated at Miami University. 
Oxford, Ohio., and, after studying law for a time 
with Chief Justice Lowrie of Pennsylvania, came 
to Chicago in 1859, and entered the bookstore of 
S. C. Griggs & Co., as a junior clerk. Early in 
1861 he enlisted as a private in the War of the 
Rebellion, but the quota of three-months' men 
being already full, his services were not accepted. 
In August. 1862, he became a member of the 
"Crosby Guards," afterwards incorporated in the 
Eighty -eightli Illinois Infantry (Second Board of 
Trade Regiment), and was unanimously elected 
Captain of Company H. After the battle of 
Perryville, he was detailed as Judge Advocate at 
Nashville, and, in the following year, offered the 
position of Assistant Adjutant-General on the 
staff of General McCook, afterwards serving in a 
similar capacity on the staffs of Generals Thomas. 
Sheridan and Baird. He took part in the defense 
of Chattanooga and, at the battle of Missionary 
Ridge, had two horses shot under him ; was also 
with the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Atlanta 
campaign, and, at the request of Gen. Jeff. C. 
Davis, was promoted to the rank of Colonel and 
brevetted Brigadier-General — later, being pre- 



sented with a sword bearing the names of the 
principal battles in which he was engaged, 
besides being especially complimented in letters 
by Generals Slierman, Thomas, Baird, Mitchell, 
Davis and others. He was invited to enter the 
regular army at the close of the war, but pre- 
ferred to return to private life, and resumed his 
former position with S. C. Griggs & Co., soon 
after becoming a junior partner in the concern, 
of which he has since become the chief. In the 
various mutations through which tliis extensive 
firm has gone. General McClurg has been a lead- 
ing factor until now (and since 1887) he stands 
at the head of the most extensive publishing firm 
west of New York. 

McCONNEL, Murray, pioneer and lawyer, was 
born in Orange County, N. Y. , Sept. 5, 1798, and 
educated in the common schools; left home at 
14 years of age and, after a year at Louisville, 
spent several years flat-boating, trading and 
hunting in the West, during this period visiting 
Arkansas, Texas and Kansas, finally settling on a 
farm near Herculaneum, Mo. In 1823 he located 
in Scott (then a part of Morgan) County, 111., but 
when the town of Jacksonville was laid out, 
became a citizen of that place. During the Black 
Hawk War (July and August, 1832), he served on 
tlie staff of Gen. J. D. Henry with the rank of 
Major; in 1837 was appointed by Governor Dun- 
can a member of the Board of Public Works for 
the First Judicial District, in this capacity having 
charge of the construction of the railroad between 
Meredosia and Springfield (then known as the 
Northern Cross Railroad) — the first public rail- 
road built in the State, and the only one con- 
structed during the "internal improvement" era 
following 1837. He also held a commission from 
Governor French as Major-General of State Mi- 
litia, in 1855 was appointed by President Pierce 
Fifth Auditor of the Treasury Department, but 
retired in 1859. In 1832, on his return from 
the Black Hawk War, he was elected a Repre- 
sentative in the State Legislature from Morgan 
County, and, in 1864, was elected to the State 
Senate for the District composed of Morgan, 
Menard, Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, 
serving until 1868. Though previously a Demo- 
crat and a delegate to the Democratic National 
Convention of 1860, he was an earnest supporter 
of the war policy of the Government, and was 
one of four Democratic Senators, in the General 
Assembly of 1865, who voted for the ratification 
of the Thirteenth Amendment of the National 
Constitution, prohibiting slavery in the United 
States. His death occurred by assassination, by 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



361 



some unknown person, in his office at Jackson- 
ville, Feb. 9, 1869.— John Ludlam (McConnel), 
son of the preceding, was born in Jacksonville, 
111., Nov. 11, 1826, studied law and graduated at 
Transylvania Law School; in 1846 enlisted as a 
private in the Mexican War, became First Lieu- 
tenant and was promoted Captain after the battle 
of Buena Vista, where lie was twice %vounded. 
After the war he returned to Jacksonville and 
%vrote several books illustrative of Western life 
and character, which were published between 
1850 and 1853. At the time of his death — Jan. 
17. 1863 — he was engaged in the preparation of a 
"History of Early Explorations in America," hav- 
ing special reference to the labors of the early 
Roman Catholic missionaries. 

McCOXSELL, (Gen). John, soldier, was born 
in Madison County, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1824, and came 
with his parents to Illinois when about sixteen 
years of age. His father (.James McConnell) was 
a native of Ireland, who came to the United 
States shortly before the War of 1812, and, after 
remaining in New York until 1840, came to San- 
gamon County, III., locating a few miles south of 
Springfield, where he engaged extensively in 
sheep-raising. He was an enterprising and pro- 
gressive agriculturist, and was one of the founders 
of the State Agricultural Society, being President 
of the Convention of 1852 which resulted in its 
organization. His death took place, Jan. 7, 1867. 
The subject of this sketch was engaged with his 
father and brothers in the farming and stock 
business until 1861, when he raised a company 
for the Third Illinois Cavalry, of which he was 
elected Captain, was later promoted Major, serv- 
ing until March, 1863, during that time taking 
part in some of the important battles of the war 
in Southwest Missouri, including Pea Ridge, and 
was highly complimented by his commander. 
Gen. G. M. Dodge, for braverj'. Some three 
months after leaving the Third Cavalry, he was 
commissioned by Governor Yates Colonel of the 
Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and, in March, 1865, was 
commissioned Brevet Brigadier-General, his com- 
mission being signed by President Lincoln on 
April 14, 1865, the morning preceding the night 
of his assassination. During the latter part of 
his service. General McConnell was on duty in 
Texas, being finally mustered out in October, 
1865. After the death of his father, and until 
1879, he continued in the business of sheep-raising 
and farming, being for a time the owner of 
several extensive farms in Sangamon County, 
but, in 1879, engaged in the insurance business 
in Springfield, where he died. March 14, 1898. 



McConnell, Samuel P., son of the preceding, 
was born at Springfield, 111., on July 5, 1849. 
After completing his literary studies he read law 
at Springfield in the office of Stuart, Edwards & 
Brown, and was admitted to the bar in 1872, soon 
after establishing himself in practice in Chicago. 
After various partnerships, in which he was asso- 
ciated with leading lawyers of Chicago, he was 
elected Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, 
in 1889, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of 
Judge W. K. McAllister, serving until 1894, when 
he resigned to give his attention to private prac- 
tice. Although one of the youngest Judges upon 
the bench, Judge McConnell was called upon, 
soon after his election, to preside at the trial of 
the conspirators in the celebrated Cronin murder 
case, in %vhich he displayed great ability. He has 
also had charge, as, presiding Judge, of a number 
of civil suits of great importance affecting cor- 
porations. 

McCORMICK, Cyrus Hall, inventor and manu- 
facturer, born in Rockbridge County, Va., Feb. 15, 
1809. In youth he manifested unusual mechani- 
cal ingenuity, and early began attempts at the 
manufacture of some device for cutting grain, Iiis 
first finished machine being produced in 1831. 
Though he had been manufacturing for years 
in a small way, it was not until 1844 that his 
first machine was shipped to the West, and, 
in 1847, he came to Chicago with a view to 
establishing its manufacture in the heart of the 
region where its vise would be most in demand. 
One of his early partners in the business was 
William B. Ogden, afterwards so widely known 
in connection with Chicago's railroad history. 
The business grew on his hands until it became 
one of the largest manufacturing interests in the 
United States. Mr. McCormick was a Democrat, 
and, in 1860, he bought "The Chicago Times." 
and having united it with "The Herald," which 
he already owned, a few months later sold the 
consolidated concern to Wilbur F. Storey. "The 
Interior," the Northwestern mouthpiece of the 
Presbyterian faith, had been founded by a joint 
stock-company in 1870, but was burned out in 
1871 and removed to Cincinnati. In January, 
1872, it was returned to Chicago, and, at the 
beginning of the following year, it became the 
property of Mr. McCormick in conjunction with 
Dr. Gray, who has been its editor and manager 
ever since. Mr. McCormick's most liberal work 
was undoubtedly the endowment of the Presby- 
terian Theological Seminary in Chicago, which 
goes by his name. His death occurred. May 13, 
1884. after a business life of almost unprece- 



362 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



dented success, and after conferring upon the 
agriculturists of the country a boon of inestimable 

Mccormick theological seminary, a 

Presbyterian school of tlieology in Cliicago, be- 
ing the outgrowth of an institution originally con- 
nected with Hanover College, Ind., in 1830. In 
1859 the late Cyrus H. MeCormick donated $100,- 
000 to the school, and it was removed to Chicago, 
where it was opened in September, with a class 
of fifteen students. Since then nearly S300,000 
have been contributed toward a building fund by 
Mr. MeCormick and his heirs, besides numerous 
donations to the same end made by others. The 
number of buildings is nine, four being for the 
general purposes of the institution (including 
dormitories), and five being houses for the pro- 
fessors. The course of instruction covers three 
annual terms of seven months each, and includes 
didactic and polemic theology, biblical and 
ecclesiastical history, sacred rhetoric and pastoral 
theology, church government and the sacra- 
ments, New Testament literature and exegesis, 
apologetics and missions, and homiletics. The 
faculty consists of eight professors, one adjunct 
professor, and one instructor in elocution and 
vocal culture. Between 200 and 300 students are 
enrolled, including post-graduates. 

McCULLOCH, David, la^vj-er and jurist, was 
born in Cumberland County, Pa., Jan. 2.5, 1832; 
received his academic education at Marshall Col- 
lege, Mercersburg, Pa. , graduating in the class of 
1852. Then, after spending some six months as 
a teacher in his native village, he came west, 
arriving at Peoria early in 1853. Here he con- 
ducted a private school for two years, when, in 
1855, he began the study of law in the office of 
Manning & Merriman, being admitted to the bar 
in 1857. Soon after entering upon his law studies 
he was elected School Commissioner for Peoria 
County, serving, by successive re-elections, three 
terms (1855-61). At the close of this period he 
was taken into partnership with his old precep- 
tor, Julius Manning, who died, July 4, 1862. In 
1877 he was elected Circuit Judge for the Eighth 
Circuit, under the law authorizing the increase of 
Judges in each circuit to three, and was re- 
elected in 1879, serving until 1885. Six years of 
this period were spent as a Justice of the Appellate 
Court for the Third Appellate District. On 
retiring from the bench. Judge McCuUoch entered 
into partnership with liis son, E. D. McCuUoch, 
which is still maintained. Politically, Judge 
McCuUoch was reared as a Democrat, but during 
the Civil War became a Republican. Since 1886 



he has been identified with the Prohibition Party, 
although, as the result of questions arising during 
the Spanish-American War, giving a cordial 
support to the policy of President McKinley. In 
religious views he is a Presbj-terian, and is a mem- 
ber of the Board of Directors of the MeCormick 
Tlieological Seminary at Cliicago. 

McCULLOUGH, James Skiles, Auditor of 
Public Accounts, was born in Mercersburg, 
Franklin County, Pa.. May 4, 1843; in 1854 came 
with his father to Urbana, 111. , and grew up on a 
farm in that vicinity, receiving such education as 
could be obtained in the public schools. In 1862, 
at the age of 19 years, he enlisted as a private in 
Company G, Seventy-sixth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantr}-, and served during the next three years 
in the Departments of the Mi.ssissippi and the Gulf, 
meanwhile participating in the campaign against 
Vicksburg, and, near the close of the war, in the 
operations about Mobile. On the 9th of April, 
1865, while taking part in the assault on Fort 
Blakely, near Mobile, his left arm %vas torn to 
pieces by a grape-shot, compelling its amputation 
near the shoulder. His final discharge occurred 
in July, 1865. Returning home he spent a year in 
school at Urbana, after which he was a student in 
the Soldiers' College at Fulton, 111, for two years. 
He then (1868) entered the office of the County 
Clerk of Champaign County as a deputy, remain- 
ing until 1873, when he was chosen County Clerk, 
serving by successive re-elections until 1896. The 
latter year he received the nomination of the 
Republican Party for Auditor of Public Accounts, 
and, at the November election, was elected by a 
plurality of 188,000 votes over his Democratic 
opponent. He was serving his sixth term as 
County Clerk when chosen Auditor, having 
received the nomination of his party on each 
occasion without opposition. 

McDANXOLI), John J., lawyer and ex-Con- 
gressman, was born in Brown County, 111., August 
29, 1851, acquired his early education in the com- 
mon schools of his native county and in a private 
school; graduated from the Law Department of 
the Iowa State University in 1874, and was 
admitted to the bar in Illinois the same year, 
commencing practice at Mount Sterling. In 1885 
he was made Master in Chancery, in 1886, elected 
County Judge, and re-elected in 1890, resigning 
his seat in October, 1892, to accept an election by 
the Democrats of the Twelfth Illinois District as 
Representative in the Fifty-third Congress. 
After retiring from Congress (March 4, 1895), Mr. 
McDannold removed to Chicago, where he 
engaged in the practice of his profession. 



iTJT' -"S^SiTilEn 





■I " 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



363 



Mcdonough county, organized under an 
act passed, Jan. 35, 1826, and attached, for judicial 
purposes, to Schuyler County until 1830. Its 
present area is 580 square miles — named in honor 
of Commodore McDonough. The first settlement 
in the county was at Industry, on the site of 
which William Carter (the pioneer of the 
county) built a cabin in 1826. James and John 
Vance and William Job settled in the vicinity in 
the following year. Out of this settlement grew 
Blandinsville. William Pennington located on 
Spring Creek in 1828, and, in 1831, James M. 
Campbell erected the first frame house on the 
site of the present city of Macomb. The first 
sermon, preached by a Protestant minister in the 
county, was delivered in the Job settlement by 
Rev. John Logan, a Baptist. Among the early 
officers were John Huston, County Treasurer; 
"William Southward, Sheriff; Peter Hale, Coro- 
ner, and Jesse Bartlett, Surveyor. The first 
term of the Circuit Court was held in 1830, and 
presided over by Hon. Richard M. Young. The 
first railway to cross the county was the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy (1857). Since then other 
lines have penetrated it, and there are numerous 
railroad centers and shipping points of consider- 
able importance. Population (1880), 35,037; 
(1890), 27,467; (1900), 28,413. 

McDOUGALL, James Alexander, lawyer and 
United States Senator, was born in Bethlehem, 
Albany County, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1817; educated 
at the Albany grammar school, studied law and 
settled in Pike County, 111., in 1837; was Attor- 
ney-General of Illinois four years (1843-47) ; then 
engaged in engineering and, in 1849, organized 
and led an exploring expedition to the Rio del 
Norte, Gila and Colorado Rivers, finally settling 
at San Francisco and engaging in the practice of 
law. In 1850 he was elected Attorney-General of 
California, served several terms in the State 
Legislature, and, in 1853, was chosen, as a Demo- 
crat, to Congress, but declined a re-election ; in 
1860 was elected United States Senator from Cali- 
fornia, serving as a War Democrat until 1867. 
At the expiration of his senatorial term he retired 
to Albany, N. Y., where he died, Sept. 3, 1867. 
Though somewhat irregular in habits, he was, at 
times, a brilliant and eflfective speaker, and, dur- 
ing the War of the Rebellion, rendered valuable 
aid to the Union cause. 

McFARLAND, Andrew, M.D., alienist, was 
bom in Concord, N. H., July 14, 1817, graduated 
at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 
1841, and, after being engaged in general practice 
for a few years, was invited to assume the man- 



agement of tlie New Hampshire Asylum for the 
Insane at Concord. Here he remained some 
eight years, during which he acquired consider- 
able reputation in the treatment of nervous and 
mental disorders. In 1854 he was offered and 
accepted the position of Medical Superintendent 
of tlie Illinois State (now Central) Hospital ftii- 
the Insane at Jacksonville, entering upon his 
duties in June of that year, and continuing his 
connection with that institution for a period of 
more than sixteen years. Having resigned his 
position in the State Hospital in June, 1870, he 
soon after established the Oaklawn Retreat, at 
Jacksonville, a private institution for the treat- 
ment of insane patients, which he conducted 
with a great degree of success, and with which 
he was associated during the remainder of his 
life, dying, Nov. 33, 1891. Dr. McFarland's serv- 
ices were in frequent request as a medical expert 
in cases before the courts, invariably, however, 
on the side of the defense. The last case in which 
he appeared as a witness was at the trial of Charles 
F. Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield, 
%vhom he believed to be insane. 

McGAHEY, David, settled in Crawford County, 
III., in 1817, and served as Representative from 
that County in the Third and Fourth General 
Assemblies (1823-36), and as Senator in the 
Eighth and Ninth (1833-36). Although a native 
of Tennessee, Mr. McGahey was a strong opponent 
of slavery, and, at the session of 1832, was one of 
those who voted against the pro-slavery Constitu- 
tion resolution. He continued to reside in Law- 
rence County until his death in 1851. — James D. 
(McGahey), a son of the preceding, was elected 
to the Ninth General Assembly from Crawford 
County, in 1834, but died during his term of 
service. 

McGANN, Lawrence Edward, ex-Congressman, 
was born in Ireland, Feb. 2, 1853. His father 
having died in 1884, the following year his 
mother emigrated to the United States, settling 
at Milford, Mass., where he attended the public 
schools. In 1865 he came to Chicago, and, for 
fourteen years, found employment as a shoe- 
maker. In 1879 he entered the municipal service 
as a clerk, and, on Jan. 1, 188.5, was appointed 
City Superintendent of Streets, resigning in May, 
1891. He was elected in 1893, as a Democrat, to 
represent the Second Illinois District in the 
Fifty-second Congress, and re-elected to the Fifty- 
third. In 1894 he was a candidate for re-election 
and received a certificate of election by a small 
majority over Hugh R. Belknap (Republican). 
An investigation having shown hi.s defeat, he 



364 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



magnanimously surrendered his seat to his com- 
petitor without a contest He has large business 
interests in Chicago, especially in street railroad 
property, being President of an important elec- 
tric line. 

McHENRY, a village in McHenry County, situ- 
ated on the Fox River and the Chicago & North- 
western Railway. The river is here navigable for 
steamboats of light draft, which ply between the 
town and Fox Lake, a favorite resort for sports- 
men. The town has bottling works, a creamery, 
marble and granite works, cigar factory, flour 
mills, brewery, bank, four churches, and one 
weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 979; (1900), 1,013. 

McHENRY, William, legislator and soldier of 
the Black Hawk War, came from Kentucky to 
Illinois in 1809, locating in White County, and 
afterwards became prominent as a legislator and 
soldier in the War of 1812, and in the Black Hawk 
War of 1833, serving in the latter as Major of 
the "Spy Battalion" and participating in the 
battle of Bad Axe. He also served as Represent- 
ative in the First, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Gen- 
eral Assemblies, and as Senator in the Sixth and 
Seventh. While serving his last term in the 
House (1835), he died and was buried at Vandalia, 
then the State capital. McHenry County — organ- 
ized by act of the Legislature, passed at a second 
session during the winter of 1835-36 — -was named 
in his honor 

McHENRY COUNTY, lies in the northern por- 
tion of the State, bounded on the north by Wis- 
consin — named for Gen. William McHenry. Its 
area is 624 square miles. With what is now the 
County of Lake, it was erected into a county in 
1836, the county-seat being at McHenry. Three 
years later the eastern part was set off as the 
County of Lake, and the county -seat of McHenry 
County removed to Woodstock, the geograph- 
ical center. The soil is well watered by living 
springs and is highly productive. Hardwood 
groves are numerous. Fruits and berries are 
extensively cultivated, but the herbage is espe- 
cially adapted to dairying, Kentucky blue grass 
being indigenous. Large quantities of milk are 
daily shipped to Chicago, and the annual pro- 
duction of butter and cheese reaches into the 
millions of pounds. The geological formations 
comprise the drift and the Cincinnati and Niagara 
groups of rocks. Near Fox River are found 
gravel ridges. Vegetable remains and logs of 
wood have been found at various depths in the 
drift deposits ; in one instance a cedar log. seven 
inches in diameter, having been discovered forty- 
two feet below the surface. Peat is found everj'- 



where, although the most extensive deposits are 
in the northern half of the county, where they 
exist in sloughs covering several thousands of 
acres. Several lines of railroad cross the county, 
and every important village is a railway station. 
Woodstock, Marengo, and Harvard are the prin- 
cipal towns. Population (1880), 24,908; (1890), 
26.114; (1900), 29,759. 

McINTOSH. (Capt.) Alexander, was born in 
Fulton County, N. Y., in 1822; at 19 years of 
age entered an academy at Galway Center, 
remaining three years ; in 1845 removed to Joliet, 
111., and, two years later, started "The Joliet 
True Democrat," but sold out the next year, and, 
in 1849, went to California. Returning in 1852, he 
bought back "The True Democrat," which he 
edited until 1857, meanwhile (1856) having been 
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder 
of Will County. In 1863 he was appointed by 
President Lincoln Captain and Assistant Quarter- 
master, serving under General Sherman in 1864 
and in the "March to the Sea," and, after the 
war, being for a time Post Quartermaster at 
Mobile. Having resigned in 1866, he engaged in 
mercantile business at Wilmington, Will County ; 
but, in 1869, bought "The Wilmington Independ- 
ent," which he published until 1873. The next 
year he returned to Joliet, and, a few months 
after, became political editor of "The Joliet 
Republican," and was subsequently connected, in 
a similar capacity, with other papers, including 
"The Phoenix" and "The Sun" of the same city. 
Died, in Joliet, Feb. 2, 1899. 

McKENDREE, William, Methodist Episcopal 
Bisliop, was born in Virginia, in 1757, enlisted as 
a private in the War of the Revolution, but later 
served as Adjutant and in the commissary depart- 
ment. He was converted at 30 years of age, and 
the next year began preaching in his native 
State, being advanced to the position of Presiding 
Elder; in 1800 was transferred to the West, Illi- 
nois falling within his District. Here he remained 
until his elevation to the episcopacy in 1808. 
McKendree College, at Lebanon, received its 
name from him, together with a donation of 480 
acres of land. Died, near Nashville, Tenn., March 
5, 1835. 

McKENDREE COLLEGE, one of the earliest of 
Illinois colleges, located at Lebanon and incorpo- 
rated in 1835. Its founding was suggested by 
Rev. Peter Cartwright, and it may be said to 
have had its inception at the Methodist Episcopal 
Conference held at Mount Carmel, in September, 
1827. The first funds for its establishment were 
subscribed by citizens of Lebanon, who contrib- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



365 



uted from their scanty means, §1,385. Instruc- 
tion began, Nov. 24, la28, under Rev. Edward 
Ames, afterwards a Bishop of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. In 1830 Bishop McKendree made 
a donation of land to the infant institution, and 
the school was named in his lionor. It cannot be 
said to liave become really a college until 1836, 
and its iirst class graduated in 1841. University 
powers were granted it by an amendment to its 
charter in 1839. At present the departments are 
as follows: Preparatorj', business, classical, 
scientific, law, music and oratory. The institu- 
tion owns property to the value of §90,000, includ- 
ing an endowment of $25,000, and has about 200 
students, of both sexes, and a facultj- of ten 
instructors. (See Colleges, Early.) 

McLAREK, William Edward, Episcopal Bishop, 
was born at Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1831; gradu- 
ated at Washington and Jefferson College (Wash- 
ington, Pa.) in 1851, and, after six years spent in 
teaching and in journalistic work, entered Alle- 
gheny Theological Seminary, graduating and 
entering the Presbyterian ministry in 1860. For 
three years he was a missionary at Bogota, South 
America, and later in charge of churches at 
Peoria, 111., and Detroit, Mich. Having entered 
the Protestant Episcopal Church, he was made a 
deacon in July, 1872, and ordained priest the fol- 
lowing October, immediately thereafter assuming 
the pastorate of Trinity Church, Cleveland, Ohio. 
In July, 1875, he was elected Bishop of the Prot- 
estant Episcopal Diocese of Illinois, which then 
Included the whole State. Subsequently, the 
dioceses of Quincy and Springfield were erected 
therefrom, Bishop McLaren remaining at the 
head of the Chicago See. During his episcopate, 
church work has been active and effective, and 
the Western Theological Seminarj' in Chicago 
has been founded. His published works include 
numerous sermons, addresses and poems, besides 
a volume entitled "Catholic Dogma the Antidote 
to Doubt" (New York, 1884). 

McLAUGHLIJJ, Robert K., early lawyer and 
State Treasurer, was born in Virginia, Oct. 25, 
1779 ; before attaining his majority went to Ken- 
tucky, and, about 1815, removed to Illinois, set- 
tling finally at Belleville, where he entered upon 
the practice of law. The first public position 
held by liim seems to have been that of Enrolling 
and Engrossing Clerk of both Houses of the Third 
(or last) Territorial Legislature (1816-18). In 
August, 1819, he entered upon the duties of State 
Treasurer, as successor to John Thomas, who had 
been Treasurer during the whole Territorial 
period, serving until January, 1823. Becoming a 



citizen of Vandalia, by the removal thither of the 
State capital a few months later, he continued to 
reside there the remainder of his life. He subse- 
quently represented the Fayette District as 
Representative in the Fifth General Assembly, 
and as Senator in tlie Sixth, Seventh and Tenth, 
and, in 1837, became Register of the Land OfiHce 
at Vandalia, serving until 1845. Although an 
uncle of Gen. Joseph Duncan, he became a can- 
didate for Governor against the latter, in 1834, 
standing third on the list. He married a Miss 
Bond, a niece of Gov. Shadrach Bond, under 
whose administration he served as State Treasurer. 
Died, at Vandalia, May 29, 1862. 

McLEAX, a village of McLean County, on the 
Chicago & Alton Railway, 14 miles southwest of 
Bloomington, in a farming, dairying and stock- 
growing district; has one weekly paper. Popu- 
lation (1890), 500; (1900), 532. 

McLEAX, Jolin, early United States Senator, 
was born in North Carolina in 1791, brought by 
his father to Kentucky w-hen four years old, and. 
at 23, was admitted to the bar and removed to 
Illinois, settling at Shawneetown in 1815. Pos. 
sessing oratorical gifts of a high order and an 
almost magnetic power over men, coupled with 
strong common sense, a keen sense of humor and, 
great command of language, he soon attained 
prominence at the bar and as a popular speaker. 
In 1818 he was elected the first Representative in 
Congress from the new State, defeating Daniel P. 
Cook, but served only a few months, being de- 
feated by Cook at the next election. He was 
tliree times elected to the Legislature, serving 
once as Speaker. In 1824 he was chosen United 
States Senator to succeed Governor Edwards (who 
had resigned), serving one year. In 1828 he was 
elected for a second time by a unanimous vote, 
but lived to serve only one session, dying at 
Sliawneetown, Oct. 4, 1830. In testimony of the 
public appreciation of the loss which the State 
had sustained by his death, McLean County was 
named in his honor. 

McLEAiV COUNTY, the largest county of the 
State, having an area of 1166 square miles, is 
central as to the region north of the latitude of 
St. Louis and about midway between that city 
and Chicago — was named for John McLean, an 
early United States Senator. The early immi- 
grants were largely from Ohio, although Ken- 
tucky and New York were well represented. The 
county was organized in 1830, the population at 
that time being about 1,200. The greater portion 
of the surface is high, undulating prairie, with 
occasional groves and belts of timber. On the 



366 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



creek bottoms are found black walnut, sycamore, 
buckeye, black ash and elm, while the sandy 
ridges are covered with scrub oak and black-jack. 
The soil is extremely fertile (generally a rich, 
brown loam J, and the entire county is underlaid 
with coal. The chief occupations are stock-rais- 
ing, coal-mining, agriculture and manufactures. 
Sugar and Mackinaw Creeks, with their tribu- 
taries, afford thorough drainage. Sand and 
gravel beds are numerous, but vary greatly in 
depth. At Chenoa one has been found, in boring 
for coal, thirty feet thick, overlaid by forty-five 
feet of the clay common to this formation. The 
upper seam of coal in the Bloomington shafts is 
No. 6 of the general section, and the lower. No. 4 ; 
the latter averaging four feet in thickness. The 
principal towns are Bloomington (the county- 
seat). Normal, Lexington, LeRoy and Chenoa. 
Population (1890), 03,036; (1900), 67,843. 

McLEAXSBORO, a city and the county- seat of 
Hamilton County, upon a branch of the Louis- 
ville it Nashville Railroad, 102 miles east south- 
east of St. Louis and about 48 miles southeast of 
Centralia. The people are enterprising and pro- 
gressive, the city is up-to-date and prosperous, 
supporting three banks and six churches. Two 
weekly newspapers are published here. Popula- 
tion (1880), 1.341; (1890), 1,355; (1900), 1,758. 

McMULLIN, James C, Railway Manager, was 
born at Watertown. N. Y., Feb. 13, 1836; began 
work as Freight and Ticket Agent of the Great 
Western Railroad (now Wabash), at Decatur, 111., 
May, 1857, remaining until 1860, when he 
accepted the position of Freight Agent of the 
Chicago & Alton at Springfield. Here he re- 
mained until Jan. 1, 1863, when he was trans- 
ferred in a similar capacity to Chicago; in 
September, 1864, became Superintendent of the 
Northern Division of the Chicago & Alton, after- 
wards successively filling the positions of Assist- 
ant General Superintendent (1867), General 
Superintendent (1868-78) and General Manager 
(1878-83). The latter year he was elected Vice- 
President, remaining in office some ten years, 
when ill-health compelled his retirement. Died, 
in Chicago. Dec. 30, 1896. 

McMURTRT, William, Lieutenant-Governor, 
was born in Mercer County, Ky., Feb. 20, 1801 ; 
removed from Kentucky to Crawford County, 
Ind., and, in 1829. came to Knox County, 111., 
settling in Henderson Township. He was elected 
Representative in the Tenth General Assembly 
(1836), and to the Senate in 1842, serving in the 
Thirteenth and Fourteenth General Assemblies. 
In 1848 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor on 



the same ticket with Gov. A. C. French, being 
the first to hold the office under the Constitution 
adopted that year. In 1862 he assisted in raising 
the One Hundred and Second Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers, and, although advanced in years, 
was elected Colonel, but a few weeks later was 
compelled to accept a discharge on account of 
failing health. Died, April 10, 1875. 

McNEELEY, Tliompson W., lawyer and ex-Con- 
gressman, was born in Jacksonville, 111., Oct. 5, 
1835, and graduated at Lombard University, 
Galesburg, at the age of 21. The following year 
he was licensed to practice, but continued to pur- 
sue his professional studies, attending the Law 
University at Louisville, Ky., from which insti- 
tution he graduated in 1859. He was a member 
of the Constitutional Convention of 1862, and 
chairman of the Democratic State Central Com- 
mittee in 1878. From 1869 to 1873 he represented 
his District in Congress, resuming his practice 
at Petersburg, Menard County, after his retire- 
ment. 

McNULTA, John, soldier and ex-Congressman, 
was born in New York City, Nov. 9, 1837, received 
an academic education, was admitted to the bar, 
and settled at Bloomington, in this State, while 
yet a young man. On May 3, 1861, he enlisted as 
a private in the Union army, and served until 
August 9, 1865, rising, successively, to the rank 
of Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel and 
Brevet Brigadier-General. From 1869 to 1873 he 
was a member of the lower house of the General 
Assembly from McLean County, and, in 1872, was 
elected to the Forty-third Congress, as a Repub- 
lican. General McNulta has been prominent in 
the councils of the Republican party, standing 
second on the ballot for a candidate for Governor, 
in the State Convention of 1888, and serving as 
Permanent President of the State Convention of 
1890. In 1896 he was one of the most earnest 
advocates of the nomination of Mr. McKinley for 
President. Some of his most important work, 
within the past few years, has been performed in 
connection with receiverships of certain railway 
^nd other corporations, especially that of the 
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, from 1884 
to 1890. He is now (1898) Receiver of the National 
Bank of Illinois, Chicago. Died Feb. 22, 1900. 

McPHERSON, Simeon J., clergyman, de- 
scended from the Clan McPherson of Scotland, 
was born at Mumford, Monroe County, N. Y., Jan. 
19, 1850 ; prepared for college at Leroy and Fulton, 
and graduated at Princeton, N. J., in 1874. Then, 
after a year's seri'ice as teacher of mathematics 
at his Alma Mater, he entered the Theological 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



367 



Seminary there, and graduated from that depart- 
ment in 1879, having in the meantime traveled 
through Europe, Egypt and Palestine. He was 
licensed to preach by the Rochester Presbytery 
in 1877, and spent three years (1879-82) in pas- 
toral labor at East Orange, N. J. ; when he ac- 
cepted a call to the Second Presbyterian Church 
of Chicago, remaining until the early part of 1899, 
when he tendered his resignation to accept the 
position of Director of the Lawrenceville Prepar- 
atory Academy of Princeton College, N. J. 

McROBERTS, Josiah, jurist, was born in 
Monroe County, 111., June 12, 1820; graduated 
from St. Mary's College (Mo.) in 1839; studied 
law at Danville. 111., with his brother Samuel, 
and, in 1842, entered the law department of 
Transylvania University, graduating in 1844, 
after which he at once began practice. In 1846 
he was elected to the State Senate for the Cham- 
paign and Vermilion District, at the expiration of 
his term removing to Joliet. In 1852 he was 
appointed by Governor Matteson Trustee of the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, which ofHce he held 
for four years. In 1866 he was appointed Circuit 
Court Judge by Governor Oglesby, to fill a va- 
cancy, and was re-elected in 1867, '73, '79, and '85, 
but died a few months after his last election. 

McKOBERTS, Samuel, United States Sena- 
tor, was born in Monroe County, 111., Feb. 20, 
1799; graduated from Transylvania University in 
1819; in 1821, was elected the first Circuit Clerk 
of his native county, and, in 1825, appointed 
Circuit Judge, which office he held for three 
years. In 1828 he was elected State Senator, 
representing the district comprising Monroe, 
Clinton and Washington Counties. Later he was 
appointed United States District Attorney by 
President Jackson, but soon resigned to become 
Receiver of Public Moneys at Danville, by 
appointment of President Van Buren, and, in 
1839, Solicitor of the General Land Office at 
Washington. Resigning the latter office in the 
fall of 1841, at the next session of the Illinois 
Legislature he was elected United States Senator 
to succeed John M. Robinson, deceased. Died, at 
Cincinnati. Ohio, March 22, 1843, being suc- 
ceeded by James Semple. 

McTICKER, James Hubert, actor and theat- 
rical manager, was born in New York City, Feb. 
14, 1822; thrown upon his own resources by the 
death of his father in infancy and the necessity 
of assisting to support his widowed mother, he 
early engaged in various occupations, until, at 
the age of 15, he became an apprentice in the 
office of "The St. Louis Republican," three years 



later becoming a journeyman printer. He first 
appeared on the stage in the St. Charles Theater, 
New Orleans, in 1843; two years later was prin- 
cipal comedian in Rice's Theater, Chicago, re- 
maining until 1852, when he made a tour of the 
country, appearing in Yankee characters. About 
1855 he made a tour of England and, on his 
return, commenced building his first Chicago 
theater, which was opened, Nov. 3. 1857, and was 
conducted with varied fortune until burned down 
in the great fire of 1871. Rebuilt and remodeled 
from time to time, it burned down a second time 
in August, 1890, the losses from these several fires 
having imposed upon Mr. McVicker a heavy 
burden. Although an excellent comedian, Mr. 
McVicker did not appear on the stage after 1882, 
from that date giving his attention entirely to 
management. He enjoyed in an eminent degree 
the respect and confidence, not only of the 
profession, but of the general public. Died in 
Chicago, March 7, 1896. 

McWILLIAMS, DaTid, banker. Dwight, 111., 
was born in Belmont County, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1834; 
was brought to Illinois in infancy and grew up on 
a farm until 14 j'ears of age, when he entered the 
office of the Pittsfield (Pike County) "Free Press" 
as an apprentice. In 1849 he engaged in the 
lumber trade with his father, the management of 
which devolved upon him a few years later. In 
the early 50's he was, for a time, a student in 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, but did not 
graduate ; in 1855 removed to Dwight, Livingston 
County, then a new town on the line of the Chi- 
cago & Alton Railroad, which had been completed 
to that point a few months previous. Here he 
erected the first store building in the town, and 
put in a $2,000 stock of goods on borrowed capi- 
tal, remaining in the mercantile business for 
eighteen years, and retaining an interest in the 
establishment seven years longer. In the mean- 
time, while engaged in merchandising, he began 
a banking business, which was enlarged on his 
retirement from the former, receiving his entire 
attention. The profits derived from his banking 
business were invested in farm lands until he 
became one of the largest land-owners in Living- 
ston County. Mr. McWilliams is one of the 
original members of the first Methodist Episcopal 
Church organized at Dwight, and has served as a 
lay delegate to several General Conferences of 
that denomination, as well as a delegate to the 
Ecumenical Council in London in 1881 ; has also 
been a liberal contributor to the support of vari- 
ous literarj' and theological institutions of the 
church, and has served for many years as a Trus- 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



tee of the Northwestern University at Evanston. 
In politics he is a zealous Republican, and has 
repeatedly served as a delegate to the State Con- 
ventions of that party, including the Bloomington 
Convention of 1856, and was a candidate for 
Presidential Elector for the Ninth District on the 
Blaine ticket in 1884. He has made several ex- 
tended tours to Europe and other foreign coun- 
tries, the last including a trip to Egypt and the 
Holy Land, during 1898-99. 

MECHA>'ICSBUR(i, a village of Sangamon 
County, near the Wabash Railway, 13 miles east 
of Springfield. Population (1880), 396; (1890), 
426; (1900), 476. 

MEDILL, Joseph, editor and newspaper pub- 
lisher, was born, April 6, 1833, in the vicinity (now 
a part of the city) of St. John, N. B., of Scotch- 
Irish parentage, but remotely of Huguenot 
descent. At nine j'ears of age he accompanied 
his parents to Stark County, Ohio, where he 
enjoyed such educational advantages as belonged 
to that region and period. He entered an acad- 
emy with a view to preparing for college, but his 
family having suffered from a fire, he was com- 
pelled to turn his attention to business ; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar in 1846, and began 
practice at New Philadelphia, in Tuscarawas 
County. Here he caught the spirit of journalism 
by frequent visits to the office of a local paper, 
learned to set type and to work a hand-press. In 
1849 he bought a paper at Coshocton, of which he 
assumed editorial charge, employing his brothers 
as assistants in various capacities. The name of 
this paper was "The Coshocton Whig," which 
he soon changed to "The Republican," in which 
he dealt vigorous blows at political and other 
abuses, which several times brought upon him 
assaults from his political opponents — that being 
the style of political argument in those days. 
Two years later, having sold out "The Repub- 
lican," he established "The Daily Forest City" at 
Cleveland — a Whig paper with free-soil proclivi- 
ties. The following year "The Forest City" was 
consolidated with "The Free-Democrat," a Free- 
Soil paper under the editorship of John C. 
Vaughan, a South Carolina Abolitionist, the new 
paper taking the name of "The Cleveland 
Leader." Mr. Medill, with the co-operation of 
Mr. Vaughan, then went to work to secure the 
consolidation of the elements opposed to slavery 
in one compact organization. In this he was 
aided by the introduction of the Kansas-Nebraska 
Bill in Congress, in December, 1853, and, before 
its passage in May following, Mr. Medill had 
begun to agitate the question of a union of all 



opposed to that measure in a new party under the 
name "Republican." During the winter of 
1854-55 he received a call from Gen. J. D. Web- 
ster, at that time part owner of "The Chicago 
Tribune," which resulted in his visiting Chicago 
a few months later, and his purchase of an inter- 
est in the paper, his connection with the concern 
dating from June 18, 1855. He was almost 
immediately joined by Dr. Charles H. Ray, who 
had been editor of "The Galena Jeffersonian," 
and, still later, by J. C. Vaughan and Alfred 
Cowles. who had been associated with him on 
"The Cleveland Leader." Mr. Medill assumed 
the position of managing editor, and, on the 
retirement of Dr. Ray, in 1863, became editor-in- 
chief until 1866, when he gave place to Horace 
White, now of "The New York Evening Post." 
During the Civil War period he was a zealous 
supporter of President Lincoln's emancipation 
policy, and served, for a time, as President of the 
"Loyal League," which proved such an influ- 
ential factor in upholding the hands of the Gov- 
ernment during the darkest period of the 
rebellion. In 1869 Mr. Medill was elected to the 
State Constitutional Convention, and, in that 
body, was the leading advocate of the principle 
of "minority representation" in the election of 
Representatives, as it was finally incorporated 
in the Constitution. In 1871 he was appointed 
by President Grant a member of the first Civil 
Service Commission, representing a principle to 
which he ever remained thoroughly committed. 
A few weeks after the great fire of the same 
year, he was elected Mayor of the city of Chicago. 
The financial condition of the city at the time, 
and other questions in issue, involved great diflS- 
culties and responsibilities, which he met in a 
way to command general approval. During his 
administration the Chicago Public Library was 
established, Mr. Medill delivering the address at 
its opening, Jan. 1, 1873. Near the close of his 
term as Mayor, he resigned the office and spent 
the following year in Europe. Almost simultane- 
ously with his return from his European trip, he 
secured a controlling interest in "The Tribune, " 
resuming control of the paper, Nov. 9, 1874, 
which, as editor-in-chief, he retained for the 
remainder of his life of nearly twenty-five years. 
The growth of the paper in business and influence, 
from the beginning of his connection with it, was 
one of the marvels of journalism, making it easily 
one of the most successful newspaper ventures 
in the United States, if not in the world. Early 
in December, 1898, Mr. Medill went to San 
Antonio, Texas, hoping to receive relief in that 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



369 



mild climate from a chronic disease which had 
been troubling hiui for years, but died in that 
city, March 16, 1899, within three weeks of hav- 
ing reached his 76th birthday. Tlie conspicuous 
features of his character were a strong individu- 
ality and indomitable perseverance, which led 
him never to accept defeat. A few weeks previ- 
ous to his death, facts were developed going to 
show that, in 1881, he was oifered, by President 
Garfield, the position of Postmaster General, 
which was declined, when he was tendered the 
choice of any position in the Cabinet except two 
which had been previously promised; also, that 
he was offered a position in President Harrison's 
Cabinet, in 1889. 

MEDILL, (Maj.) William H., soldier, was 
born at Massillon, Ohio, Nov. .5, 1835; in 18.5.5, 
came to Chicago and was associated with "The 
Prairie Farmer." Subsequently he was editor of 
"The Stark County (Ohio) Republican," but 
again returning to Chicago, at the beginning of 
the war, was employed on "The Tribune," of 
which his brother (Hon. Joseph Medill) was 
editor. After a few months' service in Barker's 
Dragoons (a short-time organization), in Septem- 
ber, 1861, he joined the Eighth Illinois Cavalry 
(Colonel Farnsworth's), and, declining an election 
as Major, was chosen Senior Captain. The regi- 
ment soon joined the Army of the Potomac. By 
the promotion of his superior officers Captain 
Medill was finally advanced to the command, 
and, during the Peninsular campaign of 1862, led 
his troops on a reconnoissance within twelve miles 
of Richmond. At the battle of Gettysburg he 
had command of a portion of his regiment, acquit- 
ting himself with great credit. A few days after, 
while attacking a party of rebels %vho were 
attempting to build a bridge across the Potomac 
at Williamsburg, he received a fatal wound 
through the lungs, dying at Frederick City, July 
16, 1863. 

MEEKER, Moses, pioneer, was born in New- 
ark, N. J., June 17, 1790; removed to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1817, engaging in the manufacture of 
white lead until 1823, when he headed a pioneer 
expedition to the frontier settlement at Galena, 
111., to enter upon the business of smelting lead- 
ore. He served as Captain of a company in the 
Black Hawk War, later removing to Iowa 
County, Wis., where he built the first smelting 
works in that Territory, served in the Territorial 
Legislature (1840-43) and in the first Constitu- 
tional Convention (1846). A "History of the 
Early Lead Regions," by him, appears in the 
sixth volume of "The Wisconsin Historical Soci- 



ety Collections." Died, at ShuUsburg, Wis., 
July 7, 186.5. 

MELROSE, a suburb of Chicago, 11 miles west 
of the initial station of the Chicago & North- 
western Railroad, upon which it is located. It 
has two or three churches, some manufacturing 
establishments and one weekly paper. Popula- 
tion (1890), 1,0.50; (1900). 2..592. 

MEMBRE, Zenobius, French missionary, was 
born in France in 1645 ; accompanied La Salle on 
his expedition to Illinois in 1679, and remained at 
Fort Creve-Cojur with Henry de Tonty ; descended 
the Mississippi with La Salle in 1682; returned to 
France and wrote a historj' of the expedition, 
and, in 1684, accompanied La Salle on his final 
expedition ; is supposed to have landed with La 
Salle in Texas, and there to have been massacred 
by the natives in 1687. (See La Salle and Tonty.) 

MENARD, Pierre, French pioneer and first 
Lieutenant-Governor, was born at St. Antoine, 
Can., Oct. 7, 1766; settled at Kaskaskia, in 1790, 
and engaged in trade. Becoming interested in 
politics, he was elected to the Territorial Council 
of Indiana, and later to the Legislative Council of 
Illinois Territory, being presiding officer of the 
latter until the admission of Illinois as a State. 
He was, for several years. Government Agent, 
and in this capacity negotiated several important 
treaties with the Indians, of whose characteris- 
tics he seemed to have an intuitive perception. He 
was of a nervous temperament, impulsive and 
generous. In 1818 he was elected the first Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of the new State. His term of 
oflfice having expired, he retired to private life 
and the care of his extensive business. He died 
at Kaskaskia, in June, 1844, leaving what was 
then considered a large estate. Among his assets, 
however, were found a large number of promis- 
sory notes, which he had endorsed for personal 
friends, besides many uncollectable accounts 
from poor people, to whom he had sold goods 
through pure generosity. Menard County was 
named for him, and a statue in his honor stands 
in the capitol grounds at Springfield, erected by 
the son of his old partner — Charles Pierre Chou- 
teau, of St. Louis. 

MENARD COUNTY, near the geographical 
center of the State, and originally a part of 
Sangamon, but separately organized in 1839, the 
Provisional Commissioners being Joseph Wat- 
kins, William Engle and George W. Simpson. 
The county was named in honor of Pierre Menard, 
who settled at Kaskaskia prior to the Territorial 
organization of Illinois. (See Menard, Pierre.) 
Cotton was an important crop until 1830, when 



370 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



agriculture underwent a change. Stock-raising 
is now extensively carried on. Three fine veins 
of bituminous coal underlie the countj-. Among 
early American settlers may be mentioned the 
Clarys, Matthew Rogers, Amor Batterton, Solo- 
mon Pruitt and William Gideon. The names of 
Meadows, Montgomery, Green, Boyer and Grant 
are also familiar to early settlers. The county 
furnished a company of eighty -six volunteers for 
the Mexican War. The county -seat is at Peters- 
burg. The area of the county is 320 square miles, 
and its population, under the last census, 14,336. 
In 1829 was laid out the town of Salem, now 
extinct, but for some years the home of Abraham 
Lincoln, who was once its Postmaster, and who 
marched thence to the Black Hawk War as 
Captain of a company. 

MENDON, a town of Adams County, on the 
Burlington & Quiucy Division of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railway, 15 miles northeast 
of Quincy ; has a bank and a newspaper ; is sur- 
rounded bj' a farming and stock-raising district. 
Population (1880), 652; (1890) 640; (IflOO). G2T. 

MENDOT.A, a city in La Salle County, founded 
in 18.")3, at the junction of the Chicago. Burlington 
& Quincy with its Rochelle and Fulton branches 
and the Illinois Central Railway, 80 miles south- 
west of Chicago. It has eight churches, three 
graded and two high schools, and a public li- 
brary Wartburg Seminary (Lutheran, opened 
in 1853) is located here. The chief industrial 
plants are two iron foundries, machine shops, 
plow works and a brewery. The city has three 
banks and four weekly newspapers. The sur- 
rounding country is agricultural and the city has 
considerable local trade. Population (1890), 
3,542; (1900), 3,736. 

MERCER COUNTY, a western county, with an 
area of 555 square miles and a population (1900) 
of 20,945— named for Gen. Hugh Mercer. The 
Mississippi forms the western boundary, and 
along this river the earliest American settlements 
were made. William Dennison, a Pennsylvanian, 
settled in New Boston Township in 1828, and, 
before the expiration of a half dozen years, the 
Vannattas, Keith, Jackson, Wilson, Farlow, 
Bridges, Perry and Fleharty had arrived. Mer- 
cer County was separated from Warren, and 
specially organized in 1825. The soil is a rich, 
black loam, admirably adapted to the cultivation 
of cereals. A good quality of building stone is 
found at various points. Aledo is the county- 
seat. The county lies on the outskirts of the 
Illinois coal fields and mining was commenced 
in 1845. 



MERCY HOSPITAL, located in Chicago, and 
the first permanent hospital in the State — char- 
tered in 1847 or 1848 as the "Illinois General 
Hospital of the Lakes." No steps were taken 
toward organization until 1850, when, with a 
scanty fund scarcely exceeding §150, twelve beds 
were secured and placed on one floor of a board- 
ing house, whose proprietress was engaged as 
nurse and stewardess. Drs. N. S. Davis and 
Daniel Brainard were, respectively, the first 
physician and surgeon in charge. In 1851 the 
hospital was given in charge of the Sisters o*" 
Mercy, who at once enlarged and improved the 
accommodations, and, in 1852, changed its name 
to Mercy Hospital. Three or four years later, a 
removal was made to a building previously occu- 
pied as an orphan asylum. Being the only pub- 
lic hospital in the cit}', its wards were constantly 
overcrowded, and, in 1869, a more capacious and 
better arranged building was erected. This 
edifice it has continued to occupy, although many 
additions and improvements have been, and are 
stiU being, made. The Sisters of Mercy own the 
grounds and buildings, and manage the nursing 
and all the domestic and financial affairs of the 
institution. The present medical staff (1896) 
consists of thirteen physicians and surgeons, 
besides three internes, or resident practitioners. 

MEREDOSIA, a town in Morgan County, on 
the east Ibank of the Illinois River and on the 
Wabash Railway, some 58 miles west of Spring- 
field; is a grain shipping point and fishing and 
hunting resort. It was the first Illinois River 
point to be connected with the State capital by 
railroad in 1838. Population (1890), 621 ; (1900), 700. 

MERRIAM, (CoL) Jonathan, soldier, legisla- 
tor and farmer, was born in Vermont, Nov. 1, 
1834; was brought to Springfield, lU., when two 
years old, living afterwards at Alton, his parents 
finally locating, in 1841, in Tazewell County, 
where he now resides — when not officially em- 
ployed — pursuing the occupation of a farmer. He 
was educated at Wesleyan University, Blooming- 
ton, and at McKendree College; entered the 
Unioa army in 1862, being commissioned Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Seven- 
teenth Illinois Infantry, and serving to the close 
of the war. During the Civil War period he was 
one of the founders of the "Union League of 
America," which proved so influential a factoi 
in sustaining the war policy of the Government. 
He was also a member of the State Constitutional 
Convention of 1869-70; an unsuccessful Repub- 
lican nominee for Congress in 1870; served as 
Collector of Internal Revenue for the Springfield 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



371 



District from 1873 to '83, was a Representative in 
the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth General Assem- 
blies, and, in 1897, was appointed, by President 
McKinley, Pension Agent for the State of Illinois, 
with headquarters in Chicago. Tlioroughly pa- 
triotic and of incorruptible integrity, he has won 
the respect and confidence of all in every public 
position he has been called to fill. 

MERRILL, Stephen Mason, Methodist Episco- 
pal Bishop, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, 
Sept. 16. 183.5. entered the Ohio Conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1864, as a travel- 
ing preacher, and, four years later, became editor ^ 
of "The Western Christian Advocate," at Cin- 
cinnati. He was ordained Bishop at Brooklyn in 
1872, and, after two years spent in Minnesota, 
removed to Chicago, where he still resides. The 
degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Ohio 
Wesleyan University, in 1868, and that of LL.D. 
b3' the Northwestern University, in 1886. He has 
published "Christian Baptism" (Cincinnati, 
1876); "New Testament Idea of Hell" (1878); 
"Second Coming of Christ" (1879) ; "Aspects of 
Christian Experience" (1882) ; "Digest of Metho- 
dist Law" (1885) ; and "Outlines of Thought on 
Probation" (1886), 

MERRITT, John W., journalist, was born in 
New York City, July 4, 1806; studied law and 
practiced, for a time, with the celebrated James 
T. Brady as a partner. In 1841 he removed to 
St. Clair County, 111., purchased and, from 1848 
to '51, conducted "The Belleville Advocate"; 
later, removed to Salem, 111., where he established 
"The Salem Advocate"; served as Assistant Sec- 
retary of the State Constitutional Convention of 
1862, and as Representative in the Twenty-third 
General Assembly. In 1864 he purchased "The 
State Register" at Springfield, and was its editor 
for several years. Died, Nov. 16, 1878. — Thomas 
E. (Merritt), son of the preceding, lawyer and 
politician, was born in New York City, April 29, 
1834; at six years of age was brought by his 
father to Illinois, where he attended the common 
schools and later learned the trade of carriage- 
painting. Subsequently he read law, and was 
admitted to the bar, at Springfield, in 1862. In 
1868 he was elected, as a Democrat, to the lower 
house of the General Assembly from the Salem 
District, and was re-elected to the same body in 
1870, '74, '76, '86 and "88. He also served two 
terms in the Senate (1878'86), making an almost 
continuous service in the General Assembly of 
eighteen years. He has repeatedly been a mem- 
ber of State conventions of his party, and stands 
as one of its trusted representatives. — Maj.-Gen. 



Wesley (Merritt), another son, was born in New 
York, June 16, 1836, came with his father to Illi- 
nois in childhood, and was appointed a cadet at 
West Point Military Academy from this State, 
graduating in 1860 ; became a Second Lieutenant 
in the regular army, the same year, and was pro- 
moted to the rank of First Lieutenant, a year 
later. After the beginning of the Civil War, he 
was rapidly promoted, reaching the rank of 
Brigadier-General of Volunteers in 1862, and 
being mustered out, in 1866, with the brevet rank 
of Major-General. He re entered the regular 
army as Lieutenant-Colonel, was promoted to a 
colonelcy in 1876, and, in 1887, received a com- 
mission as Brigadier-General, in 1897 becoming 
Major-General. He was in command, for a time, 
of the Department of the Missouri, but, on his 
last promotion, was transferred to the Depart- 
ment of the East, with headquarters at Gov- 
ernor's Island, N. Y. Soon after the beginning 
of the war with Spain, he was assigned to the 
command of the land forces destined for the 
Philippines, and appointed Military Governor of 
the Islands. Towards the close of the year he 
returned to the United States and resumed his old 
command at New York. 

MESSINGER, John, pioneer surveyor and car- 
tographer, was born at West Stockbridge, Mass., 
in 1771, grew up on a farm, but secured a good 
education, especially in mathematics. Going to 
Vermont in 1783, he learned the trade of a car- 
penter and mill-wright ; i-emoved to Kentucky in 
1799, and, in 1802, to Illinois (then a part of Indi- 
ana Territory), locating first in the American 
Bottom and, later, at New Design within the 
present limits of Monroe County. Two years 
later he became the proprietor of a mill, and, 
between 1804 and 1806, taught one of the earliest 
schools in St. Claif County. The latter year he 
took up the vocation of a surveyor, which he fol- 
lowed for many years as a sub-contractor under 
William Rector, surveying much of the land in 
St. Clair and Randolph Counties, and, still later. 
assisting in determining the northern boundary 
of the State. He also served for a time as a 
teacher of mathematics in Rock Spring Seminary ; 
in 1821 published "A Manual, or Hand-Book, 
intended for Convenience in Practical Survey- 
ing," and prepared some of the earlier State and 
county maps. In 1808 he was elected to the 
Indiana Territorial Legislature, to fill a vacancy, 
and took part in the steps which resulted in set- 
ting up a separate Territorial Government for 
Illinois, the following year. He also received an 
appointment as the first Surveyor of St. Clair 



372 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



County under the new Territorial Government; 
was chosen a Delegate from St. Clair County to 
the Convention of 1818, which framed the first 
State Constitution, and, the same year, was 
elected a Representative in the First General 
Assembly, serving as Speaker of that bodj-. 
After leaving New Design, the later years of his 
life were spent on a farm two and a half miles 
north of Belleville, where he died in 1846. 

METAMORA, a town of Woodford County, on 
a branch of the Chicago it Alton Railroad, 19 
miles east-northeast of Peoria and some thirty 
miles northwest of Bloomington; is center of a 
fine farming district. The town has a creamery, 
soda factory, one bank, three churches, two 
newspapers, schools and a park. Population 
(1880) 828; (1900), 758. Metamora was the 
county-seat of Woodford County until 1899, when 
the seat of justice was removed to Eureka. 

METCALF, Andrew W., lawyer, was born in 
Guernsey County, Ohio, August 6, 1828 ; educated 
at Madison College in his native State, graduating 
in 1846, and, after studying law at Cambridge, 
Ohio, three years, was admitted to the bar in 
1850. The following year he went to Appleton, 
Wis. , but remained only a year, when he removed 
to St. Louis, then to Edwardsville, and shortly 
after to Alton, to take charge of the legal busi- 
ness of George T. Brown, then publisher of "The 
Alton Courier." In 1853 he returned to Edwards- 
ville to reside permanently, and, in 1859, was 
appointed by Governor Bissell State's Attorney 
for Madison County, serving one year. In 1864 
he was elected State Senator for a term of four 
years ; was a delegate to the Republican National 
Convention of 1872, and, in 1876, a lay delegate 
from the Southern Illinois Conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church to the General Con- 
ference at Baltimore ; has also been a Trustee of 
McKendree College, at Lebanon, 111., for more 
than twenty-five years. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, one of 
the most numerous Protestant church organiza- 
tions in the United States and in Illinois. Rev. 
Joseph Lillard was the first preacher of this sect 
to settle in the Northwest Territory, and Capt. 
Joseph Ogle was the first class-leader (1795). It 
is stated that the first American preacher in the 
American Bottom was Rev. Hosea Riggs (1796). 
Rev. Benjamin Young took charge of the first 
Methodist mission in 1803, and, in 1804, this mis- 
sion was attached to the Cumberland (Tenn.) 
circuit. Revs. Joseph Oglesby and Charles R. 
Matheny were among the early circuit riders. In 
1820 there were seven circuits in Illinois, and, in 



1830, twenty-eight, the actual membership 
exceeding 10,000. The first' Methodist service in 
Chicago was held by Rev. Jesse Walker, in 1826. 
The first Methodist society in that city was 
organized by Rev. Stephen R. Beggs, in June, 

1831. By 1835 the number of circuits had in- 
creased to 61, with 370 ministers and 15,000 mem- 
bers. Rev. Peter Cartwright was among the 
early revivalists. The growth of this denomi- 
nation in the State has been extraordinary. By 
1890, it had nearly 2,000 clmrches, 937 ministers, 
and 151,000 members — tlie total number of Metho- 
dists in the United States, by the same censuS; 
being 4,980,240. The church property owned in 
1890 (including parsonages) approached §111,000,- 
000, and the total contributions were estimated 
at 82,073,923. The denomination in Illinois sup- 
ports two theological seminaries and the Garrett 
Biblical Institute at Evanston. "The North- 
western Christian Advocate," with a circulation 
of some 30,000, is its official organ in Illinois. 
(See also Religious Denominations.) 

METROPOLIS CITY, the county -seat of Massac 
County, 156 miles southeast of St. Louis, situated 
on the Ohio River and on the St. Louis and 
Paducah Division of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road. The city was founded in 1839, on the site 
of old Fort Massac, which was erected by the 
French, aided by the Indians, about 1711. Its 
industries consist largely of various forms of 
wood-working. Saw and planing mills are a 
commercial factor; other establishments turn 
out wheel, buggy and wagon material, barrel 
staves and heads, boxes and baskets, and veneers. 
There are also flouring mills and potteries. The 
city has a public library, two banks, water- 
works, electric lights, numerous churches, high 
school and graded schools, and three papers. 
Population (1880), 2,668; (1890), 3,573; (1900), 4,069. 

MEXICAN WAR. Briefly stated, this war 
originated in the annexation of Texas to the 
United States, early in 1846. There was a dis- 
agreement as to the western boundary of Texas. 
Mexico complained of encroachment upon her 
territory, and hostilities began with the battle of 
Palo Alto, May 8, and ended with the treaty of 
peace, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, near the 
City of Mexico, Feb. 2, 1848. Among the most 
prominent figures were President Polk, under 
whose administration annexation was effected, 
and Gen. Zachary Taylor, who was chief in com- 
mand in the field at the beginning of the war, and 
was elected Polk's successor. Illinois furnished 
more than her full quota of troops for the strug- 
gle. May 13, 1846, war was declared. On May 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



373 



25, Governor Ford issued his proclamation calling 
for the enlistment of three regiments of infantry, 
the assessed quota of the State. The response 
was prompt and general. Alton was named as 
the rendezvous, and Col. (afterwards General) 
Sylvester Churchill was the mustering officer. 
The regiments mustered in were commanded, 
respectively, by Col. John J. Hardin, Col. Wm. H. 
Bissell (afterwards Governor) and Col. Ferris 
Forman. An additional twelve months' regiment 
(the Fourth) was accepted, under command of 
Col. E. D. Baker, who later became United States 
Senator from Oregon, and fell at the battle of 
Ball's Bluflf, in October, 1861. A second call was 
made in April, 1847, under which Illinois sent 
two more regiments, for the war, towards the 
Mexican frontier. These were commanded by 
Col. Edward W. B. Newby and Col. James 
Collins. Independent companies were also 
tendered and accepted. Besides, there were 
some 150 volunteers who joined the regiments 
already in the field. Commanders of the inde- 
pendent companies were Capts. Adam Dunlap, 
of Schuyler Comity; Wyatt B. Stapp, of "War- 
ren; Michael K. Lawler, of Shawneetown, and 
Josiah Little. Col. John J. Hardin, of the First, 
was killed at Buena Vista, and the official mor- 
tuary list includes many names of Illinois' best 
and bravest sons. After participating in the 
battle of Buena Vista, the IlUnois troops shared 
in the triumphal entry into the Citj' of Mexico, 
on Sept. 16, 1847, and (in connection with those 
from Kentucky) were especially complimented in 
General Taylor's official report. The Third and 
Fourth regiments won distinction at Vera Cruz, 
Cerro Gordo and the City of Mexico. At the 
second of these battles. General Shields fell 
severely (and, as supposed for a time, mortally) 
woiinded. Colonel Baker succeeded Shields, led 
a gallant charge, and really turned the day at 
Cerro Gordo. Among the officers honorably 
named by General Scott, in his official report, were 
Colonel Forman, Major Harris, Adjutant Fondey, 
Capt. J. S. Post, and Lieutenants Hammond and 
Davis. All the Illinois troops were mustered out 
between May 25, 1847 and Nov. 7, 1848, the inde- 
pendent companies being the last to quit the 
service. The total number of volunteers was 
6,123, of whom 86 were killed, and 160 wounded, 
12 of the latter dying of their wounds. Gallant 
service in the Mexican War soon became a pass- 
port to political preferment, and some of the 
brave soldiers of 1846-47 subsequently achieved 
merited distinction in civil life. Many also be- 
came distinguished soldiers in the War of the 



Rebellion, including such names as John A. 
Logan, Richard J. Oglesby, M. K. Lawler, James 
D. Morgan, W. H. L. Wallace, B. M. Prentiss, 
W. R. Morrison, L. F. Ross, and others. The 
cost of the war, with §15,000,000 paid for territory 
annexed, is estimated at §166,500,000 and the 
extent of territory acquired, nearly 1,000,000 
square miles — considerably more than the 
whole of the present territory of the Republic of 
Mexico. 

METER, John, lawyer and legislator, was born 
in Holland, Feb. 27, 1852 ; came to Chicago at the 
age of 12 years ; entered the Northwestern Uni- 
versity, supporting himself by labor during vaca- 
tions and by teaching in a night school, until his 
third year in the university, when he became a 
student in the Union College of Law, being 
admitted to the bar in 1879; was elected from 
Cook County to the Thirty-flfth General Assembly 
(1884), and re-elected to the Thirty-sixth, Thirty- 
eighth and Thirty-ninth, being chosen Speaker of 
the latter (Jan. 18, 1895). Died in office, at Free- 
port, 111., July 3, 1895, during a special session of 
the General Assembly. 

MIA3IIS, The. The preponderance of author- 
ity favors the belief that this tribe of Indians was 
originally a part of the Ill-i-ni or Illinois, but the 
date of their separation from the parent stock 
cannot be told. It is likely, however, that it 
occurred before the French pushed their explo- 
rations from Canada westward and southward, 
into and along the Mississippi VaUey. Father 
Dablon alludes to the presence of Miamis (whom 
he calls Ou-mi-a-mi) in a mixed Indian village, 
near the mouth of Fox River of Wisconsin, in 
1670. The orthography of their name is varied. 
The Iroquois and the British generally knew 
them as the "Twightwees," and so they were 
commonly called by the American colonists. 
The Weas and Piankeshaws were of the same 
tribe When La Salle founded his colony at 
Starved Rock, the Miamis had villages which 
could muster some 1,950 warriors, of which the 
Weas had 500 and the Piankeshaws 150, the re- 
maining 1,300 being Miamis proper. In 1671 
(according to a written statement by Charlevoix 
in 1721), the Miamis occupied three villages- 
— one on the St. Joseph River, one on the Mau- 
mee and one on the "Ouabache" (Wabash). 
They were friendly toward the French until 
1694, when a large number of them were 
massacred by a part}' of Sioux, who carried 
firearms which liad been furnished them by 
the Frenchmen. The breach thus caused was 
never closed. Having become possessed of guns 



374 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



themselves, the Miamis were able, not only to 
hold their own, but also to extend their hunting 
grounds as far eastward as the Scioto, alternately 
warring with the French, British and Americans. 
General Harrison says of them that, ten years 
before the treaty of Greenville, they could have 
brought upon the field a body of 3,000 "of the 
finest light troops in the world," but lacking in 
discipline and enterprise. Border warfare and 
smallpox, however, had, by that date (1795), 
greatly reduced their numerical strength. The 
main seat of the Miamis was at Fort Wayne, 
whose residents, because of their superior num- 
bers and intelligence, dominated all other bands 
except the Piankeshaws. The physical and 
moral deterioration of the tribe began immedi- 
ately after the treaty of Greenville. Little by 
little, they ceded their lands to the United States, 
the money received therefor being chiefly squan- 
dered in debauchery. Decimated by vice and 
disease, the remnants of tliis once powerful abo- 
riginal nation gradually drifted westward across 
the Mississippi, whence their valorous sires had 
emigrated two centuries before. The small rem- 
nant of the band finallj' settled in Indian Terri- 
tory, but they have made comparatively little 
progress toward civilization. (See also Picmke- 
shaws; Weas. ) 

MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL, located in 
Chicago, under care of the association known as 
tlie United Hebrew Charities. Previous to 1871 
this association maintained a small hospital for 
tlie care of some of its beneficiaries, but it was 
destroyed in the conflagration of that year, and no 
immediate effort to rebuild was made. In 1880, 
however, Michael Reese, a Jewish gentleman 
who had accumulated a large fortune in Cali- 
fornia, bequeathed §97,000 to the organization. 
With this sum, considerably increased by addi- 
tions from other sources, an imposing building 
was erected, well arranged and tlioroughly 
equipped for hospital purposes. The institution 
thus founded was named after its principal bene- 
factor. Patients are received without discrimi- 
nation as to race or religion, and more than lialf 
those admitted are charity patients. The present 
medical staff consists of thirteen surgeons and 
pliysicians, several of whom are eminent 
specialists. 

MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD. The 
main line of this road extends from Chicago 
to Detroit, 370 miles, with trackage facilities 
from Kensington, 14 miles, over the line of the 
Illinois Central, to its terminus in Chicago. 
Branch lines (leased, proprietary and operated) in 



Canada, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois swell the 
total mileage to 1,643.56 miles.— (History.) The 
company was chartered in 1846, and purchased 
from the State of Michigan the line from Detroit 
to Kalamazoo, 144 miles.of which construction had 
been begun in 1836. The road was completed to 
Michigan City in 1850, and, in May, 1853, reached 
Kensington, 111. As at present constituted, the 
road (with its auxiliaries) forms an integral part 
of what is popularly known as the "Vanderbilt 
System." Only 35 miles of the entire line are 
operated in Illinois, of which 39 belong to the 
Joliet & Northern Indiana branch (which see). 
The outstanding capital stock (1898) was §18,- 
738,000 and the funded debt, §19,101,000. Earn- 
ings in Illinois the same year, 8484,003; total 
operating expenses, §540,905; taxes, §34,350. 

MICHIGAN, LAKE. (See Lake Michigan.) 

MIHALOTZY, Geza, soldier, a native of Hun- 
gary and compatriot of Kossuth in the Magyar 
struggle; came to Chicago in 1848, in 1861 enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois 
Volunteers (first "Hecker regiment"), and, on 
the resignation of Colonel Hecker, a few weeks 
later, was promoted to the Colonelcy. A trained 
soldier, he served witli gallantry and distinction, 
but was fatally wounded at Buzzard's Roost, Feb. 
34, 1864, dying at Chattanooga, March 11, 1864. 

MILAN, a town of Rock Island County, on the 
Rock Island & Peoria Railway, six miles south of 
Rock Island. It is located on Rock River, has 
several mills, a bank and a newspaper. Popula- 
tion (1880), 845; (1890), 692; (1900), 719. 

MILBURN, (Rev.) WilUam Henry, clergy- 
man, was born in Philadelphia, Sept. 26. 1836. 
At the age of five years he almost totally lost 
sight in both eyes, as the result of an accident, 
and subsequent malpractice in their treatment. 
For a time he was able to decipher letters with 
difficulty, and thus learned to read. In tlie face 
of such obstacles he carried on his studies until 
13 years of age, when he accompanied his father's 
family to Jacksonville, 111., and, five years later, 
became an itinerant Methodist preacher. For a 
time he rode a circuit covering 300 miles, preach 
ing, on an average, ten times a week, for §100 per 
year. In 1845, while on a Mississippi steamboat, 
he publicly rebuked a number of Congressmen, 
who were his fellow passengers, for intemperance 
and gaming. This resulted in his being made 
Chaplain of the House of Representatives. From 
1848 to 1850 he was pastor of a church at Mont- 
gomery, Ala., during which time he was tried 
for heresy, and later became pastor of a "Free 
Church." Again, in 1853, he was chosen Chap- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



375 



lain of Congress. While in Europe, in 1859, he 
took orders in the Episcopal Church, but returned 
to Methodism in 1871. He has since been twice 
Chaplain of the House (1885 and '87) and three 
times (1893, '95 and '97) elected to the same posi- 
tion in tlie Senate He is generally known as 
"the blind preacher" and achieved considerable 
prominence by his eloquence as a lecturer on 
"What a Blind Man Saw in Europe." Among 
his published writings are, "Rifle, Axe and Sad- 
dlebags" (1856), "Ten Years of Preacher Life" 
(18.58) and "Pioneers, Preachers and People of the 
Mississippi Valley" (1860). 

MILCHRIST, Thomas E., lawyer, was born in 
the Isle of Man in 1839, and, at the age of eight 
years, came to America with his parents, who 
settled in Peoria, 111. Here he attended school 
and worked on a farm until the beginning of the 
Civil War, when he enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Twelfth Illinois Volunteers, serving until 
1865, and being discharged with the rank of Cap- 
tain. After the war he read law with John I. 
Bennett — then of Galena, but later Master in 
Chancery of the United States Court at Chicago 
— was admitted to the bar in 1867, and, for a 
number of years, served as State's Attorney in 
Henry County. In 1888 he was a delegate from 
Illinois to the Republican National Convention, 
and the following year was appointed by Presi- 
dent Harrison United States District Attorney 
for the Northern District of Illinois. Since 
retiring from office in 1893, Mr. Milchrist has been 
engaged in private practice in Chicago. In 1898 
he was elected a State Senator for the Fifth Dis- 
trict (city of Chicago) in the Forty-first General 
Assembly. 

MILES, Nelson A., Major-General, was born 
at Westminster, Mass., August 8, 1839, and, at 
the breaking out of the Civil War, was engaged 
in mercantile piirsuits in the city of Boston. In 
October, 1861, he entered the service as a Second 
Lieutenant in a Massachusetts regiment, dis- 
tinguished himself at the battles of Fair Oaks, 
Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill, 
in one of which he was wounded. In Sep- 
tember, 1862, he was Colonel of the Sixty- 
first New York, which he led at Fredericksburg 
and at Chancellorsville, where he was again 
severely wounded. He commanded the First 
Brigade of the First Division of the Second Army 
Corps in the Richmond campaign, and was made 
Brigadier-General, May 13, 1864, and Major- 
General, by brevet, for gallantry shown at Ream's 
Station, in December of the same year. At the 
close of the war he was commissioned Colonel of 



the Fortieth United States Infantry, and distin- 
guished himself in campaigns against the Indians ; 
became a Brigadier-General in 1880, and Major- 
General in 1890, in the interim being in command 
of the Department of the Columbia, and, after 
1890, of the Missouri, with headquarters at Chi- 
cago. Here he did much to give efficiency and 
importance to the post at Fort Sheridan, and, in 
1894, rendered valuable service in checking the 
strike riots about Chicago. Near the close of the 
year he was transferred to the Department of the 
East, and, on the retirement of General Schofield 
in 1895, was placed in command of the army, 
with headquarters in Washington. During the 
Spanish-American war (1898) General Miles gave 
attention to the fitting out of troops for the Cuban 
and Porto Rican campaigns, and visited Santiago 
during the siege conducted by General Shafter, 
but took no active command iu the field until the 
occupation of Porto Rico, which was conducted 
with rare discrimination and good judgment, and 
with comparatively little loss of life or suffering 
to the troops. 

MILFORU, a prosperous village of Iroquois 
County, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Rail- 
road, 88 miles south of Chicago; is in a rich farm- 
ing region; has water and sewerage systems, 
electric lights, two brick and tile works, three 
large grain elevators, flour mill, three churches, 
good schools, a public library and a weekly news- 
paper. It is an important shipping point for 
grain and live-stock. Population (1890), 957; 
(1900), 1,077. 

MILITARY BOUNTY LANDS. (See Military 
Tract.) 

MILITARY TRACT, a popular name given to 
a section of the State, set apart under an act of 
Congress, passed. May 6, 1812, as bounty -lands for 
soldiers in the war with Great Britain commenc- 
ing the same year. Similar reservations in the 
Territories of Michigan and Louisiana (now 
Arkansas) were provided for in the same act. 
The lands in Illinois embraced in this act were 
situated between the Illinois and Mississippi 
Rivers, and extended from the junction of these 
streams due north, by the Fourth Principal Merid- 
ian, to the northern boundary of Township 15 
north of the "Base Line." This "base line" 
started about opposite the present site of Beards- 
town, and extended to a point on the Mississippi 
about seven miles north of Quincy. The north- 
ern border of the "Tract" was identical with 
the northern boundary of Mercer County, which, 
extended eastward, reached the Illinois about 
the present village of De Pue, in the southeastern 



376 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



part of Bureau County, where the Illinois makes 
a great bend towards the south, a few miles west 
of the city of Peru. The distance between the 
Illinois and the Mississippi, by this line, was about 
90 miles, and the entire length of the "Tract," 
from its northern boundary to the junction of 
the two rivers, was computed at 169 miles, — con- 
sisting of 90 miles north of the "base line" and 79 
miles south of it, to the junction of the rivers. 
The "Tract" was surveyed in 1815-16. It com- 
prised 207 entire townships of six miles square, 
each, and 61 fractional townships, containing an 
area of 5,360,000 acres, of which 3,500,000 acres— 
a little less than two-thirds — were appropriated to 
military bounties. The residue consisted partly 
of fractional sections bordering on rivers, partly of 
fractional quarter-sections bordering on township 
lines, and containing more or less than 160 acres, 
and partly of lands that were returned by the sur- 
veyors as unfit for cultivation. In addition to 
this, there were large reservations not coming 
within the above exceptions, being the overplus 
of lands after satisfying the military claims, and 
subject to entrj' and purchase on the same con- 
ditions as other Government lands. The "Tract" 
thus embraced the present counties of Calhoun, 
Pike, Adams, Brown, Schuyler, Hancock, Mc- 
Donough, Fulton, Peoria, Stark, Knox, Warren, 
Henderson and Mercer, with parts of Henry, 
Bureau, Putnam and Marshall— or so much of 
them as was necessary to meet the demand for 
bounties. Immigration to this region set in quite 
actively about 1833, and the development of some 
portions, for a time, was very rapid ; but later, its 
growth was retarded by the conflict of "tax- 
titles" and bounty -titles derived by purchase 
from the original holders. This led to a great 
deal of litigation, and called for considerable 
legislation; but since the adjustment of these 
questions, this region has kept pace with the most 
favored sections of the State, and it now includes 
some of the most important and prosperous towns 
and cities and many of the finest farms in 
Illinois. 

MILITIA. Illinois, taught by the experiences 
of the War of 1812 and the necessity of providing 
for protection of its citizens against the incur- 
sions of Indians on its borders, began the adop- 
tion, at an early date, of such measures as were 
then common in the several States for the main- 
tenance of a State militia. The Constitution of 
1818 made the Governor "Commander-in-Chief 
of the army and navy of this State, " and declared 
that the militia of the State should "consist of 
all free male able-bodied persons (negroes, mu- 



lattoes and Indians excepted) resident in the 
State, oetween the ages of 18 and 45 years," and 
this classification was continued in the later con- 
stitutions, except that of 1870, which omits all 
reference to the subject of color. In each there 
is the same general provision exempting persons 
entertaining "conscientious scruples against 
bearing arms," although subject to payment of 
an equivalent for such exemption. The first law 
on the subject, enacted by the first General 
Assembly (1819), provided for the establishment 
of a general militia system for the State ; and the 
fact that this was modified, amended or wholly 
changed by acts passed at the sessions of 1821, 
'23, '25, '26, '27, '29, "33, '37 and '39, shows the 
estimation in which the subject was held. While 
many of these acts were of a special character, 
providing for a particular class of organization, 
the general law did little except to require per- 
sons subject to military duty, at stated periods, to 
attend county musters, which were often con- 
ducted in a very informal manner, or made the 
occasion of a sort of periodical frolic. Tlie act of 
July, 1833 (following the Black Hawk War), 
required an enrollment of "all free, white, male 
inhabitants of military age (except such as might 
be exempt under the Constitution or laws)"; 
divided the State into five divisions by counties, 
each division to be organized into a certain speci- 
fied number of brigades. This act was quite 
elaborate, covering some twenty-four pages, and 
provided for regimental, battalion and company 
musters, defined the duties of oflScers, manner of 
election, etc. The act of 1837 encouraged the 
organization of volunteer companies. The Mexi- 
can War (1845-47) gave a new impetus to this 
class of legislation, as also did the War of the 
Rebellion (1861-65). While the office of Adju- 
tant-General had existed from the first, its duties 
— except during the Black Hawk and Mexican 
Wars — were rather nominal, and were discharged 
without stated compensation, the incumbent 
being merely Chief -of-staff to the Governor as 
Commander-in-Chief. The War of the Rebellion 
at once brought it into prominence, as an impor- 
tant part of the State Government, which it has 
since maintained. The various measures passed, 
during this period, belong rather to the history of 
the late war than to the subject of this chapter. 
In 1865, however, the office was put on a different 
footing, and the important part it had played, 
during the preceding four years, was recognized 
by the passage of "an act to provide for the ap- 
pointment, and designate the work, fix the pay 
and prescribe the duties, of the Adjutant-General 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



377 



of Illinois." During the next four years, its 
most important work was the publication of 
eight volumes of war records, containing a com- 
plete roster of the oiBcers and men of the various 
regiments and other military organizations from 
Illinois, with an outline of their movements and 
a list of the battles in which they were engaged. 
To the Adjutant-General's office, as now adminis- 
tered, is entrusted the custody of the war- 
records, battle-flags and trophies of the late war. 
A further step was taken, in 1877, in the passage 
of an act formulating a military code and provid- 
ing for more thorough organization. Modifying 
amendments to this act were adopted in 1879 and 
1885. While, under these laws, "all able-bodied 
male citizens of this State, between the ages of 18 
and 45" (with certain specified exceptions), are 
declared "subject to military duty, and desig- 
nated as the Illinois State Militia," provision is 
made for the organization of a body of "active 
militia," designated as the "Illinois National 
Guard," to consist of "not more than oighty-four 
companies of infantry, two batteries of artillery 
and two troops of cavalry," recruited by volun- 
tary enlistments for a period of three years, with 
right to re-enlist for one or more years. The 
National Guard, as at present constituted, con- 
sists of three brigades, with a total force of about 
9,000 men, organized into nine regiments, besides 
the batteries and cavalry already mentioned. 
Gatling guns are used by the artillery and breech- 
loading rifles by the infantry. Camps of instruc- 
tion are held for the regiments, respectively — one 
or more regiments participating — each year, 
usually at "Camp Lincoln" near Springfield, 
when regimental and brigade drills, competitive 
rifle practice and mock battles are had. An act 
establishing the "Naval Militia of Illinois," to 
consist of "not more than eight divisions or com- 
panies," divided into two battalions of four divi- 
sions each, was passed by the General Assembly 
of 1893-7-the whole to be under the command of 
an officer with the rank of Commander. The 
commanding officer of each battalion is styled a 
"Lieutenant-Commander," and both the Com- 
mander and Lieutenant-Commanders have their 
respective staffs — their organization, in other 
respects, being conformable to the laws of the 
United States. A set of "Regulations," based 
upon these several laws, has been prepared by the 
Adjutant-General for the government of the 
various organizations. The Governor is author- 
ized, by law, to call out the miUtia to resist inva- 
sion, or to suppress violence and enforce execution 
of the laws, when called upon by the civil author- 



ities of any city, town or county. This authoritj-. 
however, is exercised with great discretion, and 
only when the local authorities are deemed unable 
to cope with threatened resistance to law The 
officers of the National Guard, when called into 
actual service for the suppression of riot or the 
enforcement of the laws, receive the same com- 
pensation paid to officers of the United States 
army of like grade, while the enlisted men receive 
$2 per day. During the time they are at any 
encampment, the officers and men alike i-eceive 
$1 per day. with necessary subsistence and cost 
of transportation to and from the encampment. 
(For list of incumbents in Adjutant-General's 
office, see Adjutants-General; see, also, Spanish- 
Americati War ) 

MILLER, James H., Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, was born in Ohio, May 29, 1843; 
in early life came to Toulon, Stark County, 111., 
where he finally engaged in the practice of law. 
At the beginning of the RebeUion he enlisted in 
the Union army, but before being mustered into > 
the service, received an injury which rendered' 
him a cripple for life. Though of feeble physical 
organization and a sufferer from ill-health, he 
was a man of decided ability and much influence. 
He served as State's Attorney of Stark County 
(1872-76) and, in 1884, was elected Representative 
in the Thirty-fourth General Assembly, at the 
following session being one of the most zealous 
supporters of Gen. John A. Logan, in the cele- 
brated contest which resulted in the election of 
the latter, for the third time, to the United States 
Senate. By successive re-elections he also served 
in the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth General 
Assemblies, during the session of the latter being 
chosen Speaker of the House, as successor to 
A. C. Matthews, who had been appointed, during 
the session. First Comptroller of the Treasurj- at 
Washington. In the early part of the summer 
of 1890, Mr. Miller visited Colorado for the bene- 
fit of his health, but, a week after his arrival at 
Manitou Springs, died suddenly, June 27, 1890. 

MILLS, Benjamin, lawyer and early poli- 
tician, was a native of Western Massachusetts, 
and described by his contemporaries as a highly 
educated and accomplished lawyer, as well as a 
brilliant orator. The exact date of his arrival in 
Illinois cannot be determined with certainty, but 
he appears to have been in the "Lead Mine 
Region" about Galena, as early as 1826 or '27, and 
was notable as one of the first "Yankees" to 
locate in that section of the State. He was 
elected a Representative in the Eighth General 
Assembly (1832), his district embracing the 



378 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



counties of Peoria, Jo Daviess, Putnam, La Salle 
and Cook, including all the State north of Sanga- 
mon (as it then stood), and extending from the 
Mississippi River to the Indiana State line. At 
this session occurred the impeacliment trial of 
Theophilus W. Smith, of the Supreme Court, Mr. 
Mills acting as Chairman of the Impeachment 
Committee, and delivering a speech of great 
power and brilliancy, which lasted two or three 
days. In 1834 he was a candidate for Congress 
from the Northern District, but was defeated by 
William L. May (Democrat), as claimed by Mr. 
Mill's friends, unfairly. He early fell a victim 
to consumption and, returning to Massachusetts, 
died in Berkshire County, in that State, in 1841. 
Hon. R. H. McClellan, of Galena, says of him: 
"He was a man of remarkable ability, learning 
and eloquence," while Governor Ford, in his 
"History of Illinois," testifies that, "by common 
consent of all his contemporaries. Mr. Mills was 
regarded as the most popular and brilliant lawyer 
of his day at the Galena bar." 

MILLS, Henry A., State Senator, was born at 
New Hartford, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1827; 
located at Mount Carroll, Carroll County. 111., in 
1856, finally engaging in the banking business at 
that place. Having served in various local 
offices, he was, in 1874, chosen State Senator for 
the Eleventh District, but died at Galesburg 
before the expiration of his term, July 7, 1877. 

MILLSj Luther Laflin, lawyer, was born at 
North Adams, Mass., Sept. 3, 1848; brought to 
Chicago in infancy, and educated in the public 
schools of that city and at Michigan State Uni- 
versity. In 1868 he began the study of law, was 
admitted to practice three years later, and, in 
1876, was elected State's Attorney, being re- 
elected in 1880. While in this office he was con- 
nected with some of the most important cases 
ever brought before the Chicago courts. 
Although he. has held no official position except 
that already mentioned, his abilities at the bar 
and on the rostrum are widely recognized, and 
his services, as an attorney and an orator, have 
been in frequent demand. 

MILLSTADT, a town in St. Clair County, on 
branch of Mobile & Ohio Railroad. 14 miles south- 
southeast of St. Louis; has electric lights, 
churches, schools, bank, newspaper, coal mines, 
and manufactures flour, beer and butter. Popu- 
lation (1890), 1,186; (1900), 1,173, 

MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY. (See 
Chicago. Milwaukee <&■ St. Paul Railway.) 

MINER, Orlin H., State Auditor, was born in 
Vermont, May 13, 1825; from 1834 to '51 he lived 



in Ohio, the latter year coming to Chicago, where 
he worked at his trade of watch- maker. In 1855 
he went to Central America and was with Gen- 
eral William Walker at Greytown. Returning to 
Illinois, he resumed his trade at Springfield; in 
1857 he was appointed, by Auditor Dubois, chief 
clerk in the Auditor's office, serving until 1864, 
when he was elected State Auditor as successor 
to his chief. Retiring from office in 1869, he 
gave attention to his private business. He was 
one of the founders and a Director of the Spring- 
field Iron Company. Died in 1879. 

MINIER, a village of Tazewell County, at the 
intersection of the Jacksonville Division of the 
Chicago & Alton and the Terre Haute & Peoria 
Railroads, 26 miles southeast of Peoria ; is in fine 
farming district and has several grain elevators, 
some manufactures, two banks and a newspaper. 
Population (1890), 664; (1900), 746. 

MINONK, a city in Woodford County, 29 miles 
north of Bloomington and 53 miles northeast of 
Peoria, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and 
the Illinois Central Railways. The surrounding 
region is agricultural, though much coal is 
mined in the vicinity. The city has brick yards, 
tile factories, steam flouring-mills, several grain 
elevators, two private banks and two weekly 
newspapers. Population (1880), 1,913; (1890), 
2,316; (1900), 2,546. 

MINORITY REPRESENTATION, a method of 
choosing members of the General Assembly and 
other deliberative bodies, designed to secure rep- 
resentation, in such bodies, to minority parties. 
In Illinois, this method is limited to the election 
of members of the lower branch of the General 
Assembly — except as to private corporations, 
which may, at their option, apply it in the election 
of Trustees or Directors. In the apportionment 
of members of the General Assembly (see Legis- 
lative Apportionment), the State Constitution 
requires that the Senatorial and Representative 
Districts shall be identical in territory, each of 
such Districts being entitled to choose one Sena- 
tor and three Representatives. The provisions of 
the Constitution, making specific application of 
the principle of "minority representation" (or 
"cumulative voting, " as it is sometimes called), 
declares that, in the election of Representatives, 
"eacli qualified voter may cast as many votes for 
one candidate as there are Representatives, or 
(he) may distribute the same, or equal parts 
tliereof, among the candidates as he shall see 
fit." (State Constitution, Art. IV, sections 7 and 
8.) In practice, this provision gives the voter 
power to cast three votes for one candidate ; two 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



379 



votes for one candidate and one for another, or 
one and a half votes to each of two candidates, 
or he may distribute his vote equally among 
three candidates (giving one to each) ; but no 
other division is admissible without invalidating 
his ballot as to this office. Other forms of minor- 
ity representation have been proposed by various 
writers, among whom Mr. Thomas Hare, John 
Stuart Mill, and Mr. Craig, of England, are most 
prominent ; but that adopted in Illinois seems to 
be the simplest and most easy of application. 

MIXSHALL, William A., legislator and jurist, 
a native of Ohio who came to Rushville, 111. , at 
an early day, and entered upon the practice of 
law; served as Representative in the Eighth, 
Tenth and Twelfth General Assemblies, and as 
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention 
of 18-17. He was elected Judge of the Circuit 
Court for the Fifth Circuit, under the new Con- 
stitution, in 1848, and died in office, early in 1853, 
being succeeded by the late Judge Pinkney H. 
Walker. 

MISSIOIVARIES, EARLY. The earliest Chris- 
tian missionaries in Illinois were of the Roman 
Catholic faith. As a rule, these accompanied the 
French explorers and did not a little toward the 
extension of French dominion. They were usually 
members of one of two orders — the "Recollects," 
founded by St. Francis, or the "Jesuits," founded 
by Loyola. Between these two bodies of ecclesi- 
astics existed, at times, a strong rivalry ; the 
former having been earher in the field, but hav- 
ing been virtually subordinated to the latter by 
Cardinal Richelieu. The controversy between 
the two orders gradually involved the civil 
authorities, and continued until the suppression 
of the Jesuits, in France, in 1764. The most noted 
of the Jesuit missionaries were Fathers AUouez, 
Gravier, Marquette, Dablon, Pinet, Rasle, Lamo- 
ges, Binneteau and Marest. Of the Recollects, 
the most conspicuous were Fathers Membre, 
Douay, Le Clerq, Hennepin and Ribourde. 
Besides these, there were also Father Bergier and 
Montigny, who, belonging to no religious order, 
were called secular priests. The first Catholic 
mission, founded in Illinois, was probably that at 
the original Kaskaskia, on the Illinois, in the 
present county of La Salle, where Father Mar- 
quette did missionary work in 1673, followed by 
Allouez in 1677. (See Allouez, Claude Jean.) 
The latter was succeeded, in 1688, by Father Grav- 
ier, who was followed, in 1692, by Father Sebas- 
tian Rasle, but who, returning in 1694, remained 
until 1695, when he was succeeded by Pinet 
and Binneteau. In 1700 Father Marest was 



in charge of the mission, and the number of 
Indians among whom he labored was, that year, 
considerably diminished by the emigration of the 
Kaskaskias to the south. Father Gravier, about 
this time, labored among the Peorias, but was 
incapacitated by a wound received from the 
medicine man of the tribe, which finally resulted 
in his death, at Mobile, in 1706. The Peoria station 
remained vacant for a time, but was finally filled 
by Father Deville. Another early Cathohc mis- 
sion in Illinois was that at Cahokia. While the 
precise date of its establishment cannot be fixed 
with certainty, there is evidence tliat it was in 
existence in 1700, being the earliest in that region. 
Among the early Fatliers, who ministered to the 
savages there, were Pinet, St. Cosme, Bergier and 
Lamoges. This mission was at first called the 
Tamaroa, and, later, the mission of St. Sulpice. 
It was probably the first permanent mission in the 
Illinois Country. Among those in charge, down 
to 1718, were Fathers de Montigny, Damon (prob- 
ably), Varlet, de la Source, and le Mercier. In 
1707, Father Mermet assisted Father Marest at 
Kaskaskia, and, in 1720, that mission became a 
regularly constituted parish, the incumbent being 
Father de Beaubois. Rev. Philip Boucher 
preached and administered the sacraments at 
Fort St. Louis, where he died in 1719, having 
been preceded by Fathers Membre and Ribourde 
in 1680, and by Fathers Douay and Le Clerq in 
1687-88. The persecution and banishment of the 
early Jesuit missionaries, by the Superior Council 
of Louisiana (of which Illinois had formerly been 
a part), in 1763, is a curious chapter in State his- 
tory. That body, following the example of some 
provincial legislative bodies in France, officially 
declared the order a dangerous nuisance, and 
decreed the confiscation of all its propertj-, in- 
cluding plate and vestments, and the razing of 
its churches, as well as the banishment of its 
members. This decree the Louisiana Council 
undertook to enforce in Illinois, disregarding the 
fact that that territory had passed under the 
jurisdiction of Great Britain. The Jesuits seem 
to have offered no resistance, either physical or 
legal, and all members of the order in Illinois 
were ruthlessly, and without a shadow of author- 
ity, carried to New Orleans and thence deported 
to France. Only one— Father Sebastian Louis 
Meurin— -was allowed to return to Illinois ; and he, 
only after promising to recognize the ecclesiastical 
authority of the Superior Council as supreme, 
and to hold no communication with Quebec or 
Rome. The labors of the missionaries, apart 
from spiritual results, were of great value. They 



380 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



perpetuated the records of early discoveries, 
reduced the language, and even dialects, of the 
aborigines, to grammatical rules, and preserved 
the original traditions and described the customs 
of the savages. (Authorities: Shea and Kip's 
"Catholic Missions," "Magazine of Western His- 
tory," Winsor's "America," and Shea's "Catholic 
Church in Colonial Days.") 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (Indian name, "Missi 
Sipi," the "Great Water.") Its head waters are 
in the northern part of Minnesota, 1,680 feet 
above tide-water. Its chief source is Itasca 
Lake, which is 1,575 feet higher than the sea, 
and which is fed by a stream having its source 
within one mile of the head waters of the Red 
River of the North. From this sheet of water to 
the mouth of the river, the distance is variously 
estimated at from 3,000 to 3,160 miles. Lake 
Itasca is in lat. 47° 10' north and Ion. 95° 30' west 
from Greenwich. The river at first runs north- 
ward, but soon turns toward the east and expands 
into a series of small lakes. Its course, as far as 
Crow Wing, is extremely sinuous, below which 
point it runs southward to St. Cloud, thence south- 
eastward to Mnneapolis, where occur the FaUs of 
St. Anthony, establishing a complete barrier to 
navigation for the lower Mississippi. In less than 
a mile the river descends 66 feet, including a per- 
pendicular fall of 17 feet, furnishing an immense 
water-power, which is utilized in operating flour- 
ing-mills and other manufacturing establish- 
ments. A few miles below St. Paul it reaches 
the western boundary of Wisconsin, where it 
expands into the long and beautiful Lake Pepin, 
bordered by picturesque limestone bluffs, some 
400 feet high. Below Dubuque its general direc- 
tion is southward, and it forms the boundary 
between the States of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas 
and the northern part of Louisiana, on tlie 
west, and Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis- 
sissippi, on the east. After many sinuous ^turn- 
ings in its southern course, it enters the Gulf of 
Mexico by three principal passes, or mouths, at 
the southeastern extremity of Plaquemines 
Parish, La., in lat. 29° north and Ion. 89' 13' 
west. Its principal affluents on the right are the 
Minnesota, Iowa, Des Moines, Missouri, Arkansas 
and Red Rivers, and, on the left, the Wisconsin. 
Illinois and Ohio. The Missouri River is longer 
than that part of the Mississippi above the point 
of junction, the distance from its source to the 
delta of the latter being about 4,300 miles, which 
exceeds that of any other river in the world. 
The width of the stream at St. Louis is about 
3,500 feet, at the mouth of the Ohio nearly 4,500 



feet, and at New Orleans about 2,500 feet. The 
mean velocity of the current between St. Louis 
and the Gulf of Mexico is about five to five and 
one-half miles per hour. The average depth 
below Red River is said to be 121 feet, though, in 
the vicinity of New Orleans, the maximum is said 
to reach 150 feet. The principal rapids below the 
Falls of St. Anthony are at Rock Island and the 
Des Moines Rapids above Keokuk, the former 
having twenty-two feet fall and the latter 
twenty-four feet. A canal around the Des 
Moines Rapids, along the west bank of the river, 
aids navigation. The alluvial banks which pre- 
vail on one or both shores of the lower Mississippi, 
often spread out into extensive "bottoms" which 
are of inexhaustible fertility. The most impor- 
tant of these above the mouth of the Ohio, is the 
"American Bottom," extending along the east 
bank from Alton to Chester. Immense sums 
have been spent in the construction of levees for 
the protection of the lands along the lower ri%'er 
from overflow, as also in the construction of a 
system of jetties at the mouth, to improve navi- 
gation by deepening the channel. 

MISSISSIPPI RITER BRIDGE, THE, one of 
the best constructed railroad bridges in the West, 
spanning the Mississippi from Pike, 111. , to Loui- 
siana, Mo. The construction company was char- 
tered, April 35, 1872, and the bridge was ready for 
the passage of trains on Dec. 24, 1873. On Dec. 
3, 1877, it was leased in perpetuity by the Chicago 
& Alton Railway Company, which holds all its 
stock and §150,000 of its bonds as an investment, 
paying a rental of §60,000 per annum, to be applied 
in the payment of 7 per cent interest on stock and 
6 per cent on bonds. In 1894, §71,000 was paid for 
rental, §16,000 going toward a sinking fund. 

MOBILE & OHIO RAILROAD, This company 
operates 100.6 miles of road in Illinois, of which 
151.6 are leased from the St. Louis & Cairo Rail- 
road. (See .S(. Louis & Cairo Railroad.) 

MOLINE) a flourishing manufacturing city in 
Rock Island County, incorporated in 1873, on the 
Mississippi above Rock Island and opposite 
Davenport, Iowa; is 168 miles south of west from 
Chicago, and the intersecting point of three 
trunk lines of railway. Moline, Rock Island and 
Davenport are connected by steam and street 
railways, bridges and ferries. All three obtain 
water-power from the Mississippi. The region 
around Moline is rich in coal, and several pro- 
ductive mines are operated in the vicinity. It is 
an important manufacturing point, its chief out- 
puts being agricultural implements, filters, malle- 
able iron, steam engines, vehicles, lumber, organs 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



381 



(pipe and reed), paper, lead-roofing, wind-mills, 
milling machinery, and furniture. The city has 
admirable water-works, several churches, good 
schools, gas and electric light plants, a public 
library, five banks, three daily and weekly 
papers. It also has an extensive electric power 
plant, electric street cars and iuterurban line. 
Population (1890), 13,000; (1900), 17,348. 

MOLONEY, Maurice T., ex-Attorney-General, 
was Ixirn in Ireland, in 1849; came to America in 
1867, and, after a course in the Seminary of "Our 
Lady of the Angels" at Niagara Falls, studied 
theology ; then tauglit for a time in Virginia and 
studied law at the University of that State, 
graduating in 1871, finally locating at Ottawa, 
111. , where he served three years as State's Attor- 
ney of La Salle County, and, in 1892, was nomi- 
nated and elected Attorney-General on the 
Democratic State ticket, serving until January, 
1897. 

MOMENCE, a town in Kankakee County, situ- 
ated on the Kankakee River and at the intersec- 
tion of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the 
Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroads, 54 miles south 
of Chicago; has water power, a flouring mill, 
enameled brick factory, railway repair shops, two 
banks, two newspapers, five churches and two 
schools. Population (1890), 1,635; (1900), 3,026. 

JBOXMOUTH, the county-seat of Warren 
County, 36 miles east of the Mississippi River; at 
point of intersection of two lines of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy and the Iowa Central Rail- 
ways. The Santa Fe enters Monmouth on the 
Iowa Central lines. The surrounding countrj' is 
agricultural and coal yielding. The city has 
manufactories of agricultural implements, sewer- 
pipe, pottery, paving brick, and cigars. Mon- 
mouth College (United Presbyterian) was 
chartered in 1857, and the library of this institu- 
tion, with that of Warren County (also located 
at Monmouth) aggregates 30,000 volumes. There 
are three national banks, two daily, three weekly 
and two other periodical publications. An ap- 
propriation was made by the Fifty-fifth Congress 
for the erection of a Government building at 
Monmouth. Population (1890), 5,936; (1900), 7,460. 

MONMOUTH COLLEGE, an educational insti- 
tution, controlled by the United Presbyterian 
denomination, but non-sectarian ; located at Mon- 
rnouth. It was founded in 1856, its first class 
graduating in 1858. Its Presidents have been 
Drs. D. A. Wallace (1856-78) and J. B. McMichael, 
the latter occupying the position from 1878 until 
1897. In 1896 the faculty consisted of fifteen 
instructors and the number of students was 389. 



The college campus covers ten acres, tastefully 
laid out. The institution confers four degrees — 
A.B., B.S., M.B., and B.L. For the conferring 
of the first three, four years' study is required; 
for the degree of B.L., three years. 

MONROE, George D., State Senator, was born 
in Jefferson County, N. Y., Sept. 34, 1844, and 
came with his parents to Illinois in 1849. His 
father having been elected Sheriff of Will County 
in 1864, he became a resident of Joliet, serving 
as a deputy in his father's office. In 1865 he 
engaged in merchandising as the partner of his 
father, which was exchanged, some fifteen years 
later, for the wholesale grocery trade, and, finally, 
for the real-estate and mortgage-loan business, in 
which he is still employed. He has also been 
extensively engaged in the stone business some 
twenty years, being a large stockholder in the 
Western Stone Company and Vice-President of 
the concern. In 1894 Mr. Monroe was elected, as 
a Republican, to the State Senate from the 
Twenty-fifth District, serving in the Thirty-ninth 
and Fortieth General Assemblies, and proving 
himself one of the most influential members of 
that body. 

MONROE COUNTY, situated in the southwest 
part of the State, bordering on the Mississippi — 
named for President Monroe. Its area is about 
380 square miles. It was organized in 1816 and 
included within its boundaries several of the 
French villages which constituted, for many 
years, a center of civilization in the West. 
American settlers, however, began to locate in 
the district as early as 1781. The county has a 
diversified surface and is heavily timbered. The 
soil is fertile, embracing both upland and river 
bottom. Agriculture and the manufacture and 
shipping of lumber constitute leading occupations 
of the citizens. Waterloo is the county-seat. 
Population (1890), 12,948; (1900), 13,847. 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, an interior county, 
situated northeast of St. Louis and south of 
Springfield; area 702 square miles, population 
(1900) , 30,836 — derives its name from Gen. Richard 
Montgomery. The earliest settlements by Ameri- 
cans were toward the close of 1816, county organi- 
zation being effected five years later. The entire 
population, at that time, scarcely exceeded 100 
families. The siu-face is undulating, well watered 
and timbered. The seat of county government is 
located at HiUsboro. Litchfield is an important 
town. Here are situated car-shops and some 
manufacturing establishments. Conspicuous in 
the county's history as pioneers were Harris 
Reavis, Henry Pyatt, John Levi, Aaron Casey 



382 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



John Tillson, Hiram Roimtree, the Wrights 
(Joseph and Cliarles), the Hills (Jolin and 
Henry), William McDavid and John Russell. 

MONTICELLO, a city and the county-seat of 
Piatt County, on the Sangamon River, midway 
between Chicago and St. Louis, on the Kankakee 
and Bloomington Division of the Illinois Central, 
and the Chicago and St. Louis Division of the 
Wabash Railways. It lies within the "corn belt, " 
and stock-raising is extensively carried on in the 
surrounding country. Among the city industries 
are a foundry and machine shops, steam flour and 
planing mills, broom, cigar and harness-making, 
and patent fence and tile works. The city is 
lighted by electricity, has several elevators, an 
excellent water system, numerous churches and 
good schools, with banks and three weekly 
papers. Population (1890), 1,643; (1900), 1,982. 

MONTICELLO FEMALE SEMINARY, the 
second institution established in Illinois for the 
higher education of women — Jacksonville Female 
Seminary being the first. It was founded 
through the munificence of Capt. Benjamin 
Godfrey, who donated fifteen acres for a site, at 
Godfrey, Madison County, and gave §53,000 
toward erecting and equipping the buildings. 
The institution was opened on April 11, 1838, 
with sixteen young lady pupils, Rev. Therou 
Baldwin, one of the celebrated "Yale Band," 
being the first Principal. In 1845 he was suc- 
ceeded by Miss Philena Fobes, and she, in turn, 
by Miss Harriet N. Haskell, in 1866, who still 
remains in charge. In November, 1883, the 
seminary building, with its contents, was burned ; 
but the institution continued its sessions in tem- 
porary quarters until the erection of a new build- 
ing, which was soon accomplished through the 
generosity of alumnae and friends of female edu- 
cation throughout the country. The new struc- 
ture is of stone, three stories in height, and 
thoroughly modern. The average number of 
pupils is 150, with fourteen instructors, and the 
standard of the institution is of a high character. 

MOORE, Clifton H., lawyer and financier, was 
born at Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 
1817 ; after a brief season spent in two academies 
and one term in the Western Reserve Teachers' 
Seminary, at Kirtland, in 1839 he came west 
and engaged in teaching at Pekin, 111., while 
giving his leisure to the study of law. He spent 
the next year at Tremont as Deputy County and 
Circuit Clerk, was admitted to the bar at Spring- 
field in 1841, and located soon after at Clinton, 
DeWitt County, which has since been his home. 
In partnership with the late Judge David Davis, 



of Bloomington, Mr. Moore, a few years later, 
began operating extensively in Illinois lands, and 
is now one of the largest land proprietors in 
the State, besides being interested in a number 
of manufacturing ventures and a local bank. 
The only oflicial position of importance he has 
held is that of Delegate to the State Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1869-70. He is an enthusi- 
astic collector of State historical and art treasures, 
of which he possesses one of the most valuable 
private collections in Illinois. 

MOORE, Henry, pioneer lawyer, came to Chi- 
cago from Concord, Mass., in 1834, and was 
almost immediately admitted to the bar, also 
acting for a time as a clerk in the office of Col. 
Richard J. Hamilton, who held pretty much all 
the county offices on the organization of Cook 
County. Mr. Moore was one of the original 
Trustees of Rush Medical College, and obtained 
from the Legislature the first charter for a gas 
company in Chicago. In 1838 he went to Ha- 
vana, Cuba, for the benefit of his failing health, 
but subsequently returned to Concord, Mass., 
where he died some years afterward. 

MOORE, James, pioneer, was born in the State 
of Maryland in 17.50; was married in his native 
State, about 1772, to Miss Catherine Biggs, later 
removing to Virginia. In 1777 he came to the 
Illinois Country as a spy, preliminary to the con- 
templated expedition of Col. George Rogers 
Clark, which captured Kaskaskia in July, 1778. 
After the Clark expedition (in which he served 
as Captain, by appointment of Gov. Patrick 
Henry), he returned to Virginia, where he 
remained until 1781, when he organized a party 
of emigrants, which he accompanied to Illinois, 
spending the winter at Kaskaskia. The following 
year they located at a point in the northern part 
of Monroe County, which afterwards received 
the name of Bellefontaine. After his arrival in 
Illinois, he organized a company of "Minute 
Men," of which he was chosen Captain. He was 
a man of prominence and influence among the 
early settlers, but died in 1788. A numerous and 
influential family of his descendants have grown 
up in Southern Illinois. — John (Moore), son of 
the preceding, was born in Maryland in 1773, and 
brought by his father to Illinois eight years later. 
He married a sister of Gen. John D. Whiteside, 
who afterwards became State Treasurer, and also 
served as Fund Commissioner of the State of Illi- 
nois under the internal improvement system. 
Moore was an oflScer of the State Militia, and 
served in a company of rangers during the War 
of 1812; was also the first County Treasurer of 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



383 



Monroe County. Died, July 4, 1833. — James B. 
(Moore), the third son of Capt. James Moore, was 
born in 1780, and brought to Illinois by his par- 
ents; in his early manhood he followed the 
business of keel-boating on the Mississippi and 
Ohio RiTers, visiting New Orleans, Pittsburg and 
other points ; became a prominent Indian fighter 
during the War of 1812, and was commissioned 
Captain by Governor Edwards and authorized to 
raise a company of mounted rangers; also 
served as Sheriff of Monroe County, by appoint- 
ment of Governor Edwards, in Territorial days ; 
was Presidential Elector in 1830, and State Sena- 
tor for Madison Count}- in 1836-40, d3-ing in the 
latter year. — Enoch (Moore), fourth son of Capt. 
James Moore, the pioneer, was born in the old 
block-house at Bellefontaine in 1783, being the 
first child born of American parents in Illinois ; 
served as a "ranger" in the company of his 
brother, James B. : occupied the office of Clerk of 
the Circuit Court, and afterwards that of Judge 
of Probate of Monroe Count}- during the Terri- 
torial period; was Delegate to the Constitutional 
Convention of 1818, and served as Representative 
from Monroe County in the Second General 
Assembly, later filling various county offices for 
some twenty years. He died in 1848. 

MOORE, Jesse H., clergyman, soldier and Con- 
gressman, born near Lebanon, St. Clair County, 
111., April 32, 1817, and graduated from McKen- 
dree College in 1842. For thirteen years he was 
a teacher, during portions of this period being 
successively at the head of three literary insti- 
tutions in the West. In 1849 he was ordained a 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but 
resigned pastorate duties in 1863, to take part in 
the War for the Union, organizing the One Hun- 
dred and Fifteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, 
of which he was commissioned Colonel, also serving 
as brigade commander during the last year of the 
war, and being brevetted Brigadier-General at its 
close. After the war he re-entered the ministry. 
• but, in 1868, while Presiding Elder of the Decatur 
District, he was elected to the Forty-first Con- 
gress as a Republican, being re-elected in 1870 ; 
afterwards served as Pension Agent at Spring- 
field, and, in 1881, was appointed United States 
Consul at Callao, Peru, dying in office, in that 
city, July 11, 1883. 

MOORE, John, Lieutenant-Governor (1843-46) ; 
was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., Sept. 8, 1793: 
came to America and settled in Illinois in 1830, 
spending most of his life as a resident of Bloom- 
ington. In 1838 he was elected to the lower 
branch of the Eleventh General Assembly from 



the McLean District, and, in 1840, to the Senate, 
but before the close of his term, in 1843, was 
elected Lieutenant-Governor with Gov. Thomas 
Ford. At the outbreak of the Mexican War he 
took a conspicuous part in recruiting the Fourth 
Regiment Illinois Volunteers (Col. E. D. Baker's), 
of which he was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel, 
serving gallantly throughout the struggle. In 
1848 he was appointed State Treasurer, as succes- 
sor of Milton Carpenter, who died in office. In 
1850 he was elected to the same office, and con- 
tinued to discharge its duties until 1857, when he 
was succeeded by James MiUer. Died, Sept. 33, 
1863. 

MOORE, Risdon, pioneer, was born in Dela- 
ware in 1760; removed to North Carolina in 1789, 
and, a few years later, to Hancock County, Ga., 
where he served two terms in the Legislature. 
He emigrated from Georgia in 1812, and settled 
in St. Clair County, 111. — besides a family of fif- 
teen white persons, bringing with him eighteen 
colored people — the object of his removal being 
to get rid of slavery. He purchased a farm in 
what was known as the "Turkey Hill Settle- 
ment." about four miles east of Belleville, where 
he resided until his death in 1828. Mr. Moore 
became a prominent citizen, was elected to the 
Second Territorial House of Representatives, and 
was chosen Speaker, serving as such for two ses- 
sions (1814-1.5). He was also Representative from 
St. .Clair County in the First, Second and Third 
General Assemblies after the admission of Illinois 
into the Union. In the last of these he was one 
of the most zealous opponents of the pro-slavery 
Convention scheme of 1822-24. He left a numer- 
ous and highly respected family of descendants, 
who were afterwards prominent in public affairs. — 
William (Moore) , his son, served as a Captain in 
the War of 1812, and also commanded a company 
in the Black Hawk War. He represented St. 
Clair County in the lower bianch of the Ninth 
and Tenth General Assemblies; was a local 
preacher of the Methodist Church, and was Presi- 
dent of the Board of Trustees of McKendree Col- 
lege at the time of his death in 1849. — Risdon 
(Moore), Jr., a cousin of the first named Risdon 
Moore, was a Representative from St. Clair County 
in the Fourth General Assembly and Senator in 
the Sixth, but died before the expiration of his 
term, being succeeded at the next session by 
Adam W. Snyder. 

MOORE, Stephen Richey, lawyer, was bom of 
Scotch ancestry, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 33. 
1832: in 1851, entered Farmers' College near Cin- 
cinnati, graduating in 1856, and, having qualified 



384 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS 



himself for the practice of law, located the fol- 
lowing year at Kankakee, 111., which has since 
been his home. In 1858 he was employed in 
defense of the late Father Chiniquy, who recently 
died in Montreal, in one of the celebrated suits 
begun against him by dignitaries of the Roman 
Catholic Church. Mr. Moore is a man of strik- 
ing appearance and great independence of char- 
acter, a Methodist in religious belief and has 
generally acted politically in co-operation with 
the Democratic party, though strongly anti- 
slavery in his views. In 1872 he was a delegate 
to the Liberal Republican Convention at Cin- 
cinnati which nominated Mr. Greeley for the 
Presidency, and, in 1896, participated in the same 
way in the Indianapolis Convention which nomi- 
nated Gen. John M. Palmer for the same oflBce, in 
the following campaign giving the "Gold Democ- 
racy" a vigorous support. 

MORAN, Thomas A., lawyer and jurist, was 
born at Bridgeport, Conn. , Oct. 7, 1839 ; received 
his preliminary education in the district schools 
of Wisconsin (to which State his father's family 
had removed in 1846), and at an academy at 
Salem, Wis. ; began reading law at Kenosha in 
1859, meanwhile supporting himself by teaching. 
In May, 1865, he graduated from the Albany 
(N. Y.) Law School, and the same year com- 
menced practice in Chicago, rapidly rising to the 
front rank of his profession. In 1879 he was 
elected a Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, 
and re-elected in 1885. At the expiration of his 
second term he resumed private practice. While 
on the bench he at first heard only common law 
cases, but later divided the business of the equity 
side of the court with Judge Tuley. In June, 
1886, he was assigned to the bench of the Appel- 
late Court, of which tribunal he was, for a year. 
Chief Justice. 

MORGAN, James Dady, soldier, was born in 
Boston, Mass., August 1, 1810, and, at 16 years of 
age, went for a three years' trading voyage on 
the ship "Beverly." When thirty days out a 
mutiny arose, and shortly afterward the vessel 
was burned. Morgan escaped to South America, 
and, after many hardships, returned to Boston. 
In 1834 he removed to Quincy, 111., and engaged 
in mercantile pursuits; aided in raising the 
"Quincy Grays" during the Mormon difSculties 
(1844-45) ; during the Mexican War commanded a 
company in the First Regiment Illinois Volun- 
teers; in 1861 became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Tenth Regiment in the three months' service, 
and Colonel on reorganization of the regiment 
for three years ; was promoted Brigadier-General 



in July, 1862, for meritorious service ; commanded 
a brigade at Nashville, and, in March, 1865, was 
brevetted Major-General for gallantry at Benton- 
ville, N. C, being mustered out, August 24, 1865. 
After the war he resumed business at Quincy, 
111., being President of the Quincy Gas Company 
and Vice-President of a bank; was also Presi- 
dent, for some time, of the Society of the Army 
of the Cumberland. Died, at Quincy, Sept. 12, 1896. 

MORGAN COUNTY, a central county of the 
State, lying west of Sangamon, and bordering on 
the Illinois River — named for Gen. Daniel Mor- 
gan; area, 580 square miles; population (1900), 
35,006. The earliest American settlers were 
probably Elisha and Seymour Kellogg, who 
located on Mauvaisterre Creek in 1818. Dr. George 
Caldwell came in 1820, and was the first phy- 
sician, and Dr. Ero Chandler settled on the pres- 
ent site of the city of Jacksonville in 1821. 
Immigrants began to arrive in large numbers 
about 1822, and, Jan. 31, 1823. the county was 
organized, the first election being held at the 
liouse of James G. Swinerton, six miles south- 
west of the present city of Jacksonville. 01m- 
stead's Mound was the first county-seat, but this 
choice was only temporary. Two years later, 
Jacksonville was selected, and has ever since so 
continued. (See Jacksonville.) Cass County 
was cut off from Morgan in 1837, and Scott 
County in 1839. About 1837 Morgan was the 
most populous county in the State. The county 
is nearly equally divided between woodland and 
prairie, and is well watered. Besides the Illinois 
River on its western border, there are several 
smaller streams, among them Indian, Apple, 
Sandy and Mauvaisterre Creeks. Bituminous 
coal underlies the eastern part of the county, and 
thin veins crop out along the Illinois River 
bluffs. Sandstone has also been quarried. 

MORGAN PARK, a suburban village of Cook 
County, 13 miles south of Chicago, on the Chi- 
cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway ; is the seat 
of the Academy (a preparatory branch) of the' 
University of Chicago and the Scandinavian De- 
partment of the Divinity School connected with 
the same institution. Population (1880), 187; 
(1890), 1.027; (1900), 2,329. 

MORMONS, a religious sect, founded by Joseph 
Smith, Jr., at Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y., 
August 6, 1830, styling themselves the "Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. " Membership 
in 1892 was estimated at 230,000, of wliom some 
20,000 were outside of the United States. Their 
religious teachings are peculiar. They avow faith 
in the Trinity and in the Bible (as by them 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



385" 



interpreted). They believe, however, that the 
"Book of Mormon" — assumed to be of divine 
origin and a direct revelation to Smith — is of 
equal authority with the Scriptures, if not supe- 
rior to them. Among their ordinances are 
baptism and the laying-on of hands, and, in their 
church organization, tliey recognize various orders 
— apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangel- 
ists, etc. They also believe in the restoration of 
the Ten Tribes and the literal re assembling of 
Israel, the return and rule of Christ in person, 
and the rebuilding of Zion in America. Polyg- 
amy is encouraged and made an article of faith, 
though professedly not practiced under existing 
laws in the United States. The supreme power 
is vested in a President, who has authority in 
temporal and spiritual affairs alike; although 
there is less effort now than formerly, on the part 
of the priesthood, to interfere in temporalities. 
Driven from New York in 1831, Smith and his 
followers first settled at Kirtland, Ohio. There, 
for a time, the sect flourished and built a temple; 
but, within seven years, their doctrines and prac- 
tices excited so much hostility that they were 
forced to make another removal. Their next 
settlement was at Far West. Mo. ; but here the 
hatred toward them became so intense as to 
result in open war. From Missouri they 
recrossed the Mississippi and founded the city 
of Nauvoo, near Commerce, in Hancock County, 
111. The charter granted by the Legislature was 
an extraordinary instrument, and well-nigh made 
the city independent of the State. Nauvoo soon 
obtained commercial importance, in two years 
becoming a city of some 16,000 inhabitants. The 
Mormons rapidly became a powerful factor in 
State politics, when there broke out a more 
bitter public enmity than the .sect had yet en- 
countered. Internal dissensions also sprang up, 
and, in 1844, a discontented Mormon founded a 
newspaper at Nauvoo, in which he violently 
assailed the prophet and threatened him with 
exposure. Smith's answer to this was the de- 
struction of the printing oflfice, and the editor 
promptly secured a warrant for his arrest, return- 
able at Carthage. Smith went before a friendly 
justice at Nauvoo, who promptly discharged him, 
but he positively refused to appear before the 
Carthage magistrate. Thereupon the latter 
issued a second warrant, charging Smith with 
treason. This also was treated with contempt. 
The militia was called out to make the arrest, and 
the Mormons, who had formed a strong military 
organization, armed to defend their leader. 
After a few trifling clashes between the soldiers 



and the "Saints," Smith was persuaded to sur- 
render and go to Carthage, the county-seat, where 
he was incarcerated in the county jail. Within 
twenty-four hours (on Sunday, June 37, 1844), a 
mob attacked the prison. Joseph Smith and his 
brother Hyrum were killed, and some of their 
adherents, who had accompanied them to jail, 
were wounded. Brigham Young (then an 
apostle) at once assumed the leadership and, 
after several months of intense popular excite- 
ment, in the following year led his followers 
across the Mississippi, finally locating (1847) in 
Utah. (See also Nmivoo.) There their history 
has not been free from charges of crime; but, 
whatever may be the character of the leaders, 
they have succeeded in building up a prosperous 
community in a region which they found a vir- 
tual desert, a little more than forty years ago. 
The polity of the Church has been greatly modi- 
fied in consequence of restrictions placed upon it 
by Congressional legislation, especially in refer- 
ence to polygamy, and by contact with other 
communities. (See Smith, Joseph. ) 

MORRIS, a city and the county-seat of Grundy 
County, on the Illinois River, the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, and the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad, 61 miles southwest of Chicago. 
It is an extensive grain market, and the center of 
a region rich in bituminous coal. There is valu- 
able water-power here, and much manufacturing 
is done, including builders' hardware, plows, iron 
specialties, paper car- wheels, brick and tile, flour 
and planing-mills, oatmeal and tanned leather; 
There are also a normal and scientific school, two 
national banks and three daily and weekly news- 
papers. Population (1880), 3,486; (1890), 3,653; 
(1900), 4,273. 

MORRIS, Buckner Smith, early lawyer, born 
at Augusta, Ky., August 19, 1800; was admitted 
to the bar in 1827, and, for seven years thereafter, 
continued to reside in Kentucky, serving two 
terms in the Legislature of that State. In 1834 
he removed to Chicago, took an active part in 
the incorporation of the city, and was elected its 
second Mayor in 1838. In 1840 he was a Whig 
candidate for Presidential Elector, Abraham 
Lincoln running on the same ticket, and, in 
1853, was defeated as the Whig candidate for 
Secretary of State. He was elected a Judge of 
the Seventh Circuit in 1851, but declined a re- 
nomination in 1855. In 1856 he accepted the 
American (or Know-Nothing) nomination for 
Governor, and, in 1860, that of the Bell-Everett 
party for the same office. He was vehemently 
opposed to the election of either Lincoln or 



386 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLPPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Breckenridge to the Presidency, believing that 
civil war would result in either event. A shadow 
was thrown across his life, in 1864, by his arrest 
and trial for alleged complicity in a rebel plot to 
burn and pillage Chicago and liberate the 
prisoners of war held at Camp Douglas. The 
trial, however, which was held at Cincinnati, 
resulted in his acquittal. Died, in Kentucky, 
Dec. 18, 1879. Those who knew Judge Morris, in 
his early life in the city of Chicago, describe him 
as a man of genial and kindly disposition, in spite 
of his opposition to the abolition of slavery — a 
fact which, no doubt, had much to do with his 
acquittal of the charge of complicity with the 
Camp Douglas conspiracy, as the evidence of his 
being ir communication with the leading con- 
spirators appears to have been conclusive. (See 
Cainj) Douglas Conspiracy.) 

MORRIS, Freeman P., lawyer and politician, 
was born in Cook County, 111., March 19, 1854, 
labored on a farm and attended the district 
school in his youth, but completed his education 
in Chicago, graduating from the Union College 
of Law, and was admitted to practice in 1874, 
when he located at Watseka, Iroquois County. 
In 1884 he was elected, as a Democrat, to the 
House of Representatives from the Iroquois Dis- 
trict, and has since been re-elected in 1888, "94, 
'96, being one of the most influential members of 
his party in that body. In 1893 he was appointed 
by Governor Altgeld Aid-de-Camp, with the rank 
of Colonel, on his personal staff, but resigned in 
1896. 

MORRIS, Isaac Newton, lawyer and Congress- 
man, was born at Bethel, Clermont County, 
Ohio, Jan. 23, 1813; educated at Miami Univer- 
sity, admitted to the bar in 183.5, and the next 
year removed to Quincy, 111. ; was a member and 
President of the Board of Canal Commissioners 
(1842-43), served in the Fifteenth General Assem- 
bly (1846-48) ; was elected to Congress as a Demo- 
crat in 1856, and again in 1858, but opposed the 
admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Con- 
stitution ; in 1868 supported General Grant — who 
had been his friend in boyhood — for President, 
and, in 1870, was appointed a member of the 
Union Pacific Railroad Commission. Died, Oct. 
29, 1879. 

MORRISON, a city, the county-seat of White- 
side County, founded in 1855; is a station on the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 124 miles 
west of Chicago. Agriculture, dairying and 
stock-raising are the principal pursuits in the 
surrounding region. The city has good water- 
works, sewerage, electric lighting and several 



manufactories, including carriage and refriger 
ator works; also has numerous churches, a large 
graded school, a public library and adequate 
banking facilities, and two weekly papers. 
Greenhouses for cultivation of vegetables for 
winter market are carried on. Pop. (1900), 2,308. 

MORRISON, Isaac L., lawyer and legislator, 
born in Barren County, Ky., in 1826; was edu- 
cated in the common schools and the Masonic 
Seminary of his native State; admitted to the 
bar, and came to Illinois in 1851. locating at 
Jacksonville, where he has become a leader of 
the bar and of t e Republican party, which he 
assisted to organize as a member of its first State 
Convention at Bloomington, in 1856. He was also 
a delegate to the Republican National Convention 
of 1864, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for 
the Presidency a second time. Mr. Morrison was 
three times elected to the lower house of the 
General Assembly (1876, "78 and '83), and, by his 
clear judgment and incisive powers as a public 
speaker, took a high rank as a leader in tliat 
body. Of late years, he has given his attention 
solely to the practice of his profession in 
Jacksonville. 

MORRISON, James Lowery Donaldson, poli- 
tician, lawyer and Congressman, was born at Kas- 
kaskia. 111., April 12, 1816; at the age of 16 was 
appointed a midshipman in the United States 
Navy, but leaving the service in 1836, read law 
with Judge Nathaniel Pope, and was admitted to 
the bar, practicing at Belleville. He was elected 
to the lower house of the General Assembly from 
St. Clair County, in 1844, and to the State Senate 
in 1848, -and again in '54. In 1853 he was an 
unsuccessful candidate for the Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernorship on the Whig ticket, but, on the disso- 
lution of that party, allied himself with the 
Democracy, and was, for many years, its leader in 
Southern Illinois. In 1855 he was elected to Con- 
gress to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- 
tion of Lyman Trumbull, who had been elected to 
the United States Senate. In 1860 he was a can- 
didate before the Democratic State Convention 
for the nomination for Governor, but was defeated 
by James C. Allen. After that year he took no 
prominent part in public affairs. At the outbreak 
of the Mexican War he was among the first to 
raise a company of volunteers, and was commis- 
sioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Regiment 
(Colonel Bissell's). For gallant services at Buena 
Vista, the Legislature presented him with a 
sword. He took a prominent part in the incor- 
poration of railroads, and, it is claimed, drafted 
and introduced in the Legislature the charter of 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



387 



the Illinois Central Railroad in 1851. Died, at 
St. Louis, Mo., August 14, 1888. 

MORRISON, William, pioneer merchant, came 
from Philadelphia, Pa., to Kaskaskia, III, in 1790, 
as representative of the mercantile house of 
Bryant & Morrison, of Philadelphia, and finally 
established an extensive trade throughout the 
Mississippi Valley, supplying merchants at St. 
Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau and New 
Madrid. He is also said to have sent an agent 
with a stock of goods across the plains, with a 
view to opening up trade with the Mexicans at 
Santa Fe, about 1804, but wt^ ■, defrauded by the 
agent, who appropriated the goods to his own 
benefit without accounting to his employer. 
He became the principal merchant in the TeiTi- 
tory, doing a thriving business in early days, 
when Kaskaskia was the principal supply point 
for merchants throughout the valley. He is de- 
scribed as a public-spirited, enterprising man, to 
whom was due the chief part of the credit for 
securing construction of a bridge across the Kas- 
kaskia River at the town of that name. He died 
at Kaskaskia in 1837, and was buried in the ceme- 
tery there. — Robert (Morrison), a brother of the 
preceding, came to Kaskaskia in 1793, was 
appointed Clerk of the Common Pleas Court in 
1801, retaining the position for many years, 
besides holding other local offices. He was the 
father of Col. James L. D. Morrison, politician 
and soldier of the Mexican War, whose sketch is 
given elsewhere. — Joseph (Morrison), the oldest 
son of William Morrison, went to Ohio, residing 
there several years, but finally returned to Prairie 
du Rocher, where he died in 184.'). — James, 
another son, went to Wisconsin ; William located 
at Belleville, dying there in 1843; while Lewis* 
another son, settled at Covington, Washington 
County, 111., where he practiced medicine up to 
1851 ; then engaged in mercantile business at 
Chester, dying there in 18.56. 

MORRISON, William Ralls, ex Congressman, 
Interstate Commerce Commissioner, was born, 
Sept. 14, 1825, in Monroe County, 111., and edu- 
cated at McKendree College ; served as a private 
in the Mexican War, at its close studied law, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1855; in 1852 was 
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe 
County, but resigned before the close of his term, 
accepting the office of Representative in the State 
Legislature, to which he was elected in 1854 ; was 
re-elected in 1856, and again in 1858, serving as 
Speaker of the House during the session of 1859. 
In 1861 he assisted in oiganizing the Forty-ninth 
Regiment Illinois Volunteers and was commis- 



sioned Colonel. The regiment was mustered in, 
Dec. 31, 1861, and took part in the battle of Fori 
Donelson in February following, where he vva.s 
severely wounded. While yet in the service, in 
1862, he was elected to Congress as a Democrat, 
when he resigned his commission, but was de- 
feated for re-election, in 1864, by Jehu Baker, as 
he was again in 1866. In 1870 he was again 
elected to the General Assembly, and, two years 
later (1872), returned to Congress from the Belle- 
ville District, after which he served in that body, 
by successive re-elections, nine terms and until 
1887, being for several terms Chairman of the 
House Ways and Means Committee and promi- 
nent in the tariff legislation of that period. In 
March, 1887, President Cleveland appointed him 
a member of tlie first Interstate Commerce Com- 
mission for a period of five years ; at the close of 
his term he was reappointed, by President Harri- 
son, for a full term of six years, serving a part of 
the time as President of the Board, and retiring 
from office iu 1898. 

MORRISON VILLE, a town in Christian 
County, situated on the Wabash Railway, 40 
miles southwest of Decatur and 20 miles north- 
norther.st of Litchfield. Grain is extensively 
raised in the surrounding region, and Morrison- 
ville, with its elevators and mill, is an important 
shipping-point. It has brick and tile works, 
electric lights, two banks, five churches, graded 
and high schools, and a weekly paper. Popula- 
tion (1890), 844; i,1900), 934; (1903, est.), 1,200. 

MORTON, a village of Tazewell County, at the 
intersection of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 
and the Terre Haute & Peoria Railroads, 10 miles 
southeast of Peoria; has factories, a bank and a 
newspaper. Population (1890), 657; (1900), 894. 

MORTON, Joseph, pioneer farmer and legisla- 
tor, was born in Virginia, August 1, 1801 ; came 
to Madison County, 111., in 1819, and the follow- 
ing year to Morgan County, when he engaged in 
farming in the vicinity of Jacksonville. He 
served as a member of the House in the Tenth 
and Fifteenth General Assemblies, and as Senator 
in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth. He was a 
Democrat in politics, but, on questions of State 
and local policy, was non-partisan, faithfully 
representing the interests of his constituents. 
Died, at his home near Jacksonville, March 2, 1881. 

MOSES, Adolph, lawyer, was born in Speyer, 
Germany, Feb. 37, 1837, and, until fifteen years 
of age, was educated in the public and Latin 
schools of his native country ; iu the latter part 
of 1852, came to America, locating in New 
Orleans, and, for some years, being a law student 



388 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



in Louisiana University, under the preceptorship 
of Randall Hunt and other eminent lawyers of 
that State. In the early days of the Civil War 
he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, serving 
some two years as an officer of the Twenty-first 
Louisiana Regiment. Coming north at the expi- 
ration of this period, he resided for a time in 
Quincy, 111., but, in 1869, removed to Chicago, 
where he took a place in the front rank at the 
bar, and where he has resided ever since. 
Although in sympathy with the general princi- 
ples of the Democratic party, Judge Moses is an 
independent voter, as shown by the fact that he 
voted for General Grant for President in 1868, 
and supported the leading measures of the Repub- 
lican party in 1896. He is the editor and pub 
lisher of "The National Corporation Reporter," 
established in 1890, and which is devoted to the 
interests of business corporations. 

MOSES, John, lawyer and author, was born at 
Niagara Falls, Canada. Sept. 18, 1825; came to 
Illinois in 1837, his family locating first at Naples, 
Scott County. He pursued the vocation of a 
teacher for a time, studied law, was elected Clerk 
of the Circuit Court for Scott County in 1856, and 
served as County Judge from 1857 to 1861. The 
latter year he became the private secretary of 
Governor Yates, serving until 1863, during that 
period assisting in the organization of seventy- 
seven regiments of Illinois Volunteers. While 
serving in this capacity, in company with Gov- 
ernor Yates, he attended the famous conference 
of loyal Governors, held at Altoona, Pa., in Sep- 
tember, 1862, and afterwards accompanied the 
Governors in their call upon President Lincoln, a 
few days after the issue of the preliminary proc- 
lamation of emancipation. Having received the 
appointment, from President Lincoln, of Assessor 
of Internal Revenue for the Tenth Illinois Dis- 
trict, he resigned the position of private secretary 
to Governor Yates. In 1874 he was chosen 
Representative in the Twenty-ninth General 
Assembly for the District composed of Scott, 
Pike and Calhoun Counties ; served as a delegate 
to the National Republican Convention at Phila- 
delphia, in 1872, and as Secretary of the Board of 
Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners for 
three years (1880-83). He was then appointed 
Special Agent of the Treasury Department, and 
assigned to duty in connection with the customs 
revenue at Chicago. In 1887 he was chosen Sec- 
retary of the Chicago Historical Society, serving 
until 1893. While connected with the Chicago 
Historical Library he brought out the most com- 
plete History of Illinois yet published, in two 



volumes, and also, in connection with the late 
Major Kirkland, edited a History of Chicago in 
two large volumes. Other literary work done by 
Judge Moses, includes "Personal Recollections of 
Abraham Lincoln" and "Richard Yates, the 
War Governor of Illinois," in the form of lectirres 
or addresses. Died in Chicago, July 3, 1898. 

MOULTON, Samuel W., lawyer and Congress- 
man, was born at Wenham, Mass., Jan, 20, 1822, 
where he was educated in the public schools. 
After spending some years in the South, he 
removed to Illinois (1845), where he studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar, commencing prac- 
tice at Shelbyville. From 1852 to 1859 he was a 
member of the lower house of the General Assem- 
bly; in 1857, was a Presidential Elector on the 
Buchanan ticket, and was President of the State 
Board of Education from 1859 to 1876. In 1864 
he was elected, as a Republican, Representative in 
Congress for the State-at-large, being elected 
again, as a Democrat, from the Shelbyville Dis- 
trict, in 1880 and '82. During the past few years 
(including the campaign of 1896) Mr. Moulton 
has acted in cooperation with the Republican 
party. 

MOULTRIE COUjVTY, a comparatively small 
county in the eastern section of the middle tier of 
the State — named for a revolutionary hero. Area, 
340 square miles, and population (by the census 
of 1900), 15,224. Moultrie was one of the early 
"stamping grounds" of the Kickapoos, who were 
always friendly to English-speaking settlers. The 
earliest immigrants were from the Southwest, 
but arrivals from Northern States soon followed. 
County organization was effected in 1843, both 
Shelbj- and Macon Counties surrendering a portion 
of territory. A vein of good bituminous coal 
underlies the county, but agriculture is the more 
important industry. Sullivan is the county -seat, 
selected in 1845. In 1890 its population was about 
1,700. Hon. Richard J. Oglesby (former Gover- 
nor, Senator and a Major-General in the Civil 
War) began the practice of law here. 

MOUND-BUILDERS, WORKS OF THE. One 
of the most conclusive evidences that the Mis- 
sissippi Valley was once occupied by a people 
different in customs, character and civilization 
from the Indians found occupying the soil when 
the first white explorers visited it, is the exist- 
ence of certain artificial mounds and earthworks, 
of the origin and purposes of which the Indians 
seemed to have no knowledge or tradition. These 
works extend throughout the valley from the 
Allegheny to the Rocky Mountains, being much 
more numerous, however, in some portions than 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



389 



in others, and also varying greatly in form. This 
fact, with the remains found in some of them, has 
been regarded as evidence that the purposes of 
their construction were widely variant. They 
have consequently been classified by archaeolo- 
gists as sepulchral, reUgious, or defensive, while 
some seem to have had a purpose of which 
writers on the subject are unable to form any 
satisfactory conception, and which are, therefore, 
still regarded as an unsolved mystery. Some of 
the most elaborate of these works are found along 
the eastern border of the Mississippi Valley, 
especially in Ohio ; and the fact that they appear 
to belong to the defensive class, has led to the 
conclusion that this region was occupied by a race 
practically homogeneous, and that these works 
were designed to prevent the encroachment of 
hostile races from beyond the Alleghenies. Illi- 
nois being in the center of the valley, compara- 
tively few of these defensive works are found 
here, those of this character which do exist being 
referred to a different era and race. (See Forti- 
fications. Prehistoric.) While these works are 
numerous in some portions of Illinois, their form 
and structure give evidence that they were 
erected by a peaceful people, however bloody 
may have been some of the rites performed on 
those designed for a religious purpose. Their 
numbers also imply a dense population. This is 
especially true of that portion of the American 
Bottom opposite the city of St. Louis, which is 
the seat of the most remarkable group of earth 
works of this character on the continent. The 
central, or principal structvu'e of this group, is 
known, locally, as the great "Cahokia Mound,'' 
being situated near the creek of that name which 
empties into the Mississippi just below the city 
of East St. Louis. It is also called "Monks' 
Mound, ' ' from the fact that it was occupied early 
in the present century by a community of Monks 
of La Trappe. a portion of whom succumbed to 
the malarial influences of the climate, while the 
survivors returned to the original seat of their 
order. This mound, from its form and com- 
manding size, has been supposed to belong to the 
class called "temple mounds," and has been de- 
scribed as "the monarch of all similar structures" 
and the "best representative of its class in North 
America." The late William Mc Adams, of 
Alton, who surveyed this group some years since, 
in his "Records of Ancient Races," gives the fol- 
lowing description of this principal structure : 

"In the center of a great mass of mounds and 
earth-works there stands a mighty pyramid 
whose base covers nearly sixteen acres of ground. 



It is not exactly square, being a parallelogram a 
httle longer north and south than east and west. 
Some thirty feet above the base, on the south side, 
is an apron or terrace, on which now grows an 
orchard of considerable size. This terrace is 
approached from the plain by a graded roadway. 
Thirty feet above this terrace, and on the west 
side, is another much smaller, on which are now 
growing some forest trees. Tlie top, which con- 
tains an acre and a half, is divided into two 
nearly equal parts, the northern part being four 
or five feet the higher. . . . On the north, 
east and south, the structure still retains its 
straight side, that probably has changed but little 
since the settlement of the country by white 
men, but remains in appearance to-day the same 
as centuries ago. The west side of the pyramid, 
however, has its base somewhat serrated and 
seamed by ravines, evidently made by rainstorms 
and the elements. From the second terrace a 
well, eighty feet in depth, penetrates the base of 
the structure, which is plainly seen to be almost 
wholly composed of the black, sticky soil of the 
surrounding plain. It is not an oval or conical 
mound or hill, but a pyramid with straight 
sides." The approximate height of this mound 
is ninety feet. When first seen by white men, 
this was surmounted by a small conical mound 
some ten feet in height, from which human 
remains and various relics were taken while 
being leveled for the site of a house. Messrs. 
Squier and Davis, in their report on "Ancient 
Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," pubUshed 
by the Smithsonian Institute (1848), estimate the 
contents of the structure at 20,000,000 cubic feet. 
A Mr. Breckenridge, who visited these mounds 
in 1811 and pubUshed a description of them, esti- 
mates that the construction of this principal 
mound must have required the work of thousands 
of laborers and years of time. The upper terrace, 
at the time of his visit, was occupied by the 
Trappists as a kitchen garden, and the top of the 
structure was sown in wheat. He also found 
numerous fragments of flint and earthern ves- 
sels, and concludes that "a populous city once 
existed here, similar to those of Mexico described 
by the first conquerors. The mounds were sites 
of temples or monuments to great men. " Accord- 
ing to Mr. McAdams, there are seventy-two 
moimds of considerable size within two miles of 
the main structure, the group extending to the 
mouth of the Cahokia and embracing over one 
hundred in all. Most of these are square, rang- 
ing from twenty to fifty feet in height, a few are 
oval and one or two conical. Scattered among 



390 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the mounds are also a number of small lakes, 
evidently of artificial origin. From the fact 
that there were a number of conspicuous 
mounds on the Missouri side of the river, 
on the present site of the city of St. Louis 
and its environs, it is believed that they all 
belonged to the same system and had a common 
purpose; the Cahokia Mound, from its superior 
size, being the center of the group — and probably 
used for sacrificial purposes. The whole number 
of these structures in the American Bottom, 
whose outlines were still visible a few years ago, 
was estimated by Dr. J. W. Foster at nearly two 
hundred, and the presence of so large a number 
in close proximity, has been accepted as evidence 
of a large population in the immediate vicinity. 
Mr. McAdams reports the finding of numerous 
specimens of pottery and artificial ornaments and 
implements in the Cahokia mounds and in caves 
and mounds between Alton and the mouth of the 
Illinois River, as well as on the latter some 
twenty-five miles from its mouth. Among the 
relics found in the Illinois River mounds was a 
burial vase, and Mr. McAdams saj's that, in 
thirty years, he has unearthed more than a 
thousand of these, many of which closely 
resemble those found in the mounds of Europe. 
Dr. Foster also makes mention of an ancient 
cemetery near Chester, in which "each grave, 
when explored, is found to contain a cist enclos- 
ing a skeleton, for the most part far gone in 
decay. These cists are built up and covered with 
slabs of limestone, which here abound. "■ — Another 
noteworthy group of mounds — though far inferior 
to the Cahokia group — exists near Hutsonville in 
Crawford County. As described in the State 
Geological Survey, this group consists of fifty- 
five elevations, irregularly dispersed over an area 
of 1,000 by 1,400 to 1,500 feet, and varying from 
fourteen to fifty feet in diameter, the larger ones 
having a height of five to eight feet. From their 
form and arrangement these are believed to have 
been mounds of habitation. In the southern por- 
tion of this group are four mounds of peculiar 
construction and larger size, each surrounded 
by a low ridge or earthwork, with openings facing 
towards each other, indicating that they were 
defense- works. The location of this group — a 
few miles from a prehistoric fortification at 
Merom, on the Indiana side of the Wabash, to 
which the name of "Fort Azatlan" has been 
given — induces the belief that the two groups, 
like those in the American Bottom and at St. 
Louis, were parts of the same system. — Professor 
Engelman, in the part of the State Geological 



Survey devoted to Massac County, alludes to a 
remarkable group of earthworks in the Black 
Bend of the Ohio, as an "extensive" sj'stem of 
"fortifications and mounds which probably 
belong to the same class as those in the Missis- 
sippi Bottom opposite St. Louis and at other 
points farther up the Ohio." In the report of 
Government survej' by Dan W. Beckwith, in 1834, 
mention is made of a very large mound on tlie 
Kankakee River, near the mouth of Rock Creek, 
now a part of Kankakee County. This had a 
base diameter of about 100 feet, with a height of 
twenty feet, and contained the remains of a 
large number of Indians killed in a celebrated 
battle, in which the Illinois and Chippewas, and 
the Delawares and Shawnees took part. Near 
by were two other mounds, said to contain the 
remains of the chiefs of the two parties. In this 
case, mounds of prehistoric origin had probably 
been utilized as burial places by the aborigines at 
a comijaratively recent period. Related to the 
Kankakee mounds, in location if not in period of 
construction, is a group of nineteen in number on 
the site of the present city of Mon-is, in Grundy 
County. Within a circuit of three miles of 
Ottawa it has been estimated that there were 
3.000 mounds — though mauj' of these are believed 
to have been of Indian origin. Indeed, the whole 
Illinois Valley i.s full of these silent monuments 
of a prehistoric age, but they are not generally of 
the conspicuous character of those found in the 
vicinity of St. Louis and attributed to the Mound 
Builders. — A very large and numerous group of 
these monuments exists along the bluffs of the 
Mississippi River, in the western part of Rock 
Island and Mercer Counties, chietiy between 
Drury's Landing and New Boston. Mr. J. E. 
Stevenson, in "The American Antiquarian." a 
few years ago, estimated that there were 2,.'j00 of 
these within a circuit of fifty miles, located in 
groups of two or three to 100, varying in diameter 
from fifteen to 150 feet, with an elevation of two 
to fifteen feet. There are also numerous burial 
and sacrificial mounds in the vicinity of Chilli- 
cothe, on the Illinois River, in the northeastern 
part of Peoria County. — There are but few speci- 
mens of the animal or eflBgy mounds, of which so 
many exist in Wisconsin, to be found in Illinois; 
and the fact that these are found chiefly on Rock 
River, leaves no doubt of a common origin with 
the Wisconsin groups. The most remarkable of 
these is the celebrated "Turtle Mound," within 
the present limits of the city of Rockford — though 
some regard it as having more resemblance to an 
alligator. This figure, which is maintained in a 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



391 



good state of preservation by the citizens, has an 
extreme length of about 150 feet, by fifty in 
width at the front legs and tliirty-nine at the 
land legs, and an elevation equal to the height 
of a man. There are some smaller mounds in 
the vicinity, and some bird effigies on Eock River 
some six miles below Rockford. There is also an 
animal effigy near the village of Hanover, in Jo 
Daviess County, with a considerable group of 
round mounds and embankments in the immedi- 
ate vicinity, besides a smaller effigy of a similar 
character on the north side of the Pecatonioa in 
Stephenson County, some ten miles east of Free- 
port. The Rock River region seems to have been 
a favorite field for the operations of the mound- 
builders, as shown by the number and variety of 
these structures, extending from Sterling, in 
Whiteside County, to the Wisconsin State line. A 
large number of these were to be found in the 
vicinity of the Kishwaukee River in the south- 
eastern part of Winnebago Count}'. The famous 
prehistoric fortification on Rock River, just 
beyond the Wisconsin boundary — which seems to 
have been a sort of counterpart of the ancient 
Fort Azatlan on the Indiana side of the Wabash 
^appears to have had a close relation to the 
works of the mound-builders on the same stream 
in Illinois. 

MOUND CITY, the county-seat of Pulaski 
County, on the Ohio River, seven miles north of 
Ciii'o; is on a branch line of the Illinois Central 
and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago it St. 
Louis Railroad. The chief industries are lumber- 
ing and ship-building; also has furniture, canning 
and other factories. One of the United States 
National Cemeteries is located here. The town 
has a bank and two weekly papers. Population 
(1890). 2,.550; (1900). 2,70.5; (1903, est), 3,500. 

MOUNT CARMEL, a city and the county-seat 
of Wabash County; is the point of junction of 
the Cleveland, Cincinnati. Chicago & St. Louis 
and the Southern Railroads, 133 miles northeast 
of Cairo, and 24 miles southwest of Vincennes, 
Ind. ; situated on the Wabash River, which sup- 
plies good water-power for saw mills, flouring 
mills, and some other manufactures. The town 
has railroad shops and two daily newspapers. 
Agriculture and lumbering are the principal 
pursuits of the people of tlie surrounding district. 
Population (1890). 3,376; (1900), 4,311. 

MOUNT CARROLL, the county-seat of Carroll 
County, an incorporated city, founded in 1843; 
is 128 miles southwest of Chicago, on the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Farming, 
stock-raising and mining are the principal indus- 



tries. It has five churches, excellent schools, 
good libraries, two daily and two semi-weekly 
newspapers. Pop. (1890), 1,836; (1900), 1,96.5. 

MOUNT CARROLL SEMINARY, a young 
ladies' seminary, located at Mount Carroll, Carroll 
County; incorporated in 1852; had a faculty of 
thirteen members in 1896, with 126 pupils, prop- 
erty valued at §100,000, and a library of 5,000 
volumes. 

MOUNT MORRIS, a town in Ogle County, situ- 
ated on the Chicago & Iowa Division of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 108 miles 
west by north from Chicago, and 24 miles south- 
west of Rockford; is the seat of Mount Morris 
College and flourishing public school; has hand- 
some stone and brick buildings, tliree churches 
and two newspapers. Population (1900), 1,048. 

MOUNT OLIVE, a village of Macoupin County, 
on the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis and the 
Wabash Railways, 68 miles southwest of Decatur ; 
in a rich agricultural and coal-mining region. 
Population (1880), 709; (1890), 1,986 ;(1900), 2,930. 

MOUNT PULASKI, a village and railroad junc- 
tion in Logan County, 21 miles northwest of 
Decatur and 24 miles northeast of Springfield. 
Agriculture, coal-mining and stock-raising are 
leading industries. It is also an important ship- 
ping point for grain, and contains several 
elevators and flouring mills. Population (1880), 
1,125; (1890), 1,357; (1900), 1,643. 

MOUNT STERLINCJ, a city, the county -seat of 
Brown County, midway between Quincy and 
Jacksonville, on the Wabash Railway. It is sur- 
rounded by a rich farming country, and has ex- 
tensive deposits of clay and coal. It contains six 
churches and four schools (two large public, and 
two parochial). The town is lighted by elec- 
tricity and has public water-works. Wagons, 
brick, tile and earthenware are manufactured 
here, and three weekly newspapers are pub- 
lished. Population (1880), 1,445; (1890), 1,655; 
(1900), 1,960. 

MOUNT YERNON, a city and county-seat of 
Jefferson County, on three trunk lines of railroad, 
77 miles east-southeast of St. Louis; is the center 
of a rich agricultural and coal region ; has many 
flourishing manufactories, including car-works, a 
plow factory, flouring mills, pressed brick fac- 
tory, canning factory, and is an important .ship- 
ping-point for grain, vegetables and fruits. The 
Appellate Court for the Soutliern Grand Division 
is held here, and the city has nine churches, fine 
scliool buildings, a Carnegie library, two banks 
heating plant, two daily and tliree weekly papers. 
Population (1890), 3,233; (1000), 5,216. 



392 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



MOUNT VERXON & GRAYVILLE RAILROAD. 

(See Peoria. Decatur & Evansville Railway.) 

MOWEA(^UA, a village of Shelby County, on 
the Illinois Central Railroad, 16 miles south of 
Decatur; is in rich agricultural and stock-raising 
section; has coal mine, three banks and two 
newspapers. Population (1890), 848; (1900), 1.478. 
MDDD, (Col.) John J., soldier, was born in 
St. Charles County, Mo., Jan. 9, 1820; his father 
having died in 1833, his mother removed to Pike 
County, 111., to free lier children from the influ- 
ence of slavery. In 1849, and again in 1850, he 
made the overland journey to California, each 
time returning by the Isthmus, his last visit ex- 
tending into 1851. In 1854 he engaged in the' 
commission business in St. Louis, as head of the 
firm of Mudd & Hughes, but failed in the crash 
of 1857; then removed to Chicago, and, in 1861, 
was again in prosperous business. While on a 
business visit in New Orleans, in December, 1860, 
he had an opportunity of learning the growing 
spirit of secession, being advised by friends to 
leave the St. Charles Hotel in order to escape a 
mob. In September, 1861, he entered the army 
as Major of the Second Illinois Cavalry (Col. 
Silas Noble), and, in the next few months, was 
stationed successively at Cairo, Bird's Point and 
Paducah, Ky., and, in February, 1863, led the 
advance of General McClernand's division in the 
attack on Fort Donelson. Here he was severely 
wounded ; but, after a few weeks in hospital at St. 
Louis, was sufficiently recovered to rejoin his 
regiment soon after the battle of Shiloh. Unable 
to perform cavalry duty, he was attached to the 
staff of General McClernand during the advance 
on Corinth, but, in October following, at the head 
of 400 men of his regiment, was transferred to 
the command of General McPherson. Early in 
1868 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
soon after to a colonelcy, taking part in the 
movement against Vicksburg. June 13. he was 
again severely wounded, but, a few weeks later, 
was on duty at New Orleans, and subsequently 
participated in the operations in Southwestern 
Louisiana and Texas. On May 1, 1864, he left 
Baton Rouge for Alexandria, as Chief of Staff to 
General McClernand, but two days later, while 
approaching Alexandria on board the steamer, 
was shot through the head and instantly killed. 
He was a gallant soldier and greatly beloved by 
his troops. 

MULBERRY OROYE, a village of Bond County, 
on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis (Vandalia) 
Railroad, 8 miles northeast of Greenville; has a 
local newspaper. Pop. (1890), 750; (1900), 632. 



MULLIGAN, James A., soldier, was born or 
Irish parentage at Utica, N. Y., June 25, 1830; in 
1836 accompanied his parents to Chicago, and, 
after graduating from the University of St. 
Mary's of the Lake, in 1850, began the study of 
law. In 1851 he accompanied John Lloyd Ste- 
phens on his expedition to Panaiua, and on his 
return resumed his professional studies, at the 
same time editing "The Western Tablet," a 
weekly Catholic paper. At the outbreak of the 
Rebellion he recruited, and was made Colonel of 
the Twenty-third Illinois Regiment, known as 
the Irish Brigade. He served with great gallan- 
try, first in the West and later in the East, being 
severely wounded and twice captured. He 
declined a Brigadier-Generalship, preferring to 
remain with his regiment. He was fatally 
wounded during a charge at the battle of Win- 
chester. While being carried off the field he 
noticed that the colors of his brigade were en- 
dangered. "Lay me down and save the flag," he 
ordered. His men hesitated, but he repeated the 
command until it was obeyed. Before they 
returned he had been borne away by the enemy, 
and died a prisoner, at Winchester, Va., July 26, 
1864. 

MUNN, Daniel W., lawyer and soldier, was 
born in Orange County, Vt., in 1834; graduated 
at Thetford Academy in 1852, when he taught 
two years, meanwhile beginning the study of 
law. Removing to Coles County, 111., in 1855, he 
resumed his law studies, was admitted to the bar 
in 1858, and began practice at Hillsboro, Mont- 
gomery County. In 1862 he joined the One 
Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers, with the rank of Adjutant, but the 
following year was appointed Colonel of the First 
Alabama Cavalry. Compelled to retire from the 
service on account of declining health, he re- 
turned to Cairo, 111. , where he became editor of 
"The Daily News"; in 1866 was elected to the 
State Senate, serving four years ; served as Presi- 
dential Elector in 1868 ; was the Republican nomi- 
nee for Congress in 1870, and the following year 
was appointed by President Grant Supervisor of 
Internal Revenue for the District including the 
States of Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. 
Removing to Chicago, he began practice there in 
1875, in which he has since been engaged. He 
has been prominently connected with a number 
of important cases before the Chicago courts. 

MUNN, Sylvester W., lawyer, soldier and legis- 
lator, was born about 1818, and came from Ohio 
at thirt}- years of age, settling at Wilmington, 
Will County, afterwards removing to Joliet, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



393 



where he practiced law. During the War he 
served as Major of the Yates Phalanx (Thirty- 
ninth Illinois Volunteers) ; later, was State's 
Attorney for Will County and State Senator in 
the Thirty-first and Thirty-second General 
Assemblies. Died, at Joliet, Sept. 11, 1888. He 
was a member of the Illinois State Bar Associ- 
ation from its organization. 

MURPHY, Everett J., ex-Member of Con- 
gress, was born in Nashville, 111., July 24, 1852; 
in early youth removed to Sparta, where he was 
educated in the high schools of that place ; at the 
age of fourteen he became clerk in a store; in 
1877 was elected City Clerk of Sparta, but the 
next year resigned to become Deputy Circuit 
Clerk at Chester, remaining until 1882, when he 
was elected Sheriff of Randolph County. In 
1886 he was chosen a Representative in the Gen- 
eral Assembly, and, in 1889, was appointed, by 
Governor Fifer, Warden of the Soutliern Illinois 
Penitentiary at Chester, but retired from this 
position in 1892, and removed to East St. Louis. 
Two years later he was elected as a Republican 
to the Fifty-fourth Congress for the Twenty-first 
District, but was defeated for re-election by a 
small majority in 1896, by Jeliu Baker, Democrat 
and Populist. In 1899 Mr. Murphj' was appointed 
Warden of the State Penitentiary at Joliet, to 
succeed Col. R. W. McClaughry. 

MURPHYSBORO, the county- seat of Jackson 
County, situated on the Big Muddy River and on 
main line of the Mobile & Ohio, the St. Louis 
Division of the Illinois Central, and a branch of 
the St. Louis Valley Railroaas, 52 miles north of 
Cairo and 90 miles south-southeast of St. Louis. 
Coal of a superior quality is extensively mined in 
the vicinity. The city has a foundry, machine 
shops, skewer factory, furniture factory, floirr 
and saw mills, thirteen churches, four schools, 
three banks, two daily and three weekly news- 
papers, city and rural free mail delivery. Popu- 
lation (1890), 3..380; (1900). 6.46.3; (1903, est.), 7,500. 

MURPHYSBORO & SHAWNEETOWN RAIL. 
ROAD. (See Carbondale & Shatrneetown. St. 
Louis Southern and St. Louis, Alton <£• Terre 
Haute Railroads.) 

NAPERVILLE, a city of Du Page County, on 
the we.st branch of the Du Page River and on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 30 miles 
west-southwest of Chicago, and 9 miles east of 
Aurora. It has three banks, a weekly newspaper, 
stone quarries, couch factorj-, and nine churches; 
is also the seat of the Northwestern College, an 
institution founded in 1861 by the Evangelical 



Association ; the college now has a normal school 
department. Population (1890), 3,216; (1900), 2,629 

NAPLES, a town of Scott County, on the Illi- 
nois River and the Hannibal and Naples branch 
of the Wabash Railway, 21 miles west of Jackson- 
ville. Population (1890), 452; (1900), 398. 

JfASHYILLE, an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Washington County, on the Centralia & 
Chester and the Louisville & Nashville Railways; 
is 120 miles south of Springfield and 50 miles east 
by south from St. Louis. It stands in a coal- 
producing and rich agricultural region There 
are two coal mines within the corporate limits, 
and two large flouring mills do a considerable 
business. There are numerous churches, public 
schools, including a high school, a State bank, 
and four weekly papers. Population (1880), 
2,322; (1890), 2,084; (1900), 3,184. 

NAUVOO, a city in Hancock County, at the 
head of the Lower Rapids on the Mississippi, 
between Fort Madison and Keokuk, Iowa. It 
was foimded by the Mormons in 1840, and its 
early growth was rapid. After the expulsion of 
the "Saints" in 1846, it was settled by a colony of 
French Icarians, who introduced the culture of 
grapes on a large scale. They were a sort of 
communistic order, but their experiment did not 
prove a success, and in a few years they gave 
place to another class, the majority of the popu- 
lation now being of German extraction. The 
cliief industries are agriculture and horticulture. 
Large quantities of grapes and strawberries are 
raised and shipped, and considerable native wine 
is produced. Population (1880), 1.402; (1890), 
1,208; (per census 1900), 1,321. (See also Mor- 
mons. ) 

NAVIGABLE STREAMS (by Statute). Fol- 
lowing the example of the French explorers, who 
chiefly followed the waterways in their early 
explorations, the early permanent settlers of Illi- 
nois, not only settled, to a great extent, on the 
principal streams, but later took especial pains to 
maintain their navigable character by statute. 
This was, of course, partly due to the absence of 
improved highways, but also to the belief that, 
as the country developed, the streams would 
become extremely valuable, if not indispensable, 
especially in the transportation of heavy commod- 
ities. Accordingly, for the first quarter century 
after the organization of the State Government, 
one of the .questions receiving the attention of 
the Legislature, at almost every session, was the 
enactment of laws affirming the navigability of 
certain streams now regarded as of little impor- 
tance, or utterly insignificant, as channels of 



394 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



transportation. Legislation of this character 
began with the first General Assembly (1819), 
and continued, at intervals, with reference to 
one or two of the more important interior rivers 
of the State, as late as 1867. Besides the Illinois 
and Wabash, still recognized as navigable 
streams, the following were made the subject of 
legislation of this character: Beaucoup Creek, a 
branch of the Big Muddj-. in Perry and Jackson 
Counties (law of 1819); Big Bay, a tributary of 
the Ohio in Pope County (Acts of 1833); Big 
Muddy, to the junction of the East and West 
Forks in Jefferson County (1835). with various 
subsequent amendments ; Big Vermilion, declared 
navigable (1831); Bon Pas, a branch of the 
Wabash, between Wabash and Edwards Coun- 
ties (1831) ; Cache River, to main fork in Johnson 
County (1819); Des Plaines, declared navigable 
(1839); Embarras (1831), with various subsequent 
acts in reference to improvement; Fox River, 
declared navigable to the Wisconsin line (1840), 
and Fox River Navigation Company, incorpo- 
rated (1855) ; Kankakee and Iroquois Navigation 
& Manufacturing Company, incorporated (1847), 
with various changes and amendments (1851-65) ; 
Kaskaskia (or Okaw), declared navigable to a 
point in Fayette County north of Vandalia (1819), 
with various modifying acts (1833-67) ; Macoupin 
Creek, to Carrollton and Alton road (1837) ; 
Piasa, declared navigable in Jersey and Madison 
Counties (1861) ; Rock River Navigation Com- 
pany, incorporated (1841), with subsequent acts 
(1845-67) ; Sangamon River, declared navigable 
to Third Principal Meridian — east line of Sanga- 
mon County — (1822), and the North Fork of same 
to Champaign County (1845); Sny-Carty (a bayou 
of the Mississippi), declared navigable in Pike 
and Adams Counties (1859) ; Spoon River, navi- 
gable to Cameron's mill in Fulton County (1835), 
with various modifying acts (1845-53); Little 
Wabash Navigation Company, incorporated 
and river declared navigable to McCawley's 
bridge— probably in Clay County— (1826), with 
various subsequent acts making appropriations 
for its improvement; Skillet Fork (a branch 
of the Little Wabash), declared navigable 
to Slocum's Mill in Marion County (1837), and 
to Ridgway Mills (1846). Other acts passed at 
various times declared a number of unim- 
portant streams navigable, including Big Creek 
in Fulton County, Crooked Creek in Schuyler 
County, Lusk's Creek in Pope County, McKee's 
Creek in Pike County, Seven Mile Creek in Ogle 
County, besides a number of others' of similar 
character. 



XEALE, THOMAS M., pioneer lawyer, was 
born in Fauquier County, Va., 1796; while yet a 
child removed with his parents to Bowling Green, 
Ky., and became a common soldier in the War of 
1812; came to Springfield, 111., in 1824, and began 
the practice of law ; served as Colonel of a regi- 
ment raised in Sangamon and Morgan Counties 
for the Winnebago War (1827), and afterwards as 
Surveyor of Sangamon County, appointing 
Abraham Lincoln as his deputy. He also served 
as a Justice of the Peace, for a number of years, 
at Springfield. Died. August 7, 1840. 

NEECE, William H„ ex-Congressman, was 
born, Feb. 26, 1831, in what is now a part of 
Logan County. 111. , but which was then within the 
limits of Sangamon ; was reared on a farm and 
attended the public schools in McDonough 
County; studied law and was admitted to the 
bar in 1858, and has been ever since engaged in 
practice. His political career began in 1861, 
when he was chosen a member of the City Coun. 
cil of Macomb. In 1864 he was elected to the 
Legislature, and, in 1869, a member of the Con- 
stitutional Convention. In 1871 he was again 
elected to the lower house of the General Assem- 
bly, and, in 1878, to the State Senate. From 1883 
to 1887 he represented the Eleventh Illinois Dis- 
trict in Congress, as a Democrat, but was defeated 
for reelection in 1890 by William H. Gest, 
Republican. 

NEGROES. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.) 

NEOOA,a village of Cumberland County, at the 
intersection of the Illinois Central and the Toledo, 
St. Louis & Western Railways, 20 miles southwest 
of Charleston ; has a bank, two newspapers, some 
manufactories, and ships grain, hay, fruit and 
live-stock. Pop. (1890), 829; (1900), 1,136 

JfEPONSET, a village and station on the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, in Bureau 
County, 4 miles southwest of Mendota. Popula- 
tion (1880), 652; (1890), 542; (1900), 516. 

NEW ALBANY & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY. 
(See Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis (Consoli- 
dated) Railroad.) 

NEW ATHENS, a village of St. Clair County, 
on the St. Louis & Cairo "Short Line" (now Illi- 
nois Central) Railroad, at the crossing of the Kas- 
kaskia River, 31 miles southeast of St. Louis ; has 
one newspaper and considerable grain trade. 
Population (1880), 603; (1890), 624; (1900), 856. 

NEW BERLIN, a village of Sangamon County, 
on the Wabash Railway, 17 miles west of Spring- 
field. Population (1880). 403; (1900), 533. 

NEWBERRY LIBRARY, a large reference li- 
brary, located in Chicago, endowed by Walter L. 




Art Institute. 



Public Library. 

Armour Institute. 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



Court-House. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



39c 



Newberry, an early business man of Chicago, who 
left half of his estate (aggregating over §2,000,000) 
for the purpose. The property bequeathed was 
largely in real estate, which has since greatly in- 
creased in value. The library was established in 
temporary quarters in 1887, and the first section 
of a permanent building was opened in the 
autumn of 1893. B}' that time there had been 
accumulated about 160,000 books and pamphlets. 
A collection of nearly fifty portraits — chiefly of 
eminent Americans, including many citizens of 
Chicago — was presented to the library by G. P. A. 
Healy, a distinguished artist, since deceased. 
The site of the building occupies an entire block, 
and the original design contemplates a handsome 
front on each of the four streets, with a large 
rectangular court in the center. The section 
already completed is massive and imposing, and 
its interior is admirably adapted to the purposes 
of a library, and at the same time rich and 
beautiful. When completed, the building will 
have a capacity for four to six million vokumes. 

XEWBERRY, Walter C, ex-Congressman, was 
born at Sangerfield, Oneida County, N. Y., Deo. 
23, 1835. Early in the Civil War he enlisted as a 
private, and rose, step by step, to a colonelcj', and 
was mustered out as Brevet Brigadier-General. 
In 1890 he was elected, as a Democrat, to represent 
the Fourth Illinois District in the Fifty-second 
Congress (1891-93). His home is in Chicago. 

NEWBERRY, Walter L., merchant, banker and 
philanthropist, was born at East Windsor, Conn., 
Sept. 18, 1804, descended from English ancestry. 
He was President Jackson's personal appointee 
to the United States Military Academy at West 
Point, but was prevented from taking the exami- 
nation by sickness. Subsequently he embarked in 
business at Buffalo, N. Y., going to Detroit in 
1828, and settUng at Chicago in 1833. After 
engaging in general merchandising for several 
years, he turned his attention to banking, in 
which he accumulated a large fortime. He was 
a prominent and influential citizen, serving 
several terms as President of the Board of Edu- 
cation, and being, for six years, the President of 
the Chicago Historical Society. He died at sea, 
Nov. 6, 1868, leaving a large estate, one-half of 
which he devoted, by will, to the founding of a 
free reference library in Chicago. (See Neicberry 
Library. ) 

XEW BOSTON, a city of Mercer County, on 
the Mississippi River, at the western terminus of 
the Galva and New Boston Division of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Qviincy Railway. Population 
(1890), 445; (1900), 703. 



NEW BRIGHTON, a village of St. Clair County 
and suburb of East St. Louis. Population (1890), 
868. 

NEW BURNSIDE, a village of Johnson County, 
on the Cairo Division of tlie Cleveland, Cincin- 
nati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway, 53 miles 
nortlieast of Cairo. Population (1880), 650; 
(1890), 596; (1900), 468. 

NEW D0UGL.4S, a village in Madison County, 
on the Toledo, St. Louis & Western Railroad ; in 
farming and fruit-growing region ; has coal mine, 
flour mill and newspaper. Population (1900), 469. 

NEWELL, John, Railway President, was born 
at West Newbury, Mass., March 31, 1830, being 
directly descended from "Pilgrim" stock. At 
the age of 16 he entered the employment of the 
Cheshire Railroad in New Hampshire. Eighteen 
months later he was appointed an assistant engi- 
neer on the Vermont Central Railroad, and placed 
in charge of the construction of a 10-mile section 
of the line. His promotion was rapid, and, in 
1850, he accepted a responsible position on the 
Champlain & St. Lawrence Railroad. From 1850 
to 1856 he was engaged in making surveys for 
roads in Kentucky and New York, and. during 
the latter year, held the position of engineer of 
the Cairo City Company, of Cairo, 111. In 1857 he 
entered the service of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road Company, as Division Engineer, where his 
remarkable success attracted the attention of the 
owners of the old ATinona & St. Peter Railroad 
(now a part of the Chicago & Northwestern 
system), who tendered him the presidency. This 
he accepted, but, in 1864, was made President of 
the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad. Four j-ears 
later, he accepted the position of General Superin- 
tendent and Cliief Engineer of the New York 
Central Railroad, but resigned, in 1869, to become 
Vice-President of the Illinois Central Railroad. 
In 1871 he was elevated to the presidency, but 
retired in September, 1874, to accept the position 
of General Manager of the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad, of which he was elected 
President, in May, 1883, and continued in office 
until the time of his death, which occurred at 
Young.stown, Ohio, August 25, 1894. 

NEWHALL, (Dr.) Horatio, early physician 
and newspaper publisher, came from St. Louis, 
Mo., to Galena, 111., in 1827, and engaged in min- 
ing and smelting, but abandoned this business, 
the follo%ving year, for the practice of his profes- 
sion; soon afterward became interested in the 
publication of "The Miners' Journal," and still 
later in "The Galena Advertiser," with which 
Hooper Warren and Dr. Pliilleo were associated. 



396 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



In 1830 he became a Surgeon in the United States 
Army, and was stationed at Fort Winnebago, 
but retired from the service, in 1833, and returned 
to Galena. When the Black Hawk War broke 
out he volunteered his services, and, by order of 
General Scott, was placed in charge of a military 
hospital at Galena, of whicli he had control until 
the close of the war. The difficulties of the posi- 
tion were increased by the appearance of the 
Asiatic cholera among the troops, but he seems 
to have discharged his duties with satisfaction 
to the military authorities. He enjoyed a wide 
reputation for professional ability, and liad an 
extensive practice. Died, Sept. 19, 1870. 

NEWMAN, a village of Douglas County, on the 
Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway, 52 miles 
east of Decatur; has a hank, a newspaper, can- 
ning factory, broom factory, electric lights, and 
large trade in agricultural products and live- 
stock. Population (1890), 990; (1900), 1,166. 

NEWSPAPERS, EARLY. The iirst newspaper 
published in the Northwest Territory, of which 
the present State of Illinois, at the time, com- 
posed a part, was "TheCentinel of the Northwest 
Territory," established at Cincinnati by William 
Maxwell, the first issue appearing in November, 
1793. This was also the first newspaper published 
west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1796 it was 
sold to Edmund Freeman and assumed the name 
of "Freeman's Journal." Nathaniel Willis 
(grandfather of N. P. Willis, the poet) estab- 
lished "The Scioto Gazette," at Chillicothe, in 
1790. "The Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette" 
was the third paper in Northwest Territory (also 
within the limits of Ohio), founded in 1799. 
Willis's paper became the organ of the Terri- 
torial Government on the removal of the capital 
to Chillicothe, in 1800. 

The first nevrspaper in Indiana Territory (then 
including Illinois) was established by Elihu Stout 
at Vincennes, beginning publication, July 4, 1804. 
It took the name of "The Western Sun and Gen- 
eral Advertiser," but is now known as "The 
Western Sun," having had a continuous exist- 
ence for ninety-five years. 

The first newspaper published in Illinois Terri- 
tory was "The Illinois Herald," but, owing to the 
absence of early files and other specific records, 
the date of its establishment has been involved 
in some doubt. Its founder was Matthew Dun- 
can (a brother of Joseph Duncan, who was after- 
wards a member of Congress and Governor of the 
State from 1834 to 1838), and its place of pub- 
lication Kaskaskia, at that time the Territorial 
capital. Duncan, who was a native of Kentucky, 



brought a press and a primitive printer's outfit 
with him from that State. Gov. John Reynolds, 
who came as a boy to the "Illinois Country" in 
1800, while it was still a part of the "Northwest 
Territory," in his "Pioneer History of Illinois," 
has fixed the date of the first issue of this 
paper in 1809, the same year in which Illinois 
was severed from Indiana Territory and placed 
under a separate Territorial Government. There 
is good reason, however, for believing that the 
Governor was mistaken in this statement. If 
Duncan brought his press to Illinois in 1809 — 
which is probable — ^it does not seem to have been 
emploj-ed at once in the publication of a news- 
paper, as Hooper Warren (the founder of the 
third paper established in Illinois) says it "was 
for years only used for the public printing." 
The earliest issue of "The Illinois Herald" known 
to be in existence, is No. 32 of Vol. II, and bears 
date, April 18, 1816. Calculating from these 
data, if the paper was issued continuously from 
its establishment, the date of the first issue would 
have been Sept. 6, 1814. Corroborative evidence 
of this is found in the fact that "The Missouri 
Gazette," the original of the old "Missouri Repub- 
lican" (now "The St. Louis Republic""), which 
was established in 1808, makes no mention of the 
Kaskaskia paper before 1814, although communi- 
cation between Kaskaskia and St. Louis was 
most intimate, and these two were, for several 
years, the only papers published west of Vin- 
cennes, Ind. 

In August, 1817, "The Herald" was sold to 
Daniel P. Cook and Robert Blackwell, and the 
name of the paper was changed to "The Illinois 
Intelligencer." Cook — who had previously been 
Auditor of Public Accounts for the Territory, and 
afterwards became a Territorial Circuit Judge, 
the first Attorney-General under the new State 
Government, and, for eight years, served as the 
only Representative in Congress from Illinois — 
for a time officiated as editor of "The Intelli- 
gencer," while Blackwell (who had succeeded 
to the Auditorship) had charge of the publication. 
The size of the paper, which had been four pages 
of three wide columns to the page, was increased, 
by the new publishers, to four columns to the 
page. On the removal of the State capital to 
Vandalia, in 1820, "The Intelligencer" was 
removed thither also, and continued under its 
later name, afterwards becoming, after a change 
of management, an opponent of the scheme for 
the calling of a State Convention to revise the 
State Constitution with a view to making Illinois 
a slave State. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.) 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



397 



The second paper established on Illinois soil 
was "The Shawnee Chief," which began publica- 
tion at Shawueetown, Sept. 5, 1818, with Henry 
Eddy— who afterwards became a prominent law- 
yer of Southern Illinois — as its editor. The name 
of "The Chief" was soon afterwards changed to 
"The Illinois Emigrant, ' and some years later, 
became "The Shawneetown Gazette." Among 
others who were associated with the Shawnee- 
town paper, in early days, was James Hall, after- 
wards a Circuit Judge and State Treasurer, and, 
without doubt, the most prolific and popular 
writer of his day in Illinois. Later, he estab- 
lished "The Illinois Magazine" at Vandalia, sub- 
sequently removed to Cincinnati, and issued under 
the name of "The Western Monthly Magazine." 
He was also a frequent contributor to other maga- 
zines of that period, and author of several vol- 
umes, including "Legends of the West" and 
"Border Tales." During the contest over the 
slavery question, in 1823-34, "The Gazette" 
rendered valuable service to the anti-slavery 
party by the publication of articles in opposition 
to the Convention scheme, from the pen of Morris 
Birkbeck and others. 

The third Illinois paper— and, in 1833-24, the 
strongest and most influential opponent of the 
scheme for establishing slavery in Illinois — was 
"The Edwardsville Spectator," whicli began pub- 
lication at Edwardsville, Madison County, May 
23, 1819. Hooper Warren was the publisher and 
responsible editor, thougli he received valuable 
aid from the pens of Governor Coles, George 
Churchill, Kev. Thomas Lippincott, Judge 
Samuel D. Lockwood, Morris Birkbeck and 
others. (See Warren, Hooper.) Warren sold 
"The Spectator" to Rev. Thomas Lippincott in 
1825, and was afterwards associated with papers 
at Springfield, Galena, Chicago and elsewliere. 

The agitation of the slavery question (in part, 
at least) led to the establishment of two new 
papers in 1823. The first of tliese was "The 
Republican Advocate," which began publication 
at Kaskaskia, in April of that year, under the 
management of Elias Kent Kane, then an aspir- 
ant to the United States Senatorship. After his 
election to that office in 1824, "The Advocate" 
passed into the hands of Robert K. Fleming, who, 
after a period of suspension, established "The 
Kaskaskia Recorder," but, a year or two later, 
removed to Vandalia. "The Star of the West" 
was established at Edwardsville, as an opponent 
of Warren's "Spectator." the first issue making 
its appearance, Sept. 14, 1823, with Theophilus W. 
Smith, afterwards a Justice of the Supreme 



Court, as its reputed editor. A few months later 
it passed into new hands, and, in August, 1833, 
assumed the name of "The Illinois Republican," 
Both "The Republican Advocate" and "The 
Illinois Republican" were zealous organs of the 
pro-slavery party. 

With the settlement of the slavery question in 
Illinois, by the election of 1834, Illinois journal- 
ism may be said to have entered upon a new era. 
At tlie close of this first period there were only 
five papers publislied in the State— all established 
within a period of ten years ; and one of these 
("The Illinois Republican," at Edwardsville) 
promptly ceased publication on the settlement of 
the slavery question in opposition to the views 
which it had advocated. The next period of fif- 
teen years (182,5-40) was prolific in the establish- 
ment of new newspaper ventures, as might be 
expected from the rapid increase of the State in 
population, and tlie development in tlie art of 
printing during the same period. "Tlie Western 
Sun," established at Belleville (according to one 
report, in December, 1825, and according to 
another, in the winter of 1827-28) by Dr. Joseph 
Green, appears to have been the first paper pub- 
lished in St. Clair County. This was followed 
by "The Pioneer," begun, April 35, 1839, at Rock 
Spring, St. Clair County, with the indomitable 
Dr. John M. Peck, author of "Peck's Gazetteer," 
as its editor. It was removed in 1836 to Upper 
Alton, when it took the name of "The Western 
Pioneer and Baptist Banner." Previous to this, 
however. Hooper Warren, having come into pos- 
session of the material upon which he had printed 
"The Edwardsville Spectator," removed it to 
Springfield, and, in the winter of 1826-37, began 
the publication of the first paper at the present 
State capital, which he named "The Sangamo 
Gazette." It had but a brief existence. During 
1830, George Forquer, then Attorney-General of 
the State, in conjunction with his half-brother, 
Thomas Ford (afterwards Governor) , was engaged 
in the publication of a paper called "The Cour- 
ier," at Springfield, which was continued only a 
short time. The earliest paper north of Spring- 
field appears to have been "The Hennepin Jour- 
nal," which began publication, Sept. 15, 1827. 
"The Sangamo Journal" — now "The Illinois 
State Journal," and the oldest paper of continu- 
ousi existence in the State — was established at 
Springfield by Simeon and Josiah Francis (cous- 
ins from Connecticut), the first issue bearing 
date, Nov. 10, 1831. Before tlie close of the same 
year James G. Edwards, afterwards the founder 
of "The Burlington (Iowa) Hawkeye," began the 



398 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



publication of "The Illinois Patriot'' at Jackson- 
ville. Another paper, established the same year, 
was "The Gazette" at Vandalia, then the State 
capital. (See Forquer, George; Ford, Thomas; 
Francis. Simeon.) 

At this early date the development of the lead 
mines about Galena had made that place a center 
of great business activity. On July 8, 1828, 
James Jones commenced the issue of "The 
Miners" Joiu'nal, ' ' the first paper at Galena. Jones 
died of cholera in 1833, and his paper passed into 
other hands. July 20, 1829, "The Galena Adver- 
tiser and Upper Mississippi Herald" began pub- 
lication, with Drs. Horatio Newhall and Addi.son 
Pliilleo as editors, and Hooper Wan-en as pub- 
lislier. but appears to have been discontinued 
before the expiration of its first year. "The 
Galenian" ivas established as a Democratic paper 
by Philleo, in May, 1832, but ceased publication in 
September, 1836. "The Northwestern Gazette 
and Galena Advertiser, " founded in November, 
1834, by Loring and Bartlett (the last named 
afterwards one of the founders of "The Quincy 
Whig"), has had a continuous existence, being 
now known as "The Galena Advertiser." Benja- 
min Mills, one of the most brilliant lawyers of 
his time, was editor of this paper during a part 
of the first 5-ear of its publication. 

Robert K. Fleming, who has already been 
mentioned as the successor of Elias Kent Kane 
in the publication of "The Republican Advocate, ' ' 
at Kaskaskia, later published a paper for a short 
time at Vandalia, but, in 1827, removed his 
establishment to Edwardsville, where he began 
the publication of "The Corrector." The latter 
was continued a little over a year, when it was 
suspended. He then resumed the publication of 
"The Recorder" at Kaskaskia. In December, 
1833, he removed to Belleville and began the pub- 
lication of "The St. Clair Gazette," which after- 
wards passed, tlu-ough various changes of owners, 
under the names of "The St. Clair Mercury" and 
"Representative and Gazette." This was suc- 
ceeded, in 1839, by "The Belleville Advocate," 
which has been published continuously to the 
present time. 

Samuel S. Brooks (the father of Austin Brooks, 
afterwards of "The Quincy Herald") at differ- 
ent times published papers at various points 
in the State. His first enterprise was "The 
Crisis" at Edwardsville, which he changed 
to "The Illinois Advocate," and, at the close 
of his first year, sold out to Judge John 
York Sawyer, who united it with "The Western 
Plowboy, " which he had established a few 



months previous. "The Advocate" was removed 
to Vandalia, and, on the death of the owner (wlio 
had been appointed State Printer), was consoli- 
dated with "The Illinois Register," which had 
been established in 1836. The new paper took the 
name of "The Illinois Register and People's 
Advocate," in 1839 was removed to Springfield, 
and is now known as "The Illinois State Regis- 
ter." 

Other papers established between 1830 and 1840 
include: "The Vandalia Whig" (1831); "The 
Alton Spectator," the first paper published in 
Alton (January, 1834) ; "The Chicago Demo- 
crat," by John Calhoun (Nov. 26, 1833); "The 
Beardstown Chronicle and Illinois Bounty Land 
Advertiser," by Francis A. Arenz (July 29, 1833); 
"The Alton American" (1833); "The White 
County News," at Carmi (1833); "The Danville 
Enquirer" (1833); "The Illinois Champion," at 
Peoria (1834); "The Mount Carmel Sentinel and 
Wabash Advocate" (1834); "The Illinois State 
Gazette and Jacksonville News," at Jacksonville 
(1835); "The Illinois Argus and Bounty Land 
Register," at Quincy (1835); "The Rushville 
Journal and Military Tract Advertiser" (1835); 
"The Alton Telegraph" (1836); "The Alton 
Observer" (1836); "The Carthaginian," at Car- 
thage (1836) ; "The Bloomington Observer" (1837) ; 
"The Backwoodsman," founded by Prof. John 
Russell, at Grafton, and the first paper published 
in Greene County (1837); "The Quincy Whig" 
(1838) ; "The Illinois Statesman," at Paris, Edgar 
County (1838); "The Peoria Register" (1838). 
The second paper to be established in Chicago 
was "The Chicago American," whose initial 
number was issued, June 8, 1835, with Thomas O. 
Davis as proprietor and editor. In July, 1837, it 
passed into the hands of William Stuart & Co., 
and, on April 9, 1839, its publishers began the 
issue of the first daily ever published in Chicago. 
"The Chicago Express" succeeded "The Ameri- 
can" in 1842, and, in 1844, became the forerunner 
of "The Chicago Journal." The third Chicago 
paper was "The Commercial Advertiser." 
founded by Hooper Warren, in 1836. It lived 
only about a 3"ear. Zebina Eastman, who was 
afterwards associated with Warren, and became 
one of the most influential journalistic opponents 
of slavery, arrived in the State in 1839. and, in 
the latter part of that year, was associated with 
the celebrated Abolitionist, Benjamin Lundy, in 
the preliminary steps for the issue of "The 
Genius of Universal Emancipation." projected 
by Lundy at Lowell, in La Salle County. Lundy 's 
untimely death, in August, 1839, however, pre- 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



399 



vented liim from seeing the consummation of his 
plan, althougli Eastman lived to carry it out in 
part. A paper whose career, although extending 
only a little over one year, marked an era in Illi- 
nois journalism, was "The Alton Observer," its 
history closing with the assassination of its 
editor. Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoj-, on the night of 
Nov. 8, 1837, while unsuccessfully attempting to 
protect his press from destruction, for the fourth 
time, by a pro-slavery mob. Humiliating as was 
this crime to every law-abiding Illinoisan, it 
undoubtedly strengthened the cause of free 
speech and assisted in hastening the downfall of 
the institution in whose behalf it was committed. 

That the development in the field of journal- 
ism, within the past sixty years, has more than 
kept pace with the growth in population, is 
shown by the fact that there is not a county in 
the State without its newspaper, while every 
town of a few hundred population has either one 
or more. According to statistics for 1898, there 
were 605 cities and towns in the State having 
periodical publications of some sort, making a 
total of 1.709, of which 174 were issued daily, 3-1 
semi- weekly, 1,20.5 weekly, 28 semi-monthly, 238 
monthly, and the remainder at various periods 
ranging from tri-weekly to eight times a year. 

NEWTOX, the county-seat of Jasper County, 
situated on the Embarras River, at the intersec- 
tion of subsidiary lines of the Illinois Central 
Railroad from Peoria and Effingham; is an in- 
corporated city, was settled in 1828, and made the 
county-seat in 1836. Agriculture, coal-mining 
and dairy farming are the principal pursuits in 
the surrounding region. The city has water- 
power, which is utilized to some extent in manu- 
facturing, but most of its factories are operated 
by steam. Among these establishments are flour 
and saw mills, and grain elevators. There are a 
half-dozen churches, a good public school system, 
including parochial school and high school, 
besides two banks and three weekly papers. 
Population (1890), 1.428; (1900), 1,630. 

NEW YORK, CHICAGO & ST. LOUIS RAIL- 
WAT (Nickel Plate), a line 522.47 miles in length, 
of which (1898) only 9.96 miles are operated in 
Illinois. It owns no track in Illinois, but uses 
the track of the Chicago & State Line Railroad 
(9.96 miles in length), of which it has financial 
control, to enter the city of Chicago. The total 
capitalization of the New York, Chicago & St. 
Louis, in 1898, is §50,222,568, of which $19,425,000 
is in bonds.— (History.) The New York, Chi- 
cago & St. Louis Railroad was incorporated under 
the laws of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 



Indiana and Illinois in 1881, construction begun 
immediately, and the road put in operation in 
1882. In 1885 it passed into the hands of a 
receiver, was sold under foreclosure in 1887, and 
reorganized by the consolidation of various east- 
ern lines with the Fort Wayne & Illinois Railroad, 
forming the line under its present name. The 
road between Buffalo, N. Y., and the west line of 
Indiana is owned by the Company, but, for its 
line in Illinois, it uses the track of the Chicago & 
State Line Railroad, of which it is the lessee, as 
well as the owner of its capital stock. The main 
line of the " Nickel Plate" is controlled by the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, which 
owns more than half of both the preferred and 
common stock. 

NIANTIC, a town in Macon County, on the 
Wabash Railway, 27 miles east of Springfield. 
Agriculture is the leading industry. The town 
has three elevators, three churches, school, coal 
mine, a newspaper and a bank. Pop. (1900), 654. 

NICOLAY, John George, author, was born in 
Essingen, Bavaria, Feb. 26, 1832; at 6 years of age 
was brought to the United States, lived for a 
time in Cincinnati, attending the public schools 
there, and then came to Illinois; at 16 entered the 
office of "The Pike County Free Press" at Pitts- 
field, and, while still in his minority, became 
editor and proprietor of the paper. In 1857 he 
became Assistant Secretary of State under O. M. 
Hatch, the first Republican Secretary, but during 
Mr. Lincoln's candidacy for President, in 1860, 
aided him as private secretary, also acting as a 
correspondent of "The St. Louis Democrat." 
After the election he was formally selected by 
Mr. Lincoln as his private secretary, accompany- 
ing him to Washington and remaining until Mr. 
Lincoln's assassination. In 1865 he was appointed 
United States Consul at Paris, remaining until 
1869; on his return for some time edited "The 
Chicago Republican"; was also Marshal of the 
United States Supreme Court in Washington 
from 1872 to 1887. Mr. Nicolay is author, in col- 
laboration with John Hay, of "Abraham Lincoln: 
A History," first published serially in "The Cen- 
tury Magazine." and later issued in ten volumes; 
of "The Outbreak of the Rebellion" in "Cam- 
paigns of the Civil War, " besides numerous maga- 
zine articles. He lives in Washington, D. C. 

NICOLET, Jean, early French explorer, came 
from Cherbourg, France, in 1618, and, for several 
years, lived among the Algonquins, whose lan- 
guage he learned and for whom he acted as 
interpreter. On July 4, 1634, he discovered Lake 
Michigan, then called the "Lake of the Illinois," 



400 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and visited the Chippewas, Menominees and 
Winnebagoes, in the region about Green Baj', 
among whom he was received kindly. From the 
Mascoutins, on the Fox River (of Wisconsin), he 
learned of the Illinois Indians, some of whose 
northern villages he also visited. He subse- 
quently returned to Quebec, where he was 
drowned, in October, 1642. He was probably the 
first Caucasian to visit Wisconsin and Illinois. 

JflLES, Nathaniel, lawyer, editor and soldier, 
born at Plainfield, Otsego County, N. Y., Feb. 4, 
1817; attended an academy at Albany, from 1830 
to '34. was licensed to practice law and removed 
west in 1837, residing successively at Delphi and 
Frankfort, Ind., and at Owensburg, Ky., until 
1842, when he settled in Belleville, 111. In 1846 
he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the 
Second Regiment Illinois Volunteers (Colonel 
Bissell's) for the Mexican War, but, after the 
battle of Buena Vista, was promoted by General 
Wool to the captaincy of an independent com- 
pany of Texas foot. He was elected Chief Clerk 
of the House of Representatives at the session of 
1849, and the same year was chosen County 
Judge of St. Clair County, serving until 1861. 
With the exception of brief periods from 1851 to 
'59, he was editor and part owner of "The Belle- 
ville Advocate, " a paper originally Democratic, 
but which became Republican on the organiza- 
tion of the Republican party. In 1861 he was 
appointed Colonel of the Fifty-fourth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, but the completion of its 
organization having been delayed, he resigned, 
and, the following year, was commissioned Colo- 
nel of the One Hundred and Thirtieth, serving 
until May, 1864, when he resigned — in March, 
1865, receiving the compliment of a brevet Briga- 
dier-Generalship. During the winter of 1862 63 
he was in command at Memphis, but later took 
part in the Vicksburg campaign, and in the cam- 
paigns on Red River and Bayou Teche. After 
the war he served as Representative in the 
General Assembly from St. Clair County (1865-66) ; 
as Trustee of the Institution for the Deaf and 
Dumb at Jacksonville; on the Commission for 
building the State Penitentiary at Joliet, and as 
Commissioner (by appointment of Governor 
Oglesby) for locating the Soldiers' Orphans' 
Home. His later years have been spent chiefly 
in the practice of his profession, with occasional 
excursions into journalism. Originally an anti- 
slavery Democrat, he became one of the founders 
of the Republican party in Southern Illinois. 

NIXO\, William Penn, journalist, Collector of 
■Customs, was born in Wayne County, Ind., of 



North Carolina and Quaker ancestry, early in 
1832. In 1853 he graduated from Farmers" (now 
Belmont) College, near Cincinnati, Ohio. After 
devoting two years to teaching, he entered the 
law department of the University bf Pennsyl- 
vania (1855), graduating in 1859. For nine years 
thereafter he practiced law at Cincinnati, during 
which period he was thrice elected to the Ohio 
Legislature. In 1868 he embarked in journalism, 
he and his older brother, Dr. O. W. Nixon, with 
a few friends, founding "The Cincinnati Chron- 
icle." A few years later "The Times" was pur- 
chased, and the two papers were consolidated 
under the name of "The Times-Chronicle." In 
May, 1872, having disposed of his interests in 
Cincinnati, he assumed the business manage- 
ment of "The Chicago Inter Ocean," then a new 
venture and struggling for a foothold. In 1875 
he and his brother. Dr. O. W. Nixon, secured a 
controlling interest in the paper, when the 
former assumed the position of editor-in-chief, 
which he continued to occupy until 1897, when 
he was appointed Collector of Customs for the 
City of Chicago — a position which he now holds. 

NOKOMIS, a city of Montgomery County, on 
the "Big Four" main line and " 'Frisco" Rail- 
roads. 81 miles east by north from St. Louis and 
52 miles west of Mattoon; in important grain- 
growing and hay -producing section; has water- 
works, electric lights, three flour mills, two 
machine shops, wagon factory, creamery, seven 
churches, high school, two banks and three 
papers; is noted for shipments of poultry, butter 
and eggs. Population (1890), 1,305; (1900), 1,371. 

NORMAL, a city in McLean County, 3 miles 
north of Bloomington and 124 southwest of Chi- 
cago; at intersecting point of the Chicago & 
Alton and the Illinois Central Railroads. It lies 
in a rich coal and agricultural i^egion, and has 
extensive fruit-tree nurseries, two canning fac- 
tories, one bank, hospital, and four periodicals. 
It is the seat of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, 
founded in 1869, and the Illinois State Normal 
University, founded in 1857; has city and rural 
mail deliverv. Pop. (1890), 3,459; (1900). 3,795. 

NORMAL " UNIVERSITIES. (See Southern 
Illinois Normal University; State Normal Uni- 
versity. ) 

NORTH ALTON, a village of Madison County 
and suburb of the city of Alton. Population 
(1880), 838; (1890), 762; (1900), 904. 

NORTHCOTT, William A., Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, was born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Jan. 28, 
1854 — the son of Gen. R. S. Northcott, whose 
loyalty to the Union, at the beginning of the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



401 



Rebellion, compelled him to leave his Southern 
home and seek safety for himself and family in 
the North. He went to West Virginia, was com- 
missioned Colonel of a regiment and served 
through the war, being for some nine months a 
prisoner in Libby Prison. After acquiring his 
literary education in the public schools, the 
younger Northcott spent some time in the Naval 
Academy at Annapolis, Md., after which he was 
engaged in teaching. Meanwhile, he was prepar- 
ing for the practice of law and was admitted to 
the bar in 1877, two years later coming to Green- 
ville, Bond County, 111., which has since been his 
home. In 1880, by appointment of President 
Hayes, he served as Supervisor of the Census for 
the Seventh District ; in 1882 was elected State's 
Attorney for Bond Countj' and re-elected suc- 
cessively in "84 and '88; in 1890 was appointed on 
the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval 
Academy, and, by selection of the Board, 
delivered the annual address to the graduating 
class of that year. In 1892 he was the Repub- 
lican nominee for Congress for the Eighteenth Dis- 
trict, but was defeated in the general landslide of 
that year. In 1896 he was more fortunate, being 
elected Lieutenant-Governor by the vote of the 
State, receiving a plurality of over 137,000 over 
his Democratic opponent. 

NORTH PEORIA, formerly a suburban village 
in Peoria County, 2 miles north of the city of 
Peoria; annexed to the citv of Peoria in 1900. 

NORTHERN BOINDART QUESTION, THE. 
The Ordinance of 1787. making the first specific 
provision, by Congress, for the government of the 
country lying northwest of the Ohio River and 
east of the Mississippi (known as the Northwest 
Territory), provided, among other things (Art. 
v., Ordinance 1787), that "there shall be formed 
in the said Territory not less than three nor more 
than five States." It then proceeds to fix the 
boundaries of the proposed States, on the assump- 
tion that there shall be three in number, adding 
thereto the following proviso: "Provided, how- 
ever, and it is further understood and declared, 
that the boundaries of these three States shall be 
subject so far to be altered that, if Congress shall 
hereafter find it expedient, they shall have 
authority to form one or two States in that part 
of the said Territory which lies north of an east 
and west line drawn through the southerly bend 
or extreme of Lake Michigan." On the basis of 
this provision it has been claimed that the north- 
ern boundaries of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio 
should have been on the exact ld,titude of the 
southern limit of Lake Michigan, and that the 



failure to establish this boundary was a violation 
of the Ordinance, inasmuch as the fourteenth sec- 
tion of the preamble thereto declares that "the 
following articles shall be considered as articles 
of compact between the original States and the 
people and States in the said Territory, and for- 
ever remain unalterable, unless bj' common con- 
sent." — In the limited state of geographical 
knowledge, existing at the time of the adoption of 
the Ordinance, there seems to have been con- 
siderable difference of opinion as to the latitude 
of the southern limit of Lake Michigan. The 
map of Mitchell (17.5.5) had placed it on the paral- 
lel of 42' 20', while that of Thomas Hutchins 
(1778) fixed it at 41' 37'. It was officially estab- 
lished bj' Government siu-vey, in 1835, at 41° 37' 
07.9". Asapiatterof fact, the northern bound- 
ary of neither of the three States named was finally 
fixed on the line mentioned in the proviso above 
quoted from the Ordinance — that of Ohio, where 
it meets the shore of Lake Erie, being a little 
north of 41' 44'; that of Indiana at 41° 46' (some 
10 miles north of the southern bend of the lake), 
and that of Illinois at 42' 30'— about 61 miles 
north of the same line. The boundary line 
between Ohio and Michigan was settled after a 
bitter controversy, ou the admission of the latter 
State into the Union, in 1837, in the acceptance 
by her of certain conditions proposed by Congress. 
These included the annexation to Michigan of 
what is known as the "Upper Peninsula," 
lying between Lakes Michigan and Superior, 
in lieu of a strip averaging six miles on her 
southern border, which she demanded from 
Ohio. — The establishment of the northern bound- 
ary of Illinois, in 1818, upon the line which now 
exists, is universally conceded to have been due 
to the action of Judge Nathaniel Pope, then the 
Delegate in Congress from Illinois Territory. 
While it was then acquiesced in without ques- 
tion, it has since been the subject of considerable 
controversy and has been followed by almost 
incalculable results. The "enabling act," as 
originally introduced early in 1818, empowering 
the people of Illinois Territory to form a State 
Government, fixed the northern boundary of the 
proposed State at 41° 39', then the supposed lati- 
tude of the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. 
While the act was under consideration in Com- 
mittee of the Whole, Mr. Pope offered an amend- 
ment advancing the northern boundary to 42° 
30'. The object of his amendment (as he ex- 
plained) was to gain for the new State a coast 
line on Lake Michigan, bringing it into political 
and commercial relations with the States east of 



402 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



it — Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York — 
thus "affording additional security to the per- 
petuity of the Union." He argued that the 
location of the State between the Mississippi, 
Wabash and Ohio Rivers — all flowing to the 
south — would bring it in intimate communica- 
tion with the Southern States, and that, in the 
event of an attempted disruption of the Union, it 
was important that it should be identified with 
the commerce of the Lakes, instead of being left 
entirely to the waters of the south-flowing 
rivers. "Thus," said he, "a rival interest would be 
created to check the wish for a Western or South- 
ern Confederacy. Her interests would thus be 
balanced and her inclinations turned to the 
North." He recognized Illinois as already "the 
key to the West," and he evidently foresaw that 
the time might come when it would be the Key- 
stone of the Union. While this evinced wonder- 
ful foresight, scarcely less convincing was his 
argument that, in time, a commercial emporium 
would grow up upon Lake Michigan, which would 
demand an outlet by means of a canal to the Illi- 
nois River — a work which was realized in the 
completion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal 
thirty years later, but which would scarcely have 
been accomplished had the State been practically 
cut off from the Lake and its chief emporium 
left to grow up in another commonwealth, or rfot 
at all. Judge Pope's amendment was accepted 
without division, and, in this form, a few days 
later, the bill became a law. — The almost super- 
human sagacity exhibited in Judge Pope's argu- 
ment, has been repeatedly illustrated in the 
commercial and political history of the State 
since, but never more significantly than in the 
commanding position which Illinois occupied 
during the late Civil War, with one of its citi- 
zens in the Presidential chair and another leading 
its 2.50,000 citizen soldiery and the armies of the 
Union in battling for the perpetuity of the 
Republic— a position which more than fulfilled 
every prediction made for it. — The territory 
affected by this settlement of the northern 
boundary, includes all that part of the State 
north of the northern line of La Salle County, 
and embraces the greater portion of the fourteen 
counties of Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, 
Boone, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle, Winnebago, Stephen- 
son, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside, with por- 
tions of Kendall, Will and Rock Island— estimated 
at 8, .500 square miles, or more than one-seventh 
of the present area of the State. It has been 
argued that this territory belonged to the State 
of Wisconsin under the provisions of the Ordi- 



nance of 1787, and there were repeated attempts 
made, on the part of the Wisconsin Legislature 
and its Territorial Governor (Doty), between 1839 
and 1843, to induce the people of these counties to 
recognize this claim. These were, in a few 
instances, partiallj' successful, although no official 
notice was taken of them by the authorities of Illi- 
nois. The reply made to the Wisconsin claim by 
Governor Ford — who wrote his "History of Illi- 
nois" when the subject was fresh in the public 
mind — was that, while the Ordinance of 1787 
gave Congress power to organize a State north of 
the parallel running through the southern bend 
of Lake Michigan, "there is nothing in the Ordi- 
nance requiring such additional State to be 
organized of the territory north of that line. " In 
other words, that, when Congress, in 1818, 
authorized the organization of an additional 
State north of and in (i. e., within) the line 
named, it did not violate the Ordinance of 1787, 
but acted in accordance with it — in practically 
assuming that the new State "need not neces- 
sarily include the whole of the region north of 
that line." The question was set at rest by Wis- 
consin herself in the action of her Constitutional 
Convention of 1847-48, in framing her first con- 
stitution, in form recognizing the northern 
boundary of Illinois as fixed by the enabling act 
of 1818. 

NORTHERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, 
an institution for the treatment of the insane, 
created by Act of the Legislature, approved, April 
16, 1869. The Commissioners appointed by Gov- 
ernor Palmer to fix its location consisted 'of 
August Adams, B. F. Shaw, W. R. Brown, M. L. 
Joslyn, D, S. Hammond and William Adams. 
After considering many offers and examining 
numerous sites, the Commissioners finally selected 
the Chisholm farm, consisting of about 155 acres, 
IVi miles from Elgin, on the west side of Fox 
River, and overlooking that stream, as a site — 
this having been tendered as a donation by the 
citizens of Elgin. Plans were adopted in the 
latter part of 1869, the system of construction 
chosen conforming, in the main, to that of the 
United States Hospital for the Insane at Wash- 
ington, D. C. By January, 1872, the north wing 
and rear building were so far advanced as to per- 
mit the reception of sixty patients. The center 
building was ready for occupancy in April, 1873, 
and the south wing before the end of the follow- 
ing year. The total expenditures previous to 
1870 had exceeded §637,000, and since that date 
liberal appropriations have been made for addi- 
tions, repairs and improvements, including the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



403 



addition of between 300 and 400 acres to the lands 
connected -nith the institution The first Board 
of Trustees consisted of Charles N. Holden, 
Oliver Everett and Henry W. Sherman, with Dr. 
E. A. Kilbourne as the first Superintendent, and 
Dr. Richard A. Dewey (afterwards Superintend- 
ent of the Eastern Hospital at Kankakee) as his 
Assistant. Dr. Kilbourne remained at the head 
of the institution until his death, Feb. 37, 1890, 
covering a period of nineteen years. Dr. Kil- 
bourne was succeeded by Dr. Henry J. Brooks, 
and he, by Dr. Loewy, in June, 1893, and the 
latter by Dr. John B. Hamilton (former Super- 
vising Surgeon of the United States Marine Hos- 
pital Service) in 1897. Dr. Hamilton died in 
December, 1898. (See Hamilton, John B.) The 
total value of State property, June 30, 1894, was 
$883,745.66, of which 5701,330 was in land and 
buildings. Under the terms of the law estab- 
lishing the hospita;!, provision is made for the 
care therein of the incurably insane, so that it is 
.both a hospital and an asylum. The whole num- 
ber of patients under treatment, for the two years 
preceding June 30, 1894, was 1,797, the number 
of inmates, on Dec. 1, 1897, 1,0.54, and the average 
daily attendance for treatment, for the year 1896, 
1,396. The following counties comprise the dis- 
trict dependent upon the Elgin Hospital ; Boone, 
Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Kane, Ken- 
dall, Lake, Stephenson, Wliiteside and Winne- 
bago. 

NORTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL SCHOOL, 
an institution, incorporated in 1884, at Dixon, Lee 
County, 111., for the purpose of giving instruction 
in branches related to the art of teaching. Its 
last report claims a total of 1,639 pupils, of whom 
88.5 were men and 744 women, receiving instruc- 
tion from thirtj'-six teachers. The total value of 
property was estimated at more than §200,000, of 
which 5160,000 was in real estate and §45,000 in 
apparatus. Attendance on the institution has 
been affected by the establishment, under act of 
the Legislature of 1895, of the Northern State 
Normal School at DeKalb (which see). 

NORTHERN PENITENTIARY, THE, an insti- 
tution for the confinement of criminals of the 
State, located at Joliet, Will County. The site 
was purchased by the State in 1857, and com- 
prises some seventy-two acres. Its erection was 
found necessary because of the inadequacy of the 
first penitentiary, at Alton. (See Alton Peni- 
tentiary.) The original plan contemplated a 
cell-house containing 1,000 cells, which, it was 
thought, would meet the public necessities for 
many years to come. Its estimated cost was 



5550,000; but, within ten j-ears, there had been 
expended upon the institution the sum of 5934,- 
000, and its capacitj- was taxed to the utmost. 
Subsequent enlargements have increased the 
cost to over .51,600,000. but by 1877, the institution 
had become so overcrowded that the erection of 
another State penal institution became positively 
necessary. (See Southern Penitentiary.) The 
prison has always been conducted on "the 
Auburn system," which contemplates associate 
labor in silence, silent meals in a common refec- 
tory, and (as nearly as practicable) isolation at 
night. The system of labor has varied at differ- 
ent times, the "lessee system," the "contract 
system" and the "State account plan" being 
successively in force. (See Convict Labor. ) The 
whole number of convicts in the institution, at 
the date of the oflicial report of 1895, was 1,566. 
The total assets of the institution, Sept. 30, 1894, 
were reported at 52,121,308.86, of which 51,644,- 
601.11 was in real estate. 

NORTH & SOUTH RAILROAD. (See St. 
Louis, Peoria &• NorViern Railway.) 

NORTHERN STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, an 
institution for the education of teachers of the 
common schools, authorized to be established by 
act of the Legislature passed at the session of 
1895. The act made an appropriation of 550,000 
for the erection of buildings and other improve- 
ments. The institution was located at DeKalb, 
DeKalb County, in the spring of 1896, and the 
erection of buildings commenced soon after — 
Isaac F. EUwood, of DeKalb, contributing §30,- 
000 in cash, and J. F. Glidden, a site of sixty- 
seven acres of land. Up to Dec. 1, 1897, the 
appropriations and contributions, in land and 
money, aggregated 5175,000. The school was 
expected to be ready for the reception of pupils 
in the latter part of 1899, and, it is estimated, will 
accommodate 1,000 students. 

NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The name 
formerly applied to that portion of the United 
States north and west of the Ohio River and east 
of the Mississippi, comprising the present States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wiscon- 
sin. The claim of the Government to the land 
had been acquired partly through conquest, by 
the expedition of Col. George Rogers Clark 
(which see), under the auspices of the State of 
Virginia in 1778 ; partly through treaties with the 
Indians, and partly through cessions from those 
of the original States laying claim thereto. The 
first plan for the government of this vast region 
was devised and formulated by Thomas Jefferson, 
in his proposed Ordinance of 1784, which failed 



404 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of ultimate passage. But three years later a 
broader scheme was evolved, and the famous 
Ordinance of 1787, with its clause prohibiting the 
extension of slavery beyond the Ohio River, 
passed the Continental Congress. This act has 
been sometimes termed "The American Magna 
Charta," because of its engrafting upon the 
organic law the principles of human freedom and 
equal rights. The plan for the establishment of 
a. distinctive territorial civil government in a 
Aew Territory — the first of its kind in the new 
republic — was felt to be a tentative step, and too 
much power was not granted to the residents. 
All the officers were appointive, and each official 
was required to be a land-owner. The elective 
francliise (but only for members of the General 
Assembly) could first be exercised only after the 
population had reached 5,000. Even then, every 
elector must own fifty acres of land, and every 
Representative, 200 acres. More liberal provisions, 
however, were subsequently incorporated by 
amendment, in 1809. The first civil government 
in the Northwest Territory was established by act 
of the Virginia Legislature, in the organization 
of all the country west of the Ohio under the 
name "Illinois County," of which the Governor 
was authorized to appoint a "County Lieuten- 
ant" or "Commandant-in-Chief. " The first 
"Commandant" appointed was Col. John Todd, 
of Kentucky, though he continued to discharge 
the duties for only a short period, being killed in 
the battle of Blue Licks, in 1782. After that the 
Illinois Coimtry was almost without the semblance 
of an organized civil government, until 1788, 
when Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed the 
first Governor of Northwest Territory, under the 
Ordinance of 1787, serving until the separation of 
this region into the Territories of Ohio and Indi- 
ana in 1800, when William Henry Harrison 
became the Governor of the latter, embracing all 
that portion of the original Northwest Territory 
except the State of Ohio. During St. Clair's 
administration (1790) that part of the preseutState 
of Illinois between the Mississippi and Illinois 
Rivers on the west, and a line extending north 
from about the site of old Fort Massac, on the 
Ohio, to the mouth of the Mackinaw River, in the 
present county of Tazewell, on the east, was 
erected into a county under the name of St. 
Clair, with three county -seats, viz. : Cahokia, 
Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. (See St. Clair 
County. ) Between 1830 and 1834 the name Nortli- 
west Territory was applied to an unorganized 
region, embracing the present State of Wisconsin, 
attached to Michigan Territory for governmental 



purposes. (See Illinois County; St Clair, Arthur; 
and Todd, Jolin.) 

NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE, located at 
Naperville, Du Page County, and founded in 
1865, under the auspices of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation. It maintains business, preparatory and 
collegiate departments, besides a theological 
school. In 1898 it had a faculty of nineteen profes- 
sors and assistants, with some 300 students, less 
than one-third of the latter being females, though 
both sexes are admitted to the college on an equal 
footing. The institution owns property to the 
value of §207,000, including an endowment of 
§85,000. 

NORTHWESTERN GRAND TRUNK RAIL- 
WAT. (See Chicago d- Grand Trunk Railway.) 

NORTHWESTERN NORMAL, located at Gene- 
seo, Henry County, lU. , incorporated in 1884; in 
1894 had a faculty of twelve teachers with 171 
pupils, of whom ninety were male and eighty-one 
female. 

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, an impor- 
tant educational institution, established at 
Evanston, in Cook County, in 1851. In 1898 it 
reported 3,599 students (1,980 male and 619 
female), and a faculty of 234 instructors. 
It embraces the following departments, all of 
which confer degrees; A College of Liberal 
Arts; two Medical Schools (one for women 
exclusively); a Law School; a School of Phar- 
macy and a Dental College. The Garrett Bibli- 
cal Institute, at which no degrees are con- 
ferred, constitutes the theological department of 
the University. The charter of the institution 
requires a majority of the Trustees to be mem- 
bers of the Jlethodist Episcoiml Church, and the 
University is the largest and wealthiest of the 
schools controlled by that denomination. The 
College of Liberal Arts and the Garrett Biblical 
Institute are at Evanston ; the other departments 
(all professional) are located in Chicago. In the 
academic department (Liberal Arts School), pro- 
vision is made for both graduate and post-gradu- 
ate courses. The Medical School was formerly 
known as the Chicago Medical College, and its 
Law Department was originally the Union Col- 
lege of Law, both of which have been absorbed 
by the University, as have also its schools of 
dentistry and pharmacy, which were formerly 
independent institutions. The property owned by 
the University is valued at §4,870,000, of which 
§1,100,000 is real estate, and §2,250,000 in endow- 
ment funds. Its income from fees paid by students 
in 1898 was §215,288, and total receipts from all 
sources, §483,389. Co-education of the sexes pre- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



405 



vails in the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Henry 
Wade Rogers is President. 

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL 
SCHOOL, located in Chicago; was organized in 
1859 as Medical School of the Lind (now Lake 
Forest) University. Three annual terms, of five 
months each, at first constituted a course, 
although attendance at two only was compul- 
sory. The institution first opened in temporary 
quarters, Oct. 9, 18.59, with thirteen professors 
and thirty-three students. By 1863 more ample 
accommodations were needed, and the Trustees 
of the Lind Unirersity being unable to provide a 
building, one was erected by the faculty. In 
1864 the University relinquished all claim to the 
institution, which was thereupon incorporated as 
the Chicago Medical College. In 1868 the length 
of the annual terms was increased to six months, 
and additional requirements were imposed on 
candidates for both matriculation and gradu- 
ation. The same year, the college building was 
sold, and the erection of a new and more commo- 
dious edifice, on the grounds of the Mercy Hos- 
pital, was commenced. This was completed in 
1870, and the college became the medical depart- 
ment of the Northwestern University. The 
number of professorships had been increased to 
eighteen, and that of undergraduates to 107. 
Since that date new laboratory and clinical build- 
ings have been erected, and the growth of the 
institution has been steady and substantial. 
Mercy and St. Luke's Hospital, and the South 
Side Free Dispensary afford resources for clinical 
instruction. The teaching faculty, as constituted 
in 1898, consists of about fifty instructors, in- 
cluding professors, lectirrers, demonstrators, and 
assistants. 

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WOMAN'S 
MEDICAL SCHOOL, an institution for the pro 
fessional education of women, located in 
Chicago. Its first corporate name was the 
"Woman's Hospital Medical College of Chicago," 
and it was in close connection with the Chicago 
Hospital for Women and Children. Later, it 
severed its connection with the hospital and took 
the name of the "Woman's Medical College of 
Chicago." Co-education of the sexes, in medicine 
and surgery, was experimentally tried from 1868 
to 1870, but the experiment proved repugnant to 
the male students, who unanimously signed a 
protest against the continuance of the system. 
The result was the establishment of a separate 
school for women in 1870, with a facultj' of six- 
teen professors. The requirements for graduation 
were fixed at four years of medical study, includ- 



ing three annual graded college terms of six 
months each. The first term opened in the 
autumn of 1870, with an attendance of twenty 
students. The original location of the school 
was in the "^forth Division" of Chicago, in tem- 
porary quarters. After the fire of 1871 a removal 
was effected to the "West Division," where (in 
1878-79) a modest, but well arranged building was 
erected. A larger structure was built in 1884, 
and, in 1891, the institution became a part of the 
Northwestern University. The college, in all its 
departments, is organized along the lines of the 
best medical schools of the country. In 1896 
there were twenty-four professorships, all capably 
filled, and among the faculty are some of the 
best known specialists in the country. 

NORTON, Jesse 0., lawyer. Congressman and 
Judge, was born at Bennington, Vt., April 25, 
1812, and graduated from Williams College in 
1835. He settled at Joliet in 1839, and soon 
became prominent in the affairs of Will County. 
His first public ofl5ce was that of City Attorney, 
after which he served as County Judge (1846-50). 
Meanwhile, he was chosen a Delegate to the Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1847. In 1850 he was 
elected to the Legislature, and, in 1852, to Con- 
gress, as a Whig. His vigorous opposition to the 
repeal of the Missouri Compromise resulted in 
his re-election as a Representative in 1854. At 
the expiration of his second term (1857) he was 
chosen Judge of the eleventh circuit, to fill the 
unexpired term of Judge Randall, resigned. He 
was once more elected to Congress in 1862, but 
disagreed with his party as to the legal status of 
the States lately in rebellion. President Johnson 
appointed him United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of Illinois, which office he filled 
until 1869. Immediately upon his retirement he 
began private practice at Chicago, where he died, 
August 3, 1875. 

NORWOOD PARK, a village of Cook County, 
on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad (Wis- 
consin Division), 11 miles northwest of Chicago. 
Incorporated in City of Chicago, 1893. 

NOYES, George Clement, clergyman, was born 
at Landaff, N. H., August 4, 1833, brought by 
his parents to Pike County, 111., in 1844, and, at 
the age of 16, determined to devote his life to the 
ministry ; in 1851, entered Illinois College at Jack- 
sonville, graduating with first honors in the class 
of 1855. In the following autumn he entered 
Union Theological Seminar}' in New York, and, 
having graduated in 1858, was ordained the same 
year, and installed pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church at Laporte, Ind. Here he remained 



406 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ten years, when he accepted a call to the First 
Presbyterian Church of Evanston, III., then a 
small organization which developed, during the 
twenty years of his pastorate, into one of the 
strongest and most influential churches in Evans- 
ton. For a number of .years Dr. Noyes was an 
editorial writer and weekly correspondent of 
"The New York Evangelist," over the signature 
of "Clement." He was also, for several years, an 
active and very efficient member of the Board of 
Trustees of Knox College. The liberal bent of 
his mind was illustrated in the fact that he acted 
as counsel for Prof. David Swing, during the cele- 
brated trial of the latter for heresy before the 
Chicago Presbytery — his argument on that 
occasion winning encomiums from all classes of 
people. His death took place at Evanston, Jan. 
14, 1889, as the result of an attack of pneumonia, 
and was deeply deplored, not only by his own 
church and denomination, but by the whole com- 
munity. Some two weeks after it occurred a 
union meeting was held in one of the churches at 
Evanston, at which addresses in commemoration 
of his services were delivered by some dozen 
ministers of that village and of Chicago, while 
various social and literary organizations and the 
press bore testimony to his high character. He 
was a member of the Literary Society of Chicago, 
and, during the last year of his life, served as its 
President. Dr. Noyes was married, in 1858, to a 
daughter of David A. Smith, Esq., an honored 
citizen and able lawyer of Jacksonville. 

OAKLAND, a city of Coles County on the Van- 
dalia Line and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western 
Railroad, 1.5 miles northeast of Charleston; is in 
grain center and broom-corn belt ; the town has 
two banks and one daily and two weekly papers. 
Pop. (1890), 995;(1900), 1,198. 

OAK PARK, a village of Cook County, and 
popular residence suburb of Chicago, 9 miles 
west of the initial station of the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad, on which it is located ; is 
also upon the line of the AVisconsin Central Rail- 
road. The place has numerous churches, pros- 
perous schools, a public library, telegraph and 
express offices, "banks and two local papers. 
Population (1880), 1,888; (1890), 4,771. 

OBERLY, John H., journalist and Civil Serv- 
ice Commissioner, was born in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, Dec. 6, 1837; spent part of his boyhood in 
Allegheny County, Pa., but, in 1853, began learn- 
ing the printer's trade in the office of "The "\Voos- 
ter (Ohio) Republican," completing it at Memphis, 
Tenn , and becoming a journeyman printer in 



1857. He worked in various offices, including 
the Wooster paper, where he also began the study 
of law, but, in 1860, became part proprietor of 
"Tlie Bulletin" job office at Memphis, in which 
he had been employed as an apprentice, and, 
later, as foreman. Having been notified to leave 
Memphis on account of his Union principles 
after the beginning of the Civil War, he returned 
to Wooster, Ohio, and conducted various papers 
there during the next four years, but, in 1865, 
came to Cairo, 111., where he served for a time as 
foreman of "The Cairo Democrat," three years 
later establishing "The Cairo Bulletin." Although 
the latter paper was burned out a few months later, 
it was immediately re-established. In 1872 he 
was elected Representative in the Twent3'-eiglith 
General Assembly, and, in 1877, was appointed 
by Governor Cullom the Democratic member of 
the Railroad and Warehouse Commission, serving 
four years, meanwhile (in 1880) being the Demo- 
cratic candidate for Secretary of State. Other 
positions held by him included Mayor of the city 
of Cairo (1869) ; President of the National Typo- 
graphical Union at Chicago (1865), and at Mem- 
phis (1866); delegate to the Democratic National 
Convention at Baltimore (1872), and Chairman of 
the Democratic State Central Committee 
(1883-84). After retiring from the Railroad and 
Warehouse Commission, he united in founding 
"The Bloomington (111.) Bulletin," of which he 
was editor some three years. During President 
Cleveland's administration he was appointed a 
member of the Civil Service Commission, being 
later transferred to the Commissionership of 
Indian Affairs. He was subsequently connected 
in an editorial capacity with "The Washington 
Post," "The Richmond (Va.) St^te," "The Con- 
cord (X. H.) People and Patriot" and "The Wash- 
ington Times." While engaged in an attempt to 
reorganize "The People and Patriot," he died at 
Concord, N. H., April 15, 1899. 

ODD FELLOWS. "Western Star" Lodge, No. 
1, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Alton, June 11, 
1836. In 1838 the Grand Lodge of Illinois was 
instituted at the same place, and reorganized, at 
Springfield, in 1842. S. C. Pierce was the first 
Grand Master, and Samuel L. MiUer, Grand Sec- 
retary. Wildey Encampment, No. 1, was organ- 
ized at Alton in 1838, and the Grand Encampment, 
at Peoria, in 1850, with Charles H. Constable 
Grand Patriarch. In 1850 the subordinate branches 
of the Order numbered seventy -six, with 3,291 
members, and $25,392.87 revenue. In 1895 the 
Lodges numbered 838, the membership 50,544, 
with §475,252.18 revenue, of which ?135,018.40 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



407 



was expended for relief. The Encampment 
branch, in 1895, embraced 179 organizations with 
a membership of 6,812 and §23,865.3.5 revenue, of 
which §6,781.40 was paid out for relief. The 
Rebekah branch, for the same year, comprised 422 
Lodges, with 22,000 members and §43,215.65 
revenue, of which §3,122.79 was for relief. The 
total sum distributed for relief by the several 
organizations (1895) was §144, 972. .59. The Order 
was especially liberal in its benefactions to the 
sufferers by the Chicago fire of 1871, an appeal to 
its members calling forth a generous response 
throughout the United States. (See Odd Felloivs' 
Orphans' Home.) 

ODD FELLOWS' ORPHANS' HOME, a benevo 
lent institution, incorporated in 1889, erected at 
Lincoln, 111., under the auspices of the Daughters 
of Rebekah (see Odd Fellows), and dedicated 
August 19, 1892. The building is foirr stories in 
height, has a capacity for the accommodation of 
fifty children, and cost §36, .524. 76, exclusive of 
forty acres of land valued at §8,000. 

ODELL, a village of Livingston Coiinty, and 
station on the Chicago & Alton Railway, 82 
miles south-soutliwest of Chicago. It is in a 
grain and stock-raising region. Population (1880) , 
908; (1890), 800; (1900), 1,000. 

ODIN, a village of Marion County, at the cross- 
ing of the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central 
and the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Rail- 
ways, 244 miles south by west from Chicago; in 
fruit belt; has coal-mine, two fruit evaporators, 
bank and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 1,180. 

O'FALLON, a village of St. Clair County, on 
the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway, 18 
miles east of St. Louis ; has interurban railway, 
electric lights, water-works, factories, coal-mine, 
bank and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 1,267. 

OGDEN, William Butler, capitalist and Rail 
way President, born at "Walton, N. Y., June 15, 
1805. He was a member of the New York Legis- 
lature in 1834, and, the following year, removed 
to Chicago, where he established a land and trust 
agency. He took an active part in the various 
enterprises centering around Chicago, and, on 
the incorporation of the city, was elected its first 
Mayor. He was prominently identified with the 
construction of the Galena & Chicago Union 
Railroad, and, in 1847, became its President. 
While visiting Europe in 1853, he made a careful 
study of the canals of Holland, which convinced 
him of the desirability of widening and deepen- 
ing the Illinois & Michigan Canal and of con- 
structing a ship canal across the southern 
peninsula of Michigan. In 1855 he became Presi- 



dent of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac 
Railroad, and effected its consolidation with the 
Galena & Chicago Union. Out of this consoli- 
dation sprang the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
way Companj', of which he was elected President. 
In 1850 he presided over the National Pacific 
Railroad Convention, and, upon the formation of 
the Union Pacific Railroad Company, he became 
its President, He was largely connected with 
the inception of the Northern Pacific line, in the 
success of which he was a firm believer. He 
also controlled various other interests of public 
importance, among them the great lumbering 
establishments at Peshtigo, "Wis., and, at the time 
of his death, was the owner of what was probably 
the largest plant of that description in the world. 
His benefactions were numerous, among the 
recipients being the Rush Medical College, of 
which he was President; the Theological Semi- 
nar}' of the Northwest, the Chicago Historical 
Society, the Academy of Sciences, the University 
of Chicago, the Astronomical Society, and many 
other educational and benevolent institutions 
and organizations in the Northwest. Died, in 
New York City, August 3, 1877. (See Cliicago & 
Xorflt western Railroad. ) 

OGLE, Joseph, pioneer, was born in "Virginia 
in 1741, came to Illinois in 1785, settling in the 
American Bottom within the present County of 
Monroe, but afterwards removed to St. Clair 
County, about the site of the present town of 
O'Fallon, 8 miles north of Belleville; was selected 
by his neighbors to serve as Captain in their 
skirmishes with the Indians. Died, at his home 
in St. Clair County, in February, 1821, Captain 
Ogle had the reputation of being the earliest con- 
vert to Methodism in Illinois. Ogle County, in 
Northern Illinois, was named in his honor.- — 
Jacob (Ogle), son of the preceding, also a native 
of Virginia, was born about 1772, came to Illinois 
with his father in 1785, and was a "Ranger" in 
the War of 1S12. He served as a Representative 
from St. Clair County in the Third General 
Assembly (1822), and again in the Seventh 
(1830), in the former being an opponent of the 
pro-slavery convention scheme. Beyond two 
terms in the Legislature he seems to have held 
no public office except that of Justice of the 
Peace. Like his father, he was a zealous Metho- 
dist and highly respected. Died, in 1844, aged 72 
years. 

OGLE COUNTY, next to the "northern tier" of 
coimties of the State and originally a part of Jo 
Daviess. It was separately organized in 1837, 
and Lee County was carved from its territory in 



408 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



1839. In 1900 its area was 780 square miles, and 
its population 29,139. Before the Black Hawk 
War immigration was slow, and life primitive. 
Peoria was the nearest food market. New grain 
was "ground" on a grater, and old pounded 
with an extemporized pestle in a wooden mortar. 
Rock River flows across the county from north- 
east to southwest. A little oak timber grows 
along its banks, but, generally speaking, the sur- 
face is undulating prairie, with soil of a rich 
loam. Sandstone is in ample supply, and all the 
limestones abound. An extensive peat-bed has 
been discovered on the Killbuck Creek. Oregon, 
the county-seat, has fine water-power. The other 
principal towns are Rochelle, Polo, Forreston and 
Mount Morris. 

OGLESBY, Richard James, Governor and 
United States Senator, was born in Oldham 
County, Ky., July 25, 1824; left an orphan at the 
age of 8 years ; in 1836 accompanied an uncle to 
Decatur, 111., where, until 1844, he worked at 
farming, carpentering and rope-making, devoting 
his leisure hours to the study of law. In 1845 he 
was admitted to the bar and began practice at 
Sullivan, in Moultrie County. In 1846 he was 
commissioned a Lieutenant in the Fourth Regi- 
ment, Illinois Volunteers (Col. E. D. Baker's regi- 
ment), and served through the Mexican War, 
taking part in the siege of Vera Cruz and the 
battle of Cerro Gordo. In 1847 he pursued a 
course of study at the Louisville Law School, 
graduating in 1848. He was a "forty-niner" in 
California, but returned to Decatur in 1851. In 
1858 he made an unsuccessful campaign for Con- 
gress in the Decatur District. In 1860 he was 
elected to the State Senate, but early in 1861 
resigned his seat to accept the colonelcy of the 
Eighth Illinois Volunteers. Through gallantry 
(notably at Forts Henry and Donelson and at 
Corinth) he rose to be Major-General, being se- 
verely wounded in the last-named battle. He 
resigned his commission on account of disability, 
in May, 1864, and the following November was 
elected Governor, as a Republican. In 1872 he 
was re-elected Governor, but, two weeks after 
his inauguration, resigned to accept a seat in the 
United States Senate, to which he was elected 
by the Legislature of 1873. In 1884 he was 
elected Governor for the third time— being the 
only man in the history of the State who (up to 
the present time— 1899) has been thus honored. 
After the expiration of his last term as Governor, 
he devoted his attention to his private affairs at 
his home at Elkhart, in Logan County, where he 
died, April 24, 1899, deeply mourned by personal 



and political friends in all parts of the Union, 
who admired his strict integrity and sterling 
patriotism. 
OHIO, INDIANA & WESTERN RAILWAY. 

(See Peoria cS: Eastern Railroad.) 

OHIO RIVER, an affluent of the Mississippi, 
formed by the union of the Monongahela and 
Allegheny Rivers, at Pittsburg, Pa. At this point 
it becomes a navigable stream about 400 yards 
wide, with an elevation of about 700 feet above 
sea-level. The beauty of the scenery along its 
banks secured for it, from the early French 
explorers (of whom La Salle was one), the name 
of "La Belle Riviere." Its general course is to 
the southwest, but with many sinuosities, form- 
ing the southern boundary of the States of Ohio, 
Indiana and Illinois, and the western and north- 
ern boundary of West Virginia and Kentucky, 
until it enters the Mississippi at Cairo, in latitude 
37° N., and about 1,200 miles above the mouth of 
the latter stream. The area which it drains is 
computed to be 214,000 square miles. Its mouth 
is 268 feet above the level of the sea. The current 
is remarkably gentle and uniform, except near 
Louisville, where there is a descent of twenty- 
two feet within two miles, which is evaded by 
means of a canal around the falls. Large steam- 
boats can navigate its whole length, except in low 
stages of water and when closed bj^ ice in winter. 
Its largest affluents are the Tennessee, the Cum- 
berland, the Kentucky, the Great Kanawha and 
the Green Rivers, from the south, and the Wa- 
bash, the Miami. Scioto and Muskingum from the 
north. The principal cities on its banks are Pitts- 
burg, Wheeling, Cincinnati, Louisville, Evans- 
ville, New Albany, Madison and Cairo. It is 
crossed by bridges at Wheeling, Cincinnati and 
Cairo. The surface of the Ohio is subject to a 
variation of forty-two to fifty one feet between 
high and low water. Its length is 975 miles, and 
its width varies from 400 to 1,000 yards. (See 
7(1 u n dations, Rem arkable. ) 

OHIO & MISSISSIPPI RAILWAY. (See Bal- 
timore <& Ohio Soutlnrestern Rail}-oad.) 

OLNEY, an incorporated city and the county- 
seat of Richland County, 31 miles west of Vin- 
cennes, Ind., and 117 miles east of St. Louis, Mo., 
at the junction of the Baltimore it Ohio South- 
western and the Peoria Division of the Illinois 
Central and the Ohio River Division of tlie Cin- 
cinnati, Hamilton & Da3'ton Railroad ; is in the 
center of the fruit belt and an important shipping 
point for farm produce and live-stock ; has flour 
mills, a furniture factory and railroad repair 
shops, banks, a public library, churches and five 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



409 



newspapers, one issuing daily and another semi- 
weekly editions. Population (1890), 3,831; (1900), 
4,260. 

OMELVEJfY, John, pioneer and head of a 
numerous family which became prominent in 
Southern Illinois; was a native of Ireland who 
came to America about 1798 or 1799. After resid- 
ing in Kentucky a few j'ears, he removed to Illi- 
nois, locating in what afterwards became Pope 
County, whither his oldest son, Samuel, had 
preceded him about 1797 or 1798. The latter for 
a time followed the occupation of flat-boating, 
carrying produce to New Orleans. He was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1818 
from Pope County, being the colleague of Hamlet 
Ferguson. A year later he removed to Randolph 
County, where he served as a member of the 
County Court, but, in 1820-22, we find him a 
member of the Second General Assembly from 
Union County, having successfully contested the 
seat of Samuel Alexander, who had received the 
certificate of election. He died in 1828. — Edward 
(Omelveny), another member of this family, and 
grandson of the elder John Omelvenj-, represented 
Monroe County in the Fifteenth General Assem- 
bly (1846-48), and was Presidential Elector in 
1852, but died sometime during the Civil War. — 
Harvey K. S. (Omelveny), the fifth son of Wil- 
liam Omelveny and grandson of Jolin, was born 
in Todd County, Ky., in 1823, came to Southern 
Illinois, in 1852, and engaged in the practice of 
law, being for a time the partner of Senator 
Thomas E. Merritt, at Salem. Early in 1858 he 
was elected a Justice of the Circuit Court to 
succeed Judge Breese, who had been promoted to 
the Supreme Court, but resigned in 1861. He 
gained considerable notoriety by his intense 
hostility to the policy of the Government during 
the Civil War, was a Delegate to the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1862, and was named as a 
member of the Peace Commission proposed to be 
appointed by the General Assembly, in 1863, to 
secure terms of peace with the Southern Con- 
federacy. He was also a leading spirit in the 
peace meeting held at Peoria, in August, 1863. 
In 1869 Mr. Omelveny removed to Los Angeles, 
Cal., which has since been his home, and where 
he has carried on a lucrative law practice. 

ONARGA, a town in Iroquois County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 85 miles south by west 
from Cliicago, and 43 miles north by east from 
Champaign. It is a manufacturing town, flour, 
wagons, wire-fencing, stoves and tile being 
among the products. It has a bank, eight 
churches, a graded school, a commercial college, 



and a weekly newspaper. Population (1880), 
1,061; (1890), 994; (1900), 1,270. 

ONEIDA, a city in Knox County, on the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 12 miles 
northeast of Galesburg; has wagon, pump and 
furniture factories, two banks, electric lights, 
several churches, a graded school, and a weekly 
paper. The surrounding country is rich prairie, 
where coal is mined about twenty feet below the 
surface. Pop. (1890), 699; (1900), 785. 

OQUAWKA, the county-seat of Henderson 
County, situated on the Mississippi River, about 
15 miles above Burlington, Iowa, and 32 miles 
west of Galesburg. It is in a farming region, 
but has some manufactories. The town has 
five churches, a graded school, a bank and three 
newspapers. Population (1900). 1,010. 

ORDINANCE OF 1787. This is the name 
given to the first organic act, passed by Congress, 
for the government of the territory northwest of 
the Ohio River, comprising the present States of 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. 
The first step in tliis direction was taken in the 
appointment, bj' Congress, on March 1, 1784, of a 
committee, of which Thomas Jefferson was Chair- 
man, to prepare a plan for the temporary govern- 
ment of the region which had been acquired, by 
the capture of Kaskaskia, by Col. George Rogers 
Clark, nearly six years previous. The necessity 
for some step of this sort had grown all the more 
urgent, in consequence of the recognition of the 
right of the United States to this region by the 
Treaty of Paris of 1783. and the surrender, by Vir- 
ginia, of the title she had maintained thereto on 
account of Clark's conquest under Tier auspices — 
a right which she had exercised by furnishing 
whatever semblance of government so far existed 
northwest of the Ohio. The report submitted 
from Jefferson's committee proposed the division 
of the Territory into seven States, to which was 
added the proviso that, after the year 1800, "there 
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude 
in any of said States, otherwise than in punish- 
ment of crime whereof the party shall have been 
duly convicted." This report failed of adoption, 
however, Congress contenting itself with the 
passage of a resolution providing for future 
organization of this territory into States by the 
people — the measures necessary for temporary 
government being left to future Congressional 
action. While the postponement, in the reso- 
lution as introduced by Jefferson, of the inhi- 
bition of slavery to the year 1800, has been 
criticised, its introduction was significant, as 
coming from a representative from a slave State, 



410 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and being the first proposition in Congress look- 
ing to restriction, of an}' character, on the subject 
of slavery. Congress having taken no further 
step under the resolution adopted in 1784, the 
condition of the country (thus left practically 
without a responsible government, while increas- 
ing in population) became constanth- more 
deplorable. An appeal from the people about 
Kaskaskia for some better form of government, 
in 1786, aided by the influence of the newly 
organized "Ohio Company," who desired to en- 
courage emigration to the lands which they were 
planning to secure from the General Government, 
at last brought about the desired result, in the 
passage of the famous "Ordinance," on the 13th 
day of July, 1787. While making provision for a 
mode of temporary self-government by the 
people, its most striking features are to be found 
in the six "articles" — a sort of "Bill of Rights" — 
with which the document closes. These assert: 
(1) the right of freedom of worship and religious 
opinion: (2) the right to the benefit of habeas 
corpus and trial by jury ; to proportionate repre- 
sentation, and to protection in liberty and prop- 
erty; (3) that "religion, morality and knowledge, 
being necessary to good government and the 
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of 
education shall forever be encouraged" ; (4) that 
the States, formed within the territory referred 
to, "shall forever remain a part of this confeder- 
acy of the United States of America, subject to 
the Articles of Confederation and to such alter- 
ations therein as shall be constitutionally made" ' ; 
(5) prescribe the boundaries of the States to be 
formed therein and the conditions of their admis- 
sion into the Union ; and (6 — and most significant 
of all) repeat the prohibition regarding the 
introduction of slavery into the Northwest Terri- 
tory, as proposed by Jefferson, but without any 
qualification as to time. There has been consider- 
able controversy regarding the authorship of this 
portion of the Ordinance, into which it is not 
necessary to enter here. While it has been char- 
acterized as a second and advanced Declaration 
of Independence — and probably no single act of 
Congress was ever fraught with more important 
and far-reaching results — it seems remarkable 
that a majority of the States supporting it and 
securing its adoption, were then, and long con- 
tinued to be, slave States. 

OREGOX, tlie county-seat of Ogle County, 
situated on Rock River and the Minneapolis 
Branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road. 100 miles west from Chicago. The sur- 
rounding region is agricultural; the town has 



water power and manufactures flour, pianos, steel 
tanks, street sprinklers, and iron castings. It has 
two banks, vcater-works supplied by flowing 
artesian wells, cereal miU, and two weekly news- 
papers ; has also obtained some repute as a summer 
resort. Pop. (1880), 1,088; (1890), 1,.566; (1900),!,. 577. 

ORION, a village of Henry County, at the inter- 
section of the Rock Island Division of the Chicago 
Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railways, 19 miles southeast of 
Rock Island. Pop. (1890), 624; (1900), 584. 

OSBORX, William Henry, Railway President, 
was born at Salem, Mass., Dec. 21, 1820. After 
receiving a higli school education in his native 
town, he entered the counting room of the East 
India house of Peele, Hubbell & Co. ; was subse- 
quently sent to represent the firm at Manila, 
finally engaging in business on liis own account, 
during which he traveled extensively in Europe. 
Returning to the United States in 1853, he took 
up his residence in New York, and, having mar- 
ried the daughter of Jonathan Sturges, one of the 
original incorporators and promoters of the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, he soon after became asso- 
ciated with that enterprise. In August, 1854, he 
was chosen a Director of the Company, and, on 
Dec. 1, 1855, became its third President, serving 
in the latter position nearly ten years (until July 
11, 1865), and, as a Director, \mtil 1877 — in all, 
twenty-two years. After retiring from his con- 
nection with the Illinois Central Railroad, Mr. 
Osborn gave his attention largely to enterprises 
of an educational and benevolent character in aid 
of the unfortunate classes in the State of New 
York, 

OSBORN, Thomas 0., soldier and diplomatist, 
was born in Licking County, Ohio, August 11, 
1832; graduated from the Ohio University at 
Athens, in 1854; studied law at Crawfordsville, 
Ind., with Gen. Lew Wallace, was admitted to 
the bar and began practice in Chicago. Early in 
the war for the Union he joined the "Yates 
Phalanx," which, after some delay on account of 
the quota being full, was mustered into the serv- 
ice, in August, 1861, as the Thirty-ninth Illinois 
Volunteers, the subject of fhis sketch being com- 
missioned its Lieutenant-Colonel. His promotion 
to the colonelcy soon followed, the regiment 
being sent east to guard the Baltimore & Oliio 
Railroad, where it met the celebrated Stonewall 
Jackson, and took part in many important en- 
gagements, including the battles of Winchester, 
Bermuda Hundreds, and Drury's Bluff, besides 
the sieges of Charleston and Petersburg. At 
Bermuda Hundreds Colonel Osborn was severely 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



411 



wounded, losing the use of his right arm. He 
bore a conspicuous part in the operations about 
Richmond %vhich resulted in the capture of the 
rebel capital, his services being recognized by 
promotion to the brevet rank of Major-General. 
At the close of the war he returned to the prac- 
tice of law in Chicago, but, in 1874, was appointed 
Consul-General and Minister-Resident to the 
Argentine Republic, remaining in that position 
until Jime, 1885, when he resigned, resuming his 
residence in Chicago. 

OSWEGO, a village in Kendall Countj% on the 
Aurora and Streator branch of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railway, 6 miles south of 
Aurora. Population (1890), 641 ; (1900), 618. 

OTTAWA, the county-seat and principal city 
of La Salle County, being incorporated as a vil- 
lage in 1838, and, as a city, in 1853. It is located 
at the confluence of the Illinois and Fox Rivers 
and on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. It is the 
intersecting point of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railway and the Streator branch of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, 98 miles east of 
Rock Island and 83 miles west-southwest of Chi- 
cago. The surrounding region abounds in coal. 
Sand of a superior quality for the manufacture of 
glass is fo\ind in the vicinity and the place has 
extensive glass works. Other manufactured 
products are brick, drain-tile, sewer-pipe, tile- 
roofing, pottery, pianos, organs, cigars, wagons 
and carriages, agricultural implements, hay 
carriers, hay presses, sash, doors, blinds, cabinet 
work, saddler.v and harness and pumps. The city 
has some handsome public buildings including 
the Appellate (formerly Supreme) Court House 
for the Northern Division. It also has several 
public parks, one of which (South Park) contains 
a medicinal spring. There are a dozen churches 
and numerous public school buildings, including 
a high school. The city is lighted by gas and 
electricity, has electric street railways, good 
sewerage, and water-works supplied from over 
150 artesian wells and numerous natural springs. 
It has one private and two national banks, five 
libraries, and eight weekly newspapers (three 
German), of which four issue daily editions. Pop. 
(1890), 9,985; (1900), 10,588. 

OTTAWA, CHICAGO & FOX RIVER VALLEY 
RAILROAD. (See Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad.) 

OUTAGAMIES, a name given, by the French, 
to the Indian tribe known as the Foxes. (See 
Sacs ayid Foxes.) 

OWE>', Thomas J. V., early legislator and 
Indian Agent, was born in Kentucky, April 5, 



1801 ; came to Illinois at an early day, and, in 
1830, was elected to the Seventh General Assem- 
bly from Randolph County; the following year 
was appointed Indian Agent at Chicago, as suc- 
cessor to Dr. Alexander Wolcott, who had died in 
the latter part of 1830. Mr. Owen served as 
Indian Agent until 1833; was a member of the 
first Board of Town Trustees of the village of Chi- 
cago, Commissioner of School Lands, and one of 
the Government Commissioners who conducted 
the treaty with the Pottawatomie and other 
tribes of Indians at Chicago, in September, 1833. 
Died, in Chicago, Oct. 15, 1835. 

P.\DDOCK, Gaius, pioneer, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, was born in 1758; at the age of 17 he 
entered the Colonial Army, serving until the 
close of the Revolutionary War, and being in 
AVashington's command at the crossing of the 
Delaware. After the war he removed to Ver- 
mont; but, in 1815, went to Cincinnati, and, a 
year later, to St. Charles, Mo. Then, after hav- 
ing spent about a year at St. Louis, in 1818 he 
located in Madison County, 111., at a point after- 
wards known as "Paddock's Grove," and which 
became one of the most prosperous agricultural 
sections of Southern Illinois. Died, in 1831. 

PAINE, (Gen.) Eleazer A., soldier, was born in 
Parkman, Geauga County, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1815; 
graduated at West Point Military Academy, in 
1839, and was assigned to the First Infantry, 
serving in the Florida War (1839-40), but resigned, 
Oct. 11, 1840. He then studied law and practiced 
at Painesville, Ohio, (1843-48), and at Monmouth, 
111., (1848-61), meanwhile serving in the lower 
branch of the Eighteenth General Assembly 
(1853-53). Before leaving Ohio, he had been 
Deputy United States Marshal and Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the State Militia, and, in Illinois, 
became Brigadier-General of Militia (1845-48). 
He was appointed Colonel of the Ninth Illinois in 
April, 1861, and served through the war. being 
promoted Brigadier-General in September, 1861. 
The first duty performed by his regiment, after 
this date, was the occupation of Paducah, Ky., 
where he was in command. Later, it took part 
in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, 
the battles of Shiloh, New Madrid and Corinth, 
and also in the various engagements in Northern 
Georgia and in the "march to the sea." From 
November, 1863, to May, 1864, General Paine was 
guarding railroad lines in Central Tennessee, 
and, during a part of 1864, in command of the 
Western District of Kentucky. He resigned, 
April 5, 1865, and died in Jersey City, Dec. 16, 



412 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



1883. A sturdy Union man, he performed his 
duty as a soldier witli great zeal and efficiency. 

PALATIXE, a village of Cook County, on the 
Wisconsin Division of tlie Chicago & Northwest- 
ern Railroad, 26 miles northwest from Chicago. 
There are flour and planing mills here; dairying 
and farming are leading industries of the sur- 
rounding country. Population (1880), 731 ; (1890), 
891; (1900), 1,020. 

PALESTINE, a town in Ci-awford County, about 
3 miles from the Wabash River, 7 miles east of 
Robinson, and S.'j miles southwest of Terre Haute, 
on the Illinois Central Railway ; has five churches, 
a graded school, a bank, weekly newspaper, flour 
mill, cold storage plant, canning factory, garment 
factory, and municipal light and power plant. 
Pop. (1890), 732; (1900), 979. 

PALMER, Frank W., journalist, ex-Congress- 
man and Public Printer, was born at !JIanchester, 
Dearborn County, Ind., Oct. 11, 1827; learned the 
printer's trade at Jamestown, N. Y., afterwards 
edited "The Jamestown Journal," and served 
two terms in the New York Legislature ; in 18.58 
removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and edited "The 
Dubuque Times," was elected to Congress in 1860, 
and again in 1868 and 1872, meanwhile having 
purchased "The Des Moines Register," which he 
edited for several years. In 1873 he removed to 
Chicago and became editor of "The Inter Ocean," 
remaining two years ; in 1877 was appointed Post- 
master of the city of Chicago, serving eight years. 
Shortly after the accession of President Harrison, 
in 1889, he was appointed Public Printer, continu- 
ing in office until the accession of President Cleve- 
land in 1893, when he returned to newspaper work, 
but resumed his old place at the head of the 
Government Printing Bureau after the inaugura- 
tion of President McKinley in 1897. 

PALMER, John McAnley, lawyer, soldier and 
United States Senator, was born in Scott County, 
Ky., Sept. 13, 1817; removed with his father to 
Madison County, 111., in 1831, and, four years 
later, entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, 
as a student ; later taught and studied law, being 
admitted to the bar in 1839. In 1843 he was 
elected Probate Judge of Macoupin County, also 
served in the State Constitutional Convention of 
1847 ; after discharging the duties of Probate and 
County Judge, was elected to the State Senate, to 
fill a vacancj', in 18.52, and re-elected in 18.54, as 
an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, casting his vote for 
Lyman Trumbull for United States Senator in 
1855, but resigned his seat in 1856 ; was President 
of the first Republican State Convention, held at 
Bloomington in the latter year, and appointed a 



delegate to the National Convention at Philadel- 
phia ; was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress 
in 1859, and chosen a Presidential Elector on tlie 
Republican ticket in 1860 ; served as a member of 
the National Peace Conference of 1861 ; entered 
the army as Colonel of the Fourteenth Regiment 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; was promoted Briga- 
dier General, in November, 1861, taking part in 
the campaign in Tennessee up to Chickamauga, 
assuming the command of the Fourteenth Army 
Corps with the rank of Major-General, but was 
relieved at his own request before Atlanta. In 
1865 he was assigned, by President Lincoln, to 
command of the Military Department of Ken- 
tucky, but, in September, 1866, retired from the 
service, and, in 1867, became a citizen of Spring- 
field. The following year he was elected Gov- 
ernor, as a Republican, but, in 1873, supported 
Horace Greeley for President, and has since co- 
operated with the Democratic party. He was 
three times the unsuccessful candidate of his 
party for United States Senator, and was their 
nominee for Governor in 1888, but defeated. In 
1890 he was nominated for United States Senator 
by the Democratic State Convention and elected 
in joint session of the Legislature, March 11, 1891, 
receiving on the 154th ballot 101 Democratic and 
two Farmers' Mutual Alliance votes. He became 
an important factor in the campaign of 1896 as 
candidate of the "Sound Money" Democracy for 
President, although receiving no electoral votes, 
proving his devotion to principle. His last years 
were occupied in preparation of a volume of 
personal recollections, which was completed, 
under the title of "The Story of an Earnest Life,'' 
a few weeks before his death, which occurred at 
his home in Springfield, September 35, 1900. 

P.\LMER, Potter, merchant and capitalist, 
was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1825; 
received an English education and became a 
junior clerk in a country store at Durham, 
Greene County, in that State, three years later 
being placed in charge of the business, and finally 
engaging in business on his own account. Com- 
ing to Chicago in 1853, he embarked in the dry- 
goods business on Lake Street, establishing the 
house which afterwards became Field, Leiter & 
Co. (now Marshall Field & Co.), from which here- 
tired, in 1865, with the basis of an ample fortune, 
which has since been immensely increased by 
fortunate operations in real estate. Mr. Palmer 
was Second Vice-President of the first Board ct 
Local Directors of the World's Columbian Expo- 
sition in 1891.— Mrs. Bertha M. Honore (Palmer), 
wife of the preceding, is the daughter of H. H. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



413 



Honore, formerly a prominent real-estate owner 
and operator of Chicago. She is a native of 
Louisville, Ky., where her girlhood was chiefly 
spent, though she was educated at a convent near 
Baltimore, Md. Later she came with her family 
to Chicago, and, in 1870, was married to Potter 
Palmer. Mrs. Palmer has been a recognized 
leader in many social and benevolent movements, 
but won the highest praise bj' her ability and 
administrative skill, exhibited as President of the 
Board of Lady JIanagers of the World's Colum- 
bian Exposition of 1893. 

PALMYRA, a village of Macoupin County, on 
the Springfield Division of the St. Louis, Chicago 
& St. Paul Railway, 33 miles southwest from 
Springfield ; has some local manufactories, a bank 
and a newspaper. Population (1900), 813. 

PANA, an important railway center and prin- 
cipal city of Christian County, situated in the 
southeastern part of the County, and at the inter- 
secting point of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwest- 
ern, the Illinois Central and the Cleveland, 
Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroads, 35 
miles south by west from Decatur, and 42 miles 
southeast of Springfield. It is an important ship- 
ping-point for grain and has two elevators. Its 
mechanical establishments include two flouring 
mills, a foundry, two machine shops and two 
planing mills. The surrounding region is rich in 
coal, which is extensively mined. Pana has 
banks, several churches, graded schools, and 
three papers issuing daily and weeklj' editions. 
Population (1890). r,,077; O'-IOO), .n,-530. 

PANA, SPRINGFIELD & NORTHWESTERN 
RAILROAD. (See Baltimore <t Ohio South- 
western Railroad.) 

PARIS, a handsome and flourislyng city, the 
county-seat of Edgar County. It is an important 
railway center, situated on the "Big Four" and 
the Vandalia Line, 160 miles south of Chicago, 
and 170 miles east-northeast of St. Louis; is in 
the heart of a wealthy and populous agricultural 
region, and has a prosjierous trade. Its industries 
include foundries, three elevators, flour, saw and 
planing mills, glass, broom, and corn product 
factories. The city has three banks, three daily 
and four weekly newspapers, a court house, ten 
churches, and graded schools. Pop. (1890), 4,996; 
(1900), 6,105. 

PARIS & DECATUR RAILROAD. (See Terre 
Haute & Peoria Railroad.) 

PARIS & TERRE HAUTE RAILROAD. (See 
Terre Haute <fe Peoria Railroad. ) 

PARKS, (iaTlon D. A., lawyer, was born at 
Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1817; 



went to New York City in 1838, where he com- 
pleted his legal studies and was admitted to the 
bar, removing to Lockport, 111., in ly-12. Here 
he successively edited a paper, served as Master 
in Chancery and in an engineering corps on the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal; was elected County 
Judge in 1849, removed to JoUet, and, for a time, 
acted as an attorney of the Chicago & Rock 
Island, the Michigan Central and the Chicago 
& Alton Railroads; was also a Trustee of the 
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Jackson- 
ville ; was elected Representative in 1852, became 
a Republican and served on the first Republican 
State Central Committee (1856); the same year 
was elected to the State .Senate, and was a 
Commissioner of the State Penitentiary in 1864. 
In 1872 Mr. Parks joined in the Liberal -Repub- 
lican movement, was defeated for Congress, and 
afterwards acted with the Democratic party. 
Died, Dec. 28, 1895. 

PARKS, Lawson A., journalist, was born at 
Mecklenburg, N. C, April 15, 1813; learned the 
printing trade at Charlotte, in that State ; came 
to St. Louis in 1833, and, in 1836, assisted in estab- 
lishing "The Alton Telegraph," but sold his 
interest a few years later. Then, having offi- 
ciated as pastor of Presbyterian churches for some 
years, in 1854 he again became associated with 
"The Telegraph," acting as its editor. Died at 
Alton, March 31, 1875. 

PARK RIDGE, a suburban village on the Wis- 
consin Division of the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad, 13 miles northwest of Chicago. Popu- 
lation (1880), 457; (1890), 987; (1900), 1,340. 

PARTRIDGE, Charles Addison, journalist and 
Assistant Adjutant-General of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, was born in Westford, Chittenden 
County, Vt. , Dec. 8, 1843 ; came with his parents 
to Lake County, 111., in 1844, and spent his boy- 
hood on a farm, receiving his education in the 
district school, with four terms in a high school 
at Burlington, Wis. At 16 he taught a winter 
district school near his boyhood home, and at 18 
enlisted in what became Company C of the 
Ninety-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, being 
mustered into the service as Eighth Corporal at 
Rockford. His regiment becoming attached to 
the Army of the Cumberland, he participated 
with it in the battles of Chickamauga and the 
Atlanta campaign, as well as those of Franklin 
and Nashville, and has taken a just pride in the 
fact that he never fell out on the march, took 
medicine from a doctor or was absent from his 
regiment during its term of service, except for 
four months while recovering from a gun-shot 



414 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



wound received av Chickamauga. He was pro- 
moted successively to Sergeant. Sergeant-Ma jor, 
and commissioned Second Lieutenant of his old 
company, of which his father was First Lieuten- 
ant for six months and until forced to resign on 
account of impaired health. Receiving his final 
discharge, June 28, 1865, he returned to the farm, 
where he remained until 1869, in the meantime 
being married to Miss Jennie E. Earle, in 1866, 
and teaching school one winter. In 1869 he was 
elected Comity Treasurer of Lake County on the 
Republican ticket, and re-elected in 1871 ; in 
January of the latter year, purchased an interest 
in "The Waukegan Gazette," with which he 
remained associated some fifteen years, at first as 
the partner of Rev. A. K. Fox, and later of his 
younger brother, H. E. Partridge. In 1877 he 
was appointed, by President Hayes, Postmaster 
at Waukegan, serving four years; in 1886 was 
elected to the Legislature, serving (by successive 
elections) as Representative in tlie Thirty-fifth, 
Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh General Assem- 
blies, being frequently called upon to occupy the 
Speaker's chair, and, especially during the long 
Senatorial contest of 1891, being recognized as a 
leader of the Republican minority. In 1888 he 
was called to the service of the Republican State 
Central Committee (of which he had previously 
been a member), as assistant to the veteran Secre- 
tary, the late Daniel Shepard, remaining until 
the death of his chief, when he succeeded to the 
secretaryship. During the Presidential campaign 
of 1892 he was associated with the late William 
J. Campbell, then the Illinois member of tlie 
Republican National Committee, and was en- 
trusted by him with many important and confi- 
dential missions. Without solicitation on his 
part, in 1894 he was again called to assume tlie 
secretaryship of the Republican State Central 
Committee, and bore a conspicuous and influ- 
ential part in winning the brilliant success 
achieved by the party in the campaign of that 
year. From 1893 to 1895 he served as Mayor of 
Waukegan; in 1896 became Assistant Adjutant- 
General of the Grand Army of the Republic for 
the Department of Illinois — a position whicli he 
held in 1889 under Commander James S. Martin, 
and to which he has been re-appointed by succes- 
sive Department Commanders up to the present 
time. Mr. Partridge's service in the various 
public positions held by him, has given him an 
acquaintance extending to every county in the 
State. 

PATOKA, a village of Marion County, on the 
Western branch of the Illinois Central Railway, 



15 miles south of Vandalia. There are flour and 
saw mills here ; tlie surrounding country is agri- 
cultural. Population (1890), o02 ; (1000), 640. 

PATTERSON, Robert Wilson, I).D., LL.D., 
clergyman, was born in Blount County, Tenn., 
Jan. 21, 1814; came to Bond County, 111., with 
his parents in 1832, his father dying two years 
later ; at 18 had had onlj' nine montlxs' schooling, 
but graduated at Illinois College in 1837; spent a 
year at Lane Theological Seminary, another as 
tutor in Illinois College, and then, after two years 
more at Lane Seminary and preaching in Chicago 
and at Monroe, Mich., in 1842 established the 
Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago, of which 
he remained the pastor over thirty years. In 
1850 he received a call to the chair of Didactic 
Theology at Lane Seminary, as successor to Dr. 
Lyman Beecher, but it was declined, as was a 
similar call ten years later. Resigning his pastor- 
ship in 1873, he was, for several years. Professor of 
Christian Evidences and Ethics in the Theological 
Seminary of the Northwest ; in 1876-78 served as 
President of Lake Forest University (of which he 
was one of the founders), and, in 1880-83, as 
lecturer in Lane Theological Seminary. He 
received the degree of D.D. from Hamilton Col- 
lege, N. Y., in 1854, that of LL.D. from Lake 
Forest University, and was Moderator of the 
Presbyterian General Assembly (N. S. )at Wih 
mington, Del., in 1859. Died, at Evanston, 111., 
Feb. 24, 1894. 

PATET, Charles W., soldier and ex-State 
Auditor, was born in Highland County, Ohio, 
Nov. 8, 1835; removed to Illinois in 1859, settling 
in the vicinity of Mount Vernon, and, for a time, 
followed the occupation of a farmer and stock- 
raiser. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighti- 
eth Illinois Volunteers for the Civil War, and 
became First Lieutenant of Company E. He was 
severely wounded at the battle of Sand Mountain 
and, having been captured, was conflned in Libby 
Prison, at Salisbury, N. C, and at Danville, 
Va., for a period of nearly two years, enduring 
great hardship and suffering. Having been 
exchanged, he served to the close of the war as 
Assistant Inspector-General on the Staff of Gen- 
eral Rousseau, in Tennessee. He was a delegate 
to the Republican National Convention of 1880, 
which nominated General Garfield for the Presi- 
dency, and was one of the famous "306" who 
stood by General Grant in that struggle. In 1882 
he was appointed by President Arthur Collector 
of Internal Revenue for the Southern District, 
and, in 1888, was nominated and elected State 
Auditor on the Republican ticket, but was de- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



415 



feated for re-election in tlie "land-slide" of 1892. 
General Pavey has been prominent in "G. A. R." 
councils, and held the position of Junior Vice- 
Commander for the Department of Illinois in 

1878, and that of Senior Vice-Commander in 

1879. He also served as Brigadier-General of the 
National Guard, for Southern Illinois, during the 
railroad strike of 1877. In 1897 he received from 
President McKinley the appointment of Special 
Agent of the Treasury Department. His home 
is at Mount Vernon, Jefferson County. 

PAWNEE, a village of Sangamon County, at 
the eastern terminus of the Auburn & Pawnee 
Railroad, 19 miles south of Springfield. The town 
has a bank and a weekly paper. Population (1900), 
595; (1903, est.), 1,000. 

PAWJfEE RAILROAD, a short line in Sanga- 
mon County, extending from Pawnee to Auburn 
(9 miles), where it forms a junction with the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad. The company was 
organized and procured a charter in December, 
1888, and the road completed the following year. 
The cost was §101,774. Capital stock authorized, 
$100,000; funded debt (1895), §50,000. 

PAW PAW, a village of Lee County, at the 
junction of two branches of the Chicago. Bur- 
. lington & Quincy Railway, 8 miles northwest of 
Earlville. The town is in a farming region, but 
has a bank and one weekly paper. Population 
(1890), 635; (1900), 765. 

PAXTOX, the county-seat of Ford County, is 
situated at the intersection of the Chicago Divi- 
sion of the Illinois Central and the Lake Erie & 
Western Railroads, 103 miles south by west from 
Chicago, and 49 miles east of Blooraington. It 
contains a court house, two schools, water-works, 
electric light and water-heating system, two 
banks, nine churches, and one dailj- newspaper. 
It is an important shipping-point for the farm 
products of the surrounding territory, which is a 
rich agricultural region. Besides brick and tile 
works and flour mills, factories for the manu- 
facture of carriages, buggies, hardware, cigars, 
brooms, and plows are located here. Pop. (1890), 
2,187; (1900), 3,036. 

PAYSON, a village" in Adams Coimty, 15 miles 
southeast of Quincy ; the nearest railroad station 
being Fall Creek, on the Quincy and Louisiana 
Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railway; has one newspaper. Population (1900), 
465. 

PAYSON, Lewis E., lawyer and ex-Congress- 
man, was born at Providence. R. I., Sept. 17, 
1840; came to Illinois at the age of 12, and, after 
passing through the common schools, attended 



Lombard University, at Galesburg, for two years. 
He was admitted to the bar at Ottawa in 1862, 
and, in 1865, took up his residence at Pontiac. 
From 1869 to 1873 he was Judge of the Livingston 
County Court, and, from 1881 to 1891, represented 
his District in Congress, being elected as a 
Republican, but, in 1890, was defeated by his 
Democratic opponent, Herman W. Snow. Since 
retiring from Congress he has practiced his pro- 
fession in Washington, D. C. 

PEABODY, Selim Hobart, educator, was born 
in Rockingham County, Vt., August 20, 1829; 
after reaching 13 years of age, spent a year in a 
Boston Latin School, then engaged in various 
occupations, including teaching, until 1848, when 
he entered the University of Vermont, graduat- 
ing third in his class in 1853 ; was appointed Pro- 
fessor of Mathematics and Engineering in the 
Polytechnic College at Philadelphia, in 1854, 
remaining three years, when he spent five years 
in Wisconsin, the last three as Superintendent of 
Schools at Racine. From 18G5 to 1871 he was 
teacher of physical science in Chicago High 
School, also conducting night schools for work- 
ing men ; in 1871 became Professor of Physics and 
Engineering in Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 
lege, but returned to the Chicago High School in 
1874 ; in 1876 took charge of the Chicago Acad- 
emy of Sciences, and, in 1878, entered the Illinois 
Industrial University (now University of Illinois), 
at Champaign, first as Professor of Mechanical 
Engineering, in 1880 becoming President, but 
resigning in 1891. During the World's Colum- 
bian Exposition at Chicago, Professor Peabody 
was Chief of the Department of Liberal Arts, 
and, on the expiration of his service there, 
assumed the position of Curator of the newly 
organized Chicago Academy of Sciences, from 
which he retired some two j-ears later. 

PEARL, a village of Pike County, on the Kan- 
sas City branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 
14 miles west of Roodhouse. Population (1890), 
928; (1900), 723. 

PEARSON, Isaac N., ex-Secretary of State, was 
born at Centreville, Pa., July 27, 1842; removed 
to Macomb, McDonough County, 111., in 1858, and 
has ever since resided there. In 1873 he was 
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and re-elected 
in 1876. Later he engaged in real-estate and 
banking business. He was a member of the lower 
house in the Thirty-third, and of the Senate in 
the Thirty -fifth. General A.s,sembly, but before the 
expiration of his term in the latter, was elected 
Secretary of State, on the Republican ticket, in 
1888. In 1893 he was a candidate for re-election, 



416 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



but was defeated, although, next to Governor 
Fifer, he received tlie largest vote cast for any 
candidate for a political office on the Republican 
State ticket. 

PEARSON, John M., ex-Railway and Ware- 
house Commissioner, born at Newburyport, 
Mass., in 1833— the son of a ship-carpenter; was 
educated in his native State and came to Illinois 
in 18-19, locating at the city of Alton, where he 
was afterwards engaged in the manufacture of 
agricultm-al implements. In 1873 he was ap- 
pointed a member of the first Railway and Ware- 
house Commission, serving four j-ears; in 1878 
was elected Representative in the Thirty-first 
General Assembly from Madison County, and 
was re-elected, successively, in 1880 and '82. He 
was appointed a member of the first Board of 
Live-stock Commissioners in 1885, serving until 
1893, for a considerable portion of the time as 
President of the Board. Mr. Pearson is a life- 
long Republican and prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity. His present home is at 
Godfrey. 

PEARSONS, Daniel K., M.D., real-estate oper- 
ator and capitalist, was born at Bradfordton, Vt., 
April 14, 1820; began teaching at 16 years of age, 
and, at 21, entered Dartmouth College, taking a 
two years' course. He then studied medicine, 
and, after practicing a short time in his native 
State, removed to Chicopee, Mass., where he 
remained from 1843 to 1857. The latter year he 
came to Ogle County, 111., and began operating 
in real estate, finallj' adding to this a loan busi- 
ness for Eastern parties, but discontinued this 
line in 1877. He owns extensive tracts of timber 
lands in Michigan, is a Director in the Chicago 
City Railway Company and American Exchange 
Bank, besides being interested in other financial 
institutions. He has been one of the most liberal 
supporters of the Chicago Historical Society, and 
a princely contributor to various benevolent and 
educational institutions, liis gifts to colleges, in 
different parts of the country, aggregating over a 
million dollars. 

PECATOMCA, a town in Pecatonica Township, 
Winnebago County, on the Pecatonica River. It 
is on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, mid- 
way bevveen Freeport and Rockford, being 14 
miles from each. It contains a carriage factory, 
machine shop, conden.sed milk factory, a bank, 
six churches, a graded school, and a weekly news- 
paper. Pop. (1890), 1,059; (1900), 1,045. 

PECATONICA RIVER, a stream formed by the 
confluence of two branches, both of which rise 
in Iowa County, Wis. They unite a little north 



of the Illinois State line, whence the river runs 
southeast to Freeport, then east and northeast, 
until it enters Rock River at Rockton. From the 
headwaters of either branch to the mouth of the 
river is about 50 miles. 

PECK, Ebenezer, early lawyer, was born in 
Portland, Slaine, May 22, 1805; received an aca- 
demical education, studied law and was admitted 
to the bar in Canada in 1827. He was twice 
elected to the Provincial Parliament and made 
King's Counsel in 1833 ; came to Illinois in 1835, 
settling in Chicago; served in the State Senate 
(1838-40), and in the House (1840-42 and 1858-60); 
was also Clerk of the Supreme Court (1841-45), 
Reporter of Supreme Court decisions (1849-63), 
and member of the Constitutional Convention of 
1869-70. Mr. Peck was an intimate personal 
friend of Abraham Lincoln, by whom he was 
appointed a member of the Court of Claims, at 
Washington, serving until 1875. Died, May 25, 
1881. 

PECK, Ferdinand Wythe, lawyer and finan- 
cier, was born in Chicago, July 15, 1848 — the son 
of Philip F. W. Peck, a pioneer and early mer- 
chant of the metropolis of Illinois ; was educated 
in the public schools, the Chicago University 
and Union College of Law, graduating from 
both of the last named institutions, and being 
admitted to the bar in 1869. For a time he 
engaged in practice, but his father having died in 
1871, the responsibility of caring for a large 
estate devolved upon him and has since occupied 
his time, though he has given much attention to 
the amelioration of the condition of the poor of 
his native city, and works of practical benevo- 
lence and public interest. He is one of the 
founders of the Illinois Humane Society, has been 
President and a member of the Board of Control 
of the Chicago Athenteum, member of the Board 
of Education, President of the Chicago Union 
League, and was an influential factor in secui-ing 
the success of the World's Columbian Exposition 
at Chicago, in 1893, serving as First Vice-Presi- 
dent of the Chicago Board of Directors, Chair- 
man of the Finance Committee, and member of 
the Board of Reference and Control. Of late 
years, Mr. Peck has been connected with several 
important building enterprises of a semi-public 
character, which have added to the reputation of 
Chicago, including the Auditorium, Stock Ex- 
change Building and others in which he is a 
leading stockholder, and in the erection of which 
he has been a chief promoter. In 1898 he was 
appointed, by President McKinley, the United 
States Commissioner to the International Expo- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



417 



sition at Paris of 1900. as successor to the late 
Maj. M. P. Handy, and the success which has 
followed his discharge of the duties of that 
position, has demonstrated the fitness of his 
selection. 

PECK, George E., railway attorney, born in 
Steuben County, N. Y., in 1843; was early taken 
to Wisconsin, where lie assisted in clearing Iiis 
father's farm; at 16 became a country school- 
teacher to aid in freeing the same farm from 
debt ; enlisted at 19 in the First Wisconsin Heavy 
Artillery, later becoming a Captain in the Thirty- 
first Wisconsin Infantry, with which he joined in 
"Sherman's March to the Sea." Returning home 
at the close of the war, he began the study of 
law at Janesville, spending six years there as a 
student, Clerli of tlie Circuit Court and in prac- 
tice. From there he went to Kansas and. between 
1871 and '74, practiced his profession at Independ- 
ence, when he was appointed by President Grant 
United States District Attorney for the Kansas 
District, but resigned this position, in 1879, to 
return to general practice. In 1881 he became 
General Solicitor of the Atchison, Topeka & 
Santa Fe Railroad, removing to Chicago in 
1893. In 1895 he resigned his position with the 
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to accept 
a similar position with tlie Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railway Company, which (1898) he 
still holds. Mr. Peck is recognized as one of the 
most gifted orators in the West, and, in 1897, was 
chosen to deliver tlie principal address at the un- 
veiling of the Logan equestrian statue in Lake 
Front Park, Chicago; has also officiated as orator 
on a number of other important public occasions, 
always acquitting himself with distinction. 

PECK, John Mason, D.D., clergyman and edu- 
cator, was born in Litchfield, Conn., Oct. 31, 1789; 
removed to Greene County, N. Y., in 1811, where 
he united with the Baptist Church, the same 
year entering on pastoral work, while prosecuting 
his studies and supporting himself by teaching. 
In 1814 he became pastor of a church at Amenia, 
N. Y., and, in 1817, was sent west as a mission- 
ary, arriving in St. Louis in the latter part of the 
same year. During the next nine years he trav- 
eled extensively through Missouri and Illinois, as 
an itinerant preacher and teaclier, finallj' locating 
at Rock Spring, St. Clair County, wliere, in 1836, 
he established the Rock Spring Seminary for the 
education of teachers and ministers. Out of this 
grew Shurtleff College, founded at Upper Alton 
in 1835, in securing the endowment of which Dr. 
Peck traveled many thousands of miles and col- 
lected $30,000, and of which he served as Trustee 



for many years. Up to 1843 he devoted much 
time to aiding in the establishment of a theolog- 
ical institution at Covington, Ky., and, for two 
years following, was Corresponding Secretary and 
Financial Agent of the American Baptist Publi- 
cation Society, with headquarters in Philadelphia. 
Returning to the West, he served as pastor of sev- 
eral important churches in Missouri, Illinois and 
Kentucky. A man of indomitable will, unflag- 
ging industry and thoroughly upright in conduct, 
for a period of a quarter of a century, in the early 
history of the State, probably no man exerted a 
larger influence for good and the advancement 
of the cause of education, among the pioneer citi- 
zens of all classes, than Dr. Peck. Though giving 
his attention so constantly to preaching and 
teaching, he found time to write much, not only 
for the various publications with which he was, 
from time to time, connected, but also for other 
periodicals, besides publishing "A Guide for Emi- 
grants" (1831), of which a new edition appeared 
in 1836, and a "Gazetteer of Illinois" (Jackson- 
ville, 1834, and Boston, 1837), which continue to 
be valued for the information they contain of the 
condition of the country at that time. He was 
an industrious collector of historical records in 
the form of newspapers and pamphlets, which 
were unfortunately destroyed by fire a few years 
before his death. In 1852 he received the degree 
of D.D. from Harvard University. Died, at Rock 
Spring. St. Clair County, March 15, 18.58. 

PECK, Philip F. W., pioneer merchant, was 
born in Providence, R. I., in 1809, the son of a 
whole.sale merchant who had lost his fortune by 
indorsing for a friend. After some years spent 
in a mercantile house in New York, he came to 
Chicago on a prospecting tour, in 1830; the fol- 
lowing year brought a stock of goods to the 
embryo emporium of the Northwest — then a small 
backwoods hamlet — and. by trade and fortunate 
investments in real estate, laid the foundation of 
what afterwards became a large fortune. Ha 
died, Oct. 23, 1871. as the result of an accident 
occurring about the time of the great fire of two 
weeks previous, from which he was a heavy 
sufferer pecuniarily. Three of his sons, Walter L. , 
Clarence I. and Ferdinand W. Peck, are among 
Chicago's most substantial citizens. 

PEKIJf, a flourishing cit}', the coonty-seat of 
Tazewell County, and an important railway cen- 
ter, located on the Illinois River, 10 miles south 
of Peoria and 56 miles north of Springfield. 
Agriculture and coal-mining are the chief occu- 
pations in the surrounding country, but the city 
itself is an important grain market with large 



418 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLIN"OIS. 



general shipping interests. It has several dis- 
tilleries, besides grain elevators, malt-houses, 
brick and tile works, lumber yards, planing mills, 
marble works, plow and wagon works, and a 
factory for corn products. Its banking facilities 
are adequate, and its religious and educational 
advantages are excellent. The city has a public 
library, park, steam-heating plant, three daily 
and four weekly papers. Pop. (1890), 6,347 ; (1900), 
8,420. 

PEKIN, LINCOLIV & DECATUR RAILROAD. 
(See Peoria, Decatur d- EraiisviUe Eaihcaij.) 

PELL, Gilbert T., Representative in the Third 
Illinois General Assembly (1822) from Edwards 
County, and an opponent of the resolution for a 
State Convention adopted by the Legislature at 
that session, designed to open the door for the 
admission of slavery. Mr. Pell was a son-in-law 
■ of Morris Birkbeck, who was one of the leaders 
in opposition to the Convention scheme, and very 
naturally sympathized with his fatherin-law. 
He was elected to the Legislature, for a second 
term, in 1828, but subsequently left the State, 
dying elsewhere, when his widow removed to 
Australia. 

PEXNSTLVAIVIA RAILROAD. As to oper 
ations of this corjjoration in Illinois, see Calumet 
River; Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago; South 
Chicago & Southern, and Pittsburg, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railways. The whole num- 
ber of miles owned, leased and operated by the 
Pennsylvania System, in 1898, was 1,987.21, of 
which only 61.34 miles were in Illinois. It owns, 
however, a controlling interest in the stock of 
the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway (which 
see). 

PEORIA, the second largest city of the State 
and the county-seat of Peoria County, is 160 miles 
southwest of Chicago, and at the foot of an expan- 
sion of the Illinois River known as Peoria Lake. 
The site of the town occupies an elevated plateau, 
having a water frontage of four miles and extend- 
ing back to a bluff, which rises 200 feet above the 
river level and about 120 feet above the highest 
point of the main site. It was settled in 1778 or 
'79, although, as generally believed, the French 
missionaries had a station there in 1711. There 
was certainly a settlement there as early as 172.'5, 
when Renault received a grant of lands at Pimi- 
teoui, facing the lake then bearing the same 
name as tlie village. From that date until 1813, 
the place was continuously occupied as a French 
village, and is said to have been the most impor- 
tant point for trading in the Mississippi Valley. 
The original village was situated about a mile and 



a half above the foot of the lake : but later, the pres- 
ent site was occupied, at first receiving the name 
of "La Ville de Maillet, '' from a French Canadian 
who resided in Peoria, from 176,') to 1801 (the time 
of his death), and who commanded a company of 
volunteei-s in the Revolutionary War. The popu- 
lation of the old toWn removed to the new site, 
and the present name was given to the place by 
American settlers, from the Peoria Indians, who 
were the occupants of the country when it was 
first discovered, but who had followed their cog- 
nate tribes of the Illinois family to Cahokia and 
Kaskaskia, about a century before American 
occupation of this region. In 1812 the town is 
estimated to have contained about seventy dwell- 
ings, with a population of between 200 and 
300, made up largelj' of French traders, 
hunters and voyageurs, with a considerable 
admixture of half-breeds and Indians, and a few 
Americans. Among the latter were Thomas 
Forsyth, Indian Agent and confidential adviser 
of Governor Edwards ; Blichael La Croix, son-in- 
law of Julian Dubuque, founder of the city of 
Dubuque ; Antoine Le Claire, founder of Daven- 
port, and for whom Le Claire, Iowa, is named ; 
William Arundel, afterwards Recorder of St. 
Clair County, and Isaac Darnielle, the second law- 
yer in Illinois. — In November, 1812. about half 
the town was burned, by order of Capt. Thomas 
E. Craig, who had been directed, by Governor 
Edwards, to proceed up the river in boats with 
materials to build a fort at Peoria. At the same 
time, the Governor himself was at the head of a 
force marching against Black Partridge's vil- 
lage, which he destroyed. Edwards had no com- 
munication with Craig, who appears to have 
acted solely on his own responsibility. That the 
latter's action was utterh- unjustifiable, there can 
now be little doubt. He alleged, by way of 
excuse, that his boats had been fired upon from 
the shore, at night, by Indians or others, who 
were harbored by the citizens. The testimony 
of the Fi'ench, however, is to the effect that it 
was an unprovoked and cowardly assault, insti- 
gated by wine whicli the soldiers had stolen from 
the cellars of the inliabitants. The bulk of those 
who remained after the fire were taken by Craig 
to a point below Alton and put ashore. This 
occurred in the beginning of winter, and the 
people, being left in a destitute condition, were 
subjected to great suffering. A Congressional 
investigation followed, and the French, having 
satisfactorily established the fact that they were 
not hostile, were restored to their possessions. — In 
1813 a fort, designed for permanent occupancy, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



419 



was erected and named Fort Clark, in honor of 
Col. George Rogers Clark, It had one (if not 
two) block-houses, with magazines and quarters 
for officers and men. It was finally evacuated in 
1818, and was soon afterwards burned by the 
Indians. Although a trading-post had been 
maintained here, at intervals, after the affair of 
1813, there was no attempt made to rebuild the 
town until 1819, when Americans began to 
arrive. — In 1824 a post of the American Fur Com- 
pany was established here by John Hamlin, the 
company having already had, for five years, a 
station at Wesley City, three miles farther down 
the river. Hamlin also traded in pork and other 
products, and was the first to introduce keel- 
boats on the Illinois River. By transferring his 
cargo to lighter draft boats, when necessary, he 
made the trip from Peoria to Chicago entirely by 
water, going from the Des Plaines to Mud Lake, 
and thence to the South Branch of the Chicago 
River, without unloading. In 1834 the town had 
but seven frame houses and twenty-one log 
cabins. It was incorporated as a town in 1835 
(Rudolphus Rouse being the first President), and, 
as the City of Peoria, ten years later (Win. Hale 
being the first Mayor). — Peoria is an important 
railway and business center, eleven railroad lines 
concentrating here. It presents many attractive 
features, such as handsome residences, fine views 
of river, bluff and valley scenery, with an elab- 
orate system of parks and drives. An excellent 
school system is liberally supported, and its public 
buildings (national, county and city) are fine and 
costly. Its churches are elegant and well 
attended, the leading denominations being 
Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Presby- 
terian, Baptist, Protestant and Reformed Episco- 
pal, Lutheran, Evangelical and Roman Catholic. 
It is the seat of Bradley Polytechnic Institute, a 
young and flourishing scientific school affiliated 
with the University of Chicago, and richly en- 
dowed through the munificence of Mrs. Lydia 
Bradley, who devotes her whole estate, of at 
least a million dollars, to this object. Right Rev. 
John L. Spaulding, Bishop of the Roman Catho- 
lic diocese of Peoria, is erecting a handsome and 
costly building for the Spaulding Institute, a 
school for the higher education of j'oung men. — 
At Bartonville, a suburb of Peoria, on an eleva- 
tion commanding a magnificent view of the Illi- 
nois River valley for many miles, the State has 
located an asylimi for the incurable insane. It is 
now in process of erection, and is intended to be 
one of the most complete of its kind in the world. 
Peoria lies In a corn and coal region, is noted for 



the number and extent of its distilleries, and, in 
1890, ranked eightli among the grain markets of 
the country. It also has an extensive commerce 
with Chicago, St. Louis and other important 
cities; was credited, by the census of 1890, with 
554 manufacturing establishments, representing 
90 different branches of industry, with a capital 
of 115,072,567 and an estimated annual product of 
$55,504,523. Its leading industries are the manu- 
facture of distilled and malt liquors, agricultural 
implements, glucose and machine-shop products. 
Its contributions to the internal revenue of the 
country are second only to those of the New York 
district. Population (1870), 22,849; (1880), 29,259; 
(1890), 41, 024; (1900), 56,100. 

PEORIA COUNTY, originally a part of Fulton 
County, but cut off in 1825. It took its name 
from the Peoria Indians, who occupied that region 
when it was first discovered. As first organized, 
it included the present counties of Jo Daviess and 
Cook, with many others in the northern part of 
the State. At that time there were less than 
1,500 inhabitants in the entire region; and John 
Hamlin, a Justice of the Peace, on his return 
from Green Bay (whither he had accompanied 
William S. Hamilton, a son of Alexander Hamil- 
ton, with a drove of cattle for the fort there), 
solemnized, at Chicago, the marriage of Alex- 
ander Wolcott, then Indian Agent, with a 
daughter of John Kinzie. The original Peoria 
County has been .subdivided into thirty counties, 
among them being some of the largest and rich- 
est in the State. The first county officer was 
Norman Hyde, who was elected Judge of the 
Probate Court by the Legislature in January, 
1825. His commission from Governor Coles was 
dated on the eighteenth of that month, but he 
did not qualify until June 4, following, when he 
took the oath of office before John Dixon, Circuit 
Clerk, who founded the city that bears his name. 
Meanwhile, Mr. Hyde had been appointed the 
first Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, 
and served in that capacity imtil entering upon 
his duties as Probate Judge. The first election 
of county officers was held, March 7, 1825, at the 
house of William Eads. Nathan Dillon, Joseph 
Smith, and William Holland were chosen Com- 
missioners; Samuel Fulton Sheriff, and William 
Phillips Coroner. The first County Treasurer 
was Aaron Hawley, and the first general election 
of officers took place in 1826. The first court 
house was a log cabin, and the first term of 
the Circuit Court began Nov. 14, 1825, John 
York Sawyer sitting on the bench, with John 
Dixon, Clerk; Samuel Fulton, Sheriff; and John 



420 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Twiney, the Attorney-General, present. Peoria 
County is, at present, one of the wealthiest and 
most populovis counties in the State. Its soil is 
fertile and its manufactures numerous, especially 
at Peoria, the county-seat and principal city 
(which see) . The area of the county is 615 square 
miles, and its population (1880), 55,353; (1890), 
70,378; (1900), 8S,(i08. 

PEORIA LAKE, an expansion of the Illinois 
River, forming the eastern boundary of Peoria 
County, which it separates from the counties of 
Woodford and Tazewell. It is about 20 miles 
long and 2>^ miles broad at the widest part. 

PEORIA, ATLANTA & DECATUR RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Tcrre Haute d- Peoria Railroad.) 

PEORIA, DECATUR & EVANSVILLE BAIL- 
WAT. The total length of this line, extending 
from Peoria, 111., to Evansville, Ind., is 330.87 
miles, all owned by the company, of which 373 
miles are in Illinois. It extends from Pekin, 
southeast to Grayville, on the Wabash River— is 
single track, unballasted, and of standard gauge. 
Between Pekin and Peoria the company uses the 
tracks of the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway, of 
which it is one-fourth owner. Between Hervey 
City and Midland Junction it has trackage privi 
leges over the line owned jointly by the Peoria. 
Decatur & Evansville and the Terre Haute & 
Peoria Companies (7.5 miles). Between Midland 
Junction and Decatiu- (2,4 miles) the tracks of 
the Illinois Central are used, the two lines having 
terminal facilities at Decatur in common. The 
rails are of fifty-two and sixty-pound steel.— 
(History.) The main line of the Peoria, Decatur 
& Evansville Railway is the result of the consoli- 
dation of several lines built under separate char- 
ters. (1) The Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur Railroad, 
chartered in 1867, built in 1869-71, and operated 
the latter year, was leased to the Toledo, Wabash 
& Western Railway, but sold to representatives 
of the bond-holders, on account of default on 
interest, in 1876, and reorganized as the Pekin, 
Lincoln & Decatur Railway. (2) The Decatur, 
Sullivan & Mattoon Railroad, (projected from 
Decatur to Mattoon), was incorporated in 1871, 
completed from Mattoon to Hervey City, in 1872, 
and, the same year, consolidated with the Chi- 
cago & Great Southern; in January, 1874, the 
Decatur line passed into the hands of a receiver, 
and, in 1877, having been sold imder foreclosure, 
was reorganized as the Decatur, Mattoon & South- 
ern Railroad. In 1879 it was placed in the hands 
of trustees, but the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur 
Railway having acquired a controlling interest 
during the same year, the two lines were con- 



solidated under the name of the Peoria. Decatur 
& Evansville Railway Company. (3) The Gray- 
ville & Mattoon Railroad, chartered in 1857, was 
consolidated in 1872 with the Mount Vernon & 
Grayville Railroad (projected), the new corpo- 
ration taking the name of the Chicago & Illinois 
Southern (already mentioned). In 1872 the latter 
corporation was consolidated with the Decatur, 
Sullivan & Mattoon Railroad, under the name of 
the Chicago & Illinois Southern Railway. Both 
consolidations, however, were set aside by decree 
of the United States District Court, in 1876, and 
the partially graded road and franchises of the 
Grayville & Mattoon lines sold, under foreclosure, 
to the contractors for the construction ; 20 miles 
of the line from Olney to Newton, were completed 
during the month of September of that year, and 
the entire Une, from Grayville to Mattoon, in 
1878. In 1880 this line was sold, under decree of 
foreclosure, to the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville 
Railway Company, which had already acquired 
the Decatur & Mattoon Division— thus placing 
the entire line, from Peoria to Grayville, in the 
hands of one corporation. A line under the name 
of the Evansville & Peoria Railroad, chartered in 
Indiana in 1880, was consolidated, the same year, 
with the Illinois corporation under the name of 
the latter, and completed from Grayville to 
Evansville in 1882. (4) The Chicago & Ohio 
River Railroad — chartered, in 1869, as the Dan- 
ville, Olney & Ohio River Railroad — was con- 
structed, as a narrow-gauge line, from Kansas to 
West Liberty, in 1878-81 ; in the latter year was 
changed to standard gauge and completed, in 
1883, from Sidell to Olney (86 miles). The same 
year it went into the hands of a receiver, was sold 
under foreclosure, in February, 1886, and reorgan- 
ized, in May following, as the Chicago & Ohio 
River Railroad ; was consolidated with the Peoria, 
Decatur & Evansville Railway, in 1893, and used 
as the Chicago Division of that line. The property 
and franchises of the entire line passed into the. 
hands of receivers in 1894, and are still (1898) 
under their management. 

PEORIA, PEKIN & JACKSONVILLE RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis RaU- 
road of Ulinoi.'i.) 

PEORIA & BUREAU VALLEY RAILROAD, a 
short line, 46.7 miles in length, operated by the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Com- 
pany, extending from Peoria to Bureau Junction, 
111. It was incorporated, Feb. 12, 1853, com- 
pleted the following year, and leased to the Rock 
Island in perpetuity, April 14, 1854, the annual 
rental being $135,000. The par value of the 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



421 



capital stock is §1,500,000. Annual dividends of 
8 per cent are guaranteed, payable semi-annu- 
ally. (See Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railway. ) 

PEORIA & EASTERJI RAILROAD. Of this 
line the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 
Louis Railroad Company is the lessee. Its total 
length is 3o0>2 miles, 132 of which lie in Illinois 
— 123 being owned by the Company. That por- 
tion within this State extends east from Pekin to 
the Indiana State line, in addition to which the 
Company has trackage facilities over the line of 
the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway (9 miles) to 
Peoria. The gauge is standard. The track is 
single, laid with sixty and sixty-seven-pound 
steel rails and ballasted almost wholly with 
gravel. The capital stock is 810,000,000. In 1895 
it had a bonded debt of 813,603,000 and a floating 
debt of $1,261,130, making a total capitalization 
of §24,864,130.— (History.) The original of this 
corporation was the Danville, Urbana, Blooming- 
ton & Pekin Railroad, which was consolidated, 
in July, 1869, with the Indianapolis, Crawfords- 
ville & Danville Railroad — the new corporation 
taking the name of the Indianapolis, Blooming- 
ton & Western — and was opened to Pekin the 
same year. In 1874 it passed into the hands of a 
receiver, was sold under foreclosure in 1879, and 
reorganized as the Indiana, Bloomington & 
Western Railway Companj'. The next change 
occurred in 1881, when it was consolidated with 
an Oliio corporation (the Ohio, Indiana & Pacific 
Railroad), again undergoing a slight cliange of 
name in its reorganization as the Indiana, Bloom- 
ington & Western Railroad Company. In 1886 
it again got into financial straits, was placed in 
charge of a receiver and sold to a reorganization 
committee, and, in January, 1887, took the name 
of the Ohio, Indiana & Western Railway Com- 
pany. The final reorganization, under its present 
name, took place in February, 1890, when it was 
leased to the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & 
St. Louis Railway, by which it is operated. 
(See Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railway. ) 

PEORIA & HANNIBAL RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago, Burlington tfc Quincy Railroad. ) 

PEORIA & OQUAWKA RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.) 

PEORIA & PEKIiV UNION RAILWAY. A line 
connecting the cities of Peoria and Pekin, which 
are onl}' 8 miles apart. It was chartered in 1880, 
and acquired, by purchase, the tracks of the Peoria, 
Pekin & Jacksonville and the Peoria & Spring- 
field Railroads, between the two cities named in 



its title, giving it control of two lines, which are 
used by nearly all the railroads entering both 
cities from the east side of the Illinois River. The 
mileage, including both divisions, is 18.14 miles, 
second tracks and sidings increasing the total to 
nearly 60 miles. The track is of standard gauge, 
about two-thirds being laid with steel rails. The 
total cost of construction was §4,350,987. Its 
total capitalization (1898) was §4,177,763, includ- 
ing §1,000,000 in stock, and a funded deljt of 
§3,904,000. The capital stock is held in ecjual 
amounts (each 2,500 shares) by the Wabash, the 
Peoria, Decatur & Evansville, the Chicago, 
Peoria & St. Louis and the Peoria & Eastern com- 
panies, with 1,000 shares by the Lake Erie & 
Western. Terminal charges and annual rentals 
are also paid by tlie Terre Haute & Peoria and 
the Iowa Central Railwajs. 

PEORIA & SPRINGFIELD RAILROAD. (See 
Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad of Illinois.) 

PEOTONE, a village of Will County, on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, 41 miles south-southwest 
from Chicago; has some manufactures, a bank 
and a newspaper. The surrounding country is 
agricultural. Population (1890), 717; (1900), 1,003. 

PERCY, a village of Randolph County, at the 
intersection of the Wabash, Chesapeake & West- 
ern and the Mobile & Ohio Railways. Population 
(1890), 360; (1900), 660. 

PERROT, Nicholas, a French explorer, wno 
visited the valley of the Fox River (of Wisconsin) 
and the country around the great lakes, at various 
times between 1670 and 1690. He was present, 
as a guide and interpreter, at the celebrated con- 
ference held at Sault Ste. Marie, in 1671, which 
was attended by fifteen Frenchmen and repre- 
sentatives from seventeen Indian tribes, and at 
which the Sieur de Lusson took formal possession 
of Lakes Huron and Superior, with the surround- 
ing region and "all the country southward to the 
sea," in the name of Louis XIV. of France. 
Perrot was the first to discover lead in the West, 
and, for several years, was Commandant in the 
Green Bay district. As a chronicler he was 
intelligent, interesting and accurate. His writ 
ings were not published until 1864, but have 
always been highly prized as authority. 

PERRY, a town of Pike County ; has a bank 
and a newspaper. Population (1880), 770; (1890), 
705; (1900;, 643. 

PERRY COUNTY, lies in the southwest quarter 
of the State, with an area of 440 square miles and 
a population (1900) of 19,830. It was organized 
as a county in 1827, and named for Com. Oliver 
H. Perry. The general surface is rolling. 



422 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



although flat prairies occupy a considerable por- 
tion, interspersed with "post-oak flats. " Limestone 
is found in the southern, and sandstone in the 
northern, sections, but the chief mineral wealth 
of the county is coal, which is abundant, and, at 
several points, easily mined, some of it being of 
a superior quality. Salt is manufactured, to some 
extent, and the chief agricultural output is 
wheat. Pinckneyville, the county-seat, has a 
central position and a population of about 1,300. 
Duquoir is the largest city. Beaucoup Creek is 
the principal stream, and the county is crossed 
by several lines of railroad. 

PERU, a city in La Salle County, at the head 
of navigation on the Illinois River, which is here 
spanned by a handsome bridge. It is distant 100 
miles southwest from Chicago, and the same dis- 
tance north-northeast from Springfield. It is 
connected by street cars with La Salle, one mile 
distant, which is the terminus of the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal. It is situated in a rich coal- 
mining region, is an important trade center, and 
has several manufacturing establishments, includ- 
ing zinc smelting works, rolling mills, niokeloid 
factor}-, metal novelty works, gas engine factory, 
tile works, plow, scale and patent-pump factories, 
foundries and machine shops, flour and saw mills, 
clock factory, etc. Two national banks, with a 
combined capital of §200,000, are located at Peru, 
and one daily and one weeklj- paper. Population 
(1870), 3,050; (1880), 4,683; (1890), 5,550, (1900), 
6,86.3. 

PESOTUM, a village in Champaign County, on 
the Illinois Central Railroad, 5 miles south of 
Tolono. Population (1890), 575. 

PETERSBURG, a city of Menard County, and 
the county-seat, on the Sangamon River, at the 
intersection Chicago & Alton with the Chicago, 
Peoria & St. Louis Railway ; 23 miles northwest 
of Springfield and 38 miles northeast of Jackson- 
ville. The town was surveyed and platted by 
Abraham Lincoln in 1837, and is the seat of the 
"Old Salem" Chautauqua. It has machine shops, 
two banks, two weekly papers and nine churches. 
The manufactures include woolen goods, brick 
and drain-tile, bed-springs, mattresses, and 
canned goods. Pop. (1890), 2,343, (1900), 2,807. 

PETERS, OnsloTf, lawyer and jurist, was born 
in Massachusetts, graduated at Brown Univer- 
sity, and was admitted to the bar and practiced 
law in his native State until 1837, when he set- 
tled at Peoria, 111. He served in the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1847, was elected to the 
bench of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in 1853, 
and re-elected in 1855. Died, Feb. 28, 1856. 



PHILLIPS, David L , journalist and politician, 
was born where the town of Marion, Williamson 
County, 111., now stands, Oct. 28, 1823; came to 
St. Clair County in childhood, his father settling 
near Belleville ; began teaching at an early age, 
and, when about 18, joined the Baptist Church, 
and, after a brief course with the distinguished 
Dr. Peck, at his Rock Spring Seminary, two years 
later entered the ministry, serving churches in 
Washington and other Southern Illinois counties, 
finally taking charge of a church at Jonesboro. 
Though originally a Democrat, his advanced 
views on slavery led to a disagreement with his 
church, and he withdrew ; then accepted a posi- 
tion as paymaster in the construction department 
of the Illinois Central Railroad, finally being 
transferred to that of Land Agent for the South- 
ern section, in this capacity visiting different 
parts of the State from one end of the main line 
to the other. About 1854 he became associated 
with the management of "The Jonesboro Ga- 
zette," a Democratic paper, which, during bis con- 
nection with it {some two years), he made an 
earnest ojjponent of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. 
At the Anti-Nebraska Editorial Convention 
(which see), held at Decatur, Feb. 23, 1856, he 
was appointed a member of their State Central 
Committee, and, as such, joined in the call for the 
first Republican State Convention, held at Bloom- 
ington in Slay following, where he served as 
Vice-President for his District, and was nomi- 
nated for Presidential Elector on the Fremont 
ticket. Two years later (18.58) he was the 
unsuccessful Republican candidate for Congress 
in the Southern District, being defeated by John 
A. Logan; was again in the State Convention of 
1860, and a delegate to the National Convention 
which nominated Abraham Lincoln for President 
the first time; was appointed by Mr. Lincoln 
L^nited States Marshal for the Southern District 
in 1861, and re-appointed in 1865, but resigned 
after Andrew Johnson's defection in 1866. Dur- 
ing 1862 Mr. Phillips became part proprietor of 
"The State Journal" at Springfield, retaining 
this relation until 1878, at intervals performing 
editorial service; also took a prominent part in 
organizing and equipping the One Hundred and 
Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers (sometimes 
called the "Phillips Regiment"), and, in 1865, 
was one of the committee of citizens sent to 
escort the remains of President Lincoln to 
Springfield. He joined in the Liberal Republican 
movement at Cincinnati in 1873, but, in 1876, 
was in line with his former party associates, and 
served in that year as an unsuccessful candidate 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



423 



for Congress, in the Springfield District, in oppo- 
sition to William M. Springer, early the following 
year receiving the appointment of Postmaster 
for the city of Springfield from President Hayes. 
Died, at Springfield, June 19, 1880. 

PHILLIPS, George S., author, was born at 
Peterborough, England, in January, 1816 ; gradu- 
ated at Cambridge, and came to the United 
States, engaging in journalism. In 1845 he 
returned to England, and, for a time, was editor 
of "The Leeds Times," still later being Principal 
of the People's College at Huddersfield. Return- 
ing to the United States, he came to Cook County, 
and, about 1866-68, was a writer of sketches over 
the nom de plume of "January Searle" for "The 
Chicago Republican" — later was literary editor 
of "The New York Sun" for several years. His 
mind becoming impaired, he was placed in an 
asylum at Trenton, N. J., finally dying at Morris- 
town, N. J., Jan. 14. 1889. Mr. Phillips was the 
author of several volumes, chiefly sketches of 
travel and biography. 

PHILLIPS, Jesse J., lawyer, soldier and 
jurist, was born in Montgomery County, 111., 
May 22, 1837. Shortly after graduating from the 
Hillsboro Academy, he read law, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1860. In 1861 he organized 
a company of volunteers, of which he was 
chosen Captain, and which was attached to the 
Ninth Illinois Infantry. Captain Phillips was 
successively advanced to the rank of Major, 
Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel; resigned on 
account of disability, in August, 1864, but was 
brevetted Brigadier-General at the close of the 
war. His military record was exceptionally 
brilliant. He was wounded three times at 
Shiloh, and was personally thanked and compli- 
mented by Generals Grant and Oglesby for gal- 
lantry and eflicient service. At the termination 
of the struggle he returned to Hillsboro and 
engaged in practice. In 1866, and again in 1868, 
he was the Democratic candidate for State Treas- 
urer, but was both times defeated. In 1879 he 
was elected to the bench of the Fifth Judicial 
Circuit, and re-elected in 1885. In 1890 he was 
assigned to the bench of the Appellate Court of 
the Fourth District, and, in 1893, was elected a 
Justice of the Supreme Court, to fill the vacanc)' 
created by the death of Justice John M. Scholfield, 
his term expiring in 1897, when he was re-elected 
to succeed himself. Judge Phillips" present term 
will expire in 1906. 

PHILLIPS, Joseph, early jurist, was born in 
Tennessee, received a classical and legal edu- 
cation, and served as a Captain in the War of 



1813 ; in 1816 was appointed Secretary of Illinois 
Territory, serving until the admission of Illinois 
as a State, when he became the first Chief Jus- 
tice of the Supreme Court, serving until July, 
1822, when he resigned, being succeeded on the 
bench by John Reynolds, afterwards Governor. 
In 1822 he was a candidate for Governor in the 
interest of the advocates of a pro-slavery amend- 
ment of the State Constitution, but was defeated 
by Edward Coles, the leader of the anti-slavery 
party. (See Coles, Edward, and Slavery and Slave 
Latcs.) He appears from the "Edwards Papers" 
to have been in Illinois as late as 1833, but is 
said eventuallj' to have returned to Tennessee. 
The date of his death is unknown. 

PIAXKESHAWS, THE, a branch of the Miami 
tribe of Indians. Their name, like those of their 
brethren, underwent many mutations of orthog- 
raphy, the tribe being referred to, variously, as 
the "Pou-an-ke-kiahs," the "Pi-an-gie-shaws," 
the "Pi-an-qui-shaws," and the "Py-an-ke- 
shaws." They were less numerous than the 
Weas, their numerical strength ranking lowest 
among the bands of the Miamis. At the time La 
Salle planted his colony around Starved Rock, 
their warriors numbered 1,50. Subsequent to the 
dispersion of this colony they (alone of the Miamis) 
occupied portions of the present territorj- of Illi- 
nois, having villages on the Vermilion and 
Wabash Rivers. Tlieir earliest inclinations 
toward the whites were friendly, the French 
traders having intermarried with women of the 
tribe soon after the advent of the first explor- 
ers. Col. George Rogers Clark experienced little 
difiiculty in securing their allegiance to the new 
government which he proclaimed. In the san- 
guinary raids (usually followed by reprisals), 
which marked Western history during the years 
immediately succeeding the Revolution, the 
Piankeshaws took no part ; yet the outrages, per- 
petrated upon peaceable colonists, had so stirred 
the settlers' blood, that all Indians were included 
in the general thirst for vengeance, and each was 
unceremoniously dispatched as soon as seen. The 
Piankeshaws appealed to Washington for protec- 
tion, and the President issued a special procla- 
mation in their behalf. After the cession of the 
last remnant of the Miami territory to the United 
States, the tribe was removed to a Kansas reser- 
vation, and its last remnant finally found a home 
in Indian Territory. (See also Miamis: Weas. ) 

"PIASA BIRD," LEGEND OF THE. When 
the French explorers first descended the Upper 
Mississippi River, they found some remarkable 
figures depicted upon the face of the bluff, just 



424 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



above the site of the present city of Alton, which 
excited their wonder and continued to attract 
interest long after the country was occupied by 
the whites. The account given of the discov- 
ery by Marquette, who descended the river from 
the mouth of the Wisconsin, in June, 1673, is as 
follows: "As we coasted along" (after passing 
the mouth of the Illinois) "rocks frightful for 
their height and length, we saw two monsters 
painted on one of the rocks, which startled us at 
first, and upon which the boldest Indian dare not 
gaze long. They are as large as a calf, with horns 
on the head like a deer, a frightful look, red 
eyes, bearded like a tiger, the face somewhat 
like a man's, the body covered with scales, and 
the tail so long that it twice makes the turn of 
the body, passing over the head and down be- 
tween the legs, ending at last in a fish's tail. 
Green, red and black are the colors employed. 
On the whole, these two monsters are so well 
painted that we could not believe any Indian to 
have been the designer, as good painters in 
France would find it hard to do as well. Besides 
this, they are painted so high upon the rock that 
it is hard to get conveniently at them to paint 
them." As the Indians could give no account of 
the origin of these figures, but had their terror 
even more excited at the sight of them than Mar- 
quette himself, they are supposed to have been 
the work of some prehistoric race occupying the 
country long before the arrival of the aborigines 
whom Marquette and his companions found in 
Illinois. There was a tradition that the figures 
were intended to represent a creature, part beast 
and part bird, which destroyed immense numbers 
of the inhabitants by swooping down upon them 
from its abode upon the rocks. At last a chief is 
said to have offered himself a victim for his 
people, and when the monster made its appear- 
ance, twenty of his warriors, concealed near by, 
discharged their arrows at it, killing it just 
before it reached its prey. In this manner the 
life of the chief was saved and his people were 
preserved from further depredations; and it was 
to commemorate this event that the figure of the 
bird was painted on the face of the cliff on whose 
summit the chief stood. This story, told in a 
paper by Mr. John Russell, a pioneer author of 
Illinois, obtained wide circulation in tliis country 
and in Europe, about the close of the first 
quarter of the present century, as the genuine 
"Legend of the Piasa Bird." It is said, however, 
that Mr. Russell, who was a popular writer of 
fiction, acknowledged that it was drawn largely 
from his imagination. Many prehistoric relics 



and human remains are said, by the late 'William 
McAdams. the antiquarian of Alton, to have 
been found in caves in the vicinity, and it seems 
a well authenticated fact that the Indians, when 
passing the spot, were accustomed to discharge 
their arrows — and, later, their firearms — at the 
figure on the face of the cliff. Traces of this 
celebrated pictograph were visible as late as 1840 
to 1845, but liave since been entirely quarried 
away. 

PIATT COUNTY, organized in 1841. consist- 
ing of parts of Macon and Dewitt Counties. Its 
area is 440 square miles ; population (1900), 17,706. 
The first Commissioners were John Hughes, W. 
Bailey and E. Peck. John Piatt, after whose 
family the county was named, was the first 
Sheriff. The North Fork of the Sangamon River 
flows centrally through the county from north- 
east to southwest, and several lines of railroad 
afford transportation for its products. Its re- 
sources and the occujjation of the people are 
almost wholly agricultural, the surface being 
level prairie and the soil fertile. Monticello, the 
county-seat, has a population of about 1,700. 
Other leading towns are Cerro Gordo (939) and 
Bement (1,139). 

PICKETT, Thomas Johnson, journalist, was 
born in Louisville, Ky., March 17, 1831; spent 
six years (1830-36) in St. Louis, when his family 
removed to Peoria ; learned the printer's trade in 
the latter city, and, in 1840, began the publica- 
tion of "The Peoria News," then sold out and 
established "The Republican" (afterwards "The 
Transcript") ; was a member of the Anti-Nebraska 
Editorial Convention held at Decatur, Feb. 22, 
1S56, serving on the Committee on Resolutions, 
and being appointed on the State Central Com- 
mittee, which called the first Republican State 
Convention, held at Bloomington, in Ma}' follow- 
ing, and was tliere appointed a delegate to the 
National Convention at Philadelphia, whicli 
nominated General Fremont for President. 
Later, he published papers at Pekin and Rock 
Island, at the latter place being one of tlie first to 
name Abraham Lincoln for tlie Presidency ; was 
elected State Senator in 1860, and, in 1862. com- 
missioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-ninth 
Illinois Volunteers, being transferred, as Colonel, 
to the One Hundred and Thirty-second Illinois 
(100-days' men), and serving at Camp Douglas 
during the "Conspiracj-" excitement. After the 
war. Colonel Pickett removed to Paducah, K)'., 
published a paper there called "The Fedei'al 
Union." was appointed Postmaster, and, later, 
Clerk of the United States District Court, and 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



425 



was the Republican nominee for Congress, in tliat 
District, in 18T4. Removing to Nebraska in 1879, 
lie at different times conducted several papers in 
that State, residing for the most part at Lincoln. 
Died, at Ashland, Neb., Dec. 24, 1891. 

PIERSO>i', David, pioneer banker, was born at 
Cazenovia, N. Y., July 9, 1806; at the age of 13 
removed west with his parents, arriving at St. 
Louis, June 3, 1820. The family soon after set- 
tled near Collinsville, Madison County, 111., where 
the father having died, they removed to the vi- 
cinity of CarroUton, Greene County, in 1821, Here 
they opened a farm, but, in 1827, Mr. Pierson 
went to the lead mines at Galena, where he re- 
mained a year, then returning to CarroUton, In 
1834, having sold his farm, he began merchandis- 
ing, still later being engaged in the pork and 
grain trade at Alton. In 1854 he added the bank- 
ing business to his dry-goods trade at CarroUton, 
also engaged in milling, and, in 1862-63, erected 
a woolen factory, which was destroyed by an 
incendiary fire in 1872. Originally an anti-slavery 
Clay Whig, Mr. Pierson became a Republican on 
the organization of that party in 1856, served for 
a time as Collector of Internal Revenue, was a 
delegate to the National Republican Convention 
at Philadelphia in 1872, and a prominent candi- 
date for the Republican nomination for Lieuten- 
ant-Governor in 1876. Of high integrity and 
unswerving patriotism, Mr. Pierson was generous 
in his benefactions, being one of the most liberal 
contributors to the establishment of the Langston 
Scliool for the Education of Freed men at Holly 
Springs, Miss., soon after the war. He died at 
CarroUton, May 8, 1891. — Oman (Pierson), a son 
of the subject of this sketch, was a member of 
the Thirty-second General Assembly (1881) from 
Greene County, and is present cashier of the 
Greene County National Bank at CarroUton. 

PIGGOTT, Isaac N., early politician, was born 
about 1792 ; served as an itinerant Methodist 
preacher in Missouri and Illinois, between 1819 
and 1824, but finally located southwest of Jersey- 
ville and obtained a license to run a ferry be- 
tween Grafton and Alton; in 1828 ran as a 
candidate for the State Senate against Thomas 
Carlin (afterwards Governor) ; removed to St. 
Louis in 1858, and died there in 1874. 

PIKE COUNTY, situated in the western por- 
tion of the State, lying between the Illinois and 
Mississippi Rivers, having an area of 795 square 
miles — named in honor of the explorer, Capt. 
Zebulon Pike The first American settlers came 
about 1820, and, in 1831, the county was organ- 
ized, at first embracing all the country north and 



west of the lUinois River, including the present 
county of Cook. Out of this territory were finally 
organized about one fourth of the counties of the 
State. Coles' Grove (now Gilead, in Calhoun 
County) was the first county-seat, but the seat of 
justice was removed, in 1824, to Atlas, and to 
Pittsfield in 1833. The surface is undulating, in 
some portions is hilly, and diversified with prai 
ries and hardwood timber. Live-stock, cereals 
and hay are the staple products, while coal and 
Niagara limestone are found in abundance. 
Population (1890), 31,000; (1900), 31,595. 

PILLSBURT, Nathaniel Joy, lawyer and 
judge, was born in York County, Maine, Oct. 21, 
1834; in 1855 removed to Illinois, and, in 1858, 
began farming in Livingston County. He began 
the study of law in 1863, and, after admission to 
the bar, commenced practice at Pontiac. He 
represented La Salle and Livingston Counties in 
the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and, in 
1873, was elected to the bench of the Thirteenth 
Judicial Circuit. He was re-elected in 1879 and 
again in 1885. He was assigned to the bench of 
the Appellate Court in 1877, and again in 1879 
and "85. He was severely wounded by a shot 
received from strikers on the line of the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad, near Chicago, in 1880, resulting 
in his being permanently disabled physically, in 
consequence of which he declined a re-election to 
the bench in 1891. 

PINCKNETTILLE, a city and the county-seat 
of Perry County, situated at the intersection of 
the Paducah Division Illinois Central and the 
Wabash, Chester efe Western Railways, 10 miles 
west-northwest of Duquoin. Coal-mining is 
carried on in the immediate vicinity, and flour, 
carriages, plows and dressed lumber are among 
the manufactured products. Pinckneyville has 
two banks — one of which is national — two weekly 
newspapers, seven churches, a graded and a high 
school. Population (1880), 964; (1890), 1,298; 
(1900), 2,357. 

PITTSBURG, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO & 
ST. LOUIS RAILROAD, one of the Pennsyl- 
vania Company's lines, operating 1,403 miles of 
road, of which 1,090 miles are owned and the 
remainder leased — length of line in Illinois, 28 
miles. The Company is the outgrowth of a con- 
solidation, in 1890, of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & 
St, Louis RaUway with the Chicago, St. Louis & 
Pittsburg, the Cincinnati & Richmond and the 
Jeffer.sonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railroads. 
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company controls 
the entire line through ownership of stock. 
Capital stock outstanding, in 1898, $47,791,601; 



426 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



funded debt, $48,433,000; floating debt, $2,214,703 
—total capital $98,500,584. — (History.) The 
Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburg Railroad, em- 
bracing the Illinois division of this line, was made 
up of various corporations organized under the 
laws of Illinois and Indiana. One of its compo- 
nent parts was the Chicago & Great Eastern 
Railway, organized, in 1865, by consolidation of 
the Galena & Illinois River Railroad (chartered 
in 1857), the Chicago & Great Eastern Railway 
of Indiana, the Cincinnati & Chicago Air-Line 
(organized 1860), and the Cincinnati. Logans- 
port & Chicago Railway. In 1869, the consoli- 
dated line was leased to the Pittsburg, Cincinnati 
& St. Louis Railway Company, and operated 
under the name of the Columbus, Chicago & 
Indiana Central between Bradford, Ohio, and 
Chicago, from 1869 until its consolidation, under 
the present name, in 1890. (See Pennsylvania 
Railroad.) 

PITTSBURG, FORT WAYNE & CHICAGO 
RAILROAD. (See Pittsburg, Fort Wayjie & Chi- 
cago Raihrat/.) 

PITTSBURG, FORT WAYNE & CHICAGO 
RAILWAY. The total length of this line is 
nearly 470 miles, but only a little over 16 miles 
are within Illinois. It was operated by the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Company as lessee. The entire 
capitalization in 1898 was $52,549,990; and the 
earnings in Illinois, $472,228.— (History.) The 
Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway is the 
result of the consolidation. August 1, 1856, of the 
Ohio & Pennsylvania, the Ohio & Indiana and 
the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Companies, 
under the name of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & 
Chicago Railroad. The road was opened through 
its entire length, Jan. 1, 1859; was sold under 
foreclosure in 1861 ; reorganized under its present 
title, in 1862, and leased to the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company, for 999 years, from July 1, 
18G9. (See Prnnsi/lvaiiia Railroad.) 

PITTSFIELD, the county-seat of Pike County, 
situated on the Hannibal ct Naples branch of the 
Wabash Railway, about 40 miles southeast of 
Quincy, and about the same distance south of 
west from Jacksonville. Its public buildings 
include a handsome court house and graded and 
high school buildings. The city has an electric 
light plant, city water-works, a flour mill, a 
National and a State bank, nine churches, and 
four weekly newspapers. Pop. (1890). 2,295; 
(1900), 2,293. 

PLAINFIELD, a village of Will County, on the 
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad and an interur- 
ban electric line, 8 miles northwest of Joliet; is 



in a dairying section; has a bank and one news- 
paper. Pop. (1890), 852; (1900), 920. 

PLAJJO, a city in Kendall County, situated 
near the Fox River, and on the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad, 14 miles west-southwest 
of Aurora. There are manufactories of agri- 
cultural implements and bedsteads. The city has 
banks, several churches, graded and high schools, 
and a weekly newspaper. Pop. (1890), 1,825; 
(1900), 1,634; "(1903, est.), 2,250. 

PLEASANT PLAINS, a village of Sangamon 
County, on Springfield Division Baltimore &. Ohio 
S. W. Railroad, 16 miles northwest of Spring- 
field; in rich farming region; has coal-shaft, 
bank, five churches, college and two newspapers. 
Population (1890), 518; (1900). 575. 

PLEASANTS, George Washington, jurist, was 
born in Harrodsburg, Ky., Nov. 24. 1823: received 
a classical education at Williams College, Mass. 
graduating in 1842; studied law in New York 
City, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, 
N. Y., in 1845, establishing himself in practice at 
Williamstown, Mass., where he remained until 
1849. In 1851 he removed to Washington, D. C, 
and, after residing there two years, came to Illi- 
nois, locating at Rock Island, which has since 
been his home. In 1861 he was elected, as a 
Republican, to the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion which met at Springfield in January follow- 
ing, and, in 1867, was chosen Judge for the Sixth 
(now Tenth) Judicial Circuit, having served by 
successive re-elections until June, 1897, retiring 
at the close of his fifth term— a record for length 
of service seldom paralleled in the judicial his- 
tory of the State. The last twenty years of this 
period were spent on the Appellate bench. For 
several years past Judge Pleasants has been a 
sufferer from failing eyesight, but has been faith- 
ful in attendance on his judicial duties. As a 
judicial officer and a man, his reputation stands 
among the highest. 

PLUMB, Ralph, soldier and ex-Congressman, 
was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., March 29, 
1816. After leaving school he became a mer- 
chant's clerk, and was himself a merchant for 
eighteen years. From New York he removed to 
Ohio, where he was elected a member of the 
Legislature in 1855, later coming to Illinois. 
During the Civil War he served four years in the 
Union army as Captain and Quartermaster, being 
brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel at its close. He 
made his home at Streator, where he was elected 
Mayor (1881-1883). There he engaged in coal- 
mining and has been connected with several 
important enterprises. From 1885 to 1889 he 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



427 



represented the Eighth Illinois District in Con- 
gress, after which he retired to private life. 

PLYMOUTH, a village of Hancock County, on 
the Chicago, Burlington efc Quincy Railway, 41 
miles nortlieast of Quincy ; is trade center of rich 
farming district ; has two banks, electric lights, 
water-works, and one paper. Pop. (1900), 854. 

POIXTE DE SAIBLE, Jean Baptiste, a negro 
and Indian-trader, reputed to have been the first 
settler on the present site of the city of Chicago. 
He is said to have been a native of San Domingo, 
but is described bj' his contemporaries as "well 
educated and handsome," though dissipated. He 
appears to have been at the present site of Chi- 
cago as early as 1794, his house being located on 
the north side near the junction of the North and 
South branches of the Chicago River, where he 
carried on a considerable trade with the Indians. 
About 1796 he is said to have sold out to a French 
trader named Le Mai, and joined a countryman 
of his, named Glamorgan, at Peoria, where he died 
soon after. Glamorgan, who was the reputed 
owner of a large Spanish land-grant in the vicin- 
ity of St. Louis, is said to have been associated 
with Point de Saible in trade among the Peorias, 
before the latter came to Chicago. 

POLO, a city in Ogle County, at intersection 
of the IlUnois Central and the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Northern Railways, 23 miles south of Free- 
port and 12 miles north of Dixon. The 
surrounding region is devoted to agriculture and 
stock-raising, and Polo is a shipping point for 
large quantities of cattle and hogs. Agricultural 
implements (including harvesters) and buggies 
are manufactured here. The city has banks, one 
weekly and one semi weeklj' paper, seven 
churches, a graded public and high school, and a 
public Ubrary. Pop. (1890), 1,728; (1900), 1,869. 

PONTIAC, an Ottawa chief, born on the 
Ottawa River, in Canada, about 1720. While yet 
a young man he became the principal Chief of 
the allied Ottawas, Ojibways and Potta watomies. 
He was always a firm ally of the French, to 
whose interests he was devotedly attached, 
defending them at Detroit against an attack of 
the Northern tribes, and (it is generally believed) 
leading the Ottawas in the defeat of Braddock. 
He reluctantly acquiesced in the issue of the 
French and Indian War, although at first strongly 
disposed to dispute the progress of Major Rogers, 
the British officer sent to take possession of the 
western forts. In 1762 he dispatched emissaries 
to a large number of tribes, whom he desired to 
unite in a league for the extermination of the 
English. His proposals were favorably received, 



and thus was organized what is commonly 
spoken of as the "Conspiracy of Pontiac." He 
himself undertook to lead an assault upon Detroit. 
The garrison, however, was apprised of his inten- 
tion, and made preparations accordingly. Pontiac 
thereupon laid siege to the fort, but was unable 
to prevent the ingress of provisions, the Canadian 
settlers furnishing supplies to both besieged and 
besiegers with absolute impartiality. Finally a 
boat-load of ammunition and supplies was landed 
at Detroit from Lake Erie, and the English made 
an unsuccessful sortie on July 31, 1763. After a 
desultory warfare, lasting for nearly three 
months, the Indians withdrew into Indiana, 
where Pontiac tried in vain to organize another 
movement. Although Detroit had not been 
taken, the Indians captured Forts Sandusky, St. 
Joseph, Miami, Ouiatanon. LeBoeuf and Venango, 
besides the posts of Mackinaw and Presque Isle. 
The garrisons at all these points were massacred 
and innumerable outrages jjerpetrated elsewhere. 
Additional British troops were sent west, and 
the Indians finally brought under control. 
Pontiac was present at Oswego when a treaty was 
signed with Sir William Johnson, but remained 
implacable. His end was tragic. Broken in 
heart, but still proud in spirit and relentless in 
purpose, he applied to the former (and last) 
French Governor of Illinois, the younger St. 
Ange, who was then at St. Louis, for co-operation 
and support in another raid against the British. 
Being refused aid or countenance, according to a 
story long popularly received, he returned to the 
vicinity of Cahokia, where, in 1769, he was mur- 
dered by a Kaskaskia Indian in consideration of 
a barrel of liquor. N. Matson, author of several 
volumes bearing on early history in Illinois, cit- 
ing Col. Joseph N. Bourassa, an educated half- 
breed of Kansas, as authority for his statement, 
asserts that the Indian killed at Cahokia was an 
impostor, and that the true Pontiac was assassi- 
nated by Kineboo, the Head Chief of the Illinois, 
in a council held on the Des Plaines River, near 
the present site of Joliet. So well convinced, it 
is said, was Pierre Chouteau, the St. Louis Indian 
trader, of the truth of this last story, that he 
caused a monument, which he had erected over 
the grave of the false Pontiac, to be removed. 
Out of the murder of Pontiac, whether occurring 
at Cahokia or Joliet, it is generally agreed, 
resulted the extermination of the Illinois and the 
tragedy of ' 'Starved Rock. " " (See Starved Hock. ) 
PO>'TIAC, an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Livingston County. It stands on the 
bank of the Vemillion River, and is also a point 



428 



HISTORICiAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of intersection of tlie Chicago & Alton, tlie 
Wabasli and the Illinois Central Railroads It is 
33 miles north-northeast from Bloor.iington and 
93 miles south-southwest of Cliicago. The sur- 
rounding region is devoted to agriculture, stock- 
raising and coal-mining. Pontiac has four banks 
and four weekly newspapers (two issuing daily 
editions), numerous churches and good schools. 
Various kinds of manufacturing are conducted, 
among the principal establishments being flour- 
ing mills, three shoe factories, straw paper and 
candy factories and a foundry. Tlie State Re- 
formatory for Juvenile Offenders is located here. 
Pop. (1890), 2,784; (1900), 4,360. 

POOL, Orvalj merchant and banker, was born 
in Union County, Ky., near Shawneetcwn, 111., 
Feb. 17, 1809, but lived in Shawneetowu from seven 
years of age; in boyhood learned the saddler's 
trade, but, in 1843, engaged in the dry-goods 
business, J. McKee Peeples and Thomas S. Ridg- 
way becoming his partners in 1846. In 1850 he 
retired from the dry-goods trade and became an 
extensive dealer in produce, pork and tobacco. 
In 1871 he established the Gallatin County 
National Bank, of which he was the first Presi- 
dent. Died, June 30, 1871. 

POOLE, William Frederick, bibliographer, 
librarian and historical writer, was born at 
Salem, Mass., Dec. 24, 1821, graduated from Yale 
College in 1849, and, at the close of his sophomore 
year, was appointed assistant librarian of his col- 
lege society, which owned a librar)' of 10,000 vol- 
umes. Here he prepared and published the first 
edition of his now famous "Index to Periodical 
Literature." A second and enlarged addition 
was published in 1853, and secured for its author 
wide fame, in both America and Europe. In 1853 
he was made Librarian of tlie Boston Mercantile 
Library, and, from 1856 to 1869, had charge of the 
Boston Athenaeum, then one of the largest li- 
braries in the United States, which he relinquished 
to engage in expert library work. He organized 
libraries in several New England cities and 
towns, at the United States Naval Academy, and 
the Cincinnati Public Library, finall}- becoming 
Librarian of the latter institution. In October, 
1873, he assumed charge of the Chicago Public 
Library, then being organized, and, in 1887, 
became Librarian of the Newberry Library, 
organizing this institution and remaining at its 
head until his death, which occurred, March 1, 
1894. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him 
by the Northwestern University in 1883. Dr. 
Poole took a prominent part in the organization 
of library associations, and was one of the Vice- 



Presidents of the International Conference of 
Librarians, held in London in 1871. His advice 
was much sought in relation to library architec- 
ture and management. He wrote much on topics 
connected with his profession and on historical 
subjects, frequently contributing to "The North 
American Review." In 1874-75 he edited a liter- 
ary paper at Chicago, called "The Owl," and was 
later a constant contributor to "The Dial." He 
was President of the American Historical Society 
and member of State Historical Societies and of 
other kindred associations. 

POPE, Nathaniel, first Territorial Secretary of 
Illinois, Delegate in Congi-ess and jurist, was born 
at Louisville, Ky., in 1774; graduated with high 
honor from Transylvania University, at Lexing- 
ton, Ky., read law with his brother. Senator John 
Pope, and, in 1804, emigrated to New Orleans, 
later living, for a time, at Ste. Genevieve, Mo. In 
1808 he became a resident of Kaskaskia and, the 
next year, was appointed the first Territorial 
Secretary of Illinois. His native judgment was 
strong and profound and his intellect quick and 
far-reaching, while both were thoroughly trained 
and disciplined by study. In 1816 he was elected 
a Territorial Delegate to Congress, and proved 
himself, not only devoted to the interests of his 
constituents, but also a shrewd tactician. He was 
largely instrumental in securing the passage of 
the act authorizing the formation of a State 
government, and it was mainly through his 
efforts that the northern boundary of Illinois was 
fixed at lat. 42° 30' north, instead of the southern 
bend of Lake Michigan. L^pon the admission of 
Illinois into the Union, he was made United 
States Judge of the District, which then embraced 
the entire State. This office he filled with dig- 
nity, impartiality and acceptability until his 
death, at the hon>e of his daughter, Mrs. Lu- 
cretia Yeatman, in St. Louis. Mo., Jan. 23, 1850. 
Pope County was named in his honor. — (Jen. John 
(Pope), son of the preceding, was born in Louis- 
ville, Ky., March 16, 1823 ; graduated at the United 
States Military Academy, 1843, and appointed 
brevet Second Lieutenant of Topographical 
Engineers; served in Florida (1843-44), on the 
northeast boundary survey, and in the Mexican 
War (1846-47), being promoted First Lieutenant 
for bravery at Monterey and Captain at Buena 
Vista. In 1849 he conducted an exploring expe- 
dition in Minnesota, was in charge of topograph- 
ical engineering service in New Mexico (1851-53), 
and of the survey of a route for the Union Pacific 
Railway (1853-59), meanwhile experimenting on 
the feasibility of artesian wells on the "Staked 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



439 



Plains" in Northwestern Texas. He was a zeal- 
ous friend of Abraham Lincoln in the political 
campaign of 18G0, and was court-martialed for 
criticising the policy of President Buchanan, in a 
paper read before a literary society in Cincinnati, 
the proceedings being finally dropped on the 
recommendation of tlie (then) Secretary of War, 
Joseph Holt. In 1861 he was one of the officers 
detailed by the War Department to conduct Mr. 
Lincoln to the cajjital, and, in May following, 
was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers and 
assigned to command in Missouri, where he per- 
formicd valuable service in protecting railroad 
communications and driving out guerrillas, gain- 
ing an important victory over Sterling Price at 
Blackwater, in December of that year; in 1863 
had command of the land forces co-operating 
with Admiral Foote, in the expedition against 
New Madrid and Island No. 10, resulting in the 
cajjture of that stronghold with 6,500 prisoners, 
125 cannon and 7,000 small arms, thereby win- 
ning a Major-General's commission. Later, hav- 
ing participated in the operations against Corinth, 
he was transferred to command of the Army of 
Virginia, and soon after commissioned Briga- 
dier-General in the regular army. Here, being 
forced to meet a greatly superior force under 
General Lee, he was subjected to reverses which 
led to his falling back on Washington and a 
request to be relieved of his command. For fail- 
ure to give him proper support, Gen. Fitzjohn 
Porter was tried by court-martial, and, having 
been convicted, was cashiered and declared for- 
ever disqualified from holding any office of trust 
or profit under the United States Government — 
altliough this verdict was finally set aside and 
Porter restored to the army as Colonel, by act of 
Congress, in August, 1886. General Pope's sub- 
sequent service was performed chiefly against 
the Indians in the Northwest, until 1865, when he 
took command of the military division of Mis- 
souri, and, in June following, of the Department 
of the Missouri, including all the Northwestern 
States and Territories, from which he was 
relieved early in 1866. Later, he held command, 
under the Reconstruction Acts, in Georgia, Ala- 
bama and Florida (1867-68) ; the Department of the 
Lakes (1868-70) ; Department of the Missouri (1870- 
84) ; and Department of the Pacific, from 1884 to 
his retirement, March 16, 1886. General Pope 
published "Explorations from the Red River to 
the Rio Grande'' and "Campaigns in Virginia" 
(1863). Died, at Sandusky, Ohio, Sept 23, 1892. 

POPE COUNTY, lies on the southern border of 
the State, and contains an area of about 360 



square miles — named in honor of Judge Nathaniel 
Pope. It was erected in 1816 (two years before 
the admission of Illinois as a State) from parts of 
Gallatin and Johnson Counties. The county-seat 
was first located at Sandsville, but later changed 
to Golconda. Robert Lacy, Benoni Lee and 
Thomas Ferguson were the first Commissioners; 
Hamlet Ferguson was chosen Sheriff ; John Scott, 
Recorder ; Tliomas C. Browne, Prosecuting- Attor- 
ney, and Samuel Omelveney, Treasurer. The 
highest land in Southern Illinois is in the north- 
eastern part of this county, reaching an elevation 
of 1,046 feet. The bluffs along the Ohio River are 
bold in outline, and the ridges are surmounted by 
a thick growth of timber, notably oak and hick- 
ory. Portions of the bottom lands are submerged, 
at times, during a part of the year and are 
covered with cypress timber. The remains of 
Indian mounds and fortifications are found, and 
some interesting relics have been exhumed. Sand- 
stone is quarried in abundance, and coal is found 
here and there. Mineral springs (with copperas 
as the chief ingredient) are numerous. Iron is 
found in limited quantities, among the rocks 
toward the south, while spar and kaolin clay are 
found in the north. The chief agricultural 
products are potatoes, corn and tobacco. Popu- 
lation (1890). 14.01C; (1900), 13,.585. 

PORT B YROX, a village of Rock Island County, 
on the Mississippi River and the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railway, 16 miles above Rock 
Island; has lime kilns, grain elevator, two banks, 
academy, public schools, and a newspaper. Pop. 
(1900), 732. The (Illinois) Western Hospital for 
the Insane is located at Watertown, twelve miles 
below Port Bj'ron. 

PORTER, (Rev.) Jeremiah, pioneer clergy- 
man, was born at Hadley, Mass., in 1804; gradu- 
ated from Williams College in 1825, and studied 
theology at both Andover and Princeton semi- 
naries, graduating from the latter in 1831. The 
same year he made the (then) long and perilous 
journej' to Fort Brady, a military post at the 
Sault Ste. Marie, where he began his work as a 
missionary. In 1833 he came to Chicago, where 
he remained for two years, organizing the First 
Presbyterian Church of Cliicago, with a member- 
ship of twenty-six persons. Afterwards he had 
pastoral charge of churches at Peoria and Farm- 
ington. While in Chicago he was married to 
Miss Eliza Chappell, one of the earliest teachers 
in Chicago. From 1840 to '58 he was located at 
Green Baj', Wis. , accepting a call from a Chicago 
Church in the year last named. In 1861 he was 
commissioned Chaplain in the volunteer service 



430 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



by Governor Yates, and mustered out in 18G5. 
The next five years were divided between labors 
at Brownsville, Tex., in the service of the Sani- 
tary Commission, and a pastorate at Prairie du 
Chien. In 18T0 he was commissioned Chaplain 
in the regular army, remaining in the service 
(with occasional leaves of absence) until 1882, 
when he was retired from active service on 
account of advanced age. His closing years were 
spent at the homes of his children in Detroit and 
Beloit; died at the latter city, July 25, 1893, at 
the age of 89 years. 

POSEY, ((ieii.) Thomas, Continental and 
Revolutionary soldier, was born in Virginia, July 
9, 17.50 ; in 17T4 took part in Lord Dunmore's expe- 
dition against the Indians, and, later, in various 
engagements of the Revolutionary War, being 
part of the time under the immediate command 
of Washington ; was with General Wayne in the 
assault on Stony Point and present at Cornwallis' 
surrender at Yorktown ; also served, after the war, 
with Wayne as a Brigadier-General in the North- 
west Territory. Removing to Kentucky, he 
served in the State Senate, for a time being 
presiding officer and acting Lieutenant-Governor ; 
later (1812), was elected United States Senator 
from Louisiana, and, from 1813 to "16, served as 
Territorial Governor of Indiana Died, at the 
home of his son-in-law, Joseph M. Street, at 
Shawneetown, 111. , March 18, 1818, where he lies 
buried. At the time of his death General Posey 
was serving as Indian Agent. 

POST, Joel S., lawyer and soldier of the Mexi- 
can War; was born in Ontario (now Wayne) 
County, N. Y., April 27, 1816; in 1838 removed 
with his father to Washtenaw County, Mich., 
remaining there until 1839, when he came to 
Macon County, 111. The following year, he com- 
menced the study of law with Judge Charles 
Emmerson, of Decatur, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1841. In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican 
War, and served as Quartermaster of the Fourth 
Regiment (Col. E. D. Baker's) ; in 1856 was elected 
to the State Senate, and, at the following session, 
was a leading supporter of the measures which 
resulted in the establishment of the State Nor- 
mal School at Bloomington. Capt. Post's later 
years were spent at Decatur, where he died, 
June 7, 1886. 

POST, Philip Sidney, soldier and Congress- 
man, was born at Florida, Orange County, N. Y. , 
March 19, 1833 ; at the age of 33 graduated from 
Union College, studied law at Poughkeepsie Law 
School, and, removing to Illinois, was admitted 
to the bar in 1856 At the outbreak of the Civil 



War he enlisted, and was commissioned Second 
Lieutenant in the Fifty-nintk Illinois Volunteers. 
He was a gallant, fearless soldier, and was re- 
peatedly promoted for bravery and meritorious 
service, until he attained the rank of brevet 
Brigadier-General. He participated in many 
important battles and was severely wounded at 
Pea Ridge and Nashville. In 1865 he was in com- 
mand in Western Texas. After the close of the 
war he entered the diplomatic service, being 
appointed Consul-General to Austria-Hungary 
in 1874, but resigned in 1879, and returned to his 
home in Galesburg. From 1883 to 1886 he was a 
member of the Republican State Central Com- 
mittee, and, during 1886, was Commander of tlie 
Department of Illinois, G. A. R. He was elected 
to Congress from the Tenth District on the Repub- 
lican ticket in 1886, serving continuously by re- 
election until his death, which occurred in 
Washington, Jan. 6, 1895. 

POST, Truman Marcellus, D.D., clergyman, 
was born at Middlebury, Vt., June 3, 1810; gradu- 
ated at Middlebury College in 1829, was Principal 
of Castleton Academy for a year, and a tutor at 
Middlebury two years, meanwhile studying law. 
After a winter spent in Washington, listening to 
the orators of the time in Congress and before the 
Supreme Court, including Clay, Webster, Wirt 
and their contemporaries, he went west in 1833, 
first visiting St. Louis, but finally settling at 
Jacksonville, 111., where he was admitted to the 
bar, but soon after accepted the Professorship of 
Classical Languages in Illinois College, and 
later that of History ; then began the study of 
theology, was ordained in 1840, and assumed the 
pastorship of the Congregational Church in Jack- 
sonville. In 1847 he was called to the pastorate 
of the Third Presbj-terian Church of St. Louis, 
and, in 1851, to the First Congregational Church, 
of which the former furnished the nucleus. For 
a year or two after removing to St. Louis, he 
continued his lectures on history at Illinois Col- 
lege for a short period each year ; also held the 
professorship of Ancient and Modern History in 
Washington LTniversity, in St. Louis; in 1873-75 
was Southworth lecturer on Congregationalism 
in Andover Theological Seminary and, for sev- 
eral years. Professor of Ecclesiastical History in 
Chicago Theological Seminary. His splendid 
diction and his noble stj'le of orator3' caused 
him to be much sought after as a public lecturer 
or platform speaker at college commencements, 
while his purity of life and refinement of cliarac- 
ter attracted to him all with whom he came in 
personal contact. He received the degree of 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



431 



D.D. from Middlebury College in 1855; was a fre- 
quent contributor to "The Biblical Repository" 
and other religious publications, and, besides 
numerous addresses, sermons and pamphlets, he 
was the author of a volume entitled "The Skep- 
tical Era in Modern History" (New York, 1856). 
He resigned his pastorate in January, 1882, but 
continued to be a frequent speaker, either in the 
pulpit or on the lecture platform, nearly to the 
period of his death, which occurred in St. Louis, 
Dec. 31, 1886. For a quarter of a century he was 
one of the Trustees of Monticello Female Semi- 
nary, at Godfrey, 111., being, for a considerable 
portion of the time, President of the Board. 

POTTATVATOMIES, THE, an Indian tribe, 
one of the three subdivisions of the Ojibwas (or 
Ojibbeways), who, in turn, constituted a numer- 
ous family of the Algonquins. The other 
branches were the Ottawa and the Chippewas. 
The latter, however, retained the famOy name, 
and hence some writers have regarded the "Ojib- 
beways" and the "Chippewas" as essentially 
identical. This interclianging of names has been 
a prolific source of error. Inherently, the dis- 
tinction was analogous to that existing between 
genus and species, although a confusion of 
nomenclature has naturally resulted in errors 
more or less serious. Tnese three tribes early 
■separated, the Pottawatomies going south from 
Green Bay along the western shore of Lake 
Michigan. The meaning of the name is, "we are 
making a fire, " and the word is a translation into 
the Pottawatomie language of the name first 
given to the tribe by the Miamis. These Indians 
were tall, fierce and haughty, and the tribe was 
divided into four branches, or clans, called by 
names which signify, respectively, the golden 
carp, the tortoise, the crab and the frog. Accord- 
ing to the "Jesuit Relations," the Pottawatomies 
were first met by the French, on the north of 
Lake Huron, in 1639-40. More than a quarter of 
a century later (1666) Father Allouez speaks of 
them as dwellers on the shores of Lake Michigan. 
The same Fatlier described them as idolatrous 
and polygamous, yet as possessing a rude civility 
and as being kindly disposed toward the French. 
This friendship continued unbroken until the 
expulsion of the latter from the Northwest. 
About 1678 they spread southward from Green 
Bay to the head of Lake Michigan, a portion of 
the tribe settling in Illinois as far south as the 
Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, crowding the 
Winnebagoes and the Sacs and Foxes on the west, 
and advancing, on the east, into the country of 
the Miamis as far as the Wabash and the 



Maumee. They fought on the side of the 
French in the French and Indian War, and 
later took part in the conspiracy of Pontiac 
to capture and reduce the British posts, and 
were so influenced by Tecumseh and the Prophet 
that a considerable number of their warri- 
ors fought against General Harrison at Tippe- 
canoe. During the War of 1813 they actively 
supported the British. They were also prominent 
at the Chicago massacre. Schoolcraft says of 
them, "They were foremost at all treaties where 
lands were to be ceded, clamoring for the lion's 
share of all presents and annuities, particularly 
where these last were the price paid for the sale 
of other lands than their own." The Pottawato- 
mies were parties to the treaties at Chicago in 
1833 and 1833, and were among the last of the 
tribes to remove beyond the Mississippi, their 
final emigration not taking place until 1838. In 
1846 the scattered fragments of this tribe coalesced 
with those of the Chippewas and Ottawas, and 
formed the Pottawatomie nation. They ceded all 
their lands, wherever located, to the United States, 
for §850,000, agreeing to accept 576,000 acres in 
Kansas in lieu of §87,000 of this amount. Through 
the rapacity and trespasses of white settlers, this 
reservation was soon dismembered, and the lands 
passed into other hands. In 1867, under an ena- 
bling act of Congress, 1,400 of the nation (then 
estimated at 2,500) became citizens. Their pres- 
ent location is in the southeastern part of Okla- 
homa. 

POWELL, John Wesley, Ph.D., LL.D., geolo- 
gist and anthropologist, was born at Mount Morris 
N. Y., March 24, 1834, the son of a Methodist 
itinerant preacher, passing his early life at vari- 
ous places in Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois ; studied 
for a time in Illinois College (Jacksonville), and 
subsequently in Wheaton College, but, in 1854, 
began a special course at Oberlin, Ohio, teaching 
at intervals in public schools. Having a predi- 
lection for the natural sciences, he spent much 
time in making collections, which he placed in 
various Illinois institutions. Entering the army 
in 1861 as a private of the Twentieth Illinois 
Volunteers, he later became a Captain of the 
Second Illinois Artillery, being finally promoted 
Major. He lost his right arm at the battle of 
Shiloh, but returned to his regiment as soon as 
sufficiently recovered, and continued in active 
service to the close of the war. In 1865 he became 
Professor of Geology and Curator of the Museum 
in Illinois Wesleyau University at Bloomington, 
but resigned to accept a similar position in the 
State Normal University. In 1867 he began his 



432 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



greatest work in connection with science by 
leading a class of pupils to the mountains of 
Colorado for the study of geology, which he fol- 
lowed, a year later, by a more thorough survey of 
the caiion of the Colorado River than had ever 
before been attempted. This led to provision by 
Congress, in 1870, for a topographical and geo- 
logical survey of the Colorado and its tributaries, 
which was appropriately- placed under his direc- 
tion. Later, he was placed in charge of the 
Bureau of Ethnology in connection with the 
Smithsonian Institute, and, again in 1881, was 
assigned to the directorship of the United States 
Geological Survey, later becoming Director of the 
Bureau of Ethnology, in connection with the 
Smithsonian Institute in Washington City, 
where (1899) he still remains. In 1886 Major 
Powell received the degree of Ph.D. from Heidel- 
berg University, and that of LL.D. from Har- 
vard the same j'ear. He is also a member of the 
leading scientific associations of the country, 
while his reports and addresses fill numerous 
volumes issued by the Government. 

POWELL, William Henry, soldier and manu- 
facturer, was born in South Wales, May 10, 1835 ; 
came to America in 1830, was educated in the 
common schools of Tennessee, and (1856-61) was 
manager of a manufacturing company at Iron- 
ton, Ohio; in 1861, became Captain of a West 
Virginia cavalry company, and was advanced 
through the grades of Major, Lieutenant-Colonel 
and Colonel ; was wounded while leading a charge 
at Wytheville, Va., left on the field, captured and 
confined in Libby Prison six months. After ex- 
change he led a cavalry division in the Army of 
the Shenandoah ; was made Brigadier-General in 
October, 1864 ; after the war settled in West Vir- 
ginia, and was a Republican Presidential Elector 
in 1868. He is now at the head of a nail mill and 
foundry in Belleville, and was Commander of the 
Grand Army of the Republic for the Department 
of Illinois during 1895-96. 

PRAIRIE CITY, a village in McDonough 
County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad, 23 miles southwest from Galesburg and 
17 miles northeast of Macomb; has a carriage 
factory, flour mill, elevators, lumber and stock 
yards, a nursery, a bank, four churches and two 
weekly papers. Pop. (1890), 812; (1900), 818. 

PRAIRIE DU PO>'T, (in English, Bridge 
Prairie), an early French settlement, one mile 
south of Cahokia. It was commenced about 1760, 
located on the banks of a creek, on which was 
the first mill, operated by water-power, in that 
section, having been erected by missionaries 



from St. Sulpice, in 1754. In 1765 the village 
contained fourteen families. In 1844' it was 
inundated and nearl}' destroyed. 

PRAIRIE du ROCHER, (in English, Prairie of 
the Rock), an early French village in what is 
now Monroe County, which began to spring up 
near Fort Chartres (see Fort Chartres), and by 
1722 had grown to be a considerable settlement. 
It stood at the foot of the Mississippi bluffs, about 
four miles northeast of the fort. Like other 
French villages in Illinois, it had its church and 
priest, its common field and commons. Many of 
the houses were picturesque cottages built of 
limestone. The ancient village is now extinct; 
yet, near the outlet of a creek which runs through 
the bluff, may be seen the vestiges of a water mill, 
said to have been erected by the Jesuits during 
the days of Frencli occupation. 

PRENTICE, WilUam S., Methodist Episcopal 
clergyman, was born in St. Clair County, 111. , in 
1819; licensed as a Methodist preacher in 1849, 
and filled pastorates at Paris, Danville, Carlin- 
ville, Springfield, Jacksonville and other places — 
the latter part of his life, serving as Presiding 
Elder ; was a delegate to the General Conference 
of 1860, and regularly re-elected from 1872 to the 
end of his life. During the latter part of his life 
his home was in Springfield. Died, June 28, 1887. 

PRENTISS, Benjamin Mayberry, soldier, was 
born at Belleville, Wood County, Va., Nov. 28, 
1819; in 1835 accompanied his parents to Mis- 
souri, and, in 1841, removed to Quincj", 111., where 
he learned a trade, afterwards embarking in the 
commission business. In 1844-45 he was Lieuten- 
ant of a company sent against the Mormons at 
Nauvoo, later serving as Captain of Volunteers in 
the Mexican War. In 1800 he was an imsuccess- 
ful Republican candidate for Congress; at the 
outbreak of the Civil War tendered his services 
to Governor Yates, and was commissioned Colonel 
of the Tenth Illinois Volunteers, was almost 
immediatelj- promoted to Brigadier-General and 
placed in command at Cairo, so continuing until 
relieved by General Grant, in September, 1861. 
At the battle of Shiloh, in April following, he 
was captured with most of his command, after a 
most vigorous fight with a superior rebel force, 
but, in 1862, was exchanged and brevetted Major- 
General of Volunteers. He was a member of the 
court-martial that tried Gen. Fitzjohn Porter, 
and, as commander at Helena, Ark. , defeated the 
Confederate Generals Holmes and Price on July 
3, 1863. He resigned his commission, Oct. 28, 
1863. In 1869 he was appointed by President 
Grant Pension Agent at Quincy, serving four 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



433 



years. At present (1898) General Prentiss' resi- 
dence is at Betlian}-. JIo. . where lie served as 
Postmaster, during the administration of Presi- 
dent Benjamin Harrison, and was reappointed by 
President McKinley. Died Feb. 8, 1901. 
PRESIDEXTIAL ELECTORS. (See Elections.) 
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, located at Chi- 
cago, was organized in 1883 by a number of 
wealthy and liberal Presbyterians, "for the pur- 
pose of affording medical and surgical aid to sick 
and disabled persons, and to provide them, while 
inmates of the hospital, with the ministrations 
of the gospel, agreeably to the doctrines and 
forms of the Presbyterian Chmxh." Rush Med- 
ical College offered a portion of its ground as a site 
(see Rush Medical College) , and through generous 
subscriptions, a well-planned building was 
erected, capable of accommodating about 250 
patients. A corridor connects the college and 
liospital buildings. Tlie medical staff comprises 
eighteen of Chicago's best known physicians and 
surgeons. 

PRESBTTERIAXS, THE. Tlie first Presby- 
terian societ}' in Illinois was organized by Rev. 
James McGready, of Kentuckj-, in 181C, at 
Sharon, White County. Revs. Samuel J. Mills 
and Daniel Smith, also Presbyterians, had visited 
the State in 1814, as representatives of the Massa- 
chusetts Slissionary Society, but had formed no 
society. The members of the Sharon church 
were almost all immigrants from the South, and 
were largely of Scotch-Irish extraction. Two 
other churches were established in 1819 — one at 
Shoal Creek, Bond County, and the other at 
Edwardsville. In 1823 there were but three 
Presbyterian ministers in Illinois — Revs. Stephen 
Bliss, John Brich and B. F. Spilman. Ten years 
later there were 80 churches, with a membership 
of 2,300 and 60 ministers. In 1880 the number of 
churches had increased to 487; but, in 1890, (as 
shown by the United States census) there were 
less. In the latter year there were 403 ministers 
and 52.945 members. The Synod of Illinois is the 
highest ecclesiastical court of the denomination 
in the State, and, under its jurisdiction, the 
church maintains two seminaries; one (the Mc- 
Cormick) at Cliicago, and the other (the Black- 
burn University) at Carlinville. The organ of 
the denomination is "The Interior," founded by 
Cyrus H. McCormick, and published weekly at 
Chicago, with William C. Gray as editor. The 
Illinois Synod embraced within its jurisdiction 
(1893) eleven Presbyteries, to which were attached 
483 churches. 464 ministers and a membership of 
63,247. (See also Religious Denominations.) 



PRICKETT, Abraham, pioneer merchant, was 
born near Lexington, Ky. . came to Madison 
Count}", III., in 1808; was employed for a time in 
the drug business in St. Louis, then opened a 
store at Edwardsville, where, in 1813, he received 
from the first County Court of Madison County, 
a license to retail merchandise. In 1818, he served 
as one of the three Delegates from Madison 
Coimty to the Convention which framed the first 
State Constitution, and, the same year, was 
elected a Representative in the First General 
Assembly; was also Postmaster of the town of 
Edwardsville for a number of years. In 1825 he 
removed to Adams County and laid out an addi- 
tion to the city of Quincy; was also engaged 
there in trade with the Indians. In 1836, while 
engaged on a Government contract for the re- 
moval of snags and other obstructions to the navi- 
gation of Red River, he died at Natchitoches, La. 
—George TV. (Prickett) a son of the preceding, 
and afterwards a citizen of Chicago, is said to 
have been the first white child born in Edwards- 
ville. — Isaac (Prickett), a brother of Abraham, 
came to St. Louis in 1815, and to Edwardsville in 
1818, where he was engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness with his brother and, later, on his own 
account. He held the offices of Postmaster, Pub- 
lic Administrator, Quartermaster-General of 
State Militia. Inspector of the State Penitentiary, 
and, from 1838 to 'IS. was Receiver of Public 
Moneys at Edwardsville, dying in 1844. 

PRICKETT, David, pioneer lawyer, was born 
in Franklin County, Ga., Sept. 21, 1800; in early 
childhood was taken by his parents to Kentuckj' 
and from there to Edwardsville, lU. He gradu- 
ated from Transylvania L'niversitj-, and, in 1831, 
began the practice of law ; was the first Supreme 
Court Reporter of Illinois, Judge of the Madison 
County Probate Court, Representative in the 
General Assemblj- (1826-28), Aid-de-Camp to 
General Whiteside in the Black Hawk War, 
State's Attorney for Springfield Judicial Circuit 
(1837), Treasurer of the Board of Canal Commis- 
sioners (1840), Director of the State Bank of Illi- 
nois (1842), Clerk of the House of Representatives 
for ten sessions and Assistant Clerk of the same 
at the time of his death, March 1, 1847. 

PRI>'CE, David, physician and surgeon, was 
born in Brooklyne, Windham County, Conn., 
June 21, 1816; removed with his parents to 
Canandaigua, N. Y., and was educated in the 
academy there ; began the study of medicine in 
the College of Phj-sicians and Surgeons in New 
York, finishing at the Ohio Medical College, Cin- 
cinnati, where he was associated, for a year and a 



434 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



half, with the celebrated surgeon, Dr. Muzzy. In 
1843 he came to Jacksonville, 111., and, for two 
years, was Professor of Anatomy in the Medical 
Department of Illinois College; later, spent five 
years practicing in St. Louis, and lecturing on 
surgery in the St. Louis Medical College, when, 
returning to Jacksonville in 1853, he established 
himself in practice there, devoting special atten- 
tion to surgery, in which he had already won a 
wide reputation. During the latter part of the 
Civil War he served, for fourteen months, as 
Brigade Surgeon in the Army of the Potomac, 
and, on the capture of a portion of his brigade, 
voluntarily surrendered himself that he might 
attend the captives of his command in Libby 
Prison. After the close of the war he was 
employed for some months, by the Sanitary Com- 
mission, in writing a medical history of the war. 
He visited Europe twice, first in 1881 as a dele- 
gate to the International Medical Congress in 
London, and again as a member of the Copen- 
hagen Congress of 1884 — at each visit making 
careful inspection of the hospitals in London, 
Paris, and Berlin. About 1867 he established a 
Sanitarium in Jacksonville for the treatment of 
surgical cases and chronic diseases, to which he 
gave the closing years of his life. Thoroughly 
devoted to his profession, liberal, public-spirited 
and sagacious in the adoption of new methods, he 
stood in the front rank of his profession, and his 
death was mourned by large numbers who had 
received the benefit of his ministrations without 
money and without price. He was member of 
a number of leading professional associations, 
besides local literary and social organizations. 
Died, at Jacksonville, Deo. 19, 1889. 

PRINCE, Edward, lawyer, was born at West 
Bloomfield, Ontario County, N. Y. , Dec. 8. 1833 , 
attended school at Paj'son, 111., and Illinois Col 
lege, Jacksonville, graduating from the latter in 
18.52; studied law at Quincy, and after admission 
to the bar in 1853, began dealing in real estate. 
In 1861 he offered his services to Governor Yates, 
was made Captain and Drill-master of cavalry 
and, a few months later, commis-sioned Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, tak- 
ing part, as second in command, in the celebrated 
"Grierson raid" through Mississippi, in 1803. 
serving until discharged with the rank of Colonel 
of his regiment, in 1864. After the war he gave 
considerable attention to engineering and the 
construction of a system of water-works for the 
city of Quincy. where he now resides. 

PRINCE, George W., lawyer and Congressman, 
born in Tazewell County, 111., March 4, 1854; waa 



educated in the public schools and at Knox Col- 
lege, graduating from the latter in 1878. He 
then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
1880; was elected City Attorney of Galesburg the 
following year; served as chairman of the Knox 
County RepubUcan Central Committee in 1884, 
and, in 1888, was elected Representative in the 
General Assembly and re-elected two years later. 
In 1893 lie was the Republican nominee for 
Attorney-General of the State of Illinois, but was 
defeated with the rest of the State ticket; at 
a special election, held in April, 1895, he was 
chosen Representative in Congress from the 
Tenth District to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of Col. Philip Sidney Post, which had 
occurred in January' preceding. In common with 
a majority of his colleagues, Mr. Prince was 
re-elected in 1896, receiving a plurality of nearly 
16,000 votes, and was elected for a third term in 
November, 1898. 

PRINCETON, a city and the county-seat of 
Bureau County, on the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, 32 miles west-southwest of 
Mendota, and 104 miles west-southwest of Chi- 
cago; has a court house, gas-works, electric 
lights, graded and high schools, numerous 
churches, three newspapers and several banks. 
Coal is mined five miles east, and the manufac- 
tures include flour, carriages and farm imple- 
ments. Pop. (1890), 3,396; (1900), 4,023. Prince- 
ton is populated with one of the most intelligent 
and progressive communities in the State. It 
was the home of Owen Lovejoy during the greater 
part of his life in Illinois. 

PRINCETON & WESTERN R.ULWAY. (See 
ChiCLUjo cfr Xorthivestern RaHiray.) 

PRINCEVILLE, a village of Peoria County, on 
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Rock 
Island & Peoria Railways, 23 miles northwest of 
Peoria ; is a trade center for a prosperous agricul- 
tural region. Population (1890), 041; (1900), 735 

PROPHETSTOWN, a town in Whiteside 
County, on Rock River and the Fulton Branch 
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 45 
miles northwest of Mendota; has some manu- 
factures, three banks and two newspapers. Pop. 
(1890), 694; (1900), 1,143. 

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. (See 
Minority Representation. ) 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The 
pioneer Episcopal clergyman in this State was the 
Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, who was made Bishop 
of Illinois in 1835, and was the founder of Jubi- 
lee College. (See Cliase, Rev. Philander.) The 
State at present is organized under the provincial 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



435 



system, the province comprising the dioceses of 
Cliicago, Quincy and Springfield. At its head 
(1898) is the Rt. Rev. William E. McLaren, Bishop 
of Chicago. Rev. George F. Seymour of Spring- 
field is Bishop of the Springfield Diocese, with 
C. R. Hale, Coadjutor at Cairo, and Rev. Alex- 
ander Burgess, Bishop of the Quincy Diocese, with 
residence at Peoria. The numerical strength of 
the cliurch in Illinois is not great, although 
between 1880 and 1890 its membership was almost 
doubled. In 1840 there were but eighteen 
parishes, with thirteen clergymen and a member- 
ship of 367. By 1880 the number of parishes had 
increased to 89, there being 127 ministers and 
9,843 communicants. The United States Census 
of 1890 showed the following figures: Parishes, 
197; clergymen, 150. membership, 18,609. Total 
contributions (1890) for general church and mis- 
sion work, §373,798. The chief educational insti- 
tution of the denomination in the West is the 
Western Theological Seminary at Chicago. (See 
also Religious Denominations.) 

rRTOR, Joseph Everett, pioneer and early 
steamboat captain, was born in Virginia, August 
10. 1787 — the son of a non-commissioned officer of 
the Revolution, who emigrated to Kentucky about 
1790 and settled near Louisville, which was then 
a fort with some twenty log cabins. In 1813 the 
son located where Golconda, Pope County, now 
stands, and early in life adopted the calling of a 
boatman, which he pursued some forty years. 
At this time he held a commission as a "Falls 
Pilot." and piloted the first steamer that ascended 
the Ohio River from New Orleans. During his 
long service no accident happened to any steamer 
for which he was responsible, although the Mis- 
sissippi then bristled with snags. He owned and 
commanded the steamer Telegrajih, which was 
sunk, in 183.5, by collision with the Duke of 
Orleans on the Mississippi, but, owing to his pres- 
ence of mind and the good discipline of his crew, 
no lives were lost. The salient features of his 
character were a boundless benevolence mani- 
fested to others, and his dauntless courage, dis- 
played not only in the face of dangers met in his 
career as a boatman, but in his encounters with 
robbers who then infested portions of Southern 
Illinois. He had a reputation as a skillful pilot 
and popular commander not excelled by any of 
his contemporaries. He died, at his home in Pope 
County, Oct. 5, 1851, leaving one daughter, now 
Mrs. Cornelia P. Bozman, of Cairo, 111. 

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, SUPERINTEND- 
ENTS OF. (See Superintendents of Public 
Instruction.) 



PUGH, Isaac C, soldier, was born in Christian 
County, Ky., Nov. 23, 1805; came to Illinois, in 
1821, with his father, who first settled in Shelby 
Count}', but, in 1829, removed to Macon County, 
where the subject of this sketch resided until his 
death, at Decatur, Nov. 14, 1874. General Pugh 
served in three wars — first in the Black Hawk 
War of 1832 ; then, with the rank of Captain and 
Field Officer in the Fourth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers (Col. E. D. Baker's) in the war with 
Mexico, and, during the Civil War, entering upon 
the latter as Colonel of the Forty-first Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1861, and 
being mustered out with the rank of full Briga- 
dier-General in August, 1804, when his regiment 
was consolidated with the Fifty-third. He took 
part with his regiment in the battles of Fort 
Donelson and Shiloh, and in the operations 
around Vicksburg, being wounded at the latter. 
In the year of Iiis retirement from the army 
(1864) he was elected a Representative in the 
Twenty-fourth General Assembly, and, the fol- 
lowing year, was chosen County-Clerk of Macon 
County, serving four j-ears. 

PUtiH, Jonathan H., pioneer lawyer, was born 
in Bath County, Ky., came to Bond County, 111., 
finally locating at Springfield in 1823, and being 
the second lawyer to establish himself in practice 
in that city. He served in the Tliird, Fifth, 
Sixth and Seventh General Assemblies, and was 
defeated for Congress by Joseph Duncan (after- 
wards Governor), in 1831. Died, in 1833. Mr. 
Pugh is described by his contemporaries as a man 
of brilliant parts, an able lawyer and a great \yit. 

PULASKI COUNTY, an extreme southern 
county and one of the smallest in the State, 
bordering on the Ohio River and having an area 
of 190 square miles and a population (1900), of 
14,554. It was cut oflf from Alexander County in 
1843, and named in honor of a Polish patriot who 
had aided the Americans during the Revolution. 
The soil is generally rich, and the surface varied 
with much low land along the Cache and the Ohio 
Rivers. Wheat, corn and fruit are the principal 
crops, while considerable timber is cut upon the 
bottom lands. Mound City is the county-seat 
and was conceded a population, by the census of 
1890, of 2.550. Only the lowest, barren portion of 
the carboniferous formation extends under the 
soil, the coal measures being absent. Traces of 
iron have been found and sulphur and copperas 
springs abound. 

PULLMAN, a former suburb (now a part of 
the South Division) of the city of Chicago, 13.8 
miles south of the initial station of the Illinois 



436 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Central Railroad. The Pullman Palace Car Com- 
pany began the erection of buildings here in 1880, 
and, on the 1st of January, 1881, the first family 
settled in the future manufacturing city. Within 
the next few j-ears, it became the center of the 
largest manufacturing establishments in the 
country, including the Pullman Car Works, the 
Allen Paper Car Wheel Works and extensive 
steel forging works, employing thousands of 
mechanics. Large numbers of sleeping and din- 
ing cars, besides ordinary passenger coaches and 
freight cars, were manufactured here every year, 
not only for use on the railroads of the United 
States, but for foreign countries as well. The 
town was named for the late George M. Pullman, 
the founder of the car-works, and was regarded 
as a model city, made up of comfortable homes 
erected by the Palace Car Company for the use of 
its emplo3'es. It was well supplied with school- 
houses, and churches, and a public library was 
established there and opened to the public in 
1883. The town was annexed to the city of Chi- 
cago in 1890. 

PULLMAN, George Mortimer, founder of the 
Pullman Palace Car Company, was born at Broc- 
ton, N. Y., March 3, 1831, enjoyed ordinary edu- 
cational advantages in his boyhood and, at 
fourteen years of age, obtained employment as a 
clerk, but a year later joined his brother in the 
cabinet-making business at Albion. His father, 
who was a house-builder and house-mover, hav- 
ing died in 1853, young Pullman assumed the 
responsibility of caring for the family and, hav- 
ing secured a contract for raising a number of 
buildings along the Erie Canal, made necessary 
by the enlargement of that tlioroughfare, in this 
way acquired some capital and experience which 
was most valuable to him in after years. Com- 
ing to Chicago in 1859, when the work of raising 
the grade of the streets in the business portion of 
the city had been in progress for a year or two, 
he found a new field for the exercise of his 
inventive skill, achieving some marvelous trans- 
formations in a number of the principal business 
blocks in that part of the city. As early as 1858, 
Mr. Pullman had had his attention tm-ned to 
devising some means for increasing the comforts 
of night-travel upon railways, and, in 1859, he 
remodeled two old day-coaches into a species of 
sleeping-cars, which were used upon the Alton 
Road. From 1860 to 1863 he spent in Colorado 
devoting his engineering skill to mining; but 
returning to Chicago the latter year, entered 
upon his great work of developing the idea of the 
sleeping-car into practical reality. The first 



car was completed and received the name of the 
"Pioneer." This car constituted a part of the 
funeral train which took the remains of Abraham 
Lincoln to Springfield, 111., after his assassination 
in April, 1865. The development of the "Pull- 
man palace sleeping-car," the invention of the 
dining-car, and of vestibule trains, and the build- 
ing up of the great industrial town which bears 
his name, and is now a part of the city of Chi- 
cago, constituted a work of gradual development 
wliich resulted in some of the most remarkable 
achievements in the history of the nineteenth 
century, both in a business sense and in promot- 
ing the comfort and safety of the traveling pub- 
lic, as well as in bettering the conditions of 
workingmen. He lived to see the results of his 
inventive genius and manufacturing skill in use 
upon the principal railroads of the United States 
and introduced upon a number of important lines 
in Europe also. Mr. Pullman was identified with 
a number of other enterprises more or less closely 
related to the transportation business, but the 
Pullman Palace Car Company was the one with 
which he was most closely connected, and by 
which he will be longest remembered. He was 
also associated with some of the leading educa- 
tional and benevolent enterprises about the city 
of Chicago, to which he contributed in a liberal 
manner during his life and in his will. His 
death occui'red suddenly, from heart disease, at 
his home in Chicago, Oct. 19, 1897. 

PURPLE, Norman H., lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Litchfield County, Conn., read law and 
was admitted to the bar in Tioga County, Pa., 
settled at Peoria, 111., in 1836, and the following 
year was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the 
Ninth Judicial District, which then embraced 
the greater portion of the State east of Peoria. 
In 1844 he was a Presidential Elector, and, in 
1845, Governor Ford appointed him a Justice of 
the Supreme Court, vice Jesse B, Thomas, Jr., 
who had resigned. As required by law, he at the 
same time served as Circuit Judge, his district 
embracing all the counties west of Peoria, and 
his home being at Quincy. After the adoption of 
the Constitution of 1848 he returned to Peoria and 
resumed practice. He compiled the Illinois 
Statutes relating to real property, and, in 1857, 
made a compilation of the general laws, gener- 
ally known to the legal profession as the "Purple 
Statutes." He subsequently undertook to com- 
pile and arrange the laws passed from 1857 to '63, 
and was engaged on this work when overtaken 
by death, at Cliicago, Aug 9, 1863. He was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1862, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



437 



and, during the last ten years of his life, promi- 
nent at the Chicago bar. 

PUTERBAUGH, Sabin D., judge and author, 
was born in Miami County, Ohio, Sept. 28, 1834; 
at 8 years of age removed with his parents to Taze- 
well County, 111 ; settled in Pekin in 1853, where 
he read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. 
At the outbreak of the rebellion he was commis- 
sioned, by Governor Yates, Slajor of the Eleventh 
Illinois Cavalr}', and took part in numerous 
engagements in Western Tennessee and Missis- 
sippi, including the battles of Shiloh and Corinth. 
Resigning liis commission in 18G3, he took up his 
residence at Peoria, where he resumed practice 
and began the preparation of his first legal work 
— "Common Law Pleading and Practice." In 
1864 he formed a partnership with Col. Robert G. 
IngersoU, which continued until 1867, when Mr. 
Puterbaugh was elected Circuit Court Judge. 
He retired from the bench in 1873 to resume pri- 
vate practice and pursue his work as an author. 
His first work, having already run through three 
editions, was followed by "Puterbaugh's Chan- 
cery Pleading and Practice," the first edition of 
which appeared in 1874, and "Michigan Chancery 
Practice," which appeared in 1881. In 1880 he 
was chosen Presidential Elector on the Republi- 
can ticket. Died, Sept. 25, 1893. Leslie D. 
(Puterbaugh), a son of Judge Puterbaugh, is 
Judge of the Circuit Court of the Peoria Circuit. 

PUTNAM COUNTY, the smallest county in the 
State, both as to area and population, containing 
only 170 square miles; population (1900), 4,746. 
It lies near the center of the north half of the 
State, and was named in honor of Gen. Israel 
Putnam. The first American to erect a cabin 
within its limits was Gurdon S. Hubbard, who 
was in business there, as a fur-trader, as early as 
1825, but afterwards became a prominent citizen 
of Chicago. The county was created by act of 
the Legislature in 1825, although a local govern- 
ment was not organized until some years later. 
Since that date. Bureau, Marshall and Stark 
Counties have been erected therefrom. It is 
crossed and drained by the Illinois River. The 
surface is moderately undulating and the soil 
fertile. Corn is the chief staple, although wheat 
and oats are extensively cultivated. Coal is 
mined and exported. Hennepin is the county- 
seat 

QUINCT, the principal city of Western Illinois, 
and the county-seat of Adams County. It was 
founded in 1822— the late Gov. John Wood erect- 
ing the first log-cabin there — and was incorporated 



in 1839. The site is naturally one of the most beauti- 
ful in the State, the principal part of the city being 
built on a limestone bluff having an elevation 
of 125 to 150 feet, and overlooking the Mississippi 
for a long distance. Its location is 112 miles west 
of Springfield and 264 miles southwest of Chi- 
cago. Besides being a principal shipping point 
for the river trade north of St. Louis, it is the 
converging point of several important railway 
lines, including the Wabash, four branches of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the Quincy, 
Omaha & Kansas City, giving east and west, as 
well as north and south, connections. At the 
present time (1904) several important Unes, or 
extensions of railroads already constructed, are in 
contemplation, which, when completed, will add 
largely to the commercial importance of the city. 
The city is regularly laid out, the streets inter- 
secting each other at right angles, and being 
lighted with gas and electricitj'. Water is 
obtained from the Mississippi. There are several 
electric railway lines, four public parks, a fine 
railway bridge across the Mississippi, to which a 
wagon bridge has been added within the past two 
years ; two fine railway depots, and several elegant 
public buildings, including a handsome county 
court-house, a Government building for the use 
of the Post-office and the United States District 
Court. The Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home 
is located here, embracing a large group of cot- 
tages occupied by veterans of the Civil War, 
besides hospital and admini.stration buildings for 
the use of the officers. The city has more than 
thirty churches, three libraries (one free-public 
and two college), with excellent schools and 
other educational advantages. Among the 
higher institutions of learning are the Chaddock 
College (Methodist Episcopal) and the St. Francis 
Solanus College (Roman Catholic). There are 
two or three national banks, a State bank with a 
capital of 8300,000. beside two private banks, four 
or five daily papers, with several weekly and one 
or two monthly publications. Its advantages as a 
shipping point by river and railroad have made it 
one of the most important manufacturing cen- 
ters west of Chicago. The census of 1890 showed 
a total of 374 manufacturing establishments, 
having an aggregate capital of S6, 187,845, employ- 
ing 5,058 persons, and turning out an annual 
product valued at $10,160,492. The cost of 
material used was §5,597,990, and the wages paid 
§3,883,571. The number of different industries 
reported aggregated seventy-six, the more impor- 
tant being foimdries, carriage and wagon fac- 
tories, agricultural implement works, cigar and 



438 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



tobacco factories, flour-mills, breweries, brick- 
yards, lime works, saddle and harness shops, 
paper mills, furniture factories, organ works, and 
artificial-ice factories. Population (1880), 27,268; 
(1890), 31,494; (1900). 36,2.52. 

QUINCY, ALTON & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD, 
(See Chicago, Burlington A- Qniiicy Railroad.) 

QUIJfCT & CHICA(JO RAILROAD, (See Chi- 
cago, Burlington cf- Quinry Railroad.) 

QUINCT & TOLEDO RAILROAD. (See 
Wabash Railroad.) 

QCINCT & WARSAW RAILROAD, (See 
Chicago, Burlington d- Quincy Railroad.) 

RAAB, Henry, ex-State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, was born in Wetzlar, Rhen- 
ish Prussia, June 20, 1837 ; learned the trade of a 
currier with his father and came to the United 
States in 18.53, finally locating at Belleville, 111., 
where, in 18.57, he became a teacher in the pub- 
lic schools ; in 1873 was made Superintendent of 
schools for that city, and, in 1882, was elected 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction on 
the Democratic ticket, declined a renomination 
in 1886; was nominated a second time in 1890, 
and re-elected, but defeated by S. M. Inglis in 
1894. In the administration of his office, Pro- 
fessor Raab showed a commendable freedom from 
partisanship. After retiring from the office of 
State Superintendent, he resumed a position in 
connection with the public schools of Belleville. 

RADISSOX, Pierre Esprit, an early French 
traveler and trader, who is said to have reached 
the Upper Mississippi on his third voyage to the 
West in 1658-59. The period of his explorations 
extended from 1652 to 1684, of which he prepared 
a narrative which was published by the Prince 
Society of Boston in 1885, under the title of 
"Radisson's Voyages." He and his brother-in- 
lavp, Medard Chouart, first conceived the idea of 
planting a settlement at Hudson's Bay. (See 
Chouart, Medard. ) 

RAILROAD AND WAREHOUSE COMMIS- 
SION, a Board of three Commissioners, appointed 
by the executive (by and with the advice and con- 
sent of the Senate) , under authority of an act ap- 
proved, April 13, 1871, for the enforcement of tlie 
provisions of the Constitution and laws in relation 
to railroads and warehouses. The Commission's 
powers are partly judicial, parti}- executive. The 
following is a summary of its powers and duties: 
To establish a schedule of maximum rates, equi- 
table to shipper and carrier alike; to require 
yearly reports from railroads and warehouses; 
to hear and pass upon complaints of extortion and 



unjust discrimination, and (if necessary) enforce 
prosecutions therefor; to secure the safe condi- 
tion of railway road-beds, bridges and trestles ; to 
hear and decide all manner of complaints relative 
to intersections and to protect grade-crossings; 
to insure the adoption of a safe interlocking sys- 
tem, to be approved by the Commission; to 
enforce proper rules for the inspection and regis- 
tration of grain throughout the State. The prin- 
cipal offices of the Commission are at the State 
capital, where monthly sessions are held. For 
the purpose of properly conducting the grain 
inspection department, monthly meetings are 
also held at Chicago, where the offices of a Grain 
Inspector, appointed by the Board, are located. 
Here all business relating to this department is 
discussed and necessary special meetings are 
held. The inspection department has no revenue 
outside of fees, but the latter are ample for its 
maintenance. Fees for inspection on arrival 
("inspection in'") are twenty-five cents per car- 
load, ten cents per wagon-load, and forty cents 
per 1,000 bushels from canal-boat or vessels. For 
inspection from store ("inspected out") the fees 
are fifty cents per 1,000 bushels to vessels; 
thirtj'-five cents per car-load, and ten cents per 
wagon- load to teams. While there are never 
wanting some cases of friction between the trans- 
portation companies and warehousemen on the 
one hand, and the Commission on the other, 
there can be no question that the formation of 
the latter has been of great value to the receiv- 
ers, shippers, forwarders and tax-paj'ers of the 
State generally. Similar regulations in regard to 
the inspection of grain in warehouses, at East St. 
Louis and Peoria, are also in force. The first 
Board, created under the act of 1871, consisted of 
Gustavus Koerner, Richard P. Morgan and David 
S. Hammond, holding office until 1873. Other 
Boards have been as follows: 1873-77 — Henry D. 
Cook (deceased 1873, and succeeded by James 
Steele), David A. Brown and John M. Pearson; 
1877-83— William M. Smith, George M. Bogue and 
John H. Oberly (retired 1881 and succeeded by 
William H. Robinson) ; 1883-85— Wm. N. Brain- 
ard, E. C. Lewis and Charles T. Stratton; 1885-89 
— John I. Rinaker, Benjamin F. Marsh and Wm. T. 
Johnson (retired in 1887 and succeeded by Jason 
Rogers); 1889-93— John R. Wheeler, Isaac N. 
Phillips and W. S. Crim (succeeded, 1891, by John 
R. Tanner) ; 1803-97— W. S. CantreU, Thomas F. 
Gahan and Charles F. Lape (succeeded. 1895, by 
George W. Fithian) ; 1897-99— Cicero J. Lindley, 
Charles S. Rannells and James E. Bidwell. (See 
also Grain Inspection.) 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



439 



RAILROADS (IN GENERAL). The existing 
railroad system of Illinois had its inception in the 
mania for internal improvement which swept 
over the country in 1836-37, the basis of the plan 
adopted in Illinois (as in the Eastern States) being 
that the State should construct, maintain, own 
and operate an elaborate system. Lines were to 
be constructed from Cairo to Galena, from Alton 
to Mount Carmel, from Peoria to Warsaw, from 
Alton to the Central Railroad, from Belleville 
to Mount Carmel, from Bloomington to Mack- 
inaw Town, and from Meredosia to Springfield. 
The experiment proved extremely imfortunate 
to the financial interests of the State, and laid the 
foundation of an immense debt under which it 
staggered for many years. The Northern Cross 
Railroad, extending from Meredosia to Spring- 
field, was the only one so far completed as to be in 
operation. It was sold, in 1847, to Nicholas H. 
Ridgely, of Springfield for §31,100, he being the 
highest bidder. This line formed a nucleus of 
the existing Wabash S3'stem. The first road to 
be operated by private parties (outside of a prim- 
itive tramway in St. Clair County, designed for 
the transportation of coal to St. Louis) was the 
Galena & Chicago Union, chartered in 1836. This 
was the second line completed in tlie State, and 
the first to run from Chicago. The subsequent 
development of the railway system of Illinois 
was at first gradual, then steady and finally 
rapid. A succinct description of the various 
lines now in operation in the State may be found 
under appropriate headings. At present Illinois 
leads all the States of the Union in the extent of 
railways in operation, the total mileage (1897) of 
main track being 10,785.43 — or 19 miles for each 
100 square miles of territory and 2.5 miles for each 
10,000 inhabitants — estimating the population 
(1898) at four and a quarter millions. Every one 
of the 102 counties of the State is traversed by at 
least one railroad except three — Calhoun, Hardin 
and Pope. The entire capitalization of the 111 
companies doing business in the State in 1896, 
(including capital stock, funded debt and current 
liabilities), was ?2,669,164,142— equal to §67,556 
per mile. In 1894, fifteen owned and ten leased 
lines paid dividends of from four to eight per 
cent on common, and from four to ten per cent 
on preferred, stock — the total amount thus paid 
aggregating §25,321,752. The total earnings and 
income, in Illinois, of all lines operated in the 
State, aggregated §77,508,587, while the total 
expenditure within the State was §71,463,367. 
Of the 58,263,860 tons of freight carried, 11,611,- 
798 were of agricultural products and 17,179,366 



mineral products. The number of passengers 
(earning revenue) carried during the year, was 
83,281,655. The total number of railroad em- 
ployes (of all classes) was 61,200. The entire 
amount of taxes paid by railroad companies for 
the year was §3,846,379. From 1836, when the 
first special charter was granted for the con- 
struction of a railroad in Illinois, until 1869^ 
after which all corporations of this character 
came under the general incorporation laws of the 
State in accordance vrith the Constitution of 1870 
— 293 special charters for the construction of 
railroads were granted by the Legislature, besides 
numerous amendments of charters already in 
existence. (For the history of important indi- 
vidual lines see each road under its corporate 
name. ) 

RALSTON, Virgil Young, editor and soldier, 
was born, July 16, 1828, at Vanceburg, Ky. ; was 
a student in Illinois College one year (1846-47), 
after which he studied law in Quincy and prac- 
ticed for a time; also resided some time in Cali- 
fornia; 1855-57 was one of the editors of "The 
Quincy Whig," and represented that paper in the 
Editorial Convention at Decatur, Feb. 22, 1856. 
(See Anfi-Xebraska Editorial Convention.) In 
1861, he was commissioned a Captain in the Six- 
teenth Illinois Volunteers, but soon resigned on 
account of ill-health; later, enlisted in an Iowa 
regiment, but died in hospital at St. Louis, from 
wounds and exposure, April 19, 1864. 

RAMSAY, Rufus N., State Treasurer, was born 
on a farm in Clinton Count}-, 111. , May 20, 1838 ; 
received a collegiate education at Illinois and 
McKendree CoUeges, and at Indiana State Uni- 
versity ; studied law with ex-Gov. A. C. French, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1865, but soon 
abandoned the law for banking, in which he was 
engaged both at Lebanon and Carlyle, limiting 
his business to the latter place about 1890. He 
served one term (from 1865) as County Clerk, and 
two terms (1889 and "91) as Representative in the 
General Assembly, and, in 1892, was nominated 
as a Democrat and elected State Treasurer. Died 
in office, at Carlyle, Nov. 11, 1894. 

RAMSEY, a village of Fayette County, at the 
intersection of the Illinois Central and the Toledo, 
St. Louis & Western Railroads, 12 miles north of 
Vandalia; the district is agricultural; has one 
newspaper. Pop. (1890), 598; (1900), 747. 

RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ues in the southwest 
section of the State, and borders on the Missis- 
sippi River; area 560 square miles; named for 
Beverly Randolph. It was set off from St. Clair 
County in 1795, being the second county organ- 



440 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ized in the territory which now constitutes the 
State of Illinois. From the earliest period of Illi- 
nois history, Randolph County has been a pivotal 
point. In the autumn of 1700 a French and 
Indian settlement was established at Kaskaskia, 
which subsequently became the center of French 
influence in the Mississippi Valley. In 1723 
Prairie du Rocher was founded by the French. 
It was in Randolph County that Fort Chartres 
was built, in 1720, and it was here that Col. 
George Rogers Clark's expedition for the seizure 
of the "Illinois Country" met with success in the 
capture of Kaskaskia. American immigration 
began with the close of the Revolutionary War. 
Among the early settlers were the Cranes (Icha- 
bod and George), Gen. John Edgar, the Dodge 
family, the Morrisons, and John Rice Jones. 
Toward the close of the century came Shadrach 
Bond (afterwards the first Governor of the State) 
with his uncle of the same name, and the 
Menards (Pierre and Hippolyte), the first of 
whom subsequently became Lieutenant - Gov- 
ernor. (See Bond, Shadrach; Menard, Pierre.) 
In outline, Randolph County is triangular, while 
its surface is diversified. Timber and building 
stone are abundant, and coal underlies a consid- 
erable area. Chester, the county-seat, a city of 
3,000 inhabitants, is a place of considerable trade 
and the seat of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary. 
The county is crossed by several railroad lines, 
and transportation facilities are excellent. Pop- 
ulation (1890), 25,049; (1900), 28,001. 

RANSOM, (Gen.) Thomas Edward Greenfield, 
soldier, was born at Norwich, Vt. , Nov. 29, 1834; 
educated at Norwich University, an institution 
under charge of his father, who was later an 
officer of the Mexican War and killed at Chapul- 
tepec. Having learned civil engineering, he 
entered on his profession at Peru, 111., in 1851; 
in 1855 became a member of the real-estate firm 
of A. J. Galloway & Co., Chicago, soon after 
removing to Fayette County, where he acted as 
agent of the Illinois Central Railroad. Under 
the first call for volunteers, in April, 1861, he 
organized a company, whicli having been incor- 
porated in the Eleventh Illinois, he was elected 
Major, and, on the reorganization of the regiment 
for the three-years' service, was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel, in tliis capacity having com- 
mand of his regiment at Fort Donelson, where he 
was severely wounded and won deserved pro- 
motion to a colonelcy, as successor to Gen. W. H. 
L. Wallace, afterwards killed at Shiloh. Here 
Colonel Ransom again distinguished himself by 
his bravery, and though again wounded while 



leading his regiment, remained in command 
through the day. His service was recognized by 
promotion as Brigadier - General. He bore a 
prominent part in the siege of Vicksburg and in 
the Red River campaign, and, later, commanded 
the Seventh Army Corps in the operations about 
Atlanta, but finally fell a victim to disease and 
his numerous wounds, dying in Chicago, Oct. 29, 
1864, having previously received the brevet rank 
of Major-General. General Ransom was con- 
fessedly one of the most brilliant officers contrib- 
uted by Illinois to the War for the Union, and 
was pronounced, by both Grant and Sherman, one 
of the ablest volunteer generals in their com- 
mands. 

R.VNTOUL, a city in Champaign County, at 
tlie junction of the main line of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad, with its West Lebanon and Leroy 
branch, 14 miles north-northeast of Champaign 
and 114 miles south by west of Chicago. It has 
a national bank, seven churches, opera house, 
graded school, two weekly papers, machine shops, 
flouring and flax mills, tile factories, and many 
handsome re.sidences. Pop. (1900), 1,207. 

RASLE, Sebastian, a Jesuit missionary, born 
in France, in 1658; at his own request was 
attached to the French missions in Canada in 
1689, and, about 1691 or '92, was sent to the Illi- 
nois Country, where he labored for two years, 
traveling much and making a careful study of 
the Indian dialects. He left many manuscripts 
descriptive of his journeyings and of the mode of 
life and character of the aborigines. From Illi- 
nois he was transferred to Norridgewock, Maine, 
where he prepared a dictionary of the Abenaki 
language in three volumes, which is now pre- 
served in the library of Harvard College. His 
influence over his Indian parishioners was great, 
and his use of it, during the French and Indian 
War, so incensed the English colonists in Massa- 
chusetts that the Governor set a price upon his 
head. On August 12, 1724, he was slain, with 
seven Indian chiefs who were seeking to aid his 
escape, during a night attack upon Norridge- 
wock by a force of English soldiers from Fort 
Richmond, his mutilated body being interred the 
next day by the Indians. In 1833, the citizens of 
Norridgewock erected a monument to his mem- 
ory on the spot where he fell. 

RASTER, Herman, journalist, was born in Ger- 
many in 1828; entered journalism and came to 
America in 1851, being emplo3'ed on German 
papers in Buffalo and New York City ; in 1867 
accepted the position of editor-in-chief of "The 
Chicago Staats Zeitung, ' ' which he continued to 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



441 



fill until June, 1890, when he went to Europe for 
the benefit of his health, dying at Dresden, July 
24, iy91. While employed on papers in this 
country during the Civil War, he acted as the 
American correspondent of papers at Berlin, 
Bremen, Vienna, and other cities of Central 
Europe. He served as delegate to both State and 
National Conventions of the Republican party, 
and. in 1869, received from President Grant the 
appointment of Collector of Internal Revenue for 
the Chicago District, but, during the later years 
of his life, cooperated with the Democratic 
party. 

RAUCH, John Henry, physician and sanitary 
expert, born in Lebanon, Pa., Sept. 4, 1838, and 
graduated in medicine at the University of Penn- 
sylvania, in 1849. The following year he removed 
to Iowa, settling at Burlington. He was an 
active member of the lovi-a State Medical Society, 
and, in 18.11, prepared and published a "Report 
on the Medical and Economic Botany of Iowa," 
and, later, made a collection of ichthyologic 
remains of the Upper Mississippi and Missouri for 
Professor Agassiz. From 1857 to 18G0 he filled 
the chair of Materia Medica and Medical Botany 
at Rush Medical College, Chicago, occupying the 
same position in 18.59 in the Chicago College of 
Pharmacy, of which he was one of the organ- 
izers. During the Civil War he served, until 
1864, as Assistant Medical Director, first in the 
Army of the Potomac, and later in Louisiana, 
being brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel at the close of 
the struggle. Returning to Chicago, he aided in 
reorganizing the city's health service, and, in 
1867, was appointed a member of the new Board 
of Health and Sanitary Inspector, serving until 
1876. The latter year he was chosen President of 
the American Public Health Association, and, 
in 1877, a member of the newly created State 
Board of Health of Illinois, and elected its first 
President. Later, he became Secretary, and con- 
tinued in that office during his connection with 
the Board. In 1878-79 he devoted much attention 
to the yellow-fever epidemic, and was instru- 
mental in the formation of the Sanitary Council 
of the Mississippi, and in securing the adoption 
of a system of river inspection by the National 
Board of Health. He was a member of many 
scientific bodies, and the author of numerous 
monographs and printed addresses, chiefiy in the 
domain of sanitary science and preventive med- 
icine. Among them may be noticed "Intra- 
mural Interments and Their Influence on Health 
and Epidemics," ''Sanitary Problems of Chi- 
cago," "Prevention of Asiatic Cholera in North 



America," and a series of reports as Secretary of 
the State Board of Health. Died, at Lebanon, 
Pa., March 24, 1894. 

RAUM, (Gen.) Green Berry, soldier and author, 
was born at Golconda, Pope County, 111., Dec. 3, 
1829, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
1853, but, three years later, removed with his 
family to Kansas. His Free-State proclivities 
rendering him obnoxious to the pro-slavery party 
there, he retvirned to Illinois in 1857, settling at 
Harrisburg, Saline County. Early in the Civil 
War he was commissioned a Major in the Fifty- 
sixth Illinois Volunteers, was subsequently pro- 
moted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy, and, later, 
advanced to a Brigadier-Generalship, resigning 
his commission at the close of the war (May 6, 
1865). He was with Rosecrans in the Mississippi 
campaign of 1863, took a conspicuous part in the 
battle of Corinth, participated in the siege of 
Vicksburg and was wounded at Missionary Ridge. 
He also rendered valuable service during the 
Atlanta campaign, keeping lines of communi- 
cation open, re-enforcing Resaca and repulsing an 
attack by General Hood. He was with Sherman 
in the "March to the Sea," and with Hancock, in 
the Shenandoah Valley, when the war closed. In 
1866 General Rauni became President of the pro- 
jected Cairo & Vincennes Railroad, an enterprise 
of which he had been an active promoter. He 
was elected to Congress in 1806 from the South- 
ern Illinois District (then the Thirteenth), serv- 
ing one term, and the same year presided over the 
Republican State Convention, as he did again in 
1876 and in 1880— was also a delegate to the 
National Conventions at Cincinnati and Chicago 
the last two years just mentioned. From August 
2, 1876, to May 31, 1883, General Raum served as 
Commissioner of Internal Revenue at Washing- 
ton, in that time having superintended the col- 
lection of §800,000,000 of revenue, and the 
disbursement of §30,000,000. After retiring from 
the Commissionership, he resumed the practice 
of law in Washington. In 1889 he was appointed 
Commissioner of Pensions, remaining to the 
close of President Harrison's administration, 
when he removed to Chicago and again engaged 
in practice. During the various political cam- 
paigns of the past thirty years, his services have 
been in frequent request as a campaign speaker, 
and he has canvassed a number of States in the 
interest of the Republican party. Besides his 
official reports, he is author of "The Existing 
Conflict Between Republican Government and 
Southern Oligarchy" (Washington, 1884), and a 
number of magazine articles. 



442 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



RAUM, John, pioneer and earlj- legislator, was 
born in Hummelstown, Pa., July 14, 1793, and 
died at Golconda, 111., March U, 1869. Having 
received a liberal education in his native State, 
the subject of this sketch settled at Shawnee town, 
111., in 1823, but removed to Golconda, Pope 
County, in 1836. He had previously served three 
years in the War of 1812, as First Lieutenant of 
the Sixteenth Infantrj-, and, while a resident of 
Illinois, served in the Black Hawk War of 1832 as 
Brigade Major. He was also elected Senator 
from the District composed of Pope and Johnson 
Counties in the Eighth General Assembly (1833), 
as successor to Samuel Alexander, who had 
resigned. The following year he was appointed 
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pope County, and 
was also elected Clerk of the County Court the 
same year, lidding both offices for many years, 
and retaining the County Clerkship up to his 
death, a period of thirtj'-five years. He was 
married March 22, 1837, to Juliet C. Field, and 
was father of Brig. -Gen. Green B. Raum, and 
Maj. John M. Raum, both of whom served in the 
volunteer army from Illinois during the Civil 
War. 

RAWLINS, John Aaron, soldier, Secretary of 
War, was born at East Galena, Feb. 13, 1831, the 
son of a small farmer, who was also a charcoal- 
burner. The son, after irregular attendance on 
the district schools and a year passed at Mount 
Morris Academy, began the study of law. He 
was admitted to the bar at Galena in 1854, and at 
once began practice. In 18.57 he was elected City 
Attorney of Galena, and nominated on the Doug- 
las electoral ticket in 1860. At the outbreak of 
the Civil War he favored, and publicly advocated, 
coercive measures, and it is said that it was 
partly through his influence that General Grant 
early tendered his services to the Government. 
He served on the staff of the latter from the time 
General Grant was given command of a brigade 
until the close of the war, most of the time being 
its chief, and rising in rank, step by step, until, 
in 1863, he became a Brigadier-General, and, in 
1865, a Major-General. His long service on the 
staff of General Grant indicates the estimation 
in which he was held by his chief. Promptlj- on 
the assumption of the Presidency by General 
Grant, in March, 1869, he was appointed Secre- 
tary of War, but consumption had already 
obtained a hold upon his constitution, and he sur- 
vived only six months, dying in office, Sept. 6, 
1869. 

RAY, Charles H., journalist, was born at Nor- 
wich, Chenango County, N. Y., March 12, 1821; 



came west in 1843, studied medicine and began 
practice at Muscatine, Iowa, afterwards locating 
in Tazewell County, 111., also being associated, 
for a time, with the publication of a temperance 
paper at Springfield. In 1847 he removed to 
Galena, soon after becoming editor of "The 
Galena Jeffersonian, " a Democratic paper, with 
which he remained until 1854. He took strong 
ground against the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and, at 
the session of the Legislature of 1855, served as 
Secretary of the Senate, also acting as corre- 
spondent of "The New York Tribune"; a few 
months later became associated with Joseph 
Medill and John C. Vaughan in the purcliase and 
management of "The Chicago Tribune," Dr. Ray 
assuming the position of editor-in-chief. Dr. 
Ray was one of the most trenchant and powerful 
writers ever connected with the Illinois press, 
and his articles exerted a wide influence during 
the period of the organization of the Republican 
party, in which he was an influential factor. He 
was a member of the Convention of Anti-Neb- 
raska editors held at Decatur, Feb. 22, 1856, and 
served as Chairman of the Committee on Reso- 
lutions. (See Anti-Nebraska Editorial Conven- 
tion.) At the State Republican Convention held 
at Bloomington, in May following, he was 
appointed a member of the State Central Com- 
mittee for that j^ear ; was also Canal Trustee by 
appointment of Governor Bissell, serving from 
1857 to 1861. In November, 1863, he severed his 
connection with "The Tribune" and engaged in 
oil speculations in Canada which proved finan- 
cially disastrous. In 1865 he returned to the paper 
as an editorial writer, remaining only for a short 
time. In 1868 he assunaed the management of 
"The Chicago Evening Post," with which he 
remained identified until his death, Sept. 23, 
1870. 

RAT, Lyman Beecher, exLieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, was born in Crittenden County, Vt. , 
August 17, 1831 ; removed to Illinois in 1853, and 
has since been engaged in mercantile business in 
this State. After filling several local offices he 
was elected to represent Grundy County in the 
lower house of the Twenty-eighth General 
Assembly (1873), and, ten years later, was chosen 
State Senator, serving from 1883 to 1887, and 
being one of the recognized party leaders on the 
floor. In 1888, he was elected Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor on the Republican ticket, his term expiring 
in 1893. His home is at Morris, Grundy County. 

RAY, William H., Congressman, was born in 
Dutchess County, N. Y., Dec. 14, 1813; grew to 
manhood in his native State, receiving a limited 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



443 



education; in 1834 removed to Rushville, III., 
engaging in business as a merchant and. later, as 
a banker ; was a member of the first State Board 
of Equalization (1867-69), and, in 1872, was 
elected to Congress as a Republican, representing 
his District from 1873 to 1875. Died, Jan. 35, 
1881. 

RATMOXD, a village of Montgomery County, 
on the St. Louis Division of the Wabash Railway, 
50 miles southwest of Decatur ; has electric lights, 
some manufactures and a weekly paper. Con- 
siderable coal is mined here and grain and fruit 
grown iu the surrounding country. Population 
(1880). 543; (1890), 841; (1900), 906. 

RAYMOND, (Rev.) Miner, D.D,, clergyman 
and educator, was born in New York City, 
August 29, 1811, being descended from a family 
of Huguenots (known by the name of "Rai- 
monde"), who were expelled from France on 
account of their religion. In his youth he 
learned the trade of a shoemaker with his father, 
at Rensselaerville, N. Y. He united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of 17, 
later taking a course in the Wesleyan Academy 
at Wilbraham, Mass., where he afterwards 
became a teacher. In 1838 he joined the New 
England Conference and, three years later, began 
pastoral work at Worcester, subsequently occu- 
pying pulpits in Boston and Westfield. In 1848, 
on the resignation of Dr. Robert Allyn (after- 
wards President of McKendree College and of the 
Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbon- 
dale), Dr. Raymond succeeded to the principalship 
of the Academy at Wilbraham, remaining there 
until 1864, when he was elected to the chair of 
systematic theology in the Garrett Biblical Insti- 
tute at Evanston, 111., his connection with the 
latter institution continuing until 1895, when he 
resigned. For some three years of this period he 
served as pastor of the First Methodist Church 
at Evanston. His death occurred, Nov. 25, 1897. 

REAVIS, Logan Uriah, journalist, was born 
in the Sangamon Bottom, Mason County, 111., 
March 26, 1831; in 1855 entered the office of "The 
Beardstown Gazette, " ' later purchased an interest 
in the paper and continued its publication under 
the name of "The Central lUinoian," until 1857, 
when he sold out and went to Nebraska. Return- 
ing, in 1860, he repurchased his old paper and 
conducted it until 1866, when he sold out for the 
last time. The remainder of his life was devoted 
chiefly to advocating the removal of the National 
Capital to Sfi. Louis, which he did by lectures and 
the publication of pamphlets and books on the 
subject; also published a "Life of Horace 



Greeley," another of General Harney, and two 
or three other volumes. Died in St. Louis, 
April 25, 1889. 

RECTOR, the name of a prominent and influ- 
ential family who lived at Kaskaskia in Terri- 
torial days. According to Governor Reynolds, 
who has left the most detailed account of them in 
his "Pioneer History of Illinois," they consisted 
of nine brothers and four daughters, all of whom 
were born in Fauquier County, Va., some of 
them emigrating to Ohio, while others came to 
Illinois, arriving at Kaskaskia in 1806. Reynolds 
describes them as passionate and impulsive, but 
possessed of a high standard of integrity and a 
chivalrous and patriotic .spirit. — William, the 
oldest brother, and regarded as the head of the 
family, became a Deputy Surveyor soon after 
coming to Illinois, and took part in the Indian 
campaigns between 1813 and 1814. In 1816 he 
was appointed Surveyor-General of Illinois, Mis- 
souri and Arkansas, and afterwards removed to 
St. Louis. — Steplien, another of the brothers, 
was a Lieutenant in Captain Moore's Company 
of Rangers in the War of 1812, while Cliarles 
commanded one of the two regiments organized 
by Governor Edwards, in 1812, for the expedition 
against the Indians at the head of Peoria Lake. 
— Nelson, still another brother, served in the 
same expedition on the staff of Governor 
Edwards. Stephen, already mentioned, was a 
member of the expedition sent to strengthen 
Prairie du Chien in 1814, and showed great cour- 
age in a fight with the Indians at Rock Island. 
During the same year Nelson Rector and Captain 
Samuel Whiteside joined Col. Zachary Taylor 
(afterwards President) in an expedition on the 
Upper Mississippi, iu which they came in conflict 
with the British and Indians at Rock Island, in 
which Captain Rector again displayed the cour- 
age so characteristic of his family. On the 1st of 
March, 1814, while in charge of a surveying party 
on Saline Creek, in Gallatin County, according to 
Reynolds, Nelson was ambushed by the Indians 
and, though severely wounded, was carried away 
by his horse, and recovered. — Elias, another mem- 
ber of the family, was Governor Edwards' first 
Adjutant-General, serving a few months in 1809, 
when he gave place to Robert Morrison, but was 
reappointed in 1810, serving for more than three 
years. — Thomas, one of the younger members, 
had a duel with Joshua Barton on "Bloody 
Island," sometime between 1812 and 1814, in 
which he killed liis antagonist. (See Ihiels.) A 
portion of this historic family drifted into Arkan- 
sas, where they became prominent, one of their 



444 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



descendants serving as Governor of that State 
during tlie Civil War period. 

RED Bl'D, a citv in Randolph Countj-, on the 
Mobile it Ohio Railroad, some 37 miles south- 
southeast of St. Louis, and 31 miles south of Belle- 
ville; has a carriage factory and two flouring 
mills, electric lights, a hospital, two banks, five 
churches, a graded school and a weekly news- 
paper. Pop. (1890), 1,176; (1900), 1,169. 

REEVES, Owen T., lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Ross County, Ohio, Dec. 18, 1829; gradu- 
ated at the Ohio AVeslej'an Universit3', at Dela- 
ware, in 1850, afterwards serving as a tutor in 
that institution and as Principal of a High 
School at Chillicothe. In 1854 he came to Bloom- 
ington. 111., and, as a member of the School 
Board, assisted in reorganizing the school system 
of that city; also has served continuously, for 
over 40 years, as one of the Trustees of the Illi- 
nois Wesleyan University, being a part of the 
time President of the Board. In the meantime, he 
had begun the practice of law, served as City 
Attorney and member of the Board of Supervis- 
ors. July 1, 1863, he enlisted in the Seventieth 
Illinois Volunteers (a lOO-days" emergency regi- 
ment), was elected Colonel and mustered out, 
with his command, in October, 1863. Colonel 
Reeves was subsequently connected with the 
construction of the Lafayette, Bloomington & 
Mississippi Railroad (now a part of the Illinois 
Central), and was also one of the founders of the 
Law Department of the Wesleyan University. 
In 1877 he was elected to the Circuit bench, serv- 
ing continuously, by repeated re-elections, until 
1891 — during the latter part of his incumbency 
being upon the Appellate bench. 

REETES, Walter, Member of Congress and 
lawj-er, was born near Brownsville, Pa., Sept. 25, 
1848 ; removed to Illinois at 8 years of age and 
was reared on a farm ; later became a teacher 
and lawyer, following his profession at Streator; 
in 1894 he was nominated by the Republicans of 
the Eleventh District for Congress, as successor to 
the Hon. Thomas J. Henderson, and was elected, 
receiving a majority over three competitors. 
Mr. Reeves was re-elected in 1896, and again in 
1898. 

REFORMATORY, ILLINOIS STATE, a prison 
for the incarceration of male offenders under 21 
years of age, who are believed to be susceptible of 
reformation. It is the successor of the "State 
Reform School," which was created bj' act of 
the Legislature of 1867, but not opened for the 
admission of inmates until 1871. It is located at 
Pontiac. The number of inmates, in 1872, was 165, 



which was increased to 334 in 1890. The results, 
while moderately successful, were not altogether 
satisfactory. The appropriations made for con- 
struction, maintenance, etc.. were not upon a 
scale adequate to accomj^lish what was desired, 
and, in 1891, a radical change was effected. 
Previous to that date the limit, as to age, was 16 
years. The law establishing the present reforma- 
tory provides for a system of indeterminate sen- 
tences, and a release upon parole, of inmates 
who, in the opinion of the Board of Managers, 
may be .safely granted conditional liberation. 
The inmates are divided into two classes. (1) 
those between the ages of 10 and 16, and (3) those 
between 16 and 31. The Board of Managers is 
composed of five members, not more than tliree of 
whom shall be of the same party, their term of 
office to be for ten years. The course of treat- 
ment is educational (intellectually, morally and 
industrially), schools being conducted, trades 
taught, and the inmates constantly impressed 
with the conviction that, only through genuine 
and unmistakable evidence of improvement, can 
they regain their freedom. The reformatory 
influence of the institution may be best inferred 
from the results of one year's operation. Of 146 
inmates paroled, 15 violated their parole and 
became fugitives, 6 were returned to the 
Reformatory, 1 died, and 134 remained in 
employment and regularly reporting. Among 
the industries can-ied on are painting and glaz- 
ing, masonry and plastering, gardening, knit- 
ting, chair-caning, broom-making, carpentering, 
tailoring and blacksmithing. Tlie grounds of the 
Reformatory contain a vein of excellent coal, 
which it is proposed to mine, utilizing the clay, 
thus obtained, in the manufacture of brick, 
which can be employed in the construction of 
additional needed buildings. The average num- 
ber of inmates is about 800, and the crimes for 
which they are sentenced range, in gravity, from 
simple assault, or petit larceny, to the most seri- 
ous offenses known to the criminal code, with 
the exception of homicide. The number of 
inmates, at the beginning of the year 1895, was 
813. An institution of a similar character, for 
the confinement of juvenile female offenders, was 
established under an act of the Legislature 
passed at the session of 1893, and located at Gen- 
eva, Kane County. (See Home for Juvenile 
FciiiiiU- Offiiiders.) 

RELUaorS DEN03IIXATI0NS. The State 
con.stitutiiin contains the familiar guaranty of 
absolute freedom of conscience. The chief 
denominations have grown in like ratio with the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



US 



population, as may be seen from figures given 
below. The earliest Christian services held were 
conducted by Catholic missionaries, who attested 
the sincerity of their convictions (in many 
instances) by the sacrifice of their lives, either 
through violence or exposure. The aborigines, 
however, were not easily Christianized; and. 
shortly after the cession of Illinois by France to 
Great Britain, the Catholic missions, being gener- 
ally withdrawn, ceased to exert much influence 
upon the red men, although the French, who 
remained in the ceded territorj', continued to 
adhere to their ancient faith. (See Early Mis- 
sionaries.) One of the first Protestant sects to 
hold service in Illinois, was the Methodist Epis- 
copal ; Rev. Joseph Lillard coming to Illinois in 
1793, and Rev. Hosea Riggs settling in the 
American Bottom in 1796. (For history of 
Methodism in Illinois, see Methodist Episcopal 
Church.) The pioneer Protestant preacher, 
however, was a Baptist — Elder James Smith— 
who came to New Design in 1787. Revs. David 
Badgley and Joseph Chance followed him in 
1796, and the first denominational association 
was formed in 1807. (As to inception and growth 
of this denomination in Illinois, see also Bap- 
tists.) In 1814 the Massachusetts Missionary 
Society sent two missionaries to Illinois — Revs. 
Samuel J. Mills and Daniel Smith. Two years 
later (1816), the First Presbyterian Church was 
organized at Sharon, by Rev. James McGready, 
of Kentucky. (See also Presbyterians.) The 
Congregationalists began to arrive with the tide 
of immigration that set in from the Eastern 
States, early in the '30's. Four churches were 
organized in 1833, and the subsequent growth of 
the denomination in the State, if gradual, has 
been steady. (See Congregationalists.) About 
the same time came the Disciples of Christ (some- 
times called, from their founder, "Campbellites"). 
They encouraged free discussion, were liberal and 
warm hearted, and did not require belief in any 
particular creed as a condition of membership. 
The sect grew rapidly in numerical strength. 
(See Disciples of Christ. ) The Protestant Episco- 
palians obtained their first foothold in Illinois, in 
183.5, when Rev. Philander Chase (afterward con- 
secrated Bishop) immigrated to the State from 
the East. (See Protestant Episcopal Church.) 
The Lutherans in Illinois are chiefly of German 
or Scandinavian birth or descent, as may be 
inferred from the fact that, out of sixty-four 
churches in Chicago under care of the Missouri 
Synod, only four use the English language. They 
are the only Protestant sect maintaining (when- 



ever possible) a system of parochial schools. (See 
Lutherans. ) There are twenty -six other religious 
bodies in the State, exclusive of the Jews, who 
have twelve .synagogues and nine rabbis. Ac- 
cording to the census statistics of 1890, these 
twenty-six sects, with their numerical strength, 
number of buildings, ministers, etc., are as fol- 
lows; Anti-Mission Baptists, 3,800 members, 78 
churches and 63 ministers; Church of God, 1,300 
members, 39 churches, 34 ministers; Dunkards, 
121,000 members, 15.5 churches, 83 ministers; 
Friends ("Quakers") 3,65.5 members, 25 churches; 
Free Methodists, 1,805 members, 38 churches, 84 
ministers; Free-Will Baptists, 4,694 members, 107 
churches, 72 ministers; Evangelical Association, 
15,904 members, 143 churches, 152 ministers; 
Cumberland Presbyterians, 11,804 members, 198 
churches, 149 ministers; Methodist Episcopal 
(South) 3,927 members, 34 churches, 33 minis- 
ters; Moravians, 720 members, 3 churches, 8 
ministers ; New Jerusalem Church (Swedenborgi- 
ans), 662 members, 14 churches, 8 ministers; 
Primitive Methodist, 230 members, 2 churches, 2 
ministers; Protestant Methodist, 5,000 members, 
91 churches, 106 ministers ; Reformed Church in 
United States, 4,100 members, 34 churches, 19 
ministers; Reformed Church of America, 2,200 
members, 24 churches, 23 ministers; Reformed 
Episcopalians, 2,150 members, 13 churches, 11 
ministers; Reformed Presbyterians, 1,400 mem- 
bers, 7 churches, 6 ministers; Salvation Army, 
1,980 members; Second Adventists, 4,500 mem- 
bers, fr4 churches, 35 ministers; Seventh Day 
Baptists, 320 members, 7 churches, 11 ministers: 
Universalists, 3,160 members, 45 churches, 37 
ministers; Unitarians, 1,225 members. 19 
churches, 14 ministers; United Evangelical, 
30,000 members, 129 churches, 108 ministers; 
United Brethren, 16,500 members, 275 churches, 
260 ministers ; United Presbyterians, 11,250 mem- 
bers, 203 churches, 199 ministers; Wesleyan 
Methodists. 1,100 members, 16 churches. 33 min- 
isters. (See various Churches under their proper 
names ; also Roman Catholic Church. ) 

REXD, William Patrick, soldier, capitalist, 
and coal-operator, was born in County Leitrim, 
Ireland, Feb. 10, 1840. brought to Lowell, Mass., 
in boyhood, and graduated from the high school 
there at 17; taught for a time near New York 
City and later in Maryland, where he began a 
course of classical study. The Civil War coming 
on, he enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment New 
York Volunteers, serving most of the time as a 
non-commissioned officer, and participating in the 
battles of the second Bull Run, Malvern HiU, 



446 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. 
After the war he came to Chicago and secured 
employment in a railway surveyor's ofBce, later 
acting as foreman of the Northwestern freight 
depot, and finally embarking in the coal business, 
which was conducted with such success that he 
became the owner of some of the most valuable 
mining properties in the country. Meanwhile 
he has taken a deep interest in the welfare of 
miners and other classes of laborers, and has 



sought to promote arbitration and conciliation 
between employers and employed, as a means of 
averting disastrous strikes. He was especially 
active during the long strike of 1897, in efforts to 
bring about an understanding between the 
miners and the operators. For several years 
he held a commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of 
the Illinois National Guard until compelled, by 
the demands of his private business, to tender 
his resignation. 



REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 

The followlDR table presents the names, residence. Districts rerresented, politics (except as to earlier ones), and length of 
term or terms of service of Illinois Representatives in the lower House of Congress, from the organization of Illinois 
as a Territory down to the present time; (D, Democrat; W, Whig; R, Republican; G-B, Greenback; P, Populist). 

Residenck. Dist. 



ICaskasliia 

Edwardsviile 

Kaskaslcia 

Shawneetown 

Kaskaskia 

Jackson& Morgan Cos 

Jacksonville 

Springfield 



, Belleville 
, ijelleviUe .. 
, Belleville... 
, Mt. Vernon 
. Belleville.. 
. Springfield.. 



. Spri 



Sbadrach Bond... 

Benjamin Stephenson 

Nathaniel Pope 

John McLean 

Daniel P.Cook 

Joseph Duncan 

Joseph Duncan 

Wilham L. May,D 

Charles Slade 

John Reynolds, D 

John Reynolds, D 

Zadoc Casey, D 

Adam W.Snyder, D 

John T. Stuart, W 

John T. Stuart, O. P. 

Robert Smith, D 

John A . McClernand, D . . 
John A. McClernand, D .. 

Orlando B. FicKlin, U 

Orlando B. Ficklin, D 

John Wentworth, D 

John Wentworth, D 

John Wentworth, R 

Stephen A. Douglas, D.... 
William A. Richardson, D. 
William A. Richardson, D 
Joseph P. Hoge, D — •. — 

John J. Hardin, W 

EdwardD. Balier, W 

Edward D. Baker, W 

John Heurv, W 

Thomas J. Turner, D IFreeport 

Abraham Lincoln, W Springfield, 

William H. Bisseli, D... 
William H.Bissell,D.. 
Timothy R. Young. D.. 
ThomasL. Harris, D... 
Thomas L. Harris, D... 

Willis Allen, D 

Willis Allen, D 

Richard S. Maloney, 1>. 
Thompson Campbell, D 

Richard Yates, W 

Richard Yates, W 

E. B. Washburne, R.... 

E. B. Washburne, E 

Jesse O. Norton, R 

Jesse O. Norton, R 

James Knox,R 

James C. Allen, D 

James C. Allen, D 

James H. Woodworth, R. . 

Jacob C. Davis, D 

Lyman Trumbull, B 

J. L. D. Morrison, D 

.Samuels. Marshall, D 

Samuel S. Marshall, D 

Samuels. Marshall. D 

John F. Farnswnrth, R 
John F. Farnsworth, R 

Owen Lovejoy.R 

Owen Lovejoy. R 

William Kellogg. R... 

Isaac N, Morris, D 

Charles D, Hodges, D , 
Aaron Sliaw, D 



Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Quincy 

Rnshville and Quincy 

Quincy 

Galena 

Jac)tsonville 

Springfield 

Galena 

Jacksonville 



Belleville., 

Belleville 

Marshall — 
Petersburg ... 
Petersburg... 

Marlon 

Marion 

Belvidere 

Galena 

Jacksonville . 
Jacksonville . 
Galena 



Galena 

Joliet 

Joliet 

Knuxville 

Palestine. ... 

Palestine 

Chicago 

Quincy 

Belleville 

Belleville 

McLeansboro. 
McLeansboro . 
McLeansboro ., 

Chicago 

jst. Charles ... 

Princeton 

Princeton 

Canton 



Territory.. 
Territory.. 
Territory.. 

State 

State 

State 

Third 

Third 

First 

First 

First 

Second 

Fust 

Thu-d 

Eighth 

First 

Second 

Sixtn 

Third 

Third 

Fourth..., 

Second 

First 

Fifth 

Fifth 

Sixth 

Sixth 

Seventh . . 
Seventh . . 

Sixth 

Seventh .. 

Sixth 

Seventh.. . 

First 

Eighth 

Third. ... 
Seventh . . 

Sixth 

Second 

Xinth 

Fourth.... 

Sixth 

Seventh... 

Sixth 

First 

Third 



. Third 

. Sixth 

, Fourth 

. Seventh 

, State-at-large . 

. Second 

, Fifth 

, Eighth 

Eighth 

, Ninth 

. Eleventh 

, Nineteenth — 

Second 

. Second 

, Third 

. Fifth 

, Fourtfi 

, Fifth 

Sixth 

Seventh 



1S12-H 

1814-16 

1816-18 

1818-19 

1819-27 

1827-33 

18;)3-34 

1834-39 

1833-34 

1834-37 

1839-43 

, 1833-43 

, 1837-39 

. 1839-43 

1863-65 

1843-49 

. 1843-51 

, 18.59-62 

. 1843-49 

, 1851-53 

. 1843-51 

, 1853-65 

. 1805-67 

. 1843-47 

, 1847-56 

! l,H4.-i-45.'.'.'. .!!.'.!!.' 

. 1S43-4.5 

. 1,SJ5-4B 

. 1849-51 

. Feb. to Mar., 1841 

. 1847-49 

. 1847-49 

. 1849-53 

. 1853-55 

. I849-5t 

. 1849-51 

. 1855-58 

. 1851-53 

. 1853-55 

. 1851-53 

. 1851-53 

. 1851-53 

. 1853-55 

. 1853-63 

. 1863-69 

. 1853-57 

. 1863-65 

. 1853-57 

. 1853-57 

1863-65 

1855-67 

1866-67 



. Elected U. S. Senator, 1824 and "29. 



, Elected Governor; resigned. 

To succeed Duncan. 

Died: term completed by Reynolds. 
, One and one-half terms. 



. Resigned, Dec, '61 ; succeeded by A. L. Knapp. 



Resigned, Dec, '46; succeeded by John Henry. 
, Served Baker's unexpired term. 



Died. Nuv.24,'53; 



. by Chas. D. Hodges. 



1863-73 

1857-63 

1863-65 

IS57-63 

1857-61 

Jan. to Mar., 1859. 
1857-59 



To fill unexpired term of Richardson. 
Chosen U. S. Senator; resigned. 
Filled Trumbull's unexpired term. 



Died, Mar., ^64; term filled by E.C.Ingeisoll. 
.Filled unexpired term of Tbos. L. Harris. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



447 



Aaron Shaw, D 

James C. Robiuson, D 

James C. Robinson, D 

James C. Robinson, D 

James C. Robinson, D 

Philip B. Foulie, D 

Jolm A. Logan, R 

John A, Logan, D 

Isaac N. Arnold, R 

Isaac N. Arnold. R 

William J. Allen. D 

William J. Allen, D 

A. L. Knapp, 1) 

A. L. Knapp, D 

Charles M. Harris, R 

Ebon C. Ingersoll, K 

John R, Eden, D 

John R. Eden, D 

John R. Eden, D 

Lewis W. Rosn. D 

William R. Morrison, D.... 
William R. Morrison, D ... 
William R. Morrison. D.... 

S. W. Monlton, E 

S. W. Moulton, D 

S. W. MonltOQ.D 

Abner C. Harding, R 

Burton U. Cook, R 

H. P. H. BromweU.R 

Shelby M. Cnllom, R 

Anthony Thornton, D 

Jehu Baker, R 

Jehu Baker, R 

Jehu Baker, P 

A. J. Kuykendall, R 

Norman B. Judd, R 

Albert G. Burr, D 

Green B. Raum, R 

Horatio C. Burchard, R — 

Horalio C. Burchard, P. 

John B. Hawley, K 

John B. Hawlev,R 

Je<se H. Moore. R 

Thomas W. McNeeley, D.. 

John B. Hay, K 

John M. Crebs, D 

John L. Beveridge, B 

Charles B. Fanvell, R 

Charles B. Farwell, R 

Charles B. Farwel 1, R 

Brad. N. Stevens, R 

Henry Snapp. R 

Edward Y. Rice, D 

JohnB. Rice.R 

B. G. Caulfield. D 

Jasper D. Ward, R 

Stephen A. Hurlbut, R 

Franklin Corwin, R 

Greenbury L. Fort. R 

Granville Barriere, R 

William H. Ray, R 

Robert M. Knapp, D 

Robert M. Knapp, D 

John McNulta, R 

Joseph G. Cannon, R 

Joseph G. Cannon. R 

Joseph G. Cannon, R 

Joseph G. Cannon, R 

James S. Martin, B 

Isaac Clements, R 

Carter H. Harrison, D 

John V. Le Movne. D 

T.J. Henderson, R 

T. J. Henderson, R 

Alexander Campbell, G.B.. 

Richard H. Whiting. R 

John C. Bagbv, D 

Scott Wike, D 

Scott Wike, D 

William M. Springer, D — 
William M. Springer. D. . 

Adlal E. Stevenson, IJ 

Adlai E. Stevenson, U 

Will iam A J Sparks, D . . . . 
William Hartzell.D .. .. 
William B. Anderson, D .. 

William Aldrich. R 

Carter H Harrison. D — 

Lorenz Brentano. R 

William Lathrnp. R 

Philip C Hayes. R 

Thomas A Boyd, R 

Benjamin F Marsh. R .. 



Lawreiicevi 

Marshall 

Marshall . . . 
Springfield . 
Springfield . 



Carbondale. 
Chicago .... 

Chicago 

Marion 

Marion 

Jersey ville.. 
Jerseyville . 

Oquawka 

Peoria 

Sullivan 

Sullivan 

Sullivan... . 
Lewistowu.. 
Waterloo . . . 
Waterloo. . . 
Waterloo . . . 
Shelby ville.. 
Shelby ville.. 
Sheibyville . 
Monmouth.. 

Ottawa 

Charleston ., 
Springfield.. 
Sheibyville. 
Belleville.... 
Belleville... 
Belleville . . . 
Vi( 



nth.. 
Seventh ... 
Eleventh.. 
Eighth .... 
Twelfth.... 
Eighth .... 



Chicago 

Carrollton 

Metropolis 

Freeport 

Freeport 

Rock Island — 
Rock Island ... 

Decatur 

Petersburg... . 

Belleville 

Carmi 

Evanston 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Princeton 

Joliet 

Hillsboro 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Belvidere 

Peru 

Lacon 

Rushville 

Jerseyville 

Jerseyville — 
Bloomington ... 
Tuscola and Da 

Danville 

Danville 

Danville 

Salem 

Carbondale . . . , 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Pri ' ~ 

Prin 



18t>3.65. . 
1871-73.. 
1873-75 . 



Ninth. 
State-at-large. 

Second 

First 

Ninth 

Thirteenth 

Fifth 

Tenth 

Fourth 

Fifth 

Seventh 

Fifteenth 

Seventeenth... 

Ninth 

Twelfth 

teenth... 
Eighteenth..., 
-State-at-large 

Fifteenth 

Seventeenth .. 

Fourth 

Siith 

Seventh 

Eighth 

Tenth 

Twelfth . 
Eighte( 



nth... 



First 

Tenth 

Thirteenth 

Third 

Fifth 

Fourth 

Sixth 

Seventh 

Ninth 

Twelfth 

Thirteenth 

State-at-large 

First 

Third 

Third 

Fifth 

Sixth 

Tenth 



First 

Second . . 
Fourth... 
Seventh.. 



Eighth 

Ninth 

Tenth 

Eleventh 

Eleventh 

Thirteenth... 
Fourteenth... 



Twelfth. 



La Salle 

Peona 

Rushville 

Pitts field 

Pittsfleld 

Springfield — 
Springfield.... 
Bloomington. , 
Bloomington ., 

Carlyle 

Chester 

Mt. Vernon... 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Rockford 

Morris 

Lewiston 

Warsaw 



nth. 



Eighteenth... 

Second 

Third 

Sixth 

Seventh 

Seventh 

Ninth 

Tenth 

Eleventh 

Twelfth 

Twelfth 

Thirteenth. .. 
Thirteenth.. . . 
Thirteenth... 

Sixteenth 

Eighteenth... 
Nineteenth... 

First 

Second 

iThird 

iFourth 

Seventh 

Ninth 

iTenth 



1863-66., 
1861-63.. 
1863-65.. 
1863-65.. 
1864-71.. 
1863-65.. 
1873-79.. 
1885-87.. 
1863-69.. 
1863-65.. 
1873-83.. 
1883-87.. 
1865-67.. 
1881-83.. 
1883-85.. 
1865-69.. 
1865-71.. 
1865-69.. 



1869-73. 
1871-73.. 
1871-73.. 
1873-76.. 
1881-83.. 
1871-73., 
1871-73. 
1871 73. 
IS7.3-71. 
1874-77.. 
1873-75.. 
1873-77.. 
1873-75.. 
1.S73-81.. 



1873-75.. 
1873-76.. 
1873-75.. 
l,S77-79.. 



1873-75.. 
1873-83.. 
1883-91 . 
1893-95.. 

1895 

1873-76.. 
1873-75.. 
1875 79. 
1876-77. 
1875-83. 
1883-95. 
1876-77. 
1875-77.. 
1875-77.. 



1-93. 



1876-77. 
1879-81.. 
1875-83.. 
1875-79. 
1875-77. 
1877-83.. 
1877-79.. 
1877-79.. 
1877-79.. 
1877-81 . 
1877-81 . 
1877-83.. 



Res'd.Apr. '62; term filled by W. J. Allen. 
' Chosen U. S. Senator, 1871; resigned: term 
filled by John L. Beveridge. 



Served Logan's unexpired term. 
Served McClernand's unexpired term. 



1864-'65 filled Lovejoy's unexpired term . 



Ke-elected, *70 but res'd before beg'ng of term. 



Filled unexpired termor Washburne. 



Served unexpired term of Logan. 

May, '76, seat awarded to J. V. Le Moyne. 



Filled unexpired term of B. C. Cook. 



Awarded seat, vice Farwell. 



448 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Residencb. 



Benjamin F. Marsh, R.. 
Benjamin F. Marsh. R.. 
Thomas F. Tipton, R... 
R. W. Townshend, D. . . . 

GoorgeR. Davis. R 

George R. Da\'is, R 

Hiram Barber, R 

John C. Sherwin, R 

R. M. A.Hawk.R 

James W. Singleton. D.. 

A. P. Forsythe, G. B 

John R. Thomas, R 

JohnK. Thomas. R , 

WiUiamCulleu.R 

William Cullen.R 

Lewis E. Payson.R 

Lewis E. Payson. R , 

John H.Lewis. R 

Dietrich C. Smith. R 

R. W.Dunham.R 

JohnF. Finerty. R 

George E. Adams, R 

Reubea EUwood. R 

Robert R. Hitt, R 

Robert R. Hltt.R 

N. E. Worthington, D. . . . 
William H. Neece, D.... 

James BT. Rigga, D 

Jonathan H. Bowell.R.. 

Prank Lawler, D 

James H. Ward, D 

Albert J. Hopkins. R 

Albert J. Hopkins, R 

Ralph Plumb, R 

Silas G. Landes. D , 

William E. Mason, R 

Philip Sidney Post, R 



Charles A. Hill. R 

Geo. W. Fithian. D 

Williams. Forman.D.. 
James R. Williams. D.. 
James R. Williams. l>.. 
George W.Smith, R.... 
George W. SmI th. R . 



Lawrence E. McQanii. D. 
Allan C. Durborow, Jr., U 
Walter C. Newberry, D.. 

Lewis Steward, Ind 

Herman W. Snow, R 

Benjamin T. Cable, D. . . . 

Owen Scott, D 

Samuel T. Busey, D 

JohnC. Black, D 

Andrew J. Hunter. D 

Andrew J. Hunter. D 

J. Frank Aldrich. R 

Julius Goldzier. D 

Robert A. Childs. R 

Hamilton K. Wbeeler, R. 
John J. McDannold, D... 

Benjamin F. Funk. R 

William Lorimer, R 

Hugh R. Belknap. R 

Charles W. Woodman, B 

Geo. E White. R 

Edward D. Cooke. R 

George E. Foss, R..^ 

George W. Prin 



Walter Reeves, R, 

Vespasian Warner, R I Clinton 

J.V.Graff.R :peki 



Warsaw 

Warsaw 

Btoomingtou 

Shawneetown. . . . 

Chicago 

Chicago , 

Chicago 

Geneva and Elgin 

Mt. Carroll 

Quincy 

Isabel 

Metropolis , 

Metropolis... .. 

Ottawa 

Ottawa , 

Pontiac 

Pontiac 

Knoxville 

Pekin 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Sycamore 

Mt. Morris 

Mt. Morris 

Peoria 

Macomb 

Winchester 

Rloomington 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Aurora 

Aurora 

Streator 

Mt. Carmel 

Chicago 

Galesbiirg 

Rock Island 

Quincy... 

Hillsboro 

Chicago 

Joliet 

Newton 

Nashville 

Carmi 

Carmi 

IMurphysboro 

Murphysboro 

Chicago, 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Piano 

Sheldon 

Rock Island 

Bloomingtoii 

Urbana 

Chicago 

Paris 

Paris 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Hinsdale 

Kankakee 

Mt. Sterling 

Bloomington 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Galesburg 

Streator 



Eleventh 

Fifteenth 

Thirteenth.... 
Nineteenth.... 

Second 

Third 

Third 

Fourth 

Fifth 

Eleventh 

Fifteenth 

Eighteenth.... 



1S77- 



;iptb.. 



Twe 
Seven 

Eighth 

Eightli 

Ninth 

Ninth 

Thirteenth ., 

First 

Second 

Fourth 

Fifth 

Sixth 

Ninth 

Tenth 

Eleventh — 

Twelfth 

Fourteenth.. 

Second 

Third 

Fifth 

Eighth 

Eighth.. 



1879-83., 
1S83-S5.. , 
1879-81... 
1879-83... 
1879-8'i... 
1879-83.. 
X879-81.. 
1879-83. . 
1883-89... 



Sixteenth 

Third 

Tenth 

Eleventh 

Twelfth 

Seventeenth . . . 

First 

Eighth 

Sixteenth 

Eighteenth.... 
Eighteenth .... 
Nineteenth — 

Twentieth 

Twenty-sec' nd 

Second 

Third 

Fi^urth 

Eighth 

Ninth 

Eleventh 

Fourteenth .... 

Fifteenth 

State-at- large. 
State-at-large. 
Nineteenth.... 

First 

Fourth 

Eighth 

Ninth 

Twelfth 

Fourteenth.... 

Second 

Third 

Fourth 

Fifth 



th . 



I ■:!*_■ 



Til 



nth. 



:ith . 



Finis E. Downing, D Virginia.. 

James A. Connolly, R Springfield 

Frederick Remann. R Vandalia 

Wm. F. L. Hadley.R Edwardsville .. 

Benson Wood, R Effingham 

Orlando Burrell.R Carmi 

Everett J. Murphy, R East St. Louis. 

James R. Maim, R Chicago 

Daniel W. Mills, R Chicago 

Thomas M. Jett, D Hillsboro 

James R. Campbell, D.... McLeansboru... 

George P. Foster, R Chicago 

Thomas Cusack, D [Chicago 

Edgar T. Noonan.D |Chicago 

Henry S. Boutell. R [Chicago 

W. E. Williams, D ^Plttsfield 

B. F. Caldwell, D Chatham 

Joseph B. Crowley, 1> Robinson 

W. A. Rodenberg, R East St. Lnuis . 



Fourteenth 
Sixteenth.. 
Seventeenth.,. 
Eighteenth .. 
Eighteenth.., 
Nineteenth. . 
Twentieth ... 
Twenty- first 

First 

Second 

I Eighteenth 



Died, '82; succeeded by R. R. Hitt. 



Succeeded R. M. A. Hawk, deceased. 



Died, Jan. 6,1893. 



Awarded seat after con. with L. E. McGann. 
iSiedi June 4, 'bsVsuc'd.'by Henry S. BoutelL 




Succeeded E. D. Cooke, deceased. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



449 



REYNOLDS, John, Justice of Supreme Court 
and fourth Governor of Illinois, was born of Irish 
ancestrj-, in Montgomery County, Pa., Feb. 26, 
1789, and brought by his parents to Kaskaskia, 
111., in 1800, spending the first nine years of his 
life in Illinois on a farm. After receiving a com- 
mon school education, and a two years' course of 
study in a college at Knoxville, Tenn., he studied 
law and began practice. In 1812-13 he served as 
a scout in the campaigns against the Indians, 
winning for himself the title, in after life, of "The 
Old Ranger." Afterwards he removed to 
Cahokia, where lie began the practice of 
law, and, in 1818, became Associate Justice of the 
first Supreme Court of the new State. Retiring 
from the bench in 1825, he served two terms in 
the Legislature, and was elected Governor in 
1830, in 1832 personally commanding the State 
volunteers called for service in the Black Hawk 
War. Two weeks before the expiration of his 
term (1834), he resigned to accept a seat in Con- 
gress, to which he had been elected as the suc- 
cessor of Charles Slade, who had died in oflBce, 
and was again elected in 1888, always as a Demo- 
crat. He also served as Representative in the 
Fifteenth General Assembly, and again in the 
Eighteenth (1852-54), being chosen Speaker of the 
latter. In 1858 he was the administration (or 
Buchanan) Democratic candidate for State Su- 
perintendent of Public Instruction, as opposed to 
the Republican and regular (or Douglas) Demo- 
cratic candidates. For some years he edited a 
daily paper called "The Eagle," which was pub- 
lished at Belleville. While Governor Reynolds 
acquired some reputation as a "classical scholar," 
from the time spent in a Tennessee College at 
that early day, this was not sustained by either 
his colloquial or written style. He was an 
ardent champion of slavery, and, in the early 
days of the Rebellion, gained unfavorable notori- 
ety in consequence of a letter written to Jefferson 
Davis expressing sympathy with the cause of 
"secession." Nevertheless, in spite of intense 
prejudice and bitter partisanship on some ques- 
tions, he possessed many amiable qualities, as 
shown by his devotion to temperance, and his 
popularity among persons of opposite political 
opinions. Although at times crude in style, and 
not alwaj's reliable in his statement of historical 
facts and events, Governor Reynolds has rendered 
a valuable service to posterity by his writings 
relating to the early history of the State, espe- 
cially those connected with his own times. His 
best known works are: "Pioneer History of Illi- 
nois" (Belleville, 1848); "A Glance at the Crystal 



Palace, and Sketches of Travel" (1854); and "My 
Life and Times" (1855). His death occurred at 
Belleville, May 8, 1865. 

REYNOLDS, John Parker, Secretary and 
President of State Board of Agriculture, was born 
at Lebanon, Ohio, March 1, 1820, and graduated 
from the Miami University at the age of 18. In 
1840 he graduated from the Cincinnati Law 
School, and soon afterward began practice. He 
removed to Illinois in 1854, settling first in Win- 
nebago County, later, successively in Marion 
County, in Springfield and in Chicago. From 
1860 to 1870 he was Secretary of the State Agri- 
cultural Society, and, upon the creation of the 
State Board of Agriculture in 1871, was elected 
its President, filling that position until 1888, 
when he resigned. He has also occupied numer- 
ous other posts of honor and of trust of a public 
or semi-public character, having been President 
of the Illinois State Sanitary Commission during 
the War of the Rebellion, a Commissioner to the 
Paris Exposition of 1867, Chief Grain Inspector 
from 1878 to 1882, and Secretary of the Inter- 
State Industrial Exposition Company of Chicago, 
from the date of its organization (1873) until its 
final dissolution. His most important public 
service, in recent years, was rendered as Director- 
in-Chief of the Illinois exhibit in the World's 
Columbian Exposition of 1893. 

REYNOLDS, Joseph Smith, soldier and legis- 
lator, was born at New Lenox, 111., Dec. 3, 1839; 
at 17 years of age went to Chicago, was educated 
in the high school there, within a mouth after 
graduation enlisting as a private in the Sixty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteers. From the ranks he 
rose to a colonelcy through the gradations of 
Second-Lieutenant and Captain, and, in July, 
1865, was brevetted Brigadier-General. He was 
a gallant soldier, and was thrice wounded. On 
his return home after nearly four years' service, 
he entered the law department of the Chicago 
University, graduating therefrom and beginning 
practice in 1866. General Reynolds has been 
prominent in public life, having served as a 
member of both branches of the General Assem- 
bly, and having been a State Commissioner to the 
Vienna Exposition of 1873. He is a member of 
the G. A. R. , and, in 1875, was elected Senior 
Vice-Commander of the order for the United 
States. 

REYNOLDS, William Morton, clergyman, was 
born in Fayette County, Pa. , March 4, 1812 ; after 
graduating at Jefferson College, Pa., in 1832, was 
connected with various institutions in that State, 
as well as President of Capital University at 



450 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Coliunbiis, Ohio, ; then, coming to Illinois, was 
President of the Illinois State University at 
Springfield, 1857-60, after which he became Prin- 
cipal of a female seminary in Chicago. Previ- 
ously a Lutheran, he took orders in the Protestant 
Episcopal Church in 1864, and served several 
parishes until his death. In his early life he 
founded, and, for a time, conducted several reli- 
gious publications at Gettysburg, Pa., besides 
issuing a number of printed addresses and other 
published works. Died at Oak Park, near Chi- 
cago, Sept. 5, 1876. 

KHOADS, (Col.) Franklin Lawrence, soldier 
and steamboat captain, was born in Harrisburg, 
Pa., Oct. 11, 1824; brought to Pekin, Tazewell 
County, 111., in 1836, where he learned the print- 
er's trade, and, on the breaking out of the 
Mexican War, enlisted, serving to the close. 
Returning home he engaged in the river trade, 
and, for fifteen years, commanded steamboats on 
the Illinois, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. In 
April, 1861. he was commissioned Captain of a 
company of three months' men attached to the 
Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, on the 
reorganization of the regiment for the three- 
years' service, was commissioned Lieutenant- 
Colonel, soon after being promoted to the colo- 
nelcy, as succes.sor to Col. Richard J. Oglesby, who 
had been promoted Brigadier-General. After 
serving through the spring campaign of 1862 in 
Western Kentucky and Tennessee, he was com- 
pelled by rapidly declining health to resign, when 
he located in Shawneetown. retiring in 1874 to 
his farm near that city. During the latter years 
of his life he was a confirmed invalid, dying at 
Shawneetown, Jan. 6. 1879. 

EHOADS, Joshua, M.D., A.M., physician and 
educator, was born in Pliiladelphia, Sept. 14, 
1806; studied medicine and graduated at the 
University of Pennsylvania with the degree of 
M.D., also receiving the degree of A.M., from 
Princeton ; after several years spent in practice 
as a physician, and as Principal in some of the 
public schools of Philadelphia, in 1839 he was 
elected Principal of the Pennsylvania Institution 
for the Blind, and, in 18.50, took charge of the 
State Institution for the Blind at Jacksonville, 
111., then in its infancy. Here he remained imtil 
1874, when he retired. Died, February 1, 1876. 
RICE, Edward T., lawyer and jurist, born in 
Logan County, Ky., Feb. 8, 1820. was educated in 
the common schools and at Shurtleff College, 
after which he read law with John M. Palmer at 
Carlinville, and was admitted to practice, in 1845, 
at Hillsboro ; in 1847 was elected County Recorder 



of Montgomery County, and, in 1848, to the Six- 
teenth General Assembly, serving one term. 
Later he was elected County Judge of Montgom- 
ery County, was Master in Chancer)' from 1853 to 
1857, and the latter year was elected Judge of the 
Eighteenth Circuit, being re-elected in 1861 and 
again in 1867. He was also a member of the 
Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and, at the 
election of the latter year, was chosen Repre- 
sentative in the Forty-second Congress as a 
Democrat. Died, April 16, 1883. 

RICE, John B., theatrical manager. Mayor of 
Chicago, and Congressman, was born at Easton, 
Md., in 1809. By profession he was an actor, 
and, coming to Chicago in 1847, built and opened 
there the first theater. In 1857 he retired from 
the stage, and, in 1865, was elected Mayor of 
Chicago, the city of his adoption, and re-elected 
in 1867. He was also prominent in the early 
stages of the Civil War in the measures taken to 
raise troops in Chicago. In 1872 he was elected 
to the Forty-third Congress as a Republican, but, 
before the expiration of his term, died, at Nor- 
folk, Va., on Dec. 6, 1874. At a special election 
to fill the vacancy, Bernard G. Caulfield was 
chosen to succeed him. 

RICHARDSON, William A., lawyer and poli- 
tician, born in Fayette County, Ky., Oct. 11, 
1811, was educated at Transylvania University, 
came to the bar at 19, and settled in Schuyler 
County, 111., becoming State's Attorney in 1835; 
was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature 
in 1836, to the Senate in 1838, and to the House 
again in 1844, from Adams County — the latter 
year being also chosen Presidential Elector on 
the Polk and Dallas ticket, and, at the succeeding 
session of the General Assembly, serving as 
Speaker of the House. He entered the Mexican 
War as Captain, and won a Majority through 
gallantry at Buena Vista. From 1847 to 1856 
(when he resigned to become a candidate for 
Governor), he was a Democratic Representative 
in Congress from the Quincy District ; re-entered 
Congress in 1861, and, in 1863, was chosen 
United States Senator to fill the unexpired term 
of Stephen A. Douglas. He was a delegate to the 
National Democratic Convention of 1868, but 
after that retired to private life, acting, for a 
short time, as editor of "The Quincy Herald." 
Died, at Quincy, Dec. 27, 1875. 

RICHLAND COUNT y, situated in the south- 
east quarter of the State, and has an area of 361 
square miles. It was organized from Edwards 
County in 1841. Among the early pioneers may 
be mentioned the Evans brothers. Thaddeus 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



451 



Morehouse, Hugh Calhoun and son, Thomas 
Gardner, James Parker, Cornelius De Long, 
James Gilmore and Elijah Nelson. In 1820 
there were but thirty families in the district. 
The first frame houses — tlie Nelson and More- 
house homesteads — were built in 1821, and, some 
years later, James Laws erected the first brick 
house. The pioneers traded at Vinceunes, but, 
in 1825, a store was opened at Stringtown by 
Jacob May ; and the same year the first school was 
opened at Watertown, taught by Isaac Chaun- 
cey. The first church was erected by the Bap- 
tists in 1822, and services were conducted by 
William Martin, a Kentuckian. For a long time 
the mails were 'carried on horseback by Louis 
and James Beard, but, in 1824, Mills and Whet- 
sell established a line of four-horse stages. The 
principal road, known as the "trace road," lead- 
ing from Louisville to Cahokia, followed a 
buffalo and Indian trail about wliere the main 
street of Olney now is. Olney was selected as 
the county-seat upon the organization of the 
county, and a Mr. Lilly built the first house 
there. The chief branches of industry followed 
by the inhabitants are agriculture and fruit- 
growing. Population (1880), 15,545; (1890), 
15,019; (1900), 16,391. 

RIDGE FARM, a village of Vermillion County, 
at junction of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago 
& St. Louis and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western 
Railroads, 174 miles northeast of St. Louis; has 
electric light plant, planing mill, elevators, bank 
and two papers. Pop. (1900), 933; (1904), 1,300. 

RIDGELY, a manufacturing and mining sub- 
urb of the city of Springfield. An extensive 
rolling mill is located there, and there are several 
coal-shafts in the vicinity. Population(1900), 1,169. 
RIDGELY, Charles, manufacturer and capi- 
talist, born in Springfield, 111, Jan. 17, 1836; was 
educated in private schools and at Illinois Col- 
lege ; after leaving college spent some time as a 
clerk in his father's bank at Springfield, finally 
becoming a member of the firm and successively 
Cashier and Vice-President. In 1870 he was 
Democratic candidate for State Treasurer, but 
later has affiliated with the Republican party. 
About 1872 he became identified with the Spring- 
field Iron Company, of which he has been Presi- 
dent for many years ; has also been President of 
the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis and, 
for some time, was a Director of the Wabash Rail- 
road. Mr. Ridgely is also one of the Trustees of 
Illinois College. 

RIDGELY, Nicholas H., early banker, was 
born in Baltimore, Md., April 27, 1800; after 



leaving school was engaged, for a time, in the 
dry-goods trade, but, in 1829, came to St. Louis 
to assume a clerkship in the branch of the 
United States Bank just organized there. In 
1835 a branch of the State Bank of Illinois vi-as 
established at Springfield, and Mr. Ridgely 
became its cashier, and, when it went into liqui- 
dation, was appointed one of the trustees to wind 
up its affairs. He subsequently became Presi- 
dent of the Clark's Exchange Bank in that city, 
but this having gone into liquidation a few years 
later, he went into the private banking business 
as head of the "Ridgely Bank," which, in 1866, 
became the "Ridgely National Bank," one of the 
strongest financial institutions in the State out- 
side of Chicago. After the collapse of the inter- 
nal improvement scheme, Mr. Ridgely became 
one of the purchasers of the "Northern Cross 
Railroad" (now that part of the Wabash system 
extending from the Illinois river to Springfield), 
when it was sold by the State in 1847, paying 
therefor $21,100. He was also one of the Spring- 
field bankers to tender a loan to the State at the 
beginning of the war in 1861. He was one of the 
builders and principal owner of the Springfield 
gas-light system. His business career was an 
eminently successful one, leaving an estate at 
his death, Jan. 31, 1888. valued at over 12,000,000. 

RIDGWAY, a village of Gallatin County, on the 
Shawneetown Division of the Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern Railway, 12 miles northwest of 
Shawneetown; has a bank and one newspaper. 
Pop. (1890), 523; (1900), 839; (1903, est), 1,000. 

RIDGWAY, Thomas S., merchant, banker and 
politician, was born at Carmi, 111, August 30, 
1826. His father having died when he was but 4 
years old and his mother when he was 14, his 
education was largely acquired through contact 
with the world, apart from such as he received 
from his mother and during a year's attendance 
at a private school. When he was 6 years of age 
the family removed to Shawneetown, where he 
ever afterwards made his home. In 1845 he em- 
barked in business as a merchant, and the firm 
of Peeples & Ridgway soon became one of the 
most prominent in Southern Illinois. In 1865 the 
partners closed out their business and organized 
the first National Bank of Shawneetown, of 
which, after the death of Mr. Peeples in 1875, 
Mr. Ridgway was President. He was one of 
the projectors of the Springfield & Illinois South- 
eastern Railway, now a part of the Baltimore & 
Ohio Southwestern system, and, from 1867 to 
1874, served as its President. He was an ardent 
and active Republican, and served as a delegate 



453 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ii^LINOIS. 



to every State and National Convention of liis 
party from 18fi8 to 1896. In 1874 he was elected 
State Treasurer, the candidate for Superintendent 
of Public Instruction on the same ticket being 
defeated. In 1876 and 1880 he was an unsuccess- 
ful candidate for his party's nomination for Gov- 
ernor. Three times he consented to lead the 
forlorn hope of the Republicans as a candidate 
for Congress from an impregnably Democratic 
stronghold. For several years he was a Director 
of the McCormick Theological Seminary, at Chi- 
cago, and, for nineteen years, was a Trustee of the 
Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbon- 
dale, resigning in 1893. Died, at Shawneetown, 
Nov. 17, 1897. 

RIGGS, James M., ex-Congressman, was born 
in Scott County, 111., April 17, 1839, where he 
received a common school education, supple- 
mented by a partial collegiate course. He is a 
practicing lawyer of "Winchester. In 1864 he was 
elected Sheriff, serving two years. In 1871-72 he 
represented Scott Count}- in the lower house of 
the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, and was 
State's Attorney from 1873 to 1876. In 1882, and 
again in 1884, he was the successful Democratic 
candidate for Congress in the Twelfth Illinois 
District. 

RIGGS, Scott, pioneer, was born in North 
Carolina about 1790; removed to Crawford 
County, 111, early in 1815, and represented that 
county in the First General Assembly (1818-20). 
In 1825 he removed to Scott County, where he 
continued to reside until his death, Feb. 24, 1872. 

RINAKER, John I., lawyer and Congressman, 
born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 18, 1830. Left an 
orphan at an early age, he came to Illinois in 
1836, and, for several years, lived on farms in 
Sangamon and Morgan Counties; was educated 
at Illinois and McKendree Colleges, graduating 
from the latter in 1851 ; in 1852 began reading 
law with John M. Palmer at Carlinville, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1854. In August, 1863, he 
recruited the One Hundred and Twenty-seconu 
Illinois Volunteers, of which he was commis- 
sioned Colonel. Four months later he was 
wounded in battle, but served with his regiment 
through the war, and was brevetted Brigadier- 
General at its close. Returning from the war he 
resumed the practice of his profession at Carlin- 
ville. Since 1858 he has been an active Repub- 
lican; has twice (1872 and "70) served his party 
as a Presidential Elector — the latter year for the 
State-at-large — and, in 1874, accepted a nomina- 
tion for Congress against William R. Morrison, 
largely reducing the normal Democratic major- 



ity. At the State Republican Convention of 1880 
he was a prominent, but unsuccessful, candidatf 
for the Republican nomination for Governor. I; 
1894 he made the race as the Republican candi- 
date for Congress in the Sixteenth District and, 
although his opponent was awarded the certifi- 
cate of election, on a bare majoritj' of 60 votes on 
the face of the returns, a re-count, ordered by the 
Fifty-fourth Congress, showed a majority for 
General Rinaker, and he was seated near the 
close of the first session. He was a candidate 
for re-election in 1896, but defeated in a strongly 
Democratic District. 

RIPLEY, Edward Payson, Railway President, 
was born in Dorchester (now a part of Boston), 
Mass., Oct. 30, 1845, being related, on his mother's 
side, to the distinguished author, Dr. Edward 
Payson. After receiving his education in the 
high school of his native place, at the age of 17 
he entered upon a commercial life, as clerk in a 
wholesale dry-goods establishment in Boston. 
About the time he became of age, he entered into 
the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a 
clerk in the freight department in the Boston 
office, but, a few years later,assumed a responsible 
position in connection with the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy line, finally becoming General 
Agent for the business of that road east of 
Buffalo, though retaining his headquarters at 
Boston. In 1878 he removed to Chicago to accept 
the position of General Freight Agent of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy System, with which 
he remained twelve j'ears, serving successively as 
General Traffic Manager and General Manager, 
until June 1, 1890, when he resigned to become 
Third Vice-President of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul line. This relation was continued 
until Jan. 1, 1896, when Mr. Riplej- accepted 
the Presidency of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa 
Fe Railroad, which (1899) he now holds. Mr. 
Ripley was a prominent factor in securing the 
location of the World's Columbian Exposition at 
Chicago, and, in Aj^ril, 1891, was chosen one of 
the Directors of the Exposition, serving on the 
Executive Committee and the Committee of 
Ways and Means and Transportation, being Chair- 
man of the latter. 

RIVERSIDE, a suburban town on the Des 
Plaines River and the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railway, 11 miles west of Chicago; has 
handsome parks, several churches, a bank, 
two local papers and numerous fine residences. 
Population (1890), 1,000; (1900), 1,551. 

RIVERTON, a village in Clear Creek Town- 
ship, Sangamon County, at the crossing of thfl 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



453 



Wabash Railroad over the Sangamon River, 6'/i 
miles east-northeast of Springfield. It has four 
churches, a nursery, and two coal mines Popu- 
lation (1880), 703: (1890), 1,137, (1900), 1,511; (1903, 
est), about e, 000. 

RIVES, John Cook, early banker and journal- 
ist, was born in Franklin Count}', Va., May 24, 
1793; in 1806 removed to Kentucky, where he 
grew up under care of an uncle, Samuel Casey. 
He received a good education and was a man of 
high character and attractive manners. In his 
early manhood he came to Illinois, and was con- 
nected, for a time, with the Branch State Bank 
at Edwardsville, but, about 1824, removed to 
Shawneetown and held a position in the bank 
there; also studied law and was admitted to 
practice. Finally, having accepted a clerkship 
in the Fourth Auditor's Office in Washington, 
he removed to that city, and, in 1830, became 
associated with Francis P. Blair, Sr., in the 
establishment of "The Congressional Globe" (the 
predecessor of "The Congressional Record"), of 
which he finally became sole proprietor, so 
remaining until 1864. Like his partner, Blair, 
although a native of Virginia and a life-long 
Democrat, he was intensely loyal, and contrib- 
uted liberally of his means for tlie equipment of 
soldiers from the District of Columbia, and for 
the support of their families, during the Civil 
War. His expenditures for these objects have 
been estimated at some 830,000. Died, in Prince 
George's County, Md., April 10, 1864. 

RO.\.\OKE, a village of Woodford County, on 
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. 26 
miles northeast of Peoria; is in a coal district; 
has two banks, a coal mine, and one newspaper. 
Population (1880), 355; (1890), 831; (1900), 966. 

ROBB, Thomas Patten, Sanitary Agent, was 
born in Bath, Maine, in 1819; came to Cook 
Coimty, 111., in 1838, and, after arriving at man- 
hood, established the first exclusive wholesale 
grocery house in Chicago, remaining in the busi- 
ness until 1830. He then went to California, 
establishing himself in mercantile business at 
Sacramento, where he remained seven years, 
meanwhile being elected Mayor of that city. 
Returning to Chicago on the breaking out of the 
war, he was appointed on the staff of Governor 
Yates with the rank of Major, and, while serv- 
ing in this capacity, was instrumental in giving 
General Grant the first duty he performed in the 
office of the Adjutant-General after his arrival 
from Galena. Later, he was assigned to duty as 
Inspector-General of Illinois troops with the rank 
of Colonel, having general charge of sanitary 



affairs until the close of the war, when he was 
appointed Cotton Agent for the State of Georgia, 
and, still later. President of the Board of Tax 
Commissioners for that State. Other positions 
held by him were those of Postmaster and Col- 
lector of Customs at Savannah, Ga. ; he was also 
one of the publishers of "The New Era," a 
Republican paper at Atlanta, and a prominent 
actor in reconstruction affairs. Resigning the 
Collectorship, he was appointed by the President 
United States Commissioner to investigate Mexi- 
can outrages on the Rio Grande border ; was sub- 
sequently identified with Texas railroad interests 
as the President of the Corpus Christi & Rio 
Grande Railroad, and one of the projectors of the 
Chicago, Texas & Mexican Central Railway, being 
thus engaged until 1872. Later he returned to 
California, dying near Glenwood, in that State, 
April 10, 1895, aged 75 years and 10 months. 

ROBERTS, William Charles, clergyman and 
educator, was born in a small village of Wales, 
England., Sept. 23, 1832; received his primary 
education in that country, but, removing to 
America during his minority, graduated from 
Princeton College in 1835, and from Princeton 
Theological Seminary in 1858. After filling vari- 
ous pastorates in Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio, 
in 1881 he was elected Corresponding Secretary 
of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, 
the next year being offered tlie Presidency of 
Rutgers College, which he declined. In 1887 he 
accepted the presidency of Lake Forest Univer- 
sity, which he still retains. From 1859 to 1863 
he was a Trustee of Lafaj'ette College, and, in 
1866, was elected to a trusteeship of his Alma 
Mater. He has traveled extensively in the 
Orient, and was a member of the first and third 
councils of the Reformed Churches, held at Edin- 
burgh and Belfast. Besides occasional sermons 
and frequent contributions to English, Ameri- 
can, German and Welsh periodicals. Dr. Roberts 
has published a Welsh translation of the West- 
minster shorter catecliism and a collection of 
letters on the great preachers of Wales, which 
appeared in Utica, 1868. He received the degree 
of D.D., from Union College in 1872, and that of 
LL.D., from Princeton, in 1887. 

ROBINSON, an incorporated city and the 
county-seat of Crawford Courty, 25 miles north- 
west of Vincennes, Ind. , and 44 miles south of 
Paris, 111. ; is on two lines of railroad and in the 
heart of a fruit and agricultural region The 
city has water-works, electric lights, two banks 
and three weekly newspapers Population (1890) 
1,387; (1900), 1,683; (1904), about 2,000. 



454 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ROBINSON, James C, lawyer and former 
Congressman, was born in Edgar County, III. , in 
1822, read law and was admitted to tbe bar in 
1850. He served as a pri%-ate during tbe Mexican 
War, and, in 1858, was elected to Congress as a 
Democrat, as be was again in 1860, "62, "TO and 
'72. In 1864 be was tbe Democratic nominee for 
Governor. He was a fluent speaker, and attained 
considerable distinction as an advocate in crimi- 
nal practice. Died, at Springfield, Nov. 3, 1886. 

ROBINSON, John M., United States Senator, 
born in Kentucky in 1793, was liberally educated 
and became a lawyer by profession. In early life 
be settled at Carmi, 111., wbere be married. He 
was of fine pbysique, of engaging manners, and 
personally popular. Througb bis association 
witb tbe State militia he earned tbe title of 
"General."' In 1830 he was elected to tbe United 
States Senate, to fill tbe unexpired term of John 
McLean. His immediate predecessor was David 
Jewett Baker, appointed bj- Governor Edwards, 
who served one month but failed of election by 
the Legislature. In 1834 Mr. Robinson was re- 
elected for a full term, which expired in 1841. 
In 1843 he was elected to a seat upon the Illinois 
Supreme bench, but died at Ottawa, April 27, of 
tbe same year, within three months after bis 
elevation. 

ROCHELLE, a city of Ogle County and an 
intersecting point of the Chicago & Northwestern 
and tbe Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railways. 
It is 75 miles west of Chicago, 37 miles south of 
Rockford, and 23 miles east by north of Dixon. 
It is in a rich agricultural and stock-raising 
region, rendering Rochelle an important ship 
ping point. Among its industrial establish- 
ments are water- works, electric lights, a flouring 
mill and si Ik -underwear factory The city has 
three banks, five churches and three newspapers. 
Pop. (1890). 1,789; (1900), 2,073; (1903), 2.500. 

ROCHESTER, a village and early settlement 
in Sangamon County, laid out in 1819; in rich 
agricultural district, on the Baltimore & Ohio 
Soutbvs'estern Railroad, T/2 miles southeast of 
Springfield ; has a bank, two churches, one school, 
and a newspaper. Population (1900), 365 

ROCK FALLS, a city in "Whiteside County, on 
Rock River and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad; has excellent water-power, a good 
public school sy.stem with a high school, banks 
and a weekly newspaper. Agricultural imple- 
ments, barbed wire, furniture, flour and paper are 
its chief manufactures. Water for the navigable 
feeder of tbe Hennepin Canal is taken from Rock 
River at this point. Pop. (1900), 3,176. 



ROCKFORD, a flourishing manufacturing 
city, the county -seat of Winnebago County ; lies 
on both sides of the Rock River, 93 miles west of 
Chicago. Four trunk lines of railroad — the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy, the Chicago & North- 
western, tbe Illinois Central and the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul — intersect here. Excellent 
water-power is secured by a dam across the river, 
and communication between the two divisions of 
the city is facilitated by three railway and three 
highway bridges. Water is provided from five 
artesian wells, a reserve main leading to tbe 
river. Tbe city is wealthy, prosperous and pro- 
gressive. The assessed valuation of property, in 
1893, was S6, 531, 235. Churches are numerous and 
schools, both public and private, are abundant 
and well conducted. Tbe census of 1890 showed 
§7,715,069 capital invested in 246 manufacturing 
establishments, which employed 5,223 persons and 
turned out an annual product valued at $8,888,- 
904. The principal industries are the manufac- 
ture of agricultural implements and furniture, 
though watches, silver-plated ware, paper, flour 
and grape sugar are among tbe other products. 
Pop. (1880), 13,129; (1890), 23,584; (1900), 31,051. 

ROCKFORD COLLEGE, located at Rockford, 
111., incorporated in 1847; in 1898 had a faculty 
of 21 instructors witb 161 pupils. Tbe branches 
taught include tbe classics, music and fine arts. 
It has a library of 6,150 volumes, funds and en- 
dowment aggregating |50,880 and property 
valued at $240,880, of which |150,000 is real 
estate. 

ROCK ISLAND, the principal city and county- 
seat of Rock Island County, on tbe Mississippi 
River, 182 miles west by south from Chicago ; is 
the converging point of five lines of railroad, and 
tbe western terminus of the Hennepin Canal. 
Tbe name is derived from an island in the Missis- 
sippi River, opposite the city, 3 miles long, which 
belongs to the United States Government and 
contains an arsenal and armory. The river 
channel north of the island is navigable, the 
southern channel having been dammed by tbe 
Government, thereby giving great water power 
to Rock Island and Moline. A combined railway 
and highway bridge spans the river from Rock 
Island to Davenport, Iowa, crossing the island, 
while a railway bridge connects the cities a mile 
below. The island was tbe site of Fort Arm- 
strong during the Black Hawk War, and was also 
a place for the confinement of Confederate prison- 
ers during the Civil War. Rock Island is in a re- 
gion of much picturesque .scenery and has exten- 
sive manufactures of lumber, agricultural imple- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



455 



ments, iron, carriages and wagons and oilcloth ; 
also five banks and three newspapers, two issuing 
daily editions. Pop. (1890), 13,634; (1900), 19,493. 
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, in the northwestern 
section of the State bordering upon the Missis- 
sippi River (which constitutes its northwestern 
boundary for more than 60 miles), and having an 
area of 440 square miles. In 1.S16 the Govern- 
ment erected a fort on Rock Island (an island in 
the Mississippi, 3 miles long and one-half to 
three-quarters of a mile wide), naming it Fort 
Armstrong. It has always remained a military 
post, and is now the seat of an extensive arsenal 
and work-shops. In the spring of 1828, settle- 
ments were made near Port Byron by John and 
Thomas Kinney, Archibald Allen and George 
Harlan. Other early settlers, near Rock Island 
aud Rapids City, were J. W. Spencer, J. W. Bar- 
riels, Benjamin F. Pike and Conrad Leak ; and 
among the pioneers were Wells and Michael Bart- 
lett, Joel Thompson, the Simms brothers and 
George Davenport. The countrj' was full of 
Indians, this being the headquarters of Black 
Hawk and the initial point of the Black Hawk 
War. (See Black Hatck, and Black Haivk War.) 
By 1829 settlers were increased in number and 
county organization was effected in 183.5, Rock 
Island (then called Stephenson) being made the 
county-seat. Joseph Conway was the first 
County Clerk, and Joel Wells. Sr., the first Treas- 
urer. The first court was held at the residence 
of John W, Barriels, in Farnhamsburg. The 
county is irregular in shape, and the soil and 
scenery greatly varied. Coal is abundant, the 
water-power inexhaustible, and the county's 
mining and manufacturing interests are very 
extensive. Several lines of railway cross tlie 
county, affording admirable transportation facili- 
ties to both eastern and western markets. Rock 
Island and MoUne (which see) are the two prin- 
cipal cities in the county, though there are 
several other important points. Coal Valley is 
the center of large mining interests, and Slilan is 
also a manufacturing center. Port Byron is one 
of the oldest towns in the county, and has con- 
siderable lime and lumber interests, while Water- 
town is the seat of the Western Hospital for the 
Insane. Population of the county (1880), 38,302; 
(1890), 41,917; (1900), 55,249. 

ROCK ISLAND & PEORIA RAILWAY, a 
standard-guage road, laid with steel rails, extend- 
ing from Rock Island to Peoria, 91 miles. It is 
lessee of the Rock Island & Mercer County Rail- 
road, running from Milan to Cable, 111., giving it 
a total length of 118 miles — with Peoria Terminal, 



121.10 miles. — (History.) The company is a 
reorganization (Oct. 9, 1877) of the Peoria & 
Rock Island Railroad Company, whose road was 
sold under foreclosure, April 4, 1877. The latter 
Road was the result of the consolidation, in 1869, 
of two corporations — the Rock Island & Peoria 
and the Peoria & Rock Island Railroad Compa- 
nies — the new organization taking the latter 
name. The road was opened through its entire 
length, Jan. 1, 1872, its sale under foreclosure and 
reorganization under its present name taking 
place, as already stated, in 1877. The Cable 
Branch was organized in 1876, as the Rock Island 
& Mercer County Railroad, and opened in De- 
cember of the same year, sold under foreclosure in 
1877, and leased to the Rock Island & Peoria Rail- 
road, July 1, 1885, for 999 years, the rental for 
the entire period being commuted at §450,000. — 
(Financial.) The cost of the entire road and 
equipment was §2,654,487. The capital stock 
(1898) is 51,500,000; funded debt, §600,000; other 
forms of indebtedness increasing the total capital 
invested to $2,181,066. 

ROCK RIVER, a stream which rises in Wash- 
ington County, Wis., and flows generally in a 
southerly direction, a part of its course being very 
sinuous. After crossing the northern boundary 
of Illinois, it runs southwestward, intersecting 
the counties of Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside 
and Rock Island, and entering the Mississippi 
three miles below the city of Rock Island. 
It is about 375 miles long, but its navigation is 
partly obstructed by rapids, which, however, 
furnish abundant water-power. The principal 
towns on its banks are Rockford, Dixon and 
Sterling. Its valley is wide, and noted for its 
beauty and fertility. 

ROCKTON, a village in Winnebago County, at 
the junction of two branches of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, on Rock River, 
13 miles north of Rockford ; has manufactures of 
paper and agricultural implements, a feed mill, 
and local paper. Pop. (1890), 892; (1900), 936. 

ROE, Edward Reynolds, A.B., M.D., physician, 
soldier and author, was born at Lebanon, Ohio, 
June 32, 1813; removed with his father, in 1819, 
to Cincinnati, and graduated at Louisville Med- 
ical Institute in 1842 ; began practice at Anderson, 
Ind., but soon removed to Shawneetown, 111., 
where he gave much attention to geological 
research and made some extensive natural his- 
tory collections. From 1848 to '52 he resided at 
Jacksonville, lectured extensively on his favorite 
science, wrote for the press and, for two years 
(18.50-52), edited "The Jacksonville Journal," still 



456 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



later editing the newly established "Constitu- 
tionalist" for a few months. During a part of 
this period he was lecturer on natural science at 
Shurtleff College ; also delivered a lecture before 
the State Legislature on the geology of Illinois, 
which was immediately followed by the passage 
of the act establishing the State Geological 
Department. A majority of both houses joined 
in a request for his appointment as State Geolo- 
gist, but it was rejected on partisan grounds^ 
he, then, being a Whig. Removing to Blooming- 
ton in 1852, Dr. Roe became prominent in educa- 
tional matters, being the first Professor of Natural 
Science in the State Normal University, and also 
a Trustee of the Illinois Wesle}-an University. 
Having identified himself with the Democratic 
party at this time, he became its nominee for 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 
1860, but, on the inception of the war in 1861, he 
promptly espoused the cause of the Union, raised 
three companies (mostly Normal students) which 
were attached to the Thirtj'-third Illinois (Nor- 
mal) Regiment : was elected Captain and succes- 
sively promoted to Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Having been dangerously wounded in the assault 
at Vicksburg, on May 22, 1863, and compelled to 
return home, he was elected Circuit Clerk by the 
combined vote of both parties, was re-elected 
four years later, became editor of "The Bloom- 
ington Pantagraph" and, in 1870, was elected to 
the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, where 
he won distinction by a somewhat notable 
humorous speech in opposition to removing the 
State Capital to Peoria. In 1871 he was ap- 
pointed Marshal for the Southern District of Illi- 
nois, serving nine years. Dr. Roe was a somewhat 
prolific author, having produced more than a 
dozen works which have appeared in book form. 
One of these, "Virginia Rose; a Tale of Illinois 
in Early Days," first appeared as a prize serial in 
"The Alton Courier" in 18.")2. Others of his more 
noteworthy productions are : "The Gray and the 
Blue"; "Brought to Bay": "From the Beaten 
Path"; "G. A. R. ; or How She Married His 
Double"; "Dr. Caldwell; or the Trail of the 
Serpent"; and "Prairie-Land and Other Poems." 
He died in Chicago, Nov. 6, 1893. 

ROGERS, George Clarke, soldier, was born in 
Grafton County, N H., Nov. 22, 1838; but was 
educated in Vermont and Illinois, having re- 
moved to the latter State early in life. While 
teaching he studied law and was admitted to the 
bar in 1860; was the first, in 1861, to raise a com- 
pany in Lake County for the war, which was 
mustered into the Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers; 



was chosen Second-Lieutenant and later Captain ; 
was wounded four times at Shiloh, but refused to 
leave the field, and led his regiment in the final 
charge; was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and 
soon after commissioned Colonel for gallantry at 
Hatchie. At Champion Hills he received three 
wounds, from one of which he never fully re- 
covered ; took a prominent part in the operations 
at Allatoona and commanded a brigade nearly 
two years, including the Atlanta campaign, 
retiring with the rank of brevet Brigadier-Gen- 
eral. Since the war has practiced law in Illinois 
and in Kansas. 

ROGERS, Henry Wade, educator, lawyer and 
author, was born in Central New York in 1858; 
entered Hamilton College, but the following 
year became a student in Michigan University, 
graduating there in 1874, also receiving the 
degree of A.M., from the same institution, in 
1877. In 1883 he was elected to a professorship 
in the Ann Arbor Law School, and, in 1885, was 
made Dean of the Faculty, succeeding Judge 
Cooley, at the age of 32. Five years later he was 
tendered, and accepted, the Presidency of the 
Northwestern Universitj', at Evanston, being the 
first layman chosen to the position, and succeed- 
ing a long line of Bishops and divines. The same 
year (1890), Wesleyan University conferred upon 
him the honorary degree of LL.D. He is a mem- 
ber of the American Bar Association, has served 
for a nvmiber of years on its Committee on Legal 
Education and Admission to the Bar, and was 
the first Chairman of the Section on Legal Edu- 
cation. President Rogers was the General Chair- 
man of the Conference on the Future Foreign 
Policy of the United States, held at Saratoga 
Springs, N. Y., in August, 1898. At the Con- 
gress held in 1893, as auxiliary to the Columbian 
Exposition, he was chosen Chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Law Reform and Jurisprudence, and 
was for a time associate editor of "The American 
Law Register," of Philadelphia. He is also the 
author of a treatise on "Expert Testimony," 
which has passed through tw'o editions, and has 
edited a work entitled "Illinois Citations." 
besides doing much other valuable literary work 
of a similar character. 

ROGERS, John Gorin, jurist, was born at 
Glasgow, Ky., Dec. 28, 1818, of English and early 
Virginian ancestry ; was educated at Center Col- 
lege, Danville, Ky., and at Transylvania Univer- 
sity, graduating from the latter institution in 
1841, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. For 
sixteen years he practiced in his native town, 
and, in 1857, removed to Chicago, where he soon 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



457 



attained professional prominence. In 1870 he 
was elected a Judge of the Cook County Circuit 
Court, continuing on the bench, through repeated 
re-elections, until his death, which occurred 
suddenly, Jan. 10, 1887, four years before the 
expiration of the term for which he had been 
elected. 

ROGERS PARK, a village and suburb 9 miles 
north of Chicago, on Lake Michigan and the 
Chicago & Northwestern and the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railways; has a bank and two 
weekly newspapers ; is reached by electric street- 
car line from Chicago, and is a jjopular residence 
suburb. Annexed to City of Chicago, 1893. 

ROLL, John E., pioneer, was born in Green 
Village, N. J., June 4, 1814; came to Illinois in 
1830, and settled in Sangamon County. He 
assisted Abraham Lincoln in the construction of 
the flat-boat with which the latter descended the 
Mississippi River to New Orleans, in 1831. Mr. 
Roll, who was a mechanic and contractor, built 
a number of houses in Springfield, where he has 
since continued to reside. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The earliest 
Christians to establish places of worship in Illi- 
nois were priests of the Catholic faith. Early 
Catholic missionaries were explorers and histori- 
ans as well as preachers. (See Allouez,- Bergier; 
Early 3Iissionaries; Gravier; Marquette.) The 
church went hand in hand with the represent- 
atives of the French Government, carrying in 
one hand the cross and in the other the flag of 
France, simultaneously disseminating the doc- 
trines of Christianity and inculcating loyalty to 
the House of Bourbon. For nearly a hundred 
years, the self-sacrificing and devoted Catholic 
clergy of the seventeenth and eighteenth cen- 
turies ministered to the spiritual wants of the 
early French settlers and the natives. They were 
not without factional jealousies, hovrever, and a 
severe blow was dealt to a branch of them in the 
order for the banishment of the Jesuits and the 
confiscation of their property. (See Early Mis- 
sionaries.) The subsequent occupation of the 
country by the English, with the contemporane- 
ous emigration of a considerable portion of the 
French west of the Mississippi, dissipated many 
congregations. Up to 1830 Illinois was included 
in the diocese of Missoui'i; but at that time it was 
constituted a separate diocese, under the episco- 
pal control of Rt. Rev. Joseph Rosatti. At that 
date there were few, if any, priests in Illinois. 
But Bishop Rosatti was a man of earnest purpose 
and rare administrative ability. New parishes 
were organized as rapidly as circimistances 



would permit, and the growth of the church has 
been steady. By 1840 there were thirty-one 
parishes and twenty priests. In 1896 there are 
reported 698 parishes, 764 clergymen and a 
Catholic population exceeding 850,000. (See also 
Religious Denominations. ) 

KOODHOUSE, a city in Greene County, 21 
miles south of Jacksonville, and at junction of 
three divisions of the Chicago & Alton Railroad; 
is in fertile agricultural and coal-mining region; 
city contains a flouring mill, grain-elevator, stock- 
yards, railway shops, water-works, electric light 
plant, two private banks, fine opera house, good 
school buildings, one daily and two weekly 
papers. Pop. (1890), 2,360; (1900), 2,351. 

ROODHOUSE, John, farmer and founder of 
the town of Roodhouse, in Greene County, 111., 
was born in Yorkshire, England, brought to 
America in childhood, his father settling in 
Greene County, 111., in 1831. In his early man- 
hood he, opened a farm in Tazewell County, but 
finally retirrned to the paternal home in Greene 
County, where, on the location of the Jackson- 
ville Division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 
he laid out the town of Roodhouse, at the junc- 
tion of the Louisiana and Kansas City branch 
with the main line. 

ROOT, (Teorge Frederick, musical composer 
and author, was born at SheflSeld, Mass., August 
30, 1830. He was a natural musician, and, while 
employed on his father's farm, learned to play on 
various instruments. In 1838 he removed to Bos- 
ton, where he began his life-work. Besides 
teaching music in the public schools, he was 
employed to direct the musical service in two 
churches. From Boston he removed to New 
York, and, in 1850, went to Paris for purposes of 
musical study. In 1853 he made his first public 
essay as a composer in the song, "Hazel Dell,'" 
which became popular at once. From this time 
forward his success as a song-writer was assured. 
His music, while not of a high artistic character, 
captivated the popular ear and appealed strongly 
to the heart. In 1860 he took up his residence in 
Chicago, where he conducted a musical journal 
and wrote those "war songs" which created and 
perpetuated his fame. Among the best known 
are "Rally Round the Flag"; "Just Before the 
Battle, Mother"; and "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp." 
Other popular songs by him are "Rosalie, the 
Prairie Flower"; "A Hundred Years Ago" ; and 
"The Old Folks are Gone." Besides songs he 
composed several cantatas and much sacred 
music, also publishing many books of instruction 
and numerous collections of vocal and instru- 



458 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



mental music. In 1872 the University of Chicago 
conferred on him tlie degree of Mus. Doc. Died, 
near Portland, Maine, August 6, 1895. 

ROOTS, Benajah Guernsey, civil engineer, 
and educator, was born in Onondaga County 
N. Y., April 20, 1811, and educated in the schools 
and academies of Central New York; began 
teaching in 1827, and, after spending a year at 
sea for the benefit of his health, took a course in 
law and civil engineering. He was employed as 
a civil engineer on the Western Railroad of 
Massachusetts until 1838, when he came to Illi- 
nois and obtained employment on the railroad 
projected from Alton to Shawneetown, under 
the "internal improvement system" of 1837. 
When that was suspended in 1839, he settled on 
a farm near the present site of Tamaroa, Perry 
County, and soon after opened a boarding school, 
continuing its management until 1846, when be 
became Principal of a seminary at Sparta. In 
1851 he went into the service of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad, first as resident engineer in 
charge of surveys and construction, later as land 
agent and attorne}-. He was prominent in the 
introduction of the graded school system in Illi- 
nois and in the establishment of the State Nor- 
mal School at Bloomington and the University of 
Illinois at Champaign : was a member of the 
State Board of Education from its organization, 
and served as delegate to the National Repub- 
lican Convention of 1808. Died, at his home in 
Perry County, 111., May 9, 1888.— Philander Keep 
(Roots), son of the pi-eceding, born in Tolland 
County, Conn., June 4, 1838, brought to Illinois 
the same year and educated in his father's school, 
and in an academy at CarroUton and the Wes- 
leyan University at Bloomington ; at the age of 
17 belonged to a corps of engineers employed on 
a Southern railroad, and, during the war, served 
as a civil engineer in the construction and repair 
of military roads. Later, he was Deputy Sur- 
veyor-General of Nebraska ; in 1871 became Chief 
Engineer on the Cairo & Fulton (now a part of 
the Iron Mountain) Railway; tlien engaged in 
the banking business in Arkansas, first as cashier 
of a bank at Fort Smith and afterwards of the 
Merchants' National Bank at Little Rock, of 
which his brotlier, Logan H.. was President. — 
Logan H. (Roots), another son, born near Tama- 
roa, Perry County, 111., March 22, 1841, was edu- 
cated at home and at the State Normal at 
Bloomington, meanwhile serving as principal 
of a high school at Duquoin ; in 1862 enlisted in 
the Eighty-first Illinois Volunteers, serving 
through the war and acting as Chief Commissary 



for General Sherman on the "March to the Sea," 
and participating in the great review in Wash- 
ington, in May, 1865. After the conclusion of 
the war he was appointed Collector of Internal 
Revenue for the First Arkansas District, was 
elected from that State to the Fortieth and 
Forty-first Congresses (1868 and 1870) — being, at 
the time, the youngest member in that body — and 
was appointed United States Marshal by Presi- 
dent Grant. He finally became President of the 
Merchants' National Bank at Little Rock, with 
which he remained nearly twenty years. Died, 
suddenly, of congestion of the brain. May 30, 
1893, leaving an estate valued at nearly one and 
a half millions, of which he gave a large sliare to 
charitable purposes and to the city of Little 
Rock, for tlie benefit of its hospitals and the im- 
provement of its parks. 

ROSE, James A., Secretary of State, was born 
at Golconda, Pope County, 111., Oct. 13, 18.50. 
The foundation of his education was secured in 
the public schools of his native place, and, after 
a term in the Normal University at Normal, 111., 
at the age of 18 he took charge of a country 
school. Soon he was chosen Principal of the 
Golconda graded schools, was later made County 
Superintendent of Schools, and re-elected for a 
second term. During his second term he was 
admitted to the bar, and, resigning the office of 
Sujierintendent, was elected State's Attorney 
without opposition, being re-elected for anotlier 
term. In 1889, by appointment of Governor 
Fifer, he became one of the Trustees of the 
Pontiac Reformatory, serving until the next 
j'ear, when he was transferred to the Board of 
Commissioners of the Southern Illinois Peniten- 
tiary at Chester, which position he continued to 
occupy until 1893. In 1896 he was elected Secre- 
tary of State on tlie Republican ticket, his term 
extendini^ to January, 1901. 

ROSEVILLE, a village in Warren County, on 
the Rock Island Division of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad, 17 miles northwest of 
Bushnell ; has water and electric-light plants, two 
banks, public library and one newspaper Region 
agricultural and coal-mining. Pop. (1900), 1,014. 

ROSS, Leonard Fulton, soldier, born in Fulton 
County, 111., July 18, 1823; was educated in the 
common schools and at Illinois College, Jackson- 
ville, studied law and admitted to the bar in 1845 ; 
the following year enlisted in the Fourth Illinois 
Volunteers for the Mexican War, became First 
Lieutenant and was commended for services at 
Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo ; also performed im- 
portant service as bearer of dispatches for Gen- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



459 



eral Taylor. After the war he served six j'ears 
as Probate Judge. In May, 1861, he enlisted in 
the war for the Union, and was chosen Colonel 
of the Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers, serving 
with it in Missouri and Kentucky ; was commis- 
sioned Brigadier-General a few weeks after the 
capture of Fort Donelson, and, after the evacu- 
ation of Corinth, was assigned to the command 
of a division with headquarters at Bolivar, Tenn. 
He resigned in July, 1863, and, in 1867, was 
appointed by President Johnson Collector of 
Internal Revenue for the Ninth District; has 
been three times a delegate to National Repub- 
lican Conventions and twice defeated as a candi- 
date for Congress in a Democratic District. 
Since the war he has devoted his attention 
largely. to stock-raising, having a large stock- 
farm in Iowa. In his later years was President 
of a bank at Lewistown, 111. Died Jan. 17, 1901. 
ROSS, (Col.) William, ijioneer, was born at 
Monson, Hampden County, Mass., April 34, 1792; 
removed with his father's family, in 1805, to 
Pittsfield, Mass., where he remained until his 
twentieth year, when he was commissioned an 
Ensign in the Twenty-first Regiment United 
States Infantry, serving through the War of 
1813- 14, and participating in the battle of Sack- 
ett's Harbor. During the latter part of his serv- 
ice he acted as drill-master at various points. 
Then, returning to Pittsfield, he carried on the 
business of blacksmithing as an employer, mean- 
while filling some local oflSces. In 1820, a com- 
pany consisting of himself and four brothers, 
with their families and a few others, started for 
the West, intending to settle in Illinois. Reach- 
ing the head-waters of the Allegheny overland, 
they transferred their wagons, teams and other 
property to flat-boats, descending that stream 
and the Ohio to Shawneetown, 111. Here they 
disembarked and, crcssing the State, reached 
Upper Alton, where they found only one house, 
that of Ma j. Charles W. Hunter. Leaving their 
families at Upper Alton, the brothers proceeded 
north, crossing the Illinois River near its mouth, 
until they reached a point in the western part of 
the present county of Pike, where the town of 
Atlas was afterwards located. Here they 
erected four rough log-cabins, on a beautiful 
prairie not far from the Mississippi, removing 
their families thither a few weeks later. They 
suffered the usual privations incident to life in a 
new country, not excepting sickness and death 
of some of their number. At the next session of 
the Legislature (1830-31) Pike County was estab- 
lished, embracing all that part of the State west 



and north of the Illinois, and including tlie 
present cities of Galena and Chicago. The Ross 
settlement became the nucleus of the town of 
Atlas, laid out by Colonel Ross and his associates 
in 1833, at an early day the rival of Quincy, and 
becoming the second count3'-seat of Pike County, 
so remaining from 1834 to 1833, when the seat of 
justice was removed to Pittsfield. During this 
period Colonel Ross was one of the most promi- 
nent citizens of the county, holding, simultane- 
ously or successively, the offices of Probate 
Judge, Circuit and County Clerk, Justice of the 
Peace, and others of a subordinate character. 
As Colonel of Militia, in 1833, he was ordered by 
Governor Reynolds to raise a company for the 
Black Hawk War, and, in four days, reported at 
Beardstown with twice the number of men 
called for. In 1834 he was elected to the lower 
branch of the General Assembly, also serving in 
the Senate during the three following .sessions, a 
part of the time as President pro tem. of the last- 
named body. While in the General Assembly he 
was instrumental in securing legislation of great 
importance relating to Military Tract lands. 
The year following the establishment of the 
county-seat at Pittsfield (1834) he became a citi- 
zen of that place, whicli he had the privilege of 
naming for his early home. He was a member 
of the Republican State Convention of 1856, and a 
delegate to the National Republican Convention 
of 1860, which nominated Mr. Lincoln for Presi- 
dent the first time. Beginning life poor he 
acquired considerable property ; was liberal, pub- 
lic-spirited and patriotic, making a handsome 
donation to the first company organized in Pike 
County, for tlie suppression of the Rebellion. 
Died, at Pittsfield, May 31, 1873. 

EOSSVILLE, a village of Vermillion County, 
on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, 19 
miles north of Danville; has electric-light plant, 
water- works, tile and brick-works, two banks and 
two newspapers. Pop. (1890), 879; (1900), 1,435. 

ROUNDS, Sterling Parker, public printer, 
was born in Berkshire, Vt. , June 27, 1828 ; about 
1840 began learning the printer's trade at Ken- 
osha, Wis., and, in 1845, was foreman of the State 
printing office at Madison, afterward working in 
offices in Milwaukee, Racine and Buffalo, going 
to Chicago in 1851. Here he finally established 
a printer's warehouse, to which he later added an 
electrotype foundry and the manufacture of 
presses, also commencing tlie issue of "Round's 
Printers' Cabinet," a trade-paper, which was 
continued during his life. In 1881 he was ap- 
pointed by President Garfield Public Printer at 



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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Washington, serving until 1885, when lie removed 
to Omaha, Neb., and was identified with "The 
Republican," of that city, until his death, Dec. 
17, 1887. 

ROUNTREE, Hiram, County Judge, born in 
Rutherford County, N. C, Dec. 32, 1794; was 
brought to Kentucky in infancy, where he grew 
to manhood and served as an Ensign in the War 
of 1812 imder General Shelby. lu 1817 he re- 
moved to Illinois Territory, first locating in 
Madison County, where he taught school for two 
years near Edwardsville, but removed to Fayette 
County about the time of the removal of the 
State capital to Vandalia. On the organization 
of Montgomery County, in 1821, he was appointed 
to oiEce there and ever afterwards resided at 
Hillsboro. For a number of years in the early 
history of the county, he held (at the same time) 
the offices of Clerk of the County Commissioners 
Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court, County 
Recorder, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Master in Chancery and Judge of Probate, besides 
that of Postmaster for the town of Hillsboro. In 
1826 he was elected Enrolling and Engrossing 
Clerk of' the Senate and re-elected in 1830; served 
as Delegate in the Constitutional Convention of 
1847, and the next year was elected to the State 
Senate, serving in the Sixteenth and Seven- 
teenth General Assemblies. On retiring from 
the Senate (1852), he was elected County Judge 
without opposition, was re-elected to the same 
oflice in 1861, and again, in 1865, as the nominee 
of the Republicans. Judge Rountree was noted 
for his sound judgment and sterling integrity. 
Died, at Hillsboro, March 4, 1873. 

ROUTT, John L., soldier and Governor, was 
born at Eddyville, Ky., April 25, 1826, brought 
to Illinois in infancy and educated in the com- 
mon schools. Soon after coming of age he was 
elected and served one term as Sheriff of McLean 
County; in 1862 enlisted and became Captain of 
Company E, Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteers. 
After the war he engaged in business in Bloom- 
ington, and was appointed by President Grant, 
successively. United States Marshal for the 
Southern District of Illinois, Second Assistant 
Postmaster-General and Territorial Governor of 
Colorado. On the admission of Colorado as a 
State, he was elected the first Governor under the 
State Government, and re-elected in 1890 — serv- 
ing, in all, three years. His home is in Denver. 
He has been extensively and successfully identi- 
fied with mining enterprises in Colorado. 

ROWELL, Jonathan H., ex-Congressman, was 
born at Haverhill, N. H., Feb. 10, 1833. He is a 



graduate of Eureka College and of the Law 
Department of the Chicago University. During 
the War of tlie Rebellion he served three years as 
company officer in the Seventeenth IlUnois 
Infantry. In 1868 he was elected State's Attor- 
ney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1880, 
was a Presidential Elector on the Republican 
ticket. In 1882 he was elected to Congress from 
the Fourteenth Illinois District and three times 
re-elected, serving until March, 1891. His home 
is at Bloomington. 

ROWETT, Richard, soldier, was born in Corn- 
wall, England, in 1830, came to the United 
States in 1851, finally settling on a farm near 
Carlinville. 111., and becoming a breeder of 
thorough-bred horses. In 1861 he entered the 
service as a Captain in the Seventh Illinois 
Volunteers and was successively promoted 
Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel; was 
wounded in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and 
Allatoona, especially distinguishing himself at the 
latter and being brevetted Brigadier-General for 
gallantry. After the war he returned to his 
stock-farm, but later held the positions of Canal 
Commissioner, Penitentiary Commissioner, Rep- 
resentative in the Thirtieth General Assem- 
bly and Collector of Internal Revenue for the 
Fourth (Quincy) District, until its consolidation 
with the Eighth District by President Cleveland. 
Died, in Chicago, July 13, 1887. 

RUSH MEDICAL COLLEGE, located in Chi- 
cago ; incorporated by act of March 2, 1837, the 
charter having been prepared the previous year 
by Drs. Daniel Brainard and Josiah C. Goodhue. 
The extreme financial depression of the following 
year prevented the organization of a faculty 
until 1843. The institution was named in honor 
of Dr. Benjamin Rush, the eminent practitioner, 
medical author and teacher of Philadelphia in the 
latter half of the eighteenth century. The first 
faculty consisted of four professors, and the first 
term opened on Dec. 4, 1843, with a class of 
twenty-two students. Three years' study was 
required for graduation, but only two annual 
terms of sixteen weeks each need be attended at 
the college itself. Instruction was given in a 
few rooms temporarily opened for that purpose. 
The next year a small building, costing between 
S3, 000 and $4,000, was erected. This was re-ar- 
ranged and enlarged in 1855 at a cost of $15,000. 
The constant and rapid growth of the college 
necessitated the erection of a new building in 
1867, the cost of which was §70,000. This was 
destroyed in the fire of 1871. and another, costing 
§54,000, was erected in 1876 and a free dispensary 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



461 



added. In 1844 the Presbyterian Hospital was 
located on a portion of the college lot, and the 
two institutions connected, thus insuring abun- 
dant and stable facilities for clinical instruction. 
Shortly afterwards. Rush College became the 
medical department of Lake Forest University. 
The present faculty (1898) consists of 95 profes- 
sors, adjunct professors, lecturers and instructors 
of all grades, and over 600 students in attend- 
ance. The length of the annual terms is six 
months, and four years of study are required for 
graduation, attendance upon at least three col- 
lege terms being compulsory. 

RUSHTILLE, the county-seat of Schuyler 
County, .50 miles northeast of Quincy and 11 
miles northwest of Beardstown ; is the southern 
terminiis of the Buda and Rushville branch of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The 
town was selected as the county-seat in 1826, 
the seat of justice being removed from a place 
called Beardstown, about five miles eastward 
(not the present Beardstown in Cass County), 
where it had been located at the time of the 
organization of Schuyler County, a year previous. 
At first the new seat of justice was called Rush- 
ton, in honor of Dr. Benjamin Rush, but after- 
wards took its present name. It is a coalmining, 
grain and fruit-growing region, and contains 
se\'eral manufactories, including flour-mills, brick 
and tile works; also has two banks (State and 
private) and a public library. Four periodicals 
(one daily) are published here. Population 
(18.S0), 1,663; (1890), 3,031; (1900), 2,293. 

RUSSELL, John, pioneer teacher and author, 
was born at Cavendish, Vt., July 31, 1793, and 
educated in the common schools of his native 
State and at Middlebury College, where he gradu- 
ated in 1818 — having obtained means to supjiort 
himself, during his college course, by teaching 
and by the publication, before he had reached his 
20th year, of a volume entitled "The Authentic 
History of Vermont State Prison, " After gradu- 
ation he taught for a short time in Georgia ; but, 
early in the following year, joined his father on 
the way to Missouri. The next five 3'ears he 
spent in teaching in the "Bonhommie Bottom" 
on the Missouri River. During this period he 
published, anonymously, in "The St. Charles Mis- 
sourian," a temperance allegory entitled "The 
Venomous Worm" (or "The Worm of the Still"), 
which gained a wide popularity and was early 
recognized by the compilers of school-readers as 
a sort of classic. Leaving this locality he taught 
a year in St. Louis, when he removed to Vaudalia 
(then the capital of Illinois), after which he spent 



two years teaching in the Seminary at Upper 
Alton, which afterwards became Shurtlefl College. 
In 1828 he removed to Greene County, locating 
at a point near the Illinois River to which he 
gave the name of Bluffdale. Here he was li- 
censed as a Baptist preacher, officiating in this ca- 
pacity only occasionally, while pursuing his 
calling as a teacher or writer for the press, to 
which he was an almost constant contributor 
during the last twenty-five years of his life. 
About 1837 or 1838 he was editor of a paper called 
"The Backwoodsman" at Grafton— then a part 
of Greene County, but now in Jersey Coimty— to 
which he afterwards continued to be a contribu- 
tor some time longer, and, in 1841-42, was editor 
of "The Advertiser, ' at Louisville, Ky. He was 
also, for several years. Principal of the Spring 
HiU Academy in East FeUciana Parish, La., 
meanwhile serving for a portion of the time as 
Superintendent of Public Schools. He was the 
author of a number of stories and sketches, some 
of which went through several editions, and, at 
the time of his death, had in preparation a his- 
tory of "Tlie Black Hawk War," "Evidences of 
Christianity" and a "History of Illinois." He 
was an accomplished linguist, being able to read 
with fluency Greek, Latin, French, Spanish and 
Italian, besides having considerable familiarity 
with several other modern languages. In 1863 
he received from the University of Chicago the 
degree of LL.D. Died, Jan. 2, 1863, and was 
bm-ied on the old liomestead at Bluffdale. 

RUSSELL, Martin J., politician and journal- 
ist, born in Chicago, Dec. 30, 184.5. He was a 
nephew of CoL James A. Mulhgan (see Mulligan, 
James A.) and served with credit as Adjutant- 
General on the staff of the latter in the Civil 
War. In 1870 he became a reporter on "The 
Chicago Evening Post," and was advanced to 
the position of city editor. Subsequently he was 
connected with "The Times," and "The Tele- 
gram"; was also a member of the Board of Edu- 
cation of Hyde Park before the annexation of 
that village to Chicago, and has been one of the 
South Park Commissioners of the city last named. 
After the purcha.se of "The Chicago Times" by 
Carter H. Harrison he remained for a time on 
the editorial staff. In 1894 President Cleveland 
appointed him Collector of the Port of Chicago. 
At the expiration of his term of office he resumed 
editorial work as editor-in-chief of "The Chron- 
icle," the organ of the Democratic party in 
Chicago. Died June 2.5, 1900. 

RUTHERFORD, Friend S., lawyer and sol- 
dier, was born in Schenectady, X. Y., Sept. 35, 



462 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



1820; studied law in Troy and removed to Illi- 
nois, settling at Edwardsville. and finally at 
Alton; was a Republican candidate for Presi- 
dential Elector in 1856, and, in 1860, a member of 
the National Republican Convention at Chicago, 
which nominated Jlr. Lincoln for the Presidency. 
In September, 1862, he was commissioned Colonel 
of the Ninety-seventh Illinois Volunteers, and 
participated in the capture of Port Gibson and in 
the operations about Vicksburg — also leading in 
the attack on Arkansas Post, and subsequently 
serving in Louisiana, but died as the result of 
fatigue and exposure in the service. June 20, 
1S64, one week before his promotion to the rank 
of Brigadier-General. — Reuben C. (Rutherford), 
brother of the preceding, was born at Troy, N. Y., 
Sept. 29, 1823. but grew up in Vermont and New 
Hampshire ; received a degree in law when quite 
young, but afterwards fitted himself as a lec- 
turer on physiology and hygiene, upon which he 
lectured extensively in Michigan, Illinois and 
other States after coming west in 1849. During 
1854-55, in co-operation with Prof. J. B. Turner 
and others, he canvassed and lectured extensively 
throughout Illinois in support of the movement 
which resulted in the donation of public lands, 
by Congress, for the establishment of "Industrial 
Colleges"' in the several States. The establish- 
ment of the University of Illinois, at Champaign, 
was the outgrowth of this movement. In 1856 he 
located at Quincy. where he resided some thirty 
years; in 1861, .served for several months as the 
first Commissary of Subsistence at Cairo: was 
later associated with the State Quartermaster's 
Department, finally entering the secret service of 
the War Department, in which he remained until 
1867, retiring with the rank of brevet Brigadier- 
General. In 1886, General Rutherford removed 
to New York City, where he died, June 24, 1895. — 
(ieorge V. (Rutherford), another brother, was 
born at Rutland, Vt. , 1830 ; was first admitted to 
the bar, but afterwards took charge of the con- 
struction of telegraph lines in some of the South- 
ern States; at the beginning of the Civil "War 
became Assistant Quartermaster-General of the 
State of Illinois, at Springfield, under ex-Gov. 
John Wood, but subsequently entered the 
Quartermaster's service of the General Govern- 
ment in Washington, retiring after the war with 
the rank of Brigadier-General. He then returned 
to Quincy, 111., where he resided until 1872, when 
he engaged in manufacturing business at North- 
ampton, Mass., but finally removed to California 
for the benefit of his failing health. Died, at St. 
Helena, Cal. , August 38, 1872. 



RUTLAND, a village of La Salle County, on 
the Illinois Central Railroad, 25 miles south of La 
Salle; has a bank, five churches, school, and a 
newspaper, with coal mines in the vicinity. Pop. 
(1890), 509; (1900), 893; (1903), 1,093. 

RUTLEDOE, (Rev.) William J., clergyman. 
Army Chaplain, born in Augusta County, Va., 
June 24, 1820; was converted at the age of 12 
years and, at 21, became a member of the Illinois 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
serving various churches in the central and west- 
ern parts of the State — also acting, for a time, as 
Agent of the Illinois Conference Female College 
at Jacksonville. From 1861 to 18G3 he was Chap- 
lain of the Fourteenth Regiment Illinois Volun- 
teers. Returning from the war, he served as 
pastor of churches at Jacksonville. Bloomington, 
Quincy, Rushville, Springfield, Griggsville and 
other points; from 1881 to '84 was Chaplain of 
the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet. Mr. 
Rutledge was one of the founders of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and served for many years 
as Chaplain of the order for the Department of 
Illinois. In connection with the ministry, he 
has occupied a supernumerary relation since 
188.J. Died in Jacksonville. April 14, 1900. 

RUTZ, Edward, State Treasurer, was born in 
a village in the Duchy of Baden, Germany, May 
5, 1829; came to America in 1848, locating on a 
farm in St. Clair County, 111. ; went to California 
in 1857, and, early in 1861, enlisted in the Third 
United States Artiltery at San Francisco, serving 
with the Army of the Potomac until his discharge 
in 1864, and taking part in every battle in which 
his command was engaged. After his return in 
1865, he located in St. Clair County, and was 
elected Count}" Surveyor, served three consecu- 
tive terms as County Treasurer, aud was elected 
State Treasurer three times — 1872, '76 and "80. 
About 1892 he removed to California, where he 
now resides. 

RT.iX, Edward (i., early editor and jurist, 
born at Newcastle House, County Meath, Ireland, 
Nov. 13, 1810; was educated for the priesthood, 
but turned his attention to law, and, in 1830, 
came to New York and engaged in teaching 
while prosecuting his legal studies; in 1836 re- 
moved to Chicago, where he was admitted to the 
bar and was, for a time, associated in practice 
with Hugh T. Dickey. In April, 1840, Mr. Ryan 
assumed the editorship of a weekly paper in Chi- 
cago called "The Illinois Tribune," wliich he 
conducted for over a j'ear. and which is remem- 
bered chiefly on account of its bitter assaults on 
Judge John Pearson of Danville, who had 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



463 



aroused the hostility of some members of the 
Chicago bar bj' his rulings upon the bench. 
About 1842 Ryan removed to Milwaukee, Wis., 
where he was, for a time, a partner of Matthew 
H. Carpenter (afterwards United States Senator), 
and was connected with a number of celebrated 
trials before the courts of that State, including 
the Barstow-Bashford case, which ended with 
Bashford becoming the first Republican Governor 
of Wisconsin. In 1874 he was appointed Chief 
Justice of Wisconsin, serving until his death, 
which occurred at Madison, Oct. 19, 1880. He 
was a strong partisan, and. during the Civil War, 
w^as an intense opponent of the war policy of the 
Government. In spite of infirmities of temper, 
he appears to have been a man of much learning 
and recognized legal ability. 

RYAX, James, Roman Catholic Bishop, born 
in Ireland in 1848 and emigrated to America in 
childhood ; was educated for the priesthood in 
Kentucky, and, after ordination, was made a pro- 
fessor in St. Joseph's Seminary, at Bardstown, 
Ky. In 1878 he removed to Illinois, attaching 
himself to the diocese of Peoria, and having 
charge of parishes at Wataga and Danville. In 
1881 he became rector of the Ottawa parish, 
within the episcopal jurisdiction of the Arch- 
bishop of Chicago. In 1888 he was made Bishop 
of the see of Alton, the prior incumbent (Bishop 
Baltes) having died in 1886. 

SACS AND FOXES, two confederated Indian 
tribes, who were among the most warlike and 
powerful of the aborigines of the Illinois Country. 
The Foxes called themselves the Musk-wah-ha- 
kee, a name compounded of two words, signify- 
ing "those of red earth." The French called 
them Ou-taga-mies, that being their spelling of 
the name given them b}- other tribes, the mean- 
ing of which was "Foxes." and which was 
bestowed upon them because their totem (or 
armorial device, as it may be called) was a fox. 
They seem to have been driven westward from 
the northern shore of Lake Ontario, by way of 
Niagara and Mackinac, to the region around 
Green Bay, Wis. — Concerning their allied breth- 
ren, the Sacs, less is known. The name is vari- 
ously spelled in the Indian dialects — Ou-sa-kies, 
Sauks, etc. — and the term Sacs is unquestionably 
an abbreviated corruption. Black Hawk be- 
longed to this tribe. The Foxes and Sacs formed 
a confederation according to aboriginal tradition, 
on what is now known as the Sac River, near 
Green Bay, but the date of the alliance cannot 
be determined. The origin of the Sacs is equally 



uncertain. Black Hawk claimed that his tribe 
originally dwelt arovmd Quebec, but, as to the 
authenticity of this claim, historical authorities 
differ widely. Subsequent to 1670 the history of 
the allied tribes is tolerably well defined. Their 
characteristics, location and habits are described 
at some length by Father AUouez, who visited 
them in 1666-67. He says that they were numer- 
ous and warlike, but depicts them as "penurious, 
avaricious, thievish and quarrelsome." That 
they were cordially detested by their neighbors 
is certain, and Judge James Hall calls them "the 
Ishmaelites of the lakes." They were unfriendly 
to the French, who attached to themselves other 
tribes, and, through the aid of the latter, had 
well-nigh exterminated them, when the Sacs and 
Foxes sued for peace, which was granted on 
terms most humiliating to the vanquished. By 
1718, however, they were virtually in possession 
of the region around Rock River in Illinois, and, 
four years later, through the aid of the Mascou- 
tins and Kickapoos, they had expelled the Illinois, 
driving the last of that ill-fated tribe across the 
Illinois River. They abstained from taking part 
in the border wars that marked the close of the 
Revolutionary War, and therefore did not par- 
ticipate in the treaty of Greenville in 1795. At 
that date, according to Judge Hall, they claimed 
the country as far west as Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
and as far north as Prairie du Chien. They 
offered to co-operate with the United States 
Government in the War of 1812, but this offer 
was declined, and a portion of the tribe, under 
the leadership of Black Hawk, enlisted on the 
side of the British. The Black Hawk War proved 
their political ruin. By the treaty of Rock Island 
they ceded vast tracts of land, including a large 
part of the eastern half of Iowa and a large body 
of land east of the Mississippi. (See Black Hawk 
War; Indian Treaties.) In 1842 the Government 
divided the nation into two bands, removing both 
to reservations in the farther West. One was 
located on the Osage River and the other on the 
south side of the Nee-ma-ha River, near the 
northwest corner of Kansas. From these reser- 
vations, there is little doubt, many of them have 
silently emigrated toward the Rocky Mountains, 
where the hoe might be laid aside for the rifle, 
the net and the spear of the hunter. A few 
years ago a part of these confederated tribes 
were located in the eastern part of Oklahoma. 

SAILOR SPRINGS, a village and health resort 
in Clay County, 5 miles north of Clay City, has 
an academy and a local paper. Population (1900), 
419; (1903, est.), 550. 



464 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



SALEM, an incorporated citj', the county-seat 
of Marion County, on the Baltimore & Ohio South- 
western, the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the 
Illinois Southern Railroads, 71 miles east of St. 
Louis, and 16 miles northeast of Centralia; in 
agricultural and coal district. A leading indus- 
try is the culture, evaporation and shipment of 
fruit. The city has flour-mills, two banks and 
three weekly newspapers. Pop. (1890), 1,493; 
(1900), 1,642. 

SALINE COUNTY, a southeastern county, 
organized in 1817, having an area of 380 square 
miles. It derives its name from the salt springs 
which are found in every part of the county. 
The northern portion is rolling and yields an 
abundance of coal of a quality suitable for smith- 
ing. The bottoms are swampy, but heavily 
timbered, and saw-mills abound. Oak, hickory, 
sweet gum, mulberr}-, locust and sassafras are 
the prevailing varieties. Fruit and tobacco are 
extensively cultivated. The climate is mild and 
humid, and the vegetation varied. The soil of 
the low lands is rich, and, when drained, makes 
excellent farming lands. In some localities a 
good gray sandstone, soft enough to be worked, 
is quarried, and millstone grit is frequently found. 
In the southern half of the county are the Eagle 
Mountains, a line of hills having an altitude of 
some 4.50 to 500 feet above the level of the Mis- 
sissippi at Cairo, and believed by geologists to 
have been a part of the upheaval that gave birth 
to the Ozark Jlountains in Missouri and Arkan- 
sas. The highest land in the county is 864 feet 
above sea-level. Tradition says that these hills 
are I'ich in silver ore, but it has not been found 
in paying quantities. Springs strongh' impreg- 
nated with sulphur are found on the slopes. The 
county-seat was originally located at Raleigh, 
which was platted in 1848, but it was subse- 
quently removed to Harrisburg, which was laid 
out in 1859. Population of the coimty (1880), 
15,940; (1890), 19,343; (1900), 21,685. 

SALINE RIVER, a stream formed by the con- 
fluence of two branches, both of which flow 
through portions of Saline County, uniting in 
Gallatin County. The North Fork rises in Hamil- 
ton County and runs nearly south, while the 
South Fork drains part of Williamson County, 
and runs east through Saline. The river (which 
is little more than a creek), thus formed, runs 
southeast, entering the Ohio ten miles below 
Shawneetown. 

SALT MANUFACTURE. There is evidence 
going to show that the saline springs, in Gallatin 
County, were utilized by the aboriginal inhabit- 



ants in the making of salt, long before the advent 
of white settlers. There have been discovered, at 
various points, what appear to be the remains of 
evaporating kettles, composed of hardened clay 
and pounded shells, varying in diameter from 
three to four feet. In 1813, with a view to en- 
couraging the manufacture of salt from these 
springs. Congress granted to Illinois the use of 
36 square miles, the fee still remaining in the 
United States. These lands were leased by the 
State to private parties, but the income derived 
from them was comparatively .small and fre- 
quently difficult of collection. The workmen 
were mostly slaves from Kentucky and Tennes- 
see, who are especially referred to in Article VI. , 
Section 3, of the Constitution of 1818. The salt 
made brought §5 per 100 pounds, and was shipped 
in keel-boats to various points on the Ohio, Mis- 
sissippi, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, while 
manj- purchasers came hundreds of miles on 
horseback and carried it away on pack animals. 
In 1827, the State treasury being empty and the 
General Assembly having decided to erect a peni- 
tentiary at Alton, Congress was petitioned to 
donate these lands to the State in fee, and per- 
mission was granted "to sell 30.000 acres of the 
Ohio Salines in Gallatin County, and apply the 
proceeds to such purposes as the Legislature 
might by law direct." The sale was made, one- 
half of the proceeds set apart for the building of 
the penitentiary, and one-half to the impro%-e- 
ment of roads and rivers in the eastern part of 
the State. The manufacture of salt was carried 
on, however — for a time by lessees and subse- 
quently by owners — until 1873, about which time 
it was abandoned, chiefly because it had ceased 
to be profitable on account of competition with 
other districts possessing superior facilities. 
Some salt was manufactured in Vermilion County 
about 1824. The manufacture has been success- 
fully carried on in recent years, from the product 
of artesian wells, at St. John, in Perry _County. 

SANDOVAL, a village of Marion County, at 
the crossing of the western branch of the Illinois 
Central Riilroad, and the Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern, 6 miles north of Centralia. The 
town has coal mines and some manufactures, 
with banks and one newspaper. Population 
(1880), 564; (1890), 834; (1900), 1,258. 

SANDSTONT:. The quantity of sandstone quar- 
ried in Illinois is comparatively insignificant, its 
value being less than one-fifth of one per cent of 
the value of the output of the entire countrj-. 
In 1890 the State ranked twenty-fifth in the list 
of States producing this mineral, the total value 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



465 



of the stone quarried being but §17,896, repre- 
senting 141,605 cubic feet, taken fi'om ten quar- 
ries, which employed fortj--six hands, and had an 
aggregate capital invested of §49,400. 

SANDWICH, a city in De Kalb County, incor- 
porated in 1878, on tlie Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad. 58 miles southwe.st of Chicago. 
The principal industries are the manufacture of 
agricultural implements, hay-presses, corn-shell- 
ers, pumps and wind-mills. Sandwich ha.s two 
private banks, two weekly and one semi-weekly 
papers. Pop. (1890), 2,516; (1900), 2,520; (1903), 
3,86.5. 

S.iXGAMON COUXTT, a central county, 
organized under act of June 30, 1821, from parts 
of Bond and Madison Counties, and embracing 
the present covmties of Sangamon, Cass, Menard, 
Mason, Tazewell, Logan, and parts of Morgan, 
McLean, Woodford, Marshall and Putnam. It 
was named for the river flowing through it. 
Though reduced in area somewhat, four years 
later, it extended to the Illinois River, but was 
reduced to its present limits by the setting apart 
of Menard, Logan and Dane (now Christian) 
Counties, in 1839. Henry Funderbm-k is believed 
to have been the first white settler, arriving 
there in 1817 and locating in what is now Cotton 
Hill Township, being followed, the next year, by 
William Drennan, Joseph Dodds, James McCoy, 
Robert PuUiam and others. John Kelly located 
on the present site of the city of Springfield in 
1818, and was there at the time of the selection 
of that place as the temporary seat of justice in 
1821. Other settlements were made at Auburn, 
Island Grove, and elsewhere, and population 
began to flow in raj^idly. Remnants of tlie Potta- 
watomie and Kickapoo Indians were still there, 
but soon moved north or west. County organi- 
zation was effected in 1821, the first Board of 
County Commissioners being composed of Wil- 
liam Drennan, Zachariah Peter and Samuel Lee. 
John Reynolds (afterwards Governor) lield the 
first term of Circuit Court, with John Taylor, 
Sheriff; Henry Starr, Prosecuting Attorney, and 
Charles E. Matheny, Circuit Clerk. A United 
States Land Office was established at Springfield 
in 1823, with Pascal P. Enos as Receiver, the 
first sale of lands taking place the same year. 
The soil of Sangamon County is exuberantly fer- 
tile, with rich underlying deposits of bituminous 
coal, which is mined in large quantities. The 
chief towns are Springfield, Auburn, Riverton, 
Illiopolis and Pleasant Plains. The area of the 
county is 860 square miles. Population (1880), 
52,894"; (1890), 61.195; (1900), 71,593. 



SAXGAMOX RIVER, formed by the union of 
the Xorth and South Forks, of which the former 
is the longer, or main branch. The North Fork 
rises in the northern part of Champaign County, 
whence it nms southwest to the city of Decatiir, 
thence westward through Sangamon County, 
forming the nortli boundary of Christian County, 
and emptying into the Illinois River about 9 milfes 
above Beardstown. The Sangamon is nearly 240 
miles long, including the North Fork. The 
Soutli Fork flows through Cliristian County, and 
joins the North Fork about 6 miles east of 
Springfield. In the early history of the State the 
Sangamon was regarded as a navigable stream, 
and its improvement was one of the measures 
advocated by Abraham Lincoln in 1832, when he 
was for the first time a candidate (though unsuc- 
cessfully) for the Legislature. In the spring of 
1832 a small steamer from Cincinnati, called the 
"Talisman," ascended the river to a point near 
Springfield. The event was celebrated with 
great rejoicing by the people, but the vessel 
encountered so much diflSculty in getting out of 
the river that the experiment was never 
repeated. 

SAXGAMOX & MORGAN RAILROAD. (See 
Wabash Railroad.) 

SANGER, Lorenzo P., railway and canal con- 
tractor, was born at Littleton, N. H., March 2, 
1809; brouglit in childhood to Living.ston County, 
N. Y., where liis father became a contractor on 
tlie Erie Canal, tlie son also being employed upon 
the same work. The latter subsequently became 
a contractor on the Pennsylvania Canal on his 
own account, being known as "the boy contract- 
or." Then, after a brief experience in mercantile 
business, and a year spent in the construction of a 
canal in Indiana, in 1836 he came to Illinois, and 
soon after became an extensive contractor on the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, having charge of rock 
excavation at Lockport. He was also connected 
with the Rock River improvement scheme, and 
interested in a line of stages between Chicago 
and Galena, which, having been consolidated 
with the line managed by the firm of Fink & 
Walker, finally became the Northwestern Stage 
Company, extending its operations throughout 
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa 
and Missouri — Mr. Sanger having charge of the 
Western Division, for a time, with headquarters 
at St. Louis. In 1851 he became the head of the 
firm of Sanger, Camp & Co. , contractors for the 
construction of the Western (or Illinois) Division 
of the Ohio & Mississippi (now the Baltimore & 
Ohio Southwestern) Railway, upon which he 



466 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



was employed for several years. Other works 
with which he was connected were the North 
Missouri Railroad and the construction of the 
State Penitentiary at Joliet. as member of the 
firm of Sanger & Casey, for a time, also lessees of 
convict labor. In 1863 Mr. Sanger received from 
Governor Yates, by request of President Lincoln, 
a commission as Colonel, and was assigned to 
staff duty in Kentucky and Tennessee. After 
the war he became largely interested in stone 
quarries adjacent to Joliet ; also had an extensive 
contract, from the City of Chicago, for deepening 
the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Died, at Oakland, 
Cal., March 33, 187.^, whitlier he had gone for the 
benefit of his health.' — James Young (Sanger), 
brother of the preceding, was born at Sutton, 
Vt., March 14, 1814; in boyhood spent some time 
in a large mercantile establishment at Pittsburg, 
Pa., later being associated with his father and 
elder brother in contracts on the Erie Canal and 
similar works in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indi- 
ana. At the age of 32 he came with his father's 
family to St. Joseph, Mich., where they estab- 
lished a large supply store, and engaged in 
bridge-building and similar enterprises. At a 
later period, in connection with his father and 
his brother, L. P. Sanger, he was prominently 
connected with the construction of the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal — the aqueduct at Ottawa and 
the locks at Peru being constructed by them. 
About 1850 the Construction Company, of which 
he and his brother, L. P. Sanger, were leading 
members, undertook the construction of the Ohio 
& Mississippi (now Baltimore & Ohio Southwest- 
ern) Railroad, from St. Louis to Vincennes, Ind., 
and were prominently identified with other rail- 
road enterprises in Southern Illinois, Missouri and 
California. Died, July 3, 1867, when consum- 
mating arrangements for the performance of a 
large contract on the Union Pacific Railroad. 

SANITARY COMMISSION. (See niinois San- 
itary Commission.) 

SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO. (See 
Chicago Drainage Canal. ) 

SAUGANASH, the Indian name of a half-breed 
known as Capt. Billy Caldwell, the son of a 
British officer and a Pottawatomie woman, bom 
in Canada about 1780; received an education 
from the Jesuits at Detroit, and was able to 
speak and write English and French, besides 
several Indian dialects ; was a friend of Tecum- 
seh's and, during the latter part of his life, a 
devoted friend of the whites. He took up his 
residence in Chicago about 1830, and, in 1836. 
was a Justice of the Peace, while nominally a 



subject of Great Britain and a Chief of the Otta- 
was and Pottawatomies. In 1838 the Govern- 
ment, in consideration of his services, built for 
him the first frame house ever erected in Chicago, 
which he occupied until his departure with his 
tribe for Council Bluffs in 1836. By a treaty, 
made Jan. 3, 1830, reservations were granted by 
the Government to Sauganash, Shabona and 
other friendly Indians (see Shabona), and 1,340 
acres on the North Branch of Chicago River set 
apart for Caldwell, which he sold before leaving 
the country. Died, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
Sept. 38, 1841. 

SAVAGE, George S. F., D.D., clergyman, was 
born at Cromwell, Conn., Jan. 39, 1817; gradu- 
ated at Yale College in 1844; studied theology at 
Andover and New Haven, graduating in 1847; 
was ordained a home missionary the same year 
and spent twelve years as pastor at St. Charles. 
111., for four years being corresponding editor of 
"The Prairie Herald" and "The Congregational 
Herald." For ten years he was in the service of 
the American Tract Society, and, during the Civil 
War, was engaged in sanitary and religious work 
in the army. In 1870 he was appointed Western 
Secretary of the Congregational Publishing 
Society, remaining two years, after which he be- 
came Financial Secretary of the Chicago Theo- 
logical Seminary. He has also been a Director 
of the institution since 1854, a Trustee of Beloit 
College since 1850, and, for several years, editor 
and publisher of "The Congregational Review." 

SAVANNA, a city in Carroll County, situated 
on the Mississippi River and the Chicago, Bur- 
Ungton & Northern and the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railways; is 10 miles west of Mount 
Carroll and about 30 miles north of Clinton, 
Iowa. It is an important shipping -point and con- 
tains several manufactories of machinery, lumber, 
flour, etc. It has two State banks, a public 
library, churches, two graded schools, township 
high school, and two daily and weekly news- 
papers. Pop. (1890), 3,097; (1900), 3,335. 

SAYBROOK, a village of McLean County, on 
the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, 36 miles east 
of Bloomington; district agricultural; county 
fairs held here; the town has two banks and two 
newspapers. Pop. (1890), 851; (1900), 879. 

SCATES, Walter Bennett, jurist and soldier, 
was born at South Boston, Halifax County, \'a., 
Jan. 18, 1808 ; was taken in infancy to Hopkins- 
ville, Ky., where he resided until 1831, having 
meanwhile learned the printer's trade at Nash- 
ville and studied law at Louisville. In 1831 he 
removed to Frankfort, Franklin County, 111., 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



467 



where, for a time, he was County Surveyor. In 
1836, having been appointed Attorney-General, 
he removed to Vandalia, then the seat of govern- 
ment, but resigned at tlie close of the same year 
to accept the judgeship of the Third Judicial 
Circuit, and took up his residence at Shawnee- 
town. In 1841 he was one of five new Judges 
added to the Supreme Court bench, the others 
being Sidney Breese, Stephen A. Douglas, 
Thomas Ford and Samuel H. Treat. In that 
year he removed to Mount Vernon, Jefferson 
County, and. in Januarj-, 1847, resigned his seat 
upon the bench to resume practice. The same 
year he was a member of the Constitutional Con- 
vention and Chairman of the Committee on 
Judiciary. In June, 1854, he again took a seat 
upon the Supreme Court bench, being chosen to 
succeed Lyman Trumbull, but resigned in May, 
18.57. and resumed practice in Chicago. In 
1862 he volunteered in defense of the Union, 
received a Major's commission and was assigned 
to duty on the staff of General McClernand ; was 
made, Assistant Adjutant-General and mustered 
out in January, 1866. In July, 1866, President 
Johnson appointed him Collector of Customs at 
Cliicago, which position he filled imtil July 1, 
1869, when he was removed bj- President Grant, 
during the same period, being ex-officio custodian 
of United States funds, the office of Assistant 
Treasurer not having been then created. Died, 
at Evan.ston, Oct. 26, 1886. 

SCAMMOX, Jonathan Tonng', lawyer and 
banker, was born at Whitefield. Maine, July 27, 
1812 ; after graduating at Waterville (now Colby) 
University in 1831, he studied law and was 
admitted to the bar at Hallowell, in 1835 remov- 
ing to Chicago, where he spent the remainder of 
his life. After a year spent as deputy in the 
office of the Circuit Clerk of Cook County, during 
which he prepared a revision of the Illinois stat- 
utes, he was appointed attorney for the State 
Bank of Illinois in 1837, and. in 1839, became 
reporter of the Supreme Coiut, which oflSice he 
held until 1845. In the meantime, he was associ- 
ated with several prominent lawyers, his first 
legal firm being that of Scammon, McCagg & 
Fuller, which was continued up to the fire of 
1871. A large operator in real estate and identi- 
fied with many enterprises of a public or benevo- 
lent character, his most important financial 
venture was in connection with the Chicago 
Marine & Fire Insurance Company, which con- 
ducted an extensive banking business for many 
years, and of which he was the President and 
leading spirit. As a citizen he was progressive, 



public-spirited and lilseral. He was one of the 
main promoters and organizers of the old Galena 
& Chicago Union Railway, the first railroad to 
run west from Lake Michigan ; was also promi- 
nently identified with the founding of the Chi- 
cago public school system, a Trustee of the (old) 
Chicago University, and one of the founders of 
the Chicago Historical Society, of the Chicago 
Academy of Sciences and the Chicago Astro- 
nomical Society — being the first President 
of the latter body. He erected, at a cost of 
§30.000, the Fort Dearborn Observatory, in 
which he caused to be placed the most power- 
ful telescope which had at that time been brought 
to the West. He also maintained the observatory 
at his own expense. He was the pioneer of 
Swedenborgianism in Chicago, and, in politics, a 
staunch Whig, and, later, an ardent Republican. 
In 1844 he was one of the founders of "The Chi- 
cago American," a paper designed to advance 
the candidacy of Henry Clay for the Presidency; 
and, in 1872, when "The Chicago Tribune" 
espoused the Liberal Republican cause, he started 
"The Inter-Ocean" as a Republican organ, being, 
for some time, its sole proprietor and editor-in- 
chief. He was one of the first to encourage the 
adoption of the homeopathic system of medicine 
in Chicago, and was prominently connected with 
the founding of the Hahnemann Medical College 
and the Hahnemann Hospital, being a Trustee in 
both for many years. As a member of the Gen- 
eral Assembly he secured the pas.sage of many 
important measures, among them being legisla- 
tion looking toward the bettering of the currency 
and the banking system. He accumulated a 
large fortune, but lost most of it by the fire of 
1871 and the panic of 1873. Died, in Chicago, 
March 17, 1890. 

SCARKITT, Nathan, pioneer, was born in Con- 
necticut, came to Edwardsville, 111., in 1820, and, 
in 1821, located in Scarritt's Prairie, Madison 
County. His sons afterward became influential 
in business and Methodist church circles. Died, 
Dec. 12, 1847. 

SCENERY, NATURAL. Notwithstanding the 
uniformity of surface which characterizes a 
country containing no mountain ranges, but 
which is made up largely of natural prairies, 
there are a number of localities in Illinois where 
scenery of a picturesque, and even bold and 
rugged character, may be found. One of the 
most striking of these features is produced by a 
spur or low range of hills from the Ozark Moun- 
tains of Missouri, projected across the southern 
part of the State from the vicinity' of Grand 



468 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Tower in Jackson County, through the northern 
part of Union, and throvigli portions of William- 
son, Johnson, Saline, Pope and Hardin Counties. 
Grand Tower, the initial point in the western 
part of the State, is an isolated cliff of limestone, 
standing out in the channel of the Mississippi, 
and forming an island nearly 100 feet above low- 
water level. It has been a conspicuous landmark 
for navigators ever since the discovery of the 
Mississippi. "Fountain Bluff," a few miles 
above Grand Tower, is another conspicuous point 
immediately on the river bank, formed bj- some 
isolated hills about three miles long by a mile 
and a half wide, which have withstood the forces 
that excavated the valley now occupied by the 
Mississippi. About half a mile from the lower 
end of this hill, witli a low valley between them, 
is a smaller eminence known as the "Devirs 
Bake Oven." The main chain of bluffs, known 
as the "Back Bone," is about five miles from the 
river, and rises to a height of nearly 700 feet 
above low-tide in the Gulf of Mexico, or more 
than 400 feet above the level of the river at 
Cairo. "Bald Knob" is a very prominent inland 
bluff promontory near Alta Pass on the line of 
the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, in the northern part 
of Union County, with an elevation above tide- 
water of 985 feet. The highest point in this 
range of hills is reached in the northeastern part 
of Pope County — the elevation at that point (as 
ascertained by Prof. Rolfe of the State University 
at Champaign) being 1,04G feet.^ — There is some 
striking scenery in the neighborhood of Grafton 
between Alton and the mouth of the Illinois, as 
well as some distance up the latter stream — • 
though the landscape along the middle section of 
the Illinois is generallj- monotonous or only 
gently undulating, except at Peoria and a few 
other i^oints, where bluffs rise to a considerable 
height. On the Upper Illinois, beginning at 
Peru, the scenery again becomes picturesque, 
including the celebrated "Starved Rock," the 
site of La Salle's Fort St. Louis (which see). 
This rock rises to a perpendicular height of 
about 125 feet from the surface of the river at the 
ordinary stage. On the opposite side of the river, 
about four miles below Ottawa, is "Buffalo 
Rock," an isolated ridge of rock about two miles 
long by forty to sixty rods wide, evidently once 
an island at a period when the Illinois River 
occupied the whole valley. Additional interest 
is given to both these localities by their associ- 
ation with early history. Deer Park, on the Ver- 
milion River — some two miles from where it 
empties into the Illinois, just below "Starved 



Rock" — is a peculiar grotto-like formation, caused 
by a ravine which enters the Vermilion at this 
point. Ascending this ravine from its mouth, 
for a quarter of a mile, between almost perpen- 
dicular walls, the road terminates abruptly at a 
dome-like overhanging rock which widens at this 
point to about 130 feet in diameter at the base, 
with a height of about 75 feet. A clear spring 
of water gushes from the base of the cliff, and, at 
certain seasons of the year, a beautiul water-fall 
pours from the cliffs into a little lake at the bot- 
tom of the chasm. There is much other striking 
scenery higher up, on both the Illinois and Fox 
Rivers. — A point which arrested the attention of 
the earliest explorers in this region was Mount 
Joliet, near the city of that name. It is first 
mentioned by St. Cosme in 1698, and has been 
variously known as Mou jolly, Mont Jolie, Mount 
Juliet, and Mount Joliet. It had an elevation, in 
early times, of about 30 feet with a level top 
1,300 by 235 feet. Prof. O. H. Marshall, in "The 
American Antiquarian," expresses the opinion 
that, originally, it was an island in the river, 
which, at a remote period, swept down the valley 
of the Des Plaines. Mount Joliet was a favorite 
rallying point of Illinois Indians, who were 
accustomed to hold their councils at its base. — 
The scenery along Rock River is not striking 
from its boldness, but it attracted the attention 
of early explorers by the picturesque beauty of 
its groves, undulating plains and sheets of water. 
The highest and most abrupt elevations are met 
with in Jo Daviess Count}-, near the Wisconsin 
State line. Pilot Knob, a natural mound about 
three miles south of Galena and two miles from 
the Mississippi, has been a landmark well known 
to tourists and river men ever since the Upper 
Mississippi began to be navigated. Towering 
above the surrounding bluffs, it reaches an alti- 
tude of some 430 feet above the ordinary level of 
Fever River. A chain of some half dozen of these 
mounds extends some four or five miles in a north- 
easterly direction from Pilot Knob, Waddel's and 
Jackson's Mounds being conspicuous among 
them. There are also some castellated rocks 
around the city of Galena which are very strik- 
ing. Charles Mound, belonging to the system 
already referred to, is believed to be the highest 
elevation in the State. It stands near the Wis 
consin State line, and, according to Prof. Rolfe, 
has an altitude of 314 feet above the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad at Scales' Mound Station, and, 1,257 
feet above the Gulf of Mexico. 

SCHAUMBER(J, a village in Schaumberg 
Township, Cook County. Population, 578. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



469 



SCH\EIDER, George, journalist and banker, 
was born at Pirmasens, Bavaria, Dec. 13, 1823. 
Being sentenced to death for his participation in 
the attempted rebellion of 1848. he e.scaped to 
America in 18-19, going from New York to Cleve- 
land, and afterwards to St. Louis. There, in con- 
nection with his brother, he established a German 
daily — "The New Era" — which was intensely 
anti-slavery and exerted a decided political influ- 
ence, especially among persons of Geroian birth. 
In 1851 he removed to Chicago, where he became 
editor of "The Staats Zeitimg," in which he 
vigorously opposed the Kansas-Nebraska bill on 
its introduction by Senator Douglas. His attitude 
and articles gave such offense to the partisan 
friends of this measure, that "The Zeitxing" -was 
threatened with destruction by a mob in 185.5. 
He early took advanced ground in opposition to 
slavery, and was a member of the convention of 
Anti-Nebraska editors, held at Decatur in 1856, 
and of the first Republican State Convention, held 
at Blooniington the same j'ear, as well as of the 
National Republican Conventions of 1856 and 
1860. participating in the nomination of both 
John C. Fremont and Abraham Lincoln for the 
Presidency. In 1861 he was a member of the 
Chicago LTnion Defense Committee, and was 
appointed, by Mr. Lincoln, Consul-General at 
El.sinore, Denmark. Returning to America in 
1862, he disposed of his interest in "The Staats 
Zeitung" and was appointed the first Collector of 
Internal Revenue for the Chicago District. On 
retiring from this office he engaged in banking, 
subsequently becoming President of the National 
Bank of Illinois, with which he was associated 
for a quarter of a century. In 1877 President 
Hayes tendered him the ministry to Switzerland, 
which he declined. In 1880 he was chosen Presi- 
dential Elector for the State-at-large, also serving 
for a number of years as a member of the Repub- 
lican State Central Committee. 

SCHOFIELD, John McAllister, Major-General, 
was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Sept 29, 
1831; brought to Bristol, Kendall County, 111., in 
1843, and, two years later, removed to Freeport ; 
graduated from the United States Military Acad- 
emy, in 1853, as classmate of Generals McPherson 
and Sheridan ; was assigned to the artillery ser- 
vice and served two years in Florida, after which 
he spent five years (1855-GO) as an instructor at 
West Point. At the beginning of the Civil War 
he was on leave of absence, acting as Professor 
of Physics in Washington University at St. 
Louis, but, waiving his leave, he at once returned 
to duty and was appointed mustering officer; 



then, by permission of the War Department, 
entered the First Missouri Volunteers as Major, 
serving as Chief of Staff to General Lyon in the 
early battles in Missouri, including Wilson's 
Creek. His subsequent career included the 
organization of the Missouri State Militia (1862), 
command of the Army of the Frontier in South- 
west Missouri, command of the Department of 
the Missouri and Ohio, participation in the 
Atlanta campaign and co-operation with Sher- 
man in the capture of the rebel Gen. Joseph E. 
Johnston in North Carolina — his army having 
been transferred for this purpo.se, from Tennessee 
by way of Washington. After the close of the 
war he went on a special mission to Mexico 
to investigate the French occupation of that 
coimtry; was commander of the Department of 
the Potomac, and served as Secretary of War, by 
appointment of President Johnson, from June, 
1868, to March, 1869. On retiring from the Cabi- 
net he was commissioned a full Major-General 
and held various Division and Department com- 
mands until 1886, when, on the death of General 
Sherman, he succeeded to the command of the 
Army, with headquarters at Washington. 
He was retired under the age limit, Sept. 29, 
1895. His present home is in Washington. 

SCHOLFIELD, John, jurist, was born in Clark 
County, 111. , in 1834 ; acquired the rudiments of 
an education in the common schools during boy- 
hood, meanwhile gaining some knowledge of the 
higher branches through toilsome application to 
text-books %vithout a preceptor. At the age of 
20 he entered the law school at Louisville, Ky., 
graduating two years later, and beginning prac- 
tice at Marshall, 111. He defrayed his expenses 
at the law school from the proceeds of the sale of 
a small piece of land to which he had fallen heir. 
In 1856 he was elected State's Attorney, and, in 
1860, was chosen to represent his county in the 
Legislature. After serving one term he returned 
to his professional career and succeeded in build- 
ing up a profitable practice. In 1869-70 he repre- 
sented Clark and Cumberland Counties in the 
Constitutional Convention, and, in 1870, became 
Solicitor for the Vandalia Railroad. In 1873 he 
was elected to fill the vacancy on the bench of the 
Supreme Court of the State for the Middle Grand 
Division, caused by the resignation of Judge 
Anthony Thornton, and re-elected without oppo- 
sition in 1879 and 1888. Died, in office, Feb. 13, 
1893. It has been claimed that President Cleve- 
land would have tendered him the Chief Justice- 
ship of the United States Supreme Court, had he 
not insistently declined to accept the honor. 



470 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



SCHOOL-HOUSES, EARLY. The primitive 
school-liouses of Illinois were built of logs, and 
were extremely rude, as regards both structure 
and furnishing. Indeed, the earliest pioneers 
rarely erected a special building to be used as a 
school-house. An old smoke-house, an abandoned 
dwelling, an old block-house, or the loft or one 
end of a settler's cabin not unf requently answered 
the purpose, and the church and the court-house 
were often made to accommodate the school. 
When a school-house, as such, was to be built, the 
men of the district gathered at the site selected, 
bringing their axes and a few other tools, with 
their ox-teams, and devoted four or five days to 
constructing a house into which, perhaps, not a 
nail was driven. Trees were cut from the public 
lands, and, without hewing, fashioned into a 
cabin. Sixteen feet square was usually con- 
sidered the proper dimensions. In the walls 
were cut two holes, one for a door to admit light 
and air, and the other for the open fireplace, from 
which rose a chimney, usually built of sticks and 
mud, on the outside. Danger of fire was averted 
by thickly lining the inside of the chimney with 
clay mortar. Sometimes, but only with great 
labor, stone was substituted for mortar made 
from the clay soil. The chimneys were always 
wide, seldom less than six feet, and sometimes 
extending across one entire end of the building. 
The fuel used was wood cut directly from the 
forest, frequently in its green state, dragged to 
the spot in the form of logs or entire trees to be 
cut by the older pupils in lengths suited to the 
width of the chimney. Occasionally there was 
no chimney, the fire, in some of the most primi- 
tive structures, being built on the earth and the 
smoke escaping through a hole in the roof. In 
such houses a long board was set up on the wind- 
ward side, and shifted from side to side as the 
wind varied. Stones or logs answered for 
andirons, clapboards served as shovels, and no 
one complained of the lack of tongs. Roofs were 
made of roughly split clapboards, held in place 
by "weight poles" laid on the boards, and by sup- 
ports starting from "eaves poles." The .space 
between the logs, which constituted the walls of 
the building, was filled in with blocks of wood 
or "chinking," and the crevices, both exterior 
and interior, daubed over with clay mortar, in 
which straw was sometimes mixed to increase its 
adhesiveness. On one side of the structure one 
or two logs were sometimes cut out to allow the 
admission of light ; and, as glass could not alwajs 
be procured, rain and snow were excluded and 
light admitted by the use of greased paper. Over 



this space a board, attached to the outer wall by 
leather hinges, was sometimes suspended to keep 
out the storms. The placing of a glass window 
in a country school-house at Edwardsville, in 
1824, was considered an important event. Ordi- 
narily the floor was of the natural earth, although 
this was sometimes covered with a layer of clay, 
firmly packed down. Only the more pretentious 
school-houses had "puncheon floors"; i. e., floors 
made of split logs roughly hewn. Few had 
"ceilings" (so-called), the latter being usually 
made of clapboards, sometimes of bark, on which 
was spread earth, to keep out the cold. The 
seats were also of puncheons (without backs) 
supported on four legs made of pieces of poles 
inserted through augur holes. No one had a desk, 
except the advanced pupils who were learning to 
write. For their convenience a broader and 
smoother puncheon was fastened into the wall 
by wooden pins, in such a way that it would 
slope downward toward tlie pupil, the front being 
supported by a brace extending from the wall. 
Wlien a pupil was writing he faced the wall. 
When he had finished this task, he "reversed him- 
self" and faced the teacher and his schoolmates. 
These adjuncts completed the furnishings, with 
the exception of a split-bottomed chair for the 
teacher (who seldom had a desk) and a pail, or 
"piggin," of water, with a gourd for a drinking 
cup. Rough and uncouth as these structures 
were, they were evidences of public spirit and of 
appreciation of the advantages of education. 
They were built and maintained by mutual aid 
and sacrifice, and, in them, some of the great men 
of the State and Nation obtained that primary 
training which formed the foundation of their 
subsequent careers. (See Education.) 

SCHUYLER COUNTY, located in the western 
portion of the State, has an area of 430 square 
miles, and was named for Gen. Philip Schuj'ler. 
The first American settlers arrived in 1833, and. 
among the earliest pioneers, were Calvin Hobart, 
William H. Taylor and Orris JlcCartney. The 
county was organized from a portion of Pike 
County, in 1825, the first Commissioners being 
Thomas Blair, Thomas JIcKee and Samuel Hor- 
ney. The Commissioners ajipointed to locate the 
count}' -scat, selected a site in the eastern part of 
the county about one mile west of the present 
village of Pleasant View, to which the name of 
Beardstown was given, and where the earliest 
court was held, Judge John York Sa%vyer presid- 
ing, with Hart Fellows as Clerk, and Orris Mc- 
Cartney. Sheriff. This location, however, proving 
unsatisfactory, new Commissioners were ap- 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



471 



pointed, who, in the early part of 1826, selected 
the present site of the city of Rushville, some 
five miles west of the point originally chosen. 
The new seat of justice was first called Rushton, 
in honor of Dr. Benjamin Rush, but the name 
was afterwards changed to Rushville. Ephraim 
Eggleston was the pioneer of Rushville. The 
surface of the county is rolling, and the region 
contains excellent farming land, which is well 
watered by the Illinois River and numerous 
creeks. Population (1890), 16,013; (1900), 16,129. 

SCHWATKA, Frederick, Arctic explorer, was 
born at Galena, 111., Sept. 29, 1849; graduated 
from the United States Military Academy in 1871, 
and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 
Third Cavalry, serving on the frontier until 1877, 
meantime studying law and medicine, being 
admitted to the bar in 1875, and graduating in 
medicine in 1876. Having his interest excited by 
reports of traces of Sir John Franklin's expedi- 
tion, found by the Esquimaux, he obtained leave 
of absence in 1878, and, with Wm. H. Gilder as 
second in command, sailed from New York in the 
"Eothen," June 19, for King William's Land. 
The party returned, Sept. 22, 1880, having found 
and buried the skeletons of many of Franklin's 
party, besides discovering relics which tended to 
clear up the mystery of their fate. During this 
period he made a sledge journey of 3,251 miles. 
Again, in 1883, he headed an exploring expedition 
up the Yukon River. After a brief return to 
army duty he tendered his resignation in 1885, 
and the next year led a special expedition to 
Alaska, under the auspices of "The New York 
Times," later making a voj'age of discovery 
among the Aleutian Islands. In 1889 he con- 
ducted an expedition to Northern Mexico, where 
he found many interesting relics of Aztec civili- 
zation and of the cliff and cave-dwellers. He 
received the Roquette Arctic Medal from the 
Geographical Society of Paris, and a medal from 
the Imperial Geographical Society of Russia ; also 
published several volumes relating to his re- 
searches, under the titles, "Along Alaska's 
Great River"; "The Franklin Search Under 
Lieutenant Schwatka" ; "Nimrod of the North" ; 
and "Children of the Cold." Died, at Portland, 
Ore., Nov. 3. 1892. 

SCOTT, James W., journalist, was born in 
Walworth County, Wis., June 26, 1849, the son 
of a printer, editor and publisher. While a boy 
he accompanied his father to Galena, where the 
latter established a newspaper, and where he 
learned the printer's trade. After graduating 
from the Galena high school, he entered Beloit 



College, but left at the end of his sophomore year. 
Going to New York, he became interested in flori- 
culture, at the same time contributing short 
articles to horticultural periodicals. Later he 
was a compositor in Washington. His first news- 
paper venture was the publication of a weekly 
newspaper in Maryland in 1872. Returning to 
Illinois, conjointly with his father he started 
"The Industrial Press" at Galena, but, in 1875, 
removed to Chicago. There he purchased "The 
Daily National Hotel Reporter," from which he 
withdrew a few years later. In May, 1881, in 
conjunction with others, he organized The Chi- 
cago Herald Company, in which he ultimately 
secured a controlling interest. His journalistic 
and executive capability soon brought additional 
responsibilities. He was chosen President of the 
American Newspaper Publishers' Association, of 
the Chicago Press Club, and of the United Press 
— the latter being an organization for the collec- 
tion and dissemination of telegraphic news to 
jovirnals throughout the United States and Can- 
ada. He was also conspicuously connected with 
the preliminary organization of the World's 
Columbian Exposition, and Chairman of the 
Press Committee. In 1893 he started an evening 
paper at Chicago, which he named "The Post." 
Early in 1895 he purchased "The Chicago Times," 
intending to consolidate it with "The Herald," 
but before the final consummation of his plans, 
he died suddenly, while on a business visit in 
New York, April 14, 1895. 

SCOTT, John M., lawyer and jurist, was bom 
in St. Clair Coimty, 111., August 1, 1824; his 
father being of Scotch-Irish descent and his 
mother a Virgiaian. His attendance upon dis- 
trict schools was supplemented by private tuition, 
and his early education was the best that the 
comparatively new country afforded. He read 
law at Belleville, was admitted to the bar in 
1848, removed to McLean County, which con- 
tinued to be his home for nearly fifty years. He 
served as County School Commissioner from 1849 
to 1852, and, in the latter year, was elected County 
Judge. In 1856 he was an unsuccessful Repub- 
lican candidate for the State Senate, frequently 
speaking from the same platform veith Abraham 
Lincoln. In 1862 he was elected Judge of the 
Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, to 
succeed David Davis on the elevation of the 
latter to the bench of the United States Supreme 
Court, and was re-elected in 1867. In 1870, a 
new judicial election being rendered necessary 
by the adoption of the new Constitution, Judge 
Scott was chosen Justice of the Supreme Court 



472 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



for a term of nine years ; was re-elected in 1879, 
but declined a renomination in 1888. The latter 
years of his life were devoted to his private 
affairs. Died, at Bloomington, Jan. 21, 1898. 
Shortly before his death Judge Scott published a 
volume containing a History of the Illinois 
Supreme Court, including brief sketches of the 
early occupants of the Supreme Court bench and 
early lawyers of the State. 

SCOTT, Matthew Thompson, agricxilturist 
and real-estate operator, was born at Lexington, 
Ky., Feb. 34, 1828; graduated at Centre College 
in 1846, then spent several years looking after his 
father's landed interests in Ohio, when he came 
to Illinois and invested largely in lands for him- 
self and others. He laid out the town of Chenoa 
in 1850; lived in Springfield in 1870-72, when he 
removed to Bloomington, where he organized the 
McLean County Coal Company, remaining as its 
head until his death; was also the founder of 
"The Bloomington Bulletin," in 1878. Died, at 
Bloomington, May 21, 1891. 

SCOTT, Owen, journalist and ex-Congressman, 
was born in Jackson Tovvnship, EfSngham 
County, 111., July 6, 1848, reared on a farm, and, 
after receiving a thorough common-school edu- 
cation, became a teacher, and was, for eight 
years. Superintendent of Schools for his native 
county. In January, 1874, he was admitted to 
the bar, but abandoned practice, ten years later, 
to engage in newspaper work. His first pirbli- 
cation was "The Effingham Democrat, " which he 
left to become proprietor and manager of "The 
Bloomington Bulletin." He was also publisher 
of "The Illinois Freemason," a monthly periodi- 
cal. Before removing to Bloomington he filled 
the offices of City Attorney and Mayor of Effing- 
ham, and also served as Deputy Collector of 
Internal Revenue. In 1890 he was elected as a 
Democrat from the Fourteenth Illinois District 
to the Fifty-second Congress. In 1892 he was a 
candidate for reelection, but was defeated by his 
Republican opponent, Benjamin F. Funk. Dur- 
ing the past few years, Mr. Scott has been editor 
of "The Bloomington Leader." 

SCOTT COUNTY, lies in the western part of 
the State adjoining the Illinois River, and has an 
area of 248 square miles. The region was origi- 
nally owned by the Kickapoo Indians, who 
ceded it to the Government by the treaty of 
Edwardsville, July 30, 1819. Six months later 
(in January, 1820) a party of Kentuckians settled 
near Lynnville (now in Morgan County), their 
names being Thomas Stevens, James Scott, 
Alfred Miller, Thomas Allen, John Scott and 



Adam Miller. Allen erected the first house in the 
county, John Scott the second and Adam Miller 
the third. About the same time came Stephen 
M. Umpstead, whose wife was the first white 
woman in the county. Other pioneers were 
Jedediali Webster, Stephen Pierce, Joseph Dens- 
more, Jesse Roberts, and Samuel Bogard. The 
country was rough and the conveniences of civi- 
lization few and remote. Settlers took their corn 
to Edwardsville to be ground, and went to Alton 
for their mail. Turbulence early showed itself, 
and, in 1822, a band of "Regulators" was organized 
from the best citizens, who meted out a rough 
and ready sort of justice, until 1830, occasionally 
shooting a desperado at his cabin door. Scott 
County was cut off from Morgan and organized 
in 1839. It contains good farming land, much of 
it being originally timbered, and it is well 
watered by the Illinois River and numerous 
small streams. Winchester is the county-seat. 
Population of the county (1880), 10,741; (1890), 
10,304; (1900), 10,455. 

SCRIPPS, John L., journalist, was born near 
Cape Girardeau, Mo., Feb. 18, 1818; was taken to 
Rushville, 111., in childhood, and educated at 
McKendree College; studied law and came to 
Chicago in 1847, with the intention of practicing, 
but, a year or so later, bought a third interest in 
"The Chicago Tribune," which had been e.stab- 
lished during the previous year. In 1852 he 
withdrew from "The Tribune," and, in conjunc- 
tion with William Bross (afterwards Lieuten- 
ant-Governor), established "The Daily Demo- 
cratic Press," which was consolidated with "The 
Tribune" in July, 1858, under the name of "The 
Press and Tribune," Mr. Scripps remaining one 
of the editors of the new concern. In 1861 he 
was appointed, by Mr. Lincoln, Postmaster of the 
city of Chicago, serving until 1865, when, having 
sold his interest in "The Tribune," he engaged in 
the banking business as a member of the firm of 
Scripps, Preston & Kean. His health, however, 
soon showed signs of failure, and he died, Sept. 
31, 1866, at Minneapolis, Minn., whither he had 
gone in hopes of restoration. Sir. Scripps was a 
finished and able writer who did much to elevate 
the standard of Chicago journalism. 

SCROGGS, George, journalist, was born at 
Wilmington, Clinton, County, Ohio, Oct. 7, 1842 
— the son of Dr. John W. Scroggs, who came to 
Champaign County, 111., in 1851, and, in 1858, 
took charge of "The Central Illinois Gazette. " In 
186ii-67 Dr. Scroggs was active in securing the 
location of the State University at Champaign, 
afterwards serving as a member of the first Board 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



473 



of Trustees of that institution. The son, at the 
age of 15, became an apprentice in his father's 
printing office, continuing until 1862, when he 
enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being 
promoted through the positions of Sergeant- JIajor 
and Second Lieutenant, and finally serving on 
the staffs of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis and Gen. James 
D. Morgan, but declining a commission as Adju- 
tant of the Sixtieth Illinois. He participated in 
the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission 
Ridge and the march with Sherman to the sea, in 
the latter being severely wounded at Bentonville, 
N. C. He remained in the service until July, 
1865. when he resigned; then entered the Uni- 
versity at Champaign, later studied law, mean- 
while writing for "The Champaign Gazette and 
Union," of which he finall.y became sole propri- 
etor. In 1877 he was appointed an Aid-de-Camp 
on the staff of Governor CuUom, and, the follow- 
ing year, was elected to the Thirty-first General 
Assembly, but, before the close of the session 
(1879), received the appointment of United States 
Consul to Hamburg, Germany. He was com- 
pelled to surrender this position, a year later, on 
account of ill-health, and, returning home, died, 
Oct. 15, 1880. 

SEATONVILLE, a village in Hall Township, 
Bureau County. Population (1900), 909. 

SECRETARIES OF STATE. The following is 
a list of the Secretaries of State of Illinois from 
its admission into the Union down to the present 
time (1899), with the date and duration of the 
term of each incumbent; Elias Kent Kane, 
1818-32; Samuel D. Lockwood, 1822-23; David 
Blackwell, 1823-24; Morris Birkbeck, October, 
1821 to January, 1825 (failed of confirmation by 
the Senate), George Forquer, 1825-28; Alexander 
Pope Field, 1828-40; Stephen A. Douglas, 1840-41 
(served thi-ee months — resigned to take a seat on 
the Supreme bench); Lyman Trumbull, 1841-43; 
Thompson Campbell, 1843-46; Horace S. Cooley, 
1846-50; David L. Gregg, 1850-53; Alexander 
Starne, 1853-57 ; Ozias M. Hatch, 1857-65 ; Sharon 
Tyndale, 1865-69; Edward Rimimel, 1869-73; 
George H. Harlow, 1873-81; Henry D. Dement, 
1881-89; Isaac N. Pearson, 1889-93; William H. 

Hinrichsen, 1893-97; James A. Rose, 1897 . 

Nathaniel Pope and Joseph Phillips were the only 
Secretaries of Illinois during the Territorial 
period, the former serving from 1809 to 1816, and 
the latter from 1816 to 1818. Under the first Con- 
stitution (1818) the office of the Secretary of 
State was filled by appointment by the Governor, 
by and with the advice and consent of the 



Senate, but without limitation as to term of 
office. By the Constitution of 1848, and again by 
that of 1870, that officer was made elective by 
the people at the same time as the Governor, for 
a term of four years. 

SECRET TREASONABLE SOCIETIES. Early 
in the War of the Rebellion there sprang up, at 
various points in the Northwest, organizations of 
persons disaffected toward the National Govern- 
ment. They were most numerous in Ohio, Indi- 
ana, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. At first 
they were known by such titles as "Circles of 
Honor," "Mutual Protective Associations," etc. 
But they had kindred aims and tlieir members 
were soon united in one organization, styled 
"Knights of the Golden Circle." Its secrets 
having been partially disclosed, this body ceased 
to exist — or, it would be more correct to say, 
changed its name — being soon succeeded (1863) 
by an organization of similar character, called 
the "American Knights." These societies, as 
first formed, were rather political than military. 
The "American Knights" had more forcible 
aiuas, but this, in turn, was also exposed, and the 
order was re-organized under the name of "Sons 
of Liberty." The last named order started in 
Indiana, and, owing to its more perfect organi- 
zation, rapidly spread over the Northwest, 
acquiring much more strength and influence than 
its predecessors had done. The ultimate author- 
ity of the organization was vested in a Supreme 
Council, whose officers were a "supreme com- 
mander," "secretary of state, "and "treasurer." 
Each State represented formed a division, under a 
"deputy grand commander." States were divided 
into military districts, under "major-generals." 
County lodges were termed "temples." The 
order was virtually an officered army, and its 
aims were aggressive. It had its commander-in- 
chief, its brigades and its regiments. Three 
degrees were recognized, and the oaths of secrecy 
taken at each initiation surpassed, in binding 
force, either the oath of allegiance or an oath 
taken in a court of justice. The maintenance of 
slavery, and forcible opposition to a coercive 
policy by the Government in dealing with seces- 
sion, were the pivotal doctrines of the order. Its 
methods and pm-poses were to discourage enlist- 
ments and resist a draft; to aid and protect 
deserters; to disseminate treasonable literature; 
to aid the Confederates in destroying Government 
property. Clement L. Vallandigham, the expat- 
riated traitor, was at its head, and, in 1864, 
claimed that it had a numerical strength of 400,- 
000, of whom 65,000 were in Illinois. Many overt 



47-i 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



acts were committed, but the organization, hav- 
ing been exposed and defeated in its objects, dis- 
banded in 1865. (See Camp Douglas Conspiracy. ) 
SELBY, Paul, editor, was born in Pickaway 
County, Ohio, July 20, 1835; removed with his 
parents, in 1837, to Van Buren County, Iowa, but, 
at the age of 19, went to Southern Illinois, where 
he spent four years teaching, chiefly in Madison 
County. In 1848 he entered the preparatory 
department of Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
but left the institution during his junior year to 
assume the editorship of ''The Morgan Journal," 
at Jacksonville, with which he remained until 
the fall of 1858, covering the period of the 
organization of the Republican party, in which 
"The Journal" took an active part. He was a 
member of the Anti-Nebraska (afterwards known 
as Republican) State Convention, which met at 
Springfield, in October, 18,54 (the first ever held in 
the State), and, on Feb. 22, 1856, attended and 
presided over a conference of Anti-Nebraska 
editors of the State at Decatur, called to devise a 
line of policy for the newly organizing Repub- 
lican party. (See Anti-Nebraska Editorial 
Convention.) This body appointed the first 
Republican State Central Committee and desig- 
nated the date of the Bloomington Convention 
of May 29, following, which put in nomination 
the first Republican State ticket ever named in 
Illinois, which ticket was elected in the following 
November (See Bloomington Convention.) In 
1859 he prepared a pamphlet giving a history of 
the celebrated Canal scrip fraud, which was 
widely circulated. (See Canal So-fjj Fraud.) 
Going South in the fall of 1859, he was engaged 
in teaching in the State of Louisiana until the 
last of June, 1861. Just two weeks before the 
fall of Fort Sumter he was denounced to his 
Southern neighbors as an "abolitionist" and 
falsely charged with having been connected with 
the "underground railroad," in letters from 
secession sympathizers in the North, whose per- 
sonal and political enmit}' he had incurred while 
conducting a Republican paper in Illinois, some 
of whom referred to Jefferson Davis, Senator 
Slidell, of Louisiana, and other Southern leaders 
as vouchers for their characters. He at once 
invited an investigation by the Board of Trus- 
tees of the institution, of which he was the 
Principal, when that body — although composed, 
for the most part, of Southern men — on the basis 
of testimonials from prominent citizens of Jack- 
sonville, and other evidence, adopted resolutions 
declaring the charges prompted by per.sonal hos- 
tility, and delivered the letters of his accusers into 



his hands. Returning North with his family in 
July, 1861, he spent some nine months in the com- 
missary and transportation branches of the ser- 
vice at Cairo and at Paducah, Ky. In July, 1862, 
he became associate editor of "The Illinois State 
Journal" at Springfield, remaining until Novem- 
ber, 1865. The next six months were spent as 
Assistant Deputy Collector in the Custom House 
at New Orleans, but, returning North in June, 
1866, he soon after became identified with the 
Chicago press, serving, first upon the staff of "The 
Evening Journal" and, later, on "The Repub- 
lican." In May, 1868, he assumed the editorship 
of "The Quincy Whig," ultimately becoming 
part proprietor of that paper, but, in January, 
1874, resumed his old place on "The State Jour- 
nal," four years later becoming one of its propri- 
etors. In 1880 he was appointed by President 
Hayes Postmaster of Springfield, was reappointed 
by Arthur in 1884, but resigned in 1886. Mean- 
while he had sold his interest in "The Journal," 
but the following year organized a new company 
for its purchase, when he resumed his former 
position as editor. In 1889 he disposed of his 
holding in "The Journal," finally removing to 
Chicago, where he has been employed in literary 
work. In all he has been engaged in editorial 
work over thirty-five years, of which eighteen 
were spent upon "The State Journal." In 1860 
Mr. Selby was complimented by his Alma Slater 
with the honorary degree of A. M. He has been 
twice married, first to Miss Erra Post, of Spring- 
field, who died in November, 1865, leaving two 
daughters, and, in 18T0, to Mrs. Mary J. Hitch- 
cock, of Quincy, by whom he had two children, 
both of whom died in infancj*. 

SEMPLE, James, United States Senator, was 
born in Green County, Ky. , Jan. 5, 1798, of Scotch 
descent ; after learning the tanner's trade, studied 
law and emigrated to Illinois in 1818, removing 
to Missouri four years later, where he was ad- 
mitted to the bar. Returning to Illinois in 1828, 
he began practice at Edwardsville, but later 
became a citizen of Alton. During the Black 
Hawk War he served as Brigadier-General. He 
was thrice elected to the lower house of the 
Legislature (1832, "34 and '36), and was Speaker 
during the last two terms. In 1833 he was 
elected Attorney-General by the Legislature, but 
served only until the following year, and, in 
1837, was appointed Minister to Granada, South 
America. In 1843 he was appointed, and after- 
wards elected. United States Senator to fill the 
unexpired term of Samuel McRoberts, at the 
expiration of his term (1847) retiring to private 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



475 



life. He laid out the town of Elsah, in Jersey 
County, just south of wliirh lie owned a large 
estate on the Mississippi bluflfs, where he died. 
Dec. 20, 1866. 

SENECA (formerly Crotty), a village of La 
Salle County, situated on the Illinois River, the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal and the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railways, 18 miles east of 
Ottawa. It has a graded school, several 
churches, a bank, some manufactures, grain 
warehouses, coal mines, telephone system and 
one newspaper. Pop. (1890), 1,190; (1900), 1,036. 

SENN, (Dr.) Nicholas, physican and surgeon, 
was born in the Canton of St. Gaul, Switzerland, 
Oct. 31, 1844; was brought to America at 8 years 
of age, his parents settling at Washington, Wis. 
He received a grammar school education at Fond 
du Lac, and, in 1864, began the study of medi- 
cine, graduating at the Chicago Medical College 
in 1868. After some eighteen months spent as 
resident physician in the Cook County Hospital, 
he began practice at Ashford, Wis., but removed 
to Milwaukee in 1874, where he became attending 
physician of the Milwaukee Hospital. In 1877 he 
visited Europe, graduated the following year from 
the University of Munich, and, on his return, 
became Professor of the Principles of Surgery 
and Surgical Pathology in Rush Medical College 
in Chicago — also has held the chair of the Prac- 
tice of Surgery in the same institution. Dr. 
Senn has achieved great success and won an 
international reputation in the treatment of 
difficult cases of abdominal surgery. He is the 
author of a number of volumes on dififerent 
branches of surgery which are recognized as 
standard authorities. A few years ago he pur- 
chased the extensive library of the late Dr. Will- 
iam Baum, Professor of Surgery in the University 
of Gottingen, which he presented to the New- 
berry Library of Chicago. In 1893, Dr. Senn was 
appointed Surgeon-General of the Illinois 
National Guard, and has also been President of 
the Association of Military Surgeons of the 
National Guard of the United States, besides 
being identified with various other medical 
bodies. Soon after the beginning of the Spanish- 
American War. he was appointed, by President 
McKinley, a Surgeon of Volunteers with the rank 
of Colonel, and rendered most efficient aid in the 
military branch of the service at Camp Chicka- 
mauga and in the Santiago campaign. 

SEXTON, (Col.) James A., Commander-in- 
Chief of Grand Army of the Republic, was born 
in the city of Chicago, Jan. 5, 1844; in April, 



1861, being then only a little over 17, enlisted as a 
private soldier under the first call for troops 
issued by President Lincoln ; at the close of his 
term was appointed a Sergeant, with authority to 
recruit a company which afterwards was attached 
to the Fifty-first Volunteer Infantry. Later, he 
was transferred to the Sixty-seventh with the 
rank of Lieutenant, and, a few months after, to 
the Seventy-second with a commission as Captain 
of Company D, which he had recruited. As com- 
mander of his regiment, then constituting a part 
of the Seventeenth Army Corps, he participated 
in the battles of Columbia, Duck Creek, Spring 
Hill, Franklin and Nashville, and in the Nash- 
ville campaign. Both at Nashville and Franklin 
he was wounded, and again, at Spanish Fort, by a 
piece of shell which broke his leg. His regiment 
took part in seven battles and eleven skirmishes, 
and, while it went out 967 strong in officers and 
men, it returned with only 332. all told, although 
it had been recruited by 234 men. He was known 
as "The boy Captain," being only 18 years old 
when he received his first commission, and 21 
when, after participating in the Mobile cam- 
paign, he was mustered out with the rank of 
Lieutenant-Colonel. After the close of the war 
he engaged in planting in the South, purchasing 
a plantation in Lowndes County, Ala., but, in 
1867, returned to Chicago, where he became a 
member of the firm of Cribben. Sexton & Co., 
stove manufacturers, from which he retired in 
1898. In 1884 he served as Presidential Elector 
on the Republican ticket for the Fourth District, 
and, in 1889, was appointed , by President Harrison , 
Postmaster of the city of Cliicago, serving over 
five years. In 1888 he was chosen Department 
Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic 
for the State of Illinois, and, ten j'ears later, to 
the position of Commander-in-Chief of the order, 
which he held at the time of his death. He had 
also been, for a number of years, one of the Trus- 
tees of the Soldiers" and Sailors' Home at Quincy, 
and, during most of the time, President of the 
Board. Towards the close of the year 1898, he 
was appointed by President McKinley a member 
of the Commission to investigate the conduct of 
the Spanish-American War, but, before the Com- 
mission had concluded its labors, was taken with 
"the grip," which developed into pneumonia, 
from which he died in Washington, Feb. 5, 1899. 
SEYMOUR, (Jeorge Franklin, Protestant Epis- 
copal Bishop, was born in New York City, Jan. 5, 
1829; graduated from Columbia College in 1850, 
and from the General Theological Seminary 
(New York) in 1854. He received both minor 



476 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and major orders at the hands of Bishop Potter, 
being made deacon in 1854 and ordained priest in 
1855. For several years )ie was engaged in mis- 
sionary work. During this period he was promi- 
nently identified with the founding of St. 
Stephen's College. After serving as rector in 
various parishes, in 1865 he was made Professor 
of Ecclesiastical History in the New York Semi- 
nary, and, ten years later, was chosen Dean of 
the institution, still retaining liis professorship. 
Racine College conferred upon liim the degree of 
S.T.D., in 1867, and Columbia that of LL.D. in 
1878. In 1874 he was elected Bishop of Illinois, 
but failed of confirmation in the House of Depu- 
ties. Upon the erection of the new diocese of 
Springfield (1877) he accepted and was conse- 
crated Bishop at Trinity Church, N. Y., June 11, 
1878. He was a prominent member of the Third 
Pan-Anglican Council (London, 1S85), and has 
done much to foster the growth and extend the 
influence of his church in his diocese. 

SHABBOXA, a village of De Kalb County, on 
the Iowa Division of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, 25 miles west of Aurora. 
Population (1890), r,02; (1900), 587. 

SHABOXA (or Shabbona), an Ottawa Chief, 
was born near the Maumee River, in Ohio, about 
1775, and served under Tecumseh from 1807 to 
the battle of the Thames in 1813. In 1810 he 
accompanied Tecumseh and Capt. Billy Caldwell 
(see Sauganash) to the homes of the Pottawato- 
mies and other tribes within tlie present limits of 
Illinois and Wisconsin, to secure their co-oper- 
ation in driving the white settlers out of the 
country. At the battle of the Thames, he was by 
the side of Tecumseh wlien he fell, and both he 
and Caldwell, losing faith in their British allies, 
soon after submitted to the United States tlirough 
General Cass at Detroit. Shabona was opposed 
to Black Hawk in 1833, and did much to thwart 
the plans of the latter and aid the wliites. Hav- 
ing married a daughter of a Pottawatomie chief, 
who had a village on the Illinois River east of 
the present city of Ottawa, he lived there for 
some time, but finally removed 25 miles north to 
Shabona's Grove in De Kalb County. Here he 
remained till 1837, when he removed to Western 
Missouri. Black Hawk's followers having a 
reservation near by, Ixostilities began between 
them, in which a son and nephew of Shabona 
were killed. He finally returned to his old home 
in Illinois, but found it occupied by whites, who 
drove him from the grove that bore his name. 
Some friends then bought for him twenty acres 
of land on Mazon Creek, near Morris, where he 



died, July 27, 1859. He is described as a noble 
specimen of his race. A life of him has been 
published by N. Matson (Chicago, 1878). 

SHAXXON, a village of Carroll County, on the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 18 miles 
southwest of Freeport. It is an important trade 
center, lias a bank and one newspaper. Popu- 
lation (1890), 591; (1900), 078. 

SHAW, Aaron, former Congressman, born in 
Orange County, N. Y., in 1811; was educated at 
the Montgomery Academy, studied law and was 
admitted to the bar at Goshen in that State. In 
1833 he remo\'ed to Lawrence County, 111. He 
has held various important public offices. He 
was a member of the first Internal Improvement 
Convention of the State; was chosen State's 
Attorney by the Legislature, in which body he 
served two terms ; served four years as Judge of 
the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit; was elected to 
the Thirtj'-fiftli Congress in 1856, and to the 
Forty -eighth in 1882, as a Democrat. 

SHAW, James, lawyer, jurist, was born in Ire- 
land, May 3, 1832, brought to this country in in- 
fancy and grew up on a farm in Cass County, 111. ; 
graduated from Illinois College in 1857, and, after 
admission to the bar, began practice at Mount 
Carroll. In 1870 he was elected to the lower 
house of the General Assembly, being re-elected 
in 1872, '76 and '78. He was Speaker of the 
House during the session of 1877, and one of the 
Republican leaders on the floor during the suc- 
ceeding session. In 1873 he was chosen a Presi- 
dential Elector, and, in 1891, to a seat on the 
Circuit bench from the Thirteenth Circuit, 
and, in 1897 was re-elected for the Fifteenth 
Circuit. 

SHAWXEETOWX, a city and the county-seat 
of Gallatin Coauty, on the Ohio River 120 miles 
from its mouth and at the terminus of the Shaw- 
neetown Divisions of the Baltimore & Ohio South- 
western and the Louisville & Nashville Railroads; 
is one of the olde.st towns in the State, having 
been laid out in 1808, and noted for tlie number 
of prominent men who resided there at an early 
day. Coal is extensively mined in that section, 
and Shawneetown is one of the largest shipping 
points for lumber, coal and farm products 
between Cairo and Louisville, navigation being 
open the year round. Some manufacturing is 
done here; the city has sevei-al mills, a foundry 
and machine shop, two or tliree banks, several 
churches, good schools and two weekly papers. 
Since the disastrous floods of 1884 and 1898, Shaw- 
neetown has reconstructed its levee system on a 
substantial scale, which is now believed to furnish 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



477 



ample protection against the recurrence of similar 
disaster. Pop. (1900), 1,698; (1903, est.), 3,300. 

SHEAHAX, James W., journalist, was bom in 
Baltimore, Md., spent his early life, after reaching 
manhood, in "Washington Citj^ as a Congressional 
Reporter, and, in 1847, reported the proceedings 
of tlie Illinois State Constitutional Convention at 
Springfield. Through the influence of Senator 
Douglas he was induced, in 18.')4, to accept the 
editorship of "The Young America" newspaper 
at Chicago, which was soon after changed to 
"The Chicago Times." Here he remained until 
the fall of 1860, when, "The Times" having been 
sold and consolidated with "The Herald," a 
Buchanan-Breckenridge organ, he established a 
new paper called "The Morning Post." This he 
made representative of the views of the "War 
Democrats" as against "The Times," which was 
opposed to the war. In May, 186.5, he sold the 
plant of "The Post" and it became "The Chicago 
Republican" — now "Inter Ocean." A few 
mouths later. Mr. Sheahan accepted a position as 
chief writer on the editorial staff of "The Chicago 
Tribune," which he retained until his death, 
June 17, 1883. 

SHEFFIELD, a prosperous village of Bureau 
County, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railroad, 44 miles east of Rosk Island; has valu- 
able coal mines, a bank and one newspaper. 
Population (1890). 993; (1900), 1,365. 

SHELBY COUNTY, lies south of the center of 
the State, and contains an area of 776 square 
miles. The tide of immigration to this county 
was at first from Kentucky, Tennessee and North 
Carolina, although later it began to set in from 
the Northern States. The first cabin in the 
county was built by Simeon AVakefield on what is 
now the site of Williamsburg, first called Cold 
Spring. Joseph Daniel was the earliest settler in 
what is now Shelbyville, pre-empting ten acres, 
which he soon afterward sold to Joseph Oliver, 
the pioneer merchant of the count}', and father 
of the first white child horn within its limits. 
Other pioneers were Shimei Wakefield, Levi 
Casey and Samuel Hall. In lieu of hats the early 
settlers wore caps made of squirrel or coon skin, 
with the tails dangling at the backs, and he was 
regarded as well dressed who boasted a fringed 
buckskin shirt and trousers, with moccasins. 
The county was formed in 1827, and Shelbyville 
made the county-seat. Both county and town 
are named in honor of Governor Shelby, of Ken- 
tucky. * County Judge Joseph Oliver held the 
first court in the cabin of Barnett Bone, and 
Judge Theophilus W. Smith presided over the 



first Circuit Court in 1828. Coal is abundant, 
and limestone and sandstone are also found. The 
surface is somewhat rolling and well wooded. 
The Little AVabash and Kaskaskia Rivers flow 
through the central and southeastern portions. 
The county lies in the very heart of the great 
corn belt of the State, and has excellent transpor- 
tation facilities, being penetrated by four lines of 
railway. Population (1880), 30,270; (1890), 31,- 
191; (1900), 32,126. 

SHELBYVILLE, the county-seat and an incor- 
porated city of Shelby County, on the Kaskaskia 
River and two lines of railway, 33 miles southeast 
of Decatur. Agriculture is carried on exten- 
sively, and there is considerable coal mining in 
the immediate vicinity. The city has two flour- 
ing mills, a handle factory, a creamery, one 
National and one State bank, one daily and four 
weekly papers and one monthly periodical, an 
Orphans' Home, ten churches, two graded 
schools, and a public library. Population (1890), 
3,162; (1900), SM6. 

SHELDON, a village of Iroquois County, at the 
intersection of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago 
& St. Louis and the Toledo. Peoria & Western 
Rail ways, 9 miles east of Watseka ; has two banks 
and a newspaper. The region is agricultural. 
Pop. (1890), 910; (1900), 1,103. 

SHELDON, Benjamin R., jurist, was born in 
Massachusetts in 1813, graduated from Williams 
College in 1831, studied law at the Yale Law 
School, and was admitted to practice in 1836. 
Emigrating to Illinois, he located temporarily at 
Hennepin, Putnam Count}-, but soon removed to 
Galena, and finally to Rockford. In 1848 he was 
elected Circuit Judge of the Sixth Circuit, which 
afterwards being divided, he was assigned to the 
Fourteenth Circuit, remaining until 1870, when 
he was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court, 
presiding as Chief Justice in 1877. He was re- 
elected in 1879, but retired in 1888, being suc- 
ceeded by the late Justice Bailey. Died, April 
13, 1897. 

SHEPPARD, Nathan, author and lecturer, was 
born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 9, 1834; graduated 
at Rochester Theological Seminary in 1859 ; dur- 
ing the Civil War was special correspondent of 
"The New York World" and "The Chicago Jour- 
nal" and "Tribiuie," and, during the Franco- 
German War, of "The Cincinnati Gazette;" also 
served as special American correspondent of 
"The London Times," and was a contributor to 
"Frazer's Magazine" and "Temple Bar." In 1873 
he became a lecturer on Modern English Liter: 
ature and Rhetoric in Chicago Universitv and. 



478 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



four years later, accepted a similar position in 
Allegheny College; also spent four years in 
Europe, lecturing in the principal towns of Great 
Britain and Ireland. In 1884 he founded the 
"Athenaeum" at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., of 
which he was President until his death, early in 
1888. "The Dickens Reader, " "Character Read- 
ings from George Eliot" and "Essays of George 
Eliot" were among the volumes issued by him 
between 1881 and 1887. Died in New York City, 
Jan. 24, 1888. 

SHERMAN, Alson Smith, early Chicago Mayor, 
was born at Barre, Vt., April 31, 1811, remaining 
there until 1836, when he came to Chicago and 
began business as a contractor and builder. Sev- 
eral years later he opened the first stone quarries 
at Lemont, 111. Mr. Sherman spent many years 
in the service of Chicago as a public official. 
From 1840 to 1842 he was Captain of a company 
of militia ; for two years served as Chief of the 
Fire Department, and was elected Alderman in 
1842, serving again in 1846. In 1844, he was 
chosen Mayor, his administration being marked 
by the first extensive public improvements made 
in Chicago. After his term as Mayor he did 
much to secure a better water supply for the 
city. He was especially interested in promoting 
common school education, being for several years 
a member of the City School Board. He was 
Vice-President of the first Board of Trustees of 
Northwestern University. Retired from active 
pursuits, Mr. Sherman is now (1899) spending a 
serene old age at Waukegan, 111.— Oren (Sherman) 
brother of the preceding and early Cliicago mer- 
chant, was born at Barre, Vt., March 5, 1816. 
After spending several years in a mercantile 
house in Montpelier, Vt., at the age of twenty he 
came west, first to New Buffalo, Mich., and, in 
1836, to Chicago, opening a dry -goods store there 
the next spring. "With various partners Mr. 
Sherman continued in a general mercantile busi- 
ness until 1853, at the same time being extensively 
engaged in the provision trade, one-half the entire 
transactions in pork in the city passing through 
his hands. Next he engaged in developing stone 
quarries at Lemont, 111. ; also became extensively 
interested in the marble business, continiiing in 
this until a few years after the panic of 1873, 
when he retired in consequence of a shock of 
paralysis. Died, in Chicago, Dec. 15, 1898. 

SHERMAN, Elijah B., lawyer, was born at 
Fairfield, Vt., June 18, 1832— his family being 
distantly related to Roger Sherman, a signer of 
.the Declaration of Independence, and the late 
G3n. W. T. Sherman; gained his education in the 



common schools and at Middlebury College, 
where he graduated in 1860 ; began teaching, but 
soon after enlisted as a private in the war for the 
Union; received a Lieutenant's commission, and 
served until captured on the eve of the battle at 
Antietam, when he was paroled and sent to Camp 
Douglas, Chicago, awaiting exchange. During 
this period he commenced reading law and, hav 
ing resigned his commission, graduated from the 
law department of Chicago University in 1864 
In 1876 he was elected Representative in the 
General Assembly from Cook County, and re- 
elected in 1878, and the following year appointed 
Master in Chancery of the United States District 
Court, a position which he still occupies He has 
repeatedly been called upon to deliver addresses 
on political, literary and patriotic occasions, one 
of these being before the alumni of his alma 
mater, in 1884, when he was complimented with 
the degree of LL.D. 

SHIELDS, James, soldier and United States 
Senator, was born in Ireland in 1810, emigrated 
to the United States at the age of sixteen, and 
began the practice of law at Kaskaskia in 1832. 
He was elected to the Legislature in 1836, and 
State Auditor in 1839. In 1843 he became a 
Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and, in 
1845, was made Commissioner of the General 
Land Office. In July, 1846, he was commissioned 
Brigadier-General in the Mexican War gaining 
the brevet of Major-General at Cerro-Gordo, 
where he was severely wounded. He was again 
wounded at Chapultepec, and mustered out in 
1848. The same year he was appointed Governor 
of Oregon TeiTitory. In 1849 the Democrats in 
the Illinois Legislature elected him Senator, and 
he resigned his office in Oregon. In 1856 he 
removed to Minnesota, and, in 1858, was chosen 
United States Senator from that State, his term 
expiring in 1859, when he established a residence 
in California. At the outbreak of the Civil War 
(1861) he was superintending a mine in Mexico, 
but at once hastened to Washington to tender his 
services to the Governmnet. He was commis- 
sioned Brigadier-General, and served with dis- 
tinction until March, 1863, when the effect of 
numerous wounds caused him to resign. He sub- 
sequently removed to Missouri, practicing law at 
CarroUton and serving in the Legislature of that 
State in 1874 and 1879. In the latter year he was 
elected United States Senator to fill out the unex- 
pired term of Senator Bogy, who had died in 
office — serving only six weeks, but being the only 
man in the history ot the country who filled tlie 
office of United States Senator from three differ- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



479 



ent states. Died, at Ottumwa, Iowa, June 1, 
1879. 

SHIPMAX, a town of Macoupin County, on the 
Cliicago & Alton Railway, 19 miles north-north- 
east of Alton and 14 miles southwest of Carlin- 
ville. Population (1890), 410; (1900), 396. 

SHIPMAX, George E., M.D,, physician and 
philanthropist, born in New York City, March 4, 
1820 ; graduated at the University of New York 
in 1839, and took a course in the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons; practiced for a time at 
Peoria, 111., but, in 1846, located in Chicago, where 
he assisted in organizing the first Homeopathic 
Hospital in that city, and, in 1855, was one of the 
first Trustees of Hahnemann College. In 1871 he 
established, in Chicago, the Foundlings' Home at 
his own expense, giving to it the latter years of 
his life. Died, Jan. 20, 1893. 

SHOREY, Daniel Lewis, lawyer and philan- 
thropist, was born at Jonesborough, Washington 
County, Maine, Jan. 31, 1824; educated at Phil- 
lips Academy, Andover, Mass. , and at Dartmouth 
College, graduating from the latter in 1851; 
taught two years in Washington City, meanwhile 
reading law, afterwards taking a course at Dane 
Law School, Cambridge ; was admitted to the bar 
in Boston in 1854, the next year locating at 
Davenport, Iowa, where he remained ten years. 
In 1865 he removed to Chicago, where he prose- 
cuted his profession until 1890, when he retired. 
Mr. Shorey was prominent in the establishment 
of the Chicago Public Library, and a member of 
the first Library Board ; was also a prominent 
member of the Chicago Literary Club, and was a 
Director in the new University of Chicago and 
deeply interested in its prosperity. Died, in Chi- 
cago, March 4, 1899. 

SHORT, (Rev.) William F., clergyman and 
educator, was born in Ohio in 1829, brought to 
Morgan County, 111. , in childhood, and lived upon 
a farm until 20 years of age, when he entered 
McKendree College, spending his senior year, 
however, at AVesleyan University, Bloomington, 
where he graduated in 1854. He had meanwhile 
accepted a call to the Missouri Conference Semi- 
nary at Jackson. Mo. ; where he remained three 
years, when he returned to Illinois, serving 
churches at Jacksonville and elsewhere, for a 
part of the time being Presiding Elder of the 
Jacksonville District. In 1875 he was elected 
President of Illinois Female College at Jackson- 
ville, continuing in that position until 1893, when 
he was appointed Superintendent of the Illinois 
State Institution for the Blind at the same place, 
but resigned early in 1897. Dr. Short received 



the degree of D.D., conferred upon him by Ohio 
Wesleyan University. 

SHOUP, (Jeorge L., United States Senator, 
was born at Kittanning, Pa., June 15, 1836, came 
to Illinois in 1852, his father locating on a stock- 
farm near Galesburg; in 1859 removed to Colo- 
rado, where he engaged in mining and mercantile 
business until 1861, when he enlisted in a com- 
pany of scouts, being advanced from the rank of 
First Lieutenant to the Colonelcy of the Third 
Colorado Cavalry, meanwhile serving as Delegate 
to the State Constitutional Convention of 1864. 
Retiring to private life, he again engaged in mer- 
cantile and mining business, first in Nevada and 
then in Idaho; served two terms in the Terri- 
torial Legislature of the latter, was appointed 
Territorial Governor in 1889 and, in 1890, was 
chosen the first Governor of the State, in October 
of the same year being elected to the United 
States Senate, and re-elected in 1895 for a second 
term, which ends in 1901. Senator Shoup is one 
of the few Western Senators who remained faith- 
ful to the regular Republican organization, dimng 
the political campaign of 1896. 

SHOWALTER, Jolin W., jurist, was born in 
Mason Count}'. Kj-., Feb. 8, 1844; resided some 
j'ears in Scott County in that State, and was 
educated in the local schools, at Maysville and 
Ohio University, finally graduating at Yale Col- 
lege in 1867; came to Chicago in 1869, studied 
law and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He 
returned to Kentuckj- after the fire of 1871, but, 
in 1872, again came to Chicago and entered the 
employment of the firm of Moore & Caulfield, 
with whom he had been before the fire. In 1879 
he became a member of the firm of Abbott, 
Oliver & Showalter (later, Oliver & Showalter), 
where he remained until his appointment as 
United States Circuit Judge, in March, 1895. 
Died, in Chicago, Deo. 12, 1898. 

SHUMAN, Andrew, journalist and Lieutenant- 
Governor, was born at Manor, Lancaster County, 
Pa., Nov. 8, 18.30. His father dying in 1837, he 
was reared by an uncle. At the age of 15 he 
became an apprentice in the office of "The Lan- 
caster Union and Sentinel." A year later he ac- 
companied liis employer to Auburn, N. Y. , working 
for two years on "The Daily Advertiser" of that 
city, then known as Governor Seward's "home 
organ." At the age of 18 he edited, published 
and distributed — during his leisure hours — a 
small weekly paper called "The Auburnian." At 
the conclusion of his apprenticeship he was em- 
ployed, for a year or two, in editing and publish- 
ing "The Cayuga Chief," a temperance journal. 



480 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



In 1851 he entered Hamilton College, but, before 
the completion of his junior year, consented, at 
the solicitation of friends of William H. Seward, 
to assume editorial control of "The Syracuse 
Daily Journal. " In July, 1856, he came to Chi- 
cago, to accept an editorial position on "The 
Evening Journal" of that city, later becoming 
editor-in-chief and President of the Journal Com- 
pany. From 1865 to 18T0 {first by executive 
appointment and afterward by popular election) 
he was a Commissioner of the Illinois State Peni- 
tentiary at Joliet, resigning the office four years 
before the expiration of his term. In 18T6 he 
was elected Lieutenant-Governor on the Repub- 
lican ticket. Owing to declining health, he 
abandoned active journalistic work in 1888, 
dying in Chicago, May 5, 1890. His home during 
the latter years of his life was at Evanston. 
Governor Shuman was author of a romance 
entitled "Loves of a Lawyer," besides numerous 
addresses before literary, commercial and scien- 
tific a.ssociations. 

SHUMWAY, Dorice Dwight, merchant, was 
born at Williamsburg, Worcester County, Mass., 
Sept. 28, 1813, descended from French Huguenot 
ancestry; came to Zanosville, Ohio, in 1837, and 
to Montgomery County, 111., in 18-11; married a 
daughter of Hiram Rountree, an early resident 
of Hillsboro, and, in 1843, located in Christian 
County ; was engaged for a time in merchandis- 
ing at Taylorville, but retired in 18.58, thereafter 
giving his attention to a large landed estate. In 
1846 he was chosen Representative in the General 
Assembly, served in the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1847, and four years as County Judge of 
Christian County. Died, May 9, 1870. — Hiram 
P. (Shumway), eldest son of tlie preceding, was 
born m Montgomery Count}-, 111.. June, 1843; 
spent his boyhood on a farm in Cliristian County 
and in his father's store at Taylorville; took an 
academy course and, in 1864, engaged in mercan- 
tile business; was Representative in the Twenty- 
eighth General Assembly and Senator in the 
Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh, afterwards 
removing to Springfield, where he engaged in 
the stone business. 

SHURTLEFF COLLEGE, an institution 
located at Upper Alton, and the third estab- 
lished in Illinois. It was originally incorporated 
as the "Alton College" in 1831, under a special 
charter which was not accepted, but re-incorpo- 
rated in 1835, in an "omnibus bill" -with Illi- 
nois and McKendree Colleges. (See Early Col- 
leges.) Its primal origin was a school at Rock 
Spring in St. Clair County, founded about 1824, 



bj' Rev. John M. Peck. This became the "Rook 
Spring Seminary" in 1827, and, about 1831, was 
united with an academy at Upper Alton. This 
was the nucleus of "Alton" (afterward "Shurt- 
leff") College. As far as its denominational 
control is concerned, it has always been domi- 
nated by Baptist influence. Dr. Peck's original 
idea was to found a school for teaching theology 
and Biblical literature, but this project was at 
first inhibited by the State. Hubbard Loomis 
and John Russell were among the first instruc- 
tors. Later, Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff donated the 
college §10,000, and the institution was named in 
his honor. College classes were not organized 
until 1840, and several years elapsed before a class 
graduated. Its endowment in 1898 was over 
§126,000, in addition to 5125,000 worth of real and 
personal property. About 255 students were in 
attendance. Besides preparatory and collegiate 
departments, the college also maintains a theo- 
logical school. It has a faculty of twenty 
instructors and is co-educational. 

SIBLEY, a village of Ford County, on the Chi- 
cago Division of the Wabash Railway, 105 miles 
south-southwest of Chicago; has banks and a 
weekly newspaper. The district is agricultural. 
Population (1890), 404; (1900), 444. 

SIBLEY, Joseph, lawyer and jurist, was bom 
at Westfield, Mass., in 1818; learned the trade of 
a whip-maker and afterwards engaged in mer- 
chandising. In 1843 he began the study of law 
at Sj'racuse, N. Y., and, upon admission to the 
bar, came west, finally settling at Nauvoo. Han- 
cock County. He maintained a neutral attitude 
during the Mormon troubles, thus giving offense 
to a section of the community. In 1847 he was 
an unsuccessful candidate for the Legislature, 
but was elected in 1850, and re-elected in 1852. 
In 1853 he removed to Warsaw, and, in 1855, was 
elected Judge of the Circuit Court, and re-elected 
in 1861, '67 and '73, being assigned to the bench 
of the Appellate Court of the Second District, in 
1877. His residence, after 1865, was at Quincy, 
wliere he died, June 18, 1897. 

SIDELL, a village of Vermillion County, on the 
Chicago & Eastern Illinois and Cincinnati, Hamil- 
ton & Dayton Railroads; lias a bank, electric 
light plant and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 776. 

SIDNEY, a village of Champaign County, on 
the main line of the Wabash Railway, at the junc- 
tion of a branch to Champaign, 48 miles east-north- 
east of Decatur. It is in a farming district ; has a 
bank and a newspaper. Population, (1900), 564. 

SIM, (Dr.) William, pioneer physician, was 
born at Aberdeen. Scotland, in 1795, came to 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



481 



America in early manhood, and was the first phy- 
sician to settle at Golconda, in Pope County, 
which he represented in the Fourth and Fifth 
General Assemblies (182-i and '38). He married 
a iliss Elizabeth Jack of Philadelphia, making 
the journey from Golconda to Philadelphia for 
that purpose on horseback. He had a family of 
five children, one son. Dr. Francis L, Sim, rising 
to distinction as a physician, and, for a time, 
being President of a Medical College at Memphis, 
Tenn. The elder Dr. Sim died at Golconda, in 
1868. 

SIMS, James, early legislator and Methodist 
preacher, was a native of South Carolina, but 
removed to Kentuck}' in early manhood, thence 
to St, Clair County, 111., and, in 1820, to Sanga- 
mon County, where he was elected, in 1823, as the 
first Representative from that county in the 
Third General Assembly. At the succeeding ses- 
sion of the Legislature, he was one of those who 
voted against the Convention resolution designed 
to prepare the way for making Illinois a slave 
State. Mr. Sims resided for a time in Menard 
County, but finally removed to Slorgan. 

SIJfOER, Horace M., capitalist, was born in 
Schnectad}-, N. Y. , Oct. 1, 1823; came to Chicago 
in 1836 and found employment on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, serving as superintendent of 
repairs upon the Canal until 1853. While thus 
employed he became one of the proprietors of 
the stone-quarries at Lemont, managed by the 
firm of Singer & Talcott until about 1890, when 
they became the property of the Western Stone 
Company. Originally a Democrat, he became a 
Republican during the Civil War, and served as a 
member of the Twentj'-fifth General Assembly 
(1867) for Cook County, was elected County Com- 
missioner in 1870, and was Chairman of the 
Republican County Central Committee in 1880. 
He was also associated with several financial 
institutions, being a director of the First National 
Bank and of the Auditorium Company of Chi- 
cago, and a member of the Union League and 
Calumet Clubs. Died, at Pasadena, Cal., Dec. 
28, 1896. 

SIXOLETOX, Jame.s W., Congressman, born 
at Paxton, Va., Nov. 23, 1811; was educated at 
the Winchester (Va. ) Academy, and removed to 
Illinois in 1833, settling first at Mount Sterlingj 
Brown County, and, some twenty years later, 
near Quincy. By profession he was a lawyer, 
and was prominent in political and commercial 
affairs. In his later years he devoted consider- 
able attention to stock-raising. He was elected 
Brigadier-General of the Illinois militia in 1844, 



being identified to some extent with the "Mor- 
mon War"; was a member of the Constitutional 
Conventions of 1847 and 1863, .served six terms in 
the Legislature, and was elected, on the Demo- 
cratic ticket, to Congress in 1878, and again in 
1880. In 1882 he ran as an independent Demo- 
crat, but was defeated by the regular nominee of 
his party, James M. Riggs. During the War of 
the Rebellion he was one of the most conspicuous 
leaders of the "peace party." He constructed 
the Quincy & Toledo (now part of the Wabash) 
and the Quincy, Alton & St. Louis (now part of 
the Chicago, Bui'lington & Quincy) Railways, 
being President of both companies. His death 
occurred at Baltimore, Md. , April 4, 1892. 

SIX>'ET, John S., pioneer, was born at Lex- 
ington, Ky., March 10, 1796; at three years of age, 
taken by his parents to Missouri ; enlisted in the 
War of 1812, but, soon after the war, came to 
Illinois, and, about 1818, settled in what is now 
Christian County, locating on land constituting 
a part of the present city of Taylorville. In 1840 
he removed to Tazewell County, dj'ing there, Jan. 
13, 1872. 

SKIXNER, Mark, jurist, was born at Manches- 
ter, Vt.. Sept. 13, 1813; graduated from Middle- 
bury College in 1833, studied law, and, in 1836, 
came to Chicago; was admitted to the bar in 
1839, became City Attorney in 1840, later Master 
in Chancery for Cook County, and finally United 
States District Attorney under President Tj-ler. 
As member of the House Finance Committee in 
the Fifteenth General A.s.sembly (1846-48), he 
aided influentially in seeming the adoption of 
measures for refunding and paying the State 
debt. In 1851 he was elected Judge of tlie Court 
of Common Pleas (now Superior Court) of Cook 
County, but declined a re-election in 1853. Origi- 
nally a Democrat, Judge Skinner was an ardent 
opponent of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and a 
liberal supporter of the Government policy dur- 
ing the rebellion. He liberally aided the United 
States Sanitary Commission and was identified 
with all the leading charities of the city. 
Among the great business enterprises with which 
he was officially associated were the Galena & Chi- 
cago Union and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railways (in each of wliich he was a Director), 
the Chicago Marine & Fire Insurance Company, 
the Gas-Light and Coke Company and others. 
Died, Sept. 16, 1887. Judge Skinner's only sur- 
viving son was killed in the trenches before 
Petersburg, the last year of the Civil War. 

SKIXNER, Otis' Ainswortli, clergyman and 
author, was born at Royalton, Vt., July 3, 1807; 



483 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



taught for some time, became a Universalist 
minister, serving churches in Baltimore. Boston 
and New York between 1831 and 18.57; then 
came to Elgin, 111., was elected President of Lom- 
bard University at Galesburg, but the following 
year took charge of a church at Joliet. Died, at 
Naperville, Sept. 18, 1861. He wrote several vol- 
umes on religious topics, and, at different times, 
edited religious periodicals at Baltimore, Haver- 
hill, Mass., and Boston. 

SKINNER, Ozias C, laws^er and jurist, was 
born at Floyd, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1817; in 
1836, removed to Illinois, settling in Peoria 
County, where he engaged in farming. In 1838 
he began the study of law at Greenville, Ohio, 
and was admitted to the bar of that State in 1840. 
Eighteen months later he returned to Illinois, 
and began practice at Carthage, Hancock County, 
removing to Quincy in 1844. During the "Mor- 
mon War' ' he served as Aid-de-camp to Governor 
Ford. In 1848 he was elected to the lower house 
of the Sixteenth General Assembly, and, for a 
short time, served as Prosecuting Attorney for 
the district including Adams and Brown Coun- 
ties. In 1851 he was elected Judge of the (then) 
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and, in 1855, suc- 
ceeded Judge S. H. Treat on the Supreme bench, 
resigning this position in April. 1858, two months 
before the expiration of his term. He was a 
large land owner and had extensive agricultural 
interests. He built, and was the first President 
of the Carthage & Quincy Railroad, now a part 
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system. He 
was a prominent member of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1869, serving as Chairman of the 
Committee on Judiciary. Died in 1877. 

SLADE, Charles, earlj- Congressman ; his early 
history, including date and place of birth, are 
unknown. In 1820 he was elected Representative 
from Washington County in the Second General 
Assembly, and, in 1826, was re-elected to the 
same body for Clinton and Washington. In 1833 
he was elected one of the three Congressmen 
from Illinois, representing the First District. 
After attending the first session of the Twenty- 
third Congress, while on his way home, -he was 
attacked with cholera, dying near Vincennes, 
Ind., July 11, 1834. 

SLADE, James P., ex-State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, was born at Westerlo. Albany 
County, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1837, and spent his boy- 
hood with his parents on a farm, except while 
absent at school; in 1856 removed to Belleville, 
111., where he soon became connected with the 
public schools, serving for a nimiber of years as 



Principal of the Belleville High School. While 
connected with the Belleville schools, he was 
elected County Superintendent, remaining in 
office some ten years ; later had charge of Almira 
College at Greenville, Bond County, served six 
years as Superintendent of Schools at East St. 
Louis and, in 1878, was elected State Superintend- 
ent of Public Instruction as the nominee of the 
Republican party. On retirement from the 
office of State Superintendent, he resumed his 
place at the head of Almira College, but, for the 
past few years, has been Superintendent of 
Schools at East St. Louis. 

SLAVERY AGITATION OF 1823-24. (See 
Slavery and Sla ve Laws. ) 

SLAVERY AND SLAVE LAWS. African slaves 
were first brought into the Illinois country by a 
Frenchman named Pierre F. Renault, about 
1722. At that time the present State formed a 
part of Louisiana, and the traffic in slaves was 
regulated by French royal edicts. When Great 
Britain acquired the territory, at the close of the 
French and Indian War, the former subjects of 
France were guaranteed security for their per- 
sons "and effects," and no interference with 
slavery was attempted. Upon the conquest of 
Illinois by Virginia (see Clark, George Rogers), 
the French very generally professed allegiance to 
that commonwealth, and, in her deed of cession 
to the United States. Virginia expressly stipulated 
for the protection of the "riglits and liberties" 
of the French citizens. This was construed as 
recognizing the right of property in negro 
slaves. Even the Ordinance of 1787, while pro- 
hibiting slaver3' in the Northwest Territory, pre- 
served to the settlers (reference being especially 
made to the French and Canadians) "of the Kas- 
kaskias, St. Vincents and neighboring villages, 
their laws and customs, now (then) in force, 
relative to the descent and conveyance of prop- 
erty. ' ' A conservative construction of this clause 
was, that while it prohibited the extension of 
slavery and the importation of slaves, the status 
of those who were at that time in involuntary 
servitude, and of their descendants, was left un- 
changed. There were those, however, who denied 
the constitutionality of the Ordinance in toto, 
on the ground that Congress had exceeded its 
powers in its passage. There was also a party 
which claimed that all children of slaves, born 
after 1787, were free from birth. In 1794 a con- 
vention was held at Vincennes, pursuant to a call 
from Governor Harrison, and a memorial to Con- 
gress was adopted, praying for the repeal — or. at 
least a modification — of the sixth clause of the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



483 



Ordinance of 1787. The first Congressional Com- 
mittee, to which this petition was referred, 
reported adversely upon it ; but a second commit- 
tee recommended the suspension of the operation 
of the clause in question for ten years. But no 
action was taken by the National Legislature, 
and, in 1807, a counter petition, extensively 
signed, was forwarded to that body, and Congress 
left the matter in statu quo. It is worthy of note 
that some of the most earnest opponents of the 
measure were Representatives from Southern 
Slave States, John Randolph, of Virginia, being 
one of tliem. The pro-slavery party in the State 
then prepared what is popularly known as the 
"Indenture Law," which was one of the first acts 
adopted by Governor Edwards and his Council, 
and was re-enacted by tlie first Territorial Legis- 
lature in 1812. It was entitled, "An Act relating 
to the Introduction of Negroes and Mulattoes into 
this Territory," and gave permission to bring 
slaves above 15 years of age into the State, when 
they might be registered and kept in servitude 
witliin certain limitations. Slaves under that 
age might also be brought in, registered, and held 
in bondage until thej- reached the age of 35, if 
males, and 30, if females. The issue of registered 
slaves were to serve their mother's master until 
the age of 30 or 28, according to sex. The effect 
of this legislation was rapidly to increase the 
number of slaves. The Constitution of 1818 pro- 
hibited the introduction of slavery thereafter — 
that is to say, after its adoption. In 1822 the 
slave-holding party, with their supporters, began 
to agitate the question of so amending the 
organic law as to make Illinois a slave State. To 
effect such a change the calling of a convention 
was necessary, and, for eighteen months, the 
struggle between "conventionists" and their 
opponents was bitter and fierce. The question 
was submitted to a popular vote on August 2, 
1824, the result of the count showing 4,972 votes 
for such convention and 6,640 against. This 
decisive result settled the question of slave-hold- 
ing in Illinois for all future time, though the 
existence of slavery in the State continued to be 
recognized by the National Census until 1840. 
The number, according to the census of 1810, was 
168; in 1820 they had increased to 917. Then 
the number began to diminish, being reduced in 
1830 to 747, and, in 1840 (tlie last census which 
shows any portion of the population held in 
bondage), it was 331. 

Hooper Warren — who has been mentioned else- 
where as editor of "The Edwardsville Spectator, " 
and a leading factor in securing the defeat of the 



scheme to make Illinois a slave State in 1822 — in 
an article in the first number of ' 'The Genius of 
Liberty" (January, 1841), speaking of that con- 
test, says there were, at its beginning, only three 
papers in the State — "The Intelligencer" at Van- 
dalia, "The Gazette" at Shawneetown, and "The 
Spectator" at Edwardsville. The first two of 
these, at the outset, favored the Convention 
scheme, while "Tlie Spectator" opposed it. The 
management of the campaign on the part of the 
pro-slavery party was assigned to Emanuel J. 
West, Theophilus W. Smith and Oliver L. Kelly, 
and a paper was established by the name of "The 
Illinois Republican," with Smith as editor. 
Among the active opponents of the measure were 
George Churchill, Thomas Lippincott, Samuel D. 
Lockwood, Henry Starr (afterwards of Cincin- 
nati), Rev. John M. Peck and Rev. James 
Lemen, of St. Clair County. Others who con- 
tributed to the cause were Daniel P. Cook, Morris 

Birkbeck, Dr. Hugh Steel and Burton of 

Jackson County, Dr. Henry Perrine of Bond; 
William Leggett of Edwardsville (afterwards 
editor of "The New York Evening Post"), Ben- 
jamin Lundy (then of Missouri), David Blackwell 
and Rev. John Dew, of St. Clair County. Still 
others were Nathaniel Pope (Judge of the United 
States District Court), William B. Archer, Wil- 
liam H. Brown and Benjamin Mills (of VandaUa). 
John Tillson, Dr. Horatio Newhall. George For- 
quer, Col. Thomas Mather. Thomas Ford. Judge 
David J. Baker, Charles W. Hunter and Henry H. 
Snow (of Alton). This testimony is of interest 
as coming from one who probably had more to do 
with defeating the scheme, with the exception of 
Gov. Edward Coles. Outside of the more elabor- 
ate Histories of Illinois, the most accurate and 
detailed accounts of this particular period are to 
be foimd in "Sketch of Edward Coles" by the late 
E. B. Washburne, and "Earlj- Movement in Illi- 
nois for the Legalization of Slavery." an ad- 
dress before the Chicago Historical Society 
(1864), by Hon. William H. Brown, of Chicago. 
(See also, Coles, Edward; Warren, Hooper; Brown, 
William H.; Churchill, George; Lippincott, 
Thomas; and Newspapers, Early, elsewhere in this 
volume. ) 

SLOAN, Wesley, legislator and jurist, was 
born in Dorchester County, Md., Feb. 20,, 1806. 
At the age of 17, having received a fair academic 
education, he accompanied his parents to Phila- 
delphia, where, for a year, he was employed in a 
wholesale grocery. His father dying, he returned 
to Maryland and engaged in teaching, at the 
same time studying law, and being admitted to 



484 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the bar in 1831. He came to Illinois in 1838, 
going first to Chicago, and afterward to Kaskas- 
kia, finally settling at Golconda in 1839, which 
continued to be his home the remainder of his 
life. In 1848 he was elected to the Legislature, 
and re-elected in 1850, "53, and '56, serving three 
times as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. 
He was one of the members of the first State 
Board of Education, created by Act of Feb. 18, 
1857, and took a prominent part in the founding 
and organization of the State educational insti- 
tutions. In 1857 lie was elected to the bench of 
the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and re-elected in 
1861, but declined a re-election for a third term. 
Died, Jan. 1.3, 1887. 

SMITH, Abner, jurist, was born at Orange, 
Franklin County, Mass., August 4, 1848, of an 
old New England family, whose ancestors came 
to Massachusetts Colony about 1630; was edu- 
cated in the public schools and at Middlebury 
College, Vt., graduating from the latter in 1866. 
After graduation he spent a year as a teacher in 
Newton Academy, at Shoreham, Vt., coming to 
Chicago in 1867, and entering upon the study of 
law, being admitted to the bar in 1868, The next 
twenty-five years were spent in the practice of 
his profession in Chicago, within that time serv- 
ing as the attorney of several important corpo- 
rations. In 1893 he was elected a Judge of the 
Circuit Court of Cook County, and re-elected 
in 1897, his term of service continuing until 
1903. 

SMITH, (Dr.) Charles Gilman, physician, was 
born at Exeter, N. H., Jan. 4, 1828, received his 
early education at Phillips Academy, in his native 
place, finally graduating from Harvard Univer- 
sity in 1847. He soon after commenced the study 
of medicine in the Harvard Medical School, but 
completed his course at the University of Penn- 
sylvania in 1851. After two years spent as 
attending physician of the Alms House in South 
Boston, Mass., in 1853 he came to Chicago, where 
he soon acquired an extensive practice. During 
the Civil War he was one of six physicians 
employed by the Government for the treatment 
of prisoners of war in hospital at Camp Douglas. 
In 1868 he visited Europe for the purpose of 
observing the management of hospitals in Ger- 
many, France and England, on his return being 
invited to lecture in the Woman's Medical College 
in Chicago, and also becoming consulting phy- 
sician in the Women's and Children's Hospital, 
as well as in the Presbyterian Hospital — a position 
which he continued to occupj' for the remainder 
of his life, gaining a wide reputation in the treat- 



ment of women's and children's diseases. Died, 
Jan. 10, 1894. 

SMITH, David Allen, lawyer, was born near 
Richmond, 'Va., June 18, 1809; removed with his 
father, at an early day, to Pulaski, Tenn. ; at 17 
went to Courtland, Lawrence County, Ala,, 
where he studied law with Judge Bramlette and 
began practice. His father, dying about 1831, left 
him the owner of a number of slaves whom, in 
1837, he brought to Carlinville, 111,, and emanci- 
pated, giving bond that they should not become 
a charge to the State, In 1839 he removed to 
Jacksonville, where he practiced law until his 
death. Col. John J. Hardin was his partner at 
the time of his death on the battle-field of Bueua 
Vista. Mr. Smith was a Trustee and generous 
patron of Illinois College, for a quarter of a cen- 
tury, but never held anj' political office. As a 
lawyer he was conscientious and faithful to the 
interests of his clients ; as a citizen, liberal, pub- 
lic-spirited and patriotic. He contributed liber- 
ally to the support of the Government dur- 
ing the war for the Union. Died, at Anoka. 
Minn., July 13, 1865, where he had gone to 
accompany an invalid son. — Thomas WilHam 
(Smith), eldest son of the preceding, born at 
Courtland, Ala., Sept. 27, 1832;. died at Clear- 
water, Minn., Oct. 39, 1865. He graduated at 
Illinois College in 1852, studied law and served 
as Captain in the Tenth Illinois Volunteers, 
until, broken in health, he returned home to 
die. 

SMITH, Dietrich C, ex-Congressman, was 
born at Ostfriesland, Hanover, April 4, 1840, in 
boyhood came to the United States, and, since 
1849, has been a resident of Pekin, Tazewell 
Count'y. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighth Illi- 
nois Volunteers, was promoted to a Lieutenanc}', 
and, while so serving, was severely wounded at 
Shiloh. Later, he was attached to the One Hun- 
dred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and was 
mustered out of service as Captain of Company C 
of that regiment. His business is that of banker 
and manufacturer, besides which he has had con- 
siderable experience in the construction and 
management of railroads. He was a member of 
the Thirtieth General Assembl}-, and, in 1880, was 
elected Representative in Congress from what 
was then the Thirteenth District, on the Repub- 
lican ticket, defeating Adlai E. Stevenson, after- 
wards Vice-President. In 1882, his county (Taze- 
well) having been attached to the district for 
many years represented by Wm. M. Springer, he 
was defeated by the latter as a candidate for re- 
election. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



485 



SMITH, George, one of Chicago's pioneers and 
early bankers, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scot- 
land, March 8, 1808. It was his early intention 
to study medicine, and he entered Aberdeen Col- 
lege with this end in view, but was forced to quit 
the institution at the end of two years, because 
of impaired vision. In 1833 he came to America, 
and, in 1834, settled in Chicago, where he resided 
until 1861, meanwhile spending one year in Scot- 
land. He invested largely in real estate in Chi- 
cago and Wisconsin, at one time owning a 
considerable portion of the present site of Mil- 
waukee. In 1837 he secured the charter for the 
Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company, 
whose headquarters were at Milwaukee. He was 
really the owner of the company, although Alex- 
ander Mitchell, of Milwaukee, was its Secretary. 
Under this charter Mr. Smith was able to issue 
$1,500,000 in certificates, which circulated freely 
as currency. In 1839 he founded Chicago's tirst 
private banking house. About 1843 he was inter- 
ested in a storage and commission business in 
Chicago, with a Mr. Webster as partner. He 
was a Director in the old Galena & Chicago 
Union Railroad (now a part of the Chicago & 
Northwestern), and aided it, while in course of 
construction, by loans of money; was also a 
charter member of the Chicago Board of Trade, 
organized in 1848. In 1854, the State of Wiscon- 
sin having prohibited the circulation of the Wis- 
consin Marine and Fire Insurance certificates 
above mentioned, Mr. Smith sold out the com- 
pany to his partner, Mitchell, and bought two 
Georgia bank charters, which, together, em- 
powered him to issue $3,000,000 in currency. Tlie 
notes were duly issued in Georgia, and put into 
circulation in Illinois, over the counter of George 
Smith & Co. 's Chicago bank. About 1856 Mr. 
Smith began winding up his affairs in Chicago, 
meanwhile spending most of his time in Scotland, 
but, returning in 1860, made extensive invest- 
ments in railroad and other American securities, 
which netted him large profits. The amount of 
capital which he is reputed to have taken with 
him to his native land has been estimated at 
110,000,000, though he retained considerable 
tracts of valuable lands in Wisconsin and about 
Chicago. Among those who were associated 
with him in business, either as employes or 
otherwise, and who have since been prominently 
identified with Chicago business affairs, were 
Hon. Charles B. Farwell, E. I. Tinkham (after- 
wards a prominent banker of Chicago), E. W. 
Willard, now of Newport, R. I., and others. Mr. 
Smith made several visits, during the last forty 



years, to the United States, but divided his time 
chiefly between Scotland (where he was the 
owner of a castle) and London. Died Oct. 7, 1899. 

SMITH, (iJeorge W., soldier, lawyer and State 
Treasurer, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 
8, 1837. It was his intention to acquire a col- 
legiate education, but his father's business 
embarrassments having compelled the abandon- 
ment of his studies, at 17 of years age he went 
to Arkansas and taught school for two years. In 
1856 he returned to Albany and began the study 
of law, graduating from the law school in 1858. 
In October of that year he removed to Chicago, 
where he remained continuously in practice, with 
the exception of the years 1863-65, when he was 
serving in the Union army, and 1867-68, when he 
filled the ofBce of State Treasurer. He was mus- 
tered into service, August 27, 1862, as a Captain in 
the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry — the second 
Board of Trade regiment. At Stone River, he 
was seriously wounded and captured. After 
four days' confinement, he was aided by a negro 
to escape. He made his way to the Union lines, 
but was granted leave of absence, being incapaci- 
tated for service. On his return to duty he 
joined his regiment in the Chattanooga cam- 
paign, and was officially complimented for his 
bravery at Gordon's Mills. At Mission Ridge he 
was again severely wounded, and was once more 
personally complimented in the official rejxirt. 
At Kenesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864), Capt. 
Smith commanded the regiment after the killing 
of Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, and was pro- 
moted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy for bravery on 
the field. He led the charge at Franklin, and 
was brevetted Colonel, and thanked by the com- 
mander for his gallant service. In the spring of 
1865 he was brevetted Brigadier-General, and, in 
June following, was mustered out. Returning 
to Chicago, he resumed the practice of his pro- 
fession, and gained a prominent position at the 
bar. In 1866 he was elected State Treasurer, and, 
after the expiration of his term, in January, 
1869, held no public office. General Smith was, 
for many years, a Trustee of the Chicago Histor- 
ical Society, and Vice-President of the Board. 
Died, in Chicago, Sept. 16, 1898. 

SMITH, George W., lawyer and Congressman, 
was born in Putnam County, Ohio, August 18, 
1846. When he was four years old, his father 
removed to Wayne County, 111., settling on a 
farm. He attended the common schools and 
graduated from the literary department of Mc- 
Kendree College, at Lebanon, in 1868. In his 
youth he learned the trade of a blacksmith, but 



486 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



later determined to study law. After reading for 
a time at Fairfield, III., he entered the Law 
Department of the Bloomington (Ind.) Univer- 
sity, graduating there in 1870. The same year he 
was admitted to the bar in Illinois, and has since 
practiced at Murphysboro. In 1880 he was a 
Republican Presidential Elector, and, in 1888, was 
elected a Republican Representative to Congress 
from the Twentieth Illinois District, and has 
been continuously re-elected, now (1899) serving 
his sixth consecutive term as Representative 
from the Twenty-second District. 

SMITH, Giles Alexander, soldier, and Assist- 
ant Postmaster-General, was born in Jefferson 
County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1829; engaged in dry- 
goods business in Cincinnati and Bloomington, 
111., in 1861 being proprietor of a hotel in the 
latter place ; became a Captain in the Eighth 
Missouri Volunteers, was engaged at Forts Henry 
and Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and promoted 
Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel in 1862; led his 
regiment on the first attack on Vicksburg. and 
was severely wounded at Arkansas Post ; was pro- 
moted Brigadier-General in August, 1863, for 
gallant and meritorious conduct; led a brigade 
of the Fifteenth Array Corps at Chattanooga and 
Missionary Ridge, as also in the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and a division of the Seventeenth Corps in 
the "March to the Sea." After the surrender of 
Lee he was transferred to the Twenty-fifth Army 
Corps, became Major-General in 1865, and 
resigned in 1866, having declined a commission 
as Colonel in the regular army: about 1869 was 
appointed, by President Grant, Second Assistant 
Postmaster-General, but resigned on account of 
failing health in 1873. Died, at Bloomington, 
Nov. 8, 1876. General Smith was one of the 
founders of the Society of the Army of the 
Tennessee. 

SMITH, Gustavus Adolphns, soldier, was born 
in Philadelphia, Dec. 26, 1820; at 16 joined two 
brothers who had located at Springfield, Ohio, 
where he learned the trade of a carriage-maker. 
In December, 1837, he arrived at Decatirr, 111., 
but soon after located at Springfield, where he 
resided some six j'ears. Then, returning to 
Decatur, he devoted his attention to carriage 
manufacture, doing a large business with the 
South, but losing heavily as the result of the 
war. An original Whig, he became a Democrat 
on the dissolution of the Whig party, but early 
took ground in favor of the Union after the firing 
on Fort Sumter; was offered and accepted the 
colonelcy of the Thirty-fifth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers, at the same time assisting Governor 



Yates in the selection of Camp Butler as a camp 
of recruiting and instruction. Having been 
assigned to duty in Missouri, in the summer of 
1861, he proceeded to Jefferson City, joined Fre- 
mont at Carthage in that State, and made a 
forced march to Springfield, afterwards taking 
part in the campaign in Arkansas and in the 
battle of Pea Ridge, where he had a horse shot 
under him and was severely (and, it was supposed, 
fatally) wounded, not recovering until 1868. 
Being compelled to return home, he received 
authority to raise an independent brigade, but 
was unable to accompany it to the field. In Sep- 
tember, 1862, he was commissioned a Brigadier- 
General by President Lincoln, "for meritorious 
conduct,"' but was unable to enter into active 
service on account of his wound. Later, he was 
assigned to the command of a convalescent camp 
at Murfreesboro, Tenn., under Gen. George H. 
Thomas. In 1864 he took part in securing tho 
second election of President Lincoln, and, in the 
early part of 1865, was commissioned by Gov- 
ernor Oglesby Colonel of a new regiment (the 
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Illinois), but, on 
account of his wounds, was assigned to court- 
martial duty, remaining in tlie service until 
January, 1866, when he was mustered out with 
the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. During 
the second year of his service he was presented 
with a magnificent sword by the rank and file of 
his regiment (the Thirty-fifth), for brave and gal- 
lant conduct at Pea Ridge. After retiring from 
the army, he engaged in cotton planting in Ala- 
bama, but was not successful ; in 1868, canvassed 
Alabama for General Grant for President, but 
declined a nomination in his own favor for Con- 
gress. In 1870 he was appointed, by General 
Grant, United States Collection and Disbursing 
Agent for the District of New Mexico, where he 
continued to reside. 

SMITH, John Corson, soldier, ex-Lieutenant- 
Governor and ex-State Treasurer, was born in 
Philadelphia, Feb. 13, 1832. At the age of 16 he 
was apprenticed to a carpenter and builder. In 
1854 he came to Chicago, and worked at his trade, 
for a time, but soon removed to Galena, where he 
finally engaged in business as a contractor. In 
1862 he enlisted as a private in the Seventy-fourth 
Illinois Volunteers, but, having received author- 
ity from Governor Yates, raised a company, of 
which he was chosen Captain, and which was 
incorporated in the Ninety-sixth Illinois Infan- 
try. Of this regiment lie was soon elected Major. 
After a short service about Cincinnati, Ohio, 
and Covington and Newport, Ky. , the Ninety- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



487 



sixth was sent to the front, and took part (among 
other battles) in the second engagement at Fort 
Donelson and in the bloody fight at Franklin, 
Tenn. Later, Major Smith was assigned to staff 
duty under Generals Baird and Steedman. serv- 
ing through the TuUahoma campaign, and par- 
ticipating in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Being promoted 
to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy, he rejoined his regi- 
ment, and was given command of a brigade. In 
the Atlanta campaign he served gallantly, tak- 
ing a conspicuous part in its long series of bloody 
engagements, and being severely wounded at 
Kenesaw Mountain. In February, 1865, he was 
brevetted Colonel, and, in June, 1865, Brigadier- 
General. Soon after his return to Galena he was 
appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, 
but was legislated out of office in 1872. In 1873 
he removed to Chicago and embarked in business. 
In 1874-76 he was a member (and Secretary) of 
the Illinois Board of Commissione;-s to the Cen- 
tennial Exposition at Philadelphia. In 1875 he 
was appointed Chief Grain-Inspector at Chicago, 
and held the office for several years. In 1872 and 
'76 he was a delegate to the National Republican 
Conventions of those years, and, in 1878, was 
elected State Treasurer, as he was again in 1882. 
In 1884 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor, serv- 
ing until 1889. He is a prominent Mason, Knight 
Templar and Odd Fellow, as well as a distin- 
guished member of the Order of Nobles of the 
Mystic Shrine, and was prominently connected 
with the erection of the "Masonic Temple Build- 
ing" in Chicago. 

SHITH, John Eugene, soldier, was born in 
Switzerland, August 3, 1816, the son of an officer 
who had served under Napoleon, and after the 
downfall of the latter, emigrated to Philadelphia. 
The subject of this sketch received an academic 
education and became a jeweler ; in 1861 entered 
the volunteer service as Colonel of the Forty-fifth 
Illinois Infantry ; took part in the capture of 
Forts Henry and Donelson, in the battle of Shiloh 
and siege of Corinth ; was promoted a Brigadier- 
General in November, 1862, and placed in com- 
mand of a division in the Sixteenth Army Corps ; 
led the Third Division of the Seventeenth Army 
Corps in the Vicksburg campaign, later being 
transferred to the Fifteenth, and taking part in 
the battle of Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta 
and Carolina campaigns of 1864-65. He received 
the brevet rank of Major-General of Volunteers 
in January, 1865, and, on his muster-out from the 
volunteer service, became Colonel of the Twenty- 
seventh United States Infantry, being transferred. 



in 1870, to the Fourteenth. In 1867 his services 
at Vicksburg and Savannah were further recog- 
nized by conferring upon him the brevets of Brig- 
adier and Major-General in the regular army. 
In May, 1881, he was retired, afterwards residing 
in Chicago, where he died, Jan. 29, 1897. 

SMITH, Joseph, the founder of the Mormon 
sect, was born at Sharon, Vt. , Dec. 23, 1805. In 
1815 his parents removed to Palmyra, N. Y., and 
still later to Manchester. He early showed a 
dreamy mental cast, and claimed to be able to 
locate stolen articles by means of a magic stone. 
In 1820 he claimed to have seen a vision, but his 
pretensions were ridiculed by his acquaintances. 
His story of the revelation of the golden plates 
by the angel Moroni, and of the latter's instruc- 
tions to him, is well known. With the aid of 
Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery he prepared 
the "Book of Mormon," alleging that he had 
deciphered it from heaven-sent characters, 
through the aid of miraculous spectacles. This 
was published in 1830. In later years Smith 
claimed to have received supplementary reve- 
lations, which so taxed the credulity of his fol- 
lowers that some of them apostatized. He also 
claimed supernatural power, such as exorcism, 
etc. He soon gained followers in considerable 
numbers, whom, in 1833, he led west, a part 
settling at Kirtland, Ohio, and the remainder in 
Jackson County, Mo. Driven out of Ohio five 
years later, the bulk of the sect found the way to 
their friends in Missouri, whence they were 
finally expelled after many conflicts with the 
authorities. Smith, witli the other refugees, fled 
to Hancock County, 111., founding the city of 
Nauvoo, which was incorporated in 1840. Here 
was begun, in the following year, the erection of a 
great temple, but again he aroused the hostility 
of the authorities, although soon wielding con- 
siderable political power. After various unsuc- 
cessful attempts to arrest him in 1844, Smith and 
a number of his followers were induced to sur- 
render themselves under the promise of protection 
from violence and a fair trial. Having been 
taken to Carthage, the county-seat, all were dis- 
charged under recognizance to appear at court 
except Smith and his brother Hyrum, who were 
held under the new charge of "treason. " and were 
placed in jail. So intense had been the feeling 
against the Mormons, that Governor Ford called 
out the militia to preserve the peace; but it is 
evident that the feeling among the latter was in 
sympathy with that of the populace. Most of 
the militia were disbanded after Smith's arrest, 
one company being left on duty at Carthage, 



488 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



from whom only eight men were detailed to 
guard the jail. In this condition of affairs a mob 
of 150 disguised men, alleged to be from Warsaw, 
appeared before the jail on the evening of June 
27, and, forcing the guards — who made only a 
feeble resistance,— Joseph Smith and his brother 
Hyrum were both shot down, while a friend, who 
had remained with them, was wounded. The fate 
of Smith undoubtedly went far to win for him 
the reputation of martyr, and give a new impulse 
to the Mormon faith. (See Mormons; Nauvoo.) 

SMITH, Jn8tin Almerin, D.D., clergyman 
and editor, was born at Ticonderoga, N. Y. , Dec. 
29, 1819, educated at New Hampton Literary and 
Theological Institute and Union College, gradu- 
ating from the latter in 1843; served a year as 
Principal of the Union Academy at Bennington, 
Vt., followed by four years of pastoral work, 
when he assumed the pastorate of the First Bap- 
tist church at Rochester, N. Y., wliere he 
remained five years. Then (1853) he removed to 
Chicago to assume the editorship of "The Chris- 
tian Times" (now "The Standard"), with which 
he was associated for the remainder of his life. 
Meanwhile he assisted in organizing three Baptist 
churches in Chicago, serving two of them as 
pastor for a considerable period; made an ex- 
tended tour of Europe in 1869, attending the 
Vatican Council at Rome; was a Trustee and 
one of the founders of the old Chicago Univer- 
sity, and Trustee and Lecturer of the Baptist 
Theological Seminary; was also the author of 
several religious works. Died, at Morgan Park, 
near Chicago, Feb. 4, 1806. 

SMITH, Perry H., lawyer and politician, was 
born in Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y., March 
18, 1828 ; entered Hamilton College at the age of 
14 and graduated, second in his class, at 18; began 
reading law and was admitted to the bar on com- 
ing of age in 1849. Then, removing to Appleton, 
Wis., when 23 years of age he was elected a 
Judge, served later in both branches of the 
Legislature, and, in 1857, became Vice-President 
of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lie Railway, 
retaining the same position in the reorganized 
corporation when it became the Chicago & 
Northvi-estern. In 1856 Mr. Smith came to Chi- 
cago and- resided there till his death, on Palm 
Sunday of 1885. He was prominent in railway 
circles and in the councils of the Democratic 
party, being the recognized representative of Mr. 
Tilden's interests in the Northwest in the cam- 
paign of 1876. 

SMITH, Robert, Congressman and lawyer, 
was born at Petersborough, N. H., June 12, 1802; 



was educated and admitted to the bar in his 
native town, settled at Alton, 111., in 1832, and 
engaged in practice. In 1836 he was elected to 
the General Assembly from Madison County, 
and re-elected in 1838. In 1842 he was elected to 
the Twenty -eighth Congress, and twice re-elected, 
serving three successive terms. During the Civil 
War he was commissioned Paymaster, with the 
rank of Major, and was stationed at St. Louis. 
He was largely interested in the construction of 
water power at Minneapolis, Minn., and also in 
railroad enterprises in Illinois. He was a promi- 
nent Mason and a public-spirited citizen. Died, 
at Alton, Dec. 20. 1867. 

SMITH, Samuel Lisle, lawyer, was born in 
Philadelphia, Pa., in 1817, and, belonging to a 
wealthy family, enjoyed superior educational 
advantages, taking a course in the Yale Law 
School at an age too early to admit of his receiv- 
ing a degree. In 1836 he came to Illinois, to look 
after some landed interests of his father's in the 
vicinity of Peru. Returning east within the next 
two years, he obtained his diploma, and, again 
coming west, located in Chicago in 1838, and, 
for a time, occupied an office with the well-known 
law firm of Butterfield & Collins. In 1839 he was 
elected City Attorney and, at the great Whig 
meeting at Springfield, in June, 1840, was one of 
the principal speakers, establishing a reputation 
as one of the most brilliant campaign orators in 
the West. As an admirer of Henry Clay, he was 
active in the Presidential campaign of 1844, and 
was also a prominent speaker at the River and 
Harbor Convention at Chicago, in 1847. With a 
keen sense of humor, brilliant, witty and a mas- 
ter of repartee and invective, he achieved popu- 
larity, both at the bar and on the lecture 
platform, and had the promise of future success, 
which was unfortunately marred by his convivial 
habits. Died of cholera, in Chicago, July 30, 1854. 
Mr. Smith married the daughter of Dr. Potts, of 
Philadelphia, an eminent clergj'man of the 
Episcopal Church. 

SMITH, Sidney, jurist, was born in Washing- 
ton County, N. Y., May 12, 1829; studied law and 
was admitted to the bar at Albion, in that State, 
in 1851 ; came to Chicago in 1856 and entered 
into partnership with Grant Goodrich and Will- 
iam W. Farwell, both of whom were afterwards 
elected to places on the bench — the first in the 
Superior, and the latter in the Circuit Court. In 
1879 Judge Smith was elected to the Superior 
Court of Cook County, serving until 1885, when 
he became the attorney of the Chicago Board of 
Trade. He was the Republican candidate for 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



489 



Mayor, in opposition to Carter H. Harrison, in 
1885, and is believed by many to have been 
honestlj' elected, though defeated on the face of 
the returns. A recount was ordered by the court, 
but so much delay was incurred and so many 
obstacles placed in the way of carrying the order 
into effect, that Judge Smitli abandoned the con- 
test in disgust, although making material gains 
as far as it had gone. During his professional 
career he was connected, as counsel, with some of 
the most important trials before the Chicago 
courts; was also one of the Directors of the Chi- 
cago Public Library, on its organization in 1871. 
Died suddenly, in Chicago, Oct. 6, 1898. 

SMITH, Theophilus TVashingfton, Judge and 
politician, was born in New York City, Sept. 28, 
1784, served for a time in the United States navy, 
was a law student in the office of Aaron Burr, 
was admitted to the bar in his native State in 
1805, and, in 1816, came west, finally locating at 
Edwardsville, where he soon became a prominent 
figure in early State history. In 1820 he was an 
unsuccessful candidate before the Legislature for 
the office of Attorney-General, being defeated by 
Samuel D. Lockwood, but was elected to the 
State Senate in 1832, serving four years. In 1823 • 
he was one of the leaders of the "Conventionist" 
party, whose aim was to adopt a new Constitution 
which would legalize slavery in Illinois, during 
this period being the editor of the leading organ 
of the pro-slavery party. In 1825 he was elected 
one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme 
Court, but resigned, Dec. 26, 1842. He was im- 
peached in 1832 on charges alleging oppressive 
conduct, corruption, and other high misdemean- 
ors in office, but secured a negative acquittal, a 
two-thirds vote being neces.sary to conviction. 
The vote in the Senate stood twelve for convic- 
tion (on a part of the charges) to ten for acquittal, 
four being excused from voting. During the 
Black Hawk War he served as Quartermaster- 
General on the Governor's staff. As a jurist, he 
was charged by his political opponents with 
being unable to divest himself of his partisan 
bias, and even with privately advising counsel, in 
political causes, of defects in the record, which 
they (the counsel) had not discovered. He was 
also a member of the first Board of Commission- 
ers of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, appointed in 
1823. Died, in Chicago, May 6, 1846. 

SMITH, William Henry, journalist. Associ- 
ated Press Manager, was born in Columbia 
County, N. Y. , Dec. 1, 1833; at three years of age 
was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he 
enjoyed the best educational advantages that 



State at the time afforded. After completing his 
school course he began teaching, and, for a time, 
served as tutor in a Western college, but soon 
turned his attention to journalism, at first as 
assistant editor of a weekly publication at Cincin- 
nati, still later becoming its editor, and, in 1855, 
city editor of "The Cincinnati Gazette," with 
which he was connected in a more responsible 
position at the beginning of the war, incidentally 
doing work upon "The Literary Review." His 
connection with a leading paper enabled him to 
exert a strong influence in support of the Govern- 
ment. This he used most faithfully in assisting 
to raise troops in the first years of the war, and, 
in 1863, in bringing forward and securing the 
election of John Brough as a Union candidate for 
Governor in opposition to Clement L. Vallandi- 
gham, the Democratic candidate. In 1864 he was 
nominated and elected Secretary of State, being 
re-elected two years later. After retiring from 
office he returned to journalism at Cincinnati, as 
editor of "The Evening Chronicle," from which 
he retired in 1870 to become Agent of the West- 
ern Associated Press, with headquarters, at first 
at Cleveland, but later at Chicago. His success 
in this line was demonstrated by the final union 
of the New York and Western Associated Press 
organizations under his management, continuing 
until 1893, when he retired. Mr. Smith was a 
strong personal friend of President Hayes, by 
whom he was appointed Collector of the Port of 
Chicago in 1877. While engaged in official duties 
he found time to do considerable Literary work, 
having published, several years ago, "The St. Clair 
Papers," in two volumes, and a life of Charles 
Hammond, besides contributions to periodicals. 
After retiring from the management of the 
Associated Press, he was engaged upon a "His- 
tory of American Politics" and a "Life of Ruther- 
ford B. Hayes," which are said to have been well 
advanced at the time of his death, which took 
place at his home, at Lake Forest, 111., July 27, 
1896. 

SMITH, William M., merchant, stock- breeder 
and politician, was born near Frankfort, Ky., 
May 23, 1827; in 1846 accompanied his father's 
family to Lexington, McLean County, 111., where 
they settled. A few years later he bought forty 
acres of government land, finally increasing his 
holdings to 800 acres, and becoming a breeder of 
fine stock. Still later he added to his agricultural 
piursuits the business of a merchant. Having 
earl)' identified himself with the Republican 
party, he remained a firm adherent of its prin- 
ciples during the Civil AVar, and, while declining 



490 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



a commission tendered him by Governor Yates, 
devoted his time and means liberally to the re- 
cruiting and organization of regiments for serv- 
ice in the field, and procuring supplies for the 
sick and wounded. In 1866 he was elected to the 
lower house of the Legislature, and was re-elected 
in 1868 and "70, serving, during his last term, as 
Speaker. In 1877 he was appointed by Governor 
CuUom a member of the Railroad and Warehouse 
Commission, of which body he served as President 
until 1883. He was a man of remarkably genial 
temperament, liberal impulses, and wide popu- 
larity. Died, March 35, 1886. 

SMITH, William Sooy, soldier and civil engi- 
neer, was born at Tarlton, Pickaway County, 
Ohio, July 23, 1830; graduated at Ohio University 
in 1849, and, at the United States Military Acad- 
emy, in 1853, having among his classmates, at the 
latter. Generals McPherson. Schofield and Sheri- 
dan. Coming to Chicago the following year, he 
first found employment as an engineer on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, but later became assist- 
ant of Lieutenant-Colonel Graham in engineer 
service on the lakes ; a year later took charge of 
a select school in Buffalo ; in 1857 made the first 
surveys for the International Bridge at Niagara 
Falls, then went into the service of extensive 
locomotive and bridge- works at Trenton, N. J., 
in their interest making a visit to Cuba, and also 
superintending the construction of a bridge 
across the Savannah River. The war intervening, 
he returned North and was appointed Lieutenant- 
Colonel and assigned to dutj' as Assistant Adju- 
tant-General at Camp Denison, Ohio, but, in 
June, 1863, was commissioned Colonel of the 
Thirteenth Ohio Volunteers, participating in the 
West Virginia campaigns, and later, at Shiloh and 
Perryville. In April, 1863, he was promoted 
Brigadier-General of volunteers, commanding 
divisions in the Army of the Ohio until the fall 
of 1863, when he joined Grant and took part in 
the Vicksburg campaign, as commander of the 
First Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. 
Subsequently he was made Chief of the Cavalry 
Department, serving on the staffs of Grant and 
Sherman, until compelled to resign, in 1864, on 
account of impaired health. During the war 
General Smith rendered valuable service to the 
Union cause in great emergencies, by his knowl- 
edge of engineering. On retiring to private life 
he resumed his profession at Chicago, and since 
has been employed by the Government on some 
of its most stupendous works on the lakes, and 
has also planned several of the most important 
railroad bridges across the Missouri and other 



streams. He has been much consulted in refer- 
ence to municipal engineering, and his name is 
connected with a number of the gigantic edifices 
in Chicago. 

SMITHBORO, a village and railroad junction 
in Bond County, 3 miles east of Greenville. 
Population, 393; (1900), 314 

SNAPP, Henry, Congressman, born in Livings- 
ton County, N. Y., June 30, 1823, came to Illinois 
with his father when 11 years old, and, having 
read law at Joliet, was admitted to the bar in 
1847. He practiced in Will County for twenty 
years before entering public life. In 1868 he was 
elected to the State Senate and occupied a seat in 
that body until his election, in 1871, to the Forty- 
second Congress, by the Republicans of the (then) 
Sixth Illinois District, as successor to B. C. Cook, 
who had resigned. Died, at Joliet, Nov. 33, 1895. 

SNOW, Herman W., ex-Congressman, was born 
in La Porte County, Ind., July 3, 1836, but was 
reared in Kentucky, working upon a farm for 
five years, while yet in his minority becoming a 
resident of Illinois. For several years he was a 
school teacher, meanwhile studying law and 
being admitted to the bar. Early in the war he 
enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and 
Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, rising to the 
rank of Captain. His term of service having 
expired, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Fifty-first Illinois, and was mustered out with 
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the close 
of the war he resumed teaching at the Chicago 
High School, and later served in the General 
Assembly (1873-74) as Representative from Wood- 
ford County. In 1890 he was elected, as a Demo- 
crat, to represent the Ninth Illinois District in 
Congress, but was defeated by his Republican 
opponent in 1893. 

SNOWHOOK, WiUiam B., first Collector of 
Customs at Chicago, was born in Ireland in 1804; 
at the age of eight years was brought to New 
York, where he learned the printer's trade, 
and worked for some time in the same office 
with Horace Greeley. At 16 he went back to 
Ireland, remaining two years, but, returning to 
the United States, began the study of law ; was 
also emploj'ed on the Passaic Canal; in 1836, 
came to Chicago, and was soon after associated 
with William B. Ogden in a contract on the Illi- 
nois & Michigan Canal, which lasted until 1841. 
As early as 1840 he became prominent as a leader 
in the Democratic party, and, in 1846, received 
from President Polk an appointment as first Col- 
lector of Customs for Chicago (having previously 
served as Special Surveyor of the Port, while 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



491 



attached to the District of Detroit) ; in 1853, was 
re-appointed to the CoUectorship by President 
Pierce, serving two years. During the "Mormon 
War" (1844) he organized and equipped, at his 
own expense, the Montgomery Guards, and was 
commissioned Colonel, but the disturbances were 
brought to an end before the order to march. 
From 1856 he devoted his attention chiefly to his 
practice, but, in 1862, was one of the Democrats 
of Chicago who took part in a movement to sus- 
tain the Government by stimulating enlistments ; 
was also a member of the Convention whicli 
nominated Mr. Greeley for President in 1872. 
Died, in Chicago, May 5, 1882. 

SXYDER, Adam Wilson, pioneer lawyer, and 
early Congressman, was born at Connellsville, 
Pa., Oct. 6, 1799. In early life he followed the 
occupation of wool-curling for a livelihood, 
attending school in the winter. In 1815, he emi- 
grated to Columbus, Ohio, and afterwards settled 
in Ridge Prairie, vSt. Clair County, 111. Being 
offered a situation in a wool-curling and fulling 
mill at Cahokia, he removed thither in 1817. He 
formed the friendship of Judge Jesse B. Thomas, 
and, through the latter's encouragement and aid, 
studied law and gained a solid professional, poli- 
tical, social and financial position. In 1830 he 
was elected State Senator from St. Clair County, 
and re-elected for two successive terms. He 
served through the Black Hawk War as private. 
Adjutant and Captain. In 1833 he removed to 
Belleville, and, in 1834, was defeated for Congress 
by Governor Reynolds, whom he, in turn, defeated 
in 1836. Two years later Reynolds again defeated 
him for the same position, and, in 1840, he was 
elected State Senator. In 1841 he was the Demo- 
cratic nominee for Governor. The election was 
held in August, 1842, but, in May preceding, he 
died at his home in Belleville. His place on the 
ticket was filled by Thomas Ford, who was 
elected. — William H. (Snyder), son of the pre- 
ceding, was born in St. Clair Count)-, III., July 
12, 1825; educated at McKendree College, studied 
law with Lieutenant-Governor Koerner, and was 
admitted to practice in 1845; also served for a 
time as Postmaster of the city of Belleville, and, 
during the Mexican War, as First-Lieutenant and 
Adjutant of the Fiftli Illinois Volunteers. From 
1850 to '54 he represented his county in the Legis- 
lature ; in 1855 was appointed, by Governor Mat- 
teson. State's Attorney, which position he filled 
for two years. He was an unsuccessful candidate 
for the office of Secretary of State in 1856, and, 
in 1857, was elected a Judge of the Twenty- 
fourth Circuit, was re-elected for the Third Cir- 



cuit in '73, '79 and '85. He was also a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70. Died, 
at BeUeville, Dec. 24, 1892. 

SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME, a State 
charitable institution, founded by act of the 
Legislature in 1885, and located at Quincy, 
Adams County. The object of its establish- 
ment was to provide a comfortable home for 
such disabled or dependent veterans of the 
United States land or naval forces as had 
honorably served during the Ciyil War. It 
was opened for the reception of veterans on 
March 3, 1887, the first cost of site and build- 
ings having been about §350,000. The total num- 
ber of inmates admitted up to June 30, 1894, was 
2,813; the number in attendance during the two 
previous years 988, and the whole number present 
on Nov. 10, 1894, 1,088. The value of property at 
that time was $393,636.08. Considerable appro- 
priations have been made for additions to the 
buildings at subsequent sessions of the Legisla- 
ture. The General Government pays to the State 
SlOO per year for each veteran supported at the 
Home. 

SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME, ILLINOIS, an 
institution, created by act of 1865, for the main- 
tenance and education of children of deceased 
soldiers of the Civil War. An eighty -acre tract, 
one mile north of Normal, was selected as the 
site, and the first principal building was com- 
pleted and opened for the admission of benefici- 
aries on June 1, 1869. Its first cost was Sl35,000, 
the site having been donated. Repairs and the 
construction of new buildings, from time to 
time, have considerablj' increased this sum. In 
1875 the benefits of the institution were extended, 
by legislative enactment, to the children of sol- 
diers who had died after the close of the war. 
The aggregate number of inmates, in 1894, was 
572, of whom 323 were males and 249 females. 

SOLDIERS' WIDOWS' HOME, Provision was 
made for the establishment of this institution by 
the Thirty-ninth General Assembly, in an act, 
approved, June 13, 1895, appropriating §20,000 for 
the purchase of a site, the erection of buildings 
and furnishing the same. It is designed for the 
reception and care of the mothers, wives, widows 
and daughters of such honorably discharged 
soldiers or sailors, in the United States service, as 
may have died, or may be physically or men- 
tally unable to provide for the families natu- 
rally dependent on them, provided that such 
persons have been residents of the State for 
at least one year previous to admission, and 
are without means or ability for self-support. 



492 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



The affairs of the Home are managed by a 
boaid of five trustees, of whom two are men and 
three women, the former to be members of the 
Grand Army of the Republic and of different 
political parties, and the latter members of the 
Women's Relief Corps of this State. The institu- 
tion was located at Wibnington, occupying a 
site of seventeen acres, where it was formally 
opened in a house of eighteen rooms, March 11, 
1896. with twenty-six applications for admit- 
tance. The plan contemplates an early enlarge- 
ment by the erection of additional cottages. 

SOREXTO, a village of Bond County, at the 
intersection of the Jacksonville & St. Louis and 
the Toledo, St. Louis & We.stern Railways, 14 
miles southeast of Litchfield ; has a bank and a 
newspaper. Its interests are agricultural and 
mining. Pop. (1890), 538; (1900), 1,000. 

SOULARD, James Gaston, pioneer, born of 
Frencli ancestry in St. Louis, Mo., July 1.5, 1798; 
resided there until 1821, when, having married 
the daughter of a soldier of the Revolution, he 
received an appointment at Fort Snelling, near 
the present city of St. Paul, then under command 
of Col. Snelling, who was his wife's brother-in- 
law. The Fort was reached after a tedious jour- 
ney by flat-boat and overland, late in the fall of 
1821, his wife accompanying him. Three years 
later they returned to St. Louis, where, being an 
engineer, he was engaged for several years in 
surveying. In 1827 he removed with his family 
to Galena, for the next six years had charge of a 
store of the Gratiot Brothers, early business men 
of that locality. Towards the close of this period 
he received the appointment of County Recorder, 
also holding the position of County Surveyor and 
Postmaster of Galena at the same time. His 
later years were devoted to farming and horti- 
culture, his death taking place, Sept. 17, 1878. 
Mr. Soulard was probably the first man to engage 
in freighting between Galena and Chicago. 
"The Galena Advertiser" of Sept. 14, 1829, makes 
mention of a wagon-load of lead sent by him to 
Chicago, his team taking back a load of salt, the 
paper remarking: "This is the first wagon that 
has ever passed from the Mississippi River to 
Chicago." Great results were predicted from 
the exchange of commodities between the lake 
and the lead mine district. — Mrs. Eliza M. 
Hunt (Soulard), wife of the preceding, was born 
at Detroit, Dec. 18, 1804, her father being Col. 
Thomas A. Hunt, who had taken part in the 
Battle of Bunker Hill and remained in the army 
until his death, at St. Louis, in 1807. His descend- 
ants ha^•e maintained their connection with the 



army ever since, a son being a prominent artillery 
ofiicer at the Battle of Gettysburg. Mrs. Soular 
was married at St. Louis, in 1820, and survive 
her husband some sixteen years, dying at Galena 
August 11, 1894. She had resided in Galeru- 
nearlj' seventy years, and at the date of her 
death, in the 90th year of her age, she was that 
citv's oldest resident. 

SOUTH CHICAGO & WESTERN INDIANA 
RAILROAD. (See Chicago d- Western Indiana 
Railroad.) 

SOUTH DANYILLE, a suburb of the city of 
Danville, Vermilion County. Population (1890), 
799; (1900), 898. 

SOUTHEAST & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY. (See 
Louisville d- Nashville Railroad.) 

SOUTH ELGIN, a village of Kane County, 
near the citv of Elgin. Population (1900), r,15. 

SOUTHERN COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, 
located at Albion, Edwards County, incorporated 
in 1891; had a faculty of ten teachers with 219 
pupils (1897-98) — about equally male and female. 
Besides classical, scientific, normal, music and 
fine arts departments, instruction is given in pre- 
paratory studies and business education. Its 
property is valued at §16. .500. 

SOUTHERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, 
located at Anna, Union County, founded by act 
of the Legislature in 1869. The original site com- 
prised 290 acres and cost a little more than 
$22,000, of which one-fourth was donated by citi- 
zens of the county. The construction of build- 
ings was begun in 1869, but it was not until 
March, 1875, that the north wing (the first com- 
pleted) was ready for occupancy. Other portions 
were completed a year later. The Trustees pur- 
chased 160 additional acres in 1883. The first 
cost (up to September, 1876) was nearly §635,000. 
In 1881 one wing of the main building was de- 
stroyed by fire, and was subsequently rebuilt ; the 
patients being, meanwhile, cared for in temporary 
wooden barracks. The total value of lands and 
buildings belonging to the State, June 30, 1894. 
was estimated at §738,580, and, of property of all 
sorts, at §833,700. The wooden barracks were 
later converted into a permanent ward, additions 
made to the main buildings, a detached building 
for the accommodation of 300 patients erected, 
numerous outbuildings put up and general im- 
provements made. A second fire on the night of 
Jan. 3, 1895, destroyed a large part of the main 
building, inflicting a loss upon the State of 
§175,000. Provision was made for rebuilding by 
the Legislature of that year. The institution has 
capacity for about 750 patients. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



493 



SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVER- 
SITY, establislied in 18G9, and located, after 
competitive bidding, at Carhondale. which offered 
lands and bond.s at first estimated to be of the 
value of $229,000, but which later depreciated, 
through shrinkage, to $75,000. Construction was 
commenced in Jlay, 1870, and the first or main 
building was completed and appropriately dedi- 
cated in July, 1874. Its cost was 1265,000, but it 
was destroyed by fire, Nov. 26, 1883. In Febru- 
ary, 1887, a new structure was completed at a cost 
of $150,000. Two normal courses of instruction 
are given — classical and scientific — each extend, 
ing over a period of four years. The conditions 
of admission require that the pupil shall be 16 
years of age, and shall possess the qualifications 
enabling him to pass examination for a second- 
grade teacher's certificate. Those unable to do so 
may enter a preparatory department for six 
months. Pupils who pledge themselves to teach 
in the public schools, not less than half the time 
of their attendance at the University, receive 
free tuition with a small charge for incidentals, 
while others pay a tuition fee. The number of 
students in attendance for the year 1897-98 was 
720, coming from forty-seven counties, chiefly in 
the southern half of the State, with represent- 
atives from eight other States. The teaching 
faculty for the same year consisted, besides the 
President, of sixteen instructors in the various 
departments, of whom five were ladies and 
eleven gentlemen. 

SOUTHERN PENITENTIARY, THE, located 
near Chester, on the Mississippi River. Its erec- 
tion was rendered necessary by the overcrowding 
of the Northern Penitentiary. (See Northern 
Penitentiai-y.) The law providing for its estab- 
lishment required the Commissioners to select a 
site convenient of access, adjacent to stone and 
timber, and having a high elevation, with a never 
failing supply of water. In 1877, 122 acres were 
purchased at Chester, and the erection of build- 
ings commenced. The first appropriation was of 
$200,000, and $300,000 was added in 1879. By 
March, 1878, 200 convicts were received, and 
their labor was utilized in the completion of the 
buildings, which are constructed upon approved 
modern principles. The prison receives convicts 
sent from the soutliern portion of the State, and 
has accommodation for some 1,200 prisoners. In 
connection with this penitentiary is an asylum 
for insane convicts, the erection of which was 
provided for by the Legislature in 1889. 

SOUTH GROVE, a village of De Kalb County. 
Population (1890), 730. 



SPALDING, Jesse, manufacturer. Collector of 
Customs and Street Railway President, was born 
at Athens, Bradford County, Pa., April 15, 1833; 
earlv commenced lumbering on the Susquehanna, 
and, at 23, began dealing on his own account. In 
1857 he removed to Chicago, and soon after bought 
the property of the New York Lumber Company 
at the mouth of the Menominee River in Wiscon- 
sin, where, with different partners, and finally 
practically alone, he has carried on the business 
of lumber manufacture on a large scale ever 
since. In 1881 he was appointed, by President 
Arthur, Collector of the Port of Chicago, and, in 
1889, received from President Harrison an 
appointment as one of the Government Directors 
of the Union Pacific Railway. Mr. Spalding was 
a zealous supporter of the Government during 
the War of the Rebellion and rendered valuable 
aid in the construction and equipment of Camp 
Douglas and the barracks at Chicago for the 
returning soldiers, receiving Auditor's warrants 
in payment, when no funds in the State treasury 
were available for the purpose. He was a.ssoci- 
ated with William B. Ogden and others in the 
project for connecting Green Bay and Sturgeon 
Bay by a ship canal, which was completed in 
1882, and, on the death of Mr. Ogden, succeeded 
to the Presidency of the Canal Company, serving 
until 1893, when the canal was turned over to the 
General Government. He has also been identified 
with many other public enterprises intimately 
connected with the development and prosperity 
of Chicago, and, in July, 1899, became President 
of the Chicago Union Traction Company, having 
control of the North and West Chicago Street 
Railway Systems. 

SPALDING, John Lancaster, Catholic Bishop, 
was born in Lebanon, Ky., June 2, 1840; educated 
in the United States and in Europe, ordained a 
priest in the Catholic Church in 1863, and there- 
upon attached to the cathedral at Louisville, as 
assistant. In 1869 he organized a congregation 
of colored people, and built for their use the 
Church of St. Augustine, having been assigned 
to that parish as pastor. Soon afterwards he was 
appointed Secretary to the Bishop and made 
Chancellor of the Diocese. In 1873 he was trans- 
ferred from Louisville to New York, where he 
was attached to the missionary parish of St. 
Michael's. He had, by this time, achieved no little 
fame as a pulpit orator and lecturer. When 
the diocese of Peoria, 111., was created, in 1877, the 
choice of the Pope fell upon him for the new see, 
and he was consecrated Bishop, on May 1 of that 
year, by Cardinal McCloskey at Nevi' York. His 



494 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



administration has been characterized by both 
energj' and success. He has devoted much atten- 
tion to the subject of emigration, and has brought 
about the founding of many new settlements in 
the far "West. He was also largely instrumental 
iu bringing about the founding of the Catholic 
University at Washington. Ho is a frequent 
contributor to the reviews, and the author of a 
number of religious works. 

SPANISH INVASION OF ILLINOIS. In the 
montli of June, 1779, soon after the declaration 
of war between Spain and Great Britain, an expe- 
dition was organized in Canada, to attack the 
Spanish posts along the Mississippi. Simultane- 
ously, a force was to be dispatched from Pensa- 
cola against New Orleans, then commanded by 
a young Spanish Colonel, Don Bernardo de 
Galvez. Secret instructions had been sent to 
British Commandants, all through the Western 
country, to co-operate with both expeditions. De 
Galvez, having learned of the scheme through 
intercepted letters, resolved to forestall the attack 
by becoming the assailanFt. At the head of a 
force of 670 men, he set out and captured Baton 
Rouge, Fort Manchac and Natchez, almost with- 
out opposition. The British in Canada, being 
ignorant of what liad been going on in the South, 
in February following dispatched a force from 
Mackinac to support the expedition from Pensa- 
cola, and, incidentally, to subdue the American 
rebels while en route. Cahokia and Kaskaskia 
were contemplated points of attack, as well as 
the Spanish forts at St. Louis and St. Genevieve. 
This movement was planned by Capt. Patrick 
Sinclair, commandant at Mackinac, but Captain 
Hesse was placed in charge of the expedition, 
which numbered some 750 men, including a force 
of Indians led by a chief named Wabasha. The 
British arrived before St. Louis, early on the 
morning of May 26. 1780, taking the Spaniards 
by surprise. Meanwhile Col. George Rogers 
Clark, having been apprised of the project, 
arrived at Cahokia from the falls of the Ohio, 
twenty-four hours in advance of the attack, his 
presence and readiness to co-operate with the 
Spanish, no doubt, contributing to the defeat of 
the expedition. The accounts of what followed 
are conflicting, the number of killed on the St. 
Louis shore being variously estimated from seven 
or eight to sixty -eight — the last being the esti- 
mate of Capt. Sinclair in his official report. All 
agree, however, that the invading party was 
forced to retreat in great haste. Colonel Mont- 
gomery, who had been in command at Cahokia, 
with a force of 350 and a party of Spanish allies, 



pursued the retreating invaders as far as the 
Rock River, destroying many Indian villages on 
the way. This movement on the part of the 
British served as a pretext for an attempted re- 
prisal, undertaken by the Spaniards, with the aid 
of a number of Cahokians, early in 1781. Starting 
early in January, this latter expedition crossed 
Illinois, with the design of attacking Fort St. 
Joseph, at the head of Lake Michigan, which had 
been captured from the English by Thomas Brady 
and afterwards retaken. The Spaniards were com- 
manded by Don Eugenio Pourre, and supported 
by a force of Cahokians and Indians. The fort 
was easily taken and the British flag replaced by 
the ensign of Spain. The affair was regarded as 
of but little moment, at the time, the post being 
evacuated in a few days, and the Spaniards 
returning to St. Louis. Yet it led to serious 
international complications, and the "conquest" 
was seriously urged by the Spanish ministry as 
giving tliat country a right to the territory trav- 
ersed. This claim was supported by France 
before the signing of the Treaty of Paris, but 
was defeated, through the combined efforts of 
Messrs. Jay, Franklin and Adams, the American 
Commissioners in charge of the peace negoti- 
ations with England. 

SPARKS, (Capt.) David R., manufacturer and 
legislator, was born near Lanesville, Ind., in 
1823; in 1836, removed with his parents to Ma- 
coupin County, 111. ; in 1847, enlisted for the 
Mexican War, crossing the plains to Santa Fe, 
New Mexico. In 1850 he made the overland trip 
to California, returning the next year by the 
Isthmus of Panama. In 1855 he engaged in the 
milling business at Staunton, Macoupin County, 
but, in 1860, made a third trip across the plains 
in search of gold, taking a quartz-mill which was 
erected near where Central City, Colo., now is, 
and which was the second steam-engine in that 
region. He returned home in time to vote for 
Stephen A. Douglas for President, the same year, 
but became a stalwart Republican, two weeks 
later, when the advocates of secession began to 
develop their policy after the election of Lincoln. 
In 1861 he enlisted, under the call for 500,000 vol- 
unteers following the first battle of Bull Run, and 
was commissioned a Captain in the Third Illinois 
Cavalry (Col. Eugene A. Carr), serving two and a 
half years, during which time he took part in 
several hard-fought battles, and being present at 
the fall of Vicksburg. At the end of his service 
he became associated with his former partner in 
the erection of a large flouring mill at Litchfield, 
but, in 1869, the firm bought an extensive flour- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



495 



ing mill at Alton, of which he became the princi- 
pal owner in 1881, and which has since been 
greatly enlarged and improved, until it is now one 
of the most extensive establishments of its kind 
in the State. Capt. Sparks was elected to tlie 
House of Representatives in 1888, and to the State 
Senate in 1894, serving in the sessions of 1895 and 
'97; was also strongly supported as a candidate 
for the Republican nomination for Congress in 
1896. 

SPARKS, William A. J., ex-Congressman, was 
born near New Albanj-, Ind., Nov. 19, 1828, at 8 
years of age was brought by his parents to Illi- 
nois, and shortly afterwards left an orphan. 
Thrown on his own resources, he foimd work 
upon a farm, his attendance at the district 
schools being limited to the winter months. 
Later, he passed through McKendree College, 
supporting himself, meanwhile, bj' teaching, 
graduating in 1850. He read law with Judge 
Sidney Breese, and was admitted to the bar in 
1851. His first public ofBce was that of Receiver 
of the Land Office at Edwardsville, to which he 
was appointed by President Pierce in 1853, re- 
maining until 1856, when he was chosen Presi- 
dential Elector on the Democratic ticket. The 
same year he was elected to the lower liouse of 
the General Assembly, and, in 1863-64, served in 
the State Senate for the unexpired term of James 
M. Rodgers, deceased. He was a delegate to the 
National Democratic Convention in 1868, and a 
Democratic Representative in Congress from 1875 
to 1883. In 1885 lie was appointed, by President 
Cleveland, Commissioner of the General Land 
Office in Washington, retiring, by resignation, in 
1887. His home is at Carlvle. 

SPARTA & ST. GENEVIEVE RAILROAD. 
(See Centralia & Chester Railroad.) 

SPEED, Joshna Fry, merchant, and intimate 
friend of Abraham Lincoln ; was educated in the 
local schools and at St. Joseph's College, Bards- 
town, Ky., after which he spent some time in a 
wholesale mercantile establishment in Louisville. 
About 1835 he came to Springfield, 111. , where he 
engaged in the mercantile business, later becom- 
ing the intimate friend and associate of Abraham 
Lincoln, to whom he offered the privilege of 
sharing a room over his store, when Mr. Lincoln 
removed from New Salem to Springfield, in 1886. 
Mr. Speed returned to Kentucky in 1842, but the 
friendship with Mr. Lincoln, which was of a 
most devoted character, continued until the 
death of the latter. Having located in Jefferson 
County, Ky., Mr. Speed was elected to the Legis- 
lature in 1848, but was never again willing to 



accept office, though often solicited to do so. In 
1851 he removed to Louisville, where he acquired 
a handsome fortune in the real-estate business. 
On the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, he 
heartily embraced the cause of the Union, and, 
during the war, was entrusted with many deli- 
cate and important duties in the interest of the 
Government, by Mr. Lincoln, whom he frequently 
visited in Washington. His death occurred at 
Louisville, May 29, 1882. — James (Speed), an 
older brother of the preceding, was a prominent 
Unionist of Kentucky, and, after the war, a 
leading Republican of that State, serving as dele- 
gate to the National Republican Conventions of 
1872 and 1876. In 1864 he was appointed Attor- 
ney-General by Mr. Lincoln and served imtil 18G6, 
when he resigned on account of disagreement 
with President Johnson. He died in 1887, at the 
age of 75 years. 

SPOOJf RIVER, rises in Bureau County, flows 
southward through Stark County into Peoria, 
thence southwest through Knox, and to the south 
and southeast, through Fulton County, entering 
the Illinois River opposite Havana. It is about 
150 miles long. 

SPRINGER, (Rev.) Francis, D.D., educator 
and Army Chaplain, born in Franklin County, 
Pa., March 19, 1810; was left an orphan at an 
early age, and educated at Pennsylvania College, 
Gettysburg; entered the Lutheran ministry in 
1836, and, in 1839, removed to Springfield, 111., 
where he preached and taught school; in 1847 
became President of Hillsboro College, which, in 
1852, was removed to Springfield and became Illi- 
nois State University, now known as Concordia 
Seminary. Later, he served for a time as Super- 
intendent of Schools for the city of Springfield, 
but, in September, 1861, resigned to accept the 
Chaplaincy of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry ; by suc- 
cessive resignations and appointments, held the 
positions of Chaplain of the First Arkansas Infan- 
try (1863-64) and Po.st Chaplain at Fort Smith, 
Ark., serving in the latter position until April, 
1867. when he was commissioned Chaplain of the 
United States Army. This position he resigned 
while stationed at Fort Harker, Kan. , August 23, 
1867. During a considerable part of his incum- 
bency as Chaplain at Fort Smith, he acted as 
Agent of the Bureau of Refugees and Freedmen, 
performing important service in caring for non- 
combatants rendered homeless by the vicissitudes 
of war. After the war he served, for a time, as 
Superintendent of Schools for Montgomery 
County, 111. ; was instrumental in the founding 
of Carthage (HI.) College, and was a member of 



496 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



its Board of Control at the time of his death. He 
was elected Chaplain of the Illinois House of 
Representatives at the session of the Thirt5 -fifth 
General Assembly (1887), and Chaplain of the 
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of 
Illinois for two consecutive terms (1890-"92). 
He was also member of the Stephenson Post, 
No. 30, G. A. R. , at Springfield, and served as its 
Chaplain from January, 1884, to his death, which 
occurred at Springfield, Oct. 21, 18S2. 

SPRINGER, William McKendree, ex-Congress- 
man, Justice of United States Court, was born in 
Sullivan County, Ind., May 30, 1836. In 1848 he 
removed with his parents to Jacksonville, 111., 
was fitted for college in the public high school at 
Jacksonville, under the tuition of the late Dr. 
Bateman, entered Illinois College, remaining 
three years, wlien he removed to the Indiana 
State University, graduating tliere in 1858. The 
following year he was admitted to the bar and 
commenced practice in Logan County, but soon 
after removed to Springfield. He entered public 
life as Secretary of the Constitutional Convention 
of 1862. In 1871-72 he represented Sangamon 
County in the Legislature, and, in 1874, was 
elected to Congress from the Thirteenth Illinois 
District as a Democrat. From that time until 
the close of the Fifty-third Congress (1895), he 
served in Congress continuously, and was recog- 
nized as one of the leaders of his party on the 
floor, being at the head of many important com- 
mittees when that party was in the ascendancy, 
and a candidate for the Democratic caucus nomi- 
nation for Speaker, in 1893, In 1894 he was the 
candidate of his party for Congress for the 
eleventh time, but was defeated by his Repub- 
lican opponent, James A. Connolly. In 1895 
President Cleveland appointed him United 
States District Judge for Indian Territory. 

SPRIXGFIELD, the State capital, and the 
county-seat of Sangamon County, situated five 
miles south of the Sangamon River and 185 miles 
southwest of Chicago; is an important railway 
center. The first settlement on the site of the 
present city was made by Jolm Kelly in 1819. 
On April 10, 1821, it was selected, by the first 
Board of County Commissioners, as the temporary 
county-seat of Sangamon County, the organi- 
zation of which had been authorized by act of 
the Legislature in January previous, and the 
name Springfield was given to it. In 1823 the 
selection was made permanent. The latter year 
the first sale of lands took place, the original site 
being entered by Pascal P. Enos, Elijah lies and 
Thomas Cox. The town was platted about the 



same time, and the name "Calhoun" was given to 
a section in the northwest quarter of the present 
city — this being the "hey-day" of the South 
Carolina statesman's greatest popularity — but 
the change was not popularly accepted, and the 
new name was soon dropped. It was incorpo- 
rated as a town, April 2, 1832, and as a city, April 
6, 1840; and re-incorporated, under the general, 
law in 1882. It was made the State capital by 
act of the Legislature, passed at the session of 
1837, which went into efltect, July 4, 1839, and the 
Legislature first convened there in December of 
the latter year. The general surface is flat, 
though there is rolling ground to the west. The 
city has excellent water-works, a paid fire-depart- 
ment, six banks, electric street railways, gas and 
electric lighting, commodious hotels, fine 
churches, numerous handsome residences, beauti- 
ful parks, thorough sewerage, and is one of the 
best paved and handsomest cities in the State. 
The city proper, in 1890, contained an area of four 
square miles, but has since been enlarged by the 
annexation of the following suburbs: North 
Springfield, April 7, 1891 ; West Springfield, Jan. 
4, 1898 ; and South Springfield and the village of 
Laurel, April 5, 1898. These additions give to 
the present city an area of 5.84 square miles. 
The population of the original city, according to 
the census of 1880, was 19,743, and, in 1890, 24,96.3, 
while that of the annexed suburbs, at the last 
census, was 2,109— making a total of 29,072. The 
latest school census (1898) showed a total popu- 
lation of 33,375— population by census (1900), 
34, 159. Besides the State House, the city has a 
handsome United States Government Building 
for United States Court and post-office purposes, 
a county courthouse (the former State capitol). 
a city hall and (State) Executive Mansion. 
Springfield was the home of Abraham Lincoln. 
His former residence has been donated to the 
State, and his tomb and monument are in the 
beautiful Oak Ridge cemetery, adjoining tlie 
city. Springfield is an important coal-mining 
center, and has many important industries, 
notably a watcli factory, rolling mills, and exten- 
sive manufactories of agricultural implements 
and furniture. It is also the permanent location 
of the State Fairs, for which extensive buildings 
have been erected on the Fair Grounds nortli of 
the city. There are three daily papers — two morn- 
ing and one evening — published liere, besides 
various other publications. Pop. (1900), 34,159. 

SPRINGFIELD, EFFINGHAM & SOUTH- 
EASTERN RAILROAD. (See St. Louis. Indian- 
apolis & Eastern Railroad. ) 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



497 



SPRINGFIELD & ILLINOIS SOUTHEAST- 
ERN RAILHOAD, (See Baltimore & Ohio 
Southicestfni Bailioad. ) 

SPRINGFIELD & NOBTHWESTERN RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Chicago, Peoria & St Louis 
Hailroad of Illinois.) 

SPRING VALLEY, an incorporated city in 
Bureau County, at intersection of the Chicago & 
Nortliwestern, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the 
Toluca, Marquette & Northern Railways, 100 
miles soutliwest of Chicago. It lies in a coal- 
mining region and has important manufacturing 
interests as well. It has two banks, electric 
street and interurban railways, and two news- 
papers. Population (1890), 3,837; (1900), 6,214. 

ST. .IGATHA'S SCHOOL, an institution for 
young ladies, at Springfield, under the patronage 
of the Bishop of the Episcopal Church, incorpo- 
rated in 1889. It has a faculty of eight teachers 
giving instruction in the preparatory and higher 
branches, including music and fine arts. It 
rejiorted fifty-five pupils in 1894, and real estate 
valued at §15,000. 

ST. ALBAN'S ACADEMY, a boys" and young 
men's school at Knoxville, 111., incorporated in 
1896 under the auspices of the Episcopal Church ; 
in 1898 had a faculty of seven teachers, with 
forty-five pupils, and property valued at §61,100, 
of which §54,000 was real estate. Instruction is 
given in the classical and scientific branches, 
besides music and preparatory studies. 

ST. ANNE, a village of Kankakee County, 
at tlie crossing of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois 
and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 
Louis Railways, 60 miles south of Chicago. The 
town has two banks, tile and brick factory, and a 
weekly newspaper. Pop. (1900), 1,000. 

ST. CHARLES, a city in Kane Coimty, on both 
sides of Fox River, at intersection of the Cliioago 
& Northwestern and the Chicago Great Western 
Railways; 38 miles west of Chicago and 10 miles 
south of Elgin. The river furnishes excellent 
water-power, whicli is being utilized bj' a number 
of important manufacturing enterprises. The 
city is connected with Chicago and many towns 
in the Fox River valley by interurban electric 
trolley lines ; is also the seat of the State Home 
for Boys. Pop. (1890), 1,690; (1900), 2,675. 

ST. CLAIR, Arthur, first Governor of the 
Northwest Territory, was born of titled ancestry 
at Thurso, Scotland, in 1734; came to America in 
17S7 as an ensign, having purchased his commis- 
sion, participated in the capture of Louisburg, 
Canada, in 1758, and fought under Wolfe at 



Quebec. In 1764 be settled in Pennsylvania, 
where he amassed a moderate fortune, and be- 
came prominent in public affairs. He served with 
distinction during the Revolutionary War, rising 
to the rank of Major-General, and succeeding 
General Gates in command at Ticonderoga, but, 
later, was censured by Washington for his hasty 
evacuation of the post, though finally vindicated 
by a military court. His Revolutionary record, 
however, was generally good, and even distin- 
guished. He represented Pennsylvania in the 
Continental Congress, and presided over that 
body in 1787. He served as Governor of the 
Northwest Territory (including the present State 
of Illinois) from 1789 to 1802. As an executive 
he was not successful, being impopular because 
of liis arbitrariness. In November, 1791, he 
suffered a serious defeat by the Indians in the 
valley between the Miami and the Wabash. In 
this campaign he was badly crippled by the gout, 
and had to be carried on a litter; he was again 
vindicated by a Congressional investigation. His 
first visit to the Illinois Country was made in 
1790, when he organized St. Clair County, which 
was named in his honor. In 1802 President Jef- 
ferson removed him from the governorship of 
Ohio Territory, of which he had continued to be 
the Governor after its separation from Indiana 
and Illinois. The remainder of his life was 
spent in comparative penury. Shortly before his 
decease, he was granted an annuity by the Penn- 
sylvania Legislature and by Congress. Died, at 
Greensburg, Pa., August 31, 1818. 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, the first county organ- 
ized within the territory comprised in the pres- 
ent State of Illinois — the whole region west 
of the Ohio River having been first placed under 
civil jurisdiction, under the name of "Illinois 
County," by an act of the Virginia House of 
Delegates, passed in October, 1778, a few months 
after the capture of Kaskaskia by Col. George 
Rogers Clark. (See Illinois; also Clark; George 
Rogers.) St. Clair County was finall}' set ofl 
by an order of Gov. Arthur St Clair, on occa- 
sion of his first visit to the "Illinois Country," 
in April, 1790 — more than two years after his 
a.ssumption of the duties of Governor of the 
Northwest Territory, which then comprehended 
the "Illinois Country" as well as the whole 
region within the present States of Ohio, Indiana. 
Michigan and Wisconsin. Governor St. Clair's 
order, which bears date, April 27, 1790, defines 
the boundaries of the new county — which took 
his own name — as follows: "Beginning at the 
mouth of the Little Michillimackanack River, 



498 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLIXOIS. 



running thence southerly in a direct line to the 
mouth of the little river above Fort Massac upon 
the Ohio River; thence with the said river to its 
junction with the Mississippi ; thence up the 
Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois, and so up 
the Illinois River to the place of beginning, with 
all the adjacent islands of said rivers, Illinois and 
Mississippi." The "Little Michillimackanack, " 
the initial point mentioned in this description — 
also variously spelled "Makina" and "Macki- 
naw," the latter being the name by which the 
stream is now known — empties into the Illinois 
River on the south side a few miles below 
Pekin, in Tazewell County. The boundaries 
of St. Clair County, as given by Gov. St. Clair, 
indicate the imperfect knowledge of the topog- 
raphy of the "Illinois Country" existing in 
that day, as a line drawn south from the mouth 
of the Mackinaw River, instead of reaching the 
Ohio "above Fort Massac," would have followed 
the longitude of the present city of Springfield, 
striking the Mississippi about the northwestern 
corner of Jackson County, twenty-five miles west 
of the mouth of the Ohio. The object of Gov- 
ernor St. Clair's order was, of course, to include 
the settled portions of the Illinois Country in the 
new county ; and, if it had had the effect intended, 
the eastern border of the county would have fol- 
lowed a line some fifty miles farther eastward, 
along the eastern border of Marion, Jefferson, 
Franklin, Williamson and Johnson Counties, 
reaching the Oliio River about the present site of 
Metropolis City in Massac Count}', and embracing 
about one-half of the area of the present State of 
Illinois. For all practical purposes it embraced 
all the Illinois Country, as it included that por- 
tion in which the white settlements were located. 
(See St. Clair, Arthur; also Illinois Country.) 
The early records of St. Clair County are in the 
French language ; its first settlers and its early 
civilization were French, and the first church to 
inculcate the doctrine of Christianity was the 
Roman Catholic. The first proceedings in court 
under the common law were had in 1796. The 
first Justices of the Peace were appointed in 1807, 
and, as there was no penitentiary, the whipping- 
post and pillory played an important part in the 
code of penalties, these punishments being im- 
partially meted out as late as the time of Judge 
(afterwards Governor) Reynolds, to "the lame, the 
halt and the blind," for such offenses as the lar- 
ceny of a silk handkerchief. At first three 
places — Cahokia, Prairie du Rocher and Kaskas- 
kia — were named as county-seats by Governor St. 
Clair ; but Randolph County having been set off 



in 1895, Cahokia became the county-seat of the 
older county, so remaining until 1813, when 
Belleville was selected as the seat of justice. At 
that time it was a mere cornfield owned by 
George Blair, although settlements had previously 
been established in Ridge Prairie and at Badgley. 
Judge Jesse B. Thomas held his first court in a 
log-cabin, but a rude court house was erected in 
1814, and, the same year, George E. Blair estab- 
lished a hostelry, Joseph Kerr opened a store, 
and, in 1817, additional improvements were 
inaugurated by Daniel Murray and others, from 
Baltimore. Jolin H. Dennis and the Mitchells 
and Wests (from Virginia) settled soon after- 
ward, becoming farmers and mechanics. Belle- 
ville was incorporated in 1819. In 182.5 Governor 
Edwards bought the large landed interests of 
Etienne Personeau, a large French land-owner, 
ordered a new survey of the town and infused fresh 
life into its development. Settlers began to arrive 
in large numbers, mainly Virginians, who brought 
with them their slaves, the right to hold which 
was, for many years, a fruitful and perennial 
source of strife. Emigrants from Germany 
began to arrive at an early day, and now a large 
proportion of the population of Belleville and St. 
Clair County is made up of that nationality. The 
county, as at present organized, lies on the west- 
ern border of the south half of the State, immedi- 
ately opposite St. Louis, and comprises some 680 
square miles. Three-fourths of it are underlaid 
by a vein of coal, six to eight feet thick, and 
about one hundred feet below the surface. Con- 
siderable wheat is raised. The principal towns 
are Belleville, East St. Louis, Lebanon and Mas- 
coutah. Population of the county (1880), 61,806; 
(1890), 66,571; (1900), 86,685. 

ST. JOHN, an incorporated village of Perry 
County, on the Illinois Central Railway, one mile 
north of Duquoin. Coal is mined and salt manu- 
factured here. Population about 500. 

ST. JOSEPH, a village of Champaign County, 
on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railway, 10 miles east of Champaign; has inter- 
urban railroad connection. Pop. (1900), 637. 

ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, (Chicago), founded 
in 1860, by the Sisters of Charity. Having been de- 
stroyed in the fire of 1871, it was rebuilt in the 
following year. In 1893 it was reconstructed, en- 
larged and made thoroughly modern in its appoint- 
ments. It can accommodate about 250 patients. 
The Sisters attend to the nursing, and conduct the 
domestic and financial affairs. The medical staff 
comprises ten physicans and surgeons, among 
whom are some of the most eminent in Chicago. 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



49S 



ST. LOUIS, ALTOX & CHICAGO RAILROAD. 

(See Chicago & Alton Railroad.) 

ST. LOUIS, ALTOJi & SPRIJiGFIELD KAIL- 
ROAD. (See St. Louis. Chicago & St. Paul 
BaHroad.) 

ST. LOUIS, ALTOX & TERRE HAUTE 
RAILOAD, a corporation formerly operating an 
extensive system of railroads in Illinois. The Terre 
Haute & Alton Railroad Company (the original 
corporation) was chartered in Januaiy, 1851, 
work begmi in 1852, and the main line from 
Terre Haute to Alton (172.5 miles) completed, 
March 1, 1856. The Belleville & lUinoistown 
branch (from Belleville to East St. Louis) was 
chartered in 1852, and completed between the 
points named in the title, in the fall of 1854. 
This corporation secured authority to construct 
an extension from Illinoistown (now East St. 
Louis) to Alton, wliich was completed in October. 
1856, giving the iii'st railroad connection between 
Alton & St. Louis. Simultaneously with this, 
these two roads (tlie Terre Haute & Alton and 
the Belleville & Illinoistown) were consolidated 
under a single charter by special act of the Legis- 
lature in February, 1854, the consolidated line 
taking the name of the Terre Haute, Alton & St. 
Louis Railroad. Subsequentl}' the road became 
financially embarassed, was sold under foreclosiu-e 
and reorganized, in 1862, under the name of the 
St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. June 
1, 1867, the main line (from Terre Haute to St. 
Louis) was leased for niety-nine years to the 
Indianapolis & St. Louis Railway Company (an 
Indiana corporation) guaranteed by certain other 
lines, but the lease was subsequently broken by 
the insolvency of the lessee and some of the 
guarantors. The Indianapolis & St. Louis went 
into the hands of a receiver in 1882, and was sold 
under foreclosure, in July of the same year, its 
interest being absorbed by the Cleveland, Cin- 
cinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway-, by which 
the main line is now operated. The properties 
ofScially reported as remaining in the hands of 
the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad, 
June 30, 1895, beside the Belleville Branch (14.40 
miles), included the following leased and subsidi- 
ary lines: Belleville & Southern Illinois — "Cairo 
Short Line" (56.40 miles) ; Belleville & Eldorado, 
(50.20 miles); Belleville & Carondelet (17.30 
miles); St. Louis Southern and branches (47.27 
miles), and Chicago, St. Louis & Paducah Rail- 
way (53.50 miles). All these have been leased, 
since the close of the fiscal j-ear 1895, to the Illi- 
nois Central. (For sketches of these several 
roads see headings of each. ) 



ST. LOUIS, CHICAGO & ST. PAUL RAII^ 
ROAD, (Bluff Line), a line running from Spring- 
field to Granite City, 111., (opposite St. Louis), 
102.1 miles, with a branch from Lock Haven to 
Grafton, III, 8.4 miles— total length of line in 
Illinois, 110.5 miles. The track is of standard 
gauge, laid with 56 to 70-pound steel rails.— (His- 
tory.) The road was originally incorporated 
under the name of the St. Louis, Jerseyville & 
Springfield Railroad, built from Bates to Grafton 
in 1882, and absorbed by the Wabash, St. Louis & 
Pacific Railway Company ; was surrendered by the 
receivers of the latter in 1886, and passed under 
the control of the bond-holders, by whom it was 
transferred to a corporation known as the St. 
Louis & Central Illinois Railroad Company. In 
June. 1887, the St. Louis, Alton & Springfield 
Railroad Company was organized, with power to 
build extensions from Newbern to Alton, and 
from Bates to Springfield, which was done. In 
October, 1890, a receiver was appointed, followed 
by a reorganization under the present name (St. 
Louis, Chicago & St. Paul). Default was made 
on the interest and, in June following, it was 
again placed in the hands of receivers, by whom 
it was operated until 1898. The total earnings 
and income for the fiscal year 1897-98 were 
§318,815, operating expenses, §373,270; total 
capitalization, §4,853,526, of which, §1,500,000 
was in the form of stock and .§1,235 000 in income 
bonds. 

ST. LOUIS, INDIAXAPOLIS A EASTERN 
RAILROAD, a railroad line 90 miles in length, 
extending from Switz City, Ind.. to Effingham. 
III. — 56 miles being within the State of Illinois. 
It is of standard gauge and the track laid chiefl}- 
with iron rails. — (History.) The orginal corpo- 
ration was chartered in 1869 as the Springfield. 
Eflingham & Qviincy Railway Company. It waa 
built as a narrow-gauge line by the Cincinnati, 
Effingham & Quincy Construction Company 
which went into the hands of a receiver in 1878. 
The road was completed by the receiver in 1880, 
and, in 1885, restored to the Construction Com- 
pany by the discharge of the receiver. For a 
short time it was operated in connection with 
the Bloomfield Railroad of Indiana, but was 
reorganized in 1886 as the Indiana & lUinois 
Southern Railroad, and the gauge changed to 
standard in 1887. Having made default in the 
payment of interest, it was sold under foreclosure 
in 1S90 and purchased in the interest of the bond- 
holders, b}' whom it was conveyed to the St. 
Louis. Indianapolis & Eastern Railroad Company, 
in whose name the line is operated. Its business 



500 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



is limited, and chiefly local. The total earnings 
in 1898 were $65,583 and the expenditures $69, 11 2. 
Its capital stock was |740,900: bonded debt, 
$978,000, other indebtedness increasing the total 
capital investment to $1,816,736. 

ST. LOUIS, JACKSONVILLE & CHICAGO 
RAILROAD. (See Chicago & Alton Railroad. ) 

ST. LOUIS, JERSETVILLE & SPRINGFIELD 
RAILROAD. (See St. Louis, Chicago <& St. Paul 
Railroad. ) 

ST. LOUIS, MOUNT CARMEL & NEW AL- 
BANY RAILROAD. (See Louisinlle, Evansville 
<& St. Louis (Consolidated) Railroad.) 

ST. LOUIS, PEORIA & NORTHERN RAIL- 
WAY, known as "Peoria Short Line," a corpo- 
ration organized, Feb. 29, 1896, to take over and 
unite the properties of the St. Louis & Ea,stern, 
the St. Louis & Peoria and the North and South 
Railways, and to extend the same due north 
from Springfield to Peoria (60 miles), and thence 
to Fulton or East Clinton, 111. , on the Upper Mis- 
sissippi. The line extends from Springfield to 
Glen Carbon (84.46 miles), with trackage facilities 
over the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad 
and the Merchants" Terminal Bridge (18 miles) 
to St. Louis.— (HiSTOEY.) This road has been 
made up of three sections or divisions. (1) The 
initial section of the line was constructed under 
the name of the St. Louis & Chicago Railroad of 
Illinois, incorporated in 1885, and opened from 
Mount Olive to Alhambra in 1887. It passed 
into the hands of a receiver, was sold under fore- 
closure in 1889, and reorganized, in 1890, as the St. 
Louis & Peoria Railroad. The St. Louis & East- 
em, chartered in 1889, built the line from Glen 
Carbon to Marine, which was opened in 1893 ; the 
following year, bought the St. Louis & Peoria 
line, and, in 1895, constructed tlie link (8 miles) 
between Alhambra and Marine. (3) The North 
& South Railroad Company of Illinois, organized 
in 1890, as successor to the St. Louis & Chicago 
Railway Company, proceeded in the construction 
of the line (50.46 miles) from Mt. Olive to Spring- 
field, which was subsequently leased to the Chi- 
cago, Peoria & St. Louis, tlien under the 
management of the Jacksonville, Louisville & St. 
Louis Railway. The latter corporation having 
defaulted, the property passed into the hands of 
a receiver. By expiration of the lease in Decem- 
ber, 1896, the property reverted to the proprietary 
Company, which took possession, Jan. 1, 1896. 
The St. Louis & Southeastern then bought the 
line outright, and it was incorporated as a part of 
the new organization under the name of the St. 
Louis, Peoria & Northern Railway, the North 



& South Railroad going out of existence. In 
May, 1899, the St. Louis, Peoria & Northern was 
sold to the reorganized Chicago & Alton Railroad 
Company, to be operated as a short line between 
Peoria & St. Louis. 

ST. LOUS, ROCK ISLAND & CHICAGO 
RAILROAD. (See Chicago, Burlington <fc QiUncy 
Railroad.) 

ST. LOUIS SOUTHERN RAILROAD, a line 
running from Pinckneyville, 111., via Murphys- 
boro, to Carbondale. Tlie company is also the 
lessee of the Carbondale & Shawneetown Rail- 
road, extending from Carbondale to Marion, 17.5 
miles — total, 50.5 miles. The track is of standard 
gauge and laid with 56 and 60-pound steel rails. 
The company was organized in August, 1886, to 
succeed to the property of the St. Louis Coal Rail- 
road (organized in 1879) and the St. Louis Central 
Railway ; and was leased for 980 years from Dec. 
1, 1886, to the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute 
Railroad Company, at an annual rental equal to 
thirty per cent of the gross earnings, with a mini- 
mum guarantee of $32,000, which is sufficient 
to pay the interest on the first mortgage bonds. 
During the year 1896 this line passed under lease 
from the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Rail- 
road Company, into the hands of the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company. 

ST. LOUIS, SPRINGFIELD & VINCENNES 
RAILROAD COMPANY, a corporation organized 
in July, 1899, to take over the property of the 
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway in the 
State of Illinois, known as the Ohio & Mississippi 
and the Springfield & Illinois Southeastern 
Railways — the former extending from Vin- 
cennes, Ind., to East St. Louis, and the latter 
from Beardstown to Shawneetown. The prop- 
erty was sold under foreclosure, at Cincinnati, 
July 10, 1899, and transferred, for purposes of 
reorganization, into the hands of the new cor- 
poration, July 28, 1899. (For history of the 
several lines see Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern 
Raihcay.) 

ST. LOUIS, YANDALIA & TERRE HAUTE 
RAILROAD. This line extends from East St. 
Louis eastward across the State, to the Indiana 
State line, a distance of 158.3 miles. The Terre 
Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Company is the 
lessee. The track is single, of standard gauge, 
and laid with steel rails. The outstanding capi- 
tal stock, in 1898, was $3,924,058, the bonded debt, 
$4,496,000, and the floating debt, $218,480.— (His- 
tory ) The St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute 
Railroad was chartered in 1865, opened in 1870 
and leased to the Terre Haute & Indianapolis 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



501 



Railroad, for itself and the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. 

ST. LOUIS & CAIRO RAILROAD, extends 
from East St. Louis to Cairo, 111., 151.6 miles, with 
a branch from Millstadt Junction to High Prairie, 
"J miles. The track is of standard gauge and laid 
mainly with steel rails. — (History.) The origi- 
nal charter was granted to the Cairo & 3t. Louis 
Railroad Company, Feb. 16, 1865, and the road 
opened, March 1, 1875. Subsequently it passed 
into the hands of a receiver, was sold under fore- 
closure, July 14, 1881, and was taken charge of 
by a new company under its present name, Feb. 
1, 1883. On Feb. 1, 1886, it was leased to the 
Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company for forty-five 
years, and now constitutes the Illinois Division 
of that line, giving it a connection with St. 
Louis. (See Mobile & Ohio Railway. ) 

ST. LOUIS & CEXTRAL ILLINOIS RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Sf. Louis, Chicago & St. Paul 
Railroad.) 

ST. LOUIS & CHICAGO RAILROAD (of 
Illinois). (See Sf. Louis, Peoria & Northern 
Ra'iluxiy. ) 

ST. LOUIS & EASTERX RAILROAD. (See 
St. Louis, Peoria <t Xortkern Railuxty.) 

ST. LOUIS & PEORIA RAILWAY. (See 
Sf. Louis, Peoria cE" Xorfhern Railway.) 

ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, located in Chicago. 
It was chartered in 1865, its incorporators, in 
their initial statement, substantially declaring 
their object to be the establishment of a free hos- 
pital under the control of the Protestant Epis- 
copal Church, which should be open to tlie 
afflicted poor, without distinction of race or 
creed. The hospital was opened on a small scale, 
but steadily increased until 1879, when re-incor- 
poration was effected under the general law. In 
1885 a new building was erected on land donated 
for that purpose, at a cost exceeding 5150,000, 
exclusive of .?20,000 for furnishing. 'While its 
primary object has been to afford accommoda- 
tion, with medical and surgical care, gratuitously, 
to the needj' poor, the institution also provides a 
considerable number of comfortable, well-fur- 
nished private rooms for patients who are able 
and willing to pay for the same. It contains an 
amphitheater for surgical operations and clinics, 
and has a free dispensary for out-patients. Dur- 
ing the past few years important additions 
have been made, the number of beds increased, 
and provision made for a training school for 
nurses. The medical staff (1896) consists of 
thirteen physicians and surgeons and two 
pathologists. 



ST. MART'S SCHOOL, a young ladies' semi- 
nar)-, under the patronage of the Episcopal 
Church, at Knoxville, Knox County, III. ; was 
incorporated in 1858, in 1898 had a faculty of four- 
teen teachers, giving instruction to 113 pupils. 
The branches taught include the classics, the 
sciences, fine arts, music and preparatory studies. 
The institution has a library of 2,200 volumes, 
and owns property valued at §130,500, of which 
?100,000 is real estate. 

STAGER, Alison, soldier and Telegraph Super- 
intendent, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., 
April 20, 1825 ; at 16 years of age entered the serv- 
ice of Henry O'Reilly, a printer who afterwards 
became a pioneer in building telegraph lines, and 
with whom he became associated in various enter- 
prises of tliis character. Having introduced 
several improvements in the construction of bat- 
teries and the arrangement of wires, he was, in 
1852, made General Superintendent of the princi- 
pal lines in the West, and, on the organization of 
the Western Union Company, was retained in 
this position. Early in the Civil War he was 
entrusted with the management of telegraph 
lines in Southern Ohio and along the Virginia 
border, and, in October following, was appointed 
General Superintendent of Government tele- 
graphs, remaining in this position until Septem- 
ber, 1868, his services being recognized .in liis 
promotion to a brevet Brigadier-Generalship of 
Volunteers. In 1869 General Stager returned to 
Chicago and, in addition to his duties as General 
SuperinteJident, engaged in the promotion of a 
number of enterprises connected with the manu- 
facture of electrical appliances and other 
branches of the business. One of these was the 
consolidation of the telephone companies, of 
which he became President, as also of the West- 
ern Edison Electric Light Company, besides being 
a Director in several other corporations. Died, 
in Chicago, March 26, 1885. 

STANDISH, John Tan Ness, a lineal descendant 
of Capt. Miles Standish, the Pilgrim leader, was 
born at Woodstock, Vt., Feb. 26, 1825. His early 
years were spent on a farm, but a love of knowl- 
edge and books became his ruling passion, and he 
devoted several years to study, in the "Liberal 
Institute" at Lebanon, N. H., finally graduating, 
with the degree of A. B., at Norwich University 
in the class of 18-17. Later, he received the 
degree of A.M., in due course, from his Alma 
Mater in 1855; that of Ph.D. from Knox College, 
in 1883, of LL.D from St. Lawrence University 
in 1893, and from Norwich, in 1898. Dr. Standish 
chose the profession of a teacher, and has spent 



502 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



over fifty years in its pursuit in connection with 
private and public schools and the College, of 
which more than forty years were as Professor and 
President of liOmbard University at Galesburg. 
He has also lectured and conducted Teachers" 
Institutes all over the State, and, in 1859, was 
elected President of the State Teachers" Associ- 
ation. He made three visits to the Old World — 
in 1879, '82-83, and "91-92— and, during his second 
trip, traveled over 40,000 miles, visiting nearly 
every country of Europe, including the "Land of 
the Midnight Sun," besides Northern Africa 
from the Jlediterranean to the Desert of Sahara, 
Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Asia Minor. A lover 
of art, he has visited nearly all the principal 
museums and picture galleries of the world. In 
politics he is a Republican, and, in opposition to 
many college men, a firm believer in the doctrine 
of protection. In religion, he is a Universalist. 
STAPP, James T. B., State Auditor, was born 
in Woodford County, Ky., April 13, 1804; at the 
age of 13 accompanied his widowed mother to 
Kaskaskia, 111., where she settled; before he was 
20 years old, was employed as a clerk in the office 
of the State Auditor, and, upon the resignation of 
that officer, was appointed his successor, being 
twice thereafter elected by the Legislature, serv- 
ing nearly five years. He resigned the auditor- 
ship to accept the Presidency of the State Bank 
at Vandalia, wliich post he filled for thirteen 
years; acted as Aid-de-camp on Governor Rey- 
nolds staff in the Black Hawk War, and served 
as Adjutant of the Tliird Illinois Volunteers dur- 
ing the war with Mexico. President Taylor 
appointed Mr. Stapp Receiver of the United 
States Land Office at Vandalia, which office lie 
held during the Fillmore administration, resign- 
ing in 18.5.5. Two years later he removed to 
Decatur, where he continued to reside until his 
death in 1876. A handsome Methodist chapel, 
erected by him in that city, bears his name. 

STARK COUNTY, an interior county in the 
northern half of the State, lying west of the Illi- 
nois River ; has an area of 290 square miles. It 
has a rich, alluvial soil, well watered by numer- 
ous small streams. The principal industries are 
agriculture and stock-raising, and the chief 
towns are Toulon and Wj'oming. The county 
was erected from Putnam and Knox in 1839, and 
named in honor of General Stark, of Revolution- 
ary fame. The earliest settler was Isaac B. 
E.ssex, who built a cabin on Spoon River, in 1828, 
and gave his name to a township. Of other pio- 
neer families, the Buswells, Smiths, Spencers and 



Eastmans came from New England ; the Thom- 
ases, Moores, Holgates, Fullers and Whittakers 
from Pennsylvania; the Coxes from Ohio, the 
Perry s and Parkers from Virginia; the McClana- 
hans from Kentuckj" ; the Hendersons from Ten- 
nessee ; the Lees and Hazens from New Jersey ; 
the Halls from England, and the TurnbuUs and 
Olivers from Scotland. The pioneer church was 
the Congregational at Toulon. Population (1880), 
11,207; (1890), 9,982; (1900), 10,186. 

STARVED ROCK, a celebrated rock or cliff on 
the south side of Illinois River, in La Salle 
County, upon which the French explorer. La 
Salle, and his lieutenant, Tonty, erected a fort in 
1682, which they named Fort St. Louis. It was 
one mile north of the supposed location of the 
Indian village of La Vantum, the metropolis, so 
to speak, of the Illinois Indians about the time of 
the arrival of the first French explorers. The 
population of this village, in 1680, according to 
Father Membre, was some seven or eight thou- 
sand. Both La Vantum and Fort St. Louis were 
repeatedly attacked by the Iroquois. The Illinois 
were temporarily driven from La Vantum, but 
the French, for the time being, successfull}- 
defended their fortification. In 1702 the fort was 
abandoned as a military post, but continued to 
be used as a French trading-post until 1718. 
when it was burned by Indians. The Illinois 
were not again molested until 1722, when the 
Foxes made an unsuccessful attack upon them. 
The larger portion of the tribe, however, resolved 
to cast in their fortunes with other tribes on the 
Mississippi River. Those who remained fell an 
easy prey to the foes by whom they were sur- 
rounded. In 1769 they were attacked from the 
north by tribes who desired to avenge the murder 
of Pontiac. Finding themselves hard pressed, 
they betook themselves to the bluff where Fort 
St. liOuis had formerly stood. Here they were 
besieged for twelve days, when, destitute of food 
or water, they made a gallant but hopeless sortie. 
According to a tradition handed down among tlie 
Indians, all were massacred by the besiegers in 
an attempt to escape by night, except one half- 
breed, who succeeded in evading his pursuers. 
This sanguinary catastrophe has given the rock 
its popular name. Elmer Baldwin, in his History 
of La Salle County (1877), says: "The bones of 
the victims lay scattered about the cliff in pro- 
fusion after the settlement by the whites, and 
are still found mingled plentifully with the soil. " 
(See La Salle, Robert Cavelier; Tonty; Fort St. 
Louis.) 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



503 



STARJfE, Alexander, Secretary of State and 
State Treasurer, was born in Philadelphia. Pa., 
Nov. 21, 1813; in the spring of 1836 removed to 
Illinois, settling at Griggsville. Pike County, 
where he opened a general store. From 1839 to 
"42 he served as Commissioner of Pike County, 
and, in the latter year, was elected to the lower 
house of the Gleneral Assembly, and re-elected in 
1844. Having, in the meanwhile, disposed of his 
store at Griggsville and removed to Pittsfield, he 
was appointed, by Judge Purple, Clerk of the 
Circuit Court, and elected to the same office for 
four years, when it was made elective. In 18.52 
he was elected Secretary of State, when he 
removed to Springfield, returning to Griggsville 
at the expiration of his term in 1857, to assume 
the Presidency of the old Hannibal and Naples 
Railroad (now a part of the Wabash system). 
He represented Pike and Brown Counties in the 
Constitutional Convention of 1862, and the same 
year was elected State Treasurer. He thereupon 
again removed to Springfield, where he resided 
until his death, being, with his sons, extensively 
engaged in coal mining. In 1870, and again in 
1872, he was elected State Senator from San- 
gamon County. He died at Springfield, March 
31, 1886. 

STATE BANK OF ILLINOIS. The first legis- 
lation, having for its object the establishment of 
a bank within the territory whicli now consti- 
tutes the State of Illinois, was the passage, by 
the Territorial Legislature of 1816, of an act 
incorporating the "'Bank of Illinois at Shawnee- 
town, with branches at Edwardsville and Kas- 
kaskia. " In the Second General Assembly of 
the State (1820) an act was passed, over the 
Governor's veto and in defiance of the adverse 
judgment of the Council of Revision, establish- 
ing a State Bank at Vandalia with branches at 
Shawneetown, Edwardsville, and Brownsville in 
Jackson County. This was, in effect, a recharter- 
ing of the banks at Shawneetown and Edwards- 
ville. So far as the former is concerned, it seems 
to have been well managed; but the official 
conduct of the officers of the latter, on the basis 
of charges made by Governor Edwards in 1826, 
was made the subject of a legislative investiga- 
tion, which (although it resulted in nothing) 
seems to have had some basis of fact, in view of 
the losses finally sustained in winding up its 
affairs— that of the General Government amount- 
ing to 554,000. Grave charges were made in this 
connection against men who were then, or 
afterwards became, prominent in State affairs, 
including one Justice of the Supreme Court and 
one (still later) a United States Senator. The 



experiment was disastrous, as, ten years later 
(1831), it was found necessary for the State to 
incur a debt of SlOO,000 to redeem the outstand- 
ing circulation. Influenced, however, by the 
popular demand for an increase in the "circu- 
lating medium," the State continued its experi- 
ment of becoming a stockliolder in banks 
managed by its citizens, and accordingly we find 
it, in 1835, legislating in the same direction for 
the establishing of a central "Bank of Illinois" 
at Springfield, with branches at other points as 
might be required, not to exceed six in number. 
One of these branches was established at Van- 
dalia and another at Chicago, furnishing the first 
banking institution of the latter city. Two 
years later, when the State was entering upon 
its .scheme of internal improvement, laws were 
enacted increasing the capital stock of these 
banks to 84,000,000 in the aggregate. Following 
the example of similar institutions elsewhere, 
tliey suspended specie payments a few months 
later, but were protected by "stay laws" and 
other devices until 1842, when the internal 
improvement scheme having been finally aban- 
doned, they fell in general collapse. The State 
ceased to be a stock-holder in 1843, and the banks 
were put in coiu-se of liquidation, though it 
required several years to complete the work. 

STATE CAPITALS. The first State capital of 
Illinois was Kaskaskia, where the first Territorial 
Legislature convened, Nov. 25, 1812. At that 
time there were but five counties in the State — 
St. Clair and Randolph being the most important, 
and Kaskaskia being the county-seat of the 
latter. Illinois was admitted into the Union as a 
State in 1818, and the first Constitution provided 
that the seat of government should remain at 
Kaskaskia until removed by legislative enact- 
ment. That instrument, however, made it obli- 
gatory upon the Legislature, at its first session, 
to petition Congress for a grant of not more than 
four sections of land, on which should be erected 
a town, which should remain the seat of govern- 
ment for twenty years. The petition was duly 
presented and granted ; and, in accordance with 
the power granted by the Constitution, a Board 
of five Commissioners selected the site of the 
present city of Vandalia, then a point in the 
wilderness twenty miles north of any settle- 
ment. But so great was the faith of speculators 
in the futiire of the proposed city, that town lots 
were soon selUng at SlOO to §780 each. The Com- 
missioners, in obedience to law, erected a plain 
two-story frame building — scarcely more than a 
commodious shanty — to which the State offices 
were removed in December, 1820. This building 



504 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



was burned, Dec. 9, 1833, and a brick structure 
erected in its place. Later, when the question of 
a second removal of the capital began to be agi- 
tated, the citizens of Vandalia assumed the risk 
of erecting a new, brick State House, costing 
§16,000. Of this amount §6,000 was reimbursed 
by the Governor from the contingent fund, and 
the balance ($10,000) was appropriated in 1837, 
when the seat of government was removed to 
Springfield, by vote of the Tenth General Assem- 
bly on the fourth ballot. The other places receiv- 
ing the principal vote at the time of the removal 
to Springfield, were Jacksonville, Vandalia, 
Peoria, Alton and Illiopolis — Springfield receiv- 
ing the largest vote at each ballot. The law 
removing the capital appropriated §50,000 from 
the State Treasurj-, provided that a like amount 
should be raised by private subscription and 
guaranteed by bond, and that at least two acres 
of land should be donated as a site. Two State 
Houses have been erected at Springfield, the first 
cost of the present one (including furnishing) 
having been a little in excess of §4,000,000. 
Abraham Lincoln, who was a member of the 
Legislature from Sangamon County at the time, 
was an influential factor in securing the removal 
of the capital to Springfield. 

STATE DEBT. The State debt, which proved 
so formidable a burden upon the State of Illinois 
for a generation, and, for a part of that period, 
seriously checked its prosperity, was the direct 
outgrowth of the internal improvement scheme 
entered upon in 1837. (See Internal Improvement 
Policy. ) At the time this enterprise %vas under- 
taken the aggregate debt of the State was less 
than $400.000 — accumulated within the preceding 
six years. Two years later (1838) it had increased 
to over §6, .500, 000, while the total valuation of 
real and personal property, for the purposes of 
taxation, was less than .$60,000, 000, and the aggre- 
gate receipts of the State treasury, for the same 
year, amounted to less than §150,000. At the 
same time, the disbursements, for the support of . 
the State Government alone, had grown to more 
than twice the receipts. This disparity continued 
until the declining credit of the State forced upon 
the managers of public affairs an involuntary 
economy, when the means could no longer be 
secured for more lavish expenditures. The first 
bonds issued at the inception of the internal 
improvement scheme sold at a premium of 5 per 
cent, but rapidly declined until they were hawked 
in the markets of New York and London at a dis- 
count, in some cases falling into the hands of 
brokers who failed before completing their con- 



tracts, thus causing a direct* loss to the State. If 
the internal improvement scheme was ill-advised, 
the time chosen to carry it into effect was most 
unfortunate, as it came simultaneously with the 
panic of 1837, rendering the disaster all the more 
complete. Of the various works undertaken by 
the State, only the Illinois & Michigan Canal 
brought a return, all the others resulting in more 
or less complete loss. The internal improvement 
scheme was abandoned in 1839-40, but not until 
State bonds exceeding §13,000,000 had been 
issued. For two years longer the State struggled 
with its embarrassments, increased by the failure 
of the State Bank in February, 1843, and, by that 
of the Bank of Illinois at Shawneetown, a few 
months later, with tlie proceeds of more than two 
and a half millions of the State's bonds in their 
possession. Thus left without credit, or means 
even of paying the accruing interest, there were 
those who regarded the State as hopelessly bank- 
rupt, and advocated repudiation as the only 
means of escape. Better counsels prevailed, how- 
ever; the Constitution of 1848 put the State on a 
basis of strict economy in the matter of salaries 
and general expenditures, with restrictions upon 
the Legislature in reference to incurring in- 
debtedness, while the beneficent "two-mill tax" 
gave assurance to its creditors that its debts 
would be paid. While the growth of the State, 
in wealth and population, had previously been 
checked by the fear of excessive taxation, it now 
entered upon a new career of prosperit)', in spite 
of its burdens— its increase in population, be- 
tween 1850 and 1860, amounting to over 100 per 
cent. The movement of the State debt after 1840 
— when the internal improvement scheme was 
abandoned — chiefly by accretions of unpaid inter- 
est, has been estimated as follows: 1843, $15,- 
637,950; 1844, $14,633,969; 1846, .516,389,817; 1848, 
$16,661,795. It reached its maximum in 1853 — 
the first year of Governor Mattesons administra- 
tion — when it was officially reported at $16, 724,- 
177. At this time the work of extinguishment 
began, and was prosecuted under successive 
administrations, except during the war, when 
the vast expense incurred in sending troops to 
the field caused an increase. During Governor 
Bissell's administration, the reduction amounted 
to over .§3,000,000; during Oglesb}'"s, to over five 
and a quarter million, besides two and a quarter 
million paid on interest. In 1880 the debt had 
been reduced to §281.059.11. and, before the close 
of 1882, it had been entirely extinguished, except 
a balance of $18. .500 in bonds, which, having been 
called in j'ears previously and never presented for 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



505 



payment, are supposed to have been lost. (See 
Macalister and Stebbins Bonds.) 

STATE GUARDIANS FOR GIRLS, a bureau 
organized for the care of female juvenile delin- 
quents, by act of June 3, 1893. The Board consists 
of seven members, nominated by the Executive 
and confirmed by the Senate, and who consti- 
tute a body politic and corjjorate. Not more than 
two of the members may reside in the same Con- 
gressional District and. of the seven members, 
four must be women. (See also Home for Female 
Juvenile Offenders.) The term of office is six 
years. 

STATE HOUSE, located at Springfield. Its 
construction was begun under an act passed by 
the Legislature in February, 1867, and completed 
in 1887. It stands in a park of about eight acres, 
donated to the State by the citizens of Spring- 
field. A provision of the State Constitution of 
1870 prohibited^ the expenditure of any sum in 
excess of §3,500,000 in the erection and furnishing 
of the building, without previous approval of such 
additional expenditure by the people. This 
amount proving insuflicient, the Legislature, at 
its session of 1885, passed an act making an addi- 
tional appropriation of .$.531,713, which having 
been approved by popular vote at the general 
election of 1886, the expenditure was made and 
the capitol completed during the following year, 
thus raising the total cost of construction and fur- 
nishing to a little in excess of $4,000,000. The 
building is cruciform as to its ground plan, and 
classic in its style of architecture ; its extreme 
dimensions (including porticoes), from north |to 
south, being 379 feet, and, from east to west, 386 
feet. The walls are of dressed Joliet limestone, 
while the porticoes, which are spacious and 
lofty, are of sandstone, supported by polished 
columns of gray granite. The three stories of 
the building are surmounted by a Mansard roof, 
with two turrets and a central dome of stately 
dimensions. Its extreme height, to the top of 
the iron flag-staff, which rises from a lantern 
springing from the dome, is 364 feet. 

STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY, an institu- 
tion for the education of teachers, organized 
under an act of the General Assembly, passed 
Feb. 18, 1857. This act placed the work of 
organization in the hands of a board of fifteen 
persons, which was styled "The Board of Educa- 
tion of the State of Illinois," and was constituted 
as follows: C. B. Denio of Jo Daviess County; 
Simeon Wright of Lee ; Daniel Wilkins of Mc- 
Lean ; Charles E. Hovey of Peoria ; George P. Rex 
of Pike; Samuel W. Moulton of Shelby; John 



Gillespie of Jasper ; George Bunsen of St. Clair? 
Wesley Sloan of Pope; Ninian W. Edwards of 
Sangamon: John R. Eden of Moultrie; Flavel 
Moseley and William Wells of Cook : Albert R. 
Shannon of White; and the Superintendent oi. 
Public Instruction, ex-officio. The object of the 
University, as defined in the organizing law, is 
to qualify teachers for the public schools of the 
State, and the course of instruction to be given 
embraces "the art of teaching, and all branches 
which pertain to a common-school education ; in 
the elements of the natural sciences, including 
agricultural chemistry, animal and vegetable 
physiolog}-; in the fundamental laws of the 
United States and of the State of Illinois in 
regard to the rights and duties of citizens, and 
such other studies as the Board of Education may, 
from time to time, prescribe." Various cities 
competed for the location of the institution, 
Bloomington being finally selected, its bid, in- 
cluding 160 acres of land, being estimated as 
equivalent to $141,735. The comer-stone was 
laid on September 39, 18.57, and the first building 
was ready for permanent occupancy in Septem- 
ber, 1860. Previously, however, it had been 
suflSciently advanced to permit of its being used, 
and the first commencement exercises were held 
on June 39 of the latter year. Three years 
earlier, the academic department had been organ- 
ized under the charge of Charles E. Hovey. The 
first cost, including furniture, etc., was not far 
from $300,000. Gratuitous instruction is given to 
two pupils from each county, and to three from 
each Senatorial District. The departments are : 
Grammar school, high school, normal department 
and model school, all of which are overcrowded. 
The whole number of students in attendance on 
the institution during the school year, 1897-98. 
was 1,197, of whom 891 were in the normal 
department and 306 in the practice school depart- 
ment, including representatives from 86 coun- 
ties of the State, with a few pupils from other 
States on the payment of tuition. The teaching 
faculty (including the President and Librarian) 
for the same year, was made up of twenty-six 
members — twelve ladies and fourteen gentlemen. 
The expenditures for the year 1897-98 aggregated 
$47,636.93, against §66,. 538. 69 for 1896-97. Nearly 
§33,000 of the amount expended during the latter 
year was on account of the construction of a 
gymnasium building. 

STATE PROPERTY. The United States Cen- 
sus of 1890 gave the value of real and personal 
property belonging to the State as follows: Pub 
lie lands, §328,000; buildings, §23,164,000; mis- 



506 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



cellaneous property, §3,650,000— total, $25,142,000. 
The land may be subdivided thus: Camp-grounds 
of the Illinois National Guard near Sprin%field 
(donated), §40,000; Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
$168,000; Illinois University lands, in Illinois 
(donated by the General Government), $41,000, in 
Minnesota (similarly donated), §79,000. The 
buildings comprise those connected with the 
charitable, penal and educational institutions of 
the State, besides the State Arsenal, two build- 
ings for the use of the Appellate Courts (at 
Ottawa and Mount Vernon), the State House, 
the Executive Mansion, and locks and dams 
erected at Henry and Copperas Creek. Of the 
miscellaneous property, $120,000 represents the 
equipment of the Illinois National Guard; §1,959,- 
000 the value of the movable property of public 
buildings; §550,000 the endowment fund of the 
University of Illinois; and §21,000 the movable 
property of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Tlie 
figures given relative to the value of the public 
buildings include only the first appropriations 
for their erection. Considerable sums have 
since been expended upon some of them in repairs, 
enlargements and improvements. 

STATE TREASURERS. The only Treasurer 
of Illinois during the Territorial period was John 
Thomas, who served from 1813 to 1818, and 
became the first incumbent under the State 
Government. Under the Constitution of 1818 
the Treasurer was elected, biennially, by joint vote 
of the two Houses of the General Assembly ; by 
the Constitution of 1848, this officer was made 
elective by the people for the same period, with- 
out limitations as to number of terms ; under the 
Constitution of 1-870, the manner of election and 
duration of term are unchanged, but the incum- 
bent is ineligible to re-election, for two years 
from expiration of the term for which he may 
have been chosen. The following is a list of the 
State Treasurers, from the date of the admission 
of the State into the Union down to the present 
time (1899), with the date and duration of the 
term of each: John Thomas, 1818-19; Robert K. 
McLaughlin, 1819-23; Abner Field, 1823-2;; 
James Hall, 1827-31; John Dement, 1831-36; 
Charles Gregory, 1836-37; John D. "Whiteside, 
1837-41; Milton Carpenter, 1841-48; John Moore, 
1848-57; James Miller, 1857-59; William Butler, 
1859-63; Alexander Starne, 1863-65; James H. 
Beveridge, 186.5-67; George W. Smith, 1867-69; 
Erastus N. Bates, 1869-73; Edward Rutz. 1873-75; 
Thomas S. Ridgway, 1875-77; Edward Rutz, 
1877-79, John C. Smith, 1879-81; Edward Rutz, 
1881-83, John C. Smith, 1883-85; Jacob Gross, 



1885-87; John R. Tanner, 1887-89; Charles 
Becker, 1889-91; Edward S. Wilson, 1891-93; 
Rufus N. Ramsay, 1893-95; Henry Wulflf, 1895-97; 
Henry L. Hertz, 1897-99; Floyd K. Whittemore, 
1899- . 

STAUNTON, a village in the southeast corner 
of Macoupin County, on the Chicago, Peoria & 
St. Louis and the Wabash Railways ; is 36 miles 
northeast of St. Louis, and 14 miles southwest of 
Litchfield. Agriculture and coal-mining are the 
industries of the surrounding region. Staunton 
has two banks, eight churches and a weekly 
newspaper. Population (1880), 1,358; (1890), 2,209; 
(1900), 3,786. 

STEEL PRODUCTION. In the manufacture 
of steel, Illinois has long ranked as the second 
State in the Union in the amount of its output, 
and, during the period between 1880 and 1890, 
the increase in production was 341 per cent. In 
1880 there were but six steel works in the State; 
in 1890 these had increased to fourteen; and the 
production of steel of all kinds (in tons of 2,000 
pounds) had risen from 254,569 tons to 868,250. 
Of the 3,837,039 tons of Bessemer steel ingots, or 
direct castings, produced in the United States in 
1890, 33 per cent were turned out in Illinois, 
nearly all the steel produced in the State being 
made by that process. From the tonnage of 
ingots, as given above, Illinois produced 623,360 
pounds of steel rails, — more than 30 per cent of 
the aggregate for the entire country. This fact 
is noteworthy, inasmuch as the competition in 
the manufacture of Bessemer steel rails, since 
1880, has been so great that many rail mills have 
converted their steel into forms other than rails, 
experience having proved their production to 
any considerable extent, during the past few 
years, unprofitable except in works favorably 
located for obtaining cheap raw material, or 
operated under the latest and most approved 
methods of manufacture. Open-hearth steel is 
no longer made in Illinois, but the manufacture 
of crucible steel is slightly increasing, the out- 
put in 1890 being 445 tons, as against 130 in 1880. 
For purposes requiring special grades of steel the 
product of the crucible process will be always 
in demand, but the high cost of manufacture 
prevents it, in a majority of instances, from 
successfully competing in price with the other 
processes mentioned. 

STEPHENSON, Benjamin, pioneer and early 
politician, came to Illinois from Kentucky in 
1809, and was appointed the first Sheriff of 
Randolph County by Governor Edwards under 
the Territorial Government; afterwards served 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



507 



as a Colonel of Illinois militia during the War of 
1812; represented Illinois Territory as Delegate 
in Congress, 1814-lG, and, on his retirement from 
Congress, became Register of the Land Office at 
Edwardsville, finally dying at Edwardsville — Col. 
James W. (Stephenson), a son of the preceding, 
was a soldier during the Black Hawk War, after- 
wards became a prominent politician in the north- 
western part of the State, served as Register of 
the Land Office at Galena and, in 1838, received 
the Democratic nomination for Governor, but 
withdrew before the election. 

STEPHENSON, (Dr.) Benjamin Franklin, 
physician and soldier, was born in Wayne 
County, 111., Oct. 30, 1822, and accompanied his 
parents, in 1825, to Sangamon County, where the 
famil}- settled. His early educational advantages 
were meager, and he did not study his profession 
(medicine) until after reaching his majority, 
graduating from Rush Medical College, Chicago, 
in 1850. He began practice at Petersburg, but, 
in April, 18G2, was mustered into the volunteer 
army as Surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois 
Infantry. After a little over two years service he 
was mustered out in June, 1864, when he took up 
his residence in Springfield, and, for a year, was 
engaged in the drug business there. In 18G5 he 
resumed professional practice. He lacked tenac- 
ity of purpose, however, was indifferent to money, 
and always willing to give his own services and 
orders for medicine to the poor. Hence, his prac- 
tice was not lucrative. He was one of the leaders 
in the organization of the Grand Army of the 
Republic (which see), in connection with which 
he is most widely known ; but his services in its 
cause failed to receive, during his lifetime, the 
recognition which they deserved, nor did the 
organization promptly flourish, as he had hoped. 
He finally returned with his family to Peters- 
burg. Died, at Rock Creek, Menard, County, 111., 
August 30, 1871. 

STEPHENSON COUNTY, a northwestern 
county, with an area of 560 square miles. The 
soil is rich, productive and well timbered. Fruit- 
culture and stock-raising are among the chief 
industries. Not until 1827 did the aborigines quit 
the locality, and the county was organized, ten 
years later, and named for Gen. Benjamin 
Stephenson. A man named Kirker, who had 
been in the employment of Colonel Gratiot as a 
lead-miner, near Galena, is said to have built the 
first cabin within the present limits of what was 
called Burr Oak Grove, and set himself up as an 
Indian-trader in 1826, but only remained a short 
time. He was followed, the next year, by Oliver 



W. Kellogg, who took Kirkers place, built a 
more pretentious dwelling and became the first 
permanent settler. Later came William Wad- 
dams, the Montagues, Baker, Kilpatrick, Preston, 
the Goddards, and others whose names are linked 
with the county's early history. The first house 
in Freeport was built by William Baker. Organi- 
zation was effected in 1837. the total poll being 
eighty-four votes. The earliest teacher vi-as Nel- 
son Martin, who is said to have taught a school 
of some twelve pupils, in a house which stood on 
the site of the present city of Freeport. Popula- 
tion (1880), 31,963; (1890), 31,338; (1900), 34,933. 

STERLING, a flourishing city on the north 
bank of Rock River, in Whiteside County, 109 
miles west of Chicago. 29 miles east of Clinton, 
Iowa, and 52 miles east-northeast of Rock Island. 
It has ample railway facilities, furnished by the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Sterling & 
Peoria, and the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
roads. It contains fourteen churches, an opera 
house, high and grade schools, Carnegie library. 
Government postoffice building, three banks, 
electric street and interurban car lines, electric 
and gas lighting, water-works, paved streets and 
sidewalks, fire department and four newspaper 
offices, two issuing daily editions. It has fine 
water-power, and is an important manufacturing 
center, its works turning out agricultural imple- 
ments, carriages, paper, barbed- wire, school furni- 
ture, burial caskets, pumps, sash, doors, etc. It 
also has tlie Sterling Iron Works, besides foundries 
and machine shops. The river here flows through 
charming scenery. Pop. (1890), 5,824; (1900), 6,309. 

STEVENS, Bradford a.., ex-Congressman, was 
born at Boscawen (afterwards Webster), N. H., 
Jan. 3, 1813. After attending scliools in New 
Hampshire and at Montreal, he entered Dart- 
mouth College, graduating therefrom in 1835. 
During the six years following, he devoted him- 
self to teaching, at Hopkinsville, Ky., and New 
York City. In 1843 he removed to Bureau 
County, 111., where he became a merchant and 
farmer. In 1868 he was chairman of the Board 
of Supervisors, and, in 1870, was elected to Con- 
gress, as an Independent Democrat, for the Fifth 
District. 

STEVENSON, Adlai E., ex-Vice-President of 
the United States, was born in Christian County, 
Ky., Oct. 23, 1835. In 1852 he removed with his 
parents to Bloomington, McLean County, 111., 
where the family settled; was educated at the 
Illinois Wesleyan University and at Centre Col- 
lege, Ky., was admitted to the bar in 1858 and 
began practice at Metamora, Woodford County, 



508 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



where he was Master in Chancery, 1861-65, and 
State's Attorney, 1865-69, In 1864 he was candi- 
date for Presidential Elector on the Democratic 
ticket. In 1869 he returned to Bloomington, 
where he has since resided. In 1874, and again 
in 1876, he was an unsuccessful candidate of his 
party for Congress, but was elected as a Green- 
back Democrat in 1878, though defeated in 1880 
and 1882. In 1877 he was appointed by President 
Hayes a member of the Board of Visitors to 
West Point. During the first administration of 
President Cleveland (1885-89) he was First Assist- 
ant Postmaster General; was a member of the 
National Democratic Conventions of 1884 and 
1892, being Chairman of the Illinois delegation 
the latter year. In 1892 he received his party's 
nomination for the Vice-Presidenc}', and was 
elected to that office, serving until 1897. Since 
retiring from office he has resumed his residence 
at Bloomington. 

STEWARD, Lewis, manufacturer and former 
Congressman, was born in Wayne County, Pa., 
Nov. 20, 1824, and received a common school 
education. At the age of 14 he accompanied his 
parents to Kendall County, 111., where he after- 
wards resided, being engaged in farming and tlie 
manufacture of agricultural implements at 
Piano. He studied law but never practiced. In 
1876 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Gov- 
ernor on the Democratic ticket, being defeated 
by Shelby M. Cullom. In 1890 the Democrats of 
the Eighth Illinois District elected him to Con- 
gress. In 1892 he was again a candidate, but was 
defeated by his Republican opponent, Robert A. 
Childs, by the narrow margin of 27 votes, and. 
In 1894, was again defeated, this time being pitted 
against Albert J. Hopkins. Mr. Steward died at 
his home at Piano, August 26, 1896. 

STEWARDSON, a town of Shelby County, at 
the intersection of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kan- 
sas City Railway with the Altamont brancli of 
the Wabash, 12 miles southeast of Shelby ville; 
is in a grain and lumber region ; has a bank and 
a weekly paper. Population, (1900), 677. 

STICKNEY, William H., pioneer lawyer, was 
born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 9, 1809, studied law 
and was admitted to the bar at Cincinnati in 
1831, and, in Illinois in 1834, being at that time a 
resident of Shawneetown ; was elected State's 
Attorney by the Legislature, in 1839, for the cir- 
cuit embracing some fourteen counties in the 
southern and southeastern part of the State ; for 
a time also, about 1835-36, officiated as editor of 
"The Gallatin Democrat," and "The Illinois 
Advertiser,'' published at Shawneetown. In 1846 



Mr. Stickney was elected to the lower branch of 
the General Assembly from Gallatin County, and, 
twenty-eight years later — having come to Chi- 
cago in 1848 — to the same body from Cook 
County, serving in the somewhat famous Twenty- 
ninth Assembly. He also held the office of 
Police Justice for some thirteen years, from 1860 
onward. He lived to an advanced age, dying in 
Chicago, Feb. 14, 1898, being at the time the 
oldest siUTiving member of the Chicago bar. 

STILES, Isaac Newton, lawyer and soldier, 
born at Suffield, Conn., July 16, 1833; was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Lafayette, Ind., in 1855, 
became Prosecuting Attorney, a member of the 
Legislature and an effective speaker in the Fre- 
mont campaign of 1856 ; enlisted as a private sol- 
dier at the beginning of the war, went to the 
field as Adjutant, was captured at Malvern Hill, 
and, after six weeks' confinement in Libby 
prison, exchanged and returned to duty; was 
promoted Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, 
and brevetted Brigadier-General for meritorious 
service. After the war he practiced his profes- 
sion in Chicago, though almost totally blind. 
Died, Jan. 18, 1895. 

STILLMAN, Stephen, first State Senator from 
Sangamon County, 111., was a native of Massachu- 
setts who came, with his widowed mother, to 
Sangamon Countj" in 1820, and settled near 
Williamsville, where he became the first Post- 
master in the first postoffice in the State north of 
the Sangamon River. In 1822. Mr. Stillman was 
elected as the first State Senator from Sangamon 
County, serving four j-ears, and, at his first session, 
being one of the opponents of the pro-slavery 
Convention resolution. He died, in Peoria, some- 
where between 1835 and 1840. 

STILLMAN VALLEY, village in Ogle County, 
on Chicago Great Western and the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee A St. Paul Railways; site of first battle 
Black Hawk War; has graded schools, four 
churches, a bank and a newspaper. Pop. , 475. 

STITES, Samuel, pioneer, was born near 
Moimt Bethel, Somerset County, N. J., Oct. 31, 
1776; died, August 16, 1839, on his farm, which 
subsequently became the site of the city of Tren- 
ton, in Clinton County, 111. He was descended 
from John Stites, M.D., who was bom in Eng- 
land in 1595, emigrated to America, and died at 
Hempstead, L. I. , in 1717, at the age of 122 years. 
The family removed to New Jersey in the latter 
part of the seventeenth century. Samuel was a 
cousin of Benjamin Stites, the first white man to 
settle within the present limits of Cincinnati, and 
various members of the family were prominent in 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



509 



the settlement of the upper Ohio Valley as early 
as 1788. Samuel Stites married, Sept. 14, 1794. 
Martha Martin, daughter of Ephraim Martin, 
and grand-daughter of Col. Ephraim Martin, both 
soldiers of the New Jersey line during the Revo- 
lutionary War — with the last named of whom 
he had (in connection with John ClevesSymmes) 
been intimately associated in the purchase and 
settlement of the Miami Valley. In 1800 he 
removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1803 to 
Greene County, and, in 1818, in company with his 
son-in-law. Anthony Wayne Casad, to St. Clair 
County, 111., settling near Union Grove. Later, he 
removed to O' Fallon, and, still later, to Clinton 
County. He left a large family, several members 
of which became prominent pioneers in the 
movements toward Minnesota and Kansas. 

STOLBBAND, Carlos John Mueller, soldier, 
was born in Sweden. May 11, 1821 ; at the age of 
18, enlisted in the Royal Artillery of his native 
land, serving through the campaign of Schleswig- 
Holstein (1848) ; came to the United States soon 
after, and. m 1861, enlisted in the first battalion 
of Illinois Light Artillery, finally becoming Chief 
of Artillery under Gen. John A. Logan. When 
the latter became commander of the Fifteenth 
Army Corps, Col. Stolbrand was placed at the 
head of the artillery brigade; in February, 1865, 
was made Brigadier-General, and mustered out 
in January, 1866. After the war he went South, 
and was Secretary of the South Carolina Consti- 
tutional Convention of 1868. The same year he 
was a delegate to the Republican National Con- 
vention at Chicago, and a Presidential Elector. 
He was an inventor and patented various im- 
provements in steam engines and boilers; was 
also Superintendent of Public Buildings at 
Charleston, S. C, under President Harrison. 
Died, at Charleston, Feb. 3, 1894. 

STONE, Daniel, early lawyer and legislator, 
was a native of Vermont and graduate of Middle- 
bury College; became a member of the Spring- 
field (111.) bar in 1833, and, in 1836, was elected 
to the General Assembly — being one of the cele- 
brated "Long Nine" from Sangamon County, and 
joining Abraham Lincoln in his protest against 
a series of pro-slavery resolutions which had been 
adopted by the House. In 1837 he was a Circuit 
Court Judge and, being assigned to the north- 
western part of the State, removed to Galena, 
but was legislated out of oflBce, when he left the 
State, dying a few years later, in Essex County, 
N. J. 

STONE, Horatio 0., pioneer, was born in 
Ontario (now Monroe) Count}-, N. Y., Jan. 2, 



1811 ; in boyhood learned the trade of shoemaker, 
and later acted as overseer of laborers on the 
Lackawanna Canal. In 1831, having located in 
Wayne County, Mich., he was drafted for the 
Black Hawk War, serving twenty-two days under 
Gen. Jacob Brown. In January, 1835, he came 
to Chicago and, having made a fortunate specu- 
lation in real estate in that early day, a few 
months later entered upon the grocery and pro- 
vision trade, which he afterwards extended to 
grain; finally giving his chief attention to real 
estate, in which he was remarkably successful, 
leaving a large fortune at his death, which 
occurred in Chicago, June 20, 1877. 

STONE, (Rev.) Luther, Baptist clergyman, 
was born in the town of Oxford, Worcester 
County. Mass., Sept. 26, 1815, and spent his boy- 
hood on a farm. After acquiring a common 
school education, he prepared for college at Lei- 
cester Academy, and, in 1835, entered Brown 
University, graduating in the class of 1839. He 
then spent three years at the Theological Insti- 
tute at Newton, Mass. ; was ordained to the 
ministry at Oxford, in 1843, but, coming west the 
next year, entered upon evangelical work in 
Rock Island, Davenport, Burlington and neigh- 
boring towns. Later, he was pastor of the First 
Baptist Church at Rockford, 111. In 1847 Mr. 
Stone came to Chicago and established "The 
Watchman of the Prairies," which survives to- 
day under the name of "The Standard," and has 
become the leading Baptist organ in the West. 
After six years of editorial work, he took up 
evangelistic work in Chicago, among the poor 
and criminal classes. During the Civil War he 
conducted religious services at Camp Douglas, 
Soldiers' Rest and the Marine Hospital. He was 
associated in the conduct and promotion of many 
educational and charitable institutions. He did 
much for the First Baptist Church of Chicago, 
and, during the latter years of his life, was 
attached to the Immanuel Baptist Church, 
which he labored to establish. Died, in July, 
1890. 

STONE, MelTille E., journalist, banker. Man- 
ager ot Associated Press, born at Hudson, lU., 
August 18, 1848. Coming to Chicago in 1860, he 
graduated from the local high school in 1867, 
and, in 1870, acquired the sole proprietorship of 
a foundry and machine shop. Finding himself 
without resources after the great fire of 1871, he 
embarked in journalism, rising, through the suc- 
cessive grades of reporter, city editor, assistant 
editor and Washington correspondent, to the 
position of editor-in-chief of his own journal. 



510 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



He was connected with various Chicago dailies 
between 1871 and 1875, and, on Christmas Day 
of the latter year, issued the first number of "The 
Chicago Daily News." He gradually disposed of 
his interest in this journal, entirely severing 
his connection therewith in 1888. Since that 
date he has been engaged in banking in the city 
of Chicago, and is also General Manager of the 
Associated Press. 

STONE, Samuel, philanthropist, was born at 
Chesterfield, Mass., Dec. 6, 1798; left an orphan 
at seven years of age, after a short term in Lei- 
cester Academy, and several years in a wholesale 
store in Boston, at the age of 19 removed to 
Rochester, N. Y., to take charge of interests in 
the "Holland Purchase," belonging to his father's 
estate; in 1843-49, was a resident of IDetroit and 
interested in some of the early railroad enter- 
prises centering there, but the latter year re- 
moved to Milwaukee, being there associated with 
Ezra Cornell in telegraph construction. In 1859 
he became a citizen of Chicago, where he was 
one of the founders of the Chicago Historical 
Society, and a liberal patron of many enterprises 
of a public and benevolent character. Died, May 
4, 1876. 

STOXE FORT, a village in the counties of 
Saline and Williamson, It is situated on the Cairo 
Division of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & 
St. Louis Railway, 57 miles northeast of Cairo. 
Population (1900), 479. 

STOREY, Wilbur *F., journalist and news- 
paper publisher, was born at Salisbury, Vt., Dec. 
19, 1819. He began to learn the printer's trade 
at 12, and, before he was 19, was part owner of a 
Democratic paper called "The Herald," published 
at La Porte, Ind. Later, he either edited or con- 
trolled journals published at Mishawaka, Ind., 
and Jackson and Detroit, Mich. In January, 
1861, he became the principal owner of "The 
Chicago Times," then the leading Democratic 
organ of Chicago. His paper soon came to be 
regarded as the organ of the anti-war party 
throughout the Nortliwest, and, in June, 1863, 
was suppressed by a military order issued by 
General Burnside, which was subsequently 
revoked by President Lincoln. The net result 
was an increase in "The Times' " notoriety and 
circulation. Other charges, of an equally grave 
nature, relating to its sources of income, its char- 
acter as a family newspaper, etc., were repeatedly 
made, but to all these Mr. Storey turned a deaf 
ear. He lost heavily in the fire of 1871, but, in 
1872, appeared as the editor of "The Times," 
then destitute of political ties. About 1876 his 



health began to decline. Medical aid failed to 
aflford relief, and, in August, 1884, he was ad- 
judged to be of unsound mind, and his estate was 
placed in the hands of a conservator. On the 
27th of the following October (1884), he died at 
his home in Chicago. 

STORRS, Emery Alexander, lawyer, was born 
at Hinsdale, Cattaraugus Count}-, N. Y. , August 
12, 1835 ; began the study of law with his father, 
later pursued a legal course at Buffalo, and, in 
1853, was admitted to the bar ; spent two years 
(1857-59) in New York City, the latter year 're- 
moving to Chicago, where he attained great 
prominence as an advocate at the bar, as well as 
an orator on other occasions. Politically a 
Republican, he took an active part in Presidential 
campaigns, being a delegate-at-large from Illinois 
to the National Republican Conventions of 1868, 
'72, and '80, and serving as one of the Vice-Presi- 
dents in 1872. Erratic in habits and a master of 
epigram and repartee, many of his speeches are 
quoted with relish and appreciation by those who 
were his contemporaries at the Chicago bar. 
Died suddenly, while in attendance on the Su- 
preme Court at Ottawa, Sept. 12, 1885. 

STRAWN, Jacob, agriculturist and stock- 
dealer, born in Somerset County, Pa., May 30, 
1800 ; removed to Licking County, Ohio, in 1817, 
and to Illinois, in 1881, settling four miles south- 
west of Jacksonville. He was one of the first to 
demonstrate the possibilities of Illinois as a live- 
stock state. Unpretentious and despising mere 
show, he illustrated the virtues of industry, fru- 
galitj- and honesty. At his death — wliich occurred 
August 23, 1865 — he left an estate estimated in 
value at about §1,000,000, acquired by industry 
and business enterprise. He was a zealous 
Unionist during the war, at one time contributing 
§10,000 to the Christian Commis.sion. 

STREATOR, a city (laid out in 1868 and incor- 
porated in 1882) in the southern part of La Salle 
County, 93 miles southwest of Chicago ; situated 
on the Vermilion River and a central point for 
five railroads. It is surrounded by a rich agri- 
cultural country, and is underlaid by coal seams 
(two of which are worked) and by shale and 
various clay products of value, adapted to the 
manufacture of fire and building-brick, drain- 
pipe, etc. The city is thoroughly modern, having 
gas, electric lighting, street railways, water- 
works, a good fire-department, and a large, im- 
proved public park. Churches and schools are 
numerous, as are also fine public and private 
buildings. One of the chief industries is the 
manufacture of glass, including rolled-plate, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



511 



window-glass, flint and Bohemian ware and glass 
bottles. Other successful industries are foundries 
and machine shops, flour mills, and clay working 
establishments. There are several banks, and 
three daily and weekly papers are published here. 
The estimated property valuation, in 1884, was 
§12,000,000. Streator boasts some handsome 
public buildings, especially the Government post- 
office and the Carnegie public library building, 
both of wliicli have been erected within the past 
few years. Pop. (1890), 11,414; (1900), 14,079. 

STREET, Joseph M., pioneer and early politi- 
cian, settled at Shawneetown about 1812, coming 
from Kentuck}', thovfgh believed to have been a 
native of Eastern Virginia. In 1827 he was a 
Brigadier-General of militia, and appears to have 
been prominent in the affairs of that section of 
the State. His correspondence with Governor 
Edwards, about this time, shows him to have been 
a man of far more than ordinary education, with 
a good opinion of his merits and capabilities. He 
was a most persistent applicant for office, making 
urgent appeals to Governor Edwards, Henry Clay 
and other politicians in Kentucky, Virginia and 
Washington, on the ground of his poverty and 
large family. In 1827 he received the offer of 
the clerkship of the new county of Peoria, but, 
on visiting that region, was disgusted with the 
prospect; returning to Shawneetown, bought a 
farm in Sangamon County, but. before the close 
of the year, was appointed Indian Agent at 
Prairie du Chien. This %vas during the difficul- 
ties with the Winnebago Indians, upon which he 
made voluminous reports to the Secretary of 
War. Mr. Street was a son-in-law of Gen. 
Thomas Posey, a Revolutionary soldier, who was 
prominent in the early history of Indiana and its 
last Territorial Governor. (See Posey, (Oen.) 
Tlwmas.) 

STREETEB, Alsou J., farmer and politician, 
was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1823: 
at the age of two years accompanied his father to 
Illinois, the family settling at Dixon, Lee County. 
He attended Knox College for three years, and, 
in 1849, went to California, where he spent two 
. years in gold mining. Returning to Illinois, he 
purchased a farm of 240 acres near New Windsor, 
Mercer Countj', to which he has since added sev- 
eral thousand acres. In 1872 he was elected to 
the lower house of the Twenty-eighth General 
Assembly as a Democrat, but, in 1873, allied him- 
self with the Greenback party, whose candidate 
for Congress he was in 1878, and for Governor in 
1880, when he received nearly 3,000 votes more 
than his party's Presidential nominee, in Illinois. 



In 1884 he was elected State Senator by a coali- 
tion of Greeubackers and Democrats in the 
Twenty-fourth Senatorial District, but acted as 
an independent throughout liis entire term. 

STRONG, William Emerson, soldier, was born 
at Granville, N. Y., in 1840; from 13 years of age, 
spent his early life in Wisconsin, studied law and 
was admitted to the bar at Racine in 1861. The 
same year he enlisted under the first call for 
troops, took part, as Captain of a Wisconsin Com- 
pany, in the first battle of Bull Run; was 
afterwards promoted and assigned to duty as 
Inspector-General in the West, participated in 
the Vicksburg and Atlanta campaigns, being 
finally advanced to the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 
eral. After some fifteen months spent in the 
position of Inspector-General of the Freedmen's 
Bureau (186.'5-6t)), he located in Chicago, and 
became connected with several important busi- 
ness enterprises, besides assisting, as an officer on 
the staff, of Governor CuUom, in the organization 
of the Illinois National Guard. He was elected 
on the first Board of Directors of the World's 
Columbian Exposition, and, while making a tour 
of Europe in the interest of that enterprise, died, 
at Florence, Italy, April 10, 1891. 

STUART, John Todd, lawyer and Congress- 
man, born near Lexington. Ky., Nov. 10, 1807— 
the son of Robert Stuart, a Presbyterian minister 
and Professor of Languages in Transylvania 
University, and related, on the maternal side, to 
the Todd family, of whom Mrs. Abraham Lincoln 
was a member. He graduated at Centre College, 
Danville, in 1826, and, after studying law, re- 
moved to Springfield, 111., in 1828, and began 
practice. In 1832 he was elected Representative 
in the General Assembly, re-elected in 1834, and, 
in 1836, defeated, as the Whig candidate for Con- 
gress, by Wm. L. May, though elected, two years 
later, over Stephen A. Douglas, and again in 1840. 
In 1837, Abraham Lincoln, who had been 
studying law under Mr. Stuart's advice and 
instruction, became his partner, the relation- 
ship continuing until 1841. He served in the 
State Senate, 1849-53, was the Bell-Everett 
candidate for Governor in 1860, and was 
elected to Congress, as a Democrat, for a third 
time, in 1862, but, in 1864, was defeated by 
Shelby M. CuUom, his former pupil. During the 
latter years of his life. Mr. Stuart was head of the 
law firm of Stuart, Edwards & Brown. Died, at 
Springfield, Nov. 28, 188.'). 

STURGES, Solomon, merchant and banker, 
was born at Fairfield, Conn., April 21, 1796, early 
manifested a passion for the sea and, in 1810, 



512 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



made a voyage, on a vessel of which his brother 
was captain, from New York to Georgetown, 
D. C, intending to continue it to Lisbon. At 
Georgetown he was induced to accept a position 
as clerk with a Mr. Williams, where he was 
associated with two other youths, as fellow-em- 
ployes, who became eminent bankers and 
capitalists— W. W. Corcoran, afterwards the 
well-known banker of Washington, and George 
W. Peabody, who had a successful banking career 
in England, and won a name as one of the most 
liberal and public-spirited of philanthropists. 
During the War of 1812 young Sturges joined a 
volunteer infantry company, where he had, for 
comrades, George W. Peabody and Francis S. Key, 
the latter author of tlie popular national song, 
"The Star Spangled Banner." In 1814 Mr. 
Sturges accepted a clerkship in the store of his 
brother-in-law, Ebenezer Buckingham, at Put- 
nam, Muskingum County, Ohio, two years later 
becoming a partner in the concern, where he 
developed that business capacity which laid the 
foundation for his future wealth. Before steam- 
ers navigated the waters of the Ohio and Missis- 
sippi Rivers, he piloted flat-boats, loaded with 
produce and merchandise, to New Orleans, return- 
ing overland. During one of his visits to that 
city, he witnessed the arrival of the "Washing- 
ton," the first steamer to descend the Mississippi, 
as. in 1817. he saw the arrival of the "Walk-in- 
the- Water" at Detroit, the first steamer to arrive 
from Buffalo — the occasion of his visit to Detroit 
being to carry funds to General Cass to pay off 
the United States troops. About 1849 he was 
associated with the construction of the Wabash 
& Erie Canal, from the Ohio River to Terre Haute, 
Ind., advancing money for the prosecution of the 
work, for wliich was reimbursed by the State. In 
1854 he came to Chicago, and, in partnership 
with his brothers-in-law, C. P. and Alvah Buck- 
ingham, erected the first large grain-elevator in 
that city, on land leased from the Illinois Central 
Railroad Company, following it, two years later, 
by another of equal capacity. For a time, sub- 
stantially all the grain coming into Chicago, by 
railroad, passed into these elevators. In 1857 he 
established the private banking house of Solomon 
Sturges & Sons, which, shortly after his death, 
under the management of his son, George Stur- 
ges, became the Northwestern National Bank of 
Chicago. He was intensely patriotic and, on the 
breaking.out of the War of the Rebellion, used 
of his means freely in support of the Govern- 
ment, equipping the Sturges Rifles, an independ- 
ent company, at a cost of 520,000. He was also a 



subscriber to the first loan made by the Govern- 
ment, during this period, taking $100,000 in 
Government bonds. While devoted to his busi- 
ness, he was a hater of shams and corruption, and 
contributed freely to Christian and benevolent 
enterprises. Died, at the home of a daughter, at 
Zanesville, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1864, leaving a large 
fortune acquired by legitimate trade. 

STURTEVANT, Julian Munson, D.D., LL.D., 
clergyman and educator, was born at Warren, 
Litchfield County, Conn., July 26, 1805; spent his 
youth in Summit County, Ohio, meanwhile pre- 
paring for college ; in 1822, entered Yale College 
as the classmate of the celeorated Elizur Wright, 
graduating in 1826. After two years as Princi- 
pal of an academy at Canaan, Conn. , he entered 
Yale Divinity School, graduating there in 1829; 
then came west, and, after spending a year in 
superintending the erection of buildings, in De- 
cember, 1830, as sole tutor, began instruction to a, 
class of nine pupils in what is now Illinois Col- 
lege, at Jacksonville. Having been joined, the 
following year, by Dr. Edward Beecher as Presi- 
dent, Mr. Sturtevant assumed the chair of Mathe- 
matics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, 
which he retained until 1844, when, by the 
retirement of Dr. Beecher, he succeeded to the 
offices of President and Professor of Intellectual 
and Moral Philosophy. Here he labored, inces- 
santly and unselfishly, as a teacher during term 
time, and, as financial agent during vacations, 
in the interest of the institution of which he had 
been one of the chief founders, serving until 1876, 
when he resigned the Presidency, giving his 
attention, for the next ten years, to the duties of 
Professor of Mental Science and Science of Gov- 
ernment, which he had discharged from 1870. 
In 1886 he retired from the institution entirely, 
having given to its service fifty-six years of his 
life. In 1863, Dr. Sturtevant visited Europe in 
the interest of the Union cause, delivering effec- 
tive addresses at a number of points in England. 
He was a frequent contributor to the weekly 
religious and periodical press, and was the author 
of "Economics, or the Science of Wealth" (1876) 
— a text-book on political economy, and "Keys 
of Sect, or the Church of the New Testament" 
(1879), besides frequently occupying the pulpits 
of local and distant churclies — having been early 
ordained a Congregational minister. He received 
the degree of D.D. from the University of Mis- 
souri and that of LL.D. from Iowa University. 
Died, in Jacksonville, Feb. 11, 1886.— Julian M. 
(Sturtevant), Jr., son of the preceding, was born 
at Jacksonville, 111.. Feb. 2, 1834; fitted for col- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



513 



lege in the preparatory department of Illinois 
College and graduated from the college (proper) 
in 1854. After leaving college he served as 
teacher in the Jacksonville public schools one 
year, then spent a year as tutor in Illinois Col- 
lege, when he began the study of theology at 
Andover Theological Seminary, graduating there 
in 1859, meanwhile having discharged the duties 
of Chaplain of the Connecticut State's prison in 
1858. He was ordained a minister of the Con- 
gregational Church at Hannibal, Mo., in 1860, 
remaining as pastor in that city nine years. He 
has since been engaged in pastoral work in New 
York City (1869-70), Ottawa, 111., (1870-73); Den- 
ver, Colo., (1873-77); Grinnell, Iowa, (1877-84); 
Cleveland, Ohio, (1884-90); Galesburg, 111., 
(1890-93), and Aurora, (1893-97). Since leaving 
the Congregational churcli at Aurora, Dr. Sturte- 
vant has been engaged in pastoral work in Chi- 
cago. He was also editor of "The Congrega- 
tionalist"' of Iowa (1881-84), and. at different 
periods, lias served as Trustee of Colorado, 
Marietta and Knox Colleges; being still an 
honored member of the Knox College Board. 
He received the degree of D.D from Illinois 
College, in 1879. 

SUBLETTE, a station and village on the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, in Lee County, 8 miles 
northwest of Mendota. Population, (1900), 306. 

SUFFRAGE, in general, the right or privilege 
of voting. The qualifications of electors (or 
Voters), in the choice of public officers in Illinois, 
are fixed by the State Constitution (Art. VII.), 
except as to school officers, which are prescribed 
by law. Under the State Constitution the exer- 
cise of the right to vote is limited to persons who 
were electors at the time of the adoption of the 
Constitution of 1848, or who are native or natu- 
ralized male citizens of the United States, of the 
age of 21 years or over, who have been residents 
of the State one year, of the county ninety days, 
and of the district (or precinct) in which they 
offer to vote, 30 days. Under an act passed in 
1891, women, of 21 years of age and upwards, are 
entitled to vote for school officers, and are also 
eligible to such offices under the same conditions, 
as to age and residence, as male citizens. (See 
Elections; Australian Ballot.) 

SULLIVAN, a city and county -seat of Moultrie 
County, 25 miles southeast of Decatur and 14 
miles northwest of Mattoon ; is on three lines of 
railway. It is in an agricultural and stock-rais- 
ing region; contains two State banks and four 
weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 1,305; 
(1890), 1,468; (1900), 2,399; (1900, est.), 3,100. 



SULLiy'AN, William K., journalist, was born 
at Waterford, Ireland, Nov. 10, 1843; educated £.(, 
the Waterford Model School and in Dublin ; came 
to the United States in 1863, and, after teaching 
for a time in Kane County, in 1864 enlisted in the 
One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers. Then, after a brief season spent in 
teaching and on a visit to his native land, he 
began work as a reporter on New York papers, 
later being employed on "The Chicago Tribune'' 
and "The Evening Journal," on the latter, at 
different times, Iiolding the position of city edi- 
tor, managing editor and correspondent. He 
was also a Representative from Cook County in 
the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, for three 
years a member of the Chicago Board of Edu- 
cation, and appointed United States Consul to the 
Bermudas by President Harrison, resigning in 
1892. Died, in Chicago, January 17, 1899. 

SULLIVAXT, Michael Lucas, agriculturist, 
was born at Franklinton (a suburb of Columbus, 
Ohio), August 6, 1807; was educated at Ohio 
University and Centre College, Ky., and — after 
being engaged in the improvement of an immense 
tract of land inherited from his father near his 
birth-place, devoting much attention, meanwhile, 
to the raising of improved stock — in 1854 sold his 
Ohio lands and bought 80,000 acres, chiefly in 
Champaign and Piatt Counties, 111., where he 
began farming on a larger scale than before. The 
enterprise proved a financial failure, and he was 
finally compelled to sell a considerable portion of 
his estate in Champaign County, known as Broad 
Lands, to John T. Alexander (see Alexander, 
John T.), retiring to a farm of 40,000 acres at 
Burr Oaks, 111. He died, at Henderson, Ky., Jan. 
29, 1879. 

SUMMERFIELD, a village of St. Clair County, 
on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway, 
27 miles east of St. Louis ; was the home of Gen. 
Fred. Hecker. Population (1900), 360. 

SUMNER, a city of Lawrence County, on the 
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 19 miles 
west of Vincennes, Ind. ; has a fine school house, 
four churches, two banks, two flour mills, tele- 
phones, and one weekly newspaper. Pop. (1890), 
1,037; (1900), 1,268. 

SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUC 
TION. The office of State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction was created by act of the 
Legislature, at a special session held in 1854, its 
duties previous to that time, from 1845, having 
been discharged by the Secretary of State aa 
Superintendent, ex-officio. The following is a list 
of the incumbents from the date of the formal 



514 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



creation of the office down to the present time 
(1899), with the date and duration of the term of 
each Ninian "W. Edwards (by appointment of 
the Governor), 1854-57; WilUam H. Powell (by 
election), 1857-59; Newton Bateman, 1859-63; 
John P. Brooks, 1863-G5; Newton Bateman, 
1865-75; Samuel W. Etter, 1875-79; James P. 
Slade, 1879-83; Henry Raab, 1883-87; Richard 
Edwards, 1887-91; Henry Raab, 1891-95; Samuel 
M. IngUs, 1895-98; James H. Freeman, June, 
1898, to January, 1899 (by appointment of the 
Governor, to fill the unexpired term of Prof. 
Inglis, who died in office, June 1, 1898) ; Alfred 
Baylis, 1899—. 

Previous to 1870 the tenure of the office was 
two years, but, by the Constitution adopted that 
year, it was extended to four years, the elections 
occurring on the even years between those for 
Governor and other State officers except State 
Treasurer. 

SUPREME COURT, JUDGES OF THE. The 
following is a list of Justices of the Supreme 
Court of Illinois who have held office since the 
organization of tlie State Government, with the 
period of their respective incumbencies : Joseph 
Phillips, 1818-33 (resigned); Thomas C. Browne, 
1818 48 (term expired on adoption of new Con- 
stitution) ; William P. Foster, Oct. 9, 1818, to 
July 7, 1819 (resigned), John Reynolds, 1818-35; 
Thomas Reynolds (vice Phillips), 1833-35; Wil- 
Uam Wilson (vice Foster) 1819-48 (term expired 
on adoption of new Constitution) ; Samuel D 
Lockwood, 1825-48 (term expired on adoption of 
new Constitution) ; Theophilus W. Smith, 1835-43 
(resigned); Thomas Ford, Feb. 15, 1841, to Au- 
gust 1, 1843 (resigned) ; Sidney Breese, Feb. 15, 
1841, to Dec. 19, 1843 (resigned) — also (by re-elec- 
tions), 1857-78 (died in office) ; Walter B. Scates, 
1841-47 (resigned)— also (vice Trumbull), 1854-57 
(resigned); Samuel H. Treat, 1841-55 (resigned); 
Stephen A. Douglas, 1841-43 (resigned) ; John D. 
Caton (vice Ford) August, 1843, to March, 1843— 
also (vice Robinson and by successive re-elec- 
tions). May, 1843 to January, 1864 (resigned) ; 
James Semple (vice Breese), Jan. 14, 1843, to 
April 16, 1843 (resigned) ; Richard M. Young (vice 
Smith), 1843-47 (resigned) ; John M. Robinson 
(vice Ford), Jan. 14, 1843, to April 27, 1843 (died 
in office); Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., (vice Douglas), 
1843-45 (resigned)— also (vice Young), 1847-48; 
James Shields (vice Semple), 1843-45 (resigned) ; 
Norman H. Purple (vice Thomas), 1843-48 (retired 
under Constitution of 1848) ; Gustavus Koerner 
(vice Shields), 184.5-48 (retired by Constitution); 
William A. Denning (vice Scates), 1847-48 (re- 



tired by Constitution) ; Lymau Trumbull, 1848-53 
(resigned); Ozias C. Skinner (vice Treat), 18.55-58 
(resigned); Pinkney H. Walker (vice Skinner), 
1858-85 (deceased); Corydon Beckwith (by ap- 
pointment, vice Caton), Jan. 7, 1864, to June 6, 
1864; Charles B. Lawrence (one term), 1864-73; 
Anthony Thornton, 1870-73 (resigned); John M. 
Scott (two terms), 1870-88 ; Benjamin R. Sheldon 
(two terms), 1870-88; William K. McAlUster, 
1870-75 (resigned) ; John Scholfield (vice Thorn- 
ton), 1873 93 (died); T. Lyle Dickey (vice 
McAllister), 1875-85 (died); David J. Baker (ap- 
pointed, vice Breese), July 9, 1878, to June 3, 
1879— also, 1888-97; John H. Mulkey, 1879-88; 
Damon G. Tunnicliffe (appointed, vice Walker), 
Feb. 15, 1885, to June 1, 1885; Simeon P. Shope, 
1885-94, Joseph M. Bailey, 1888-95 (died in office). 
The Supreme Court, as at present constituted 
(1899), is as follows: Carroll C. Bogg.s, elected, 
1897; Jesse J. Phillips (vice Scholfield, deceased) 
elected, 1893, and re-elected, 1897; Jacob W. Wil- 
kin, elected, 1888, and re-elected, 1897; Joseph 
N. Carter, elected, 1894; Alfred M. Craig, elec- 
ted, 1873, and re-elected, 1883 and "91; James H. 
Cart Wright (vice Bailey), elected, 1895, and re- 
elected, 1897 ; Benjamin D. Magruder (vice 
Dickey), elected, 1885, '88 and '97. The terms of 
Justices Boggs, Phillips, Wilkin, Cartwright and 
Magruder expire in 1906 ; that of Justice Carter 
on 1903; and Justice Craig's, iu 1900. Under the 
Constitution of 1818, the Justices of the Supreme 
Court were chosen by joint ballot of the Legisla- 
ture, but, under the Constitutions of 1848 and 
1870, by popular vote for terms of nine j'ears 
each. (See Judicial System; also sketches of 
individual members of the Supreme Court under 
their proper names.) 

SURVEYS, EARLY GOVERNMENT. The first 
United States law passed on the subject of Gov- 
ernment surveys was dated, May 20, 1785. After 
reserving certain lands to be allotted by way of 
pensions and to be donated for school purposes, 
it provided for the division of the remaining pub- 
lic lands among the original thirteen States. 
This, however, was, in effect, repealed by the Ordi- 
nance of 1788. The latter provided for a rectan- 
gular sj'stem of surveys which, with but little 
modification, has remained in force ever since. 
Briefly outlined, the system is as follows: Town- 
ships, six miles square, are laid out from principal 
bases, each township containing thirty-six sec- 
tions of one square mile, numbered consecutively, 
the numeration to commence at the upper right 
hand corner of the township. The first principal 
meridian (84° 51' west of Greenwich), coincided 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



515 



with the line dividing Indiana and Ohio. The 
second (1° 37' farther west) had direct relation 
to surveys in Eastern Ilhnois. The third (89° 10' 
30" west of Greenwich) and the fourth (90° 29' 
56" west) governed tlie remainder of Illinois sur- 
veys. The first Public Surveyor was Thomas 
Hutchins, who was called "the geographer." 
(See Hutchins, Tlioinas.) 

SWEET, (Gen.) Benjamin J., soldier, was 
born at Kirkland, Oneida County, N. Y., April 
24, 1832; came with his father, in 1848, to Sheboy- 
gan, Wis., studied law, was elected to the State 
Senate in 1859, and, in 1861, enlisted in the Sixth 
Wisconsin Volunteers, being commissioned Major 
in 1862. Later, he resigned and, returning home, 
assisted in the organization of the Twenty-first 
and Twenty-second regiments, being elected 
Colonel of the former; and with it taking part in 
the campaign in Western Kentucky and Tennes- 
see. In 1863 he was assigned to command at 
Camp Douglas, and was there on t!ie exposure, 
in November, 1864, of the conspiracy to release 
the rebel prisoners. (See Camp Douglas Conspir- 
acy.) The service which he rendered in the 
defeat of this bold and dangerous conspiracy 
evinced his courage and sagacity, and was of 
inestimable value to the country. After the 
war. General Sweet located at Lombard, near 
Chicago, was appointed Pension Agent at Chi- 
cago, afterwards served as Supervisor of Internal 
Revenue, and, in 1872, became Deputy Commis- 
sioner of Internal Revenue at Washington. Died, 
in Washington, Jan. 1, 1874. — Miss Ada C. 
(Sweet), for eight years (1874-82) the efficient 
Pension Agent at Chicago, is General Sweefs 
daughter. 

SWEETSER, A. C, soldier and Department 
Commander G. A. R., was born in Oxford Count}", 
Maine, in 1839; came to Bloomington, 111., in 
1857 ; enlisted at the beginning of the Civil War 
in the Eighth Illinois Volunteers and, later, in the 
Thirty-ninth, at the battle of Wierbottom 
Church, Va , in June, 1864, was shot through 
both legs, necessitating the amputation of one of 
them. After the war he held several offices of 
trust, including those of City Collector of Bloom- 
ington and Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue 
for the Springfield District ; in 1887 was elected 
Department Commander of the Grand Army of 
the Republic for Illinois. Died, at Bloomington, 
March 23, 1896. 

SWETT, Leonard, lawyer, was born near 
Turner, Maine, August 11, 1825, was educated at 
Waterville College (now Colby University), but 
left before graduation , read law in Portland, and, 



while seeking a location in the West, enlisted in 
an Indiana regiment for the Mexican War, being 
attacked by climatic fever, was discharged before 
completing his term of enlistment. He soon 
after came to Bloomington, 111., where he became 
the intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln and 
David Davis, traveling the circuit with them for 
a number of years. He early became active in 
State politics, was a member of the Republican 
State Convention of 1856, was elected to the 
lower house of the General Assembly in 1858, 
and, in 1860, was a zealous supporter of Mr. Lin- 
coln as a Presidential Elector for the State-at- 
large. In 1862 he received the Republican 
nomination for Congress in his District, but was 
defeated. Removing to Chicago in 1865, he 
gained increased distinction as a lawyer, espe- 
cially in the management of criminal cases. In 
1872 he was a supporter of Horace Greeley for 
President, but later returned to the Republican 
party, and, in the National Republican Conven- 
tion of 1888, presented the name of Judge 
Gresham for nomination for the Presidency. 
Died, June 8, 1889. 

SWIGERT, Charles Philip, ex- Auditor of Pub- 
lic Accounts, was born in the Province of Baden, 
Germany, Nov. 27, 1843, brought by his parents 
to Chicago, IlL, in childhood, and, in his boy- 
hood, attended the Scammon School in that city. 
In 1854 his family removed to a farm in Kanka- 
kee County, where, between the ages of 12 and 
18, he assisted his father in "breaking" between 
400 and 500 acres of prairie land. On the break- 
ing out of the war, in 1861, although scarcely 18 
years of age, he enlisted as a private in the Forty- 
second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, in April, 
1862, was one of twenty heroic volunteers who 
ran the blockade, on the gunboat Carondelet, at 
Island No. 10, assisting materially in the reduc- 
tion of that rebel stronghold, which resulted in 
the capture of 7,000 prisoners. At the battle of 
Farmington, Miss., during the siege of Corinth, 
in May, 1862, he had his right arm torn from its 
socket by a six-pound cannon-ball, compelling his 
retirement from the army. Returning home, 
after many weeks spent in hospital at Jefferson 
Barracks and Quincy, III, he received his final 
discharge, Dec. 21, 1862, spent a year in school, 
also took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Com- 
mercial College in Chicago, and having learned 
to write with his left hand, taught for a time in 
Kankakee County ; served as letter-carrier in Chi- 
cago, and for a year as Deputy County Clerk of 
Kankakee County, followed by two terms (1867- 
69) as a student in the Soldiers' College at Fulton, 



516 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



111. The latter year he entered upon the duties 
of Treasurer of Kankakee County, serving, by 
successive re-elections, until 1880, when he re- 
signed to take the position of State Auditor, to 
which he was elected a second time in 1884. In 
all these positions Mr. Swigert has proved him- 
self an upright, capable and high-minded public 
oflScial. Of late years his residence has been in 
Chicago. 

SWING, (Rev.) David, clergyman and pulpit 
orator, was born of German ancestry, at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, August 23, 1836. After 1837 (his 
father dying about this time), the family resided 
for a time at Reedsburgh, and, later, on a farm 
near Willianisburgh, in Clermont County, in the 
same State. In 1853, having graduated from the 
Miami (Ohio) University, he commenced the 
study of theology, but, in 1854, accepted the 
position of Professor of Languages in his Alma 
Mater, which he continued to fill for thirteen 
years. His first pastorate was in connection with 
the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Chi- 
cago, which he assumed in 1866. His church 
edifice was destroyed in the great Chicago fire, 
but was later rebuilt. As a preacher he was 
popular ; but, in April, 1874, he was placed on trial, 
before an ecclesiastical court of his own denomi- 
nation, on charges of heresy. He was acquitted 
by the trial court, but, before the appeal taken by 
the prosecution could be heard, he personally 
withdrew from affiliation with the denomination. 
Shortly afterward he became pastor of an inde- 
pendent religious organization known as the 
"Central Church," preaching, first at McVicker"s 
Theatre and, afterward, at Central Music Hall, 
Chicago. He was a fluent and popular speaker 
on all themes, a frequent and valued contributor 
to numerous magazines, as well as the author of 
several volumes. Among his best known books 
are "Motives of Life," "Truths for To-day," and 
"Club Essays." Died, in Chicago, Oct. 3, 1894. 

SYCAMORE, the county-seat of De Kalb 
Coimty (foxmded in 1836), 56 miles west of Chi- 
cago, at the intersection of the Chicago & North- 
western and the Chicago Great Western Rail- 
roads; lies in a region devoted to agriculture, 
dairying and stock-raising. The city itself con- 
tains several factories, the principal products 
being agricultural implements, flour, insulated 
wire, brick, tile, varnish, furniture, soap and 
carriages and wagons. There are also works for 
canning vegetables and fruit, besides two creamer- 
ies. The town is lighted by electricity, and has 
high-pressure water-works. There are eleven 
churches, three graded public schools and a 



young ladies' seminary. Population (1880), 
3,028; (1890), 2,987; (1900), 3,653. 

TAFT, Lorado, sculptor, was born at Elmwooil, 
Peoria County, 111., April 29, 1860; at an e<irly 
age evinced a predilection for sculpture and 
began modeling; graduated at the University of 
Illinois in 1880, then went to Paris and studied 
sculpture in the famous Ecole des Beaux Arts 
until 1885. The following year he settled in Chi 
cago, finally becoming associated with the Chi- 
cago Art Institute. He has been a lecturer on 
art in the Chicago University. Mr. Taft fur- 
nished the decorations of the Horticultural Build- 
ing on the World's Fair Grounds, in 1893. 

TALCOTT, Mancel, business man, was born 
in Rome, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1817; attended the com- 
mon schools until 17 years of age, when he set 
out for the West, traveling on foot from Detroit 
to Chicago, and thence to Park Ridge, where he 
worked at farming until 1850. Then, having 
followed the occupation of a miner for some time, 
in California, with some success, he united with 
Horace M. Singer in establishing the firm of 
Singer & Talcott, stone-dealers, which lasted dur- 
ing most of his life. He served as a member of 
the Chicago City Council, on the Board of Countj' 
Commissioners, as a member of the Police Board, 
and was one of the founders of the First National 
Bank, and President, for several j-ears, of the 
Stock Yards National Bank. Liberal and public- 
spirited, he contributed freely to works of 
charit}'. Died, June 5, 1878. 

TALCOTT, (Capt.) William, soldier of the 
War of 1813 and pioneer, was born in Gilead, 
Conn., March 6, 1774; emigrated to Rome, Oneida 
County, N. Y., in 1810, and engaged in farming; 
served as a Lieutenant in the Oneida County 
militia during the War of 1813-14, being stationed 
at Sackett's Harbor imder the command of Gen. 
Winfield Scott. In 1835, in company with his 
eldest son, Thomas B. Talcott, he made an ex- 
tended tour through the West, finally selecting a 
location in Illinois at the junction of Rock River 
and the Pecatonica, where the town of Rockton 
now stands — there being only two white families, 
at that time, within the present hniits of Winne- 
bago County. Two years later (1837), he brought 
his family to this point, with his sons took up a 
considerable body of Government land and 
erected two mills, to which customers came 
from a long distance. In 1838 Captain Talcott 
took part in the organization of the first Congre- 
gational Church in that section of the State. A 
zealous anti-slavery man, he supported James G- 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



517 



Birney (the Liberty candidate for President) in 
1844, continuing to act with that party until the 
organization of the Republican party in 1856; 
was deeply interested in the War for the Union, 
but died before its conclusion, Sept. 2, 1864. — 
Maj. Thomas B. (Talcott), oldest son of the pre- 
ceding, was born at Hebron, Conn , April 17, 
1806; was taken to Rome, N. Y., by his father in 
infancy, and, after reaching maturity, engaged 
in mercantile business with his brother in Che- 
mung County ; in 1835 accompanied his father in 
a tour through the West, finally locating at 
Rockton, where he engaged in agriculture. On 
the organization of Winnebago County, in 1836, 
he was elected one of the first County Commis- 
sioners, and, in 1850, to the State Senate, serving 
four years. He also held various local offices. 
Died, Sept. 30, 1894.— Hon. Wait (Talcott), second 
son of Capt. William Talcott, was born at He- 
bron, Conn., Oct. 17, 1807, and taken to Rome, 
N. Y., where he remained until his 19th year, 
when he engaged in business at Booneville and, 
still later, in Utica,- in 1888, removed to Illinois 
and joined his father at Rockton, finall}' 
becoming a citizen of Rockford, where, in his 
later years, he was extensively engaged in manu- 
facturing, having become, in 1854, with his 
brother Sylvester, a partner of the firm of J. H. 
Manny & Co. , in the manufacture of the Manny 
reaper and mower. He was an original anti- 
slavery man and, at one time, a Free-Soil candidate 
for Congress, but became a zealous Republican 
and ardent friend of Abraham Lincoln, whom he 
employed as an attorney in the famous suit of 
McCormick vs. the Manny Reaper Company for 
infringement of patent. In 1854 he was elected 
to the State Senate, succeeding his brother, 
Thomas B., and was tlie first Collector of Internal 
Revenue in the Second District, appointed by Mr. 
Lincoln in 1862, and continuing in office some 
five years. Though too old for active service in 
the field, during the Civil War, he voluntarily 
hired a substitute to take his place. Jlr. Talcott 
was one of the original incorporators and Trus- 
tees of Beloit College, and a founder of Rockford 
Female Seminary, remaining a trustee of each 
for many years. Died, June 7, 1890. — SylTester 
(Talcott), third son of William Talcott, born at 
Rome, N. Y., Oct. 14, 1810; when of age, engaged 
in mercantile business in Chemung Countj'; in 
1887 removed, witli other members of the family, 
to Winnebago County, 111., where he joined his 
father in the entry of Government lands and the 
erection of mills, as already detailed. He became 
one of the first Justices of the Peace in Winne- 



bago County, also served as Supervisor for a 
number of years and, although a farmer, became 
interested, in 1854, with his brother Wait, 
in the Manny Reaper Company at Rockford. 
He also followed the example of his brother, 
just named, in furnishing a substitute for the 
War of the Rebellion, though too old for service 
himself Died, June 19, 1885.— Henry Walter 
(Talcott), fourth son of William Talcott, was 
born at Rome, N. Y., Feb. 13, 1814; came with 
his father to Winnebago County, 111., in 1885, and 
was connected with his father and brothers in busi- 
ness. Died, Dec. 9, 1870.— Dwlght Lewis (Tal- 
cott), oldest son of Henr}- Walter Talcott, bom 
in Winnebago County ; at the age of 17 years 
enlisted at Belvidere, in January, 1864, as a soldier 
in the Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; served 
as provost guard some two months at Fort Picker- 
ing, near Memphis, and later took part in many 
of the important battles of that year in Missis- 
sippi and Tennessee. Having been captured at 
Campbellsville, Tenn. , he was taken to Anderson- 
viUe, Ga., where he suffered all the horrors of 
that famous prison-pen, until March, 1865, when 
he was released, arriving at home a helpless 
skeleton, the day after Abraham Lincoln's assas- 
sination. Mr. Talcott subsequently settled in 
Muscatine County, Iowa. 

TALLULA, a prosperous village of Menard 
County, on the Jacksonville branch of the Chi- 
cago & Alton Railway, 24 miles northeast of 
Jacksonville; is in the midst of a grain, coal- 
mining, and stock-growing region; has a local 
bank and newspaper. Pop. (1890), 445 ; (1900), 639. 

TAMAROA, a village in Perry County, situated 
at the junction of the Illinois Central with the 
Wabash, Chester & Western Railroad, 8 miles 
north of Duquoin, and 57 miles east-southeast of 
Belleville. It has a bank, a newspaper ofiice, a 
large public school, five churches and two flour- 
ing mills. Coal is mined here and exported in 
large quantities. Pop. (1900), 853. 

TAMAROA A: MOUNT VERNON RAILROAD. 
(See ^Vabash, Cliesfer & Western Railroad.) 

TANNER, Edward Allen, clergyman and edu- 
cator, was born of New England ancestry, at 
Waverly, 111., Nov. 29. 1837— being the first child 
who could claim nativity there; was educated 
in tlie local schools and at Illinois College, 
graduating from the latter in 1857; spent four 
years teaching in his native place and at Jack- 
sonville; then accepted tlie Professorship of 
Latin in Pacific University at Portland, Oregon, 
remaining four years, when he returned to his 
Alma Mater (1865), assuming there the chair of 



518 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Latin and Rhetoric. In 1881 he was appointed 
financial agent of the latter institution, and, in 
1882, its President. While in Oregon he liad 
been ordained a minister of the Congregational 
Church, and, for a considerable period during 
his connection with Illinois College, officiated as 
Chaplain of the Central Hospital for the Insane 
at Jacksonville, besides supplying local and 
other pulpits. He labored earnestly for the 
benefit of the in.stitution under his charge, and, 
during his incumbency, added materially to its 
endowment and resources. Died, at Jackson- 
ville, Feb. 8, 1892. 

TANXER, John R., Governor, was born in 
Warrick County, Ind., April 4, 1844, and brought 
to Southern Illinois in boyhood, where he grew 
up on a farm in the vicinity of Carbondale, 
enjoying only such educational advantages as 
were afforded by the common school ; in 1863, at 
the age of 19, enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illi- 
nois Volimteers, serving until June, 186.5, when 
he was transferred to the Sixty-first, and finally 
mustered out in September following. All tlie 
male members of Governor Tanner's famil}- were 
soldiers of the late war, his father dying in a 
rebel prison at Columbus, Miss., one of his bro- 
thers suffering the same fate from wounds at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., and another brother dying in hospital 
at Pine Bluff, Ark. Only one of this patriotic 
famil}', besides Governor Tanner, still survives — 
Mr. J. M. Tanner of Clay County, who left the 
service with the rank of Lieutenant of the Thir- 
teenth Illinois Cavalry. Returning from the 
war, Mr. Tanner established himself in business 
as a farmer in Clay County, later engaging suc- 
cessfully in the milling and lumber business as 
the partner of his brother. The public positions 
held by him, since the war, include those of 
Sheriff of Clay County (1870-72), Clerk of the Cir- 
cuit Court (1872-76), and State Senator (1880-83). 
During the latter year lie received the appoint- 
ment of United States Marshal for the Southern 
District of Illinois, serving until after the acces- 
sion of President Cleveland in 1885. In 1886, he 
was the Republican nominee for State Treasurer 
and was elected by an unusually large majority ; 
in 1891 was appointed, by Governor Fifer, a 
member of the Railroad and Warehouse Commis- 
sion, but, in 1892, received the appointment of 
Assistant United States Treasurer at Chicago, 
continuing in the latter office until December, 
1893. For ten years (1874-84) he was a member 
of the Republican State Central Committee, re- 
turning to that body in 1894, when he was chosen 
Chairman and conducted the campaign which 



resulted in the unprecedented Republican suc- 
cesses of that year. In 1896 he received the 
nomination of his party for Governor, and was 
elected over Gov. John P. Altgeld, his Demo- 
cratic opponent, by a plurality of over 113,000, 
and a majority, over all, of nearly 90,000 votes. 

TAJiNER, Tazewell B., jurist, was born in 
Henry County, Va., and came to Jefferson 
County, 111., about 1846 or '47, at first taking a 
position as teacher and Superintendent of Public 
Schools. Later, he was connected with "The 
Jeffersonian," a Democratic paper at Mount Ver- 
non, and, in 1849, went to the gold regions of 
California, meeting with reasonable success as a 
miner. Returning in a year or two, he was 
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and, while in 
the discliarge of his duties, prosecuted the study 
of law, finally, on admission to the bar, entering 
into partnership with the late Col. Thomas S. 
Casey. In 1854 he was elected Representative in 
the Nineteenth General Assembly, and was in- 
strumental in securing the appropriation for the 
erection of a Supreme Court building at Mount 
Vernon. In 1863 he served as a Delegate to the 
State Constitutional Convention of that year ; was 
elected Circuit Judge in 1873, and, in 1877, was 
assigned to duty on the Appellate bench, but, at 
the expiration of his term, declined a re-election 
and resumed the practice of his profession at 
Mount Vernon. Died, March 25, 1880. 

T.iXATION, in its legal sense, the mode of 
raising revenue. In its general sense its purposes 
are tlie support of the State and local govern- 
ments, the promotion of the public good by 
fostering education and works of public improve- 
ment, the protection of society by the preser- 
vation of order and the punishment of crime, and 
the support of the helpless and destitute. In 
practice, and as prescribed by the Constitution, 
the raising of revenue is required to be done "by 
levying a tax by valuation, so that every person 
and corporation shall pay a tax in proportion to 
the value of his, her or its property — such value 
to be ascertained by some person or persons, to be 
elected or appointed in such manner as the Gen- 
eral Assembly shall direct, and not otherwise." 
(State Constitution, 1870 — Art. Revenue, Sec. 1.) 
The person selected under the law to make this 
valuation is the Assessor of the county or the 
township (in counties under township organiza- 
tion), and he is required to make a return to the 
County Board at its July meeting each j-ear — the 
latter having authority to hear complaints of tax- 
payers and adjust inequalities when found to 
exist. It is made the duty of the Assessor to 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



519 



include in his return, as real-estate, all lands and 
the buildings or other improvements erected 
thereon; and, under the head of personal prop- 
erty, all tangible effects, besides moneys, credits, 
bonds or stocks, shares of stock of conapanies or 
corporations, investments, annuities, franchises, 
royalties, etc. Property used for school, church 
or cemetery purposes, as well as public buildings 
and other property belonging to the State and 
General Government, municipalities, public 
charities, public libraries, agricultural and scien- 
tific societies, are declared exempt. Nominally, 
all property subject to taxation is required to be 
assessed at its cash valuation ; but, in reality, the 
valuation, of late years, has been on a basis of 
twenty-five to thirty-three per cent of its esti- 
mated cash value. In the larger cities, however, 
the valuation is often much lower than this, 
while very large amounts escape assessment 
altogether. The Revenue Act, passed at the 
special session of the Fortieth General Assembly 
(1898), requires the Assessor to make a return of 
all property subject to taxation in his district, at 
its cash valuation, upon which a Board of Review 
fixes a tax on the basis of twenty per cent of 
such cash valuation. An abstract of tlie property 
assessment of each county goes before the State 
Board of Equalization, at its annual meeting in 
August, for the purpose of comparison and equal- 
izing valuations between counties, but the Board 
has no power to modify the assessments of indi- 
vidual tax-payers. (See State Board of Equali- 
zation. ) This Board has exclusive power to fix 
the valuation for purposes of taxation of the 
capital stock or franchises of companies (except 
certain specified manufacturing corporations) , in- 
corporated under the State laws, together with the 
"railroad track" and "rolling stock" of railroads, 
and the capital stock of railroads and telegraph 
lines, and to fix the distribution of the latter 
between counties in which they lie. — The Consti- 
tution of 1848 empowered the Legislature to 
impose a capitation tax, of not less than fifty 
cents nor more than one doUar, upon each free 
white male citizen entitled to the right of suf- 
frage, between the ages of 31 and 60 years, but the 
Constitution of 18T0 grants no such power, 
though it authorizes the extension of the "objects 
and subjects of taxation" in accordance with the 
principle contained in the first section of the 
Revenue Article. — Special assessments in cities, 
for the construction of sewers, pavements, etc., 
being local and in the form of benefits, cannot 
be said to come under the head of general tax- 
ation. The same is to be said of revenue derived 



from fines and penalties, which are forms of 
punishment for specific offenses, and go to the 
benefit of certain specified funds. 

TAYLOR, Abner, ex-Congressman, is a native 
of Maine, and a resident of Chicago. He has been 
in active business all his life as contractor, builder 
and merchant, and, for some time, a member of 
the wholesale dry-goods firm of J. V. Farwell & 
Co. , of Chicago. He was a member of the Thirty- 
fourth General Acsembly, a delegate to the 
National Republican Convention of 1884, and 
represented the First Illinois District in the Fifty- 
first and Fifty -second Congresses, 1889 to 1893. 
Mr. Taylor was one of the contractors for the 
erection of tlie new State Capitol of Texas. 

TAYLOR, Benjamin Franklin, journalist, poet 
and lecturer, was born at Lowville, N. Y. , July 
19, 1819; graduated at Madison University in 
1839, the next year becoming literary and dra- 
matic critic of "The Chicago Evening JournaL" 
Here, in a few years, he acquired a wide reputa- 
tion as a journalist and poet, and was much in 
demand as a lecturer on literary topics. His 
letters from the field during the Rebellion, as 
war correspondent of "The Evening Journal," 
won for him even a greater popularity, and were 
complimented by translation into more than one 
European language. After the war, he gave his 
attention more unreservedly to literature, his 
principal works appearing after that date. His 
publications in book form, including both prose 
and poetry, comprise the following: "Attractions 
of Language" (1845); "January and June" 
(1853); "Pictures in Camp and Field" (1871), 
"The World on Wheels" (187.3); "Old Time Pic- 
tures and Sheaves of Rhyme" (1874); "Songs of 
Yesterday" (1877); "Summer Savory Gleaned 
from Rural Nooks" (1879); "Between the Gates" 
— pictures of California life — (1881); "Dulce 
Domum, the Burden of Song" (1884), and "Theo- 
philus Trent, or Old Times in the Oak Openings,' 
a novel (1887). The last was in the hands of the 
publishers at his death, Feb. 27, 1887. Among 
his most popular poems are "The Isle of the Long 
Ago," "The Old Village Choir," and "Rhymes of 
the River. ' ' ' 'The London Times' ' complimented 
Mr. Taylor with the title of "The Oliver Gold- 
smith of America." 

TAYLOR, Edmund Dick, early Indian-trader 
and legislator, was born at Fairfield. C. H. , Va.. 
Oct. 18, 1802 — the son of a commissary in the 
army of the Revolution, under General Greene, 
and a cousin of General (later. President) Zachary 
Taylor ; left his native vState in his youtb and. at 
an early day, came to Springfield, 111., where he 



520 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



opened an Indian-trading post and general store ; 
was elected from Sangamon County to the lower 
branch of the Se%"enth General Assembly (1830) 
and re-elected in 1832 — the latter year being a 
competitor of Abraham Lincoln, whom he 
defeated. In 1834 he was elected to the State 
Senate and, at the next session of the Legislature, 
was one of the celebrated "Long Nine" who 
secured the removal of the State Capital to 
Springfield. He resigned before the close of liis 
term to accept, from President Jackson, the ap- 
pointment of Receiver of Public Moneys at Chi- 
cago. Here he became one of the promoters of 
the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (1837), 
serving as one of the Commissioners to secure 
subscriptions of stock, and was also active in 
advocating the construction of the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal. The title of "Colonel," by 
which he was known during most of his life, was 
acquired by service, with that rank, on the staff 
of Gov. John Reynolds, during the Black Hawk 
War of 1833. After coming to Chicago, Colonel 
Taylor became one of the Trustees of the Chicago 
branch of the State Bank, and was later identified 
with various banking enterprises, as also a some- 
what extensive operator in real estate. An active 
Democrat in the early part of his career in Illi- 
nois, Colonel Taylor was one of the members of 
his party to take ground against the Kansas-Neb 
raska bill in 1854, and advocated the election of 
General Bissell to the governorship in 18.56. In 
1860 he was again in line with his party in sup- 
port of Senator Douglas for tlie Presidency, and 
was an opponent of the war policy of the Govern- 
ment still later, as shown by his participation in 
the celebrated "Peace Convention" at Spring- 
field, of June 17, 1863. In the latter years of his 
life he became extensively interested in coal 
lands in La Salle and adjoining counties, and, 
for a considerable time, served as President of the 
Northern Illinois Coal & Mining Company, his 
home, during a part of this period, being at 
Mendota. Died, in Chicago, Dec. 4, 1891. 

TAYLORTILLE, a city and county-seat of 
Christian County, on the South Fork of the Sanga- 
mon River and on the "Wabash Railway at its 
point of intersection with the Springfield Division 
of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern. It is 
about 27 miles southeast of Springfield, and 
28 miles southwest of Decatur. It has several 
banks, flour mills, paper mill, electric light and 
gas plants, water-works, two coal mines, carriage 
and wagon shops, a manufactory of farming 
implements, two daily and weekly papers, nine 
churches and five graded and township high 



schools. Much coal is mined in this vicinity. 
Pop. (1890), 2,839; (1900), 4,248. 

TAZEWELL COUNTY, a central county on 
the Illinois River; was first settled in 1823 and 
organized in 1827 ; has an area of 6.50 square miles 
— was named for Governor Tazewell of Virginia. 
It is drained by the Illinois and Mackinaw Rivers 
and traversed by several lines of railway. The 
surface is generally level, the soil alluvial and 
rich, but, requiring drainage, especially on the 
river bottoms. Gravel, coal and sandstone are 
found, but, generally speaking, Tazewell is an 
agricultural county. The cereals are extensively 
cultivated; wool is also clipped, and there are 
dairy interests of some importance. Distilling is 
extensively conducted at Pekin, the county-seat, 
which is also the seat of other mechanical indus- 
tries. (See also Pekin.) Population of the 
county (1880), 29,666; (1890), 29,556; (1900), 33,221. 

TEMPLE, John Taylor, M.D., early Chicago 
physician, born in Virginia in 1804, graduated in 
medicine at Middlebury College, Vt., in 1830, and, 
in 1833, arrived in Chicago. At this time he had 
a contract for carrying the United States mail 
from Chicago to Fort Howard, near Green Bay, 
and the following year undertook a similar con- 
tract between Chicago and Ottawa. Having sold 
these out three years later, he devoted his atten- 
tion to the practice of his profession, though 
interested, for a time, in contracts for the con- 
struction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Dr. 
Temple was instrumental in erecting the first 
house (after Rev. Jesse Walker's missionary 
station at Wolf Point), for public religious 
worship in Chicago, and, although himself a 
Baptist, it was used in common by Protestant 
denominations. He was a member of the first 
Board of Trustees of Rush Medical College, 
though he later became a convert to homeopathy, 
and finally, removing to St. Louis, assisted in 
founding the St. Louis School of Homeopathy, 
dying there, Feb. 24, 1877. 

TEXrRE OF OFFICE. (See Elections.) 

TERRE HAUTE, ALTON & ST. LOUIS 
RAILROAD. (See St. Lonis. Alton & Terre 
Halite Railroad.) 

TERRE HAUTE & ALTON RAILROAD (See 
St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad.) 

TERRE HAUTE & INDIANAPOLIS RAIL- 
ROAD, a corporation operating no line of its own 
within the State, but the lessee and operator of 
the following lines (which see): St. Louis, 
Vandalia & Terre Haute. 1.58.3 miles; Terre 
Haute & Peoria, 145.12 miles; East St. Louis 
& Carondelet, 12.74 miles — total length of leased 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



521 



lines in Illinois, 316.16 miles. The Terre Haute 
& Indianapolis Railroad was incorporated in 
Indiana in 1847, as the Terre Haute & Rich- 
mond, completed a line between the points 
named in the title, in 1853, and took its present 
name in 1866. The Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany purchased a controlling interest in its stock 
in 1893. 

TERRE HAUTE & PEORIA RAILROAD, 
(Vandalia Line), a line of road extending from 
Terre Haute, Ind., to Peoria, 111., 14.5.12 miles, 
with 28.78 miles of trackage, making in all 173.9 
miles in operation, all being in Illinois — operated 
by the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Com- 
pany. The gauge is standard, and the rails are 
steel. (History.) It was organized Feb. 7, 1887, 
successor to the Illinois Midland Railroad. The 
latter was made up by the consolidation (Nov. 4, 
1874) of three lines; (1) The Peoria, Atlanta & 
Decatur Railroad, chartered in 1869 and opened in 
1874 ; (2) the Paris & Decatur Railroad, chartered 
in 1861 and opened in December, 1872; and (3) the 
Paris & Terre Haute Railroad, chartered in 1873 
and opened in 1874 — the consolidated lines 
assuming the name of the Illinois Midland Rail- 
road. In 1886 the Illinois Midland was sold under 
foreclosure and, in February, 1887, reorganized 
as the Terre Haute & Peoria Railroad. In 1892 
it was leased for ninety-nine years to the Terre 
Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Company, and is 
operated as a part of the "Vandalia System." 
The capital stock (1898) was §3,764,200; funded 
debt, $2,230,000,— total capital invested, §6,227,- 
481. 

TEUTOPOLIS, a village of Effingham County, 
on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, 4 
miles east of Effingham ; was originally settled 
by a colony of Germans from Cincinnati. Popu- 
lation (1900), 498. 

THOMAS, Horace H., lawyer and legislator, 
was born in Vermont, Dec. 18, 1831, graduated at 
Middlebury College, and, after admission to the 
bar, removed to Chicago, where he commenced 
practice. At the outbreak of the rebellion he 
enlisted and was commissioned Assistant Adju- 
tant-General of the Army of the Ohio. At the 
close of the war he took up his residence in Ten- 
nessee, serving as Quartermaster upon the staff 
of Governor Brownlow. In 1867 he returned to 
Chicago and resumed practice. He was elected 
a Representative in the Legislature in 1878 and 
re-elected in 1880, being chosen Speaker of the 
House during his latter term. In 1888 he was 
elected State Senator from the Sixth District, 
serving during the sessions of the Thirty-sixth 



and Thirty -seventh General As.semblies. In 
1897, General Thomas was appointed United 
States Appraiser in connection with the Custom 
House in Chicago. 

THOMAS, Jesse Burgess, jurist and United 
States Senator, was born at Hagerstown, Md., 
claiming direct descent from Lord Baltimore. 
Taken west in childhood, he grew to manhood 
and settled at Lawrenceburg, Indiana Territory, 
in 1803; in 180.5 was Speaker of the Territorial 
Legislature and, later, represented the Territory 
as Delegate in Congress. On the organization of 
Illinois Territory (which he had favored), he 
removed to Kaskaskia, was appointed one of the 
first Judges for the new Territory, and, in 1818, 
as Delegate from St. Clair County, presided over 
the first State Constitutional Convention, and, on 
the admission of the State, became one of the 
first United States Senators — Governor Edwards 
being his colleague. Though an avowed advo- 
cate of slavery, he gained no little prominence 
as the author of the celebrated "Missouri Com- 
promise," adopted in 1820. He was re-elected to 
the Senate in 1823, serving until 1829. He sub- 
sequently removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where 
he died by suicide. May 4, 1853.— Jesse Burgess 
(Thomas), Jr., nephew of the United States Sena- 
tor of the same name, was born at Lebanon, Ohio, 
July 31, 1806, was educated at Transylvania 
University, and, being admitted to the bar. 
located at Edwardsville, 111. He first appeared 
in connection with public affairs as Secretary of 
the State Senate in 1830, being re-elected in 1832 ; 
in 1834 was elected Representative in the General 
Assembly from Madison Count}-, but, in Febru- 
ary following, was appointed Attorney-General, 
serving only one year. He afterwards held the 
position of Circuit Judge (1837-39), his home being 
then in Springfield; in 1843 he became Associ- 
ate Justice of the Supreme Court, by appointment 
of the Governor, as successor to Stephen A. Doug- 
las, and was afterwards elected to the same 
office by the Legislature, remaining until 1848. 
During a part of his professional career he was 
the partner of David Prickett and William L. 
May, at Springfield, and afterwards a member of 
the Galena bar, finally removing to Chicago, 
where he died, Feb. 21, 18.50.— Jesse B. (Thomas) 
third, clergyman and son of the last named ; bom 
at Edwardsville, 111., July 29, 1832; educated at 
Kenyon College, Ohio, and Rochester (N. Y.) 
Theological Seminary ; practiced law for a time 
in Chicago, but finally entered the Baptist minis- 
try, serving churches at Waukegan, El., Brook- 
lyn, N. Y., and San Francisco (1862-69). He 



522 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



then became pastor of the Michigan Avenue Bap- 
tist Churcli, in Chicago, remaining until 1874, 
when he returned to Brooklyn. In 1887 he 
became Professor of Biblical History in the 
Theological Seminary at Newton, Mass., where he 
has since resided. He is the author of several 
volumes, and, in 1866, received the degree of D.D. 
from the old University of Chicago. 

THOMAS, John, pioneer and soldier of the 
Black Hawk War, was born in Wythe County, 
Va., Jan. 11. 1800. At the age of 18 he accom- 
panied his parents to St. Clair County, 111., where 
the family located in what was then called the 
Alexander settlement, near the present site of 
Shiloh. Wlien he was 23 he rented a farm 
(although he had not enough money to buy a 
horse) and married. Six years later he bought 
and stocked a farm, and, from that time forward, 
rapidly accumulated real property, until he 
became one of the most extensive owners of farm- 
ing land in St. Clair County. In early life he 
was fond of military exercise, holding various 
offices in local organizations and serving as a 
Colonel in the Black Hawk War. In 1834 he was 
one of the leaders of the party opposed to the 
amendment of the State Constitution to sanction 
slavery, was a zealous opponent of the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill in 1854, and a firm supporter of the 
Republican party from the date of its formation. 
He was elected to the lower house of the General 
Assembly in 1838, '62, "64, "73 and "74; and to the 
State Senate in 1878, serving four years in the 
latter body. Died, at Belleville, Dec. 16, 1894, in 
the 95th year of his age. 

THOMAS, John R., ex-Congressman, was born 
at Mount Vernon, 111., Oct. 11, 1846. He served 
in the Union Army during the War of the Rebel- 
lion, rising from the ranks to a captaincy. After 
his return home he studied law, and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1869. From 1873 to 1876 he was 
State's Attorney, and, from 1879 to 1889, repre- 
sented his District in Congress. In 1897, Mr. 
Thomas was appointed by President McKinley 
an additional United States District Judge for 
Indian Territory. His home is now at Vanita, 
in that Territory. 

THOMAS, William, pioneer lawyer and legis- 
lator, was born in what is now Allen County, 
Ky., Nov. 22, 1802; received a rudimentary edu- 
cation, and served as deputy of his father (who 
was Sheriff), and afterwards of the County Clerk ; 
studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1823 ; 
in 1826 removed to Jacksonville, 111., where he 
taught school, served as a private in the Winne- 
bago War (1827), and at the session of 1828-29, 



reported the proceedings of the General Assem- 
bly for "The Vandalia Intelligencer" ; was State's 
Attorney and School Commissioner of Morgan 
County ; served as Quartermaster and Commis- 
sary in the Black Hawk War (1831-32), first imder 
Gen. Joseph Duncan and, a year later, under 
General Whiteside ; in 1839 was appointed Circuit 
Judge, but legislated out of office two years later. 
It was as a member of the Legislature, however, 
that he gained the greatest prominence, first as 
State Senator in 1834-40, and Representative in 
1846-48 and 1850-53, when he was especially influ- 
ential in the legislation which resulted in estab- 
lishing the institutions for the Deaf and Dumb 
and the Blind, and the Hospital for the Insane 
(the first in the State) at Jacksonville — serving, 
for a time, as a member of the Board of Trustees 
of the latter. He was also prominent in connec- 
tion with many enterprises of a local character, 
including the establishment of the Illinois Female 
College, to which, although without children of 
his own, he was a liberal contributor. During 
the first j'ear of the war he was a member of the 
Board of Army Auditors by appointment of Gov- 
ernor Yates. Died, at Jacksonville, August 22, 
1889. 

THORNTON, Anthony, jurist, was born in 
Bourbon County, Ky., Nov. 9, 1814 — being 
descended from a Virginia family. After the 
usual primary instruction in the common schools, 
he spent two years in a high school at Gallatin, 
Tenn., when he entered Centre College at Dan- 
ville, Ky., afterwards continuing his studies at 
Miami University, Ohio, where he graduated in 
1834. Having studied law with an uncle at 
Paris, Ky., he was licensed to practice in 1836, 
when he left his native State with a view to set- 
tling in Missouri, but, visiting his uncle. Gen. 
William F. Thornton, at Shelby ville. 111., was 
induced to establish himself in practice there. 
He served as a member of the State Constitutional 
Conventions of 1847 and 1863, and as Represent- 
ative in the Seventeenth General Assembly 
(1850-52) for Shelby County. In 1864 he was 
elected to the Thirty-ninth Congress, and, in 
1870, to the Illinois Supreme Court, but served 
only until 1873, when he resigned. In 1879 
Judge Thornton removed to Decatur, HI., but 
subsequently returned to Shelbyville, where 
(1898) he now resides. 

THORNTON, William Fitzhngh, Commissioner 
of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, was bom in 
Hanover County, Va., Oct. 4, 1789; in 1806, went 
to Alexandria, Va., where he conducted a drug 
business for a time, also acting as associate 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



523 



editor of "The Alexandria Gazette." Subse- 
quently removing to Washington City, he con- 
ducted a paper there in the interest of John 
Quincy Adams for the Presidency. Dui-ing the 
War of 1812-14 he served as a Captain of cavahy, 
and, for a time, as staff-officer of General Winder. 
On occasion of the visit of Marquis La Fayette to 
America (1824-25) he accompanied the distin- 
guished Frenchman from Baltimore to Rich- 
mond. In 1829 he removed to Kentucky, and, 
in 1833, to Shelby ville, 111., where he soon after 
engaged in mercantile business, to "which he 
added a banking and brokerage business in 1859, 
with which he was actively associated until his 
death. In 1836, he was appointed, bj- Governor 
Duncan, one of the Commissioners of the Illinois 
& Michigan Canal, serving as President of the 
Board until 1842. In 1840, he made a visit to 
London, as financial agent of the State, in the 
interest of the Canal, and succeeded in making a 
sale of bonds to the amount of §1,000,000 on what 
were then considered favorable terms. General 
Thornton was an ardent Whig until the organi- 
zation of the Republican party, when he became 
a Democrat. Died, at Shelbyville, Oct. 21, 
1873. 

TILLSON, John, pioneer, was born at Halifax, 
Mass., March 13. 1796; came to Illinois in 1819, 
locating at Hillsboro, Montgomery County, where 
he became a prominent and enterprising operator 
in real estate, doing a large business for eastern 
parties; was one of the founders of Hillsboro 
Academy and an influential and liberal friend of 
Illinois College, being a Trustee of the latter 
from its establishment until his death ; was sup- 
ported in the Legislature of 1827 for State Treas- 
urer, but defeated by James Hall. Died, at 
Peoria, May 11, 1853.— Christiana Holmes (Till- 
son), wife of the preceding, was born at Kingston, 
Mass., Oct. 10, 1798; married to John Tillson in 
1823, and immediately came to Illinois to reside; 
was a woman of rare culture and refinement, and 
deeply interested in benevolent enterprises. 
Died, in New York City. May 29. 1872.— Charles 
Holmes (Tillson), son of John and Christiana 
Holmes Tillson, was born at Hillsboro, 111. , Sept. 
15, 1823; educated at Hillsboro Academy and 
Illinois College, graduating from the latter in 
1844; studied law in St. Louis and at Transj'l- 
vania University, was admitted to the bar in St. 
Louis and practiced there some years — also served 
several terms in the City Council, and was a 
member of the National Guard of Missouri in the 
War of the Rebellion. Died, Nov. 25, 1865.— 
John (Tillson), Jr., another son, was born at 



Hillsboro, 111., Oct. 12, 1825; educated at Hills- 
boro Academy and Illinois College, but did not 
graduate from the latter ; graduated from Tran- 
sylvania Law School, Ky., in 1847, and was 
admitted to the bar at Quincy, 111., the same 
year; practiced two j'ears at Galena, when he 
returned to Quincy. In 1861 he enlisted in the 
Tentli Regiment Illinois Volimteers, became its 
Lieutenant-Colonel, on the promotion of Col. J. D. 
Morgan to Brigadier-General, was advanced to 
the colonelcy, and, in July, 1865, was mustered 
out with the rank of brevet Brigadier-General ; 
for two years later held a commission as Captain 
in the regular army. During a portion of 1869-70 
he was editor of "The Quincy Whig"; in 1873 
was elected Representative in the Twenty -eighth 
General Assembly to succeed Nehemiah Bushnell, 
who had died in office, and, during the same year, 
was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for 
the Quincy District, serving until 1881. Died, 
August 6, 1892. 

TILLSON, Robert, pioneer, was born in Hali- 
fax County, Mass., August 12, 1800; came to Illi- 
nois in 1822, and was employed, for several years, 
as a clerk in the land agency of his brother, John 
Tillson, at Hillsboro. In 1826 he engaged in the 
mercantile business with Charles Holmes, Jr., in 
St. Louis, but, in 1828, removed to Quincy, 111., 
where he opened the first general store in that 
city; also served as Postmaster for some ten 
years. During this period he built the first two- 
story frame building erected in Quincy. up to 
that date. Retiring from the mercantile business 
in 1840 he engaged in real estate, ultimately 
becoming the proprietor of considerable property 
of this character ; was also a contractor for fur- 
nishing cavalry accouterments to the Government 
during the war. Soon after the war he erected 
one of the handsomest business blocks existing 
in the city at that time. Died, in Quincy, Dec. 
27, 1892. 

TI>'CHER, John L., banker, was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1821 ; brought by his parents to Vermil- 
ion County, Ind., in 1829, and left an orphan at 
17; attended school in Coles County, 111., and 
was employed as clerk in a store at Danville, 
1843-53. He then became a member of the firm 
of Tincher & English, merchants, later establish- 
ing a bank, which became the First National 
Bank of Danville. In 18&4 Mr. Tincher was 
elected Representative in the Twenty-fourth 
General Assembly and, two years later, to the 
Senate, being reelected in 1870. He was also a 
member of the State Constitutional Convention 
of 1869-70. Died, in Springfield, Dec. 17, 1871, 



524 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



while in attendance on the adjourneii session of 
that year. 

TIPTON, Thomas F., lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Franklin County, Ohio, August 29, 1833 ; 
has been a resident of McLean County, 111., from 
the age of 10 years, his present home being at 
Bloomington. He was admitted to the bar in 
1857, and, from January, 1867, to December, 1868, 
was State's Attorney for the Eighth Judicial 
Circuit. In 1870 he was elected Judge of the 
same circuit, and under the new Constitution, 
■was chosen Judge of the new Fourteenth Circuit. 
From 1877 to 1879 he represented the (then) 
Thirteenth Illinois District in Congress, but, in 
1878, was defeated by Adlai E. Stevenson, the 
Democratic nominee. In 1891 he was re-elected 
to a seat on the Circuit bench for the Bloomington 
Circuit, but resumed practice at the expiration 
of his term in 1897. 

TISKILWA, a village of Bureau County, on the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 7 miles 
southwest of Princeton; has creameries and 
cheese factories, churches, school, library, water- 
\t'orks, bank and a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 965. 

TODD, (Col.) John, soldier, was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Pa., in 1750; took part in the 
battle of Point Pleasant, Va., in 1774, as Adju- 
tant-General of General Lewis; settled as a 
lawyer at Fincastle, Va., and, in 1775, removed 
to Fayette County, Ky., the next year locating 
near Lexington. He was one of tlie first two 
Delegates from Kentucky Coimty to the Virginia 
House of Burgesses, and, in 1778, accompanied 
Col. George Rogers Clark on his expedition 
against Kaskaskia and Vincennes. In Decem- 
ber, 1778, he was appointed by Gov. Patrick 
Henry, Lieutenant -Commandant of Illinois 
County, embracing the region northwest of the 
Ohio River, serving two years; in 1780, was again 
a member of the Virginia Legislature, where he 
procured grants of land for public schools and 
introduced a bill for negro-emancipation. He 
was killed by Indians, at the battle of Blue 
Licks, Ky., August 19, 1782. 

TODD, (Dr.) John, physician, born near Lex- 
ington, Ky., April 27, 1787, was one of the earli- 
est gi-aduates of Transylvania University, also 
graduating at the Medical University of Phila- 
delphia; was appointed Surgeon-General of Ken- 
tucky troops in the War of 1812, and captured at 
tne battle of River Raisin. Returning to Lex- 
ington after liis release, he practiced there and 
at Bardstown, removed to Edwardsville. 111., in 
1817, and, in 1827, to Springfield, where he had 
been appointed Register of the Land Office by 



President John Quincy Adams, but was removed 
by Jackson in 1829. Dr. Todd continued to reside 
at Springfield until his death, which occurred, 
Jan. 9, 1865. He was a grandson of John Todd, 
who was appointed Commandant of Illinois 
County by Gov. Patrick Henry in 1778, and an 
uncle of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln.— John Blair 
Smith (Todd), son of the preceding, was born at 
Lexington, Ky., April 4, 1814; came with his 
father to Illinois in 1817 ; graduated at the United 
States Military Academy in 1837, serving after- 
wards in the Florida and Mexican wars and on 
the frontier; resigned, and was an Indian -trader 
in Dakota, 1856-61 ; the latter year, took his 
seat as a Delegate in Congress from Dakota, 
then served as Brigadier-General of Volun- 
teers, 1861-62; was again Delegate in Congress 
in 1863-65, Speaker of the Dakota Legislature 
in 1867, and Governor of the Territory, 1869-71. 
Died, at Yankton City, Jan. 5, 1872. 

TOLEDO, a village and the county-seat of 
Cumberland County, on tlie Illinois Central Rail- 
road; founded in 1854; has five churches, a graded 
school, two banks, creamery, flour mill, elevator, 
and two weekly newspapers. There are no manu- 
factories, the leading industry in tlie surrounding 
country being agriculture. Pop. (1890), 676; 
(1900), 818. 

TOLEDO, CnVCINNATI & ST. LOUIS RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas Citg 
Railroad. ) 

TOLEDO, PEORIA & WARSAW RAILROAD. 
(See Toledo, Peoria & Western Railiray.) 

TOLEDO, PEORIA & WESTERN RAILROAD. 
(See Toledo. Peoria & We.';tcrii Raihray.) 

TOLEDO, PEORIA & WESTERN RAILWAY, 
a line of railroad wholly within the State of Illi- 
nois, extending from EfTner, at tlie Indiana State 
line, west to tlie Mississippi River at Warsaw. 
The length of the whole line is 230.7 miles, owned 
entirely by the company. It is made up of a 
division from Effner to Peoria (110.9 miles) — 
which is practically an air-line throughout nearly 
its entire length — and the Peoria and Warsaw 
Division (108.8 miles) with branches from La 
Harpe to Iowa Junction (10.4 miles) and 0.6 of a 
mile connecting with the Keokuk bridge at 
Hamilton. — (History.) The original charter for 
this line was granted, in 1863, under the name of 
the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad ; the main 
line was completed in 1868, and the La Harpe & 
Iowa Junction branch in 1873. Default was 
made in 1873. the road sold under foreclosure, in 
1880, and reorganized as the Toledo, Peoria & 
Western Railroad, and the line leased for ^9)4 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



525 



years to the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway 
Company. The latter defaulted in July, 1884, 
and, a year later, the Toledo, Peoria & Western 
was transferred to trustees for the first mortgage 
bond-holders, was sold under foreclosure in 
October, 1886, and, in March, 1887, the present 
company, under the name of the Toledo, Peoria 
& Western Railway Company, was organized for 
the purpose of taking over the property. In 1893 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company obtained a 
controlling interest in the stock, and, in 1894, an 
agreement, for joint ownership and management, 
was entered into between that corporation and 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- 
pany. The total capitalization, in 1898, was 
§9,712,433, of which §4,076,900 was in stock and 
§4,895,000 in bonds. 

TOLEDO, ST. LOUIS Sc KANSAS CITY RAIL- 
ROAD. This line crosses the State in a northeast 
direction from East St. Louis to Humrick, near 
the Indiana State line, with Toledo as its eastern 
terminus. The length of the entire line is 450.73 
miles, of which 179i/2 miles are operated in Illi- 
nois. — (History.) The Illinois portion of the 
line grew out of the union of charters granted to 
the Tuscola, Charleston & Vincennes and the 
Charleston, Neoga & St. Louis Railroad Com- 
panies, which were consolidated in 1S81 with 
certain Indiana lines under the name of the 
Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad. During 
1882 a narrow-gauge road was constructed from 
Ridge Farm, in Vermilion County, to East St. 
Louis (172 miles). In 1885 this was sold under 
foreclosure and, in June, 1886, consolidated with 
the main line under the name of the Toledo, St. 
Louis & Kansas City Railroad. The whole line 
was changed to standard gauge in 1887-89, and 
otherwise materially improved, but, in 1893, 
went into the hands of receivers. Plans of re- 
organization have been under consideration, but 
the receivers were still in control in 1898. 

TOLEDO, WABASH & WESTERN RAIL- 
ROAD. {See Wabash Railroad.) 

TOLONO, a city in Champaign County, situ- 
ated at the intersection of the Wabash and the 
Illinois Central Railroads, 9 miles south of Cham- 
paign and 37 miles east-northeast of Decatur. It 
is the business center of a prosperous agricultural 
region. The town has five churches, a graded 
school, a bank, a button factor}', and a weeklv 
newspaper. Population (18S0), 905; (1890), 902; 
(1900), 845. 

TONICA, a village of La Salle County, on the 
Illinois Central Railwaj-, 9 miles south of La Salle; 
the district is agricultural, but the place has some 



manufactures and a newspaper. Population 
(1890), 473; (1900), 497. 

TONTY, Chevalier Henry de, explorer and sol- 
dier, born at Gaeta, Italy, about 1650 What is 
now known as the Tontine sy.stem of insurance 
undoubtedly originated with his father. The 
younger Tonty was adventurous, and, even as a 
youth, took part in numerous land and naval 
encounters. In the course of his experience he 
lost a hand, which was replaced by an iron or 
copper substitute. He embarked with La Salle 
in 1678, and aided in the construction of a fort at 
Niagara. He advanced into the country of the 
Illinois and established friendly relations with 
them, only to witness the defeat of his putative 
savage allies bj- the Iroquois. After various 
encounters (chiefly under the direction of La 
Salle) with the Indians in Illinois, he returned 
to Green Bay in 1681. The same year — xmder La 
Salle's orders — he began the erection of Fort St. 
Louis, on what is now called "Starved Rook" in 
La Salle County. In 1683 he descended the Mis- 
sissippi to its mouth, with La Salle, but was 
ordered back to Mackinaw for assistance. In 
1684 he returned to Illinois and successfully 
repulsed the Iroquois from Fort St. Louis. In 
1686 he again descended the Mississippi in search 
of La Salle. Disheartened by the death of his 
commander and the loss of his early comrades, 
he took up his residence with the Illinois Indians. 
Among them he was found by Iberville in 1700, 
as a hunter and fur-trader. He died, in Mobile, 
in September, 1704. He was La Salle's most effi- 
cient coadjutor, and next to his ill-fated leader, 
did more than any other of the early French 
explorers to make Illinois known to the civilized 
world. 

TOPOiiR.iPHY. Illinois is, generally speak- 
ing, an elevated table-land. If low water at 
Cairo be adopted as the maximum depression, and 
the smnmits of the two ridges hereinafter men- 
tioned as the highest points of elevation, the alti- 
tude of this table land above the sea-level varies 
from 300 to 850 feet, the mean elevation being 
about 600 feet. The State has no mountain 
chains, and its few hills are probably the result 
of unequal denudation during the drift epoch. 
In some localities, particularly in the valley of 
the upper Mississippi, the streams have cut 
channels from 300 to 300 feet deep through the 
nearly horizontal strata, and here are found pre- 
cipitous scarps, but, for the most part, the 
fundamental rocks are covered by a thick layer 
of detrital material. In the northwest there is a 
broken tract of uneven ground ; the central por- 



526 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



tion of the State is almost wholly tiat prairie, 
and, in the alluvial lands in the State, there are 
many deep Talle3's, eroded by the action of 
streams. The surface generally slopes toward 
the south and southwest, but the uniformity is 
broken by two ridges, which cross the State, one 
in either extremity. Tlie northern ridge crosses 
the Rock River at Grand Detour and the Illinois 
at Split Rock, with an extreme altitude of 800 to 
8oO feet above sea level, though the altitude of 
Jlount Morris, in Ogle County, exceeds 900 feet. 
That in the south consists of a range of hills in 
the latitude of Jonesboro, and extending from 
Shawneetown to Grand Tower. These hills are 
also about 800 feet above the level of the ocean. 
The highest point in the State is in Jo Daviess 
County, just south of the Wisconsin State line 
(near Scale's Mound) reaching an elevation of 
1,257 feet above sea-level, while the highest in 
the south is in the northeast corner of Pope 
County — 1,046 feet — a spur of the Ozark moun- 
tains. The following statistics regarding eleva- 
tions are taken from a report of Prof. C. W. 
Rolfe, of the University of Illinois, based on 
observations made under the auspices of the Illi- 
nois Board of World's Fair Commissioners: The 
lowest gauge of the Ohio river, at its mouth 
(above sea-level), is 268.58 feet, and the mean 
level of Lake Michigan at Chicago 581.28 feet. 
The altitudes of a few prominent points are as 
follows : Highest point in Jackson County, 695 
feet; "Bald Knob" in Union County, 985; high- 
est point in Cook County (Barrington), 818; in La 
Salle County (Mendota), 747; in Livingston 
(Strawn), 770; in Will (Monee), 804; in Pike 
(Arden), 790; in Lake (Lake Zurich), 880; in 
Bureau, 910; in Boone, 1,010; in Lee (Carnahan), 
1,017; in Stephenson (Waddam's Grove), 1,018; 
in Kane (Briar Hill), 974; in Winnebago, 985. 
The elevations of important towns are : Peoria, 
465; Jacksonville. 602; Springfield, 596; Gales- 
burg, 755; Joliet, 537; Rockford, 728; Blooming- 
ton, 821. Outside of the immediate valleys of 
the streams, and a few isolated groves or copses, 
little timber is found in the northern and central 
portions of the State, and such growth as there 
is, lacks the thriftiness characteristic of the for- 
ests in the Ohio valley. These forests cover a 
belt extending some sixty miles north of Cairo, 
and, while they generally include few coniferous 
trees, they abound in various species of oak, 
black and white walnut, white and yellow pop- 
lar, ash, elm, sugar-maple, linden, honey locust, 
Cottonwood, mulberry, sycamore, pecan, persim- 
mon, and (in the immediate valley of the Ohio) 



the cypress. From a commercial point of view, 
Illinois loses nothing through the lack of timbei 
over three-fourths of the State's area. Chicago 
is an accessible market for the product of the 
forests of the upper lakes, so that the supply of 
lumber is ample, while extensive coal-fields sup- 
ply abundant fuel. The rich soil of tlie prairies, 
with its abundance of organic matter (see Geo- 
logical Formations) , more than compensates for 
the want of pine forests, whose soil is ill adapted 
to agriculture. About two-thirds of the entire 
boundary of the State consists of navigable 
waters. These, with their tributary streams, 
ensure sufficient drainage. 

TORRENS LAXD TITLE SYSTEM. A system 
for the registration of titles to, and incumbrances 
upon, land, as well as transfers thereof, intended 
to remove all unnecessary obstructions to the 
cheap, simple and safe sale, acquisition and 
transfer of realty. The system has been in suc- 
cessful operation in Canada, Australia, New Zea- 
land and British Columbia for many years, and 
it is also in force in some States in the American 
Union. An act providing for its introduction 
into Illinois was first passed by the Twenty- 
ninth General Assembly, and approved, June 13, 
1895. The final legislation in reference thereto 
was enacted by the succeeding Legislature, and 
was approved, May 1, 1897. It is far more elabo- 
rate in its consideration of details, and is believed 
to be, in many respects, much better adapted to 
accomplish the ends in view, than was the origi- 
nal act of 1895. The law is applicable only to 
counties of the first and second class, and can be 
adopted in no county except by a vote of a 
majority of the qualified voters of the same — the 
vote "for" or "against" to be taken at either the 
November or April elections, or at an election 
for the choice of Judges. Thus far the only 
county to adopt the system has been Cook, and 
there it encountered strong opposition on the 
part of certain parties of influence and wealth. 
After its adoption, a test case was brought, rais- 
ing the question of the constitutionality of the 
act. T)ie issue was taken to tlie Supreme Court, 
which tribunal fiuallj' upheld the law. — The 
Torrens system substitutes a certificate of regis- 
tration and of transfer for the more elaborate 
deeds and mortgages in use for centuries. Under 
it there can be no actual transfer of a title until 
the same is entered upon the public land regis- 
ter, kept in the office of the Registrar, in which 
case the deed or mortgage becomes a mere powei 
of attorney to authorize the transfer to be made, 
upon the principle of an ordinarj' stock transfer, 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



527 



or of the registration of a United States bond, 
the actual transfer and public notice thereof 
being simultaneous. A brief synopsis of the pro- 
visions of the Illinois statute is given below: 
Recorders of deeds are made Registrars, and 
required to give bonds of either §50,000 or §200,- 
000, according to the population of the county. 
Any person or corporation, having an interest in 
land, may make application to any court having 
chancery jurisdiction, to have his title thereto 
registered. Such application must be in writ- 
ing, signed and verified by oath, and must con- 
form, in matters of specification and detail, with 
the requirements of the act. The court may refer 
the application to one of the standing examiners 
appointed by the Registrar, who are required to 
be competent attorneys and to give bond to ex- 
amine into the title, as well as the truth of the 
applicant's statements. Inmiediately upon the 
filing of the application, notice thereof is given 
by the clerk, through publication and the issuance 
of a summons to be served, as in other proceed- 
ings in chancery, against all persons mentioned 
in the petition as having or claiming any inter- 
est in the property described. Anj- person inter- 
ested, whether named as a defendant or not, may 
enter an appearance within the time allowed. A 
failure to enter an appearance is regarded as a 
confession by default. The court, in passing 
upon the application, is in no case bound by the 
examiner's report, but maj' require other and 
further proof ; and, in its final adjudication, passes 
upon all questions of title and incumbrance, 
directing the Registrar to register the title in the 
party in whom it is to be vested, and making 
provision as to the manner and order in which 
incumbrances thereon shall appear upon the 
certificate to be issued. An appeal may be 
allowed to the Supreme Court, if prayed at the 
time of entering the decree, upon like terms as 
in other cases in chancerj-; and a writ of error 
may be sued out from that tribunal within two 
years after the entry of the order or decree. 
The period last mentioned may be said to be the 
statutory period of limitation, after which the 
decree of the court must be regarded as final, 
although safeguards are provided for those who 
may have been defrauded, and for a few other 
classes of persons Upon the filing of the order 
or decree of the court, it becomes the duty of the 
Registrar to issue a certificate of title, the form 
ol which is prescribed by the act, making such 
notations at the end as shall show and preserve 
the priorities of all estates, mortgages, incum- 
brances and changes to which the owner's title is 



subject. For the purpose of preserving evidence 
of the owner's handwriting, a receipt for the 
certificate, duly witnessed or acknowledged, is 
required of him, which is preserved in the Regis- 
trar's office. In case any registered owner 
should desire to transfer the whole or any part of 
his estate, or any interest therein, he is required 
to execute a conveyance to the transferee, which, 
together with the certificate of title last issued, 
must be surrendei-ed to the Registrar. Tliat 
official thereupon issues a new certificate, stamp- 
ing the word "cancelled" across the surrendered 
certificate, as well as upon the corresponding 
entry in his books of record. When land is first 
brought within the operation of the act, the 
receiver of the certificate of title is required to 
pay to the Registrar one-tenth of one per cent of 
the value of the land, the aggregate so received 
to be deposited with and invested by the County 
Treasurer, and reser\"ed as an indemnity fund 
for the reimbursement of persons sustaining any 
loss through any omission, mistake or malfea- 
sance of the Registrar or his subordinates. The 
advantage claimed for the Torrens system is, 
chiefly, that titles registered thereunder can be 
dealt with more safely, quickly and inexpensively 
than under the old system ; it being possible to 
close the entire transaction within an hour or 
two, without the need of an abstract of title, 
while (as the law is administered in Cook County) 
the cost of transfer is only S3. It is asserted that 
a title, once registered, can be dealt with almost 
as quickly and cheaply, and quite as safely, as 
shares of stock or registered bonds. 

TOULOX, the county-seat of Stark County, on 
the Peoria & Rock Island Railroad, 37 miles north- 
northwest of Peoria, and 11 miles southeast of 
Galva. Besides the county court- house, the town 
has five churches and a high school, an academy, 
steam granite works, two banks, and two weekly 
papers. Population (1880), 967; (1890), 945; (1900), 
1,057. 

TOWER HILL, a village of Shelby County, on 
tlie Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
and the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Rail- 
roads, 7 miles east of Pana ; has bank, grain ele- 
vators, and coal mine. Pop. (1900), 615. 

TOWXSHEXD. Richard W., lawyer and Con- 
gressman, was born in Prince George's County, 
Md., April 30, 1840. Between the ages of 10 
and 18 he attended public and private schools 
at Washington, D. C. In 1858 he came to 
Illinois, where he began teaching, at the same 
time reading law with S. S. Marshall, at Mc- 
Leansboro, where he was admitted to the bar 



528 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLIXOLS. 



in 1863, and where he began practice. From 1863 
to 1868 he was Circuit Clerk of Hamilton County, 
and, from 1868 to 1872, Prosecuting Attorney for 
the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. In 1873 he removed 
to Shawneetown, where he became an officer of 
the Gallatin National Bank. From 1C64 to 1875 
he was a member of the Democratic State Cen- 
tral Committee, and a delegate to the National 
Democratic Convention at Baltimore, in 1872. 
For twelve years (1877 to 1889) he represented 
his District in Congress; was re-elected in 1888, 
but died, March 9, 1889, a few days after the 
beginning of his seventh term. 

TRACY, John M., artist, was born in Illinois 
about 1842 ; served in an Illinois regiment during 
the Civil War; studied painting in Paris in 
1866-76; established himself as a portrait painter 
in St. Louis and, later, won a high reputation as 
a painter of animals, being regarded as an author- 
ity on the anatomy of the horse and the dog. 
Died, at Ocean Springs, Miss., March 20, 1893. 

TREASURERS. (See State Treasurers.) 

TREAT, Samuel Hubbel, lawyer and jurist, 
was born at Plainfield, Otsego County, N. Y., 
June 21, 1811, worked on his father's farm and 
studied law at Richfield, where he was admitted 
to practice. In 1834 he came to Springfield, 111. , 
traveling most of the way on foot. Here he 
formed a partnership with George Forquer, who 
had held the offices of Secretary of State and 
Attorney-General. In 1839 he was appointed a 
Circuit Judge, and, on the reorganization of the 
Supreme Court in 1841, was elevated to the 
Supreme bench, being acting Chief Justice at the 
time of the adoption of the Constitution of 1848. 
Having been elected to the Supreme bench under 
the new Constitution, he remained in office until 
March, 1855, when he resigned to take the posi- 
tion of Judge of the United States District Court 
for the Southern District of Illinois, to which he 
had been appointed by President Pierce. This 
position he continued to occupy until his death, 
which occurred at Springfield, March 27, 1887. 
Judge Treat's judicial career was one of the long- 
est in the history of the State, covering a period 
of forty-eight years, of which fourteen were 
spent upon the Supreme bench, and thirty-two 
in the position of Judge of the United States Dis- 
trict Court. 

TREATIES. {See Greenville, Treaty of: Indian 
Treaties. ) 

TREE, Lambert, jurist, diplomat and ex-Con- 
gressman, was born in Washington, D. C. , Nov. 
29, 1832, of an ancestry distinguished in the War 
of the Revolution. He received a superior clas- 



sical and professional education, and was admit- 
ted to the bar, at Washington, in October, 1855. 
Removing to Chicago soon afterward, his profes- 
sional career has been chiefly connected with 
that city. In 1864 he was chosen President of 
the Law Institute, and served as Judge of the 
Circuit Court of Cook County, from 1870 to 1875, 
when he resigned. The three following years he 
spent in foreign travel, returning to Chicago in 
1878. In that year, and again in 1880, he was 
the Democratic candidate for Congress from the 
Fourth Illinois District, but was defeated by his 
Republican opponent. In 1885 he was the candi- 
date of his party for United States Senator, but 
was defeated by John A. Logan, bj' one vote. In 
1884 he was a member of the National Democratic 
Convention which first nominated Grover Cleve- 
land, and, in July, 1885, President Cleveland 
appointed him Minister to Belgium, conferring 
the Russian mission upon him in September, 1888. 
On March 3, 1889, he resigned this post and 
returned home. In 1890 he was appointed by 
President Harrison a Commissioner to the Inter- 
national Monetary Conference at Washington. 
The year before he had attended (altliough not as 
a delegate) the International Conference, at Brus- 
sels, looking to the suppression of the slave-trade, 
where he exerted all his influence on the side of 
humanity. In 1892 Belgium conferred upon him 
the distinction of "Councillor of Honor" upon its 
commission to the World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion. In 1896 Judge Tree was one of the most 
earnest opponents of the free-silver policy, and, 
after the Spanish- American War, a zealous advo- 
cate of the policy of retaining the territory 
acquired from Spain. 

TREMONT, a town of Tazewell County, on the 
Peoria Division of the Cleveland, Cincinnati. 
Chicago & St. Louis Railway, 9 miles southeast 
of Pekin; has two banks, two telephone 
exchanges, and one newspaper. Pop. (1900), 768. 

TRENTON, a town of Clinton County, on the 
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway, 31 miles 
east of St. Louis; in agricultural district; has 
creamery, milk condensery, two coal mines, six 
churches, a public school and one newspaper. 
Pop. (1890), 1,384; (1900), 1,706; (1904), about 3,000. 

TROY, a village of Madison County, on the 
Terre Haute & Indianapolis railroad, 21 miles 
northeast of St. Louis,; has churches, a bank and 
a newspaper. Pop. (1900), 1,080. 

TRUITT, James Madison, lawyer and soldier, 
a native of Trimble County, Ky. , was born Feb. 
12, 1842, but lived in Illinois since 1843, his father 
having settled near Carrollton that year; was 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



529 



educated at Hillsboro and at McKendree College ; 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventeenth 
Illinois Volunteers in lH(i2, and was promoted 
from the ranks to Lieutenant. After the war he 
studied law with Jesse J. Phillips, now of tlie 
Supreme Court, and, in 1872, was elected to the 
Twenty -eighth General Assembly, and, in 1888, a 
Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket. 
Mr. Truitt has been twice a prominent but unsuc- 
cessful candidate for the Republican nomination 
for Attorney-General. His home is at Hillsboro, 
where he is engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion. Died July 36, 1900. 

TRUMBULL, Lyman, statesman, was born at 
Colchester, Conn., Oct. 12, 1813, descended from 
a historical family, being a grand-nephew of 
Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut, from 
whom the name "Brother Jonathan" was derived 
as au appellation for Americans. Having received 
an academic education in his native town, at the 
age of 16 he began teaching a district school near 
his home, went South four years later, and en- 
gaged in teaching at Greenville, Ga. Here he 
studied law with Judge Hiram Warner, after- 
wards of the Supreme Court, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1837. Leaving Georgia the same year, he 
came to Illinois on horseback, visiting Vandalia, 
Belleville, Jacksonville, Springfield, Treniont and 
La Salle, and finally reaching Chicago, then a 
village of four or five thousand inhabitants. At 
Jacksonville he obtained a license to practice 
from Judge Lockwood, and, after visiting Michi- 
gan and his native State, he settled at Belleville, 
which continued to be his home for twenty years. 
His entrance into public life began with his elec- 
tion as Representative in the General Assembly 
in 1840. This was followed, in February, 1841, 
by his appointment by Governor Carlin, Secre- 
tary of State, as the successor of Stephen A. 
Douglas, who, after holding the position only two 
months, had resigned to accept a seat on the 
Supreme bench. Here he remained two years, 
when he was removed by Governor Ford. March 
4, 1843, but, five years later (1848), was elected a 
Justice of the Supreme Court, was re-elected in 
1853, but resigned in 18.'53 on account of impaired 
health. A year later (1854) he was elected to 
Congress from the Belleville District as an anti- 
Nebraska Democrat, but, before taking his seat, 
was promoted to the United States Senate, as the 
successor of General Shields in the memorable con- 
test of 1855, which resulted in the defeat of Abra- 
ham Lincoln. Senator Trumbull's career of 
eighteen years in the United States Senate (being 
re-elected in 1861 and 1867) is one of the most 



memorable in the hi.storj' of that body, covering, 
as it does, the whole history of the war for the 
Union, and the period of reconstruction which 
followed it. During this period, as Chairman of 
the Senate Committee on Judiciary, he had more 
to do in shaping legislation on war and recon- 
struction measures than any other single member 
of that body. While he disagreed -with a large 
majority of his Republican associates on the ques- 
tion of Andrew Johnson's impeachment, he was 
always found in sympatliy with them on the vital 
questions affecting the war and restoration of the 
Union. The Civil Rights Bill and Freedmen's 
Bureau Bills were shaped by his hand. In 1873 
he joined in the "'Liberal Republican" movement 
and afterwards co-operated with the Democratic 
party, being their candidate for Governor in 
1880. From 1863 his home was in Chicago, 
where, after retiring from the Senate, he con- 
tinued in the practice of his profession until his 
death, which occurred in that city, June 25, 1896. 

TUG MILLS. These were a sort of primitive 
machine used in grinding corn in Territorial and 
early State days. The mechanism consisted of an 
upright shaft, into the upper end of which were 
fastened bars, resembling those in the capstan of 
a ship. Into the outer end of each of these bars 
was driven a pin. A belt, made of a broad strip 
of ox-hide, twisted into a sort of rope, was 
stretched around these pins and wrapped twice 
around a circular piece of wood called a trundle 
head, through which passed a perpendicular flat 
bar of iron, which turned the miU-stone, usually 
about eighteen inches in diameter. From the 
upright shaft projected a beam, to which were 
hitched one or two hordes, which furnished the 
motive power. Oxen were sometimes employed 
as motive power in lieu of horses. These rudi- 
mentary contrivances were capable of grinding 
about twelve bushels of corn, each, per day. 

TULET, Murray Floyd, lawyer and jurist, was 
born at Louisville, Ky., March 4, 1837, of English 
extraction and descended from the earh' settlers 
of Virginia. His father died in 1833, and, eleven 
years later, his mother, having married Col. 
Richard J. Hamilton, for many years a prominent 
lawyer of Chicago, removed with her family to 
that city. Young Tuley began reading law with 
his step-father and completed his studies at the 
Louisville Law Institute in 1847, the same year 
being admitted to the bar in Chicago. About the 
same time he enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Volun- 
teers for service in the Mexican War, and was 
commissioned First Lieutenant. The war ha^nng 
ended, he settled at Santa Fe, N. M., where he 



530 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



practiced law, also served as Attorney-General 
and in the Territorial Legislature. Returning to 
Chicago in 1854, he was associated in practice, 
successively, with Andrew Harvie, Judge Gary 
and J. N. Barker, and finally as head of the firm 
of Tuley, Stiles & Lewis. From 1869 to 1873 he 
was Corporation Counsel, and during this time 
framed the General Incorporation Act for Cities, 
under which the City of Chicago was reincor- 
porated. In 1879 he was elevated to the bench 
of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and re- 
elected every six years thereafter, his last election 
being in 1897. He is now serving his fourth 
term, some ten years of his incumbency having 
been spent in the capacity of Chief Justice. 

TENMCLIFFE, Damon G., lawyer and jurist, 
was born in Herkimer County, N. Y. , August 20, 
1829 ; at the age of 20, emigrated to Illinois, set- 
tling in Vermont, Fulton County, where, for a 
time, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He 
subsequently studied law, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1853. In 1854 he established himself 
at Macomb, McDonough County, where he built 
up a large and lucrative practice. In 1868 he 
was chosen Presidential Elector on the Repub- 
lican ticket, and, from February to June, 1885, 
by appointment of Governor Oglesby, occupied a 
seat on the bench of the Supreme Court, vice 
Pinkney H. "Walker, deceased, who had been one 
of his first professional preceptors. 

TURCHIN, John Basil (Ivan Vasilevitch Tur- 
chinoff), soldier, engineer and author, was born 
in Russia, Jan. 30, 1822. He graduated from the 
artillery school at St. Petersburg, in 1841, and 
was commissioned ensign; participated in the 
Hungarian campaign of 1849, and, in 1852, was 
assigned to the staff of the Imperial Guards; 
served through the Crimean War, rising to the 
rank of Colonel, and being made senior staff 
officer of the active corps. In 1856 he came to 
this country, settling in Chicago, and, for five 
years, was in the service of the Illinois Central 
Railway Company as topographical engineer. In 
1861 he was commissioned Colonel of the Nine- 
teenth Illinois Volunteers, and, after leading his 
regiment in Missouri, Kentucky and Alabama, 
was, on July 7, 1862, promoted to a Brigadier- 
Generalship, being attached to the Army of the 
Cumberland until 1864, when he resigned. After 
the war he was, for six years, solicitor of patents 
at Chicago, but, in 1873. returned to engineering. 
In 1879 he established a Polish colony at Radom, 
in Washington County, in this State, and settled 
as a farmer. He is an occasional contributor to 
the press, writing usually on military or scientific 



subjects, and is the author of the "Campaign and 
Battle of Chickamauga" (Chicago, 1888). 

TURNER (now WEST CHICAGO), a town and 
manufacturing center in Winfield Township, Du 
Page County, 30 miles west of Chicago, at tlie 
junction of two divisions of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern and the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroads. The town 
has a rolling mill, manufactories of wagons and 
pumps, and railroad repair shops. It also has five 
churches, a graded school, and two newspapers. 
Pop. (1900), 1,877; with suburb, 2,270. 

TURNER, (Col.) Henry L., soldier and real- 
estate operator, was born at Oberlin. Ohio, 
August 26, 1845, and received a part of his edu- 
cation in the college there. During the Civil 
War he served as First Lieutenant in the One 
Hundred and Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers, and 
later, with the same rank in a colored regiment, 
taking part in the operations about Richmond, 
the capture of Fort Fisher, of Wilmington and of 
Gen. Joe Johnston's army. Coming to Chi- 
cago after the close of the war, he became con- 
nected with the business office of "The Advance,"' 
but later was employed in the banking house of 
Jay Cooke & Co., in Philadelphia. On the failure 
of that concern, in 1872, he returned to Chicago 
and bought "The Advance, " which he conducted 
some two years, when he sold out and engaged in 
the real estate business, with which he has since 
been identified — being President of the Chicago 
Real Estate Board in 1888. He has also been 
President of the Western Publishing Company 
and a Trustee of Oberlin College. Colonel Turner 
is an enthusiastic member of the Illinois National 
Guard and, on the declaration of war between the 
United States and Spain, in April, 1898, promptly 
resumed his connection with the First Regiment 
of the Guard, and finally led it to Santiago de 
Cuba during the fighting there — his regiment 
being the only one from Illinois to see actual serv- 
ice in the field during the progress of the war. 
Colonel Turner won the admiration of his com- 
mand and the entire nation by the manner in 
which he discharged his duty. The regiment 
was mustered out at Chicago, Nov. 17, 1898, when 
he retired to private life. 

TURNER, John Bice, Railway President, was 
born at Colchester, Delaware County, N. Y., Jan. 
14, 1799; after a brief business career in his 
native State, he became identified with the con- 
struction and operation of railroads. Among the 
works with which he was thus connected, were 
the Delaware Division of the New York & Erie 
and the Troy & Schenectady Roads. In 1843 he 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



531 



came to Chicago, having previously purchased a 
large body of land at Blue Island. In 1847 he 
joined with W. B. Ogden and others, in resusci- 
tating the Galena & Chicago Union Railway, 
which had been incorporated in 1836. He became 
President of the Company in 18.50, and assisted in 
constructing various sections of road in Northern 
Illinois and Wisconsin, which have since become 
portions of the Chicago & Northwestern system. 
He was also one of the original Directors of the 
North Side Street Railway Company, organized 
in 1859. Died, Feb. 26, 1871. 

TURJfER, Jonathan Baldwin, educator and 
agriculturist, was born in Templeton, Mass. , Dec. 
7, 1805; grew up on a farm and, before reaching 
his majority, began teaching in a country school. 
After spending a short time in an academy at 
Salem, in 1827 he entered the preparatory depart- 
ment of Yale College, supporting himself, in part, 
by manual labor and teaching in a gj'mnasium. 
In 1829 he matriculated in the classical depart- 
ment at Yale, graduated in 1883, and the same 
year accepted a position as tutor in Illinois Col- 
lege at Jacksonville, 111., which had been opened, 
three years previous, by the late Dr. J. M. Sturte- 
vant. In the next fourteen years he gave in- 
struction in nearly every branch embraced in the 
college curriculum, though holding, during most 
of this period, the chair of Rhetoric and English 
Literature. In 1847 he retired from college 
duties to give attention to scientific agriculture, 
in which he had always manifested a deep inter- 
est. The cultivation and sale of the Osage orange 
as a hedge plant now occupied his attention for 
many years, and its successful introduction in 
Illinois and other Western States — where the 
absence of timber rendered some substitute a 
necessity for fencing purposes — was largely due 
to his efiforts. At the same time he took a deep 
interest in the cause of practical scientific edu- 
cation for the industrial classes, and, about 18.50, 
began formulating that system of industrial edu- 
cation which, after twelve years of labor and 
agitation, he had the satisfaction of seeing 
recognized in the act adopted by Congress, and 
approved by President Lincoln, in July, 1862, 
making liberal donations of public lands for the 
establishment of "Industrial Colleges" in the 
several States, out of which grew the University 
of Illinois at Champaign. While Professor Tur- 
ner liad zealous colaborers in this field, in Illinois 
and elsewhere, to him, more than to any other 
single man in the Nation, belongs the credit for 
this magnificent achievement. (See Education. 
and University of Illinois.) He was also one of 



the chief factors in founding and building up 
the Illinois State Teachers' Association, and the 
State Agricultural and Horticultural Societies. 
His address on "The Millennium of Labor," 
delivered at the first State Agricultural Fair at 
Springfield, in 1853, is still remembered as mark- 
ing an era in industrial progress in Illinois. A 
zealous champion of free thought, in both political 
and religious affairs, he long bore the reproach 
which attached to the radical Abolitionist, only 
to enjo}-, in later years, the respect universally 
accorded to those who had the courage and 
independence to avow their honest convictions. 
Prof. Turner was twice an unsuccessful candidate 
for Congress— once as a Republican and once as 
an "Independent" — and wrote much on political, 
religious and educational topics. The evening of 
an honored and useful life was spent among 
friends in Jack.sonville, which was his home for 
more than sixtj' years, his death taking place in 
that city, Jan. 10, 1899, at the advanced age of 
98 years.— Mrs. Mary Turner Carriel, at the pres- 
ent time (1899) one of the Trustees of the Univer- 
sity of Illinois, is Prof. Turner's only daughter. 

TURNER, Thomas J., lawyer and Congress- 
man, born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 5, 
1815. Leaving home at the age of 18, he spent 
three years in Indiana and in the mining dis- 
tricts about Galena and in Southern Wisconsin, 
locating in Stephenson County, in 1836, where he 
was admitted to the bar in 1840, and elected 
Probate Judge in 1841. Soon afterwards Gov- 
ernor Ford appointed him Prosecuting Attorney, 
in which capacity he secured the conviction and 
punisliment of the murderers of Colonel Daven- 
port. In 1846 he was elected to Congress as a 
Demociat, and, the following year, founded "The 
Prairie Democrat" (afterward "The Freeport 
Bulletin"), the first newspaper published in the 
count}-. Elected to the Legislature in 1854, he 
was chosen Speaker of the House, the next year 
becoming the first Mayor of Freeport. He was a 
member of the Peace Conference of 1861. and, in 
May of that year, was commissioned, by Governor 
Yates, Colonel of the Fifteenth Illinois Volun- 
teers, but resigned in 1862. He served as a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, 
and. in 1871, was again elected to the Legisla- 
ture, where he received the Democratic caucus 
nomination for United States Senator against 
General Logan. In 1871 he removed to Chicago, 
and was twice an unsuccessful candidate for the 
office of State's Attorney. In February, 1874, he 
went to Hot Springs. Ark., for medical treatment, 
and died there, April 3 following. 



532 



IIISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



TUSCOLA, a city and the county-seat of 
Douglas County, located at the intersection of the 
Illinois Central and two other trunk lines of rail- 
way, 22 miles south of Champaign, and 36 miles 
east of Decatur. Besides a brick court-house it 
has five churches, a graded school, a national 
bank, two weekly newspapers and two establish- 
ments for the manufacture of carriages and 
wagons. Population (1880), 1,457; (1890), 1,897; 
(1900), 2,5G9. 

TUSCOLA, CHARLESTON & VINCENINES 
RAILROAD. (See Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas 
City Railroad.) 

TUTHILL, Richard Stanley, jui-ist, was born 
at Vergennes, Jackson County, 111., Nov. 10, 1841. 
After passing through the common schools of his 
native county, he took a preparatory course in a 
high school at St. Louis and in Illinois College, 
Jacksonville, when he entered Middlebury Col- 
lege, Vt., graduating there in 1863. Immediately 
thereafter he joined the Federal army at Vicks- 
burg, and, after serving for some time in a com- 
pany of scouts attached to General Logan's 
command, was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 
First Michigan Light Artillery, with which he 
served until the close of the war, meanwhile 
being twice promoted. During this time he was 
with General Sherman in the march to Meridian, 
and in the Atlanta campaign, also took part with 
General Thomas in the operations against the 
rebel General Hood in Tennessee, and in the 
battle of Nashville. Having resigned his com- 
mission in May, 1865, he took up the study of 
law, which he had prosecuted as he had opportu- 
nity while in the army, and was admitted to the 
bar at Nashville in 1866, afterwards serving for 
a time as Prosecuting Attorney on the Nashville 
circuit. In 1873 he removed to Cliicago, two 
years later was elected City Attorney and re- 
elected in 1877 ; was a delegate to the Republican 
National Convention of 1880 and, in 1884, was 
appointed United States District Attorney for 
the Northern District, serving until 1886. In 
1887 he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of 
Cook County to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of Judge Rogers, was re-elected for a full 
term in 1891, and again in 1897. 

TTNDALE, Sharon, Secretary of State, born in 
Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 19, 1816; at the age of 17 
came to Belleville, 111., and was engaged for a 
time in mercantile business, later being employed 
in a surveyor's corps under the internal improve- 
ment system of 1837. Having married in 1839, 
he returned soon after to Philadelphia, where he 
engaged in mercantile business with his father ; 



then came to Illinois, a second time,in 1845, spend- 
ing a year or two in business at Peoria. About 
1847 he returned to Belleville and entered upon a 
course of mathematical study, with a view to 
fitting himself more thoroughly for the profession 
of a civil engineer. In 1851 he graduated in 
engineering, at Cambridge, Mass. , after which he 
was employed for a time on the Sunbury & Erie 
Railroad, and later on certain Illinois railroads. 
In 1857 he was elected County Surveyor of St. 
Clair County, and, in 1861, by appointment of 
President Lincoln, became Postmaster of the city 
of Belleville. He held this position until 1864, 
when he received the Republican nomination for 
Secretary of State and was elected, remaining in 
office four years. He was an earnest advocate, 
and virtually author, of the first act for the regis- 
tration of voters in Illinois, passed at the session 
of 1865. After retiring from office in 1869, he 
continued to reside in Springfield, and was em- 
ployed for a time in the survey of the Gilman, 
Clinton & Springfield Railway — now the Spring- 
field Division of the Illinois Central. At an early 
hour on the morning of April 29, 1871, while 
going from his home to the railroad station at 
Springfield, to take the train for St. Louis, he was 
assassinated upon the street by shooting, as sup- 
posed for the purpose of robbery — his dead body 
being found a few hours later at the scene of the 
tragedy. Mr. Tyndale was a brother of Gen. 
Hector Tyndale of Pennsylvania, who won a 
high reputation by his services during the war. 
His second wife, who survived him, was a 
daughter of Shadrach Penn, an editor of con- 
siderable reputation who was the contemporary 
and rival of George D, Prentice at Louisville, for 
some years. 

"UNDERGROUND RAILROAD," THE. A 
liistory of Illinois would be incomplete without 
reference to the unique system which existed 
there, as in other Northern States, from forty to 
seventy years ago, known by the somewhat mys- 
terious title of "The Underground Railroad." 
The origin of the term has been traced (probably 
in a spirit of facetiousness) to the expression of 
a Kentucky planter who, having pursued a fugi- 
tive slave across the Ohio River, was so surprised 
by his sudden disappearance, as soon as he had 
reached the opposite shore, that he was led to 
remark. "The nigger must have gone off on an 
underground road." From "underground road" 
to "underground railroad," the transition would 
appear to have been easy, especially in view of 
the increased facility with which the work was 
performed when railroads came into use. For 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



533 



readers of the present generation, it may be well 
to explain what "The Underground Railroad" 
really was. It may be defined as the figurative 
appellation for a spontaneous movement in the 
free States — extending, sometimes, into the 
slave States themselves — to assist slaves in their 
efforts to escape from bondage to freedom. The 
movement dates back to a period close to the 
Revolutionary War, long before it received a 
definite name. Assistance given to fugitives 
from one State by citizens of another, became a 
cause of complaint almost as soon as the Govern- 
ment was organized. In fact, the first President 
himself lost a slave who took refuge at Ports- 
mouth, N. H., where the public sentiment was 
so strong against his return, that the patriotic 
and philosophic "Father "of his Country" chose 
to let him remain unmolested, rather than "excite 
a mob or riot, or even uneasy sensations, in the 
minds of well-disposed citizens. " That the mat- 
ter was already one of concern in the minds of 
slaveholders, is shown by the fact that a provision 
was inserted in the Constitution for their concili- 
ation, guaranteeing the return of fugitives from 
labor, as well as from justice, from one State to 
another. 

In 179.3 Congress passed tlie first Fugitive Slave 
Law, which was signed by President Washing- 
ton. This law provided that the owner, his 
agent or attorney, might follow the slave into 
any State or Territory, and, upon oath or afii- 
davit before a court or magistrate, be entitled 
to a warrant for his return. Any person who 
should hinder the arrest of the fugitive, or who 
should harbor, aid or assist him, kno\ving him 
to be such, was subject to a fine of §500 for each 
offense. — In 1850, fifty -seven years later, the first 
act having proved inefficacious, or conditions 
having changed, a second and more stringent 
law was enacted. This is the one usually referred 
to in discussions of the subject. It provided for 
an increased fine, not to exceed SI, 000, and im- 
prisonment not exceeding six months, with 
liability for civil damages to the party injured. 
No proof of ownership was required beyond the 
statement of a claimant, and the accused was not 
permitted to testify for himself. The fee of the 
United States Commissioner, before whom the 
case was tried, was ten dollars if he found for 
the claimant: if not, five dollars. This seemed 
to many an indirect form of bribery ; clearly, it 
made it to the Judge's pecuniary advantage to 
decide in favor of the claimant. The law made 
it possible and easy for a white man to arrest, 
and carry into slavery, any free negro who could 



not immediately prove, by other witnesses, that 
he was born free, or had purchased his freedom. 

Instead of discouraging the disposition, on 
the part of the opponents of slavery, to aid fugi- 
tives in their efforts to reach a region where 
they would be secure in their freedom, the effect 
of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 (as that of 1793 
had been in a smaller degree) was the very oppo- 
site of that intended by its authors — unless, 
indeed, they meant to make matters worse. The 
provisions of the act seemed, to many people, so 
unfair, so one-sided, that they rebelled in spirit 
and refused to be made parties to its enforce 
ment. The law aroused the anti-slavery senti- 
ment of the North, and stimulated the active 
friends of the fugitives to take greater risks in 
their behalf. New efforts on the part of the 
slaveholders were met by a determination to 
evade, hinder and nullify the law. 

And here a strange anomaly is presented. The 
slaveholder, in attempting to recover his slave, 
was acting witliin his constitutional and legal 
rights. The slave was his i^roperty in law. He 
had purchased or inlierited his bondman on the 
same plane with his horse or his land, and, apart 
from the right to hold a human being in bond- 
age, regarded his legal rights to the one as good 
as the other. From a legal standpoint his posi- 
tion was impregnable. The slave was his, repre- 
senting so much of money value, and whoever 
was instrumental in the loss of that slave was, 
both theoretically and technical!}', a partner in 
robbery. Therefore he looked on "The Under- 
ground Railwa}-" as the work of thieves, and en- 
tertained bitter hatred toward all concerned in its 
operation. On the other hand, men who were, 
in all other respects, good citizens — often relig- 
iously devout and pillars of the church — became 
bold and flagrant violators of the la%v in relation 
to this sort of property. They set at nought a 
plain provision of the Constitution and the act of 
Congress for its enforcement. Without hope of 
personal gain or reward, at the risk of fine and 
imprisonment, with tlie certainty of social ostra- 
cism and bitter opposition, they harbored the 
fugitive and helped him forward on every 
occasion. And why? Because they saw in him 
a man, with the same inherent right to "life, 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness" that they 
themselves possessed. To them this was a higher 
law than any Legislature. State or National, could 
enact. They denied that there could be truly 
such a thing as property in man. Relieving that 
the law violated human rights, they justified 
themselves in rendering it null and void. 



534 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



For the most part, the "Underground Rail- 
road" operators and promoters were j^lain, 
obscure men, ■without hope of fame or desire for 
notoriety. Yet there were some wliose names 
are conspicuous in history, such as Wendell 
Phillips, Thomas Wentworth Higginson and 
Theodore Parker of Massachusetts ; Gerrit Smith 
and Thurlow Weed of New York: Joshua R. 
Giddings of Ohio, and Owen Lovejoy of Illinois. 
These had their followers and sympatliizers in 
all the Northern States, and even in some por- 
tions of the South, It is a curious fact, that 
some of the most active spirits connected with 
the "Underground Riiilroad" were natives of the 
South, or had resided there long enough to 
become thoroughly acquainted with the "insti- 
tution." Levi CofSn, who had the reputation of 
being the "President of the Underground Rail- 
road'' — at least so far as the region west of the 
Ohio was concerned — was an active operator on 
the line in North Carolina before his removal 
from that State to Indiana in 1826. Indeed, as a 
system, it is claimed to have had its origin at 
Guilford College, in the "Old North State" in 
1819, though the evidence of this may not be 
"onclusive. 

Owing to the peculiar nature of their business, 
no official reports were made, no lists of officers, 
conductors, station agents or operators preserved, 
and few records kept which are now accessible. 
Consequently, we are dependent chiefly upon the 
personal recollection of individual operators for 
a history of their transactions. Each station on 
the road was the house of a "friend" and it is 
significant, in this connection, that in every 
settlement of Friends, or Quakers, there was 
sure to be a house of refuge for the slave. For 
this reason it was, perhaps, that one of the most 
frequently traveled lines extended from Vir- 
ginia and JIaryland through Eastern Pennsyl- 
vania, and then on towards New York or directly 
to Canada. From the proximity of Ohio to 
Virginia and Kentucky, and the fact that it 
offered the shortest route through free soil to 
Canada, it was traversed by more lines than any 
other State, although Indiana was pretty 
thoroughly "grid-ironed" by roads to freedom. 
In all, however, the routes were irregular, often 
zigzag, for purposes of security, and the "con- 
ductor" was any one who conveyed fugitives from 
one station to another The "train" was some- 
times a farm-wagon, loaded with produce for 
market at some town (or depot) on the line, fre- 
quently a closed carriage, and it is related that 
once, in Ohio, a number of carriages conveying 



a large party, were made to represent a funeral 
procession. Occasionalh' the train ran on foot, 
for convenience of side-tracking into the woods 
or a cornfield, in case of pursuit by a wild loco- 
motive. 

Then, again, there were not wanting lawyers 
who, in case the operator, conductor or station 
agent got into trouble, were ready, without fee or 
reward, to defend either him or his human 
freight in the courts. These included such 
names of national repute as Salmon P. Chase, 
Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, William H. 
Seward, Rutherford B. Hayes, Richard H. Dana, 
and Isaac N. Arnold, while, taking the whole 
country over, their "name was legion." And 
there were a few men of wealth, hke Thomas 
Garrett of Delaware, willing to contribute money 
by thousands to their assistance. Although 
technically acting in violation of law — or, as 
claimed by themselves, in obedience to a "higher 
law" — tlie time has already come when there is a 
disposition to look upon the actors as, in a certain 
sense, heroes, and tlieir deeds as fitly belonging 
to the field of romance. 

The most comprehensive collection of material 
relating to the history of this movement has 
been furnished in a recent volume entitled, "The 
Underground Railroad from Slavery to Free- 
dom," by Prof. Wilbur H. Siebert, of Ohio State 
University; and, while it is not wholly free from 
errors, both as to individual names and facts, it 
will probably remain as the best compilation of 
history bearing on this subject — especially as the 
principal actors are fast passing away. One of 
the interesting features of Prof. Sieberfs book is 
a map purporting to give the principal routes 
and stations in the States northwest of the Ohio, 
yet the accuracy of this, as well as the correct- 
ness of personal names given, has been questioned 
by some best informed on the subject. As 
might be expected from its geographical position 
between two slave States — Kentucky and Mis- 
souri — on tlie one hand, and the lakes offering a 
highway to Canada on the other, it is naturally 
to be assumed that Illinois would be an attract- 
ive field, both for the fugitive and his sympa- 
thizer. 

The period of greatest activity of the system in 
this State was betw-een 1840 and 1861 — the latter 
being the year when the pro-slavery party in the 
South, by their attempt forcibly to dissolve tlie 
Union, took the business out of the hands of tlie 
secret agents of the "Underground Railroad," 
and — in a certain sense — placed it in the hands 
of the Union armies. It was in 1841 that A bra- 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



535 



liam Lincoln — then a conservative opponent of 
the extension of slavery — on an appeal from a 
judgment, rendered by the Circuit Court in Taze- 
well Countj-, in favor of the holder of a note 
given for the service of the indentured slave- 
girl "Nance," obtained a decision from the 
Supreme Court of IlUnois upholding the doctrine 
that the girl was free under the Ordinance of 
1787 and the State Constitution, and that the 
note, given to the person who claimed to be her 
owner, was void. And it is a somewhat curious 
coincidence that the same Abraliam Lincoln, as 
President of the United States, in the second 
year of the War of the Rebellion, issued the 
Proclamation of Emancipation vchich finally 
resulted in striking the shackles from the limbs 
of every slave in the Union. 

In the practical operation of aiding fugitives 
in Illinois, it was natural that the towns along 
the border upon the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, 
should have served as a sort of entrepots, or 
initial stations, for the reception of this class of 
freight — especially if adjacent to some anti- 
slavery community. Tliis was the case at Ches- 
ter, from which access was easy to Sparta, where 
a colony of Covenanters, or Seceders, was 
located, and whence a route extended, by way of 
Oakdale, Nashville and Centralia, in the direction 
of Chicago. Alton offered convenient access to 
Bond County, where there was a community of 
anti-slavery people at an early day, or the fugi- 
tives could be forwarded northward by way of 
JerseyviUe, Wavp.rly and Jacksonville, about 
each of which there was a strong anti-slavery 
sentiment. Quincv, in spite of an intense hos- 
tility among the mass of the community to anj'- 
thing savoring of abolitionism, became the 
theater of great activity on the part of the 
opponents of the institution, especially after the 
advent there of Dr. David Nelson and Dr. Rich- 
ard Eells, both of whom had rendered themselves 
obnoxious to the people of Missouri by extending 
aid to fugitives. The former was a practical 
abolitionist who, having freed his slaves in his 
native State of Virginia, removed to Missouri and 
attempted to establish Marion College, a few miles 
from Palmyra, but was soon driven to Illinois. 
Locating near Quincy, he founded the "Mission 
Institute" there, at which he continued to dis- 
seminate his anti-slavery views, while educating 
young men for missionarj' work. The "Insti- 
tute" was finally burned by emissaries from Mis- 
souri, while three young men who had been 
connected with it, having been caught in Mis- 
souri, were condemned to twelve years' confine- 



ment in the penitentiary of that State — ijartly on 
the testimony of a negro, although a negro was 
not then a legal witness in the courts against a 
white man. Dr. Eells was prosecuted before 
Stephen A. Douglas (then a Judge of the Circuit 
Court), and fined for aiding a fugitive to escape, 
and the judgment against him was finally con- 
firmed by the Supreme Court after bis death, in 
1853, ten years after the original indictment. 

A map in Professor Siebert's book, showing the 
routes and principal stations of the "Undergound 
Railroad," makes mention of the following places 
in Illinois, in addition to those already referred 
to; Carlinville, in Macoupin County; Payson 
and Mendon, in Adams; Washington, in Taze- 
well; Metamora, in Woodford, Magnolia, in Put- 
nam; Galesburg, in Knox; Princeton (the home 
of Owen Love joy and the Bryants), in Bureau; 
and many more. Ottawa appears to have been 
the meeting point of a number of lines, as well 
as the home of a strong colon}- of practical abo- 
litionists. Cairo also became an important 
transfer station for fugitives arriving by river, 
after the completion of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road, especially as it offered the speediest way of 
reaching Chicago, towards which nearly all the 
lines converged. It was here that the fugitives 
could be most safely disposed of by placing them 
upon vessels, which, without stopping at inter- 
mediate ports, could soon land them on Canadian 
soil. 

As to methods, these differed according to cir- 
cumstances, the emergencies of the occasion, or 
the taste, convenience or resources of the oper- 
ator. Deacon Levi Morse, of Woodford County, 
near Metamora, had a route towards Magnolia, 
Putnam County; and his favorite "car" was a 
farm wagon in which there was a double bottom. 
The passengers were snugly placed below, and 
grain sacks, filled with bran or other light material, 
were laid over, so that the whole presented the 
appearance of an ordinary load of grain on its 
way to market. The same was true as to stations 
and routes. One, who was an operator, says; 
"Wherever an abolitionist happened on a fugi- 
tive, or the converse, there was a station,' for the 
time, and the route was to the next anti-slavery 
man to the east or the north. As a general rule, 
the agent preferred not to know anything beyond 
the operation of his own immediate section of the 
road. If he knew nothing about the operations 
of another, and the other knew nothing of his, 
they could not be witnesses in court. 

We have it on the authority of Judge Harvey B. 
Hurd, of Chicago, that runaways were usually 



536 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



forwarded from that city to Canada by way of the 
Lakes, there being several steamers available for 
that purpose. On one occasion thirteen were 
put aboard a vessel under the eyes of a United 
States Marshal and his deputies. The fugitives, 
secreted in a woodshed, one by one took the 
places of colored stevedores carrying wood 
aboard the ship. Possibly the term, "There's a 
nigger in the woodpile," may have originated in 
this incident. Thirteen was an "unlucky num- 
ber" in this instance — for the masters. 

Among the notable trials for assisting runaways 
in violation of the Fugitive Slave Law, in addi- 
tion to the case of Dr. Eells, already mentioned, 
were those of Owen Lovejoy of Princeton, and 
Deacon Cusliing of Will County, both of whom 
were defended by Judge James Collins of Chi- 
cago. John Hossack and Dr. Joseph Stout of 
Ottawa, with some half-dozen of their neighbors 
and friends, were tried at Ottawa, in 1859, for 
assisting a fugitive and acquitted on a techni- 
cality. A strong array of attorneys, afterwards 
widely known through tlie northern part of the 
State, appeared for the defense, including Isaac 
N. Arnold, Joseph Knox, B. C. Cook, J. V. Eus- 
tace, Edward S. Leland and E. C. Lamed. Joseph 
T. Morse, of Woodford Coimty, was also arrested, 
taken to Peoria and committed to jail, but 
acquitted on trial. 

Another noteworthy case was that of Dr. 
Samuel Willard (now of Chicago) and his father, 
Julius A. Willard, charged with assisting in the 
escape of a fugitive at Jacksonville, in 1843, when 
the Doctor was a student in Illinois College. 
"The National Corporation Reporter," a few 
years ago, gave an account of this affair, together 
with a letter from Dr. Willard, in wliich he states 
that, after protracted litigation, during which 
the case was carried to the Supreme Court, it was 
ended by his pleading guilty before Judge Samuel 
D. Lockwood, when he was fined one doUar and 
costs— the latter amounting to twenty dollars. 
The Doctor frankly adds: "My father, as well 
as myself, helped many fugitives afterwards." 
It did not always happen, however, that offenders 
escaped so easily. 

Judge Harvey B. Hurd, already referred to, 
and an active anti-slavery man in the days of the 
Fugitive Slave Law, relates the following: Once, 
when the trial of a fugitive was going on before 
Justice Kercheval, in a room on the second floor 
of a two-story frame building on Clark Street in 
the city of Cliicago, the crowd in attendance 
filled the room, the stairway and the adjoining 
sidewalk. In some way the prisoner got mixed 



in with the audience, and passed down over tlie 
heads of those on the stairs, where the officers 
were unable to follow. 

In anotlier case, tried before United States 
Commissioner Geo. W. Meeker, the result was 
made to hinge upon a point in the indictment to 
the effect that the fugitive was "copper-colored." 
The Commissioner, as the story goes, being in- 
chned to favor public sentiment, called for a large 
copper cent, that he might make comparison. 
The decision was, that the prisoner was "off 
color," so to speak, and he was hustled out of the 
room before the officers could rearrest him, as 
they had been instructed to do. 

Dr. Samuel Willard, in a review of Professor 
Siebert's book, published in "The Dial" of Chi 
cago, makes mention of Henry Irving and Will- 
iam Chauncey Carter as among his active allies 
at Jacksonville, with Rev. Bilious Pond and 
Deacon Lyman of Farmington (near the present 
village of Farmingdale in Sangamon County), 
Luther Ransom of Springfield, Andrew Borders 
of Randolph County, Joseph Gerrish of Jersey 
and William T. Allan of Henry, as their coadju- 
tors in other parts of the State. Other active 
agents or promoters, in the same field, included 
such names as Dr. Charles V. Dyer, Philo Carpen- 
ter, Calvin De Wolf, L. C. P. Freer, Zebina East- 
man, James H. Collins, Harvey B. Hurd, J. Young 
Scammon, Col. J. F. Farnsworth and others of 
Chicago, whose names have already been men- 
tioned ; Rev. Asa Turner, Deacon Ballard, J. K. 
Van Dorn and Erastus Benton, of Quincy and 
Adams County: President Rufus Blanchard of 
Knox College, Galesburg; John Leeper of Bond; 
the late Prof. J. B. Turner and EUhu Wolcott of 
Jacksonville; Capt. Parker Morse and his foiu- 
sons — Joseph T. , Levi P., Parker, Jr., and Mark 
• — of Woodford County ; Rev. William Sloane of 
Randolph ; William Strawu of La Salle, besides a 
host who were willing to aid their fellow men in 
their aspirations to freedom, without advertising 
their own exploits. 

Among the incidents of "Underground Rail- 
road" in Illinois is one which had some importance 
politically, having for its climax a dramatic scene 
in Congress, but of which, so far as known, no 
full account has ever been written. About 1855, 
Ephraim Lombard, a Mississippi planter, but a 
New Englander by birth, purchased a large body 
of prairie land in the northeastern part of Stark 
County, and, taking up his residence temporarily 
in the village of Bradford, began its improve- 
ment. He had brought with him from Mississippi 
a negro, gray-liaired and bent witli age. a slave 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



537 



of probably no great value. "Old Mose, " as he 
was called, soon came to be well known and a 
favorite in the neighborhood. Lombard boldly 
stated that he had brought him there as a slave ; 
that, by virtue of the Dred Scott decision (then 
of recent date), he had a constitutional right to 
take his slaves wherever he pleased, and that 
"Old Mose" was just as much his property in 
Illinois as in Mississippi. It soon became evident 
to some, that his bringing of the negro to Illinois 
was an experiment to test the law and the feel- 
ings of the Northern people. This being the case, 
a shrewd play would have been to let him have 
his way till other slaves should have been 
brought to stock the new plantation. But this 
was too slow a process for the abolitionists, to 
whom the holding of a slave in the free State of 
Illinois appeared an unbearable outrage. It was 
feared that he might take the old negro back to 
Mississippi and fail to bring any others. It was 
reported, also, that "Old Mose" was ill-treated; 
that he was given only the coarsest food in a 
back shed, as if he were a horse or a dog, instead 
of being permitted to eat at table with the family. 
The prairie citizen of that time was very par- 
ticular upon this point of etiquette. The hired 
man or woman, debarred from the table of his or 
her employer, would not have remained a day. 
A quiet consultation with "Old Mose" revealed 
the fact that he would hail the gift of freedom 
joyously. Accordingly, one Peter Risedorf, and 
another equally daring, met him by the light of 
the stars and, before morning, he was placed in 
the care of Owen Lovejoy, at Princeton, twenty 
miles away. From there he was speedily 
"franked" by the member of Congress to friends 
in Canada. 

There was a great commotion in Bradford over 
the "stealing" of "Old Mose." Lombard and his 
friends denounced the act in terms bitter and 
profane, and threatened vengeance upon the per- 
petrators. The conductors were known only to a 
few, and they kept their secret well. Lovejoy's 
part in the affair, however, soon leaked out. 
Lombard retirmed to Mississippi, where he 
related his experiences to Mr. Singleton, the 
Representative in Congress from his district. 
During the next session of Congress, Singleton 
took occasion, in a speech, to sneer at Lovejoy as a 
"nigger-stealer, " citing the case of "Old Mose." 
Mr. Lovejoy replied in his usual fervid and 
dramatic style, making a speech which ensured 
his election to Congress for life — "Is it desired to 
call attention to this fact of my assisting fugitive 
slaves?" he said. "Owen Lovejoy lives at Prince- 



ton, 111., three-quarters of a mile east of the 
village, and he aids every slave that comes to his 
door and asks it. Thou invisible Demon of 
Slavery, dost thou think to cross my humble 
threshold and forbid me to give bread to the 
hungry and shelter to the homeless? I bid you 
defiance, in the name of my God!" 

With another incident of an amusing charac- 
ter tliis article may be closed: Hon. J. Young 
Scammon, of Chicago, being accused of conniving 
at the escape of a slave from oflicers of the law, 
was asked by the court what he would do if sum- 
moned as one of a posse to pursue and capture a 
fugitive. "I vFould certainly obey the summons," 
he replied, "but — I should probably stub my toe 
and fall down before I reached him." 

Note.— Those who wish to pursue the subject of the 
" Underground Railroad " in Illinois further, are referred 
to the work of Dr. Siebert, already mentioned, and to the 
various County Histories which have been issued and may 
be found in the public libraries; also for interesting inci- 
dents, to "Reminiscences of Levi Coffin," Johnson's 
"From Dixie to Canada," Petit's Sketches, "Still, Under- 
ground Railroad," and a pamphlet of the same title by 
James H. Fairchild, ex-President of Oberhn College. 

UNDERWOOD, William H., lawyer, legislator 
and jurist, was born at Schoharie Court House, 
N. Y., Feb. 31, 1818, and, after admission to the 
bar, removed to BeUeviUe, 111., where he began 
practice in 1840. The following year he was 
elected State's Attorney, and re-elected in 1843. 
In 1846 he was chosen a member of the lower 
house of the General Assembly, and, in 1848-54, 
sat as Judge of the Second Circuit. During this 
period he declined a nomination to Congress, 
although equivalent to an election. In 1856 he 
was elected State Senator, and re-elected in 1860. 
He was a member of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1869-70, and, in 1870. was again elected to 
the Senate, retiring to private life in 1872. Died, 
Sept. 23, 1875. 

UNION COUNTY, one of the fifteen counties 
into which Illinois was divided at the time of its 
admission as a State — having been organized, 
under the Territorial Government, in January, 
1818. It is situated in the southern division of 
the State, bounded on the west by the Mississippi 
River, and has an area of 400 square miles. The 
eastern and interior portions are drained by the 
Cache River and Clear Creek. The western part 
of the county comprises the broad, rich bottom 
lands lying along the Mississippi, but is subject 
to frequent overflow, while the eastern portion is 
hilly, and most of its area originally heavily tim- 
bered. The county is especially rich in minerals. 
Iron-ore, lead, bituminous coal, chalk, alum and 



538 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



I 



potter's clay are found in considerable abun- 
dance. Several lines of railway (the most impor 
tant being the Illinois Central) either cross or 
tap the county. The chief occupation is agri- 
culture, although manufacturing is carried on to 
a limited extent. Fruit is extensively cultivated. 
Jonesboro is tiie county-seat, and Cobden and 
Anna important shipping stations. The latter is 
the location of the Soutliern Hospital for the 
Insane. The population of the county, in 1890, 
was 21,539. Being next to St. Clair, Randolpli 
and Gallatin, one of the earliest settled counties 
in the State, many prominent men found their 
first home, on coming into the State, at Jones- 
boro, and this region, for a time, exerted a strong 
influence in public affairs. Pop. (1900), 22,610. 

UNION LEAGUE OF AMERICA, a secret polit- 
ical and patriotic order whicli liad its origin 
early in the late Civil War, for the avowed pur- 
pose of sustaining the cause of the Union and 
counteracting the machinations of the secret 
organizations designed to promote tlie success of 
tlie Rebellion. The first regular Council of the 
order was organized at Pekin, Tazewell County, 
June 25, 1862, consisting of eleven members, as 
follows: Jolm W. Glasgow, Dr. D. A. Cheever, 
Hart Montgomery, Maj. Richard N. Cullom 
(fatlier of Senator Cullom), Alexander Small, 
Rev. J. W. M. Vernon, George H. Harlow (after- 
ward Secretary of State), Charles Turner, Col. 
Jonathan Merriam, Henry Pratt and L. F. Gar- 
rett. One of the number was a Union refugee 
from Tennessee, who dictated the first oath from 
memory, as administered to members of a some- 
what similar order which had been organized 
among the Unionists of his own State. It sol- 
emnly pledged the taker, (1) to preserve invio- 
late the secrets and business of the order; (2) to 
"support, maintain, protect and defend the civil 
liberties of the Union of these United States 
against all enemies, either domestic or foreign, 
at all times and under all circumstances," even 
"if necessary, to the sacrifice of life"; (3) to aid 
in electing only true Union men to offices of 
trust in the town, county. State and General 
Government; (4) to assist, protect and defend 
any member of the order who might be in peril 
from his connection with the order, and (5) to 
obey all laws, rules or regulations of any Council 
to which the taker of the oath might be attached. 
The oath was taken upon the Bible, the Decla- 
ration of Independence and Constitution of the 
United States, the taker pledging his sacred 
honor to its fulfillment. A special reason for the 
organization existed in the activity, about this 



time, of the "Knights of tlie Golden Circle," a 
disloyal organization which had been introduced 
from the South, and which afterwards took the 
name, in the North, of "American Knights" and 
"Sons of Liberty. ' ' (See Secret Treasonable Soci- 
eties.) Three months later, the organization had 
extended to a number of other counties of the 
State and, on the 25th of September following, 
the first State Council met at Bloomington — 
twelve counties being represented — and a State 
organization was effected. At this meeting the 
following general officers were chosen: Grand 
President — Judge Mark Bangs, of Marshall 
County (now of Chicago) ; Grand Vice-President 
— Prof. Daniel Wilkin, of McLean ; Grand Secre- 
tary — George H. Harlow, of Tazewell; Grand 
Treasurer — H. S. Austin, of Peoria, Grand Mar- 
shal— J. R. Gorin, of Macon; Grand Herald— 
A. Gould, of Henry; Grand Sentinel — John E. 
Rosette, of Sangamon. An Executive Committee 
was also appointed, consisting of Joseph Medill 
of "The Chicago Tribune"; Dr. A. J. McFar- 
land, of Morgan County ; J. K. Warren, of Macon ; 
Rev. J. C. Rybolt, of La Salle; the President, 
Judge Bangs; Enoch Emery, of Peoria; and 
John E. Rosette. Under the direction of this 
Committee, with Mr. Medill as its Chairman, 
the constitution and by-laws were thoroughly 
revised and a new ritual adopted, which materi- 
ally changed the phraseology and removed some 
of the crudities of the original obligation, as well 
as increased the beauty and impressiveness of 
the initiatory ceremonies. New signs, grips and 
pass-words were also adopted, which were finall.y 
accepted by the various organizations of the 
order throughout the Union, which, by this time, 
included many soldiers in the army, as well as 
civilians. The second Grand (or State) Council 
was held at Springfield, January 14, 1863, with 
only seven counties represented. The limited 
representation was discouraging, but the mem- 
bers took heart from the inspiring words of Gov- 
ernor Yates, addressed to a committee of the 
order who waited upon him. At a special ses- 
sion of the Executive Committee, held at Peoria, 
six days later, a vigorous campaign was 
mapped out, under which agents were sent 
into nearly every county in the State. In Oc- 
tober, 1862, the strength of the order in Illi- 
nois was estimated at three to five thousand; 
a few months later, the number of enrolled 
members had increased to 50,000 — so rapid 
had been the growth of tlie order. On March 
25, 1863, a Grand Council met in Chicago — 
404 Councils in Illinois being represented, with 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



539 



a number from Oliio, Indiana, Michigan, Wiscon- 
sin, Iowa and Minnesota. At this meeting a 
Committee was appointed to prepare a plan of 
organization for a National Grand Council, which 
was carried out at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 20th 
of May following — the constitution, ritual and 
signs of the Illinois organization being adopted 
with slight modifications. The icvised obligation 
— taken upon the Bible, the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence and the Constitution of the United 
States — bound members of the League to "sup- 
port, protect and defend the Government of the 
United States and the flag thereof, against all 
enemies, foreign and domestic," and to"beartrue 
faith and allegiance to the same"; to "defend 
the State against invasion or insurrection" ; to 
support only "true and reliable men" for offices 
of trust and profit; to protect and defend 
worthy members, and to preserve inviolate the 
secrets of the order. The address to new mem- 
bers was a model of impressiveness and a powerful 
appeal to their patriotism. The organization 
extended rapidly, not only throughout the North- 
west, but in the South also, especially in the 
army. In 1864 the number of Councils in Illinois 
was estimated at 1,300, with a membership of 
175,000; and it is estimated that the total mem- 
bership, throughout the Union, was 3,000,000. 
The influence of the silent, but zealous and effect- 
ive, operations of the organization, was shown, 
not only in the stimulus given to enlistments and 
support of the war policy of the Government, 
but in the raising of supplies for the sick and 
wounded soldiers in the field. Within a few 
weeks before the fall of Vicksburg, over §25,000 in 
cash, besides large quantities of stores, were sent 
to Col. John Williams (then in charge of the 
Sanitary Bureau at Springfield), as the direct 
result of appeals made through circulars sent out 
by the oflScers of the "League." Large contri- 
butions of money and supplies also reached the 
sick and wounded in hospital through the medium 
of the Sanitary Commission in Chicago. Zealous 
efforts were made by the opposition to get at the 
secrets of the order, and, in one case, a complete 
copy of the ritual was published by one of their 
organs ; but the effect was so far the reverse of 
what was anticipated, that this line of attack was 
not continued. During the stormy session of the 
Legislature in 1863, the League is said to have 
rendered effective service in protecting Gov- 
ernor Yates from threatened assassination. It 
continued its silent but effective operations until 
the complete overthrow of the rebellion, when it 
ceased to exist as a political organization. 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. The follow- 
ing is a list of United States senators from Illinois, 
from the date of the admission of the State into 
the Union imtil 1899, with the date and duration 
of the term of each: Ninian Edwards, 1818-24; 
Jesse B. Thomas, Sr., 1818-29; John McLean, 
1824-25 and 1829-30; Elias Kent Kane, 1825-35; 
David Jewett Baker, Nov. 13 to Dec. 11, 1830; 
John M. Robinson, 1830-41 ; William L. D. Ewing, 
1835-37; Richard M. Young, 1837-43; Samuel Mc- 
Roberts, 1841-43; Sidney Breese, 1843-49; James 
Semple. 1843-47; Stephen A. Douglas, 1847-61; 
James Shields, 1849-55; Lyman Trumbull, 1855-73; 
Orville H. Browning, 1861-63; William A. Rich- 
ardson, 1863-65 ; Richard Yates, 1865-71 ; John A. 
Logan, 1871-77 and 1879-86; Richard J. Oglesby, 
1873-79; David Davis, 1877-83; Shelby M. CuUom, 
first elected in 1883, and re-elected in '89 and '95, 
his third term expiring in 1901 ; Charles B. Far- 
well, 1887-91; John McAuIey Palmer, 1891-97; 
William E. Mason, elected in 1897, for the term 
expiring, March 4, 1903. 

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (The New). One 
of the leading educational institutions of the 
country, located at Chicago. It is the outgrowth 
of an attempt, put forth by the American Educa- 
tional Society (organized at Washington in 1888). 
to supply the place which the original institution 
of the same name had been designed to fill. (See 
University of Chicago— Tlie Old.) The following 
year, Mr. John D. Rockefeller of New York ten- 
dered a contribution of .$600, 000 toward the endow- 
ment of the enterprise, conditioned upon securing 
additional pledges to the amount of $400,000 by 
June 1, 1890. The offer was accejited, and the 
sum promptly raised. In addition, a site, covering 
four blocks of land in the city of Chicago, was 
secured — two and one-half blocks being acquired 
by purchase for §282,500, and one and one-half 
(valued at $125,000) donated by Mr. Marshall 
Field. A charter was secured and an organiza- 
tion eflfected, Sept. 10, 1890. The Presidency of 
the institution was tendered to, and accepted by. 
Dr. William R. Harper. Since that time the 
University has been the recipient of other gener- 
ous benefactions by Mr. Rockefeller and others, 
until the aggregate donations (1898) exceed $10,- 
000,000. Of this amount over one-half has been 
contributed by Mr. Rockefeller, while he has 
pledged himself to make additional contributions 
of $2,000,000, conditioned upon the raising of a 
like sum, from other donors, by Jan. 1, 1900. The 
buildings erected on the campus, prior to 1896, 
include a chemical laboratory costing $182,000; a 
lecture hall, $150,000; a physical laboratory 



540 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



$150,000; a museum, $100,000; an academy dor- 
mitory, $30,000; three dormitories for women, 
$150,000; two dormitories for men, $100,000, to 
which several important additions were made 
during 1896 and 97. The faculty embraces over 
150 instructors, selected with reference to their 
fitness for their respective departments from 
among the most eminent scholars in America and 
Europe. Women are admitted as students and 
graduated upon an equality with men. The work 
of practical instruction began in October, 1893, 
with 589 registered students, coming from nearlj- 
every Northern State, and including 250 gradu- 
ates from other institutions, to which accessions 
were made, during the year, raising the aggregate 
to over 900. The second year the number ex- 
ceeded 1,100; the third, it rose to 1,750, and the 
fourth (1895-96), to some 2,000, including repre- 
sentatives from every State of the Union, besides 
many from foreign countries. Special features 
of the institution include the admission of gradu- 
ates from other institutions to a post-graduate 
course, and the University Extension Division, 
which is conducted largely by means of lecture 
courses, in other cities, or through lecture centers 
in the vicinity of the University, non-resident 
students having the privilege of written exami- 
nations. The various libraries embrace over 
300,000 volumes, of which nearly 60,000 belong 
to what are called the "Departmental Libraries," 
besides a large and valuable collection of maps 
and pamphlets. 

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (The Old), an 
educational institution at Chicago, under the 
care of the Baptist denomination, for some years 
known as the Douglas University. Senator 
Stephen A. Douglas offered, in 1854, to donate ten 
acres of land, in what was then near the southern 
border of the city of Chicago, as a site for an 
institution of learning, provided buildings cost- 
ing $100,000, be erected thereon within a stipu- 
lated time. The comer-stone of the main building 
was laid, July 4, 1857, but the financial panic of 
that year prevented its completion, and Mr. Doug- 
las extended the time, and finally deeded the 
land to the trustees without reserve. For eighteen 
years the institution led a precarious existence, 
struggling under a heavy debt. By 1885, mort- 
gages to the amount of $330,000 having accumu- 
lated, the trustees abandoned further effort, and 
acquiesced in the sale of the property under fore- 
closure proceedings. The original plan of the 
institution contemplated preparatory and col- 
legiate departments, together with a college of 
law and a theological school. 



UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, the leading edu- 
cational institution under control of the State, 
located at Urbana and adjoining the city of 
Champaign. The Legislature at the session of 1863 
accepted a grant of 480,000 acres of land under 
Act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, making an 
appropriation of public lands to States — 30,000 
acres for each Senator and each Representative in 
Congress — establishing colleges for teaching agri- 
culture and the mechanic arts, though not to the 
exclusion of classical and scientific studies. Land- 
scrip under this grant was issued and placed in 
the hands of Governor Yates, and a Board of 
Trustees appointed under the State law was organ- 
ized in March, 1867, the institution being located 
the same year. Departments and courses of study 
were established, and Dr. John M. Gregory, of 
Michigan, was chosen Regent (President). — The 
landscrip issued to Illinois was sold at an early 
day for what it wonld bring in open market, 
except 25,000 acres, which was located in Ne- 
braska and Minnesota. This has recently been 
sold, realizing a larger sum than was received 
for all the scrip otherwise disposed of. The entire 
sum thus secured for permanent endowment ag- 
gregates $613,026. The University revenues were 
further increased by donations from Congress to 
each institution organized under the Act of 1863, 
of $15,000 per annum for the maintenance of an 
Agricultural Experiment Station, and, in 1890, of 
a similar amount for instruction — the latter to be 
increased $1,000 annually until it should reach 
$25,000. — A mechanical building was erected in 
1871, and this is claimed to have been the first of 
its kind in America intended for strictly educa- 
tional purposes. What was called "the main 
building" was formally opened in December, 
1873. Other buildings embrace a "Science Hall," 
opened in 1893; a new "Engineering Hall, " 1894; 
a fine Library Building, 1897. Eleven other prin- 
cipal structures and a number of smaller ones 
have been erected as conditions required. The 
value of property aggregates nearly $2,500,000, and 
appropriations from the State, for all purposes, 
previous to 1904, foot up $5,123,517.90.— Since 
1871 the institution has been open to women. 
The courses of study embrace agriculture, chem- 
istry, polytechnics, military tactics, natural and 
general sciences, languages and literature, eco- 
nomics, household science, trade and commerce. 
The Graduate School dates from 1891. In 1896 
the Chicago College of Pharmacy was connected 
with the University: a College of Law and a 
Library School were opened in 1897, and the same 
}-ear the Chicago College of Physicians and ^Sur- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



541 



geons was affiliated as the College of Medicine — a 
Scliool of Dentistry being added to tlie latter in 
1901. In 1885 the State Laboratory of Natural 
History was transferred from Normal, 111., and an 
Agricultural Experiment Station entablished in 
1888, from which bulletins are sent to farmers 
throughout the State who may desire them. — The 
first name of the Institution was "Illinois Indus- 
trial University," but, in 1885, this was changed 
to "University of Illinois." In 1887 the Trustees 
(of whom there are nine) were made elective by 
popular vote — three being elected every two 
years, eacli holding office six years. Dr. Gregory, 
having resigned the office of Regent in 1880, was 
succeeded by Dr. Selim H. Peabody, who had 
been Professor of IMechanical and Civil Engineer- 
ing. Dr. Peabody resigned in 1891. The duties 
of Regent were then discharged by Prof. Thomas 
J. Burrill until August, 1894, when Dr. Andrew 
Sloan Draper, former State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction of the State of New York, was 
installed as President, serving until 1904. — The 
corps of instruction (1904) includes over 100 Pro- 
fessors, 60 Associate and Assistant Professors and 
200 Instructors and Assistants, besides special 
lecturers, demonstrators and clerks. The num- 
ber of students has increased rapidly in recent 
years, as shown by the following totals for suc- 
cessive years from 1890-91 to 1903-04, inclusive: 
519; 58.3; 714; 743; 810; 852; 1,075; 1,582; 1,824; 
2,234; 2,505; 2,932; 3,289; 3,589. Of the last num- 
ber, 2,271 were men and 718 women. During 
1903-04 there were in all departments at Urbana, 
2,547 students (256 being in the Preparatory Aca- 
demy) ; and in the three Professional Departments 
in Chicago, 1,042, of whom 694 were in the Col- 
lege of Medicine, 185 in the School of Pharmacy, 
and 163 in the School of Dentistry. The Univer- 
sity Library contains 63.700 volumes and 14,500 
pamphlets, not including 5,350 volumes and 
15,850 pamphlets in the State Laboratory of Nat- 
ural History. — The University occupies a con- 
spicuous and attractive site, embracing 220 acres 
adjacent to the line between Urbana and Cham- 
paign, and near the residence portion of the two 
cities. The athletic field of 11 acres, on which 
stand the gymnasium and armory, is enclosed 
with an ornamental iron fence. The campus, 
otherwise, is an open and beautiful park with 
fine landscape effects. 

UNORGAJflZED COUiXTIES. In addition to 
the 102 counties into which Illinois is divided, 
acts were passed by the General Assembly, 
at different times, providing for the organiza- 
tion of a number of others, a few of which 



were subsequently organized under different 
names, but the majority of which were never 
organized at all — the proposition for such or- 
ganization being rejected by vote of the people 
within the proposed boundaries, or allowed to 
lapse by non-action. These unorganized coun- 
ties, with the date of the several acts authorizing 
them, ;,nd the territory which they were in- 
tended to include, were as follows: Allen 
County (1841) — comprising portions of Sanga- 
mon, Morgan and Macoupin Counties ; Audobon 
(Audubon) County (1843) — from portions of Mont- 
gomery, Fayette and Shelby; Benton County 
(1843) — from Morgan, Greene and Macoupin; 
Coffee County (1837)— with substantially the 
same territory now comprised within the bound- 
aries of Stark County, authorized two years 
later; Dane County (1839) — name changed to 
Christian in 1840; Harrison County (1855) — 
from McLean, Champaign and VermiUon, com- 
prising territory since partially incorporated 
in Ford County; Holmes County (1857) — from 
Champaign and VermiUon; Marquette County 
(1843), changed (1847) to Highland — compris- 
ing the northern portion of Adams, (tliis act 
was accepted, with Columbus as the county- 
seat, but organization finally vacated) ; Michi- 
gan County (1837) — from a part of Cook; Milton 
County (1843) — from the south part of Vermil- 
ion; Okaw County (1841) — comprising substan- 
tially the same territory as Moultrie, organized 
imder act of 1843; Oregon County (1851) — from 
parts of Sangamon, Morgan and Macoupin Coun- 
ties, and covering substantially the same terri- 
tory as proposed to be incorporated in Allen 
County ten years earlier. The last act of this 
character was passed in 1867, when an attempt 
was made to organize Lincoln County out oi' 
parts of Champaign and Vermilion, but whicU 
failed for want of an affirmative vote. 

UPPER ALTON, a city of Madison County, 
situated on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, about 
1| miles northeast of Alton— laid out in 1816. It 
has several churches, and is the seat of Shurtleff 
College and the Western Military Academy, the 
former founded about 1831, and controlled by the 
Baptist denomination. Beds of excellent clay are 
found in the vicinity and utilized in pottery 
manufacture. Pop. (1890), 1,803; (1900), 2.373. 

UPTON, George Pntnam, journalist, was born 
at Roxbury, Mass., Oct. 25, 1834; graduated from 
Brown University in 1854, removed to Chicago 
in 1855, and began newspaper work on "The 
Native American," the following year taking 
the place of city editor of "The Evening Jour- 



542 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLtNOIS. 



nal. " In 1863, Mr. Upton became musical critic 
on "The Chicago Tribune," serving for a time 
also as its war correspondent in the field, later 
(about 1881) taking a place on the general edi- 
torial staff, which he still retains. He is regarded 
as an authority on musical and dramatic topics. 
Mr. Upton is also a stockholder in, and, for sev- 
eral years, has been Vice-President of the "Trib- 
une" Company. Besides numerous contributions 
to magazines, his works include: "Letters of 
Peregrine Pickle" (1869) ; "Memories, a Story of 
German Love," translated from the German of 
Max Muller (1879) ; "Woman in Music" (1880) ; 
"Lives of German Composers" (3 vols. — 1883-84); 
besides four volumes of standard operas, oratorios, 
cantatas, and symphonies (18S0-88). 

URBANA, a flourishing city, the county-seat 
of Champaign County, on the "Big Four," the 
Illinois Central and the Wabash Railways: 130 
miles south of Chicago and 31 miles west of Dan- 
ville; in agricultural and coal-mining region. 
The mechanical industries include extensive rail- 
road shops, manufacture of brick, suspenders and 
lawn-mowers. The Cunningham Deaconesses' 
Home and Orphanage is located here. The city 
has water-works, gas and electric light plants, 
electric car-lines (local and interurban), superior 
schools, nine churches, three banks and three 
newspapers. Urbana is the seat of the University 
of lUinois. Pop. (1890), 3,511; (1900), 5,728. 

USKEY, William J., editor and soldier, was 
born at Washington (near Natchez), Miss., May 
16. 1837; was educated at Natchez, and, before 
reaching manhood, came to Macon County, 111., 
where he engaged in teaching until 1846, when 
he enlisted as a private in Company C, Fourth 
Illinois Volunteers, for the Mexican War. In 
1855, he joined with a Mr. Wingate in the estab- 
lishment, at Decatur, of "The Illinois State Chron- 
icle," of which he soon after took sole charge, 
conducting the paper until 1861, when he enlisted 
in the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteers and was 
appointed Adjutant. Although born and edu- 
cated in a slave State, Mr. Usrey was an earnest 
opponent of slavery, as proved by the attitude of 
his paper in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska 
Bill. He was one of the most zealous endorsers 
of the proposition for a conference of the Anti- 
Nebraska editors of the State of Illinois, to agree 
upon a line of policy in opposition to the further 
extension of slavery, and, wlien that body met at 
Decatur, on Feb. 33, 1856, he served as its Secre- 
tar}', thus taking a prominent part in the initial 
steps which resulted in the organization of the 
Republican party in Illinois. (See Anti-Nebraska 



Editorial Convention.) After returning from 
tlie war he resumed his place as editor of "The 
Chronicle," but finally retired from newspaper 
work in 1871. He was twice Postmaster of tlie 
city of Decatur, first previous to 1850, and again 
under the administration of President Grant; 
served also as a member of the City Council and 
was a member of the local Post of the G. A. R., 
and Secretary of the Macon Count}' Association 
of Mexican War Veterans. Died, at Decatur, 
Jan. 30, 1894. 

UTICA, (also called North Utica), a village of 
La Salle County, on the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railway, 10 miles west of Ottawa, situated on the 
Illinois River opposite "Starved Rock," also 
believed to stand on the site of the Kaskaskia 
village found by the French Explorer, La Salle, 
when he. first visited Illinois. "Utica cement" is 
produced here ; it also has several factories or 
mills, besides banks and a weekly paper. Popu- 
lation (1880), 767; (1890), 1,094; (1900), 1,150. 

VAN AR\AM, John, lawj^er and soldier, was 
born at Plattsburg, N. Y., March 3, 1830. Hav- 
ing lost his father at five years of age, he went to 
live with a farmer, but ran away in his boyhood; 
later, began teaching, studied law, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in New York City, beginning 
practice at Marshall, Mich. In 1858 he removed 
to Chicago, and, as a member of the firm of 
Walker, Van Arnam & Dexter, became promi- 
nent as a criminal lawyer and railroad attorney, 
being for a time Solicitor of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad. In 1863 he assisted in 
organizing the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned 
its Colonel, but was compelled to resign on 
account of illness. After spending some time in 
California, he resumed prac:tioe in Chicago in 
1865. His later years were spent in California, 
dying at San Diego, in that State, April 6, 1890. 

YANDALIA, the principal city and county-seat 
of Faj-ette County. It is situated on the Kas- 
kaskia River, 30 miles north of Centralia, 63 
miles south by west of Decatur, and 68 miles 
east-northeast of St. Louis. It is an intersecting 
point for the Illinois Central and the St. Louis, 
Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroads. It was the 
capital of the State from 1830 to 1839, the seat of 
government being removed to Springfield, the 
latter year, in accordance with act of the General 
Assembly passed at the session of 1837. It con- 
tains a court house (old State Capitol building), 
six churches, two banks, three weekly papers, a 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOrEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



543 



graded school, flour, saw and paper mills, foundry, 
stave and lieading mill, carriage and wagon 
and brick works. Pop. (1890), 2,144; (1900), 3,665. 

VANDEVEEK, Horatio M., pioneer lawyer, 
was born in Washington County, In J., March 1, 
1816; came with his family to Illinois at an early 
age, settling on Clear Creek, now in Christian 
County; taught school and studied law, using 
books borrowed from the late Hon. John T. Stuart 
of Springfield ; was elected first County Recorder 
of Christian County and, soon after, appointed 
Circuit Clerk, filling both offices three years. 
He also held the office of County Judge from 1848 
to 1857 ; was twice chosen Representative in the 
General Assembly (1843 and 1850) and once to the 
State Senate (1863); in 1846, enlisted and was 
chosen Captain of a company for the Mexican 
War, but, having been rejected on account of the 
quota being full, was appointed Assistant-Quarter- 
master, in this capacity serving on the staff of 
General Taylor at the battle of Buena Vista. 
Among other oflSces held by Mr. Vandeveer, were 
those of Postmaster of Taylorville, Master in 
Chancery, Presidential Elector (1848), Delegate 
to the Constitutional Convention of 1863, and 
Judge of the Circuit Court (1870-79). In 1868 
Judge Vandeveer established the private banking 
firm of H. M. Vandeveer & Co., at Taylorville, 
which, in conjunction with his sons, he continued 
successfully during the remainder of his life. 
Died, March 13, 1894. 

VAN HOIJNE, William C, Railway Manager 
and President, was born in Will County, 111., 
February, 1843; began his career as a telegraph 
operator on the Illinois Central Railroad in 18.")6, 
was attached to the Michigan Central and Chi- 
cago & Alton Railroads (1858-73), later being 
General Manager or General Superintendent of 
various other lines (1873-79). He next served as 
General Superintendent of the Chicago, Milwau- 
kee & St. Paul, but soon after became General 
Manager of the Canadian Pacific, which he 
assisted to construct to the Pacific Coast; was 
elected Vice-President of the line in 1884, and its 
President in 1888. His services have been recog- 
nized by conferring upon him the order of 
knighthood by the British Government. 

TASSEl'R, Noel C, pioneer Indian-trader, was 
born of French parentage in Canada, Dec. 35, 
1799; at the age of 17 made a trip with a trading 
party to the West, crossing Wisconsin by way of 
the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, the route pursued 
by Joliet and Marquette in 1673 ; later, was associ- 
ated with Gurdon S. Hubbard in the service of 
the American Fur Company, in 1830 visiting the 



region now embraced in Iroquois County, where 
he and Hubbard subsequently established a trad- 
ing post among the Pottawatomie Indians, 
believed to have been the site of the present town 
of Iroquois. The way of reaching their station 
from Chicago was by the Chicago and Des 
Plaines Rivers to the Kankakee, and ascending 
the latter and the Iroquois. Here Vasseur re- 
mained in trade until the removal of the Indians 
west of the Mississippi, in which he served as 
agent of the Government. While in the Iroquois 
region he married Watseka, a somewhat famous 
Pottawatomie woman, for whom the town of 
Watseka was named, and who had previously 
been the Indian wife of a fellow-trader. His 
later years were spent at Bourbonnais Grove, in 
Kankakee County, where he died, Dec. 13, 1879. 

TENICE, a city of Madison County, on the 
Mississippi River opposite St. Louis and 3 miles 
north of East St. Louis ; is touched by six trunk 
lines of railroad, and at the eastern approach to 
the new "Merchants" Bridge," with its round- 
house, has two ferries to St. Louis, street car line, 
electric lights, water-works, .some manufactures 
and a newspaper. Pop. (1890), 933; (1900). 3,450. 

VENICE & CAROXDELET RAILROAD. (See 
Louisi-ille. EvcKsrille & St. Louis (Consolidated) 
Railroad. } 

VERMILION COUNTY, an eastern county, 
bordering on the Indiana State line, and drained 
by the Vermilion and Little Vermilion Rivers, 
from which it takes its name. It was originally 
organized in 1836, when it extended north to 
Lake Michigan. Its present area is 936 square 
miles. The discovery of salt springs, in 1819, 
aided in attracting immigration to this region, 
but tlie manufacture of salt was abandoned 
many years ago. Early settlers were Se^'mour 
Treat, James Butler, Henry Johnston, Harvey 
Lidington, Gurdon S. Hubbard and Daniel W. 
Beckwith. James Butler and Achilles Morgan 
were the first County Commissioners. Many 
interesting fossil remains have been found, 
among them the skeleton of a mastodon (1868). 
Fire clay is found in large quantities, and two 
coal seams cross the county. The surface is level 
and the soil fertile. Corn is the cliief agricultural 
product, although oats, wheat, rye, and potatoes 
are extensively cultivated. Stock-raising and 
wool-growing are important industries. There 
are also several manufactories, chieflj' at Dan- 
ville, which is the county-seat. Coal mining 
is carried on extensively, especially in the vicin- 
ity of Danville. Population (1880), 41,588; (1890), 
49,905; (1900), 65,635. 



544 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



TERMILION RIYER, a tributary of the Illi- 
nois; rises in Ford and the northern part of 
McLean County, and, running northwestward 
through Livingston and the southern part of 
La Salle Counties, enters the Illinois River 
nearly opposite the city of La Salle ; has a length 
of about 80 miles. 

VERMILION RIVER, an affluent of the Wa- 
bash, formed by the union of the North, Middle 
and South Forks, which rise in Illinois, and 
come together near Danv'.Ue in this State. It 
flows southeastward, and enters the Wabash in 
Vermilion County, Ind. The main stream is 
about 28 miles long. The South Fork, however, 
which rises in Champaign County and runs east- 
ward, has a length of nearly 75 miles. The 
Little Vermilion River enters the Wabash about 
7 or 8 miles below the Vermilion, which is some- 
times called the Big Vermilion, by way of 
distinction. 

VERMONT, a village in Fulton County, at 
junction of Galesburg and St. Louis Division of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 24 
miles north of Beardstown ; has a carriage manu- 
factory, flour and saw-mills, brick and tile works, 
electric light plant, besides two banks, four 
churches, two graded schools, and one weekly 
newspaper. An artesian well has been sunk here 
to the depth of 2,600 feet. Pop. (1900), 1,195. 

VERSAILLES, a town of Brown County, on 
the Wabash Railway, 48 miles east of Quincy ; is 
in a timber and agricultural district ; has a bank 
and weekly newspaper. Population (1900), 524. 
VIENNA, the county-seat of Johnson County, 
situated on the Cairo and Vincennes branch of 
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis 
Railroad, 36 miles north-northwest of Cairo. It 
has a court house, several churches, a graded 
school, banks and two weekly newspapers. 
Population (1880), 494; (1890), 828; (1900), 1,217. 
VIGO, Francois, pioneer and early Indian- 
trader, was bom at Mondovi, Sardinia (Western 
Italy), in 1747, served as a private soldier, first at 
Havana and afterwards at New Orleans. When 
he left the Spanish arm}- he came to St. Louis, 
then the military headquarters of Sjjain for Upper 
Louisiana, where he became a partner of Com- 
mandant de Leba. and was extensively engaged 
in the fur-trade among the Indians on the Ohio 
and Mississippi Rivers. On the occupation of 
Kaskaskia by Col. George Rogers Clark in 1778, 
he rendered valuable aid to the Americans, turn- 
ing out supplies to feed Clark's destitute soldiers, 
and accepting Virginia Continental money, at 
par, in payment, incurring liabilities in excess of 



$20,000. This, followed by the confiscation policy 
of the British Colonel Hamilton, at Vincennes, 
where Vigo had considerable property, reduced 
him to extreme penury. H. W. Beckwith says 
that, towards the close of his life, he lived on his 
little homestead near Vincennes, in great poverty 
but cheerful to the last He was never recom- 
pensed during his life for his sacrifices in behalf 
of the American cause, though a tardy restitution 
was attempted, after his death, by the United 
States Government, for the benefit of his heirs. 
He died, at a ripe old age, at Vincennes, Ind., 
March 22, 1835. 

VILLA RIDGE, a village of Pulaski Covmty, 
on the Illinois Central Railway, 10 miles north of 
Cairo. Population, 500. 

VINCENNES, Jean Baptiste Bissot, a Canadian 
explorer, born at Quebec, January, 1688, of aris- 
tocratic and wealthy ancestry. He was closely 
connected with Louis Joliet — probably his 
brother-in-law, although some historians say that 
he was the latter's nephew. He entered the 
Canadian army as ensign in 1701, and had a long 
aiid varied experience as an Indian fighter. 
About 1725 he took up his residence on what is 
now the site of the present city of Vincennes, 
Ind., which is named in his honor. Here he 
erected an earth fort and established a trading- 
post. In 1726, under orders, he co-operated with 
D'Artaguiette (then the French Governor of Illi- 
nois) in an expedition against the Chickasaws. 
The expedition resulted disastrously. Vincennes 
and D'Artaguiette were captured and burned 
at the stake, together with Father Senat (a 
Jesuit priest) and others of the command. 
(See also D'Artaguiette; French Ooremors of 
Illinois. ) 

VIRDEN, a city of Macoupin County, on the 
Chicago & Alton and the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroads, 21 miles south by west from 
Springfield, and 31 miles east-southeast of Jack- 
sonville. It has five churches, two banks, two 
newspapers, telephone service, electric lights, 
grain elevators, machine shop, and extensive coal 
mines. Pop.(1900), 2,280 ; (school census 1903),3,651. 

VIRGINIA, an incorporated city, the county- 
seat of Cass County, situated at the intersection of 
the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis, with the Spring- 
field Division of the Baltimore & Ohio South- 
western Railroad, 15 miles north of Jacksonville, 
and 33 miles west-northwest of Springfield. It 
lies in the heart of a rich agricultural region. 
There is a flouring mill here, besides manu- 
factories of wagons and cigars. The city has two 
National and one State bank, five churches, a 



i 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



545 



high school, and two weekly papers. Pop (1890) 
1.602; (1900), 1.600. 

VOCKE, William, lawyer, was born at Min- 
den, Westplialia (Germany), in 1839, the son of a 
Government Secretary in the Prussian service. 
Having lost his father at an early age, he emi- 
grated to America in 1856, and, after a short 
stay in New York, came to Chicago, where he 
found employment as a paper-carrier for "The 
Staats-Zeitung, " meanwhile giving his attention 
to the study of law. Later, he became associated 
with a real-estate firm; on the commencement 
of the Civil War, enlisted as a private in a 
three-months' regiment, and, finally, in the 
Twenty-fourth Illinois (the first Hecker regi- 
ment), in which he rose to the rank of Captain, 
iieturning from the army, he was employed as 
city editor of "The Staats-Zeitung," but, in 
1865, became Clerk of the Chicago Police Court, 
serving until 1869. Meanwhile he had been 
admitted to the bar, and, on retirement from 
office, began practice, but, in 1870, was elected 
Representative in the Twentj'-seventli General 
Assembly, in which he bore a leading part in 
framing "the burnt record act" made necessary 
by the fire of 1871. He has since been engaged 
in the practice of his profession, having been, 
for a number of years, attorney for the German 
Consulate at Chicago, also serving, for several 
years, on the Chicago Board of Education. Mr. 
Vocke is a man of high literary tastes, as shown 
by his publication, in 1869, of a volume of poems 
translated from the German, which has been 
highly commended, besides a legal work on 
"The Administration of Justice in the United 
States, and a Synopsis of the Mode of Procedure 
in our Federal and State Courts and All Federal 
and State Laws relating to Subjects of Interest 
to Aliens," which has been published in the Ger- 
man Language, and is highly valued by German 
lawyers and business men. Mr. Vocke was a 
member of the Republican National Convention 
of 1872 at Philadelphia, which nominated General 
Grant for the Presidency a second time. 

TOLK, Leonard Wells, a distinguished Illinois 
sculptor, born at Wellstown (afterwards Wells), 
N. Y., Nov. 7, 1838. Later, his father, who was 
a marble cutter , removed to Pittsfield, Mass. , 
and, at the age of 16, Leonard began work in his 
shop. In 1848 he came west and began model- 
ing in clay and drawing at St. Louis, being only 
self-taught. He married a cousin of Stephen A. 
Douglas, and the latter, in 1855, aided him in 
the prosecution of his art studies in Italy. Two 
years afterward he settled in Chicago, where he 



modeled the first portrait bust ever made in the 
city, having for his subject his first patron — the 
"Little Giant." The next year (1858) he made a 
life-size marble statue of Douglas. In 1860 he 
made a portrait bust of Abraham Lincoln, which 
passed into the possession of the Chicago His- 
torical Society and was destroyed in the great fire 
of 1871. In 1868-69, and again in 1871-72, he 
revisited Italy for purposes of study. In 1867 he 
was elected academician of the Chicago Academy, 
and was its President for eiglit years. He was 
genial, companionable and charitable, and always 
ready to assist his younger and less fortunate pro- 
fessional brethren. His best known works are the 
Douglas Monument, in Cliicago, several soldiers' 
monuments in different parts of the country, 
the statuary for the Henry Keep mausoleum at 
Watertown, N. Y., life-size statues of Lincoln 
and Douglas, in the State House at Springfield, 
and numerous portrait busts of men eminent 
in political, ecclesiastical and commercial life. 
Died, at Osceola, Wis., August 18, 1895. 

TOSS, Arno, journalist, lawyer and soldier, 
born in Prussia, April 16, 1821 ; emigrated to the 
United States and was admitted to the bar in 
Chicago, in 1848, the same year becoming editor 
of "The Staats-Zeitung"; was elected City 
Attorney in 1852, and again in 1853; in 1861 
became Major of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, but 
afterwards assisted in organizing the Twelfth 
Cavalry, of which he was commissioned Colonel, 
still later serving with his command in Vir- 
ginia. He was at Harper's Ferry at the time of 
the capture of that place in September, 1862, but 
succeeded in cutting his way, with his command, 
through the rebel lines, escaping into Pennsyl- 
vania. Compelled by ill-health to leave the serv- 
ice in 1863, he retired to a farm in Will County, 
but, in 1869. returned to Chicago, where he served 
as Master in Chancery and was elected to the 
lower branch of the General Assembly in 1876, 
but declined a re-election in 1878. Died, in Chi- 
cago, March 23, 1888. 

WABASH, CHESTER & WESTERN RAIL- 
ROAD, a railway running from Chester to Mount 
Vernon, 111. , 63. 33 miles, with a branch extend- 
ing from Chester to Menard. 1.5 miles; total 
mileage, 64.83. It is of standard gauge, and 
almost entirely laid with 60-pound steel rails. — 
(History.) It was organized, Feb. 20. 1878, as 
successor to the Iron Moimtain, Chester & East- 
ern Railroad. During the fiscal j'ear 1893-94 the 
Company purchased the Tamaroa & Mount Ver- 
non Railroad, extending from Mount Vernon to 



546 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Tamaroa, 22.5 miles. Capital stock (1898), $1,- 
2.50.000; bonded indebtedness, .$690,000; total 
capitalization. S2, 028, .573. 

WABASH COUNTY, situated in the southeast 
corner of the State; area 220 square miles. The 
county was carved out from Edwards in 1824, 
and the first court house built at Centerville, in 
Ma}', 1826. Later, Mount Carmel was made the 
county-seat. (See Mo^int Carmel.) The Wabash 
River drains the county on the east; other 
streams are the Bon Pas. Coffee and Crawfish 
Creeks. The surface is undulating with a fair 
growth of timber. The chief industries are the 
raising of live-stock and the cultivation of cere- 
als. The wool-crop is likewise valuable. The 
county is crossed by the Louisville, Evansville & 
St. Louis and the Cairo and Vincennes Division 
of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 
Louis Raih-oads. Population (1880), 4,9-15; (1890), 
11,866; (1900), 12,583. 

WABASH RAILROAD, an extensive raihoad 
system connecting the cities of Detroit and 
Toledo, on the east, with Kansas City and Council 
Bluffs, on the west, with branches to Chicago, St. 
Louis, Quincy and Altamont, 111., and to Keokuk 
and Des Moines, Iowa. The total mileage (1898) 
is 1.874.96 miles, of which 677.4 miles are in Illi- 
nois — all of the latter being the property of the 
company, besides 170.7 miles of yard-tracks, sid- 
ings and spurs. Tlie company has trackage 
privileges over the Toledo, Peoria & Western (6.5 
miles) between Elvaston and Keokuk bridge, and 
over the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (21.8 
miles) between Camp Point and Quincy. — (HIS- 
TORY.) A considerable portion of this road in 
Illinois is constructed on the line upon which the 
Northern Cross Railroad was projected, in the 
"internal improvement" scheme adopted in 1837, 
and embraces the only section of road completed 
under that scheme — that between the Illinois 
River and Springfield. (1) The construction of 
this section was begun Viy the State, May 11, 
1837, the first rail laid, May 9, 1838, the road 
completed to Jacksonville, Jan. 1, 1840, and to 
Springfield, May 13, 1842. It was operated for a 
time by "mule power.'" but the income was in- 
sufficient to keep the line in repair and it was 
finally abandoned. In 1847 the line was sold for 
§21,100 to N. H. Ridgely and Thomas Mather of 
Springfield, and by them transferred to New 
York capitalists, who organized the Sangamon & 
Morgan Railroad Company, reconstructed the 
road from Springfield to Naples and opened it for 
business in 1849. (2) In 1853 two corporations 
were organized in Ohio and Indiana, respectively. 



under the name of the Toledo & Illinois Railroad 
and the Lake Erie, Wabash & St. Louis Railroad, 
which were consolidated as the Toledo, Wabash 
& Western Railroad, June 25, 1856. In 18,58 
these lines were sold separately under foreclo- 
siire, and finally reorganized, under a special char- 
ter granted by the Illinois Legislature, under the 
name of the Great Western Railroad Company. 
(3) The Quincy & Toledo Railroad, extending 
from Camp Point to the Illinois River opixisite 
Meredosia, was constructed in 1858-59, and that, 
with the Illinois & Southern Iowa (from Clay- 
ton to Keokuk), was united, July 1, 1865, with 
the eastern divisions extending to Toledo, the 
new organization taking the name of the main 
line, (Toledo, Wabash & Western). (4) The 
Hannibal & Naples Division (49.6 miles), from 
Bluffs to Hannibal. Mo., was chartered in 1863. 
opened for business in 1870 and leased to the 
Toledo, Wabash & Western. The latter defaulted 
on its interest in 1875, was placed in the hands 
of a receiver and, in 1877, was turned over to a 
new company under the name of the Wabash 
Railway Company. (5) In 1868 the company, 
as it then existed, promoted and secured the con- 
struction, and afterwards acquired the owner- 
ship, of a line extending from Decatur to East St. 
Louis (110.5 miles) under the name of the Deca- 
tur & East St. Louis Railroad, (6) The Eel River 
Railroad, from Butler to Logansport, Ind,, was 
acquired in 1877, and afterwards extended to 
Detroit under the name of the Detroit, Butler & 
St. Louis Railroad, completing the connection 
from Logansport to Detroit. — In November, 1879, 
the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway Com- 
pany was organized, took the property and con- 
solidated it with certain lines west of the 
Mississippi, of which the chief was the St. Louis, 
Kansas City & Northern. A line had been pro- 
jected from Decatur to Chicago as early as 1870, 
but, not having been constructed in 1881, the 
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific purchased what was 
known as the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, 
imiting with the main line at Bemeut, and (by 
way of tlie Decatur and St. Louis Division) giv- 
ing a dii-ect line between Chicago and St. Louis. 
At this time the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific wai 
ojierating the following additional leased lines: 
Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur (67.2 miles) ; Hannibal 
& Central Missouri (70.2 miles); Lafayette, Mun- 
cie & Bloomington (36.7 miles), and the Lafayette 
Bloomington & Muncie (80 miles). A connection 
between Chicago on the west and Toledo and 
Detroit on the east was established over the 
Grand Trunk road in 1882, but, in 1890, the com- 



1 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



547 



pany constructed a line from Montpelier, Ohio, to 
Clark, Ind. (149.7 miles), thence by track lease 
to Chicago (17,. 5 miles), giving an independent 
line between Chicago and Detroit by what is 
known to investors as the Detroit & Chicago 
Division. 

The total mileage of the Wabash, St. Louis & 
Pacific system, in 1884, amounted to over 3,600 
miles; but, in May of that year, default having 
been made in the payment of interest, the work 
of disintegration began. The main line east of 
the Mississippi and that on the west were sepa- 
rated, the latter taking the name of the "Wabash 
Western." The Eastern Division was placed in 
the hands of a receiver, so remaining until May, 
1889, when the two divisions, having been 
bought in by a purchasing committee, were 
consolidated iinder the present name. The total 
earnings and income of the road in Illinois, for 
the fiscal year 1898, were 14,403,621, and the 
expenses $4,836,110. The total capital invested 
(1898) was $139,889,643, including capital stock 
of $53,000,000 and bonds to the amount of §81,- 
534,000. 

WABASH RIVER, rises in northwestern Ohio, 
passes into Indiana, and runs northwest to Hun- 
tington. It then flows nearly due west to Logans- 
port, thence southwest to Covington, finally 
turning southward to Terre Haute, a few miles 
below which it strikes the western boundary of 
Indiana. It forms the boundary between Illinois 
and Indiana (taking into accoimt its numerous 
windings) for some 200 miles. Below Vincennes 
it runs in a south-southwesterly direction, and 
enters the Ohio at the south-west extremity of 
Indiana, near latitude 37° 49' north. Its length 
is estimated at 557 miles. 

WABASH & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 
(See Illiiiois Central Railroad.) 

WABASH, ST. LOUIS & PACIFIC RAIL- 
ROAD. (See Wabash Railroad. } 

WABASH & WESTERN RAILROAD. (See 
Wabash Railroad.) 

WAIT, William Smith, pioneer, and original 
suggestor of the Illinois Central Railroad, was 
bom in Portland, Maine, March 5, 1789, and edu- 
cated in the public schools of his native place. 
In his youth he entered a book-publishing house 
in which his father was a partner, and was for a 
time associated with the publication of a weekly 
paper. Later the business was conducted at 
Boston, and extended over the Eastern, Middle, 
and Southern States, the subject of this sketch 
making extensive tours in the interest of the 
firm. In 1817 he made a tour to the West, 



reaching St. Louis, and, early in the following 
year, visited Bond County, 111., where he made 
his first entry of land from the Government. 
Returning to Boston a few months later, he con- 
tinued in the service of the publishing firm until 

1830, when he again came to Illinois, and, in 

1831, began farming in Ripley Township, Bond 
County. Returning East in 1834, he spent the 
next ten years in the employment of the publish- 
ing firm, with occasional visits to Illinois. In 
1835 he located permanently near Greenville, 
Bond County, and engaged extensively in farm- 
ing and fruit-raising, planting one of the largest 
apple orchards in the State at that early day. In 
1845 he presided as chairman over the National 
Industrial Convention in New York, and, in 
1848, was nominated as the candidate of the 
National Reform Association for Vice-President 
on the ticket with Gerrit Smith of New York, 
but declined. He was also prominent in County . 
and State Agricultural Societies. Mr Wait has 
been credited with being one of the first (if not 
the very first) to suggest the construction of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, which he did as early 
as 1835; was also one of the prime movers in the 
construction of the Mississippi & Atlantic Rail- 
road — now the "Vandalia Line" — giving much 
time to the latter enterprise from 1846 for many 
years, and was one of the original incorporators 
of the St. Louis & Illinois Bridge Company. 
Died, July 17, 1865. 

WALKER, Cyrns, pioneer, lawyer, born in 
Rockbridge County, Va., May 14, 1791 ; was taken 
while an infant to Adair County, Ky., and came 
to Macomb, 111. , in 1833, being the second lawyer 
to locate in McDonough County. He had a wide 
reputation as a successful advocate, especially in 
criminal cases, and practiced extensively in the 
courts of Western Illinois and also in Iowa. Died, 
Dec. 1, 1875. Sir. Walker was uncle of the late 
Pinkney H. Walker of the Supreme Court, who 
studied law with him. He was Whig candidate 
for Presidential Elector for the State-at-large in 
1840. 

WALKER, James Barr, clergyman, was born 
in Philadelphia, July 39, 1805; in his youth 
served as errand-boy in a country store near 
Pittsburg and spent four years in a printing 
office ; then became clerk in the office of Mordecai 
M. Noah, in New York, studied law and gradu- 
ated from Western Reserve College, Ohio ; edited 
various religious papers, including "The Watch- 
man of the Prairies" (now "The Advance") of 
Chicago, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery 
of Chicago, and for some time was lecturer on 



548 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



"Harmony between Science and Revealed Reli 
gion" at Oberlin College and Chicago Theological 
Seminary. He was author of several volumes, 
one of which — "The Philosophy of the Plan of 
Salvation,"" published anonymously under the 
editorship of Prof. Calvin E. Stowe (1855) — ran 
through several editions and was translated into 
five different languages, including Hindustanee. 
Died, at Wheaton, 111. , March 6, 1887. 

WALKER, James Monroe, corporation lawyer 
and Railway President, was born at Claremont, 
N. H., Feb. 14, 1820. At fifteen he removed with 
his parents to a farm in Michigan ; was educated 
at Oberlin, Ohio, and at the University of Michi- 
gan, Ann Arbor, graduating from the latter in 
1849. He then entered a law office as clerk and 
student, was admitted to the bar the next year, 
and soon after elected Prosecuting Attornej' of 
Washtenaw County ; was also local attorney for 
the Michigan Central Railway, for which, after 
his removal to Chicago in 1853, he became Gen- 
eral Solicitor. Two years later the firm of Sedg- 
wick & Walker, which had been organized in 
Michigan, became attorneys for the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincj' Railroad, and, until his 
death, Mr. Walker was associated with this com- 
pany, either as General Solicitor, General Counsel 
or President, filling the latter position from 1870 
to 1875. Mr. Walker organized both the Chicago 
and Kansas City stock-yards, and was President 
of these corporations, as also of the Wilmington 
Coal Company, down to the time of his death, 
which occurred on Jan. 33, 1881, as a result of 
heart disease. 

WALKER, (Rev.) Jesse, Methodist Episcopal 
missionary, was born in Rockingham County, 
Va., June 9, 1766; in 1800 removed to Tennessee, 
became a traveling preacher in 1802, and, in 
1806, came to Illinois under the presiding-elder- 
ship of Rev. William JlcKendree (afterwards 
Bishop), locating first at Turkey Hill, St. Clair 
County. In 1807 he held a camp meeting near 
Edwardsville — the first on Illinois soil. Later, 
he transferred his labors to Northern IlUnois; 
was at Peoria in 1834; at Ottawa in 1825, and 
devoted much time to missionary work among 
the Pottawatomies, maintaining a school among 
them for a time. He visited Chicago in 1826, and 
there is evidence that he was a prominent resident 
there for several years, occupying a log house, 
which he used as a church and living-room, on 
"Wolf Point"" at the junction of the North and 
South Branches of the Chicago River. While 
acting as superintendent of the Fox River mis- 
eion, his residence appears to have been at Plain- 



field, in the northern part of Will County. Died, 

Oct. 5, 1835. 

WALKER, Pinkney H., lawyer and jurist, 
was born in Adair Countj', Ky., June 18, 1815. 
His boyhood was chiefly passed in farm work and 
as clerk in a general store ; in 1834 he came to Illi- 
nois, settling at Rushville, where he worked in a 
store for four years. In 1838 he removed to 
Macomb, where he began attendance at an acad- 
emy and the study of law with his uncle, Cyrus 
Walker, a leading lawyer of his time. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1839, practicing at Macomb 
until 1848, when he returned to Rushville. In 
1853 he was elected Judge of the Fifth Judicial 
Circuit, to fill a vacancy, and re-elected in 1855. 
This position he resigned in 1858, having been 
appointed, by Governor Bissell, to fill the vacancy 
on the bench of the Supreme Court occasioned by 
the resignation of Judge Skinner. Two months 
later he was elected to the same position, and 
re-elected in 1807 and "76. He presided as Chief 
Justice from January, 1864, to June, '67, and 
again from June, 1874, to June, "75. Before the 
expiration of his last term he died, Feb. 7, 1885. 

WALL, George Willard, lawyer, politician and 
Judge, was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, April 22, 
1839; brought to Perry County, 111., in infancy, 
and received his preparatory education at McKen. 
dree College, finally graduating from the Uni- 
versity of Michigan in 1858, and from the 
Cincinnati Law School in 1859, when he began 
practice at Duquoin, 111. He was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 18G2, and, from 
1864 to "68, served as State"s Attorney for the 
Third Judicial District ; was also a Delegate to the 
State Constitutional Convention of 1869-70. In 
1872 he was an unsuccessful Democratic candi- 
date for Congress, although running ahead of his 
ticket. In 1877 he was elected to the bench of 
the Third Circuit, and re elected in "79, "85 and 
"91, much of the time since 1877 being on duty 
upon the Appellate bench. His home is at 
Duquoin. 

WALLACE, (Rev.) Peter, D,D., clergyman 
and soldier; was born in Mason County, Ky., 
April 11, 1813; taken in infancy to Brown 
County, Ohio, where he grew up on a farm until 
15 j-ears of age, when he was apprenticed to a 
carpenter; at the age of 20 came to Illinois, 
where he became a contractor and builder, fol- 
lowing this occupation for a number of years. He 
was converted in 1835 at Springfield, 111., and, 
some years later, having decided to enter the 
ministry, was admitted to the Illinois Conference 
as a deacon by Bishop E. S. Janes in 1855, and 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



549 



placed in charge of the Danville Circuit. Two 
years later he was ordained by Bishop Scott, and, 
in the next few years, held pastorates at various 
places in the central and eastern parts of the 
State. From 1867 to 1874 he was Presiding Elder 
of the Mattoon and Quincj' Districts, and, for six 
years, held the position of President of the Board 
of Trustees of Chaddock College at Quincy, from 
which he received the degree of D.D. in 1881. 
In the second year of the Civil War he raised a 
company in Sangamon County, was chosen 
its Captain and assigned to the Seventy-third 
Illinois Volunteers, known as the "preachers' 
regiment" — all of its ofEcers being ministers. In 
1864 he was compelled by ill-health to resign his 
commission. While pastor of the church at Say- 
brook, 111., he was offered the position of Post- 
master of that place, which he decided to accept, 
and was allowed to retire from the active minis- 
try. On retirement from office, in 1884, he 
removed to Chicago. In 1889 he was appointed 
by Governor Fifer the first Chaplain of the Sol- 
diers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, but retired 
some four years afterward, when he returned to 
Chicago. Dr. Wallace was an eloquent and 
effective preacher and continued to preach, at 
intervals, until within a short time of his decease, 
which occurred in Chicago, Feb. 21. 1897, in his 
84th year. A zealous patriot, he frequently 
spoke very effectively upon the political rostrum. 
Originally a Whig, he became a Republican on 
the organization of that party, and took pride in 
the fact that the first vote he ever cast was for 
Abraham Lincoln, for Representative in the Legis- 
lature, in 1834. He was a Knight Templar, Vice- 
President of the Tippecanoe Club of Chicago, 
and, at his death, Cliaplain of America Post, No. 
708, G. A. R. 

WALLACE, William Henry Lamb, lawyer and 
soldier, was born at Urbana, Ohio, July 8, 1831 ; 
brought to Illinois in 1833, his father settling 
near La Salle and, afterwards, at Mount Morris, 
Ogle County, where young Wallace attended tlie 
Rock River Seminary ; was admitted to the bar in 
1845 ; in 1846 enlisted as a private in the First Illi- 
nois Volunteers (Col. John J. Hardin's regiment), 
for the Mexican War, rising to the rank of Adju- 
tant and participting in the battle of Buena Vista 
(where his commander was killed), and in other 
engagements. Returning to his profession at 
Ottawa, he served as District Attorney (1852-56), 
then became partner of his father-in-law. Col. 
T. Lyle Dickey, afterwards of the Supreme Court. 
In April, 1861, he was one of the first to answer 
the call for troops by enlisting, and became Colo- 



nel of the Eleventh Illinois (three-months' 
men), afterwards re-enlisting for three years. 
As commander of a brigade he participated in 
the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, in Feb- 
ruary, 1862, receiving promotion as Brigadier- 
General for gallantry. At Pittsburg Landing 
(Shiloh), as commander of Gen. C. F. Smith's 
Division, devolving on him on account of the 
illness of his superior officer, he showed great 
courage, but fell mortally wounded, dying at 
Charleston, Tenn., April 10, 1862. His career 
promised great brilliancy and his loss was greatly 
deplored.— Martin R. M. ( Wallace), brother of 
the preceding, was born at Urbana, Ohio, Sept. 
29, 1829, came to La SaUe County, 111. , with his 
father's family and was educated in the local 
schools and at Rock River Seminary ; studied law 
at Ottawa, and was admitted to the bar in 1856, 
soon after locating in Chicago. In 1861 he 
assisted in organizing the Fourth Regiment Illi- 
nois Cavalry, of which he became Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and was complimented, in 1865, with the 
rank of brevet Brigadier-General. After the 
war he served as Assessor of Internal Revenue 
(1866-69) ; County Judge (1869-77) ; Prosecuting 
Attorney (1884); and, for many years past, has 
been one of the Justices of the Peace of the city 
of Chicago. 

WALNUT, a town of Bureau County, on the 
Mendota and Fulton branch of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad, 26 miles west of 
Mendota; is in a farming and stock-raising dis- 
trict ; has two banks and two newspapers. Popu- 
lation (1890), 605; (1900), 791. 

WAR OF 1812. Upon the declaration of war 
by Congress, in June, 1812, the Pottawatomies, 
and most of the other tribes of Indians in the 
Territory of Illinois, strongly sympathized with 
the British. The savages had been hostile and 
restless for some time previous, and blockhouses 
and family forts had been erected at a number 
of points, especially in the settlements most 
exposed to the incursions of the savages. Gov- 
ernor Edwards, becoming apprehensive of an 
outbreak, constructed Fort Russell, a few miles 
from Edwardsville. Taking the field in person, 
he made this his headquarters, and collected a 
force of 250 mounted volunteers, who were later 
reinforced by two companies of rangers, under 
Col. William Russell, numbering about 100 men. 
An independent company of twenty -one spies, of 
which John Reynolds — afterwards Governor — 
was a member, was also formed and led by Capt. 
Samuel Judy. The Governor organized his little 
army into two regiments under Colonels Rector 



550 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and Stephenson, Colonel Russell serving as 
second to the commander-in-chief, other mem- 
bers of his staflf being Secretary Nathaniel Pope 
and Robert K. McLaughlin. On Oct. 18, 1813, 
Governor Edwards, with his men, set out for 
Peoria, where it was expected that their force 
would meet that of General Hopkins, who had 
been sent from Kentucky with a force of 2,000 
men. En route, two Kickapoo villages were 
burned, and a number of Indians unnecessarily 
slain by Edwards' party. Hopkins had orders to 
disperse the Indians on the Illinois and Wabash 
Rivers, and destroy their villages. He deter- 
mined, however, on reaching the headwaters of 
the Vermilion to proceed no farther. Governor 
Edwards reached the head of Peoria Lake, but, 
failing to meet Hopkins, returned to Fort Russell. 
About the same time Capt. Thomas E. Craig led 
a party, in two boats, up the Illinois River to 
Peoria. His boats, as he alleged, having been 
fired upon in the night by Indians, who were har- 
bored and protected by the French citizens of 
Peoria, he burned the greater part of the village, 
and capturing the population, carried them down 
the river, putting them on shore, in the early part 
of the winter, just below Alton. Other desultory 
expeditions marked the campaigns of 1813 and 
1814. The Indians meanwhile gaining courage, 
remote settlements were continually harassed 
by marauding bands. Later in 1814, an expedi- 
tion, led by Major (afterwards President) Zachary 
Taylor, ascended the Mississippi as far as Rock 
Island, where he found a large force of Indians, 
supported by British regulars with artillery. 
Finding himself unable to cope with so formida- 
ble a foe, Major Taylor retreated down the river. 
On the site of the present town of Warsaw he 
threw up fortifications, which he named Fort 
Edwards, from which point he was subsequently 
compelled to retreat. The same year the British, 
with their Indian allies, descended from Macki- 
nac, captured Prairie du Chien, and burned Forts 
Madison and Johnston, after which they retired 
to Cap au Gris. The treaty of Ghent, signed 
Dec. 24, 1814, closed the war, although no formal 
treaties were made with the tribes until the year 
following. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION. At the outbreak 
of the Civil War, the executive chair, in Illinois, 
was occupied by Gov. Richard Yates. Immedi- 
ately upon the issuance of President Lincoln's 
first call for troops (April 15, 1861), the Governor 
issued his proclamation summoning the Legisla- 
ture together in special session and, the same 
day, issued a call for "six regiments of militia," 



the quota assigned to the State imder call of the 
President. Public excitement was at fever heat, 
and dormant patriotism in botli sexes was 
aroused as never before. Party lines were 
broken down and, with comparatively few excep- 
tions, the mass of the people were actuated by a 
common sentiment of patriotism. On April 19, 
Governor Yates was instructed, by the Secretary 
of War, to take posses.sion of Cairo as an important 
strategic point. At that time, the State militia 
organizations were few in number and poorly 
equipped, consisting chiefl}' of independent com- 
panies in the larger cities. The Governor acted 
with great promptitude, and, on April 21, seven 
companies, numbering 59.5 men, commanded by 
Gen. Richard K. Swift of Chicago, were en route 
to Cairo. The first volunteer company to tender 
its services, in response to Governor Yates' proc- 
lamation, on April 16, was the Zouave Grays of 
Springfield. Eleven otlier companies were ten- 
dered the same day, and, by the evening of the 
18th, the number had been increased to fifty. 
Simultaneously with these proceedings, Chicago 
bankers tendered to the Governor a war loan of 
$500,000. and those of Springfield, §100,000. The 
Legislature, at its special session, passed acts in- 
creasing the efficiency of the militia law, and 
provided for the creation of a war fund of $2,- 
000,000. Besides the six regiments already called 
for, the raising of ten additional volunteer regi- 
ments and one battery of light artillery was 
authorized. The last of the six regiments, 
apportioned to Illinois under the first presidential 
call, was dispatched to Cairo early in May. The 
six regiments were numbered the Seventh to 
Twelfth, inclusive — the earlier numbers, First to 
Sixth, being conceded to the six regiments which 
had served in the war with Mexico. The regi- 
ments were commanded, respectively, by Colonels 
John Cook, Richard J. Oglesby, Eleazer A. Paine, 
James D. Morgan, William H. L. Wallace, and 
John McArthur, constituting the "First Brigade 
of Illinois Volunteers." Benjamin M. Prentiss, 
having been chosen Brigadier-General on arrival 
at Cairo, assumed command, relieving General 
Swift. The quota under the second call, consist- 
ing of ten regiments, was mustered into service 
within sixty days, 200 companies being tendered 
immediately. Many more volunteered than could 
be accepted, and large numbers crossed to Mis- 
souri and enlisted in regiments forming in that 
State. During June and July the Secretary of 
War authorized Governor Yates to recruit twenty- 
two additional regiments (seventeen infantry and 
five cavalry), which were promptly raised. On 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



551 



July 23, the day following the defeat of the Union 
army at Bull Run, President Lincoln called for 
500,000 more volunteers. Governor Yates im- 
mediately responded with an offer to the War 
Department of sixteen more regiments (thirteen 
of infantry and three of cavalry), and a battalion 
of artillery, adding, that the State claimed it as 
her right, to do her full share toward the preser- 
vation of the Union. Under supplemental author- 
ity, received from the Secretary of War in 
August, 1861, twelve additional regiments of in- 
fantry and five of cavalry were raised, and, by De- 
cember, 1861, the State had 43,000 volunteers in 
the field and 17,000 in camps of instruction. 
Other calls were made in July and August, 18i!3, 
each for 300,000 men. Illinois' quota, under both 
calls, was over 53,000 men, no regard being paid 
to the fact that the State had already furnished 
16,000 troops in excess of its quotas under previ- 
ous calls. Unless this number of volunteers was 
raised by September 1, a draft would be ordered. 
The tax was a severe one, inasmuch as it would 
fall chiefly upon the prosperous citizens, the float- 
ing population, the idle and the extremely poor 
having already followed the army's march, either 
as soldiers or as camp-followers. But recruiting 
was actively carried on, and, aided bj- liberal 
bounties in many of the counties, in less than a 
fortnight the 53,000 new troops were secured, the 
volunteers coming largely from the substantial 
classes — agricultural, mercantile, artisan and 
professional. By the end of December, fifty nine 
regiments and four batteries had been dispatched 
to the front, besides a considerable number to fill 
up regiments already in the field, which had suf- 
fered severel}' from battle, exposure and disease. 
At this time, Illinois had an aggregate of over 
135.000 enlisted men in the field. The issue of 
President Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of 
emancipation, in September, 1863, was met by a 
storm of hostile criticism from his political 
opponents, who — aided by the absence of so 
large a proportion of the loyal population of the 
State in the field — were able to carry the elec- 
tions of that year. Consequently, when the 
Twenty-third General Assembly convened in 
regular session at Springfield, on Jan. 5, 1863, a 
large majority of that body was not only opposed 
to both the National and State administrations, 
but avowedly opposed to the further prosecution 
of the war under the existing policy. The Leg- 
islature reconvened in June, but was prorogued 
by Governor Yates Between Oct. 1, 1863, and 
Jiily 1, 1864. 16,000 veterans re-enlisted and 
87,000 new volunteers were enrolled; and, by the 



date last mentioned, Illinois had furnished to the 
Union army 344,496 men, being 14,596 in ex- 
cess of the allotted quotas, constituting fifteen 
per cent of the entire population. These were 
comprised in 151 regiments of infantry, 17 of 
cavalry and two complete regiments of artillery, 
besides twelve independent batteries. The total 
losses of Illinois organizations, during the war, 
has been reported at 34,834, of which 5,874 were 
killed in battle, 4,030 died from wounds, 33,786 
from disease and 2, 154 from other causes — being 
a total of thirteen per cent of the entire force of 
the State in the service. The part which Illinois 
played in the contest was conspicuous for patriot- 
ism, promptness in response to every call, and 
the bravery and efiiciency of its troops in the 
field — reflecting honor upon the State and its hLs- 
tory. Nor were its loyal citizens — who, while 
staying at home, furnished moral and material 
support to the men at the front — less worthy of 
praise than those who volunteere_d. By uphold- 
ing the Government — National and State — and 
by their zeal and energj- in collecting and sending 
forward immense quantities of supplies — surgical, 
medical and other — often at no little sacrifice, 
they contributed much to the success of the 
Union arms. (See also Camp Douglas; Camp 
Douglas Conspiracy; Secret Treasonable Soci- 
eties.) 

WAR OF THE REBELLIOJV (History of Illi 
NOis Regiments). The following is a list of the 
various military organizations mustered into the 
service during the Civil War (1861-65), with the 
terms of service and a summary of the more 
important events in the history of each, while 
in the field : 

Seventh Inf.\ntry. Illinois having sent six 
regiments to the Mexican War, by courtesy the 
numbering of the regiments which took part in 
the war for the Union began with number 
Seven. A number of regiments which responded 
to the first call of the President, claimed the right 
to be recognized as the first regiment in the 
field, but the honor was finally accorded to that 
organized at Springfield by Col. John Cook, and 
hence his regiment was numbered Seventh. It 
was mustered into the service, April 35, 1861, and 
remained at Mound City during the three months' 
service, the period of its first enlistment. It was 
subsequently reorganized and mustered for the 
three years' service, July 35, 1861, and was 
engaged in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, 
Corinth, Cherokee, Allatoona Pass, Salkahatchie 
Swamp, Bentonville and Columbia. The regi- 
ment re-enlisted as veterans at Pulaski, Tenn., 



552 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Dec. 22, 1863; was mustered out at Louisville, 
July 9, 1865, and paid off and discharged at 
Springfield, July 11. 

Eighth Infantry. Organized at Springfield, 
and mustered in for three months" service, April 
26, 1861, Richard J. Oglesby of Decatur, being 
appointed Colonel. It remained at Cairo during 
its term of service, when it was mustered out. 
July 2.5, 1861, it was reorganized and mustered in 
for three years' service. It participated in the 
battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Port Gibson, 
Thomp.son Hill, Raymond, Champion Hill, Vicks- 
burg, Brownsville, and Spanish Fort; re-enlisted 
as veterans, March 24, 1864 ; was mustered out at 
Baton Rouge, May 4, 1866, paid off and dis- 
charged. May 13, liaving served five years. 

NiXTH IxF.\NTRY. Mustered into the service 
at Springfield, April 26, 1861, for the term of 
three months, under Col. Eleazer A. Paine. It 
was reorganized at Cairo, in August, for three 
years, being composed of companies from St. 
Clair, JIadisonI Montgomery, Pulaski, Alexander 
and Mercer Counties ; was engaged at Fort Donel- 
son, Shiloh, Jackson (Tenn. ), Meed Creek 
Swamps, Salem, Wyatt, Florence, Montezuma, 
Athens and Grenada. The regiment was mounted, 
March lH, 1863, and so continued during the 
remainder of its service. Mustered out at Louis- 
ville, July 9, 1865. 

Tenth Infantry. Organized and mustered 
into the service for three months, on April 29, 
1861, dt Cairo, and on July 29, 1861, was mustered 
into the service for three years, with Col. James 
D. Morgan in command. It was engaged at 
Sykeston, New Madrid, Corinth, Missionary 
Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca. Rome, Kenesaw, 
Chattahoocliie, Savannah and Bentonville. Re- 
enlisted as veterans, Jan. 1, 1864, and mustered 
out of service, July 4, 1865. at Louisville, and 
received final discharge and pay, July 11, 1865, 
at Chicago. 

Eleventh Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field and naustered into service, April 30, 1861, 
for three months. July 30, the regiment was 
mustered out, and re-enlisted for tliree j-ears' 
service. It was engaged at Fort Donelson, 
Shiloh, Corintli, Tallahatchie, Vicksburg, Liver- 
pool Heights, Yazoo City, Spanish Fort and 
Fort Blakely. W. H. L. Wallace, afterwards 
Brigadier-General and killed at Shiloh, was its 
first Colonel. Mustered out of service, at Baton 
Rouge, July 14, 1865 ; paid off and discharged at 
Springfield. 

Twelfth Infantry. Mustered into service 
for three years, August 1, 1861 ; was engaged at 



Columbus, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Lay's 
Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesa«', 
Nickajack Creek, Bald Knob, Decatur, Ezra 
Church, Atlanta, Allatoona and Goldsboro. On 
Jan. 16, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veter- 
ans. John McArthur was its first Colonel, sue 
ceeded by Augustus L. Chetlain, both being 
promoted to Brigadier-Generalships. Mustered 
out of service at Louisville, Ky. , July 10, 1865, 
and received final pay and discharge, at Spring- 
field, July 18. 

Thirteenth Infantry. One of the regiments 
organized under the act known as the "Ten Regi- 
ment Bill" ; was mustered into service on May 24, 
1861, for three years, at Dixon, with John B. 
Wyman as Colonel; was engaged at Chickasaw 
Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Rossville and Ringgold Gap. 
Mustered out at Springfield, June 18, 1864, hav- 
ing served three years and two months. 

Fourteenth Infantry'. One of the regiments 
raised under the "Ten Regiment Bill," which 
anticipated the requirements of the General 
Government by organizing, equipping and dril- 
ling a regiment in each Congressional District in 
the State for thirty days, unless sooner required 
for service by the United States. It was mustered 
in at Jacksonville for three years. May 25, 1861, 
under command of John M. Palmer as its first 
Colonel; was engaged at Shiloh, Corinth, Meta- 
mora, Vicksburg, Jackson, Fort Beauregard and 
Meridian ; consolidated with tlie Fifteenth Infan- 
try, as a veteran battalion (both regiments hav- 
ing enlisted as veterans), on July 1, 1864. In 
October, 1864, the major part of the battalion 
was captured by General Hood and sent to 
Andersonville. The remainder participated in 
the "March to the Sea," and through the cam- 
paign in the Carolinas. In the spring of 1865 the 
battalion organization was discontinued, both 
regiments having been filled up by recruits. The 
regiment was mustered out at Fort Leaven- 
worth, Kan., Sept. 16, 1865; and arrived at 
Springfield, 111., Sept. 22, 2865, where it received 
final payment and discharge. The aggregate 
number of men who belonged to this organization 
was 1,980, and the aggregate mustered out at 
Fort Leavenworth, 480. During its four years 
and four months of service, the regiment 
marched 4,490 miles, traveled by rail, 2,330 miles, 
and. by river, 4,490 miles — making an aggregate 
of 11,670 miles. 

Fifteenth Infantry. Raised imder the "Ten 
Regiment Act," in the (then) First Congressional 
District; was organized at Freeport, and mus- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



553 



tered into sei-vice, May 24, 1861. It was engaged 
at Sedalia, Shiloh. Corinth, Metamora Hill, 
Vicksburg, Fort Beauregard, Champion Hill, 
Allatoona and Bentonville. In March, 1864, the 
regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and, in July, 

1864, was consolidated with the Fotuteenth Infan- 
try as a Veteran Battalion. At Big Shanty and 
Ackworth a large portion of the battalion was 
captured by General Hood. At Raleigh the 
Veteran Battalion was discontinued and the 
Fifteenth reorganized. From July 1, to Sept. 1, 

1865, the regiment was stationed at Forts Leaven- 
worth and Kearney. Having been mustered out 
at Fort Leavenworth, it was sent to Springfield 
for final payment and discharge — having served 
four years and four months. Miles marched, 
4,299; miles by rail, 2,403, miles by steamer, 
4,310; men enlisted from date of organization, 
1,963; strength at date of muster-out, 640. 

Sixteenth Infantry. Organized and mus- 
tered into service at Quincy under the "Ten-Regi- 
ment Act," May 24, 1861. The regiment was 
engaged at New Madrid, Tiptonville, Corinth, 
Buzzards' Roost, Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek. 
Atlanta, Savannah. Columbia, Fayetteville, 
Averysboro and Bentonville. In December, 
1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veterans; was 
mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 8, 1865. 
after a term of service of four years and three 
months, and, a week later, arrived at Spring- 
field, where it received its final pay and discharge 
papers. 

Seventeenth Inf.vntry. Mustered into the 
service at Peoria, 111., on May 24, 1861; was 
engaged at Fredericktown (Mo.), Greenfield 
(Ark.), Shiloh, Corinth. Hatchie and Vicksburg. 
In May, 1864, tlie term of enlistment having 
expired, the regiment was ordered to Springfield 
for pay and discharge. Those men and officers 
who re-enlisted, and those whose term had not 
expired, were consolidated with the Eighth Infan- 
try, which was inu.stered out in the spring of 1866. 

Eighteenth Infantry. Organized under the 
provisions of the "Ten Regiment Bill," at Anna, 
and mustered into the service on May 38, 1861, 
the term of enlistment being for three years. 
The regiment participated in the capture of Fort 
McHenry, and was actively engaged at Fort 
Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. It was mustered 
out at Little Rock, Dec. 16, 1865, and Dec. 31, 
thereafter, arrived at Springfield, 111., for pay- 
ment and discharge. The aggregate enlistments 
in the regiment, from its organization to date of 
discharge (rank and file), numbered 2,043. 



Nineteenth Infantry. Mustered into the 
United States service for three years, Jime 17, 
1861, at Chicago, embracing four companies 
which had been accepted under the call for three 
months' men; participated in the battle of 
Stone River and in the TuUahoma and Chatta- 
nooga campaigns; was also engaged at Davis" 
Cross Roads, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and 
Resaca. It was mustered out of service on July 
9, 1864, at Chicago. Originally consisting of 
nearly 1,000 men, besides a large number of 
recruits received during the war, its strength at 
the final muster-out was less than 350. 

Twentieth Infantry Organized, May 14, 
1861, at Johet, and June 13, 1861, and mustered 
into the service for a terra of three years. It 
participated in the following engagements, bat- 
tles, sieges, etc.: Fredericktown (Mo.), Fort 
Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Thompson's Planta- 
tion, Champion Hills, Big Black River, Vicks- 
burg, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. Afte.f 
marching through the Carolinas, the regiment- 
was finally ordered to Louisville, where it was 
mustered out, July 16, 1865, receiving its final 
discharge at Chicago, on July 24. 

Twenty-first Infantry. Organized under 
the "Ten Regiment Bill," from the (then) Sev- 
enth Congressional District, at Mattoon, and 
mustered into service for three years, June 38, 
1861. Its first Colonel was U. S. Grant, who was 
in command until August 7, when he was com- 
missioned Brigadier-General. It was engaged 
at Fredericktown (Mo.), Corinth, Perr5'ville. Mur- 
freesboro, Liberty Gap, Cliickamauga, Jonesboro, 
Franklin and Nashville. The regiment re-enlisted 
as veterans, at Cliattanooga, in February, 1864. 
From June, 1864, to December, 1865, it was on 
dut}' in Texas. Mustered out at San Antonio. 
Dec. 16, 1865, and paid off and discharged at 
Springfield, Jan. 18, 1866. 

Twenty-second Infantry. Organized at 
Belleville, and mustered into service, for three 
years, at Casey ville, 111., June 25, 1861; was 
engaged at Belmont, Charleston (Mo. ), Sikestown, 
Tiptonville, Farmington, Corinth, Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, New 
Hope Church, and all the battles of the Atlanta 
campaign, except Rocky Face Ridge. It was 
mustered out at Springfield, July 7, 1864, the vet- 
erans and recruits, whose term of service had not 
expired, being consolidated with the Forty-second 
Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers. 

Twenty-third Infantry. Tlie organization 
of the Twenty-third Infantry Volunteers com- 
menced, at Chicago, under the popular name of 



554 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



the "Irish Brigade," immediately upon the 
opening of hostilities at Sumter. The formal 
muster of the regiment, under the command of 
Col. James A. Mulligan, was made, June 15, 1861, 
at Chicago, when it was occupying barracks 
known as Kane's brewery near the river on 
West Polk Street. It was early ordered to North- 
ern Missouri, and was doing garrison duty at 
Lexington, when, in September, 1861, it surren- 
dered with the rest of the garrison, to the forces 
under the rebel General Price, and %vas paroled. 
From Oct. 8, 1861, to June 14, 1862. it was detailed 
to guard prisoners at Camp Douglas. Thereafter 
it participated in engagements in the Virginias, 
as follows: at South Fork, Greenland Gap, Phi- 
lippi, Hedgeville, Leetown, Maryland Heights, 
Snicker's Gap, Kernstown, Cedar Creek, Win- 
chester, Charlestown, Berryville, Opequan Creek, 
Fisher's Hill, Harrisonburg, Hatcher's Run and 
Petersburg. It also took part in the siege of 
Richmond and the pursuit of Lee, being present 
at the surrender at Appomattox. In January 
and February, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as 
veterans, at Greenland Gap, W. Va. In August, 
1864, the ten companies of the Regiment, then 
numbering 440, were consolidated into five com- 
panies and designated, "Battalion, Twenty-third 
Regiment, Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry." 
The regiment was thanked by Congress for its 
part at Lexington, and was authorized to inscribe 
Lexington upon its colors. (See also Mulligan, 
James A.) 

Twenty-fourth Infantry, (known as the 
First Hecker Regiment). Organized at Chicago, 
with two companies — to-wit: the Union Cadets 
and the Lincoln Rifles — from the three months' 
service, in June, 1861, and mustered in, July 8, 
1861. It participated in tlie battles of Perryville, 
Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Resaca, Kenesaw 
Mountain and other engagements in the Atlanta 
campaign. It was mustered out of service at 
Chicago, August 6, 1864. A fraction of the regi- 
ment, which had been recruited in the field, and 
whose term of service had not expired at the date 
of muster-out, was organized into one company 
and attached to the Third Brigade, First Divi- 
sion, Fourteenth Army Corps, and mustered out 
at Camp Butler, August 1, 1865. 

Twenty- FIFTH Inf.\ntry. Organized from 
the counties of Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Vermil- 
ion, Douglas, Coles, Champaign and Edgar, and 
mustered into service at St. Louis, August 4. 1861. 
It participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, in the 
siege of Corinth, the battle of Kenesaw Moun- 



tain, the siege of Atlanta, and innumerable skir- 
mishes ; was mustered out at Springfield, Sept. 5, 
1864. During its three years' service the regi- 
ment traveled 4,963 miles, of which 3,352 were on 
foot, the remainder by steamboat and railroad. 

Twenty-sixth Infantry. Mustered into serv- 
ice, consisting of seven companies, at Springfield, 
August 31, 1861. On Jan. 1, 1864, the regiment 
re-enlisted as veterans. It was authorized by the 
commanding General to inscribe upon its ban- 
ners "New Madrid''; "Island No. 10;" "Farming- 
ton;'' "Siege of Corinth;" "luka;'' "Corinth — 
3d and 4th, 1863;" "Resaca;" "Kenesaw;" "Ezra 
Church;" "Atlanta;" "Jonesboro;" "Griswold- 
ville;" "McAllister;" "Savannah;" "Columbia," 
and "Bentonville." It was mustered out at 
Louisville, July 20, 1865, and paid off and 
discharged, at Springfield, July 28 — the regiment 
having marched, during its four years of service, 
6,931 miles, and fought twenty-eight hard battles, 
besides innumerable skirmishes. 

Twenty-seventh Infantry. First organized, 
with only seven companies, at Springfield, 
August 10, 1861, and organization completed by 
the addition of three more companies, at Cairo, 
on September 1. It took part in the battle of Bel- 
mont, the siege of Island No. 10, and the battles 
of Farmington, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chicka- 
mauga, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, 
Resaca, Calhoun, Adairsville, Dallas, Pine Top 
Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain, as well as in 
the investment of Atlanta; was relieved from 
duty, August 25, 1864, while at the front, and 
mustered out at Springfield, September 30. Its 
veterans, with the recruits whose term of serv- 
ice had not expired, were consolidated with the 
Ninth Infantry. 

Twenty-eighth Infantry. Composed of 
companies from Pike, Fulton, Schuyler, Slason, 
Scott and Menard Counties; was organized at 
Springfield, August 15, 1861, and mustered into 
service for three years. It participated in the 
battles of Shiloh and Metamora, the siege of 
Vicksburg and the battles of Jackson, Mississippi, 
and Fort Beauregard, and in the capture of 
Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile. From 
June, 1864, to March, 1866, it was stationed in 
Texas, and was mustered out at Brownsville, in 
that State, March 15, 1866, having served four 
years and seven months. It was discharged, at 
Springfield, May 13, 1866. 

Twenty-ninth Infantry. Mustered into serv- 
ice at Springfield, August 19, 1861, and was 
engaged at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and in the 
sieges of Corinth, Vicksburg and Mobile. Eight 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



555 



companies were detailed for duty at Holly Springs, 
and were there captured by General Van Dorn, 
in December, 1863, but were exchanged, six 
months later. In Januarj-, 1864, the regiment 
re-enlisted as veterans, and, from June, 1864, to 
November, 1865, was on duty in Texas. It was 
mustered out of service in that State, Nov. 6, 
1865, and received final discharge on November 28. 

Thirtieth Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field, August 28, 1861 ; was engaged at Belmont, 
Fort Donelson, the siege of Corinth, Medan 
Station, Raymond, Champion Hills, the sieges of 
Vicksburg and Jackson, Big Shanty, Atlanta, 
Savannah, Pocotaligo, Orangeburg, Columbia, 
Cheraw, and Fayetteville ; mustered out, July 
17, 1865, and received final payment and discharge 
at Springfield, July 27, 1865. 

Thirty-first Infantry. Organized at Cairo, 
and there mustered into service on Sept. 18, 
1861 ; was engaged at Belmont, Fort Donelson, 
Shiloh, in the two expeditions against Vicks- 
burg, at Thompson's Hill, Ingram Heights, Ray- 
mond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Shanty, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station and 
Jonesboro; also participated in the "March to 
the Sea" and took part in the battles and skir- 
mishes at Columbia, Cheraw, Fayetteville and 
Bentonville. A majority of the regiment re- 
enlisted as veterans in March, 1864. It was 
mustered out at Louisville, July 19, 1865, and 
finally discharged at Springfield, July 23. 

Thirty-second Infantry. Organized at 
Springfield and mustered into service, Dec. 31, 
1861. By special authority from the War Depart- 
ment, it originally consisted of ten companies of 
infantry, one of cavalrj', and a battery. It was 
engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, in the sieges 
of Corinth and Vicksburg, and in the battles of 
La Grange, Grand Junction, Metamora, Harrison- 
burg, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, 
AUatoona, Savannah, Columbia, Cheraw and 
Bentonville. In January, 1864, the regiment 
re-enlisted as veterans, and, in June, 1865, was 
ordered to Fort Leavenworth. Mustered out 
there, Sept. 16, 1865, and finally discharged at 
Springfield. 

Thirty-third Infantry. Organized and mus- 
tered into service at Springfield in Septembei', 
1861; was engaged at Fredericktown (Mo.), Port 
Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, the 
assault and siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, 
Fort Esperanza. and in the expedition against 
Mobile. The regiment veteranized at Vicksburg, 
Jan. 1, 1804 ; was mustered out, at the same point, 
Nov. 24. 1865. and finally discharged at Spring- 



field, Dec. 6 and 7, 1865. The aggregate enroll- 
ment of the regiment was between 1,900 and 
2,000. 

Thirty-fourth Infantry. Organized at 
Springfield, Sept. 7, 1861 ; was engaged at Shiloh, 
Corinth, Murfreesboro, Rocky Face Ridge, Re- 
saca. Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, 
Jonesboro, and, after participating in the "March 
to the Sea" and tlirough the Carolinas, took part 
in the battle of Bentonville. After the surrender 
of Johnston, the regiment went with Sherman's 
Army to Washington, D. C, and took part in the 
grand review. May 24, 1865; left Washington, 
June 12, and arrived at Louisville, Ky., June 18, 
where it was mustered out, on July 12 ; was dis- 
charged and paid at Chicago, July 17, 1865. 

Thirty-fifth Infantry. Organized at De- 
catur on July 3, 1861, and its services tendered to 
the President, being accepted by the Secretary of 
War as "Col. G. A. Smith's Independent Regi- 
ment of Illinois Volunteers," on July 28, and 
mustered into service at St. Louis, August 12. It 
was engaged at Pea Ridge and in the siege of 
Corinth, also participated in the battles of Perry- 
ville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas and 
Kenesaw. Its final muster-out took place at 
Springfield, Sept. 27, 1864, the regiment having 
marched (exclusive of railroad and steamboat 
transportation) 3.0.56 miles. 

Thirty-sixth Infantry. Organized at Camp 
Hammond, near Aurora, 111., and mustered into 
service, Sept. 23, 1861, for a term of three years- 
The regiment, at its organization, numbered 965 
officers and enlisted men, and had two companies 
of Cavalry ("A" and "B"), 186 officers and 
men. It was engaged at Leetown, Pea Ridge, 
Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, the siege 
of Chattanooga. Jlissionary Ridge, Rocky Face 
Ridge. Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope Church, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Jones- 
boro, Franklin and Nashville. Mustered out, 
Oct. 8, 1865, and disbanded, at Springfield, Oct. 
27, having marched and been transported, during 
its term of service, more than 10,000 miles. 

Thirty-seventh Infantry. Familiarly known 
as "Fremont Rifles"; organized in August, 1861, 
and mustered into service, Sept. 18. The regi- 
ment was presented with battle-flags by the Chi- 
cago Board of Trade. It participated in the 
battles of Pea Ridge, Neosho, Prairie Grove and 
Chalk Bluffs, the siege of Vicksburg, and in the 
battles of Yazoo City and Morgan's Bend. In 
October, 1863, it was ordered to the defense of the 
frontier along the Rio Grande; re-enlisted as 



§56 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



I 



veterans in Februar.v, 1864; took part in the 
siege and storming of Fort Blakely and the cap- 
ture of Mobile; from July, 1865, to May, 1866, 
was again on duty in Texas ; was mustered out 
at Houston, May 15, 1866, and finally discharged 
at Springfield, May 31, having traveled some 
17,000 miles, of which nearly 3,300 were by 
marching. 

Thirty-eighth Infantry. Organized at 
Springfield, in September, 1861. The regiment 
was engaged in the battles of Fredericktown, 
Perryville, Knob Gap, Stone River. Liberty Gap, 
Chickamauga, Pine Top, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville; 
re-enlisted as veterans in February, 1864 ; from 
June to December, 1865, was on duty in Louisi- 
ana and Texas; was mustered out at Victoria, 
Texas, Dec. 31, 1865, and received final discharge 
at Springfield. 

Thirty'-ninth Infantry. The organization of 
this Regiment was commenced as soon as the 
news of the firing on Fort Sumter reached Chi- 
cago. General Thomas O. Osborne was one of its 
contemplated field officers, and labored zealously 
to get it accepted under the first call for troops, 
but did not accomplish his object. The regiment 
had already assumed the name of the "Yates 
Phalanx" in honor of Governor Yates. It was 
accepted by the War Department on the day 
succeeding the first Bull Run disaster (July 33, 
1861), and Austin Light, of Chicago, was appointed 
Colonel. Under his direction the organization was 
completed, and the regiment left Camp Mather, 
Chicago, on the morning of Oct. 13, 1861. It par- 
ticipated in the battles of Winchester, Malvern 
Hill (the second), Morris Island, Fort Wagner, 
Drury's Bluff, and in numerous engagements 
before Petersburg and Richmond, including the 
capture of Fort Gregg, and was present at Lee's 
surrender at Appomattox. In the meantime the 
regiment re-enlisted as veterans, at Hilton Head, 
S. C, in September, 1863. It was mastered out 
at Norfolk, Dec. 6, 1865, and received final dis- 
charge at Chicago, December 16. 

Fortieth Infantry. Enlisted from the coun- 
ties of Franklin, Hamilton, Wayne, White, 
Wabash, Marion, Clay and Fayette, and mustered 
into service for three years at Springfield, 
August 10, 1861. It was engaged at Shiloh, in 
the siege of Corinth, at Jackson (Miss.), in the 
siege of Vicksburg, at Missionary Ridge, New 
Hope Church, Black Jack Knob, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain. Atlanta, Jonesboro, Ezra Chapel, Gris- 
woldville, siege of Savannah, Columbia (S. C). 
and Bentonville. It re-enlisted, as veterans, at 



Scottsboro, Ala., Jan. 1, 1864, and was mustered 
out at Louisville, July 24, 1865, receiving final 
discharge at Springfield. 

Forty'- FIRST Infantry. Organized at Decatur 
during July and August, 1861, and was mustered 
into service, August 5. It was engaged at Fort 
Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Corintli, the second 
battle of Coi-intli, the siege of Vicksburg and 
Jackson, in the Red River campaign, atGuntown, 
Kenesaw Mountain and Allatoona, and partici- 
pated in the "March to the Sea." It re-enlisted, 
as veterans, March 17, 1864, at Vicksburg, and 
was consolidated with the Fifty-third Infantry, 
Jan. 4, 1865, forming Companies G and H. 

FoRTY'-SECOND INFANTRY'. Organized at Chi- 
cago, July 23, 1861 ; was engaged at Island No. 10, 
the siege of Corinth, battles of Farmington, 
Columbia (Tenn.), was besieged at Nashville, 
engaged at Stone River, in the TuUahoma cam- 
paign, at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Rocky 
Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope 
Church, Pine and Kenesaw Mountains, Peach 
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, 
Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. It re- 
enlisted, as veterans, Jan. 1, 1864; was stationed 
in Texas from July to December, 1865; was mus- 
tered out at Indianola, in that State, Dec. 16, 
1865, and finally discharged, at Springfield, Jan. 
12, 1866. 

Forty'-third Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field in September, 1861, and mustered into 
service on Oct. 12. The regiment took part in 
the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and in the 
campaigns in West Tennessee, Mississippi and 
Arkansas; was mustered out at Little Rock, 
Nov. 30, 1865. and returned to Springfield for 
final pa5- and discharge, Dec. 14, 1865. 

Forty-fourth Infantry. Organized in Au- 
gust, 1861. at Chicago, and mustered into service, 
Sept. 13, 1861 ; was engaged at Pea Ridge, 
Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Shelbj'- 
ville. TuUahoma, Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky Face Ridge, 
Adairsville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kene- 
saw Mountain, Gulp's Farm, Chattahoochie 
River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro. 
Franklin and Nashville. The regiment re-enlisted 
as veterans in Tennessee, in January, 1864. 
From June to September, 1865, it was stationed 
in Louisiana and Texas, was mustered out at 
Port Lavaca, Sept. 25, 1865, and received final 
discharge, at Springfield, three weeks later. 

Forty-fifth Infantry'. Originally called 
the "Washburne Lead Mine Regiment"; was 
organized at Galena, July 23, 1861, and mustered 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



557 



into service at Chicago, Dec. 25, 1861. It was 
engaged at Fort Donelson. Shiloli, the siege of 
Corinth, battle of Jledan, the campaign against 
Vicksburg, the Meridian raid, the Atlanta cam- 
paign, the "March to the Sea," and the advance 
through the Carolinas. The regiment veteran- 
ized in January, 1864; was mustered out of serv- 
ice at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1865, and arrived 
in Chicago, July 15, 1865, for final pay and dis 
charge. Distance marched in four years, 1,750 
miles. 

Forty-sixth Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field, Dec. 28, 1861 ; was engaged at Fort Donel- 
son, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, battle of 
Metamora, siege of Vicksburg (where five com- 
panies of the regiment were captured), iu the 
reduction of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley, 
and the capture of Mobile. It was mustered in 
as a veteran regiment. Jan. 4, 1864. From May, 

1865, to January, 1866, it was on duty in Louisi- 
ana ; was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Jan. 20, 

1866, and, on Feb. 1, 1866, finally paid and dis- 
charged at Springfield. 

Forty-seventh Ixf.\ntry. Organized and 
mustered into service at Peoria, 111., on August 
16, 1861. The regiment took part in the expe- 
dition against New Madrid and Island No. 10; 
also participated in the battles of Farmington, 
luka, the second battle of Corinth, the capture 
of Jackson, the siege of Vicksburg, the Red 
River expedition and the battle of Pleasant Hill, 
and in the struggle at Lake Chicot. It was 
ordered to Chicago to assist in quelling an antici- 
pated riot, in 1864, but, returning to the front, 
took part in tlie reduction of Spanish Fort and 
the capture of Mobile; was mustered out, Jan. 
21, 1866, at Selma, Ala., and ordered to Spring- 
field, where it received final jjay and discharge. 
Those members of the regiment who did not re-en- 
list as veterans were mustered out, Oct. 11, 1864. 

Forty-eighth Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field, September, 1861, and participated in battles 
and sieges as follows: Fort Henry and Fort 
Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth (siege of), Vicksburg 
(first expedition against). Missionary Ridge, as 
well as in the Atlanta campaign and the "March 
to the Sea." The regiment re-enlisted as veter- 
ans, at Scott.sboro, Ala., Jan. 1, 1864; was mus- 
tered out, August 15, 1865, at Little Rock, Ark., 
and ordered to Springfield for final discharge, 
arriving, August 21, 1865. The distance marched 
was 3,000 miles; moved by water, 5,000; by rail- 
road, 3,450~total, 11,4.50. 

Fokty-ninth Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field, 111., Dec. 31. 1861; was engaged at Fort 



Donelson, Shiloh and Little Rock; took part in 
the campaign against Meridian and in the Red 
River expedition, being in the battle of Pleasant 
Hill, Jan. 15, 1864; three- fourths of the regiment 
re-enlisted and were mustered in as veterans, 
returning to Illinois on furlough. The non- 
veterans took part in the battle of Tupelo. The 
regiment participated in the battle of Nashville, 
and was mustered out, Sept. 9, 1865, at Paducah, 
Ky., and arrived at Springfield, Sept, 15, 1865, 
for final payment and discharge. 

Fiftieth Infantry. Organized at Quinoy, in 
August, 1861, and mustered into service, Sept. 12, 
1861 ; was engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the 
siege of Corinth, the second battle of Corinth, 
Allatoona and Bentonville, besides many minor 
engagements. The regiment was mounted, Nov. 
17, 1863; re-enlisted as veterans, Jan. 1, 1864, was 
mustered out at Louisville, July 13, 1865, and 
reached Springfield, the following day, for final 
pay and discharge. 

Fifty-first Infantry. Organized at Chi- 
cago, Dec. 24, 1861 ; was engaged at New Madrid, 
Island No. 10, Farmington, the siege of Corinth, 
Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jones- 
boro. Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. The 
regiment was mustered in as veterans, Feb. 16, 
1864 ; from July to September, 1865, was on duty 
in Texas, and mustered out, Sept. 25. 1865, at 
Camp Irwin, Texas, arriving at Springfield, 111., 
Oct. 15, 1865, for final payment and discharge. 

Fifty-second Infantry. Organized at Ge- 
neva in November, 1861, and mustered into serv- 
ice. Nov. 19. The regiment participated in the 
following battles, sieges and expeditions: Shiloh, 
Corinth (siege and second battle of), luka. Town 
Creek, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Lay's Ferry, 
Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Nickajack Creek, Decatur, Atlanta, Jonesboro 
and Bentonville. It veteranized, Jan. 9, 1864; 
was mustered out at Louisville, July 4, 1865, 
and received final payment and discharge at 
Springfield, July 12. 

Fifty-third Infantry. Organized at Ottawa 
in the winter of 1861-62, and ordered to Chicago, 
Feb 27, 1862, to complete its organization. It 
took part in the siege of Corinth, and was engaged 
at Davis' Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, in the 
Meridian campaign, at Jackson, the siege of 
Atlanta, the "March to the Sea," the capture of 
Savannah and the campaign in the Carolinas, 
including the battle of Bentonville. The regi- 
ment was mustered out of service at Louisville, 



558 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



July 22, 1865, and received final discharge, at 
Chicago, July 28. It marched 2,855 miles, and 
was transported by boat and cars, 4,168 miles. 
Over 1.800 officers and men belonged to the regi- 
ment during its term of service. 

Fifty-fourth Infantry. Organized at Anna, 
in November, 1861, as a part of the "Kentucky 
Brigade," and was mustered into service, Feb. 
18, 1862. No complete history of the regiment 
can be given, owing to the loss of its official 
records. It served mainly in Kentucky, Tennes- 
see, Mississippi and Arkansas, and always effect- 
ively. Three-fourths of the men re-enlisted as 
veterans, in January, 1864. Six companies were 
captured by the rebel General Shelby, in August, 
1864, and were exchanged, the following De- 
cember. The regiment was mustered out at 
Little Rook, Oct. 15, 1865 ; arrived at Springfield, 
Oct. 26, and was discharged. Puring its organi- 
zation, the regiment had 1,342 enlisted men and 
71 commissioned officers. 

Fifty-fifth Infantry. Organized at Chi- 
cago, and mastered into service, Oct. 31, 1861. 
The regiment originally formed a part of the 
"Douglas Brigade," being chiefly recruited from 
the young farmers of Fulton, McDonough, 
Grundy, La Salle, De Kalb, Kane and Winnebago 
Counties. It participated in the battles of Shiloh 
and Corinth, and in the Tallahatchie campaign; 
in the Vjattles of Chickasaw Ba3-ou, Arkansas 
Post, around Vicksburg, and at Missionary Ridge ; 
was in the Atlanta campaign, notably in the 
battles of Kenesaw Mountain and Jonesboro. In 
all, it was engaged in thirty one battles, and was 
128 days under fire. The total mileage traveled 
amounted to 11,960, of which 3,340 miles were 
actually marched. Re-enlisted as veterans, while 
at Larkinsville, Tenn.,was mustered out at Little 
Rock, August 14, 1865, receiving final discharge 
at Chicago, the same month. 

FiFTY'-siXTH Infantry. Organized with com- 
panies principallj' enlisted from the counties of 
Massac, Pope, Gallatin, Saline, White, Hamilton, 
Franklin and Wayne, and mustered in at Camp 
Mather, near Shawneetown. The regiment par- 
ticipated in the siege, and second battle, of 
Corinth, the Yazoo expedition, the siege of 
Vicksburg — being engaged at Champion Hills, 
and in numerous assaults; also took part in the 
battles of Missionary Ridge and Resaca, and in 
the campaign in the Carolinas, including the 
battle of Bentonville. Some 200 members of the 
regiment perished in a wreck off Cape Hatteras, 
March 31, 1865. It was mustered out in Arkan- 
sas, August 12, 1865. 



FiFTY'-SEVENTH INFANTRY. Mustered into serv- 
ice, Dec. 26, 1861, at Chicago; took part in the 
battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, the siege of 
Corinth, and the second battle at that point ; was 
also engaged at Resaca, Rome Cross Roads and 
Allatoona; participated in the investment and 
capture of Savannah, and the campaign through 
the Carolinas, including the battle of Benton- 
ville. It was mustered out at Louisville, July 7, 
1865, and received final discharge at Chicago, 
July 14. 

FiFTY'-EiGHTH INFANTRY'. Recruited at Chi- 
cago, Feb. 11, 1862; participated in the battles of 
Fort Donelson and Shiloh, a large number of the 
regiment being captured during the latter engage- 
ment, but subsequently exchanged. It took part 
in the siege of Corinth and the battle of luka, 
after which detachments were sent to Springfield 
for recruiting and for guarding prisoners. 
Returning to the front, the regiment was engaged 
in the capture of Meridian, the Red River cam- 
paign, the taking of Fort de Riissey, and in many 
minor battles in Louisiana. It was mustered out 
at Montgomery, Ala., April 1, 1866, and ordered 
to Springfield for final payment and discharge. 

FiFTY'-NiNTH INFANTRY'. Originally known as 
the Ninth Missouri Infantry, although wholly 
recruited in Illinois. It was organized at St. 
Louis, Sept. 18, 1861, the name being changed to 
the Fifty-ninth Illinois, Feb. 12, 1862, by order of 
tlie War Department. It was engaged at Pea 
Ridge, formed part of the reserve at Farmington, 
took part at Perryville, Nolansville, Knob Gap 
and Jlurfreesboro, in the Tullahoma campaign 
and the siege of Chattanooga, in the battles of 
Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, Kingston, 
Dallas, Ackworth, Pine Top, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Smyrna, Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin and 
Nashville. Having re-enlisted as veterans, the 
regiment was ordered to Texas, in June, 1865, 
where it was mustered out, December, 1865, 
receiving its final discharge at Springfield. 

Sixtieth Infantry. Organized at Anna, 111., 
Feb. 17, 1862; took part in the siege of Corinth 
and was besieged at Nashville. The regiment 
re-enlisted as veterans while at the front, in 
January, 1864; participated in the battles of 
Buzzard's Roost, Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, 
Rome, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Nickajack, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, 
Jonesboro, Averysboro and Bentonville; was 
mustered out at Louisville, July 31, 1865, and 
received final discharge at Springfield. 

Sixty-first Infantry'. Organized at Carroll- 
ton, 111,, three full companies being mustered 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



559 



in, Feb. .5, 1862. On February 21, the regiment, 
being still incomplete, moved to Benton Bar- 
racks. Mo., where a sufficient number of recruits 
joined to make nine full companies. The regiment 
was engaged at Shiloh and Bolivar, took part 
in the Yazoo expedition, and re-enlisted as veter- 
ans early in 1864. Later, it took part in the battle 
of Wilkinson's Pike (near Murfreesboro), and 
other engagements near that point ; was mustered 
out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 8. 186.^, and paid 
off and discharged at Springiield, Septem- 
ber 27. 

Sixty-second Inf.vntry. Organized at Anna, 
111., April 10, 1862; after being engaged in several 
skirmishes, the regiment sustained a loss of 170 
men, who were captured and paroled at Holly 
Springs, Miss., by the rebel General Van Dorn, 
where the regimental records were destroyed. 
The regiment took part in forcing the evacuation 
of Little Rock ; re-enlisted, as veterans. Jan. 9, 
1864; was mustered out at Little Rock. March 6, 
1866, and ordered to Springfield for final payment 
and discharge. 

Sixty-third Infantry. Organized at Anna, 
in December, 1861, and mustered into service, 
April 10, 1862. It participated in the first invest- 
ment of Vicksburg. the capture of Richmond 
Hill, La., and in the battle of Missionary Ridge. 
On Jan. 1, 1864, 272 men re-enlisted as veterans. 
It took part in the capture of Savannah and in 
Sherman's march through the Carolinas, partici- 
pating in its important battles and skirmishes; 
was mustered out at Louisville. Jul}- 13, 1865, 
reaching Springfield, July 16. The total distance 
traveled was 6,453 miles, of which 2,250 was on 
the march. 

Sixty-fourth Infantry. Organized at Spring- 
field, December. 1861, as the "First Battalion of 
Yates Sharp Shooters." The last company was 
mustered in, Dec. 31, 1861, The regiment was 
engaged at New Madrid, the siege of Corinth, 
Chambers' Creek, the second battle of Corinth, 
Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur, the 
siege of Atlanta, the investment of Savannah and 
the battle of Bentonville ; re-enlisted as veterans, 
in January, 1864; was mustered out at Loui.sVille, 
July 11, 1865, and finally discharged, at Chicago, 
July 18. 

Sixty-fifth Infantry. Originally known as 
the "Scotch Regiment"; was organized at Chi- 
cago, and mustered in. May 1, 1862. It was cap- 
tured and paroled at Harper's Ferry, and ordered 
to Chicago; was exchanged in April, 1863; took 
part in Burnside's defense of Knoxville; re-en- 
listed as veterans in March, 1864, and participated 



in the Atlanta campaign and the "March to the 
Sea." It was engaged in battles at Columbia 
(Tenn.), Franklin and Nashville, and later near 
Federal Point and Smithtown, N. C, being mus- 
tered out, July 13, 1865, and receiving final pay- 
ment and discharge at Chicago, July 26, 1865. 

Sixty-sixth Infantry. Organized at Benton 
Barracks, near St. Louis, Mo., during September 
and October, 1861 — being designed as a regiment 
of "Western Sharp Shooters" from Illinois, Mis- 
souri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and 
Ohio. It was mustered in, Nov. 23, 1861, was 
engaged at Mount Zion (Mo.), Fort Donelson, 
Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, luka, the second 
battle of Corinth, in the Atlanta campaign, the 
"March to the Sea" and the campaign through 
the Carolinas. The regiment was variously 
known as the Fourteenth Missouri Volunteers, 
Birge's Western Sharpshooters, and the Sixty- 
sixth riinois Infantry. The latter (and final) 
name was conferred by the Secretary of War, 
Nov. 20, 1862. It re-enUsted (for the veteran 
service), in December, 1863, was mustered out at 
Camp Logan. Ky., July 7, 1865, and paid off and 
discharged at Springfield, July 15. 

Sixty-seventh Infantry. Organized at Chi- 
cago, June 13, 1862, for three montlis' service, in 
response to an urgent call for the defense of 
Washington. The Sixty -seventh, by doing guard 
duty at the camps at Chicago and Springfield, 
relieved the veterans, who were sent to the front. 

Sixty-eighth Infantry. Enlisted in response 
to a call made by the Governor, early in the sum- 
mer of 1862, for State troops to serve for three 
months as State Militia, and was mustered in 
early in June, 1862, It was afterwards mustered 
into the United States service as Illinois Volun- 
teers, by petition of the men, and received 
marching orders, July 5, 1862 ; mustered out, at 
Springfield, Sept, 26, 1862 — many of the men re- 
enlisting in other regiments. 

Sixty-ninth Infantry. Organized at Camp 
Douglas, Chicago, and mustered into service for 
three months, June 14, 1862. It remained on 
duty at Camp Douglas, guarding the camp and 
rebel prisoners. 

Seventieth Infantry. Organized at Camp 
Butler, near Springfield, and mustered in, July 4, 
1862. It remained at Camp Butler doing guard 
duty. Its term of service was three months. 

Seventy-first Infantry. Mustered into serv- 
ice, July 26, 1862, at Chicago, for three months. 
Its service was confined to garrison duty in Illi- 
nois and Kentucky, being niustereu out at Chi- 
cago, Oct. 29, 1862. 



660 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Seventy-second Infantry. Organized at Chi- 
cago, as the First Regiment of the Chicago Board 
of Trade, and mustered into service for three 
years, August 23, 1863. It was engaged at Cliam- 
pion Hill, Vicksburg. Natchez, Franklin, Nash- 
ville, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakel}'; mustered 
out of service, at Vicksburg, August 6, 1865, and 
discharged at Chicago. 

Seventy-third Infantry. Recruited from 
the counties of Adams. Champaign, Christian, 
Hancock, Jackson, Logan, Piatt, Pike, Sanga- 
mon, Tazewell and Vermilion, and mustered into 
service at Springfield, August 31, 1863, 900 strong. 
It participated in the battles of Stone River, 
Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
Resaca, Adairsville, Burnt Hickory, Pine and 
Lost Mountains, New Hope Church, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Spring Hill, Frank- 
lin and Nashville ; was mustered out at Nashville, 
June 12, 1865, and, a few days later, A-ent to 
Springfield to receive pay and final discharge. 

Seventy-fourth Inf.vntry. Organized at 
Rockford, in August, 1862, and mustered into 
.service September 4. It was recruited from Win- 
nebago, Ogle and Stephenson Counties. This regi- 
ment was engaged at Perryville, Murfreesboro 
and Nolansville, took part in the Tullahoma 
campaign, and the battles of Missionary Ridge, 
Resaca, Adairsville, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Tunnel Hill, and Rocky Face Ridge, the siege of 
Atlanta, and the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin 
and Nashville. It was miLstered out at Nashville, 
June 10, 1865, with 343 officers and men. the 
aggregate number enrolled having been 1,001. 

Seventy-fifth Inf.\ntry'. Organized at 
Dixon- and mustered into service. Sept. 2. 1863. 
The regiment participated in the battles of Perry- 
ville, Nolansville, Stone River, Lookout Jlountain, 
Dalton, Resaca. Marietta, Kenesaw. Franklin and 
Nashville; was mustered out at Nashville, June 
12, 1865, and finally discharged at Chicago, July 
1, following. 

Seventy'-sixth Infantry. Organized at Kan- 
kakee, 111., in August, 1862, and mustered into the 
service, August 22, 1862 ; took part in the siege of 
Vicksburg, the engagement at Jackson, the cam- 
paign against Meridian, the expedition to Yazoo 
City, and the capture of Mobile, was ordered to 
Texas in June, 1865, and mustered out at Galves- 
ton, July 23, 1865, being paid off and disbanded 
at Chicago, August 4, 1865 — having traveled 
10,000 miles. 

Seventt-seventb Infantry. Organized and 
mustered into service, Sept. 3, 1863, at Peoria; 
was engaged in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, 



Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg (including 
the battle of Champion Hills), the capture of 
Jackson, the Red River expedition, and the bat- 
tles of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant HOI ; the 
reduction of Forts Gaines and Morgan, and the 
capture of Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile. 
It was mustered out of service at Mobile, July 
10, 1865, and ordered to Springfield for final pay- 
ment and discharge, where it arrived, July 22, 1865, 
having participated in sixteen battles and sieges. 

Seventy'-eighth Infantry'. Organized at 
Quincy, and mustered into service, Sept. 1, 1862; 
participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Rome, 
New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach 
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Averysboro and 
Bentonville ; was mustered out, Jime 7, 1865, and 
sent to Chicago, where it was paid off and dia- 
cliarged, June 12, 1865. 

SEVENTY--NINTH INFANTRY. Organized at Mat- 
toon, in August, 1862, and mustered into service, 
August 28, 1863; participated in the battles of 
Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca. Kene- 
saw Mountain, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, 
Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Franklin and Nashville ; was 
mustered out. June 13, 1865; arrived at Camp 
Butler, June 15, and, on June 23, received final 
pay and discharge. 

Eightieth Infantry'. Organized at Centralia, 
111., in August, 1862, and mustered into service, 
August 25, 1863. It was engaged at Perryville, 
Dug's Gap, Sand Mountain and Blunt's Farm, 
surrendering to Forrest at the latter point. After 
being exchanged, it participated in the battles of 
Wauhatchie, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, 
Adairsville, Cassville, Dallas, Pine Mountain, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, 
Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station and Nash- 
ville. The regiment traveled 6,000 miles and 
participated in more than twenty engagements. 
It was mustered out of service, June 10, 1865, and 
proceeded to Camp Butler for final pay and 
discharge. 

Eighty-first Infantry. Recruited from the 
counties of Perry, Franklin. Williamson, Jack- 
son, Union, Pulaski and Alexander, and mustered 
into service at Anna. August 26, 1863. It partici- 
pated in the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, 
Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, and 
in the siege and capture of Vicksburg. Later, 
the regiment was engaged at Fort de Russey, 
Alexandria, Guntown and Nashville, besides 
assisting in the investment of Mobile. It was 
mustered out at Chicago. August 5, 1864. 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



561 



Eighty-second Infantry. Sometimes called 
the "Second Hecker Regiment," in honor of Col- 
onel Frederick Hecker, its first Colonel, and for 
merly Colonel of the Twenty-fourth Illinois 
Infantry — being chiefly composed of German 
members of Chicago. It was organized at Spring- 
field, Sept. 26, 1862, and mustered into service, 
Oct. 23, 1862; participated in the battles of 
Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Or- 
chard Knob, Missionary Ridge, Re.saca, New 
Hope Church, Dallas, Marietta, Pine Mountain, 
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Bentonville ; was 
mustered out of service, June 9, 1865, and 
returned to Chicago, June 16 — having marched, 
during its time of service, 2,503 miles. 

Eighty-third Infantry. Organized at Mon- 
mouth in August, 1862, and mustered into serv- 
ice, August 21. It participated in repelling the 
rebel attack on Fort Donelson, and in numerous 
hard-fought skirmishes in Tennessee, but was 
chiefly engaged in the performance of heavy 
guard duty and in protecting lines of communi- 
cation. The regiment was mustered out at Nash- 
ville, June 26, 1865, and finally paid off and 
discharged at Chicago, July 4, following. 

Eighty-fourth Infantry. Organized at 
Quincy, in August, 1862, and mustered into serv- 
ice, Sept. 1, 1862, with 939 men and ofl5cers. The 
regiment was authorized to inscribe upon its 
battle-flag the names of Perryville, Stone River, 
Woodburj-, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, 
Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Dalton, Buzzard's 
Roost, Resaca, Buint Hickory, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, Smyrna, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Sta- 
tion, Franklin, and Nashville. It was mustered 
out, June 8, 1865. 

Eighty-fifth Infantry. Organized at Peoria, 
about Sept. 1, 1862, and ordered to Louisville. It 
took part in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Knoxville, Dalton, Rocky-Face 
Ridge, Resaca, Rome, Dallas, Kenesaw, Peach 
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Savannah. Ben- 
tonville, Goldsboro and Raleigh; was mustered 
out at Washington, D. C. , June 5, 1865, and 
sent to Springfield, where the regiment was 
paid oflE and discharged on the 20th of the same 
month. 

Eighty-sixth Infantry. Mustered into serv- 
ice, August 27, 1862. at Peoria, at which time it 
numbered 923 men, rank and file. It took part 
in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Rome, 
Dallas, Kwiesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, 
Averygboro and Bentonville; was mustered out 
on June 6, 1865, at Washington, D. C, arriving 



on June 11, at Chicago, where, ten days later, the 
men received their pay and final discharge. 

Eighty-seventh Inf.vntry. Enlisted in Au- 
gust, 1862; was composed of companies from 
Hamilton, Edwards, Wayne and White Counties; 
was organized in the latter part of August, 1862, 
at Shawneetown; mustered in, Oct. 3, 1862, the 
muster to take effect from August 2. It took 
part in the siege and captm-e of Warrenton and 
Jackson, and in the entire campaign through 
Louisiana and Southern Mississippi, participating 
in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads and in numer- 
ous skirmishes among the bayous, being mustered 
out, June 16, 1865, and ordered to Springfield, 
where it arrived, June 24, 1865, and was paid off 
and disbanded at Camp Butler, on Julj- 2. 

Eighty-eighth Infantry. Organized at Chi- 
cago, in September, 1862, and known as the 
"Second Board of Trade Regiment." It was 
mustered in, Sept. 4, 1862 ; was engaged at Perry- 
ville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, AdairsviUe, 
New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Mud Creek, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Smyrna Camp Ground, 
Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Franklin 
and Nashville; was mustered out, June 9, 1865, 
at Nashville, Tenn., and arrived at Chicago, 
June 13, 1865, where it received final pay and 
discharge, June 22, 1865. 

Eighty-ninth Infantry. Called the "Rail- 
road Regiment"; was organized by the railroad 
companies of Illinois, at Chicago, in August, 
1862, and mustered into service on the 27th of 
that month. It fought at Stone River, Chicka- 
mauga, Missionary Ridge, Knoxville, Resaca, 
Rocky Face Ridge, Pickett's Mills, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, 
Lovejoy "s Station, Spring Hill, Columbia, Frank- 
lin and Nashville; was mustered out. June 10, 
1865, in the field near Nashville, Tenn. ; arrived 
at Chicago two days later, and was finally dis- 
charged, Jane 24, after a service of two years, 
nine months and twenty -seven days. 

Ninetieth Infantry. Mustered into service 
at Chicago, Sept. 7, 1862 ; participated in the siege 
of Vicksburg and the campaign against Jackson, 
and was engaged at Missionary Ridge, Resaca, 
Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Marietta, Nickajack Creek, Rosswell, 
Atlanta, Jonesboro and Fort McAllister. After 
the review at Washington, the regiment was 
mustered out, June 6, and returned to Chicago, 
June 9, 1865, where it was finally discharged. 

r^^iNETYFiRST INFANTRY. Organized at Camp 
Butler, near Springfield, in August, 1862, and 



562 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



mustered in on Sept. 8, 1863 ; participated in the 
campaigns against Vicksburg and New Orleans, 
and all along the southwestern frontier in 
Louisiana and Texas, as well as in the investiture 
and capture of Mobile. It was mustered out at 
Mobile, July 12, 1865, starting for home the same 
day, and being finally paid off and discharged on 
July 28, following. 

Ninety-second Infantry (Mounted). Organ- 
ized and mustered into service, Sept. 4, 1862, 
being recruited from Ogle, Stephenson and Car- 
roll Counties. During its term of service, the 
Ninety-second was in more tlian sixty battles and 
skirmishes, including Ringgold, Chickamauga, 
and the numerous engagements on the "JIarch 
to the Sea," and during tlie pursuit of Johnston 
through the Carolinas. It was mustered out at 
Concord, N. C. , and paid and discharged from the 
service at Chicago, July 10, 1865. 

Ninety-third Infantry. Organized at Chi- 
cago, in September, 1862. and mustered in, Oct. 
13, 998 strong. It participated in the movements 
against Jackson and Vicksburg, and was engaged 
at Champion Hills and at Fort Fisher ; also was 
engaged in the battles of Missionary Ridge, 
Dallas, Resaca, and many minor engagements, 
following Sherman in his campaign though the 
Carolinas. Mustered out of service, June 23, 
1865, and, on the 25th, arrived at Chicago, receiv- 
ing final paj'ment and discharge, July 7, 1865, the 
regiment having marched 2,554 miles, traveled 
by water, 2.296 miles, and, by railroad, 1,237 
miles — total, 6,087 miles. 

Ninety-fourth Infantry. Organized at 
Bloomington in August, 1862, and enlisted wholly 
in McLean County. After some warm experi 
ence in Southwest Missouri, the regiment took 
part in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and 
was, later, actively engaged in the campaigns in 
Louisiana and Texas. It participated in the cap- 
ture of Mobile, leading the final assault. After 
several months of garrison duty, the regiment was 
mustered out at Galveston, Texas, on July 17, 
1865, reaching Bloomington on August 9, follow- 
ing, having served just three years, marched 1,200 
miles, traveled by railroad 610 miles, and, by 
steamer, 6,000 miles, and taken part in nine bat- 
tles, sieges and skirmishes. 

Ninety-fifth Infantry. Organized at Rock- 
ford and mustered into service, Sept. 4, 1862. It 
was recruited from the counties of McHenry and 
Boone — three companies from the latter and 
seven from the former. It took part in the cam- 
paigns in Northern Mississippi and against Vicks- 
burg, in the Red River expedition, the campaigns 



against Price in Missouri and Arkansas, against 
Mobile and around Atlanta. Among the battles 
in which the regiment was engaged were those 
of the Tallahatchie River, Grand Gulf, Raymond, 
Champion Hills, Fort de Russey, Old River, 
Cloutierville, Mansura, Yellow Bayou, Guntown, 
Nashville, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, Kenesaw 
Mountain. Chattahoochie River, Atlanta. Ezra 
Church, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station and Nash- 
ville. The distance traveled by the regiment, 
while in the service, was 9,960 miles. It was 
transferred to the Forty-seventh Illinois Infan- 
try, August 25, 1865. 

Ninety-sixth Infantry. Recruited during 
the montlis of July and August, 1862, and mus- 
tered into service, as a regiment, Sept. 6, 1862. 
The battles engaged in included Fort Donelson, 
Spring Hill, Franklin, Triune, Liberty Gap, 
Shelbyville, Chickamauga, Wauhatchie, Lookout 
Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky Face Ridge, 
Resaca, Kingston. New Hope Church, Dallas, 
Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Smyrna 
Camp Ground, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Rough 
and Ready, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Frank- 
lin and Nashville. Its date of final pay and dis- 
charge was June 30, 1865. 

Ninety-seventh Infantry. Organized in 
August and September, 1862, and mustered in on 
Sept. 16 ; participated in the battles of Chickasaw 
Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion 
Hills, Black River. Vicksburg, Jackson and 
Mobile. On July 29, 1865, it was mustered out 
and proceeded homeward, reaching Springfield, 
August 10, after an absence of three years, less a 
few days. 

Ninety-eighth Infantry. Organized at Cen- 
tralia, September, 1862, and mustered in, Sept. 3 ; 
took part in engagements at Chickamauga, Mc- 
Minnville, Farmington and Selma, besides many 
others of less note. It was mustered out, June 
27, 1865, the recruits being transferred to the 
Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers. The regiment 
arrived at Springfield, June 30, and received final 
payment and discharge, July 7, 1865. 

Ninety-ninth Infantry. Organized in Pike 
County and mustered in at Florence, August 23, 
1862; participated in the following battles and 
skirmishes: Beaver Creek, Hartsville, Magnolia 
Hills, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River, 
Vicksburg, Jackson, Fort Esperanza, Grand 
Coteau, Fish River, Spanish Fort and Blakely: 
days under fire, 62; miles traveled, 5,900; men 
killed in battle, 38; men died of wounds and 
disease, 149; men discharged for disability, 127; 
men deserted, 35; ofEcers killed in battle, 3; 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



563 



officers died, 2; officers resigned, 26. The regi- 
ment was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Jul}' 31, 
1865, and paid off and discharged, August 9, 
following. 

One Hundredth Infantry. Organized at 
Joliet, in August, 1862, and mustered in, August 
30. The entire regiment was recruited in Will 
County. It was engaged at Bardstown, Stone 
River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and 
Nashville; was mustered out of service, June 12, 
1865, at Nashville, Tenn., and arrived at Chicago, 
June 15, where it received final payment and 
discharge. 

One Hundred and First Infantry. Organ- 
ized at Jacksonville during the latter part of the 
month of August, 1862, and, on Sept. 2, 1862, 
was mustered in. It participated in the battles 
of Wauhatchie, Chattanooga, Resaca, New Hope 
Church, Kenesaw and Pine Mountains, Peach 
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Averysboro and Bentonville. 
On Dec. 20, 1862, five companies were captured 
at Holly Springs, Miss., paroled and sent to 
Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and formally exchanged 
in June, 1863. On the 7th of June, 1865, it was 
mustered out, and started for Springfield, where, 
on the 21st of June, it was paid off and disbanded. 

One Hundred and Second Inf-4.ntry. Organ- 
ized at Knoxville, in August, 1862, and mustered 
in, September 1 and 2. It was engaged at Resaca, 
Camp Creek, Burnt Hickory, Big Slianty, Peach 
Tree Creek and Averysboro; mustered out of 
service June 6. 1865, and started home, arriving 
at Chicago on the 9th, and, June 14, received 
final paj'ment and discharge. 

One Hundred and Third Infantry. Re- 
cruited wholly in Fulton County, and mustered 
into the service, Oct. 2, 1862. It took part in 
the Grierson raid, the sieges of Vicksburg, Jack- 
son, Atlanta and Savannah, and the battles of 
Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Re.saca, Dal- 
las, Kenesaw Mountain and Griswoldsville ; was 
also in the campaign through the Carolinas. 
The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, 
June 21, and received final discharge at Chi- 
cago, Jul}- 9, 1865. The original strength of 
the regiment was 808, and 84 recruits were 
enlisted. 

One Hundred and Fourth Infantry. Organ- 
ized at Ottawa, in August, 1862, and composed 
almost entirely of La Salle County men. The 
regiment was engaged in the battles of Harts- 
ville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission- 
ary Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Utoy 
Creek, Jonesboro and Bentonville, besides many 
severe skirmishes ; was mustered out at Washing- 



ton, D. C. , June 6, 1865, and, a few days later, 
received final discharge at Chicago. 

One Hundred and Fifth Inf.\ntrY. Mus- 
tered into service, Sept. 2, 1862, at Dixon, and 
participated in the Atlanta campaign, being 
engaged at Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and 
Atlanta, and almost constantly skirmishing, 
also took part in the "March to the Sea"' and the 
campaign in the Carolinas, including the siege of 
Savannah and the battles of Averysboro and 
Bentonville. It was mustered out at Washing- 
ton, D. C, June 7, 1865, and paid off and dis- 
charged at Chicago, June 17. 

One Hundred and .Sixth Infantry. Mus- 
tered into service at Lincoln, Sept. 18, 1862, 
eight of the ten companies having been recruited 
in Logan County, the other two being from San- 
gamon and Menard Counties. It aided in the 
defense of Jackson, Tenn., where Company "C"' 
was captured and paroled, being e.xchanged in 
the summer of 1863; took part in the siege of 
Vicksburg, the Yazoo expedition, the capture of 
Little Rock, the battle of Clarendon, and per- 
formed service at various points in Arkansas. It 
was mustered out, July 12, 1865, at Pine Bluff, 
Ark , and arrived at Springfield, July 24, 1865, 
where it received final payment and discharge 

One Hundred and Seventh Infantry. Mus- 
tered into service at Springfield, Sept. 4, 1862; 
was composed of six companies from DeWitt and 
four companies from Piatt County. It was 
engaged at Campbell's Station, Dandridge, 
Rocky-Face Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville and 
Fort Anderson, and mustered out, June 21, 1865, 
at Salisbury, N. C, reaching Springfield, for 
final payment and discharge, July 2, 1865. 

One Hundred and Eighth Infantry. Organ- 
ized at Peoria, and mustered into service, August 
28, 1862 ; took part in the first expedition against 
Vicksburg and in the battles of Arkansas Post 
(Fort Hindman), Port Gibson and Champion 
Hills ; in the capture of Vicksburg, the battle of 
Guntown, the reduction of Spanish Fort, and the 
capture of Mobile. It was mustered out at Vicks- 
burg, August 5, 1865, and received final discharge 
at Chicago, August 11. 

One Hundred and Ninth Infantry. Re- 
cruited from Union and Pulaski Counties and 
mustered into the service, Sept. 11, 1862. Owing 
to its number being greatly reduced, it was con- 
solidated with the Eleventh Infantry in April, 
1863. (See Eleventh Infantry.) 

One Hundred and Tenth Infantry. Organ- 
ized at Anna and mustered in, Sept. 11, 1862 ; was 



564 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



engaged at Stone River, Woodbury, and in 
numerous skirmishes in Kentucky and Tennessee. 
In May, 1863, the regiment was consolidated, its 
numbers having been greatly reduced. Subse- 
quently it participated in the battles of Chicka- 
mauga and Missionary Ridge, the battles around 
Atlanta and the campaign through the Carolinas, 
being present at Johnston's surrender. The regi- 
ment was mustered out at Washington, D. C, 
June 5, 1865, and received final discharge at 
Chicago, June 15. The enlisted men whose term 
of service had not expired at date of muster-out, 
were consolidated into four companies and trans- 
ferred to the Sixtieth Illinois Veteran Volunteer 
Infantry. 

One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry. Re- 
cruited from Marion, Clay, Washington, Clinton 
and Wayne Counties, and mustered into the serv- 
ice at Salem, Sept. 18, 1863. The regiment aided 
in the capture of Decatur, Ala. ; took part in the 
Atlanta campaign, being engaged at Resaca, 
Dallas, Kene.saw, Atlanta and Jonesboro ; partici- 
pated in the "March to the Sea" and the cam- 
paign in the Carolinas, taking part in the battles 
of Fort McAllister and Bentonville. It was mus- 
tered out at Washington, D. C, June 7, 1865, 
receiving final discharge at Springfield, June 27, 
having traveled 3,736 miles, of which 1,836 was 
on the march. 

.One Hundred and Twelfth Infantry. Mus- 
tered into service at Peoria, Sept. 30 and 33, 
1863; participated in the campaign in East Ten- 
nessee, under Burnside, and in that against 
Atlanta, under Sherman; was also engaged in 
the battles of Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, 
and the capture of Fort Anderson and Wilming- 
ton. It was mustered out at Goldsboro, N. C, 
June 30, 1865, and finally discharged at Chicago, 
July 7. 1865. 

One Hundred and Thirteenth Infantry. 
Left Camp Hancock (near Chicago) for the front, 
Nov. 6, 1862; was engaged in the Tallahatchie 
expedition, participated in the battle of Chicka- 
saw Bayou, and was sent North to guard prison- 
ers and recruit. The regiment also took part in 
the siege and captm-e of Vicksburg, was mustered 
out, June 20, 1865, and finally discharged at Chi- 
cago, five days later. 

One Hundred and Fourteenth Infantry. 
Organized in July and August, 1862, and mustered 
in at Springfield, Sept. 18, being recruited from 
Cass. Menard and SanKaraon Counties. The regi- 
ment participated in the battle of Jackson (Miss.), 
the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and in the 
battles of Guntown and Harrisville, the pursuit 



of Price through Missouri, the battle of Nash- 
ville, and the capture of Mobile. It was mustered 
out at Vicksburg, August 3, 1865, receiving final 
payment and discharge at Springfield. August 15, 
1865. 

One Hundred and Fifteenth Infantry. 
Ordered to the front from Springfield, Oct. 4, 
1863 ; was engaged at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, 
Missionary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Resaca and in all 
the principal battles of the Atlanta campaign, 
and in the defense of Nashville and pursuit of 
Hood; was mustered out of service, June 11, 
1865, and received final pay and discharge, June 
33, 1865, at Springfield. 

One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry. 
Recruited almost wliolly from Macon County, 
numbering 980 officers and men when it started 
from Decatur for tlie front on Nov. 8, 1863. It 
participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, 
Arkansas Post, Champion Hills, Black River 
Bridge, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Big 
Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Stone Mountain, 
Atlanta, Fort McAllister and Bentonville, and 
was mustered out, June 7, 1865, near Washington, 
D. C. 

One Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry. 
Organized at Springfield, and mustered in, Sept. 
19, 1863; participated in the Meridian campaign, 
the Red River expedition (assisting in the cap- 
ture of Fort de Russey), and in the battles of 
Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Franklin, 
Nashville, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. It 
was mustered out at Springfield, August 5, 1865, 
having traveled 9,376 miles, 2,307 of which were 
marched. 

One Hundred and Eighteenth Infantry. 
Organized and mustered into the service at 
Springfield, Nov. 7, 1863; was engaged at Chicka- 
saw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Cham- 
pion Hills, Black River Bridge, Jackson (Miss.), 
Grand Coteau, Jackson (La. ), and Amite River. 
The regiment was mounted, Oct. 11, 1863, and 
dismounted. May 22, 1865. Oct. 1, 1865, it was 
mustered out, and finally discharged, Oct. 13. 
At the date of the muster-in, the regiment num- 
bered 830 men and officers, received 283 recruits, 
making a total of 1,103; at muster-out it num- 
bered 523. Distance marched, 2,000 miles; total 
distance traveled, 5,700 miles. 

One Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry. 
Organized at Quincy, in September, 1862, and 
was mustered into the United States service, 
October 10; was engaged in the Red River cam- 
paign and in the battles of Shreveport, Yellow 
Bayou, Tupelo, Nashville, Spanish Fort and Fort 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



565 



Blakely. Its final muster-out took place at 
Mobile, August 26, 1865, and its discharge at 
Springfield. 

One Hundred and Twentiett Infantry. 
Mustered into tlie service, Oct. 28, 1862, at Spring- 
field ; was mustered out, Sept. 7, 1865, and received 
final payment and discharge, September 10, at 
Springfield. 

One Hundred and Twenty-first Infan- 
try. (Tlie organization of this regiment was not 
completed.) 

One Hundred and Twenty-second Infan- 
try'. Organized at Carlinville, in August, 1862, 
and mustered into the service, Sept. 4, with 960 
enlisted men. It participated in the battles of 
Tupelo and Nashville, and in the capture of 
Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and was mustered 
out, July 15, 1865, at Mobile, and finally dis- 
charged at Springfield, August 4. 

One Hundred and Twenty-third Infan- 
try. Mustered into service at Mattoon, Sept. 6, 
1862; participated in the battles of Perry ville, 
Milton, Hoover's Gap, and Farmington ; also took 
part in the entire Atlanta campaign, marching 
as cavalry and fighting as infantry. Later, it 
served as mounted infantry in Kentucky, Tennes- 
see and Alabama, taking a prominent part in the 
capture of Selma. The regiment was discharged 
at Springfield, July 11, 1865 — the recruits, whose 
terms had not expired, being transferred to the 
Sixty-first Volunteer Infantry. 

One Hundred and Twenty'-fourth Infan- 
try. Mustered into the service, Sept. 10, 1862, at 
Springfield ; took part in the Vicksburg campaign 
and in the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond and 
Champion Hills, the siege of Vicksburg, the 
Meridian raid, the Yazoo expedition, and the 
capture of Mobile. On the 16tli of August. 1865. 
eleven days less than three years after the first 
company went into camp at Springfield, the regi- 
ment was mustered out at Chicago. Colonel 
Howe's history of the battle-flag of the regiment, 
stated that it had been borne 4, 100 miles, in four- 
teen skirimishes, ten battles and two sieges of 
forty -seven days and nights, and thirteen days 
and nights, respectively. 

One Hundred and Twenty'-fifth Infan- 
try". Mustered into service, Sept. 3, 1862; par- 
ticipated in the battles of Perryville, Chicka- 
mauga. Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro, and in 
the "March to the Sea" and the Carolina cam- 
paign, being engaged at Averysboro and Benton- 
ville. It was mustered out at Washington, D. C, 
June 9, 1865, and finally discharged at Chicago. 



One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infan- 
try'. Organized at Alton and mu.stered in, Sept. 4, 
1862, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg. 
Six companies were engaged in skirmish line, near 
Humboldt, Tenn, , and the regiment took part in 
the capture of Little Rock and in the fight at 
Clarendon, Ark. It was mustered out July 12, 1865. 

One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Infan- 
try'. Mustered into service at Chicago. Sept. 6, 
1862; took part in the first campaign against 
Vicksburg, and in tlie battle of Arkansas Post, 
the siege of Vicksburg under Grant, the capture 
of Jackson (Miss.), the battles of Missionary 
Ridge and Lookout Mountain, the Meridian raid, 
and in the figliting at Eesaca, Dallas, Kene.saw 
Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro; also accom- 
panied Sherman in his march through Georgia 
and the Carolinas, taking part in the battle of 
Bentonville ; was mustered out at Chicago. June 
17, 1865. 

One Hundred and Twenty'-eighth Infan- 
try. Mustered in, Dec. 18, 1862, but remained 
in service less than five months, when, its num- 
ber of officers and men having been reduced from 
860 to 161 (largely by desertions), a number of 
officers were dismissed, and the few remaining 
officers and men were formed into a detachment, 
and transferred to another Illinois regiment. 

One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Infan- 
try'. Organized at Pontiac, in August, 1862, and 
mustered into the service Sept. 8. Prior to May, 
1864, the regiment was chiefly engaged in garri- 
son duty. It marched with Sherman in the 
Atlanta campaign and through Georgia and the 
Carolinas, and took part in the battles of Resaca, 
Buzzard's Roost, Lost Mountain, Dallas, Peach 
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Averysboro and Benton- 
ville. It received final pay and discharge at Chi- 
cai-o, June 10, 1865. 

One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry. 
Organized at Springfield and mustered into 
service, Oct. 25, 1862; was engaged at Port Gib- 
son, Champion Hills. Black River Bridge, Vicks- 
burg, Jackson (Miss.), and in the Red River 
expedition. While on this expedition almost the 
entire regiment was captured at the battle of 
Mansfield, and not paroled until near the close of 
the war. The remaining oflScers and men were 
consolidated with the Seventy-seventh Infantry 
in Januarj', 1865, and participated in the capture 
of Mobile. Six months later its regimental re- 
organization, as the One Hundred and Thirtieth, 
was ordered. It was mustered out at New 
Orleans, August 15. 1865, and discharged at 
Springfield, August 31. 



566 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



One Hundred and Thirty-first Infan- 
try. Organized in September, 1863, and mus- 
tered into the service, Nov. 13, with 815 men, 
exclusive of officers. In October, 1863, it was 
consolidated with the Twenty -nintli Infantry, 
and ceased to exist as a separate organization. 
Up to that time the regiment had been in but a 
few conflicts and in no pitched battle. 

One Hundred and Thirty-second Infan- 
try*. Organized at Chicago and mustered in for 
100 days from June 1, 1864. The regiment re- 
mained on duty at Paducah until the expiration 
of its service, when it moved to Chicago, and 
was mustered out, Oct. 17, 186-1. 

One Hundred and THiRTY--TinRD Infan- 
try. Organized at Springfield, and mustered in 
for one hundred days, May 31, 1864; was engaged 
during its term of service in guarding prisoners 
of war at Rock Island ; was mustered out, Sept. 
4, 1864, at Camp Butler. 

One Hundred and Thirty'-fourth Inf-^n- 
TRY. Organized at Chicago and mustered in. 
May 31, 1864, for 100 days; was assigned to 
garrison duty at Colimibus, Ky., and mustered 
out of service, Oct. 25, 1864, at Chicago. 

One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Infan- 
try-. Mustered in for 100-days' service at Mat- 
toon, June 6, 1864, having a strength of 853 men. 
It was chiefly engaged, during its term of service, 
in doing garrison duty and guarding railroads. 
It was mustered out at Springfield, Sept. 38, 1864. 

One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Infan- 
try. Enlisted about the first of May, 1864, for 
100 days, and went into camp at Centralia, 111., 
but was not mustered into service until June 1, 
following. Its principal service was garrison 
duty, with occasional scouts and raids amongst 
guerrillas. At the end of its term of service the 
regiment re-enlisted for fifteen days; was mus- 
tered out at Springfield, Oct. 32, 1864, and dis- 
charged eight days later 

One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Infan- 
try. Organized at Quincy, with ex-Gov. John 
Wood as its Colonel, and mustered in, June 5, 
1864, for 100 days. Was on duty at Memphis, 
Tenn , and mustered out of service at Spring- 
field. 111.. Sept. 4, 1864. 

One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Infan- 
try Organized at Quincy, and mustered in, 
June 31, 1864, for 100 days; was assigned to garri- 
son duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and in 
Western Missouri. It was mustered out of serv- 
ice at Springfield, 111., Oct. 14, 1864. 

One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Infan- 
try. Mustered into service as a 100-day's regi- 



ment, at Peoria, June 1, 1864; was engaged in 
garrison duty at Columbus and Cairo, in making 
reprisals for guerrilla raids, and in the pursuit of 
the Confederate General Price in Missouri. The 
latter service was rendered, at the President's 
request, after the term of enlistment had expired. 
It was mustered out at Peoria, Oct. 25, 1864, hav- 
ing been in the service nearly five months. 

One Hundred and Fourtieth Infantry. 
Organized as a 100-days" regiment, at Springfield, 
June 18, 1864, and mustered into service on that 
date. The regiment was engaged in guarding 
railroads between Memphis and Holly Springs.and 
in garrison duty at Memphis. After the term of 
enlistment had expired and the regiment had 
been mustei'ed out, it aided in the pui"suit of 
General Price through Missouri; was finally dis- 
charged at Chicago, after serving about five 
months 

One Hundred and Forty-first Infan- 
try. Mustered into service as a 100-days' regi- 
ment, at Elgin, June 16, 1864 — strength, 843 men; 
departed for the field, June 27, 1864; was mus- 
tered out at Chicago, Oct. 10, 1864. 

One Hundred and Forty'-second Infan- 
try'. Organized at Freeport as a battalion of 
eight companies, and sent to Camp Butler, where 
two companies were added and the regiment 
mustered into service for 100 days, June 18, 1864. 
It was ordered to Memphis, Tenn., five days later, 
and assigned to duty at White's Station, eleven 
miles from that city, where it was employed in 
guarding the Memphis & Charleston railroad. 
It was mustered out at Chicago, on Oct, 27, 1864, 
the men having voluntarily served one month 
beyond their term of enlistment. 

One Hundred and Forty'-third Infan- 
try'. Organized at Mattoon, and mustered in, 
June 11, 1804, for 100 days. It was assigned to 
garrison dutj', and mustered out at Mattoon, 
Sept. 36, 1864. 

One Hundred and Forty'-fourth Infan- 
try'. Organized at Alton, in 1864, as a one-year 
regiment; was mustered into the service, Oct. 31, 
its strength being 1,159 men. It was mustered 
out, July 14, 1865. 

One Hundred and Forty'-fifth Infan- 
try'. Mustered into service at Springfield, June 
9, 1864 ; strength, 880 men. It dejiarted for the 
field, June 12, 1864; was mustered out, Sept. 23, 
1864. 

One Hundred and Forty'-sixth Infan- 
try. Organized at Springfield, Sept. 18, 1864, for 
one year. Was assigned to the dutj' of guarding 
drafted men at Brighton, Quincy, Jacksonville 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



567 



and Springfield, and mustered out at Springfield, 
July 5, 1865. 

One Hundred axd Forty-seventh Infan- 
try. Organized at Chicago, and mustered into 
service for one year, Feb. 18 and 19, 1865; was 
engaged chiefly on guard or garrison duty, in 
scouting and in skirmishing with guerrillas. 
Mustered out at Nashville, Jan. 22, 1866, and 
received final discharge at Springfield, Feb. 4. 

One Hundred and Forty-eighth Infajv- 
TRY. Organized at Springfield, Feb. 21, 1865, for 
the term of one year ; was assigned to garrison 
and guard duty and mustered out, Sept. 5, 1865, 
at Nashville, Tenn ; arrived at Springfield, Sept. 
9, 1865, where it was paid off and discharged. 

One Hundred and Forty-ninth Infan- 
try. Organized at Springfield, Feb. 11, 1865, 
and mustered in for one year; was engaged in 
garrison and guard duty ; mustered out, Jan. 27, 
1866, at Dalton, Ga., and ordered to Springfield, 
where it received final payment and discharge. 

One Hundred and Fiftieth Infantry. 
Organized at Springfield, and mustered in, Feb. 14, 
1865, for one year ; was on duty in Tennessee and 
Georgia, guarding railroads and garrisoning 
towns. It was mustered out, Jan. 16, 1866, at 
Atlanta, Ga., and ordered to Springfield, where it 
received final payment and discharge. 

One Hundred and Fifty-first Infa:ntet% 
This regiment was organized at Quincy, 111., 
and mustered into the United States service, 
Feb. 23, 1865, and was composed of companies 
from various parts of the State, recruited, under 
tlie call of Dec. 19, 1864. It was engaged in 
guard duty, with a few guerrilla skirmishes, and 
was present at the surrender of General War- 
ford's army, at Kingston, Ga. ; was mustered out 
at Columbus, Ga., Jan. 24, 1866, and ordered to 
Springfield, where it received final payment and 
discharge, Feb. 8, 1866. 

One Hundred akd Fifty-second Infan- 
try. Organized at Springfield and mustered in, 
Feb. 18, 1865, for one year; was mustered out of 
service, to date Sept. 11, at Memphis, Tenn., and 
arrived at Camp Butler, Sept. 9, 1865, where it 
received final payment and discharge. 

One Hundred and Fifty-third Infan- 
try. Organized at Chicago, and mustered in, 
Feb. 27, 1865, for one year; was not engaged in 
any battles. It was mustered out, Sept. 15, 1865, 
and moved to Springfield, 111., and, Sept. 24, 
received final pay and discharge. 

One Hundred -vnd Fifty-fourth Infan- 
try. Organized at Springfield, Feb. 21, 1865, 
for one year. Sept. 18, 1865, the regiment was 



mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., and ordered to 
Springfield for final payment and discharge, 
where it arrived, Sept. 22 ; was paid oft and dis- 
charged at Camp Butler, Sept. 29. 

One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infa-n- 
try. Organized at Springfield and mustered in 
Feb. 28, 1865, for one year, 904 strong. On Sept. 
4, 1865, it was mustered out of service, and moved 
to Camp Butler, where it received final pay and 
discharge. 

One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Infan- 
try. Organized and mustered in during the 
months of February and March, 1865, from the 
northern counties of the State, for the term of 
one year. The officers of the regiment have left 
no written record of its history, but its service 
seems to have been rendered chiefly in Tennessee 
in the neighborhood of Memphis, Nashville and 
Chattanooga. Judging by the muster-rolls of 
the Adjutant-General, the regiment would appear 
to have been greatly depleted by desertions and 
otherwise, the remnant being finally mustered 
out, Sept. 20, 1865. 

First Cavalry^. Organized — consisting of 
seven companies. A, B, C, D, E, F and G — at 
Alton, in 1861, and mustered into the United 
States service, July 3. After some service in 
Missouri, the regiment participated in the battle 
of Lexington, in that State, and was surrendered, 
with the remainder of the garrison, Sept. 20, 1861. 
The officers were paroled, and the men sworn not 
to take up arms again until discharged. No ex- 
change having been effected in November, the 
non-commissioned officers and privates were 
ordered to Springfield and discharged. In June, 
1862, the regiment was reorganized at Benton 
Barracks, Mo., being afterwards employed in 
guarding supply trains and supply depots at 
various points. Mustered out, at Benton Bar- 
racks, July 14, 1862. 

Second Cavalry. Organized at Springfield 
and mustered into service, August 12, 1861, with 
Company M (which joined the regiment some 
months later), numbering 47 commissioned offi- 
cers and 1,040 enlisted men. This number was in- 
creased by recruits and re-enlistments, during its 
four and a half year's term of service, to 2,236 
enlisted men and 145 commissioned officers. It 
was engaged at Belmont ; a portion of the regi- 
ment took part in the battles at Fort Henry, 
Fort Donelson and Shiloh, another portion at 
Merriweather's Ferry, Bolivar and Holly Springs, 
and participated in the investment of Vicksburg. 
In January, 1864, the major part of the regiment 
re-enUsted as veterans, later, participating in the 



568 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Red River expedition and the investment of Fort 
Blakely. It was mustered out at San Antonio, 
Tex., Nov. 33, 1865, and finally paid and dis- 
charged at Springfield, Jan. 3, 1866. 

Third Cavalry. Composed of twelve com- 
panies, from various localities in the State, the 
grand total of company officers and enlisted men, 
under the first organization, being 1,433. It was 
organized at Springfield, in August, 1861 ; partici- 
pated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Haines' Bluff, 
Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, 
Black River Bridge, and the siege of Vicksburg. 
In July, 1864, a large portion of the regiment re- 
enlisted as veterans. The remainder were mus- 
tered out, Sept. 5, 1864. The veterans participated 
in the repulse of Forrest, at Memphis, and in the 
battles of Lawrenceburg, Spring Hill, Campbells- 
ville and Franklin. From May to October, 1865, 
engaged in service against the Indians in the 
Northwest The regiment was miistered out at 
Springfield, Oct. 18, 1865. 

Fourth Cavalry. Mustered into service, 
Sept. 26, 1861, and participated in the battles of 
Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh; in the 
siege of Corinth, and in many engagements of 
less historic note ; was mustered out at Springfield 
in November, 1864. By order of the War Depart- 
ment, of June 18, 1865, the members of the 
regiment whose terms had not expired, were con- 
solidated with the Twelftli Illinois Cavalry. 

Fifth Cavalry, Organized at Camp Butler, 
in November, 1861 ; took part in the Meridian 
raid and the expedition against Jackson, Miss., 
and in numerous minor expeditions, doing effect- 
ive work at Canton, Grenada, Woodville, and 
other points. On Jan. 1, 1864, a large portion of 
the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. Its final 
muster-out took place, Oct. 27, 1865, and it re- 
ceived final payment and discharge, October 30. 
Sixth C.walry. Organized at Springfield, 
Nov. 19, 1861 ; participated in Sherman's advance 
upon Grenada ; in the Grierson raid through Mis- 
sissippi and Louisiana, the siege of Port Hudson, 
the battles of Moscow (Tenn), West Point (Miss.), 
Franklin and Nashville; re-enlisted as veterans, 
March 30, 1864; was mustered out at Selraa, Ala., 
Nov. 5, 1865, and received discharge, November 
20, at Springfield. 

Seventh Cavalry. Organized at Springfield, 
and was musteredinto service, Oct. 13, 1861. It 
participated in the battles of Farmington, luka, 
Corinth (second battle) ; in Grierson's raid 
through Mississippi and Louisiana; in the en- 
gagement at Plain's Store (La.), and the invest- 
ment of Port Hudson. In March, 1864. 288 



officers and men re-enlisted as veterans. The 
nou- veterans were engaged at Guntown, and the 
entire regiment took part in the battle of Frank- 
lin. After the close of hostilities, it was stationed 
in Alabama and Mississippi, until the latter part 
of October, 1865 ; was mustered out at Nashville, 
and finally discharged at Springfield, Nov. 17, 
1865. 

Eighth Cavalry. Organized at St. Charles, 
III., and mustered in, Sept. '18, 1861. The regi- 
ment was ordered to Virginia, and participated 
in the general advance on Manassas in March, 
1862; was engaged at Mechanicsville, Gaines' 
Hill, Malvern Hill, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Middle- 
town, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg, Sulphur Springs, Warrenton, Rapidan 
Station, Northern Neck, Gettysburg, Williams- 
burg, Funkstown, Falling Water, Chester Gap 
Sandy Hook, Culpepper, Brandy Station, and in 
many raids and skirmishes. It was mustered 
out of service at Benton Barracks, Mo., July 17, 
1865, and ordered to Chicago, where it received 
final payment and discharge. 

Ninth C.vvalry Organized at Chicago, in 
the autumn of 1861, and mustered in, November 
30; was engaged at Cold water, Grenada, Wyatt, 
Saulsbury, Moscow, Guntown, Pontotoc, Tupelo, 
Old Town Creek, Hurricane Creek, Lawrence- 
burg, Campellsville, Franklin and Nashville. 
The regiment re-enlisted as veterans, March 16, 
1864; was mustered out of service at Selma, Ala., 
Oct. 31, 1865, and ordered to Springfield, where 
the men received final payment and discharge. 

Tenth Cavalry. Organized at Springfield in 
the latter part of September, 1861, and mustered 
into service, Nov. 25, 1861 ; was engaged at Prairie 
Grove, Cotton Plant, Arkansas Post, in the 
Yazoo Pass expedition, at Richmond (La.), 
Brownsville, Bayou Metoe, Bayou La Fourche 
and Little Rock. In February, 1864, a large 
portion of the regiment re enlisted as veter- 
ans, the non-veterans accompanying General 
Banks in his Red River expedition. On Jan. 27, 
1865, the veterans, and recruits were consolidated 
with the Fifteenth Cavalry, and all reorganized 
under the name of the Tenth Illinois Veteran 
Volunteer Cavalry. Mustered out of service at 
San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 32, 1865, and received 
final discharge at Springfield, Jan. 6, 1866. 

Eleventh Cavalry. Robert G. Ingersoll of 
Peoria, and Basil D. Meeks, of Woodford County, 
obtained permission to raise a regiment of 
cavalry, and recruiting commenced in October, 
1861. The regiment was recruited from the 
counties of Peoria, Fulton, Tazewell, Woodford, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



569 



Marshall, Stark, Knox, Henderson and Warren; 
was mustered into the service at Peoria, Dec. 20, 
1861, and was first under fire at Shiloh. It also 
took part in the raid in the rear of Corinth, and 
in the battles of Bolivar, Corinth (second battle), 
luka, Lexington and Jackson (Tenn.); in Mc- 
pherson's expedition to Canton and Sherman's 
Meridian raid, in the relief of Yazoo City, and in 
numerous less important raids and skirmishes. 
Most of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans in 
December, 1803; the non-veterans being mus- 
tered out at Memphis, in the autumn of 180-1. The 
veterans were mustered out at the same place, 
Sept. 30, 1865, and discharged at Springfield, 
October 20. 

Twelfth Cavalry. Organized at Springfield, 
in February, 1863, and remained there guarding 
rebel prisoners until June 25, when it was 
mounted and sent to Martinsburg, Va. It was 
engaged at Fredericksburg. Williamsport, Falling 
Waters, the Rapidan and Stevensburg. On Nov. 
26, 1863. the regiment was relieved from service 
and ordered home to reorganize as veterans. 
Subsequently it joined Banks in the Red River 
expedition and in Davidson's expedition against 
Mobile. While at Memphis the Twelfth Cavalry 
was consolidated into an eight-compan}- organi- 
zation, and the Fourth Cavalry, having previouslj- 
been consolidated into a battalion of five com- 
panies, was consolidated with the Twelfth. The 
consolidated regiment was mustered out at 
Houston, Texas, May 29, 1866, and, on June 18, 
received final pay and discharge at Springfield. 

Thirteenth Cavalry. Organized at Chicago, 
in December, 1801 ; moved to the front from 
Benton Barracks, Mo., in February, 1802, and 
was engaged in the following battles and skir- 
mishes (all in Missouri and Arkansas) : Putnam's 
Ferry, Cotton Plant, Union City (twice). Camp 
Pillow, Bloomfield (first and second battles), Van 
Buren, Allen, Eleven Point River, Jackson, 
White River. Chalk Bluff, Bushy Creek, near 
Helena, Grand Prairie, White River, Deadman's 
Lake, Brownsville, Bayou Metoe, Austin, Little 
Rock, Benton, Batesville, Pine Bluff, Arkadel- 
phia, Okolona, Little Missouri River, Prairie du 
Anne, Camden, Jenkins' Ferry, Cross Roads, 
Mount Elba, Douglas Landing and Monticello. 
The regiment was mustered out, August 31. 1805, 
and received final pay and discharge at Spring- 
field, Sept. 13, 1805. 

Fourteenth Cavalry. Mustered into service 
at Peoria, in January and February, 1863; par- 
ticipated in the battle of Cumberland Gap. in the 
defense of Knoxville and the pursuit of Long- 



street, in the engagements at Bean Station and 
Dandridge, in the Macon raid, and in the cavahy 
battle at Sunshine Church. In the latter Gen- 
eral Stoneman surrendered, but the Fourteenth 
cut its way out. On their retreat the men were 
betrayed by a guide and the regiment badly cut 
up and scattered, those escaping being hunted by 
soldiers with bloodhounds. Later, it was engaged 
at Waynesboro and in the battles of Franklin and 
Nashville, and was mustered out at Nashville, 
July 31, 1865, having marched over 10,000 miles, 
exclusive of duty done by detachments. 

Fifteenth Cavalry'. Composed of companies 
originally independent, attached to infantry regi- 
ments and acting as such; participated in the 
battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and in the 
siege and capture of Corinth. Regimental or- 
ganization was effected in the spring of 1803, and 
thereafter it was engaged chiefly in scouting and 
post duty. It was mustered out at Springfield, 
August 25, 1864, the recruits (whose term ot 
service had not expired) being consolidated with 
the Tenth Cavalry. 

Sixteenth Cavalry. Composed principally 
of Chicago men — Thieleman's and Schambeck's 
Cavalry Companies, raised at the outset of the 
war, forming the nucleus of the regiment. The 
former served as General Sherman's body-guard 
for some time. Captain Thieleman was made a 
Major and authorized to raise a battalion, the 
two companies named thenceforth being knowr- 
as Thieleman's Battahon. In September, 1862, 
the War Department authorized the extension of 
the battalion to a regiment, and, on the 11th of 
June, 1803, the regimental organization was com- 
pleted. It took part in the East Tennessee cam- 
paign, a portion of the regiment aiding in the 
defense of Knoxville, a part garrisoning Cumber- 
and Gap, and one battalion being captured by 
Longstreet. The regiment also participated in 
the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Buzzard's 
Roost, Resaca, Kingston, Cassville, Carterville, 
AUatoona, Kenesaw, Lost Mountain, Mines 
Ridge, Powder Springs, Chattahoochie, Atlanta, 
Jonesboro, FrankUn and Nashville. It arrived 
in Chicago, August 23, 1805, for final payment 
and discharge, having marched about 5,000 miles 
and engaged in thirty -one battles, besides numer- 
ous skirmishes. 

Seventeenth Cavalry. Mustered into serv- 
ice in January and February, 1804 ; aided in the 
repulse of Price at Jefferson City, Mo., and was 
engaged at Booneville, Independence, Mine 
Creek, and Fort Scott, besides doing garrison 
duty, scouting and raiding. It was mustered 



570 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



out in November and December, 1865, at Leaven- 
worth, Kan. Gov. John L. Beveridge, who had 
previously been a Captain and Major of the 
Eighth Cavalry, was the Colonel of this regi- 
ment. 

First Light Artillery. Consisted of ten 
batteries. Battery A was organized under the 
first call for State troops, April 21, 1861, but not 
mustered into the three years' service until July 
16; was engaged at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, 
Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the sieges of 
Vicksburg and Jackson, and in the Atlanta cam- 
paign; was in reserve at Champion Hills and 
Nashville, and mustered out July 3, 1865, at 
Chicago. 

Battery B was organized in April, 1861, en- 
gaged at Belmont, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, in the 
siege of Corinth and at La Grange, Holly Springs, 
Memphis, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the 
siege of Vicksburg, Mechanicsburg, Richmoud 
(La.), the Atlanta campaign and the battle of 
Nashville. The Battery was reorganized by con- 
solidation with Battery A, and mustered out at 
Chicago, July 2, 1865. 

Battery D was organized at Cairo, Sept. 2, 1861 ; 
was engaged at Fort Donelson and at Shiloh, 
and mustered out, July 38, 1865, at Chicago. 

Batter}' E was organized at Camp Douglas and 
mustered into service, Dec. 19, 1861 ; was engaged 
at Shiloh, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg, Gun- 
town, Pontotoc, Tupelo and Nashville, and mus- 
tered out at Louisville, Dec. 24, 1864. 

Battery F was recruited at Dixon and mus- 
tered in at Springfield, Feb. 35, 1862. It took 
part in the siege of Corinth and the Yocona 
expedition, and was consolidated with the other 
batteries in the regiment, March 7, 1865. 

Battery G was organized at Cairo and mus- 
tered in Sept. 28, 1861 ; was engaged in the siege 
and the second battle of Corinth, and mustered 
out at Springfield, July 24, 1865. 

Battery H was recruited in and about Chicago, 
during January and February, 1862 ; participated 
in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Vicksbiu-g, and 
in the Atlanta campaign, the "March to the 
Sea," and through the Carolinas with Sherman. 

Battery I was organized at Camp Douglas and 
mustered in, Feb. 10, 1862; was engaged at 
Shiloh, in the Tallahatchie raid, the sieges of 
Vicksburg and Jackson, and in the battles of 
Chattanooga and Vicksburg It veteranized, 
March 17, 1864, and was mustered out, July 26, 
1865. 

Battery K was organized at Shawneetown and 
mustered in, Jan. 9, 1862, participated in Burn- 



side's campaign in Tennessee, and in the capture 
of Knoxville. Part of the men were mustered 
out at Springfield in June, 1865, and the re- 
manider at Chicago in July. 

Battery M was organized at Camp Douglas and 
mustered into the service, August 12, 1863, for 
three years. It served through the Chickamauga 
campaign, being engaged at Chickamauga; also 
was engaged at Missionary Ridge, was besieged 
at Chattanooga, and took part in all the impor- 
tant battles of the Atlanta campaign. It was 
mustered out at Chicago, July 24, 1864, having 
traveled 3,102 miles and been under fire 178 days. 

Second Light Artillery. Consisted of nine 
batteries. Battery A was organized at Peoria, 
and mustered into service. May 23, 1861 ; served 
in Missouri and Arkansas, doing brilliant work 
at Pea Ridge. It was mustered out of service at 
Springfield, July 27, 1865. 

Battery D was organized at Cairo, and mustered 
into service in December, 1861 ; was engaged at 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Jackson, 
Meridian and Decatur, and mustered out at 
Louisville, Nov. 21, 1864. 

Battery E was organized at St. Loxiis, Mo., in 
August, 1861, and mustered into service, August 
20, at that point. It was engaged at Fort Donel- 
son and Shiloh, and in the siege of Corinth and 
the Yocona expedition — was consolidated with 
Battery A. 

Battery F was organized at Cape Girardeau, 
Mo., and mustered in, Dec. 11, 1861; was engaged 
at Shiloh, in the siege and second battle of 
Corinth, and the Meridian campaign; also 
at Kenesaw, Atlanta and Jonesboro. It was 
mustered out, July 27, 1865, at Springfield. 

Battery H was organized at Springfield, De- 
cember, 1861, and mustered in, Dec. 31, 1861; was 
engaged at Fort Donelson and in the siege of 
Fort Pillow; veteranized, Jan. 1, 1864, was 
mounted as cavalry the following summer, and 
mustered out at Springfield, July 29, 18G5. 

Battery I was recruited in Will County, and 
mustered into service at Camp Butler, Dec. 31, 
1861. It participated in the siege of Island No. 
10, in the advance upon Cornith, and in the 
battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Lookout 
Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga. 
It veteranized, Jan. 1, 1864, marched with Sher- 
man to Atlanta, and thence to Savannah and 
through the Carolinas, and was mustered out at 
Springfield. 

Battery K was organized at Springfield and 
mustered in Dec. 31, 1863; was engaged at Fort 
Pillow, the capture of Clarkston, Mo., and the 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



571 



siege of Vicksburg. It was mustered out, July 
14, 1865, at Chicago. 

Battery L was organized at Chicago aud mus- 
tered in, Feb. 28, 1862; participated in the ad- 
vance on Corintli, the battle of Hatchie and the 
advance on the Tallahatchie, and was mustered 
out at Chicago, August 9, 1SG5. 

Battery M was organized at Chicago, and mus- 
tered in at Springfield, June, 1862 ; was engaged 
at Jonesboro, Blue Spring, Blountsville and 
Rogersville, being finally consolidated with 
other batteries of the regiment. 

Chicago Board op Trade Battery. Organ- 
ized through the efforts of the Chicago Board of 
Trade, which raised $15,000 for its equipment, 
within forty-eight hours. It was mustered into 
service, August 1, 1862, was engaged at Law- 
renceburg, Murfreesboro, Stone River, Chicka- 
mauga, Farmington, Decatur (Ga.), Atlanta, 
Lovejoy Station, Nashville, Selma and Columbus 
(Ga.) It was mustered out at Chicago, June 30, 
1865, and paid in full, July 3, having marched 
5,268 miles and traveled by rail 1,231 miles. The 
battery was in eleven of the hardest battles 
fought in the West, and in twenty-six minor 
battles, being in action forty-two times while on 
scouts, reconnoissanoes or outpost duty. 

Chicago Mercantile Battery. Recruited 
and organized under the auspices of the Mercan- 
tile Association, an association of prominent and 
patriotic merchants of the City of Chicago. It 
was mustered into service, August 29, 1802, at 
Camp Douglas, participated in the Tallahatchie 
and Yazoo expeditions, the first attack upon 
Vicksburg, the battle of Arkansas Post, the siege 
of Vicksburg, the battles of Magnolia Hills, 
Champion Hills, Black River Bridge and Jackson 
(Miss.); also took jjart in Banks' Red River ex- 
pedition; was mustered out at Chicago, and 
received final payment, July 10, 1865, having 
traveled, by river, sea and land, over 11,000 
miles. 

Springfield Light Artillery. Recruited 
principally from the cities of Springfield, Belle- 
ville and Wenona, and mustered into service at 
Springfield, for the term of three years, August 
21, 1863, numbering 199 men and ofliicers. It 
participated in the capture of Little Rock and in 
the Red River expedition, and was mustered out 
at Springfield, 114 strong, June 30, 1865. 

Cogswell's Battery, Light Artillery. 
Organized at Ottawa, 111-, and mustered in, Nov. 
11, 1861, as Company A (Artillery) Fifty-third 
Illinois Volunteers, Colonel Cushman command- 
ing the regiment. It participated in the 



advance on Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, the 
battle of Missionary Ridge, an 1 the capture of 
Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, near Mobile. The 
regiment was mustered out at Springfield, August 
14, 1865, having served three years and nine 
months, marched over 7,500 miles, and partici- 
pated in seven sieges and battles. 

Sturges Rifles. An independent company, 
organized at Chicago, armed, equipped and sub- 
sisted for nearly two months, by the patriotic 
generosity of Mr. Solomon Sturges ; was mustered 
into service. May 6, 1861 ; in June following, was 
ordered to West Virginia, serving as body- 
guard of General McClellan; was engaged at 
Rich Mountain, in the siege of Yorktown, and in 
the seven days' battle of the Chickahominy. A 
portion of tlie company was at Antietam, the 
remainder having been detached as foragers, 
scouts, etc. It was mustered out at Washington, 
Nov. 25, 1862. 

WAR, THE SPANISH - AMERICAN. The 
oppressions aud misrule wliich had character- 
ized the administration of affairs by the Spanish 
Government and its agents for generations, in the 
Island of Cuba, culminated, iu April, 1898, in 
mutual declarations of war between Spain and 
the United States. The causes leading up to this 
result were the injurious effects upon American 
commerce and the interests of American citizens 
owning property iu Cuba, as well as the constant 
expense imposed upon the Government of the 
United States in the maintenance of a large navy 
along the South Atlantic coast to suppress fili- 
bustering, superadded to the friction and unrest 
produced among the people of this country by the 
long continuance of disorders and abuses so near 
to our own shores, which aroused the sympathy 
and indignation of the entire civilized world. 
For three years a large proportion of the Cuban 
population had been in open rebellion against the 
Spanish Government, and, while the latter had 
imported a large army to the island and sub- 
jected the insurgents and their families and 
sympathizers to the grossest cruelties, not even 
excepting torture and starvation itself, their 
policy had failed to bring the insurgents into 
subjection or to restore order. In this condition 
of affairs the United States Government had 
endeavored, through negotiation, to secure a miti- 
gation of the evils complained of, by a modifica- 
tion of the Spanish policy of government in the 
island ; but all suggestions in this direction had 
either been resented by Spain as unwarrantable 
interference in her affairs, or promises of reform, 
when made, had been as invariably broken. 



572 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



In the meantime an increasing sentiment liad 
been growing up in the United States in favor of 
conceding belligerent rights to the Cuban insur- 
gents, or the recognition of their independence, 
which foimd expression in measures proposed in 
Congress — all offers of friendly intervention by 
the United States having been rejected by Spain 
with evidences of indignation. Compelled, at 
last, to recognize its inability to subdue the insur- 
rection, the Spanish Government, in November, 
1897, made a pretense of tendering autonomy to 
the Cuban people, with the privilege of amnesty 
to the insurgents on laying down their arms. 
The long duration of the war and the outrages 
perpetrated upon the helpless "reconcentrados," 
coupled with the increased confidence of the 
insurgents in the final triumph of their cause, 
rendered this movement — even if intended to be 
carried out to the letter — of no avail. The 
proffer came too late, and was promptly rejected. 
In this condition of affairs and with a view to 
greater security for American interests, the 
American battleship Maine was ordered to 
Havana, on Jan. 24, 1898. It arrived in Havana 
Harbor the following day, and was anchored at a 
point designated by the Spanish commander. On 
the night of February 15, following, it was blown 
up and destroyed by some force, as shown by after 
investigation, applied from without. Of a crew 
of 354 men belonging to the vessel at the time, 
266 were either killed outright by the explosion, 
or died from their wounds. Not only the Ameri- 
can people, but the entire civilized world, was 
shocked by the catastrophe. An act of horrible 
treachery had been perpetrated against an 
American vessel and its crew on a peaceful mis- 
sion in the harbor of a professedly friendly na- 
tion. 

The successive steps leading to actual hostili- 
ties were rapid and eventful. One of the earliest 
and most significant of these was the passage, by 
a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress, on 
March 9, of an appropriation placing §50,000,000 
in the hands of the President as an emergency 
fund for purposes of national defense. This was 
followed, two days later, by an order for the 
mobilization of the army. The more important 
events following this step were: An order, under 
date of April 5, withdrawing American consuls 
from Spanish stations ; the departure, on April 9, 
of Consul-General Fitzhugh Lee from Havana; 
April 19, the adoption by Congress of concurrent 
resolutions declaring Cuba independent and 
directing the President to use the land and naval 
forces of the United States to put an end to 



Spanish authority in the island; April 20, the 
sending to the Spanish Government, by the Presi- 
dent, of an ultimatum in accordance with this 
act; April 21, the delivery to Minister Woodford, 
at Madrid, of his passports without waiting for 
the presentation of the ultimatum, with the 
departure of the Spanish Minister from Washing- 
ton ; April 23, the issue of a call by the President 
for 125,000 volunters; April 24, the final declara- 
tion of war by Spain ; April 25, the adoption by 
Congress of a resolution declaring that war had 
existed from April 21 ; on the same date an order 
to Admiral Dewey, in command of the Asiatic 
Squadron at Hongkong, to sail for Manila with a 
view to investing that city and blockading 
Philippine ports. 

The chief events subsequent to the declaration 
of war embraced the following: May 1, the 
destruction by Admiral Dewey's squadron of the 
Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila; May 19, 
the arrival of the Spanish Admiral Cervera's fleet 
at Santiago de Cuba; May 25, a second call by 
the President for 75,000 volunteers; July 3, the 
attempt of Cervera's fleet to escape, and its 
destruction off Santiago; July 17, the surrender 
of Santiago to the forces under General Shafter; 
July 30, the statement by the President, through 
the French Ambassador at Washington, of the 
terms on which the United States would consent 
to make peace ; August 9, acceptance of the peace 
terms by Spain, followed, three days later, by the 
signing of the peace protocol ; September 9, the 
appointment by the President of Peace Commis- 
sioners on the part of the United States; Sept. 18, 
the announcement of the Peace Commissioners 
selected by Spain; October 1, the beginning of the 
Peace Conference by the representatives of the 
two powers, at Paris, and the formal signing, on 
December 10, of the peace treaty, including the 
recognition by Spain of the freedom of Cuba, 
with the transfer to the United States of Porto 
Rico and her other West India islands, together 
with the surrender of the Philippines for a con- 
sideration of 120,000,000. 

Seldom, if ever, in the liistory of nations have 
such vast and far-reaching results been accom- 
plished within so short a period. The war, 
which practically began with the destruction of 
the Spanish fleet in Manila Harbor — an event 
which aroused the enthusiasm of the whole 
American people, and won the respect and 
admiration of other nations — was practically 
ended by the surrender of Santiago and the 
declaration by the President of the conditions of 
peace just three months later. Succeeding 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



573 



events, up to the formal signing of the peace 
treaty, were merely the recognition of results 
previously determined. 

History of Illinois Regiments.— The part 
played by Illinois in connection with these events 
may be briefly summarized in the history of Illi- 
nois regiments and other organizations. Under 
the first call of the President for 135,000 volun- 
teers, eight regiments — seven of infantry and one 
of cavalry — were assigned to Illinois, to which 
was subsequently added, on application through 
Governor Tanner, one battery of light artil- 
lery. The infantry regiments were made up 
of the Illinois National Guard, numbered 
consecutively from one to seven, and were 
practically mobilized at their home stations 
within forty-eight hours from the receipt of the 
call, and began to arrive at Camp Tanner, near 
Springfield, the place of rendezvous, on April 26, 
the day after the issue of the Governor's call. 
The record of Illinois troops is conspicuous for 
the promptness of their response and the com- 
pleteness of their organization — in this respect 
being unsurpassed by those of any other State. 
Under the call of May 35 for an additional force 
of 75,000 men, the quota assigned to Illinois was 
two regiments, which were promptly furnished, 
taking the names of the Eighth and Ninth. The 
first of these belonged to the Illinois National 
Guard, as the regiments mustered in under the 
first call had done, while the Ninth was one of a 
number of "Provisional Regiments" which had 
tendered their services to the Government. Some 
twenty-five other regiments of this class, more or 
less complete, stood ready to perfect their organi- 
zations should there be occasion for their serv- 
ices. The aggregate strength of Illinois organi- 
zations at date of muster out from the United 
States service was 13,380—11,789 men and 491 
ofiBcers. 

First Regiment Illinois Volunteers (orig- 
inally Illinois National Guard) was organized at 
Chicago, and mustered into the United States 
service at Camp Tanner (Springfield), under the 
command of Col. Henry L. Turner, May 13, 1898; 
left Springfield for Camp Tliomas (Chickamauga) 
May 17; assigned to First Brigade, Third 
Division, of the First Army Corps; started for 
Tampa, Fla., June 3, but soon after arrival there 
was transferred to Picnic Island, and assigned to 
provost duty in place of the First United States 
Infantry. On June 30 the bulk of the regiment 
embarked for Cuba, but was detained in the har- 
bor at Key West until July 5, when the vessel 
sailed for Santiago, arriving in Guantanamo Bay 



on the evening of the 8th. Disembarking on 
the 10th, the whole regiment arrived on the 
firing line on the 11th, spent several days and 
nights in the trenches before Santiago, and 
were present at the surrender of that city 
on the 17th. Two companies had previously 
been detached for the scarcely less perilous duty 
of service in the fever hospitals and in caring 
for their wounded comrades. The next month 
was spent on guard duty in the captured city, 
until August 35, when, depleted in numbers and 
weakened by fever, the bulk of the regiment was 
transferred by hospital boats to Camp Wikoff, on 
Montauk Point, L. I. The members of the regi- 
ment able to travel left Camp Wikoff, September 
8, for Chicago, arriving two days later, where they 
met an enthasiastic reception and were mustered 
out, November 17, 1,235 strong (rank and file)— a 
considerable number of recruits having joined the 
regiment just before leaving Tampa. The record 
of the First was conspicuous by the fact that it 
was the only Illinois regiment to see service in 
Cuba during the progress of actual hostilities 
Before leaving Tampa some eighty members of the 
regiment were detailed for engineering duty in 
Porto Rico, sailed for that island on July 13, and 
were among the first to perform service there. 
The First suffered severely from yellow fever 
while in Cuba, but, as a regiment, while in the 
service, made a brilliant record, which was highly 
complimented in the official reports of its com- 
manding officers. 

Second Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry (originally Second I. N. G.). This regi- 
ment, also from Chicago, began to arrive at 
Springfield, April 27, 1898 — at that time number- 
ing 1,203 men and 47 officers, under command of 
Col. George M. Moulton; was mustered in 
between May 4 and May 15; on May 17 started 
for Tampa, Fla. , but en route its destination was 
changed to Jacksonville, where, as a part of the 
Seventh Army Corps, under command of Gen. 
Fitzhugh Lee, it assisted in the dedication of 
Camp Cuba Libre. October 25 it was transferred 
to Savannah, Ga., remaining at "Camp Lee" until 
December 8, when two battalions embarked for 
Havana, landing on the 15th, being followed, a 
few days later, by the Third Battalion, and sta- 
tioned at Camp Columbia. From Dec. 17 to Jan. 
11, 1899, Colonel Moulton served as Chief of 
Police for the city of Havana. On March 28 to 30 
the regiment left Camp Columbia in detach- 
ments for Augusta, Ga., where it arrived April 
5, and was mustered out, April 26, 1,051 strong 
(rank and file), and returned to Chicago. Dur- 



674 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ing its stay in Cuba the regiment did not lose a 
man. A history of this regiment has been 
written by Rev. H. W. Bolton, its late Chaplain. 

Third Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, composed of companies of the Illinois 
National Guard from tlie counties of La Salle, 
Livingston, Kane, Kankakee, McHenry, Ogle, 
Will, and Winnebago, under command of Col. 
Fred Bennitt, reported at Springfield, with 1,170 
men and 50 officers, on April ~7; was mustered 
in May 7, 1898; transferred from Springfield to 
Camp Thomas (Chickamauga), May 14; on July 
22 left Chickamauga for Porto Rico ; on the 28th 
sailed from Newport News, on the liner St. Louis, 
arriving at Ponce, Porto Rico, on July 31 ; soon 
after disembarking captured Arroyo, and assisted 
in the capture of Guayama, which was the 
beginning of General Brooke's advance across 
the island to San Juan, when intelligence was 
received of the signing of the peace protocol by 
Spain. From August 13 to October 1 the Third 
continued in the performance of guard duty in 
Porto Rico ; on October 22, 986 men and 39 oflS- 
cers took transport for lionie by way of New York, 
arriving in Chicago, November 11, the several 
companies being mustered out at their respective 
home stations. Its strength at final muster-out 
was 1,273 men and officers. This regiment had 
the distinction of being one of the first to see 
service in Porto Rico, but suffered severely from 
fever and other diseases during the three months 
of its stay in the island. 

Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, com- 
posed of companies from Champaign, Coles, 
Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jackson, 
Jefferson, Montgomery, Richland, and St. Clair 
counties; mustered into tlie service at Spring- 
field, May 20, under command of Col. Casimer 
Andel; started immediately for Tampa, Fla., but 
en route its destination was changed to Jackson- 
ville, where it was stationed at Camp Cuba Libre 
as a part of the Seventh Corps under command of 
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee; in October was transferred 
to Savannah, Ga., remaining at Camp Onward 
until about the first of January, when the regi- 
ment took ship for Havana. Here the regiment 
was stationed at Camp Columbia until April 4, 
1899, when it returned to Augusta, Ga., and was 
mustered out at Camp Mackenzie (Augusta), May 
2, the companies returning to their respective 
home stations. During a part of its stay at 
Jacksonville, and again at .Savannah, the regi- 
ment was employed on guard duty. While at 
Jacksonville Colonel Andel was suspended by 
court-martial, and finally tendered his resigna- 



tion, his place being supplied by Lieut.-Col. Eben 
Swift, of the Ninth. 

Fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer 1n- 
F.\^TRY was the first regiment to report, and was 
mustered in at Springfield, May 7, 1898, under 
command of Col. James S. Culver, being finally 
composed of twelve companies from Pike, Chris- 
tian, Sangamon, McLean, Montgomery, Adams, 
Tazewell, Macon, Morgan, Peoria, and Fulton 
counties; on May 14 left Springfield for Camp 
Thomas (Chickamauga, Ga. ), being assigned to 
the command of General Brooke; August 3 left 
Chickamauga for Newport News, Va., with the 
expectation of embarking for Porto Rico — a 
previous order of July 26 to the same purport 
having been countermanded; at Ne\vport News 
embarked on the transport Obdam, but again the 
order was rescinded, and, after remaining on 
board thirty-six hours, the regiment was disem- 
barked. The next move was made to Lexington 
Ky., where the regiment — having lost hope of 
reaching "the front" — remained until Sept 5, 
when it returned to Springfield for final muster- 
out. This regiment was composed of some of the 
best material in the State, and anxious for active 
service, but after a succession of disappoint- 
ments, was compelled to return to its home sta- 
tion without meeting the enemy. After its arrival 
at Springfield the regiment was furloughed for 
thirty days and finally mustered out, October 16, 
numbering 1,213 men and 47 officers. 

Sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, consisting of twelve companies from the 
counties of Rock Island, Knox, Whiteside, Lee, 
Carroll, Stephenson, Henry, Warren, Bureau, and 
Jo Daviess, was mustered in May 11, 1898, under 
command of Col. D. Jack Foster; on May 17 left 
Springfield for Camp Alger, Va. ; July 5 the 
regiment moved to Charleston, S. C, where a 
part embarked for Sibonej", Cuba, but the whole 
regiment was soon after united in General 
Miles' expedition for the invasion of Porto Rico, 
landing at Guanico on July 2.5, and advancing 
into the interior as far as Adjuuta and Utuado. 
After several weeks' service in the interior, the 
regiment returned to Ponce, and on September 7 
took transport for the return home, arrived at 
Springfield a week later, and was mustered out 
November 25, the regiment at that time consist- 
ing of 1,239 men and 49 officers. 

Seventh Illinois Volunteer Inf.\ntry 
(known as the "Hibernian Rifles"). Two 
battalion? of this regiment reported at Spring, 
field, April 27, with 33 officers and 765 enlisted 
men, being afterwards increased to the maxi- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



57L 



mum ; was mustered into the United States serv- 
ice, imder command of Col. Marcus Kavanagli, 
May 18, 1898; on May 28 started for Camp Alger, 
Va. ; was afterwards encamped at Thoroughfare 
Gap and Camp Meade ; on September 9 returned 
to Springfield, was furloughed for thirty days, 
and mustered out, October 20, numbering 1,260 
men and 49 officers. Like the Fifth, the Seventh 
saw no actual service in the field. 

Eighth Illinois Volunteer Inpantey (col- 
ored regiment), mustered into the service at 
Springfield under the second call of the Presi- 
dent, July 23, 1898, being composed wholly of 
Afro- Americans under officers of their own race, 
with Col. John R. Marshall in command, the 
muster-roll showing 1,195 men and 76 ofiScers. 
The six companies, from A to F, were from Chi- 
cago, the other five being, respectively, from 
Bloomington, Springfield, Quincy, Litchfield, 
Mound City and Metropolis, and Cairo. The 
regiment having tendered their services to 
relieve the First Illinois on duty at Santiago de 
Cuba, it started for Cuba, August 8, b}' way of 
New York ; immediately on arrival at Santiago, 
a week later, was assigned to duty, but subse- 
quently transferred to San Luis, where Coloue, 
Marshall was made military governor. The 
major part of the regiment remained here until 
ordered home early in March, 1899, arrived at 
Chicago, March 15, and was mustered out, April 
3, 1,226 strong, rank and file, having been in 
service nine months and six days. 

Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry was 
organized from the counties of Southern Illinois, 
and mustered in at Springfield under the second 
call of the President, July 4-11, 1898, under com- 
mand of Col. James R. Campbell; arrived at 
Camp Cuba Libre (Jacksonville, Fla. ), August 9; 
two months later was transferred to Savannah, 
Ga. ; was moved to Havana in December, where 
it remained until May, 1899, when it returned to 
Augusta, Ga., and was mustered out there. May 
20, 1899, at that time consisting of 1,095 men and 
46 officers. From Augusta the several companies 
returned to their respective home stations. The 
Ninth was the only "Provisional Regiment" {tool 
Illinois mustered into the service during the 
war, the other regiments all belonging to the 
National Guard. 

First Illinois Cavalry was organized at Chi- 
cago immediately after the President's first call, 
seven companies being recruited from Chicago, 
two from Bloomington, and one each from 
Springfield, Elkliart, and Lacon ; was mustered in 
at Springfield, May 21, 1898, under command of 



Col. Edward C. Young; left Springfield for Camp 
Thomas, Ga., May 30, remaining there until 
August 34, when it returned to Fort Sheridan, 
near Chicago, where it was stationed until October 
11, wlieu it was mustered out, at that time con- 
sisting of 1,158 men and 50 officers. Although 
the regiment saw no active service in the field, it 
established an excellent record for itself in respect 
to discipline. 

First Engineering Corps, consisting of 80 
men detailed from the First Illinois Volunteers, 
were among the first Illinois soldiers to see serv- 
ice in Porto Rico, accompanying General Miles' 
expedition in the latter part of July, and being 
engaged for a time in the construction of bridges 
in aid of the intended advance across the island. 
On September 8 they embarked for the return 
home, arrived at Chicago, September 17, and 
were mustered out November 20. 

Battery A (I. N. G.), from Danville, 111., was 
mustered in under a special order of the War 
Department, May 12, 1898, under command of 
Capt. Oscar P. Yaeger, consi-sting of 118 men; 
left Springfield for Camp Thomas, Ga., May 19, 
and, two months later, joined in General Miles' 
Porto Rico expedition, landing at Guanico on 
August 3, and taking part in the affair at Gua 
yama on the 12th. News of peace having been 
received, the Battery retiu-ned to Ponce, where 
it remained until September 7, when it started 
on the return home by way of New York, arrived 
at Danville, September 17, was furloughed for 
sixty days, and mustered out November 25. The 
Battery was equipped with modern breech-load- 
ing rapid-firing guns, operated by practical artil- 
lerists and prepared for effective service. 

Natal Reserves. — One of the earliest steps 
taken by the Government after it became ap- 
parent that hostilities could not be averted, was 
to begin preparation for strengthening the naval 
arm of the service. The existence of the "Naval 
Militia," first organized in 1893, placed Illinois in 
an exceptionally favorable position for making a 
prompt response to the call of the Government, as 
well as furnishing a superior class of men for 
service — a fact evidenced during the operations 
in the West Indies. Gen. John JIcNulta, as head 
of the local committee, was active in calling the 
attention of the Navy Department to the value of 
the service to be rendered by this organization, 
which resulted in its being enlisted practically as 
a body, taking the name of "Naval Reserves" — 
all but eighty -eight of the number passing the 
physical examination, the places of these beirg 
promptly filled by new recruits. The first de- 



576 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS, 



tachment of over 200 left Chicago May 2, under 
the command of Lieut. -Com. John M. Hawley, 
followed soon after by the remainder of the First 
Battalion, making the whole number from Chi- 
cago 400, with 267, constituting the Second Bat- 
talion, from other towns of the State. The latter 
■was made up of 147 men from Moline, 58 from 
Quincy, and 62 from Alton — making a total from 
the State of 667. This does not include others, 
not belonging to this organization, who enlisted 
for service in the navy during the war, which 
raised the whole number for the State over 1,000. 
The Reserves enlisted from Illinois occupied a 
different relation to the Government from that 
of the "naval militia" of other States, which 
retained their State organizations, wliile those 
from Illinois were regularly mustered into the 
United States service. The recruits from Illinois 
were embarked at Key West, Norfolk and New- 
York, and distributed among fifty-two different 
vessels, including nearly every vessel belonging 
to the North Atlantic Squadron. They saw serv- 
ice in nearly every department from the position 
of stokers in the hold to that of gunners in the 
turrets of the big battleships, the largest number 
(60) being assigned to the famous battleship Ore- 
gon, while the cruiser Yale followed with 47 ; the 
Harvard with 35; Cincinnati, 27; Yankton, 19; 
Franklin, 18 ; Montgomery and Indiana, each, 17 ; 
Hector, 14; Marietta, 11; Wilmington and Lan- 
caster, 10 each, and others down to one each. 
Illinois sailors thus had the privilege of partici- 
pating in the brilliant affair of July 3, which 
resulted in the destruction of Cervera's fleet off 
Santiago, as also in nearly every other event in 
the West Indies of less importance, without the 
loss of a man while in the service, although 
among the most exposed. They were mustered 
out at different times, as they could be spared 
from the service, or the vessels to which they 
were attached went out of commission, a portion 
serving out their full term of one year. The 
Reserves from Chicago retain their organization 
under the name of "Naval Reserve Veterans," 
with headquarters in the Masonic Temple Build- 
ing, Chicago. 

WARD, Jame8 H., ex-Congressman, was born 
in Chicago, Nov. 30, 1853, and educated in the 
Chicago public schools and at the University of 
Notre Dame, graduating from the latter in 1873. 
Three years later he graduated from the Union 
College of Law, Chicago, and was admitted to 
the bar. Since then he has continued to practice 
his profession in his native city. In 1879 he was 
elected Supervisor of the town of West Chicago, 



and, in 1884, was a candidate for Presidential 
Elector on the Democratic ticket, and the same 
year, was the successful candidate of his party 
for Congress in the Third Illinois District, serv- 
ing one term. 

WINNEBAGO INDIANS, a tribe of the Da 
cota, or Sioux, stock, which at one time occupied 
a part of Northern Illinois. The word Winne- 
bago is a corruption of the French Ouinebe- 
goutz, Ouimbegouc, etc., the diphthong "ou" 
taking the place of the consonant "w," which is 
wanting in the French alphabet. These were, 
in turn, French misspellings of an Algonquin 
term meaning "fetid," which the latter tribe 
applied to the Winnebagoes because they had 
come from the western ocean — the salt (or 
"fetid") water. In their advance towards the 
East the Winnebagoes early invaded the country 
of the Illinois, but were finally driven north- 
ward by the latter, who surpassed them in num- 
bers rather than in bravery. The invaders 
settled in Wisconsin, near the Fox River, and 
here they were first visited by the Jesuit Fathers 
in the seventeenth century. (See Jesuit Rela- 
tions.) The Winnebagoes are commonly re- 
garded as a Wisconsin tribe; yet, that they 
claimed territorial rights in Illinois is shown by 
the fact that the treaty of Prairie du Chien 
(August 1, 1829), alludes to a Winnebago village 
located in what is now Jo Daviess County, near 
the mouth of the Pecatonica River. While, as a 
rule, the tribe, if left to itself, was disposed to 
live in amity with the whites, it was carried 
away by the eloquence and diplomacy of 
Tecumseh and the cajoleries of "The Prophet."* 
General Harrison especially alludes to the brav- 
ery of the Winnebago warriors at Tippecanoe' 
which he attributees in part, however, to a super- 
stitious faith in "The Prophet." In June or 
July, 1827, an unprovoked and brutal outrage by 
the whites upon an unoffending and practically 
defenseless party of Winnebagoes, near Prairie 
du Chien brought on what is known as the 
'Winnebago War." (See Winnebago War.) 
The tribe took no part in the Black Hawk War, 
largely because of the great influence and shrewd 
tactic of their chief, Naw-oaw. By treaties 
executed in 1832 and 1837 the Winnebagoes ceded 
to the United States all their lands lying east of 
the Mississippi. They were finally removed west 
of that river, and, after many shiftings of loca- 
tion, were placed upon the Omaha Reservation in 
Eastern Nebraska, where their industry, thrift 
and peaceable disposition elicited high praise 
from Government officials. 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



577 



WARNER, Vespasian, lawyer and Member of 
Congress, was born in De Witt County, 111., April 
23, 1842, and has Lived all his life in his native 
county — his present residence being Clinton. 
After a short course in Lombard Universit}', 
while studying law in the office of Hon. Law- 
rence Weldon, at Clinton, he enlisted as a private 
soldier of the Twentieth Illinois Volunteers, in 
June, 1861, serving until July, 1866, when he was 
mustered out with the rank of Captain and 
brevet Major. He received a gunshot wound at 
Shiloh, but continued to serve in the Army of 
the Tennessee until the evacuation of Atlanta, 
when he was ordered North on account of dis- 
ability. His last service was in fighting Indians 
on the plains. After the war he completed his 
law studies at Harvard University, graduating in 
1868, when he entered into a law partnership 
with Clifton H. Moore of CUnton. He served as 
Judge- Advocate General of the Illinois National 
Guard for several years, with the rank of Colonel, 
under the administrations of Governors Hamil- 
ton, Oglesby and Fifer, and, in 1894, was nomi- 
nated and elected, as a Republican, to the 
Fifty-fourth Congress for the Tlurteenth District, 
being re-elected in 1896, and again in 1898. In 
the Fifty-fifth Congress, Mr. Warner was a mem- 
ber of the Committees on Agriculture and Invalid 
Pensions, and Chairman of the Committee on 
Revision of the Laws. 

WARREN, a village in Jo Daviess County, at 
intersection of the Illinois Central and the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railways, 26 miles 
west-northwest of Freeport and 27 miles east b}- 
north of Galena. The surrounding region is 
agricultural and stock-raising ; there are also lead 
mines in the vicinity. Tobacco is grown to some 
extent. Warren has a flouring mill, tin factory, 
creamery and stone quarries, a State bank, water 
supply from artesian wells, fire department, gas 
plant, two weekly newspapers, five churches, a 
high school, an academy and a public library. 
Pop. (1890), 1,172; (1900), 1,337. 

WARREN, Calvin A., lawyer, was born in 
Essex County, N. Y. , June 3, 1807 ; in his youth, 
worked for a time, as a typographer, in the office 
of "The Northern Spectator," at Poultney, Vt., 
side by side with Horace Greeley, afterwards the 
founder of "The New York Tribune." Later, he 
became one of the publishers of "The Palladium" 
at Ballston, N. Y. , ' but, in 1832, removed to 
Hamilton County, Ohio, where lie began the 
study of law, completing his course at Transyl- 
vania University, Ky., in 1834, and beginning 
practice at. Batavia. Ohio, as the partner of 



Thomas Morris, then a United States Senator 
from Ohio, whose daughter he married, thereby 
becoming the brother-in-law of the late Isaac N. 
Morris, of Quincy, 111. In 1836, Mr. Warren 
came to Quincy, Adams County, lU., but soon 
after removed to Warsaw in Hancock County, 
where he resided until 1839, when he returned to 
Quincy. Here he continued in practice, either 
alone or as a partner, at different times, of sev- 
eral of the leading attorneys of that city. 
Although he held no office except that of Master 
in Chancery, which he occupied for some sixteen 
j-ears, the possession of an inexhaustible fund of 
liumor, with strong practical sense and decided 
ability as a speaker, gave him great popularity 
at the bar and upon the stump, and made him a 
recognized leader in the ranks of the Democratic 
party, of which he was a life-long member. He 
served as Presidential Elector on tlie Pierce 
ticket in 18.52, and was the nominee of his party 
for the same position on one or two other occa- 
sions. Died, at Quincy, Feb. 22, 1881. 

WARREN, Hooper, pioneer journalist, was 
born at Walpole, N. H., in 1790; learned the print- 
er's trade on the Rutland (Vt.) "Herald"; in 
1814 went to Delaware, whence, three years later, 
he emigrated to Kentucky, working for a time 
on a paper at Frankfort. In 1818 lie came to St. 
Louis and worked in the office of the old "Mis- 
.souri Gazette" (the predecessor of "The Repub- 
lican"), and also acted as the agent of a lumber 
company at Cairo, 111., when the whole popula- 
tion of that place consisted of one family domi- 
ciled on a grounded flat-boat. In March, 1819, 
he established, at Edwardsville, the third paper 
in Illinois, its predecessors being "The Illinois 
Intelligencer," at Kaskaskia, and "The Illinois 
Emigrant, "at Shawneetown. The name given 
to the new paper was "The Spectator," and the 
contest over the effort to introduce a pro-slavery 
clause in the State Constitution soon brought it 
into prominence. Backed bj' Governor Coles, 
Congressman Daniel P. Cook, Judge S. D. Lock- 
wood, Rev. Thomas Lippincott, Judge Wm. H. 
Brown (afterwards of Chicago), George Churchill 
and other opponents of slavery, "The Spectator" 
made a sturdy fight in opposition to the scheme, 
which ended in defeat of the measure by the 
rejection at the polls, in 1824, of the proposition 
for a Constitutional Convention. Warren left 
the Ed%vardsville paper in 182.5, and was, for a 
time, associated with "The National Crisis," an 
anti-slavery paper at Cincinnati, but soon re- 
turned to Illinois and established "The Sangamon 
Spectator" — tlie first paper ever published at the 



678 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



present State capital. This he sold out in 1829, 
and, for the next three 3'ears, was connected 
with "The Advertiser and Upper Mississippi Her- 
ald," at Galena. Abandoning this field in 1832, 
he removed to Hennepin, where, within the next 
five years, he held the offices of Clerk of the Cir- 
cuit and County Commissioners" Courts and ex- 
oflficio Recorder of Deeds. In 1836 he began the 
publication of the third paper in Chicago — "The 
Commercial Advertiser" (a weeklj') — wliich was 
continued a little more than a year, when it was 
abandoned, and he settled on a farm at Henry, 
Marshall County. His further newspaper ven- 
tures were, as the associate of Zebina Eastman, in 
the publication of "The Genius of Liberty," at 
Lowell, La Salle County, and "The 'Western 
Citizen" — afterwards "The Free West" — in Chi- 
cago. (See Eastman, Zebina, and Luncly, Ben- 
jamin.) On the discontinuance of "The Free 
West" in 1856, he again retired to his farm at 
Henry, where he .spent the remainder of his days. 
While returning home from a visit to Chicago, 
in August, 1864, he was taken ill at Mendota, 
dying there on the 22d of the month. 

WAKREN, John Esaias, diplomatist and real- 
estate operator, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1826, 
graduated at Union College and was connected 
with the American Legation to Spain during the 
administration of President Pierce; in 1859-60 
was a member of the Minnesota Legislature and, 
in 1861-62, Mayor of St. Paul; in 1867, came to 
Chicago, where, while engaged in real-estate 
business, he became known to the press as the 
author of a series of articles entitled "Topics of 
the Time." In 1886 he took up his residence in 
Brussels, Belgium, where he died, July 6, 1896. 
Mr. Warren was author of several volumes of 
travel, of which "An Attache in Spain" and 
"Para" are most important. 

WARREN COUNTY. A western county, 
created by act of the Legislature, in 1825, but 
not fully organized until 1830, having at that time 
about 350 inhabitants ; has an area of 540 square 
miles, and was named for Gen. Joseiili Warren. 
It is drained by the Henderson River and its 
affluents, and is traversed by the Chicago, Bur- 
Ungton & Quincy (two divisions), the Iowa 
Central and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 
Railroads. Bituminous coal is mined and lime- 
stone is quarried in large quantities. The county's 
early development was retarded in consequence 
of having become the "seat of war," during the 
Black Hawk War. The principal products are 
grain and live-stock, although manufacturing is 
carried on to some extent. The county -seat and 



chief city is Slonmouth (which see). Roseville 
is a shipping point. Population (1880), 22,933. 
(1890), 21,281; (1900), 23,163. 

WARRENSBURG, a town of Macon County, 
on Peoria Division 111. Cent. Railway, 9 miles 
northwest of Decatur; has elevators, canning 
factory, a bank and newspaper. Pop. (1900), 503. 

WARSAW, the largest town in Hancock 
County, and admirably situated for trade. It 
stands on a bluff on the Mississippi River, some 
three miles below Keokuk, and about 40 miles 
above Quincy. It is the western terminus of the 
Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway, and lies 116 
miles west-southwest of Peoria. Old Fort 
Edwards, established by Gen. Zachary Taylor, 
during the War of 1812, was located within the 
limits of the present city of Warsaw, opposite the 
:nouth of the Des Moines River. An iron 
foundry, a large woolen mill, a plow factory 
and cooperage works are its principal manufac- 
turing establishments. The channel of the Missis- 
sippi admits of the passage of the largest steamers 
up to this point. Warsaw has eight churches, a 
system of common schools comprising one high 
and three grammar schools, a National bank and 
two weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 3.105; 
(1890), 2,721; (1900), 2,335. 

WASHBURN, a village of Woodford County, on 
a branch of the Chicago & Alton Railway 25 
miles northeast of Peoria ; has banks and a 
weekly paper ; the district is agricultural. Popu- 
lation (1890), 598; (1900), 703. 

WASHBURNE, Elihu Beujaiuin, Congressman 
and diplomatist, was born at Livermore, Maine, 
Sept. 23, 1816 ; in early life learned the trade of a 
printer, but graduated from Harvard Law School 
and was admitted to the bar in 1840. Coming 
west, he settled at Galena, forming a partnership 
with Charles S. Hempstead, for the practice of 
law, in 1841. He was a stalwart Whig, and, as 
such, was elected to Congress in 1852. He con- 
tinued to represent his District until 1869, taking 
a prominent position, as a Republican, on the 
organization of that party. On account of his 
long service he was known as the "Father of the 
House," administering the Speaker's oath three 
times to Schuyler Colfax and once to James G. 
Blaine. He was appointed Secretary of State by 
General Grant in 1869, but surrendered his port- 
folio to become Envoy to France, in wliich ca- 
pacity he achieved great distinction. He was the 
only official representative of a foreign govern- 
ment who remained in Paris, during the siege of 
that cit}' by the Germans (1870-71) and the reign 
of the "Commune." For his conduct he was 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



b7:' 



honored by the Governments of France and Ger- 
many alike. On his return to the United States. 
he made his home in Chicago, where he devoted 
his latter years chiefly to literary labor, and 
where he died, Oct. 23, 1887. He was strongly 
favored as a candidate for the Presidency in 1880. 
WASHINGTON, a city in Tazewell County, 
situated at the intersection of the Chicago & 
Alton, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and the 
Toledo/ Peoria & Western Railroads. It is 31 
miles west of El Paso, and 13 miles east of Peoria. 
Carriages, plows and farming implements con- 
stitute the manufactured output. It is also an 
important shipping-point for farm products. It 
has electric light and water-works plants, eight 
churches, a graded school, two banks and two 
newspapers. Pop. (1890), 1,301 ; (1900), 1,451. 

WASHINGTON COUNTY, an interior county of 
Southern Illinois, east of St Louis; is drained by 
the Kaskaskia River and the Elkhorn, Beaucoup 
and Muddy Creeks; was organized in 1818, and 
has an area of 540 square miles. The surface is 
diversified, well watered and timbered. The 
soil is of variable fertility. Corn, wheat and 
oats are the chief agi-icultural products. Manu- 
facturing is carried on to some extent, among 
the products being agricultural implements, 
flour, carriages and wagons. The most impor- 
tant town is Nashville, which is also the county- 
seat. Population (1890), 19,2()2; (1900), 19,526. 
Washington was one of the fifteen counties into 
which Illinois was divided at the organization of 
the State Government, being one of the last 
three created during the Territorial period — the 
other two being Franklin and Union. 

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, a village of Cook 
County, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
and the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 
Louis Railways. 13 miles southwest of Chicago; 
has a graded school, female seminary, military 
school, a car factory, several churches and a 
newspaper. Annexed to City of Chicago, 1890. 

WATAGA, a village of Knox County, on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 8 miles 
northeast of Galesburg. Population (1900), 545. 
WJ.TERLOO, the county -seat and chief town 
of Monroe County, on the Illinois Division of the 
Mobile & Ohio Railroad, 24 miles east of south 
from St. Louis. The region is chiefly agricultural, 
but underlaid with coal. Its industries embrace 
two flour mills, a plow factory, distillery, cream- 
ery, two ice plants, and some minor concerns. 
The city has municipal water and electric light 
plants, four churches, a graded school and two 
newspapers. Pop. (1890), 1.860; (1900). 2.114. 



WATERMAN, Arba Nelson, lawyer and jurist, 
was born at Greensboro, Orleans County, Vt., 
Feb. 3, 1836. After receiving an academic edu- 
cation and teaching for a time, he read law at 
Montpelier and, later, passed through the Albany 
Law School. In 1861 he was admitted to the 
bar, removed to Joliet, 111., and opened an office. 
In 1863 he enlisted as a private in the One Hun- 
dredth Illinois Volunteers, serving with the 
Army of the Cumberland for two years, and 
being mustered out in August, 1864, with the 
rank of Lieutenant- Colonel. On leaving the 
army. Colonel Waterman commenced practice in 
Chicago. In 1873-74 he represented the Eleventh 
Ward in the City Council. In 1887 he was elected 
to the bench of the Cook County Circuit Court, 
and was re-elected in 1891 and, again, in 1897. In 
1890 he was assigned as one of the Judges of the 
Appellate Court. 

WATSEKA, the county-seat of Iroquois County, 
situated on the Iroquois River, at the mouth of 
Sugar Creek, and at the intersection of the Chi- 
cago it Eastern Illinois and the Toledo, Peoria & 
Western Railroads, 77 miles south of Chicago, 46 
miles north of Danville and 14 miles east of 
Oilman. It has flour-mills, brick and tile works 
and foundries, besides several churches, banks, a 
graded school and three weekly newspapers. 
Artesian well water is obtained by boring to the 
depth of 100 to 160 feet, and some forty flowing 
streams frou] these shafts are in the place. Popu- 
lation (1890), 2,017; (1900), 2,505. 

WATTS, Amos, jurist, was born in St. Clair 
Coimty, lU., Oct. 25, 1821, but removed to Wash- 
ington County in boyhood, and was elected County 
Clerk in 1847, '49 and '53, and .State's Attorney 
for the Second Judicial District in 1856 and '60; 
then became editor and proprietor of a news- 
paper, later resuming the practice of law, and, in 
1873, was elected Circuit Judge, remaining in 
ofiice until his death, at Nashville, lU. Dec. 6, 
1888. 

WAUKEGAN, the county-seat and principal 
city of Lake County, situated on the shore of 
Lake Michigan and on the Chicago & North- 
western Railroad, about 36 miles north by west 
from Chicago, and 50 miles south of Milwaukee; 
is also the northern terminus of the Elgin, Joliet 
& Eastern Railroad and connected by electric 
lines with Chicago and Fox Lake. Lake Michigan 
is about 80 miles wide opposite this point. 
Waukegan was first known as "Little Fort," 
from the remains of an old fort that stood on its 
site. The principal part of the city is built on a 
bluff, wliich rises abruptly to the height of about 



680 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



fifty feet. Between the blufif and the shore is a 
flat tract about 400 yards wide which is occupied 
by gardens, dwellings, warehouses and manu- 
factories. The manufactures include steel-wire, 
refined sugar, scales, agricultural implements, 
brass and iron products, sash, doors and blinds, 
leather, beer, etc. ; the city has paved streets, gas 
and electric light plants, three banks, eight or 
ten churches, graded and liigh schools and two 
newspapers. A large trade in grain, lumber, coal 
and dairy products is carried on. Pop. (1890), 
4,91.5; (1900), 9,426. 

WAUKEGAN & SOUTHWESTERN RAIL- 
WAY. (See Elgin, Juliet d- Eastern Railway.) 

WAVEULY, a city in Morgan Count}', 18 miles 
southeast of Jacksonville, on the Jacksonville & 
St. Louis and the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis 
Railroads. It was originally settled by enter- 
prising emigrants from New England, whose 
descendants constitute a large proportion of the 
population. It is the center of a ricli agricultural 
region, has a fine graded school, six or seven 
oliurches, two banks, two newspapers and tile 
works. Population (1880), 1,134; (1890), 1,337; 
(1900), 1,573. 

WAYNE, (Gen.) Anthony, soldier, was born in 
Chester County, Pa., Jan. 1. 174.5, of Anglo-Irish 
descent, graduated as a Surveyor, and first prac- 
ticed his profession in Nova Scotia. During the 
years immediately antecedent to the Revolution 
he was prominent in the colonial councils of his 
native State, to which he had returned in 1767, 
where he became a member of the "Committee of 
Safety." On June 3, 1776, he was commissioned 
Colonel of the Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania 
troops in the Continental army, and, during the 
War of the Revolution, was conspicuous for his 
courage and ability as a leader. One of his most 
daring and successful achievements was the cap- 
ture of Stony Point, in 1779, when — the works 
having been carried and Wayne having received, 
what was supposed to be, his death-wound — he 
entered the fort, supported by his aids. For this 
service he was awarded a gold medal by Con- 
gress. He also took a conspicuous part in the 
investiture and capture of Yorktown. In October, 
1788, he was brevetted Major-General. In 1784 
he was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature. 
A few years later he settled in Georgia, which 
State he repre.sented in Congress for seven 
months, when his seat was declared vacant after 
contest. In April, 1792, he was confirmed as 
General-in-Chief of the United States Army, on 
nomination of President Washington. His con- 
nection with Illinois history began shortly after 



St. Clair's defeat, when he led a force into Ohio 
(1783) and erected a stockade at Greenville, 
which he named Fort Recovery ; his object being 
to subdue the hostile savage tribes. In this he 
was eminently successful and, on August 3, 
1793, after a victorious campaign, negotiated the 
Treaty of Greenville, as broad in its provisions as 
it was far-reaching in its influence. He was a 
daring fighter, and although Washington called 
him "prudent," his dauntlessness earned for him 
the sobriquet of "Mad Anthony." In matters of 
dress he was punctilious, and, on this account, 
he was sometimes dubbed "Dandy Wayne." He 
was one of the few white oflScers whom all the 
Western Indian tribes at once feared and re- 
spected. They named him "Black Snake" and 
"Tornado." He died at Presque Isle near Erie, 
Dec. 15, 1796. Thirteen years afterward his 
remains were removed by one of his sons, and 
interred in Badnor churchyard, in his native 
county. The Pennsylvania Historical Society 
erected a marble monument over his grave, and 
appropriately dedicated it on July 4 of the same 
year. 

WAYNE COUNTY, in the southeast quarter of 
the State ; has an area of 720 square miles ; was 
organized in 1819, and named for Gen. Anthony 
Wayne. The count}' is watered and drained by 
the Little Wabash and its branches, notably the 
Skillet Fork. At the first election held in the 
county, only fifteen votes were cast. Early life 
was exceedingly primitive, the first settlers 
pounding corn into meal with a wooden pestle, 
a hollowed stump being used as a mortar. The 
■first mill erected (of tlie antique South Carolina 
pattern) charged 25 cents per bushel for grinding. 
Prairie and woodland make up the surface, and 
the soil is fertile. Railroad facilities are furnished 
by the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis and the 
Baltimore & Ohio (Southwestern) Railroads. 
Corn, oats, tobacco, wlieat, hay and wool are the 
chief agricultural products. Saw mills are numer- 
ous and there are also carriage and wagon facto- 
ries. Fairfield is the county-seat. Population 
(1880), 21,291; (1890), 23,806; (1900), 27,626. 

WEAS, THE, a branch of the Miami tribe of 
Indians. They called themselves "We-wee- 
hahs," and were spoken of by the French as "Oui- 
at-a-nons" and "Oui-as. " Other corruptions of 
tlie name were common among the British and 
American colonists. In 1718 they had a village 
at Chicago, but abandoned it through fear of 
their hostile neighbors, the Chippewas and Potta- 
watomies. The Weas were, at one time, brare 
and warlike ; but their numbers were reduced by 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



581 



constant warfare and disease, and, in the end, 
debauchery enervated and demoralized them. 
They were removed west of the Mississippi and 
given a reservation in Miami County, Kan. Tliis 
they ultimately sold, and, under the leadership 
of Baptiste Peoria, united with their few remain- 
ing brethren of the Miamis and with the remnant 
of the lUi-ni under the title of the "confederated 
tribes," and settled in Indian Territory, (See also 
3Iia m is ; Pia n kesJt a ws.) 

WEBB, Edwin B., early lawyer and politician, 
was born about 1803, came to the vicinity of 
Carmi, White County, 111., about 1838 to 1830, 
and, still later, studied law at Transylvania Uni- 
versity. He held the office of Prosecuting 
Attorney of White County, and, in 1834, was 
elected to the lower branch of the General 
Assembly, serving, by successive re-elections, 
imtil 1843, and, in the Senate, from 1843 to "46. 
During his service in the House he was a col- 
league and political and personal friend of 
Abraham Lincoln. He opposed the internal 
improvement scheme of 1837, predicting many 
of the disasters which were actually realized a 
few years later. He was a candidate for Presi- 
dential Elector on the Whig ticket, in 1844 and 
'48, and, in 1853, received the nomination for 
Governor as the opponent of Joel A. Matteson, 
two years later, being an unsuccessful candidate 
for Justice of the Supreme Court in opposition to 
Judge W. B. Scates. While practicing law at 
Curmi, he was also a partner of his brother in 
the mercantile business. Died, Oct. 14, 1858, in 
the 56th year of his age. 

WEBB, Henry Livingston, soldier and pioneer 
(an elder brother of James Watson Webb, a noted 
New York journalist), was born at Claverack, 
N. Y., Feb. 6, 1795; served as a soldier in the 
War of 1813, came to Southern Illinois in 1817, 
and became one of the founders of the town of 
America near the mouth of the Ohio ; was Repre- 
sentative in the Fourth and Eleventh General 
Assemblies, a Major in the Black Hawk War and 
Captain of volunteers and, afterwards, Colonel of 
regulars, in the Mexican War. In 1860 he went 
to Texas and served, for a time, in a semi-mili- 
tary capacity under the Confederate Govern- 
ment; returned to Illinois in 1869, and died, at 
Makanda, Oct. 5, 1876. 

WEBSTER, Fletcher, lawyer and soldier, was 
born at Portsmouth, N. H., July 33, 1813; gradu- 
ated at Harvard in 1833, and studied law with 
his father (Daniel Webster) ; in 1837, located at 
Peru, 111., where he practiced three years. His 
father having been appointed Secretary of State 



in 1841, the son became his private secretary, 
was also Secretary of Legation to Caleb Gushing 
(Minister to China) in 1843, a member of the 
Massachusetts Legislature in 1847, and Surveyor 
of the Port of Boston, 1850-61 ; the latter year 
became Colonel of the Twelfth Massachusetts 
Volunteers, and was killed in the second battle 
of Bull Run, August 30, 1863. 

WEBSTER, Joseph Dana, civil engineer and 
soldier, was born at Old Hampton, N. H., 
August 35, 1811. He graduated from Dart- 
mouth College in 1833, and afterwards read 
law at Newburyport, Mass. His natural incli- 
nation was for engineering, and, after serv- 
ing for a time in the Engineer and War offices, 
at Washington, was made a United States civil 
engineer (1835) and, on July 7, 1838, entered the 
army as Second Lieutenant of Topographical 
Engineers. He served through the Mexican 
War, was made First Lieutenant in 1849, and 
promoted to a captaincy, in March, 1853. Thir- 
teen months later he resigned, removing to Chi- 
cago, where he made his permanent home, and 
soon after was identified, for a time, with the 
proprietorship of "The Chicago Tribune." He 
was President of the commission that perfected 
the Chicago sewerage system, and designed and 
executed the raising of tlie grade of a large por- 
tion of the city from two to eight feet, whole 
blocks of buildings being raised by jack screws, 
while new foundations were inserted. At the 
outbreak of the Civil War he tendered his serv- 
ices to the Government and superintended the 
erection of the fortifications at Cairo, 111., and 
Paducah, Ky. On April 7, 1861, he was com- 
missioned Paymaster of Volunteers, with the 
rank of Major, and, in February, 1863, Colonel of 
the First Illinois Artillery. For several months 
he was chief of General Grant's staff, participat- 
ing in the capture of Forts Donelson and Henry, 
and in the battle of Shiloh, in the latter as Chief 
of Artillery. In October, 1863, the War Depart- 
ment detailed him to make a survey of the lUi 
nois & Michigan Canal, and, tlie following month, 
he was commissioned Brigadier-General of 
Volunteers, serving as Military Governor of Mem- 
phis and Superintendent of military railroads. 
He was again chief of staff to General Grant 
during the Vicksburg campaign, and, from 1864 
until the close of the war, occupied the same 
relation to General Sherman. He was brevetted 
Major-General of Volunteers, March 13, 1865, but, 
resigning Nov. 6, following, returned to Chicago, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. From 
1869 to 1872 he was Assessor of Internal Revenue 



082 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



there, and, later, Assistant United States Treas- 
urer, and, in July, 1872, was appointed Collector 
of Internal Revenue. Died, at Chicago, March 
12, 1870. 

WELCH, William R., lawyer and jurist, was 
born in Jessamine County, Ky., Jan. 22, 1828, 
educated at Transylvania University, Lexington, 
graduating from the academic department in 
1847, and, from the law school, in 1851. In 1864 he 
removed to Carlinville, Macoupin County, 111., 
which place lie made his permanent home. In 
1877 he was elected to the bench of the Fifth 
Circuit, and re-elected in 1879 and '8.5. In 1884 
he was assigned to the bench of the Appellate 
Court for the Second District. Died, Sept. 1, 
1888. 

WELDOX, Lawrence, one of the Judges of the 
United States Court of Claims, Washington, 
D. C, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 
1829 ; while a child, removed with his parents to 
Madison County, and was educated in the com- 
mon schools, the local academy and at Wittenberg 
College, Springfield, in the same State ; read law 
with Hon. R. A. Harrison, a prominent member 
of the Ohio bar, and was admitted to practice in 
1854, meanwhile, in 1853-53, having served as a 
clerk in the office of the Secretary of State at 
Columbus. In 1854 he removed to Illinois, locat- 
ing at Clinton, DeWitt Coimty, where he engaged 
in practice ; in 1860 was elected a Representative 
in the Twenty-second General Assembly, was 
also chosen a Presidential Elector the same year, 
and assisted in the first election of Abraham 
Lincoln to the Presidency. Early in 1861 he 
resigned his seat in the Legislature to accept the 
position of United States District Attorney for 
the Southern District of Illinois, tendered him by 
President Lincoln, but resigned the latter office 
in 1866 and, the following year, removed to 
Bloomington, where he continued the practice of 
his profession until 1883, when he was appointed, 
by President Arthur, an Associate Justice of the 
United .States Court of Claims at Washington — 
a position which he still (1899) continues to fill. 
Judge Weldon is among the remaining few who 
rode the circuit and practiced law with Mr. Lin- 
coln. From the time of coming to the State in 
1854 to 1860, he was one of Mr. Lincoln's most 
intimate traveling companions in the old 
Eighth Circuit, which extended from Sangamon 
County on the west to Vermilion on the east, and 
of which Judge David Davis, afterwards of the 
Supreme Court of the United States and United 
States Senator, was the presiding Justice. The 
Judge holds in bis memory many pleasant remi- 



niscences of that daj', especially of the eastevj 
portion of the District, where he was accustome-.l 
to meet the late Senator Voorhees, Senator Mc- 
Donald and other leading lawj-ers of Indiana, as 
well as the historic men whom he met at the 
State capital. 

WELLS, Albert W., lawyer and legislator, was 
born at Woodstock, Conn., May 9, 1839, and 
enjoyed only such educational and other advan- 
tages as belonged to the average Xew England 
boy of that period. During his boyhood liis 
family removed to Xew Jersey, where he attended 
an academy, later, graduating from Columbia 
College and Law School in New York City, and 
began practice with State .Senator Robert Allen 
at Red Bank, N. J. During the Civil "War he 
enlisted in a New Jersey regunent and took part 
in the battle of Gettysburg, resuming his profes- 
sion at the close of the war. Coming west in 
1870, he settled in Quincy, 111., where he con- 
tinued practice. In 1886 he was elected to the 
House of Representatives from Adams County, 
as a Democrat, and re-elected two years later. 
In 1890 he was advanced to the Senate, where, 
by re-election in 1894, he served continuously 
until his death in office, March 5, 1897. His 
abilities and long service — covering the sessions 
of the Thirty-fifth to the Fortietli General Assem- 
blies — placed him at the head of the Democratic 
side of the Senate during the latter part of his 
legislative career. 

WELLS, WilUam, soldier and victim of the 
Fort Dearborn massacre, was born in Kentucky, 
about 1770. When a boy of 12, he was captured 
by the Miami Indians, whose chief. Little Turtle, 
adopted him, giving him his daughter in mar- 
riage when he grew to manhood. He was highly 
esteemed by the tribe as a warrior, and, in 1790, 
was present at the battle where Gen. Arthur St. 
Clair was defeated. He then realized that he 
was fighting against his own race, and informed 
his father-in-law that he intended to ally himself 
with the whites. Leaving the Miamis, he made 
his way to General Wayne, who made him Cap- 
tain of a company of scouts. After the treaty of 
Greenville (1795) he settled on a farm near Fort 
Wayne, where he was joined by his Indian wife. 
Here he acted as Indian Agent and Justice of the 
Peace. In 1812 he learned of the contemplated 
evacuation of Fort Dearborn, and, at the head of 
thirty Miamis, he set out for the post, his inten- 
tion being to furnish a body-guard to the non- 
combatants on their proposed march to Fort 
Wayne. On August 13, he marched out of the 
fort with fifteen of his dusky warriors behind 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



583 



him, the remainder bringing up the rear. Before 
a mile and a half had been traveled, the party fell 
into an Indian ambuscade, and an indiscrimi- 
nate massacre followed. (See Fort Dearborn.) 
The Miamis fled, and Captain Wells' bodj' -was 
riddled with bullets, his head cut o£E and his 
heart taken out. He was an uncle of Mrs. Heald, 
wife of the commander of Fort Dearborn. 

WELLS, William Harvey, educator, was born 
in Tolland, Conn., Feb. 27, 1812; lived on a farm 
until 17 years old, attending school irregularly, 
but made such progress that he became succes- 
sively a teacher in the Teachers' Seminary at 
Andover and Newburyport, and. finally. Principal 
of the State Normal School at Westfield, Mass. 
In 1856 he accepted the position of Superintend- 
ent of Public Schools for the city of Chicago, 
serving till 1864, when he resigned. He was an 
organizer of the Massachusetts State Teachers' 
Association, one of the first editors of "The 
Massachusetts Teacher'' and prominently con- 
nected with various benevolent, educational and 
learned societies ; was also author of several text- 
books, and assisted in the revision of "Webster's 
Unabridged Dictionary." Died, Jan. 21, 188.5. 

WENONA, city on the eastern border of Mar- 
shall County, '20 miles south of La Salle, has 
zinc works, public and parochial schools, a 
weekly paper, two banks, and five churches. A 
good quality of soft coal is mined here. Popu- 
lation (1880)", 911; (1890). 1,0.53; (1900), 1,486. 

WENTWOKTH, John, early journalist and 
Congressman, was born at Sandwich, N. H., 
March 5, 1815, graduated from Dartmoutli Col- 
lege in 1836, and came to Chicago the same year, 
where he became editor of "The Chicago Demo- 
crat," which had been estabUshed by John Cal- 
houn three years previous. He soon after became 
proprietor of "The Democrat," of which he con- 
tinued to be the publisher until it was merged 
into "The Chicago Tribune," July 24, 1864. He 
also studied law, and was admitted to the Illinois 
bar in 1841. He served in Congress as a Demo- 
crat from 1843 to 1851, and again from 1853 to 
1855, but left the Democratic party on the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise. He was elected 
Mayor of Chicago in 1857, and again in 1860, 
during his incumbency introducing a number of 
important municipal reforms ; was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1862, and twice 
served on the Board of Education. He again 
represented Illinois in Congress as a Republican 
from 1865 to 1867 — making fourteen years of 
service in that body. In 1872 he joined in the 
Greeley movement, but later renewed his alle- 



giance to the Republican party. In 187^ At. Went- 
worth published an elaborate genealogical work 
in three volumes, entitled "History of the Went- 
worth Family." A volume of "Congressional 
Reminiscences" and two by him on "Early Chi- 
cago," published in connection with the Fergus 
Historical Series, contain some valuable informa- 
tion on early local and national history. On 
account of his extraordinary height he received 
the sobriquet of "Long John," by which he was 
famiUarly known tliroughout the State. Died, 
in Chicago, Oct. 16, 1888. 

WEST, Edward M., merchant and banker, was 
born in Virginia, May 2, 1814; came with his 
father to Illinois in 1818 ; in 1829 became a clerk 
in the Recorder's office at Edwardsville, also 
served as deputy postmaster, and, in 1833, took a 
position in the United States Land Office there. 
Two years later he engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, which he prosecuted over thirty years — 
meanwhile filling the office of County Treasiirer, 
ex-officio Superintendent of Schools, and Delegate 
to the Constitutional Convention of 1847. In 1867, 
in conjunction with W. R. Prickett, he estabUshed 
a bank at Edwardsville, with which he was con- 
nected until his death, Oct. 31, 1887. Mr. West 
officiated frequently as a "local preacher" of the 
Methodist Church, in which capacity he showed 
much ability as a public speaker. 

WEST, Mary Allen, educator and philanthro- 
pist, was born at Galesburg, 111,, July 31, 1837; 
graduated at Knox Seminary in 1854 and taught 
until 1873, when she was elected County Super- 
intendent of Schools, serving nine years. She 
took an active and influential interest in educa- 
tional and reformatory movements, was for two 
years editor of "Our Home Monthly," in Phila- 
delphia, and also a contributor to other journals, 
besides being editor-in-chief of "The Union Sig- 
nal,'' Chicago, the organ of the AVoman's Chris- 
tian Temperance Union^ — in which slie held the 
position of President ; was also President, in the 
latter days of her life, of the Illinois Woman's 
Press Association of Chicago, that city having 
become her home in 1885. In 1892, Miss West 
started on a tour of the world for the benefit of 
her health, but died at Tokio, Japan, Dec. 1, 1892. 
WESTERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, 
an institution for the treatment of the insane, 
located at Watertown, Rock Island County, in 
accordance with an act of the General Assembly, 
approved. May 22, 1895, The Thirty-ninth Gen- 
eral Assembly made an appropriation of $100,000 
for the erection of fire-proof buildings, while 
Rock Island Countv donated a tract of 400 acres 



684 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of land valued at ^0,000. The site selected by the 
Commissioners, is a commanding one overlooking 
the Mississippi River, eight miles above Rock 
Island, and five and a half miles from Moline, and 
the buildings are of the most modern style of con- 
struction. Watertown is reached by two lines of 
railroad — the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul and 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy — besides the 
Mississippi River. The erection of buildings was 
begun in 1896, and they were opened for the 
reception of patients in 1898. They have a ca- 
pacity for 800 patients. 

WESTERN MILITARY ACADEMY, an insti 
tution located at Upper Alton, Madison County, 
incorporated in 1892; has a faculty of eight mem- 
bers and reports eighty pupils for 1897-98, with 
property valued at §70,000. The institution gives 
instruction in literary and scientific branches, 
besides preparatory and business courses. 

WESTERN NORMAL COLLEGE, located at 
Bushnell, McDonough County; incorporated in 
1888. It is co-educational, has a corps of twelve 
instructors and reported 500 pupils for 1897-98, 
300 males and 200 females. 

WESTERN SPRINGS, a village of Cook 
County, and residence suburb of the city of Chi- 
cago, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- 
road, 15 miles west of the initial station. 
Population (1890), 451; (1900), 662. 

WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 
located in Chicago and controlled by the Protes- 
tant Episcopal Cliurch. It was founded in 1883 
througli the munificence of Dr. Tolman Wheeler, 
and was opened for students two years later. It 
has two buildings, of a superior order of archi- 
tecture — one including the school and lecture 
rooms and the other a dormitory. A hospital 
and gymnasium are attached to the latter, and a 
school for boys is conducted on the first floor of 
the main building, which is known as Wheeler 
Hall. The institution is under the general super- 
vision of Rt. Rev. William E. McLaren, Protes- 
tant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois. 

WESTFIELD, village of Clark County, on Cin., 
Ham. & Dayton R. R. , 10 m. s.-e. of Charleston; 
seat of Westfield College; has a bank, five 
churches and two newspapers. Pop. (1900), 830. 

WEST SALEM, a town of Edwards County, on 
the Peoria-Evansville Div. 111. Cent. R. R.. 13 
miles northeast of Albion; has a bank and a 
weekly paper. Pop. (1890), 476; (1900), 700. 

WETHERELL, Emma Abbott, vocalist, was 
born in Chicago, Dftc. 9, 1849; in her childhood 
attracted attention while singing with her father 
(a poor musician) in hotels and on the streets in 



Chicago, Peoria and elsewhere; at 18 years of 
age, went to New York to study, earning her way 
by giving concerts en route, and receiving aid 
and encouragement from Clara Louisa Kellogg; 
in New York was patronized by Henry Ward 
Beecher and others, and aided in securing the 
training of European masters. Compelled to sur- 
mount many obstacles from poverty and other 
causes, her after success in her profession was 
phenomenal. Died, during a professional tour, 
at Salt Lake City, Jan. 5, 1891. Jliss Abbott 
married her manager, Eugene Wetherell, who 
died before her. 

WHEATON, a city and the county-seat of Du 
Page County, situated on the Chicago & North- 
western Railway, 25 miles west of Chicago. Agri- 
culture and stock-raising are the chief industries 
in the surrounding region. The cit}' owns a new 
water- works plant (costing §60,000) and has a 
public library valued at §75,000, the gift of a 
resident, Mr. John Quincy Adams; has a court 
house, electric light plant, sewerage and drainage 
system, seven churches, three graded schools, 
four weekly newspapers and a State bank. 
Wheaton is the seat of Wheaton College (which 
see). Population (1880), 1,160; (1890), 1,622; 
(1900), 3,345. 

WHEATON COLLEGE, an educational insti- 
tution located at Wheaton, Du Page County, and 
under Congregational control. It was founded 
in 1853, as the Illinois Institute, and was char- 
tered under its present name in 1860. Its early 
existence was one of struggle, but of late j-ears it 
has been established on a better foundation, in 
1898 having $.54, 000 invested in productive funds, 
and property aggregating .$136,000. The faculty 
comprises fifteen professors, and, in 1898, there 
were 321 students in attendance. It is co-edu- 
cational and instruction is given in business and 
preparatory studies, as well as the fine arts, 
music and classical literature. 

WHEELER, David Hilton, D.D., LL.D., clergy- 
man, was born at Ithaca, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1829; 
graduated at Rock River Seminary, Mount 
Morris, in 1851; edited "The Carroll County 
Republican" and held a professorship in Cornell 
College, Iowa, (1857-61) ; was United States Con- 
sul at Geneva, Switzerland, (1861-66) ; Professor of 
English Literature in Northwestern University 
(1867-75); edited "The Methodist" in New York, 
seven years, and was President of Allegheny 
College (1883-87); received the degree of D.D. 
from Cornell College in 1867, and that of LL. D. 
from the Northwestern University in 1881. He 
is the author of "Brigandage in South Italy" 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



58&^ 



(two volumes, 1864) and "By-Ways of Literature" 
(1883), besides some translations. 

WHEELER, Hamilton K., ex-Congressman, 
was born at Ballston, N. Y., August .5, 1848, but 
emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1852; 
remained on a farm until 19 years of age, his 
educational advantages being limited to three 
months' attendance upon a district school each 
year. In 1871, he was admitted to the bar at 
Kankakee, where he has since continued to prac- 
tice. In 1884 he was elected to represent the Six- 
teenth District in the State Senate, where he 
served on many important committees, being 
Chairman of that on the Judicial Department. 
In 1892 he was elected Representative in Con- 
gress from the Ninth Illinois District, on the 
Republican ticket. 

WHEELING, a town on the northern border of 
Cook County, on the Wisconsin Central Railway. 
Population (1890), 811; (1900), 331. 

WHISTLER, (Maj.) John, soldier and builder 
of the first Fort Dearborn, was born in Ulster, Ire- 
land, about 1756 ; served under Burgoyne in the 
Revolution, and was with the force surrendered 
by that officer at Saratoga, in 1777. After the 
peace he returned to the United States, settled at 
Hagerstown, Md., and entered the United States 
Army, serving at first in the ranks and being 
severely wounded in the disastrous Indian cam- 
paigns of 1791. Later, he was promoted to a 
captaincy and, in the summer of 1803, sent with 
his company, to the head of Lake Michigan, 
where he constructed the first Fort Dearborn 
within the limits of the present city of Chicago, 
remaining in command until 1811, when he was 
succeeded by Captain Heald. He received the 
brevet rank of Major, in 1815 was appointed 
military store-keeper at Newport, Ky., and after- 
wards at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, 
where he died, Sept. 3, 1829. Lieut. William 
Whistler, his son, who was with his father, for a 
time, in old Fort Dearborn — but transferred, in 
1809, to Fort Wayne — was of the force included 
in Huirs surrender at Detroit in 1812. After 
his exchange he was promoted to a captaincy, to 
the rank of Major in 1826 and to a Lieutenant-Colo- 
nelcy in 1845, dying at Newport, Ky., in 1863. 
James Abbott McNiel Whistler, the celebrated, 
but eccentric artist of that name, is a grandson 
of the first Major Whistler. 

WHITE, George E., ex-Congressman, was born 
in Massachusetts in 1848 ; after graduating, at the 
age of 16, he enlisted as a private in the Fifty- 
seventh Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, serv- 
ing under General Grant in the campaign 



against Richmond from the battle of the Wilder- 
ness until the surrender of Lee. Having taken a 
course in a commercial college at Worcester, 
Mass., in 1867 lie came to Chicago, securing em- 
ployment in a lumber yard, but a year later 
began business on his own abcount, which he has 
successfully conducted. In 1878 he was elected 
to the State Senate, as a Republican, from one of 
the Chicago Districts, and re-elected four years 
later, serving in that body eight years. He 
declined a nomination for Congress in 1884, but 
accepted in 1894, and was elected for the Fifth 
District, as he was again in 1896, but was 
defeated, in 1898, by Edward T. Noonan, Demo- 
crat. 

WHITE, Horace, journalist, was born at Cole- 
brook, N. H., August 10, 18:M; in 1853 graduated 
at Beloit College, Wis., whither his father had 
removed in 1837; engaged in journalism as city 
editor of "The Chicago Evening Journal," later 
becoming agent of the Associated Press, and, in 
1857, an editorial writer on "The Chicago Trib- 
une," during a part of the war acting as its 
Washington correspondent. He also served, in 
1856, as Assistant Secretary of the Kansas 
National Committee, and, later, as Secretary of 
the Republican State Central Committee. In 
1864 he purchased an interest in "The Tribune," 
a year or so later becoming editor-in-chief, but 
retired in October, 1874. After a protracted 
European tour, he united with Carl Schurz and 
E. L. Godkin of "The Nation," in the purchase 
and reorganization of "The New York Evening 
Post," of which he is now editor-in-chief. 

WHITE, JuUus, soldier, was born in Cazen- 
ovia, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1816; removed to Illinois 
in 1836, residing there and in Wisconsin, where 
he was a member of the Legislature of 1&49 ; in 
1861 was made Collector of Customs at Chicago, 
but resigned to assume the colonelcy of the 
Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, which he 
commanded on the Fremont expedition to South- 
west Missouri. He afterwards served with Gen- 
eral Curtiss in Arkansas, participated in the 
battle of Pea Ridge and was promoted to the 
rank of Brigadier-General. He was subsequently 
assigned to the Department of the Shenandoah, 
but finding his position at Martinsburg, W. Va., 
untenable, retired to Harper's Ferry, voluntarily 
serving under Colonel Miles, his inferior in com- 
mand. When this post was surrendered (Sept. 
15, 1862), he was made a prisoner, but released 
under parole; was tried by a court of inquiry at 
his own request, and acquitted, the court finding 
that he had acted with courage and capability. 



686 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



He resigned in 1864, and, in March, 1865, was 
brevetted Major-General of Volunteers. Died, 
at Evanston, May 12, 1890. 

WHITE CaUNTY, situated in the southeastern 
quarter of the State, and bounded on the east by 
the Wabash River; was organized in 1816, being 
the tenth county organized during the Territorial 
period : area. 500 square miles. The county is 
crossed by three railroads and drained by the 
Wabash and Little Wabash Rivers. The surface 
consists of prairie and woodland, and the soil is, 
for the most part, highly productive. The princi- 
pal agricultural products are corn, wheat, oats, 
potatoes, tobacco, fruit, butter, sorghum and 
wool. The principal industrial establishments 
are carriage factories, saw mills and flour mills. 
Carmi is the county-seat. Other towns are En- 
field, Grayville and Norris City. Population 
(1880), 23,087; (1890). 25,005; (1900), 25,386. 

WHITEHALL, a city in Greene County, at the 
intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quinc}' Railroads, 65 miles 
north of St. Louis and 24 miles south-southwest 
of Jacksonville; in rich farming region; has 
stoneware and sewer-pipe factories, foundry and 
machine shop, flour mill, elevators, wagon shops, 
creamery, water system, sanitarium, heating, 
electric light and power system nurseries and 
fruit-supply houses, and two poultry packing 
houses; also has five churches, a graded school, 
two banks and three newspapers — one daily. Pop- 
ulation (1890), 1,961; (1900), 2,030. 

WHITEHOUSE, Henry John, Protestant Epis- 
copal Bishop, was born in New York City, August 
19, 1803; graduated from Columbia College in 
1821, and from the (New York) General Theolog- 
ical Seminary in 1824. After ordination he was 
rector of various parishes in Pennsylvania and 
New York until 1851, when he was chosen Assist- 
ant Bishop of Illinois, succeeding Bishop Chase 
in 1852. In 1867, by invitation of the Archbishop 
of Canterbury, he delivered the opening sermon 
before the Pan-AngUcan Conference held in 
England. During this visit he received the 
degree of D.D. from Oxford University, and that 
of LL.D. from Cambridge. His rigid views as a 
churchman and a disciplinarian, were illustrated 
in his prosecution of Rev. Charles Edward 
Cheney, which resulted in the formation of the 
Reformed Episcopal Church. He was a brilliant 
orator and a trenchant and unyielding controver- 
sialist. Died, in Chicago, August 10, 1874. 

WHITESIDE COUNTY, in the northwestern 
portion of the State bordering on the Mississippi 
River; created by act of tlie Legislature passed in 



1836, and named for Capt. Samuel Whiteside, a 
noted Indian fighter ; area, 700 square miles. The 
surface is level, diversified by prairies and wood- 
land, and the soil is extremely fertile. The 
county-seat was first fixed at Lyndon, then at 
Sterling, and finally at Morrison, its present 
location. The Rock River crosses the county 
and furnishes abundant water power for numer- 
ous factories, turning out agricultural imple- 
ments, carriages and wagons, furniture, woolen 
goods, flour and wrapping paper. There are also 
distilling and brewing interests, besides saw and 
planing mills. Corn is the staple agricultural 
product, although all the leading cereals are 
extensively grown. The principal towns are 
Morrison, Sterling. Fulton and Rock Falls. Popu- 
lation (1880),. 30,885; (I800I, 30,854; (1900), 34.710. 

WHITESIDE, William, pioneer and soldier of 
the Revolution, emigrated from the frontier of 
North Carolina to Kentucky, and thence, in 1793, 
to the present limits of Monroe County, 111., 
erecting a fort between Cahokia and Kaskaskia, 
which became widely known as "Whiteside 
Station." He served as a Justice of the Peace, 
and was active in organizing the militia during 
the War of 1812-14, dying at the old Station in 
1815. — John (Whiteside), a brother of the preced- 
ing, and also a Revolutionary soldier, came to 
Illinois at the same time, as also did William B. 
and Samuel, sons of the two brothers, respec- 
tively. All of them became famous as Indian 
fighters. The two latter served as Captains of 
companies of "Rangers"' in the War of 1812, 
Samuel taking part in the battle of Rock Island 
in 1814, and contributing greatlj' to the success 
of the day. During the Black Hawk War (1832) 
he attained the rank of Brigadier-General. 
Whiteside Countj' was named in his honor. He 
made one of the earliest improvements in Ridge 
Prairie, a rich section of Madison County, and 
represented that county in the First General 
Assembly. William B. served as Sheriff of Madi- 
son County for a number of years. — John D. 
(Whiteside), another member of this historic 
family, became very prominent, serving in the 
lower House of the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and 
Fourteenth General Assemblies, and in the Sen- 
ate of the Tenth, from Monroe County; was a 
Presidential Elector in 1836, State Treasurer 
(1837-41) and a member of the State Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1847. General Whiteside, as 
he was known, was the second of James Shields 
in the famous Shields and Lincoln duel (so-called) 
in 1842, and, as such, carried the challenge of the 
former to Mr. Lincoln. (See Duels.) 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



587 



WHITING, Lorenzo D., legislator, was born 
in Wayne County, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1819; came to 
Illinois in 1838, but did not settle there perma- 
nently until 1849, when he located in Bureau 
County. He was a Representative from that 
county in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly 
(1869), and a member of the Senate continuously 
from 1871 to 1887, serving in the latter through 
eight General Assemblies. Died at his home 
near Tiskihva, Bureau Coimty, 111., Oct. 10, 
1889. 

WHITING, Richard H., Congressman, was 
born at West Hartford, Conn., June 17, 1826, and 
received a common school education. In 1862 he 
was commissioned Paymaster in the Volunteer 
Army of the Union, and resigned in 1866. Hav- 
ing removed to Illinois, he was appointed Assist- 
ant Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Fifth 
Illinois District, in February, 1870, and so contin- 
ued until the abolition of the oflBce in 1873. On 
retiring from the Assessorship he was appointed 
Collector of Internal Revenue, and served until 
March 4, 1875, when he resigned to take his seat 
as Republican Representative in Congress from 
the Peoria District, to which he had been elected 
in November, 1874. After the expiration of liis 
term he held no public office, but was a member 
of the Republican National Convention of 1884. 
Died, at the Continental Hotel, in New York 
City, May 24, 1888. 

WHITNEY, James W., pioneer lawyer and 
early teacher, known bj- the nickname of "Lord 
Coke"; came to Illinois in Territorial days (be- 
lieved to have been about 1800) ; resided for some 
time at or near Edwardsville, then became a 
teacher at Atlas, Pike County, and, still later, the 
first Circuit and County Clerk of that county. 
Though nominally a'lawyer, he had little if any 
practice. He acquired the title, bj' which he was 
popularly known for a quarter of a century, by 
his custom of visiting the State Capital, dming 
the sessions of the General Assembly, when 
he would organize the lobbyists and visit- 
ors about the capital — of which there were an 
unusual number in those days — into what was 
called the "Third House." Having been regu- 
larly chosen to preside under the name of 
"Speaker of the Lobby," he would deliver a mes- 
sage full of practical hits and jokes, aimed at 
members of the two houses and others, which 
would be received with cheers and laughter. 
The meetings of the "Third House," being held 
in the evening, were attended by many members 
and visitors in lieu of other forms of entertain- 
ment. Mr. Whitney's home, in his latter years. 



was at Pittsfield. He resided for a time at 
Quincy. Died, Dec. 13, 1860, aged over 80 years. 

WHITTEMORE, Floyd K., State Treasurer, is 
a native of New York, came at an early age, with 
Ids parents, to Sj'camore, 111., where he was edu- 
cated in the high school there. He purposed 
becoming a lawyer, but, on the election of the 
late James H. Beveridge State Treasurer, in 1864, 
accepted the position of clerk in the office. 
Later, he was employed as a clerk in the banking 
house of Jacob Bunn in Springfield, and, on the 
organization of the State National Bank, was 
chosen cashier of that Institution, retaining the 
position some twenty years. After the appoint- 
ment of Hon. John R. Tanner to the position of 
Assistant Treasurer of the United States, at Chi- 
cago, in 1892. Mr. Whittemore became cashier in 
that office, and, in 1865, Assistant State Treas- 
rure under the administration of State Treasurer 
Henry Wulff. In 1898 he was elected State 
Treasurer, receiving a plurality of 43,450 over 
his Democratic opponent. 

WICKERSHAM, (Col.) Dudley, soldier and 
merchant, was born in Woodford County, Ky., 
Nov. 22. 1819; came to Springfield, 111., in 184;3, 
and served as a member of the Fourth Regiment 
Illinois Volunteers (Col. E. D. Baker's) through 
the Mexican War. On the return of peace he 
engaged in the dry-goods trade in Springfield, 
until 1861, when he enlisted in the Tentli Regi- 
ment Illinois Cavalry, serving, first as Lieutenant- 
Colonel and then as Colonel, until May, 1864, 
when, his regiment having been consolidated 
with the Fifteenth Cavalry, he resigned. After 
the war, he held the office of Assessor of Internal 
Revenue for several years, after which he en- 
gaged in the gi-ocery trade. Died, in Springfield, 
Augiist 8, 1898. 

WIDEN, Raphael, pioneer and early legislator, 
was a native of Sweden, who, having been taken 
to France at eight years of age, was educated for 
a CathoHc priest. Coming to the United States 
in 1815, he was at Cahokia. 111., in 1818, wliere, 
during the same year, he married into a French 
family of that place. He served in the House of 
Representatives from Randolph Covmty. in the 
Second and Third General Assemblies (1820-24), 
and as Senator in the Fourth and Fifth (1824-28). 
During his last term in the House, he was one of 
those who voted against the pro-slavery Con- 
vention resolution. He died of cholera, at Kas- 
kaskia, in 1833. 

WIKE, Scott, lawyer and ex-Congressman, was 
born at Meadville, Pa., April .6, 1834; at 4 years 
of age removed with his parents to Quincy. 111., 



588 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



and, in 1844, to Pike County. Having gradiiated 
from Lombard University. Galesburg, in 1857, he 
began reading law witli Judge O. C. Skinner of 
Quincy. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, 
hut, before commenc-ing practice, spent a year at 
Harvard Law School, graduating there in 1859. 
Immediately thereafter he opened an office at 
Pittsfield, 111., and has resided there ever since. 
In politics he has always been a strong Democrat. 
He served two terms in the Legislature (1863-67) 
and. in 1874, was chosen Representative from his 
District in Congress, being re-elected in 1888 and, 
again, in 1890. In 1893 he was appointed by 
President Cleveland Third Assistant Secretary 
of the Treasury, which position he continued 
to fill until March, 1897, when he resumed the 
practice of law at Pittsfield. Died Jan. 15, 1901 
WILEY, (CoL) Benjamin Ladd, soldier, was 
born in Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio, 
March 25, 1821, came to Illinois in 1845 and began 
life at Vienna, Johnson County, as a teacher. 
In 1846 he enlisted for the Mexican War, as a 
member of the Fifth (Colonel Newby's) Regiment 
Illinois Volunteers, serving chiefly in New 
Mexico until mustered out in 1848. A year later 
he removed to Jonesboro, where lie spent some 
time at the carpenter's trade, after which he 
became clerk in a store, meanwhile assisting to 
edit "The Jonesboro Gazette"' until 18.53; then 
became traveling salesman for a St. Louis firm, 
but later engaged in the hardware trade at 
Jonesboro, in which he continued for several 
years. In 1856 he was the Republican candidate 
for Congress for the Ninth District, receiving 
4,000 votes, while Fremont, the Republican can- 
didate for President, received only 825 in the 
same district. In 1857 he opened a real estate 
oflBce in Jonesboro in conjunction with David L. 
Phillips and Col. J. W. Ashley, with which he 
was connected until 1860. when he removed to 
Makanda, Jackson County. In September, 1861, 
he was mustered in as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Fifth Illinois Cavalry, later serving in Missouri 
and Arkansas under Generals Steele and Curtiss, 
being, a part of the time, in command of the First 
Brigade of Cavalry, and, in the advance on Vicks- 
burg. having command of the right wing of 
General Grant's cavalry. Being disabled by 
rheumatism at the end of the siege, he tendered 
his resignation, and was immediately appointed 
Enrolling Officer at Cairo, serving in this capac- 
ity until May, 1865, when he was mustered out. 
In 1869 he was appointed by Governor Palmer 
one of the Commissioners to locate the Southern 
Illinois Hospital for the Insane, and served as 



Secretary of the Board until the institution was 
opened at Anna, in May, 1871. In 1869 he was 
defeated as a candidate for County Judge of 
Jackson County, and, in 1872, for the State Sen- 
ate, by a small majority in a strongly Democratic 
District; in 1876 was the Republican candidate 
for Congress, in the Eighteenth District, against 
William Hartzell, but was defeated by only 
twenty votes, while carrying six out of the ten 
counties comprising the District. In the latter 
years of his life. Colonel Wiley was engaged quite 
extensively in fruit-growing at Makanda, Jack- 
son County, where he died, March 22, 1890. 

WILKIE, Franc Bangs, journalist, was born 
in Saratoga County, N. Y. , July 2, 1830; took a 
partial course at Union College, after which he 
edited papers at Schenectady, N. Y., Elgin, 111., 
and Davenport and Dubuque, Iowa ; also serving, 
during a part of the Civil War, as the western 
war correspondent of "The New York Times." 
In 1863 he became an editorial writer on "The 
Chicago Times," remaining with that paper, 
with the exception of a brief interval, until 1888 
— a part of the time as its European correspond- 
ent. He was the author of a series of sketches 
over the nom de plume of "Poliuto," and of a 
volume of reminiscences under the title, 
"Thirty-five Years of Journalism," published 
shortly before his death, which took place, April 
12, 1892. 

WILKIN, Jacob W., Justice of the Supreme 
Court, was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 
7, 1837 ; removed with his parents to Illinois, at 
12 years of age, and was educated at McKendree 
College ; served three years in the War for the 
Union; studied law with Judge Scholfield and 
was admitted to the bar in 1866. In 1873, he was 
chosen Presidential Elector on the Republican 
ticket, and, in 1879, elected Judge of the Circuit 
Court and reelected in 1885 — the latter year 
being assigned to the Appellate bench for the 
Fourth District, where he remained until his 
election to the Supreme bench in 1888, being 
re-elected to the latter office in 1897. His home 
is at Danville. 

WILKINSON, Ira 0., lawyer and Judge, was 
born in Virginia in 1822, and accompanied his 
father to Jacksonville (1835), where he was edu- 
cated. During a short service as Deputy Clerk of 
Morgan County, he conceived a fondness for the 
profession of the law, and, after a course of study 
under Judge William Thomas, was admitted to 
practice in 1847. Richard Yates (afterwards Gov- 
ernor and Senator) was his first partner. In 1845 
he removed to Rock Island, and, six years later, 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



fi89 



was elected a Circuit Judge, being again closen 
to the same position in 1861. At the expiration 
of his second term he removed to Chicago. 
Died, at Jacksonville, August 24, 1894. 

WILKIXSOX, John P., early merchant, vpas 
born, Dec. 14, 1790, in New Kent County, Va., 
emigrated first to Kentucky, and, in 1828, settled 
in Jacksonville, III., where he engaged in mer- 
cantile business. Mr. Wilkinson was a liberal 
friend of Illinois College and Jacksonville Female 
Academy, of each of which he was a Trustee 
from their origin until his death, which occurred, 
during a business visit to St. Louis, in December, 
1841. 

WILL, Conrad, pioneer physician and early 
legislator, was born in Pliiladelpliia, June 4, 1778; 
about 1804 removed to Somerset County Pa. . and, 
in 1813, to Kaskaskia, 111. He was a physician 
by profession, but having leased the saline lands 
on the Big Muddy, in the vicinity of what after- 
wards became the town of Brownsville, he 
engaged in the manufacture of salt, removing 
thither in 1815, and becoming one of the founders 
of Brownsville, afterwards the first county-seat 
of Jackson County. On the organization of 
Jackson County, in 1816, he became a member of 
the first Board of County Commissioners, and, in 
1818, served as Delegate from that county in the 
Convention which framed the first State Consti- 
tution. Thereafter he served continuously as a 
member of the Legislature from 1818 to "34 — first 
as Senator in the First General Assembly, then 
as Representative in the Second, Third, Fourth 
and Fifth, and again as Senator in the Sixth, 
Seventh, Eighth and Ninth — his career being 
conspicuous for long service. He died in office, 
June 11, 1834. Dr. Will was short of stature, 
fleshy, of jovial disposition and fond of playing 
practical jokes upon his associates, but very 
popular, as shown by his successive elections to 
the Legislature. He has been called "The Father 
of Jackson County."" Will County, organized by 
act of the Legislature two years after his death, 
was named in his honor. 

WILL COUJfTY, a northeastern county, em- 
bracing 850 square miles, named in honor of Dr. 
Conrad Will, an early politician and legislator. 
Early explorations of the territory were made 
in 1829, when white settlers were few. The bluff 
west of Joliet is said to have been first occupied 
by David and Benjamin Maggard. Josepli 
Smith, the Mormon "apostle," expounded his 
peculiar doctrines at "the Point" in 1831. Sev- 
eral of the early settlers fled from the country 
during for after) a raid by the Sac Indians. 



There is a legend, seemingly well supported, to 
the effect that the first lumber, sawed to build 
the first frame house in Chicago (that of P. F. W. 
Peck), was sawed at Plainfield. Will County, 
originally a part of Cook, was separately erected 
in 1836, Joliet being made the county-seat. 
Agriculture, quarrying and manufacturing are 
the chief industries. Joliet, Lockport and Wil- 
mington are the principal towns. Population 
(1880), 53.422; (1890), 62,007; (1900), 74,764. 

WILLARD, Frances Elizabeth, teacher and 
reformer, was born at Cliurchville, N. Y., Sept. 
28, 1839. graduated from the Northwestern 
Female College at Evanston, 111., in 1859, and, in 
1862. accepted the Professorship of Natural 
Sciences in that institution. During 1866-67 she 
was the Principal of the Genessee Wesleyan 
Seminary. The next two years she devoted to 
travel and study abroad, meanwhile contribut- 
ing to various periodicals. From 1871 to 1874 she 
was Professor of Esthetics in the Northwestern 
University and dean of the Woman's College. 
She was always an enthusiastic champion of 
temperance, and, in 1874, abandoned her profes- 
sion to identify herself with the Woman's Chris- 
tian Temperance Union. For five years she was 
Corresponding Secretary of the national body, 
and, from 1879, its President. While Secretary 
she organized the Home Protective Association, 
and prepared a petition to the Illinois Legislature, 
to which nearly 200,000 names were attached, 
asking for the granting to women of the right to 
vote on the license question. In 1878 she suc- 
ceeded her brother, Oliver A. Willard (who had 
died), as editor of "The Chicago Evening Post," 
but, a few months later, withdrew, and, in 1882, 
was elected as a member of the executive com- 
mittee of the National Prohibition party. In 
1886 she became leader of the White Cross Move- 
ment for the protection of women, and succeeded 
in securing favorable legislation, in this direc- 
tion, in twelve States. In 1883 she foimded the 
World's Christian Temperance Union, and, in 
1888, was chosen its President, as also President 
of the International Council of Women. The 
latter years of her life were spent chiefly abroad, 
much of the time as the guest and co-worker of 
Lady Henry .Somerset, of England, during which 
she devoted much attention to investigating the 
condition of women in tlie Orient. Miss Willard 
was a prolific and highly valued contributor to 
the magazines, and (besides numerous pamphlets) 
published several volumes, including "Nineteen 
Beautiful Years" (a tribute to her sister); 
"Woman in Temperance"; "How to Win," and 



590 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



"Woman in the Pulpit." Died, in New York, 
Feb. 18, 1898. 

WILLARD, Samuel, A.M., M.D., LL.D., phy- 
sician and educator, was born in Lunenberg, 
Vt., Dec. 30, 1821— the lineal descendant of Maj. 
Simon Willard, one of the founders of Concord, 
Mass., and prominent in "King Philip's War," 
and of his son. Rev. Dr. Samuel Willard, of the 
Old South Church, Boston, and seventh President 
of Harvard College. The subject of this sketch 
was taken in his infancy to Boston, and, in 1831, 
to CarroUton, 111., where his father pursued the 
avocation of a druggist. After a preparatory 
course at Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, in 1836 
he entered the freshman class in Illinois College 
at Jacksonville, but withdrew the following year, 
re-entering college in 1840 and graduating in the 
class of 1843, as a classmate of Dr. Newton Bate- 
man, afterwards State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction and President of Knox College, and 
Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, now of Elmira, N. Y. 
The next year he spent as Tutor in Illinois Col- 
lege, when he began the study of medicine at 
Quincy, graduating from the Medical Department 
of Illinois College in 1848. During a part of the 
latter year he edited a Free-Soil campaign paper 
("The Tribune") at Quincy, and, later, "The 
Western Temperance Magazine" at the same 
place. In 1849 he began the practice of his pro- 
fession at St. Louis, but the next year removed 
to CoUinsville, 111. , remaining until 1857, when he 
took charge of the Department of Languages in 
the newly organized State Normal University at 
Normal. The second year of the Civil War (1862) 
he enlisted as a private in the Ninety-seventh 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was soon after 
commissioned as Surgeon with the rank of Major, 
participating in the campaigns in Tennessee and 
in the first attack upon Vicksburg. Being dis- 
abled by an attack of paralysis, in February, 1863, 
he was compelled to resign, when he had suffici- 
ently recovered accepting a position in the ofBce 
of Provost Marshal General Oakes, at Spring- 
field, where he remained until the close of the 
war. He then became Grand Secretary of the 
Independent Order of Odd-Fellows for the State 
of Illinois— a position which he had held from 
1856 to 1862 — remaining under his second appoint- 
ment from 1865 to "69. The next year he served 
as Superintendent of Schools at Springfield, 
meanwhile assisting in founding the Springfield 
public library, and serving as its first librarian. 
In 1870 he accepted the professorship of History 
in the West Side High School of Chicago, 
which, with the exception of two years (1884-86), 



he continued to occupy for more than twenty- 
five years, retiring in 1898. In the meantime. 
Dr. Willard has been a laborious literary worker, 
having been, for a considerable period, editor, or 
assistant-editor, of "The IlUnois Teacher," a con- 
tributor to "The Century Magazine" and "The 
Dial" of Chicago, besides having published a 
"Digest of the Laws of Odd Fellowship" in six- 
teen volumes, begim while he was Grand Secre- 
tary of the Order in 1864. and continued in 1872 
and "82; a "Synopsis of History and Historical 
Chart," covering the period from B. C. 800 
to A. D. 1876 — of which he has had a second 
edition in course of preparation. Of late years 
he has been engaged upon a "Historical Diction- 
ary of Names and Places," which will include 
some 12,000 topics, and which promises to be the 
most important work of his life. Previous to the 
war he was an avowed Abolitionist and operator 
on the "Underground Railroad,'' who made no 
concealment of his opinions, and, on one or two 
occasions, was called to answer for them in 
prosecutions under the "Fugitive Slave Act." 
(See "Underground Railroad.") His friend 
and classmate, the late Dr. Bateman, says of 
him: "Dr. Willard is a sound thinker; a clear 
and forcible writer; of broad and accurate 
scholarship; conscientious, genial and kindly, 
and a mo.st estimable gentleman." 

WILLIAMS, Archibald, lawyer and jurist, 
was born in Montgomery Count}-, Ky., June 10, 
1801 ; with moderate advantages but natural 
fondness for study, he chose the profession of 
law, and was admitted to the bar in Tennessee 
in 1828, coming to Quincy, 111., the following 
year. He was elected to the General Assembly 
three times — serving in the Senate in 1832-36, and 
in the House, 1836-40; was United States District 
Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, by 
appointment of President Taylor, 1849-53; was 
twice the candidate of his party (the Whig) for 
United States Senator, and appointed by Presi- 
dent Lincoln, in 1861, United States District 
Judge for the State of Kansas. His abilities and 
high character were widely recognized. Died, 
in Quincy, Sept. 21, 1863— His son, John H., an 
attorney at Quincy, served as Judge of the Cir- 
cuit Court 1879-85.— Another son, Abraham Lin- 
coln, was twice elected Attorney-General of 
Kansas. 

WILLIAMS, Erastus Smith, lawyer and ju- 
rist, was born at Salem, N. Y., May 22, 1821. In 
1842 he removed to Chicago, where, after reading 
law, he was admitted to the bar in 1844. In 1854 
he was appointed Master in Chancery, which 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



591 



office he filled until 1863, when he was elected a 
Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook Coxmty. 
After re-election in 1870 he became Chief Justice, 
and, at the same time, heard most of the cases on 
the equity side of the court. In 18T9 he was a 
candidate for re-election as a Republican, but 
was defeated with the party ticket. After his 
retirement from the bench he resumed private 
practice. Died, Feb. 24, 1884. 

WILLIAMS, James R., Congressman, was 
born in White County, 111. , Dec. 27, 1850, at the 
age of 25 graduated from the Indiana State Uni- 
versity, at Bloomington, and, in 1876, from the 
Union College of Law, Chicago, since then being 
an active and successful practitioner at Carmi. 
In 1880 he %vas appointed Master in Chancery and 
served two years. From 1882 to 1886 he was 
County Judge. In 1893 he was a nominee on 
the Democratic ticket for Presidential Elector. 
He was elected to represent the Nineteenth Illi- 
nois District in the Fifty-first Congress at a 
special election held to fill the vacancy occasioned 
by the death of R. W. Townshend, was re-elected 
in 1890 and 1892, but defeated by Orlando Burrell 
(Republican) for re-election in the newly organ- 
ized Twentieth District in 1894. In 1898 he was 
again a candidate and elected to the Fifty-sixth 
Congress. 

WILLIAMS, John, pioneer merchant, was 
born in Bath County, Ky., Sept. 11, 1808; be- 
tween 14 and 16 years of age was clerk in a store 
in his native State; then, joining his parents, 
who had settled on a tract of land in a part of 
Sangamon (now Menard) Coimty, 111., he found 
employment as clerk in the store of Major Elijah 
lies, at Springfield, whom he succeeded in busi- 
ness at the age of 23, continuing it without inter- 
ruption imtil 1880. In 1856 Mr. WiUiams was 
the Republican candidate for Congress in the 
Springfield District, and, in 1861, was appointed 
Commissary-General for the State, rendering 
valuable service in furnishing supplies for State 
troops, in camps of instruction and while proceed- 
ing to the field, in the first years of the war ; was 
also chief officer of the Illinois Sanitary Commis- 
sion for two years, and, as one of the intimate 
personal friends of Mr. Lincoln, was chosen to 
accompany the remains of the martyred President, 
from Washington to Springfield, for burial. 
Liberal, enterprising and public-spirited, liis name 
was associated with nearly every public enter- 
prise of importance in Springfield during his 
business career — being one of the founders, and, 
for eleven years President, of the First National 
Bank; a chief promoter in the construction of 



what is now the Springfield Division of the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, and the Springfield and 
Peoria line; a Director of the Springfield Iron 
Companj' ; one of the Commissioners who con- 
structed the Springfield water-works, send an 
officer of the Lincoln Monument Association, 
from 1865 to his death, May 29, 1890. 

WILLIAMS, \orman, lawyer, was born at 
Woodstock, Vt., Feb, 1, 1833, being related, on 
both the paternal and maternal sides, to some of 
the most prominent families of New England. 
He fitted for college at Union Academy, Meriden, 
and graduated from the University of Vermont 
in the class of 1855. After taking a course in 
the Albany Law School and with a law firm in 
his native town, he was admitted to practice in 
both New York and Vermont, removed to Chi- 
cago in 1858, and, in 1860, became a member of 
the firm of King, Kales & Williams, still later 
forming a partnership witli Gen. John L. Thomp- 
son, which ended with the death of the latter in 
1888. In a professional capacity he assisted in 
the organization of the Pullman Palace Car Com- 
pany, and was a member of its Board of Directors; 
also assisted in organizing tlie We.stern Electric 
Company, and was prominently identified with 
the Chicago Telephone Company and the Western 
Union Telegraph Company. In 1881 he served as 
the United States Commissioner to the Electrical 
Exposition at Paris. In conjunction with his 
brother (Edward H. Williams) he assisted in 
foimding the public library at Woodstock, Vt.. 
which, in honor of his father, received the name 
of "The Norman Williams Public Library." 
With Col. Huntington W. Jackson and J. Mc- 
Gregor Adams, Mr. Williams was named, in the 
will of the late John Crerar, as an executor of the 
Crerar estate and one of the Trustees of the 
Crerar Public Library, and became its first Presi- 
dent ; was also a Director of the Cliicago Pub- 
lic Library, and trustee of a number of large 
estates. Mr. Williams was a son-in-law of the 
late Judge John D. Caton, and his oldest daughter 
became the wife of Major-General Wesley Mer- 
ritt; a few months before his death, which oc- 
curred at Hampton Beach, N. H., June 19, 1899 
— his remains being interred in his native town 
of Woodstock, Vt. 

WILLIAMS, Robert Ebenezer, lawyer, born 
Dec. 3, 1825, at Clarksville, Pa., his grandfathers 
on both sides being soldiers of the Revolutionary 
War. In 1880 his parents removed to Washing- 
ton in tlie same State, where in boyhood he 
worked as a mechanic in his father's shop, 
attending a common school in the vrinter until 



692 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



he reached the age of 17 years, when he entered 
Washington College, remaining for more than a 
year. He then began teaching, and, in 1845 
went to Kentucky, where he pursued the business 
of a teacher for four years. Then he entered 
Bethany College in West Virginia, at the same 
time prosecuting his law studies, but left at the 
close of his junior year, when, having been 
licensed to practice, he removed to Clinton, 
Texas. Here he accepted, from a retired lawyer, 
the loan of a law library, which he afterwards 
purchased ; served for two years as State's Attor- 
ney, and, in 1856, came to Bloomington, 111., 
where he spent the remainder of his life in the 
practice of his profession. Much of his time was 
devoted to practice as a railroad attorney, espe- 
cially in connection with the Chicago & Alton and 
the Illinois Central Railroads, in which he 
acquired prominence and wealth. He was a life- 
long Democrat and, in 1868, was the unsuccessful 
candidate of his party for Attorney-General of 
the State. The last three years of his life he had 
been in bad health, dying at Bloomington, Feb. 
1.5, 1899. 

WILLIAMS, Samuel, Bank President, was born 
in Adams County, Ohio, July 11, 1820; came to 
Winnebago County, 111., in 1835, and, in 1842, 
removed to Iroquois County, where he held vari- 
ous local offices, including that of County Judge, 
to which he was elected in 1861. During his 
later j'ears he had been President of the Watseka 
Citizens' Bank. Died, June 16, 1896. 

WILLIAMSON, Rollin Samuel, legislator and 
jurist, was born at Cornwall, Vt. , May 23, 1839. 
At the age of 14 he went to Boston, where he 
began life as a telegraph messenger boy. In 
two years he had become a skillful operator, and, 
as such, was employed in various offices in New 
England and New York. In 1857 he came to 
Chicago seeking employment and, tlirough the 
fortunate correction of an error on the part of 
the receiver of a message, secured the position of 
operator and station agent at Palatine, Cook 
County. Here he read law during his leisure 
time without a preceptor, and, in 1870, was 
admitted to the bar. Tlie same year he was 
elected to the lower House of the General 
Assembly and, in 1872, to the Senate. In 1880 he 
was elected to the bench of the Superior Court of 
Cook County, and, in 1887, was chosen a Judge 
of the Cook County Circuit Court. Died, Au- 
gust 10. 1889. 

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, in the soutliern part 
of the State, originally set off from Franklin and 
organized in 1839. The county is well watered. 



the principal streams being the Big Muddy and 
the South Fork of the Saline. The surface is 
undulating and the soil fertile. The region was 
originally well covered with forests. All the 
cereals (as well as potatoes) are cultivated, and 
rich meadows encourage stock-raising. Coal and 
sandstone underlie the entire county. Area, 440 
square miles; population (1880), 19,324- (1890) 
22,236; (1900), 27,796. 

WILLIAMSVILLE, village of Sangamon Coun- 
ty, on Chicago & Alton Railroad, 12 miles north 
of Springfield : has a bank, elevator, 3 churches, 
a newspaper and coal-mines. Pop. (1900), .573. 

WILLIS, Jonathan Clay, soldier and former 
Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner, was born 
in Sumner Count}-, Tenn., June 27, 1826; brought 
to Gallatin County, 111., in 1834, and settled at 
Golconda in 1843; was elected Sheriff of Pope 
County in 1856, removed to Metropolis in 1859, 
and engaged in the wharf -boat and commission 
business. He entered the service as Quarter- 
master of the Forty -eighth Illinois Volunteers in 
1861, but was compelled to resign on account of 
injuries, in 1863 ; was elected Representative ii' 
the Twenty-sixth General Assembly (1868), 
appointed Collector of Internal Revenue in 1869, 
and Railway and Warehouse Commissioner in 
1892, as the successor of John R. Tanner, serving 
imtil 1893. 

WILMETTE, a village in Cook County, 14 miles 
nortli of Chicago, on the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad, a handsome suburb of Chicago on the 
shoi-e of Lake Michigan ; principal streets paved 
and shaded with fine forest trees; has public 
library and good schools. Pop. (1900), 2,300. 

WILMINGTON, a city of Will County, on the 
Kankakee River and the Chicago & Alton Rail- 
road, 53 miles from Chicago and 15 south-south- 
west of Joliet; has considerable manufactures, 
two National banks, a graded school, churches 
and one newspaper. Wilmington is the location 
of the Illinois Soldiers' Widows" Home. Popu- 
lation (1890), 1,.576; (1900), 1,420. 

WILSON, Charles Lush, journalist, was born 
in Fairfield County, Conn., Oct. 10, 1818, edu- 
cated in the common schools and at an academy 
in his native State, and, in 1835, removed to Chi- 
cago, entering the employment of his older 
brothers, who were connected with the construc- 
tion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal at Joliet. 
His brother, Richard L., having assumed charge 
of "The Chicago Daily Journal" (the successor 
of "The Chicago American"), in;i844, Charles L. 
took a position in the office, ultimately securing 
a partnership, which continued until the death 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



593 



of his brother in 1856, when he succeeded to the 
ownership of the paper. Mr. Wilson was an 
ardent friend and supporter of Abraham Lincoln 
for the United States Senate in 1858, but, in 1860, 
favored the nomination of Mr. Seward for the 
Presidency, though earnestly supporting Mr. Lin- 
coln after his nomination. In 1861 he was 
appointed Secretary of the American Legation at 
London, serving with the late Minister Charles 
Francis Adams, until 1864, when he resigned and 
resumed his connection with "The Journal." In 
1875 his health began to fail, and three years 
later, having gone to San Antonio, Tex., in the 
hope of receiving benefit from a change of cli- 
mate, he died in that city, March 9, 1878. — 
Richard Lnsh (Wilson), an older brother of the 
preceding, the first editor and publisher of "The 
Chicago Evening Journal," the oldest paper of 
consecutive publication in Chicago, was a native 
of New York. Coming to Chicago with his 
brother John L., in 1834, they soon after estab- 
lished themselves in business on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, then in course of construction. 
In 1844 he took charge of "The Chicago Daily 
Journal" for a publishing committee which had 
purchased the material of "The Chicago Ameri- 
can," but soon after became principal proprietor. 
In April, 1847, while firing a salute in honor of 
the victory of Buena Vista, he lost an arm and 
was otherwise injured by the explosion of the can- 
non. Early in 1849, he was appointed, by Presi- 
dent Taylor, Postmaster of the city of Chicago, 
but, having failed of confirmation, was compelled 
to retire in favor of a successor appointed by 
Millard Fillmore, eleven months later. Mr. 
Wilson published a little volume in 1842 entitled 
"A Trip to Santa Fe," and, a few years later, 
a story of travel under the title, "Short Ravel- 
lings from a Long Yarn." Died, December, 1856. 
— John Lush (Wilson), another brother, abo a 
native of New York, came to Illinois in 1834, was 
afterwards associated with his brothers in busi- 
ness, being for a time business manager of "The 
Chicago Journal;" also served one term as Sher- 
iff of Cook Coimty. Died, in Chicago, April 13, 
1888. 

WILSON, Isaac Grant, jurist, was born at 
Middlebury, N. Y., April 26, 1817, graduated 
from Brown University in 1838, and the same 
year came to Chicago, whither his father's 
family had preceded him in 1835. After reading 
law for two years, he entered the senior class at 
Cambridge (Mass.) Law School, graduating in 
1841. In August of that year he opened an 
office at Elgin, and. for ten years "rode the cir- 



cuit." In 1851 he was elected to the bench of 
the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit to fiU a vacancy, 
and re-elected for a full term in 1855, and again 
in "61. In November of the latter year he was 
commissioned the first Colonel of the Fifty- 
second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but resigned, 
a few weeks later, and resumed his place upon 
the bench. From 1867 to 1879 he devoted him- 
self to private practice, which was largely in 
the Federal Courts. In 1879 he resumed his seat 
upon the bench (this time for the Twelfth Cir- 
cuit), and was at once designated as one of the 
Judges of the Appellate Court at Chicago, of 
which tribunal he became Chief Justice in 1881. 
In 1885 he was re-elected Circuit Judge, but died, 
about the close of his term, at Geneva. June 8, 
1891. 

WILSON, James Grant, soldier and author, 
was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, April 28, 18.32, 
and, when only a year old, was brought by his 
father, William Wilson, to America. The family 
settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where James 
Grant was educated at College Hill and under 
private teachers. After finishing his studies he 
became his father's partner in business, but, in 
1855, went abroad, and, shortly after his return, 
removed to Chicago, where he founded the first 
literary paper established in the Northwest. At 
the outbreak of the Civil War, he disposed of his 
journal to enlist in the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, 
of which he was commissioned Major and after- 
wards promoted to the colonelcJ^ In August, 
1863, while at New Orleans, by advice of General 
Grant, he accepted a conunission as Colonel of 
the Fourth Regiment United States Colored 
Cavalry, and was assigned, as Aid-de-camp, to 
the staff of the Commander of the Department of 
the Gulf, filling this post until April. 1865. 
When General Banks was relieved. Colonel Wil- 
son was brevetted Brigadier-General and placed 
in command at Port Hudson, resigning in July, 
1865, since which time his home has been in New 
York. He is best known as an author, having 
pubUs'hed numerous addresses, and being a fre- 
quent contributor to American and European 
magazines. Among larger works which he has 
written or edited are "Biographical Sketches of 
Illinois Officers"; "Love in Letters"; "Life of 
General U. S. Grant"; "Life and Letters of 
Fitz Greene Halleck" ; "Poets and Poetry of 
Scotland''; "Bryant and His Friends", and 
"Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography. " 

WILSON, James Harrison, soldier and mili- 
tarv engineer, was born near Shawneetown, 111. , 
Sept. 2, 1837. His grandfather, Alexander Wil- 



50i 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



son, was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and 
his father (Harrison Wilson) was an ensign dur- 
ing the War of 1812 and a Captain in the Black 
Hawk War. His brother (Bluford Wilson) 
served as Assi.stant Adjutant-General of Volun- 
teers during the Civil War, and as Solicitor of the 
United States Treasury during the "whisky ring" 
prosecutions. James H. was educated in the 
common schools, at McKendree College, and 
the United States Military Academy at West 
Point, graduating from the latter in 1860, and 
being assigned to the Topographical Engineer 
Corps. In September, 1861, he was promoted to 
a First Lieutenancy, then served as Chief Topo- 
graphical Engineer of the Port Royal expedition 
until March, 1863 ; was afterwards- attached to 
the Department of the South, being present at 
the bombardment of Fort Pulaski; was Aid-de- 
camp to McClellan, and participated in the bat- 
tles of South Mountain and Antietam ; was made 
Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers in November, 
1862; was Chief Topographical Engineer and 
Inspector-General of the Army of the Tennessee 
until October, 1863, being actively engaged in 
the operations around Vicksburg; was made 
Captain of Engineers in May, 1863, and Brigadier- 
General of Volunteers, Oct. 31, following. He 
also conducted operations preliminary to the 
battle of Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, and 
for the relief of Knoxville. Later, he was placed 
in command of tlie Third Division of the cavalry 
corps of the Army of the Potomac, serving from 
May to August, 1864, under General Sheridan. 
Subsequently he was transferred to the Depart- 
ment of the Mississippi, where he so distinguished 
himself that, on April 20, 1865, he was made 
Major-General of Volunteers. In twenty-eight 
days he captured five fortified cities, twenty- 
three stands of colors, 288 guns and 6,820 prison- 
ers — among the latter being Jefferson Davis. He 
was mustered out of the volunteer service in 
January, 1866, and, on July 28, following, was 
commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty- 
fifth United States Infantry, being also brevetted 
Major-General in the regular army. On Dec. 31, 
1870, he returned to civil life, and was afterwards 
largely engaged in railroad and engineering oper- 
ations, especially in West Virginia. Promptly 
after the declaration of war with Spain (1898) 
General Wilson was appointed, by the President, 
Major-General of Volunteers, serving until its 
close. He is the author of "China: Travels and 
Investigations in the Middle Kingdom" ; "Life of 
Andrew J. Alexander"; and the "Life of Gen. 
U. S. Grant," in conjunction with Charles A. 



Dana. His home, in recent years, has been in 
New York. 

WILSOX, John M., lawyer and jurist, was 
born in New Hampshire in 1802, graduated at 
Bowdoin College in 1834 — the classmate of Frank- 
lin Pierce and Nathaniel Hawthorne ; studied law 
in New Hampshire and came to Illinois in 1835, 
locating at Joliet; removed to Chicago in 1841, 
where he was the partner of Norman B. Judd, 
serving, at different periods, as attorney of the 
Chicago & Rock Island, the Lake Shoi'e & Michi- 
gan Southern and the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railways; was Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas of Cook County, 1853-59, when he became 
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago, 
serving until 1808. Died, Dec. 7, 1883. 

WILSON, John P., lawyer, was born in White- 
side County, 111., July 3, 1844; educated in the 
common schools and at Knox College, Galesburg, 
graduating from the latter in 1865; two years 
later was admitted to the bar in Chicago, and 
speedily attained prominence in his profession. 
During the World's Fair period he was retained 
as counsel by the Committee on Grounds and 
Buildings, and was prominently connected, as 
counsel for the city, with the Lake Front litiga- 
tion. 

WILSON, Robert L., early legislator, was born 
in Washington County, Pa., Sept. 11, 1805, taken 
to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1810, graduated at Frank- 
lin College in 1831, studied law and, in 1833. 
removed to Athens (now in Menard County), 111. ; 
was elected Representative in 1836, and was one 
of the members from Sangamon County, known 
as the "Long Nine," who assisted in securing the 
removal of the State Capital to Springfield. Mr. 
Wilson removed to Sterling, Whiteside County, 
in 1840, was elected five times Circuit Clerk and 
served eight years as Probate Judge. Immedi- 
ately after the fall of Fort Sumter, he enlisted as 
private in a battalion in Washington City under 
command of Cassius M. Clay, for guard duty 
until the arrival of the Seventh New York Regi- 
ment. He subsequently assisted in raising 
troops in Illinois, was appointed Paymaster by 
Lincoln, serving at Washington, St. Louis, and, 
after the fall of Vicksburg, at Springfield — being 
mustered out in November, 1865. Died, in White- 
side County, 1880. 

WILSON, Robert S., lawyer and jurist, was 
born at Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pa. , Nov. 
6, 1812; learned the printer's art, then studied 
law and was admitted to the bar in Allegheny 
County, about 1833; in 1836 removed to Ann 
Arbor, Mich. , where he served as Probate Judge 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



595 



and State Senator; in 1850 came to Chicago, was 
elected Judge of the Recorder's Court in 1853, 
and re-elected in 1858, serving ten years, and 
proving "a terror to evil-doers." Died, at Law- 
rence, Mich., Dec. 23, 1882. 

WILSOX, William, early jurist, was born in 
Loudoun County, Va., April 27, 1794; studied lavr 
with Hon. John Cook, a distinguished lawyer, 
and minister to France in the early part of the 
century ; in 1817 removed to Kentucky, soon after 
came to Illinois, two years later locating in White 
County, near Carmi, which continued to be his 
home during the remainder of his life. In 1819 
he was appointed Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court as successor to William P. 
Foster, who is described by Governor Ford as 
"a great rascal and no lawj-er," and who held 
oiBce onlj' about nine months. Judge Wilson 
was re-elected to the Supreme bench, as Chief- 
Justice, in 1825, being then only a little over 30 
years old, and held office until the reorganization 
of the Supreme Court under the Constitution of 
1848 — a period of over twentj'-nine j'ears, and, 
with the exception of Judge Browne's, the long- 
est term of service in the historj' of the court. 
He died at his home in White County, April 29, 
1857. A Whig in early life, he allied himself 
with the Democi-atic party on the dissolution of 
the former. Hon. James C. Conkling, of Spring- 
field, says of hun, "as a writer, his style was clear 
and distinct; as a lawyer, his judgment was 
sound and discriminating," 

WINCHESTER, a city and county-seat of Scott 
County, founded in 1839, situated on Big Sandy 
Creek and on the line of the Cliicago, Burlington 
& Qiiincy Railroad, 29 miles south of Beardstown 
and 84 miles north by west of St. Louis. While 
the surrounding region is agricultural and largely 
devoted to wheat growing, there is some coal 
mining. Winchester is an important shipping- 
point, having three grain elevators, two flouring 
mills, and a coal mine employing fifty miners. 
There are four Protestant and one Catholic 
church, a court house, a high school, a graded 
school building, two banks and two weekly news- 
papers. Population (1880). 1.626; (1890), 1,542; 
(1900), 1,711. 

WINDSOR, a city of Shelby County at the cross- 
ing of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. 
Louis and the Wabash Railways, 11 miles north- 
east of Shelbyville. Population (1880), 768; 
(1890), 888; (1900), 866. 

WINES, Frederick Howard, clergyman and 
sociologist, was born in Philadelphia. Pa., April 
9, 1838, graduated at Washington (Pa.) College 



in 1857, and, after serving as tutor there for a 
short time, entered Princeton Theological Semi- 
nary, but was compelled temporarily to discon- 
tinue his studies on account of a weakness of 
the eyes. The Presbytery of St. Louis licensed 
him to preach in 1860, and, in 1862, he was com- 
missioned Hospital Chaplain in the Union army. 
During 1862-64 he was stationed at Springfield, 
Mo., participating in the battle of Springfield on 
Jan. 8, 1863, and being personally mentioned for 
bravery on the field in the ofiicial report. Re- 
entering the seminary at Princeton in 1864, he 
graduated in 1865, and at once accepted a call to 
the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Springfield, 111., which he filled for four years. 
In 1869 he was appointed Secretary of the newly 
created Board of Commissioners of Public Chari- 
ties of Illinois, in which capacity he continued 
imtil 1893, when he resigned. For the next four 
years he was chiefly engaged in literary work, in 
lecturing before universities on topics connected 
with social science, in aiding in the organization 
of charitable work, and in the conduct of a 
thorough investigation into the relations between 
liquor legislation and crime. At an early period 
he took a prominent part in organizing the 
various Boards of Public Charities of the United 
States into an organization known as the National 
Conference of Charities and Corrections, and. nt 
the Louisville meeting (1883), was elected its 
President. At the International Penitentiary 
Congress at Stockholm (1878) he was the official 
delegate from Illinois. On his return, as a result 
of his observations wliile abroad, he submitted 
to the Legislature a report strongly advocating 
the construction of the Kankakee Hospital for 
the Insane, then about to be built, upon the 
"detached ward" or "village" plan, a departure 
from then existing methods, which marks an era 
in the treatment of insane in the United States. 
Mr. Wines conducted the investigation into the 
condition and number of the defective, depend- 
ent and delinquent classes throughout the coun- 
try, his rejjort constituting a separate volume 
under the "Tenth Census," and rendered a simi- 
lar service in connection with the eleventh 
census (1890). In 1887 he was elected Secretary 
of the National Prison A.ssociation, succeeding to 
the post formerly held by his father, Enoch Cobb 
Wines, D.D., LL.D. After the inauguration of 
Governor Tanner in 1897, he resumed his former 
position of Secretary of the Board of Public 
Charities, remaining until 1899. when he again 
tendered his resignation, having received the 
appointment to the position of Assistant Director 



£96 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



of the Twelfth Census, which lie now holds. He 
is the author of "Crime and Reformation" (1895) ; 
of a voluminous series of reports ; also of numer- 
ouo pamphlets and brochures, among which may 
be mentioned "The County Jail System; An 
Argument for its Abolition" (1878) ; "The Kanka- 
kee Hospital" (1882); "Provision for the Insane 
in the United States" (1885); "Conditional 
Liberation, or the Paroling of Prisoners" (1886), 
and "American Prisons in the Tenth Census" 



WINES, Walter B., lawyer (brother of Freder- 
ick H. Wines), was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 
10, 1848, received his primary education at Willis- 
ton Academy, East Hamnton, Mass. , after which 
h« entered Middlebury College, Vt., taking a 
classical course and graduating there. He after- 
wards became a student in the law department 
of Columbia College, N. Y., graduating in 1871, 
being admitted to the bar the same year and 
commencing practice in New York City. In 1879 
he came to Springfield, 111., and was, for a time, 
identified with the bar of that city. Later, he 
removed to Chicago, where he has been engaged 
in literary and journalistic work. 

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, situated in the 
"northern tier," bordering on the Wisconsin 
State line; was organized, under an act passed in 
1836, from La Salle and Jo Daviess Counties, and 
has an area of 552 square miles. The county is 
drained by the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers. 
The surface is rolling prairie and the soil fertile. 
The geology is simple, the quaternary deposits 
being underlaid by the Galena blue and buff 
limestone, adapted for building purposes. All 
the cereals are raised in abundance, the chief 
product being corn. The Winnebago Indians 
(who gave name to the county) formerly lived 
on the west side of the Rock River, and the Potta- 
watomies on the east, but both tribes removed 
westward in 1835. (As to manufacturing inter- 
ests, see Rockford.) Population (1880), 30,505; 
(1890), 39,938; (1900), 47,845 

WINNEBAGO WAR. The name given to an 
Indian disturbance which had its origin in 1837, 
during the administration of Gov. Ninian 
Edwards. The Indians had been quiet since the 
conclusion of the War of 1812, but a few isolated 
outrages were sufficient to start terrified "run- 
ners" in all directions. In the northern portion 
of the State, from Galena to Chicago (then Fort 
Dearlwrn) the alarm was intense. The meagre 
militia force of the State was summoned and 
volunteers were called for. Meanwhile, 600 
United States Regular Infantry, under command 



of Gen. Henry Atkinson, put in an appearance. 
Besides the infantry, Atkinson had at his disposal 
some 130 mounted sharpshooters. The origin of 
the disturbance was as follows: The Winne- 
bagoes attacked a band of Chippewas, who were 
(by treaty) under Government potection, .several 
of the latter being killed. For participation in 
this offense, four Winnebago Indians were sum- 
marily apprehended, surrendered to the Chippe- 
was and shot. Meanwhile, some dispute had 
arisen as to the title of the lands, claimed by the 
Winnebagoes in the vicinity of Galeiua, which 
had been occupied by white miners. Repeated 
acts of hostility and of reprisal, along the Upper 
Mississippi, intensified mutual distrust. A gather- 
ing of the Indians around two keel-boats, laden 
with supplies for Fort Snelling, which had 
anchored near Prairie du Cliien and opposite a 
Winnebago camp, was regarded by the whites as 
a hostile act. Liquor was freely distributed, and 
there is historical evidence that a half-dozen 
drunken squa%vs were carried off and shamefully 
maltreated. Several hundred warriors assembled 
to avenge the deception which had been practiced 
upon them. They laid in ambush for the boats 
on their return trip. The first passed too rapidly 
to be successfully assailed, but the second 
grounded and was savagely, yet unsuccessfully, 
attacked. The presence of General Atkinson's 
forces prevented an actual outbreak, and, on his 
demand, the great Winnebago Chief, Red Bird, 
with six other leading men of the tribe, sur- 
rendered themselves as hostages to save their 
nation from extermination. A majority of these 
were, after trial, acquitted. Red Bird, however, 
unable to endure confinement, literally pined to 
death in prison, dying on Feb. 16, 1828. He is 
described as having been a savage of superior 
intelligence and noble character. A treaty of 
peace was concluded with the Winnebagoes in a 
council held at Prairie du Chien, a few months 
later, but the affair seems to have produced as 
much alarm among the Indians as it did among 
the whites. (For Winnebago Indians see page Tyl^.) 

WINNETKA, a village of Cook County, on the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railway, I6V2 miles 
north of Chicago. It stands eighty feet above 
the level of Lake Micliigan, has good schools 
(being the seat of the Winnetka Institute), sev- 
eral churches, and is a popular residence town. 
Population (1880), 584; (1890), 1,079; (1900)-, 1,833. 

WINSTON, Frederick Hampton, lawyer, was 
born in Liberty County, Ga., Nov. 20, 1830, was 
brought to Woodford County, Ky., in 1835, left 
an orphan at 12, and attended the common 



IIISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OP ILLINOIS. 



597 



I 



schools until 18, when, returning to Georgia, he 
engaged in cotton manufacture. He finally 
began the study of law with United States Sena- 
tor W. C. Dawson, and graduated from Harvard 
Law School in 1852 ; spent some time in the office 
of W. M. Evarts in New York, was admitted to 
the bar and came to Chicago in 1853, where lie 
formed a partnership with Norman B. Judd, 
afterwards being associated with Judge Henry 
W. Blodgett; served as general solicitor of tlie 
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific and the Pittsburgh, Fort 
Wayne & Chicago Railways — remaining with the 
latter twenty years. In 1885 he was appointed, 
by President Cleveland, Minister to Persia, but 
resigned the following year, and traveled exten- 
sively in Russia, Scandinavia and other foreign 
countries. Mr, Winston was a delegate to the 
Democratic National Conventions of 1868, "76 and 
'84 ; first President of the Stock Yards at Jersey 
City, for twelve years President of the Lincoln 
Park Commission, and a Director of the Lincoln 
National Bank. 

WISCONSIN CENTRAL LINES. The Wiscon- 
sin Central Company was organized, June 17, 
1887, and subsequentlj' acquired the Minnesota, 
St. Croix & Wisconsin, the Wisconsin & Minne- 
sota, the Chippewa Falls & Western, the St. 
Paul & St. Croix Falls, the Wisconsin Central, the 
Penokee, and the Packwaukee & Jlontebello Rail- 
roads, and assumed the leases of the Milwaukee 
& Lake Winnebago and the Wisconsin & Minne- 
sota Roads. On July 1, 1888, the company began 
to operate the entire Wisconsin Central system, 
with the exception of the Wisconsin Central 
Railroad and the leased Milwaukee & Lake Win- 
nebago, which remained in charge of the Wis- 
consin Central Railroad mortgage trustees until 
Nov. 1, 1889, when these, too, passed under the 
control of the Wisconsin Central Company. The 
Wisconsin Central Railroad Company is a re- 
organization (Oct. 1, 1879) of a company formed 
Jan. 1, 1871. The Wisconsin Central and the 
Wisconsin Central Railroad Companies, though 
differing in name, are a financial imit ; the 
former liolding most of the first mortgage bonds 
of the latter, and substantially all its notes, stocks 
and income bonds, but, for legal reasons (such as 
the protection of land titles), it is neces.sary that 
separate corporations be maintained. On April 
1, 1890, the Wisconsin Central Company executed 
a lease to the Northern Pacific Railroad, but this 
was set aside by the courts, on Sept. 27, 1893, for 
non-payment of rent, and was finally canceled. 
On the same day receivers were appointed to 



insure the protection of all interests. The total 
mileage is 415.46 miles, of which the Company 
owns 258.90— only .10 of a mile in Illinois. A 
line, 58.10 miles in length, with 8.44 miles of 
side-track (total, 66.54 miles), lying wholly within 
tlie State of Illinois, is operated by the Chicago & 
Wisconsin and furnishes the allied line an en- 
trance into Chicago. 

WITHROW, Thomas P., lawyer, was born in 
Virginia in March, 1833, removed with his parents 
to Ohio in childhood, attended tlie We.stern 
Reserve College, and, after the death of his 
father, taught school and worked as a printer, 
later, editing a paper at Mount Vernon. In 1855 
he removed to Janesville, Wis., where he again 
engaged in journalistic work, studied law, was 
admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1857, settled at 
Des Moines and served as private secretary of 
Governors Lowe and Kirkwood. In 1860 he 
became Supreme Court Reporter; served as 
Chairman of the Republican State Central Com- 
mittee in 1863 and, in 1866, became as.sociated 
with the Rock Island Railroad in the capacity of 
local attorney, was made chief law officer of the 
Company in 1873, and removed to Chicago, and, 
in 1890, was promoted to the position of General 
Counsel. Died, in Chicago, Feb. 3, 1893. 

WOLCOTT, (Dr.) Alexander, early Indian 
Agent, was born at East Windsor, Conn., Feb. 
14, 1790; graduated from Yale College in 1809, 
and, after a course in medicine, was commis- 
sioned, in 1812, Surgeon's Mate in the United 
States Army. In 1820 he was appointed Indian 
Agent at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), as suc- 
cessor to Charles Jouett — the first Agent— who 
had been appointed a United States Judge in 
Arkansas. Tlie .same year he accompanied Gen- 
eral Lewis Cass and Henry Schoolcraft on their 
tour among the Indians of the Northwest ; was 
married in 1823 to Ellen Marion Kinzie, a 
daughter of Col. John Kinzie, the first perma- 
nent settler of Chicago; in 1825 was appointed a 
Justice of the Peace for Peoria County, which 
then included Cook County; was a Judge of 
Election in 1830, and one of the purchasers of a 
block of ground in tlie heart of the present city 
of Chicago, at the first sale of lots, held Sept. 27, 
1830, but died before the close of the year. Dr. 
Wolcott appears to have been a high-minded and 
honorable man, as well as far in advance of the 
mass of pioneers in point of education and intel- 
ligence. 

WOMAN'S MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CHI- 
CAGO. (See Northivestern University Woman's 
Medical School.) 



598 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



WOMAN SUFFRA(JE. {See Suffrage.) 

WOOD, Benson, lawyer ami Congressman, was 
born in Susquehanna County, Pa., in 1839; re- 
ceived a common school and academic education ; 
at the age of 20 came to Illinois, and, for two 
years, taught school in Lee County. He then 
enlisted as a soldier in an Illinois regiment, 
attaining the rank of Captain of Infantry ; after 
the war. graduated from the Law Department of 
the old Chicago University, and has since been 
engaged in the practice of his profession. He 
was elected a niember of the Twenty -eighth Gen- 
eral Assembly (1872) and was a delegate to the 
Republican National Conventions of 1876 and 
1888 ; also served as Mayor of the city of Effing- 
ham, where he now resides. In 1894 he was 
elected to the Fifty-fourth Congress by the 
Republicans of the Nineteenth District, which has 
uniformly returned a Democrat, and, in office, 
proved himself a most industrious and efficient 
member. Mr. Wood was defeated as a candidate 
for re-election in 1896. 

WOOD, John, pioneer, Lieutenant-Governor 
and Governor, was born at Moravia, N. Y., Dec. 
20, 1798 — his father being a Revolutionary soldier 
who had served as Surgeon and Captain in the 
army. At the age of 21 years young Wood re- 
moved to Illinois, settling in what is now Adams 
County, and building the first log-cabin on the site 
of the present citj- of Quincj-. He was a member 
of the upper house of the Seventeenth and Eight- 
eenth General Assemblies, and was elected Lieu- 
tenant-Governor in 18.')9 on the same ticket with 
Governor Bissell, and served out the unexpired 
term of the latter, who died in office. (See Bis- 
sell, William H. ) He was succeeded by Richard 
Yates in 1861. In February of that year he was 
appointed one of the five Commissioners from 
Illinois to the "Peace Conference" at Wash- 
ington, to consider methods for averting 
civil war. The following May he was appointed 
Quartermaster-General for the State by Governor 
Yates, and assisted most efficiently in fitting out 
the troops for the field. In June, 1864, he was 
commissioned Colonel of the One Hundred and 
Thirty-seventh IlUnois Volunteers (lOOdaj-s' men) 
and mustered out of service the following Sep- 
tember. Died, at Quiucy, June 11, 1880. He 
was liberal, patriotic and public-spirited. His 
fellow-citizens of Quincy erected a monument to 
his memory, which was appropriatelj- dedicated, 
July 4. 1883. 

WOODFORD COUNTY, situated a little nortli 
of the center of the State, bounded on the west 
by the Illinois River; organized in 1841; area, 



540 square miles. The surface is generally level, 
except along the Illinois River, the soil fertile 
and well watered. The county lies in the north- 
ern section of the great coal field of the State. 
Eureka is the county-seat. Other thriving cities 
and towns are Metamora. Minonk, El Paso and 
Roanoke. Corn, oats, wheat, potatoes and barley 
are the principal crops. The cliief mechanical 
industries are flour manufacture, carriage and 
wagon-making, and saddlery and harness work. 
Population (1890), 21,429; (1900), 21,822. 

WOODHULL, a village of Henry County, on 
Keithsburg branch Chicago. Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad. 1.") miles west of Galva; has a bank, 
electric lights, water works, brick and tile works, 
six churches and weekly paper. Pop. (1900), 774. 

WOODMAN, Charles W., lawyer and Congress- 
man, was born in Aalborg, Denmark, March 11, 
1844 ; received his early education in the schools 
of his native country, but took to the sea in 1860, 
following the life of a sailor until 1863, when, 
coming to Philadelphia, he enlisted in the Gulf 
Squadron of the United States. After the war, 
he came to Chicago, and, after reading law for 
some time in the office of James L. High, gradu- 
ated from the Law Department of the Chicago 
University in 1871. Some years later he was 
appointed Prosecuting Attorney for some of the 
lower courts, and, in 1881, was nominated bj- the 
Judges of Cook Countj' as one of the Justices of 
the Peace for the city of Chicago. In 1894 he 
became the Republican candidate for Congress 
from the Fourth District and was elected, but 
failed to secure a renomination in 1896. Died, in 
Elgin Asylum for the In.sane, March 18, 1898. 

WOODS, Robert Mann, was born at Greenville. 
Pa., April 17, 1840; came with his parents to Illi- 
nois in 1842. the family settling at Barry, Pike 
County, but subsequently residing at Pittsfield, 
Canton and Galesburg. He was educated at 
Knox College in the latter place, which was his 
home from 1849 to ".58; later, taught school in 
Iowa and Missouri vmtil 1861. when he went to 
Springfield and began the study of law with 
Milton Hay and Shelby 51. CuUom. His law 
studies having been interrupted by the Civil 
War, after spending some time in the mustering 
and disbursing office, he was promoted by Gov 
ernor Yates to a place in the executive office, 
from which he went to the field as Adjutant of 
the Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry, known as the 
"Yates Sharp-Shooters. " After participating, 
with the Army of the Tennessee, in the Atlanta 
campaign, he took part in the "March to the 
Sea." and the campaign in the Carolinas, includ- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



59S 



ing the siege of Savannah and the forcing of the 
Salkahatchie, where he distinguished liimself. as 
also in the taking of Cohimbia, Fayetteville, 
Cheraw, Raleigh and Bentonville. At the latter 
place he had a horse shot under him and won the 
brevet rank of JIajor for gallantry in the field, 
having previously been commissioned Captain of 
Company A of his regiment. He also served on 
the staffs of Gens. Giles A. Smith, Benjamin F. 
Potts, and William W. Belknap, and was the last 
mustering officer in General Sherman's army. 
In 1867 Major Woods removed to Chicago, where 
he was in business for a number of years, serving 
as chief clerk of Custom House construction 
from 1872 to 1877. In 1879 he purchased "The 
Daily Republican" at Joliet, which he conducted 
successfully for fifteen years. While connected 
with "The Republican," he served as Secretary of 
the Illinois Republican Press Association and in 
various other positions. 

Major Woods was one of the founders of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, whose birth-place 
was in Illinois. (See Oraud Army of the Rvpuh- 
lic; also Stephenson, Dr. B. F.) When Dr. 
Stephenson (who had been Surgeon of the Four- 
teenth Illinois Infantry), conceived the idea of 
founding such an order, he called to his assist- 
ance Major Woods, who was then engaged in 
writing the histories of Illinois regiments for the 
Adjutant-Generars Report. The Major wrote 
the Constitution and By-laws of the Order, the 
charter blanks for all the reports, etc. The first 
official order bears his name as the first Adjutant- 
General of the Order, as follows : 

hkanqttarters department of illinois 
Grand Army of the Repi:blic. 

Springfield, III.. April 1, 1866. 
General Order-s '. 

Nti, 1. \ The following named officers are hereby 

appointed and assigned to duty at these lieadquarters. They 
wiil be obeyed and respected accordingly: 
Colonel Jules C. Webber. -i.D.C. and Chief of Staff. 
Colonel John M. Snyder, Quartermaster-General. 
Major Robert M. Wouds. Adjutant-General. 
Captain John A. Lightfoot, Assistant Adjutant-General. 
Captain John S. Phelps, Aid-de-Camp. 
By order of B. F. Stephenson, Department Commander. 

Robert M. Woods, 

Adjutant-General. 

Major Woods afterwards organized the various 
Departments in the West, and it has been con- 
ceded that he furnished the money necessary to 
carry on the work during the first six months of 
the existence of the Order. He has never 
accepted a nomination or run for any political 
office, but is now engaged in financial business in 
Joliet and Chicago, with his residence in the 
former place. 



WOODSOX, David Meade, lawyer and jurist, 
was born in Jessamine County, Ky., May 18, 
1806; was educated in private schools and at 
Transylvania University, and read law with his 
father. He served a term in the Kentucky Legis- 
lature in 1832, and, in 1834, removed to Illinois, 
settling at Carrollton. Greene County. In 1839 
he was elected State's Attorney and, in 1840, a 
member of the lower house of the Legislature, 
being elected a second time in 1868. In 1843 he 
was the Whig candidate for Congress in the 
Fifth District, but was defeated by Stephen A. 
Douglas. He was a member of the Constitutional 
Conventions of 1847 and 1869-70. In 1848 he was 
elected a Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, 
remaining in office until 1867. Died, in 1877. 

WOODSTOCK, the county-seat of McHenry 
County, situated on the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway, about 51 miles northwest of Chicago 
and 32 miles east of Rockford. It contains a 
court house, eight churches, four banks, three 
newspaper offices, foundry and machine shops, 
planing mills, canning works, pickle, cheese and 
butter factories. The Oliver Typewriter Factory 
is located here ; the town is also the seat of the 
Todd Seminary for boys. Population (1890), 
1,683; (1900), 2,502. 

WORCESTER, Linus E., State Senator, was 
born in Windsor, Vt., Dec. 5, 1811, was educated 
in the common schools of his native State and at 
Chester Academy, came to Illinois in 1836, and, 
after teaching three years, entered a dry-goods 
store at Whitehall as clerk, later becoming a 
partner. He was also engaged in various other 
branches of business at different times, including 
the drug, hardware, grocery, agricultural imple- 
ment and lumber business. In 1843 he was 
appointed Postmaster at Whitehall, serving 
twelve years ; was a member of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1847, served as County Judge for 
six years from 1853, and as Trustee of the Insti- 
tution for the Deaf and Dumb, at Jacksonville, 
from 1859, by successive reappointments, for 
twelve years. In 1856 he was elected, as a Demo- 
crat, to the State Senate, to succeed John M. 
Palmer, resigned ; was re-elected in 1860, and, at 
the session of 1865, was one of the five Demo- 
cratic members of that body who voted for the 
ratification of the Emancipation Amendment of 
the National Constitution. He was elected 
County Judge a second time, in 1863, and re- 
elected in 1867, served as delegate to the Demo- 
cratic National Convention of 1876, and, for more 
than thirty years, was one of the Directors of the 
Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton 



600 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



Railroad, serving from the organization of the 
corporation until his death, wliich occurred Oct. 
19, 1891. 

WORDE\, a village of Madison County, on the 
Wabash and the Jacksonville, Louisville & St. 
Louis Railways, 33 miles northeast of St. Loviis. 
Population (1890), .'522; (1900), 544 

WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITIOX. An 
exhibition of the scuentiftc, liberal and mechan- 
ical arts of all nations, held at Chicago, between 
May 1 and Oct. 31, 1893. The project had its 
inception in November, 1885, in a resolution 
adopted bj' the directorate of the Chicago Inter- 
State Exposition Company. On July 6, 1888, the 
first well defined action was taken, the Iroquois 
Club, of Chicago, inviting the co-operation of six 
other leading clubs of that city in "securing the 
location of an international celebration at Chi- 
cago of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of 
America by Columbus." In July, 1889, a decisive 
step was taken in the appointment by Mayor 
Cregier, \inder resolution of the City Council, of 
a committee of 100 (afterwards increased to 256) 
citizens, who were charged with the duty of 
promoting the selection of Chicago as the site for 
the Exposition. New York, Washington and St. 
Louis were competing points, but the choice of 
Congress fell upon Chicago, and the act establish- 
ing the World's Fair at that city was signed by 
President Harrison on April 25, 1890. Under the 
requirements of the law, the President appointed 
eight Commissioners-at-large, with two Commis- 
sioners and two alternates from each State and 
Territory and the District of Columbia. Col. 
George R. Davis, of Chicago, was elected Direc- 
tor-General by the body thus constituted. Ex- 
Senator Thomas M. Palmer, of Michigan, was 
chosen President of the Commission and John T. 
Dickinson, of Texas, Secretary. This Commis- 
sion delegated much of its power to a Board of 
Reference and Control, who were instructed to 
act with a similar number appointed by the 
World's Columbian Exposition. The latter 
organization was an incorporation, with a direc- 
torate of forty-five members, elected annually by 
the stockliolders. Lyman J. Gage, of Chicago, 
was the first President of the corporation, and 
was succeeded by W. T. Baker and Harlow N. 
Higinbotham. 

In addition to these bodies, certain powers were 
vested in a Board of Lady Managers, composed 
of two members, with alternates, from each 
State and Territory, besides nine from the city 
of Chicago. Mrs. Potter Palmer was chosen 
President of the latter. This Board was particu- 



larly charged with supervision of women's par- 
ticipation in the Exposition, and of the exhibits 
of women's work. 

The supreme executive power was vested in 
the Joint Board of Control. The site selected 
was Jackson Park, in the South Division of Chi- 
cago, with a strip connecting Jackson and 
Washington Parks, known as the "Midway 
Plaisance," which was surrendered to "conces- 
sionaires" who purchased the privilege of giving 
exhibitions, or conducting restaurants or selling- 
booths thereon. The total area of the site was 
633 acres, and that of the buildings — not reckon- 
ing those erected by States other than Illinois, 
and by foreign governments — was about 300 
acres. When to this is added the acreage of the 
foreign and State buildings, the total space 
imder roof approximated 250 acres. These fig- 
ures do not include the buildings erected by 
private exhibitors, caterers and venders, which 
would add a small percentage to the grand total. 
Forty-seven foreign Governments made appropri- 
ations for the erection of their own buildings and 
other expenses connected with oflScial represen- 
tation, and there were exhibitors from eighty-six 
nations. The United States Government erected 
its own building, and appropriated $500,000 to 
defray the expenses of a national exhibit, besides 
§2,500,000 toward the general cost of the Exposi- 
tion. The appropriations by foreign Governments 
aggregated about $6,500,000, and tliose by the 
States and Territories, §6,120,000 — that of Illinois 
being $800,000. The entire outlay of the World's 
Columbian Exposition Company, vip to March 31, 
1894, including the cost of preliminaiy organiza- 
tion, construction, operating and post- Exposition 
expenses, was §37,151,800. This is, of course, 
exclusive of foreign and State erpenditures, 
which would swell the aggregate cost to nearly 
§45,000,000. Citizens of Chicago subscribed 
§5,608,306 toward the capital stock of the Exposi- 
tion Company, and the municipality, §5,000,000, 
which was raised by the sale of bonds. (See 
Thirty-sixth General Asseinhly.) 

The site, while admirably adapted to the pur- 
pose, was, when chosen, a marshy flat, crossed 
by low sand ridges, upon whicli stood occasional 
clumps of stunted scrub oaks. Before the gates 
of the great fair were opened to the public, the 
entire area had been transformed into a dream of 
beauty. Marshes had been drained, filled in and 
sodded ; driveways and broad walks constructed ; 
artificial ponds and lagoons dug and embanked, 
and all the highest skill of the landscape garden- 
er's art had been called into play to produce 



MAP OF 

THE GROUNDS OF THE 

yiojKLys poj.\]mpiAji EXj'O^ijioivr 

AT 

Jackson Park 

showing the General Arrangement 

of 

Buildings and Grounds 

1893. 

w) ^ 




HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



601 



varied and striking effects. But tlie task had 
been a Herculean one. There were seventeen 
principal (or, as they may be called, depart- 
mental) building.s. all of beautiful and ornate 
design, and all of vast size. They were known 
as the Manufacturers' and Liberal Arts, the 
Machinery. Electrical, Transportation, Woman's, 
Horticultural, Mines and Mining, Anthropolog- 
ical, Administration, Art Galleries, Agricultural. 
Art Institute, Fisheries, Live Stock, Dairy and 
Forestry buildings, and the Music Hall and Ca- 
sino. Several of these had large annexes. The 
Manufacturers" Building was the largest. It was 
rectangular (1087x787 feet), having a ground 
area of 31 acres and a floor and galleiy area of 
44 acres. Its central chamber was 1280x380 
feet, with a nave 107 feet wide, both hall and 
nave being sm-rounded by a gallery 50 feet wide. 
It was four times as large as the Roman Coliseum 
and three times as large as St. Peter's at Rome; 
17,000,000 feet of lumber, 13,000,000 pounds of 
steel, and 2,000,000 pounds of iron had been used 
in its construction, involving a cost of §1,800,000. 

It was originally intended to open the Exposi- 
tion, formally, on Oct. 21, 1892, the quadri-centen- 
nial of Columbus' discovery of land on the 
"Western Hemisphere, but the magnitude of the 
undertaking rendered this impracticable. Con- 
sequently, while dedicatory ceremonies were held 
on that day, preceded by a monster procession and 
followed by elaborate pyrotechnic displays at 
night, May 1, 1893, was fixed as the opening day 
— the machinery and fountains being put in oper- 
ation, at the touch of an electric button by Presi- 
dent Cleveland, at the close of a short address. 
The total number of admissions from that date 
to Oct. 31, was 27,530,460 — the largest for any 
single day being on Oct. 9 (Chicago Day) amount- 
ing to 761,944. The total receipts from all sources 
(including National and State appropriations, 
subscriptions, etc.), amounted to §28,151,168.7.5, 
of which §10,626,330.76 was from the sale of tick- 
ets, and §3,699,581.43 from concessions. The 
aggregate attendance fell short of that at the 
Paris Exposition of 1889 by about 500,000, while 
the receipts from the sale of tickets and con- 
cessions exceeded the latter by nearly §5,800,000. 
Subscribers to the Exposition stock received a 
retiu-n of ten per cent on the same. 

The Illinois building was the first of the State 
buildings to be completed. It was also the 
largest and most costly, but was severely criti- 
cised from an architectural standpoint. The 
exhibits showed the internal resources of the 
State, as well as the development of its govern- 



mental system, and its progress in civilization 
from the days of the first pioneers. The entire 
IlUnois exhibit in the State building was under 
charge of the State Board of Agriculture, who 
devoted one-tenth of the appropriation, and a like 
proportion of floor space, to the exhibition of the 
work of Illinois women as scientists, autliors, 
artists, decorators, etc. Among special features 
of the Illinois exhibit were: State trophies and 
relics, kept in a fire-proof memorial hall; the dis- 
play of grains and minerals, and an immense 
topographical map (prepared at a cost of ?15,000), 
drafted on a scale of two miles to the inch, show- 
ing the character and resources of the State, and 
correcting many serious cartographical errors 
previously undiscovered. 

WORTHEN, Amos Henry, scientist and State 
Geologist, was born at Bradford. Vt., Oct. 31, 
1813, emigrated to Kentucky in 1834, and, in 1836, 
removed to Illinois, locating at Warsaw. Teach- 
ing, surveying and mercantile business were his 
pursuits until 1842, when he returned to the 
East, spending two years in Boston, but return- 
ing to Warsaw in 1844. His natural predilections 
were toward the natural sciences, and, after 
coming west, he devoted most of his leisure time 
to the collection and study of specimens of 
mineralogy, geology and conchology. On the 
organization of the geological survey of lUinois 
in 1851, he was appointed assistant to Dr. J. G. 
Norwood, then State Geologist, and, in 1858, suc- 
ceeded to the oflSce, having meanwhile spent 
three years as Assistant Geologist in the first Iowa 
survey. As State Geologist he published seven 
volumes of reports, and was engaged upon the 
eighth when overtaken by death, May 6, 1888. 
These reports, which are as comprehensive as 
they are voluminous, have been reviewed and 
warmly commended by the leading scientific 
periodicals of this country and Europe. In 1877 
field work was discontinued, and the State His- 
torical Library and Natural History Museum were 
established. Professor Worthen being placed m 
charge as curator. He was the author of various 
valuable scientific papers and member of numer- 
ous scientific societies in this country and in 
Europe. 

WORTHI\GTO?r, Nicholas EUsworth, ex-Con- 
gressman, was born in Brooke County, W. "\'a., 
March 30, 1836, and completed his education at 
Allegheny College, Pa. , studied Law at Morgan- 
town, Va. . and was admitted to the bar in 1860. 
He is a resident of Peoria, and, by profession, a 
lawyer: was County Superintendent of Schools 
of Peoria Countv from 1868 to 1872, and a mem- 



603 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



ber of the State Board of Education from 1869 to 
1872. In 1883 he was elected to Congress, as a 
Democrat, from the Tenth Congressional District, 
and re-elected in 1884. In 1886 he was again a 
candidate, but was defeated by his Republican 
opponent, Philip Sidney Post. He was elected 
Circuit Judge of tlie Tenth Judicial District in 
1891, and re-elected in 1897. In 1894 he served 
upon a commission appointed by President Cleve- 
land, to investigate the labor strikes of tliat year 
at Chicago. 

WRIGHT, John Stephen, manufacturer, was 
born at Sheffield, Mass., July 16, 1815; came to 
Chicago in 1832, with his father, who opened a 
store in that city; in 1837, at his own expense, 
built the first school building in Chicago ; in 1840 
established "The Prairie Farmer," which he con- 
ducted for many j-ears in the interest of popular 
education and progressive agriculture. In 18.52 
he engaged in the manufacture of Atkins" self- 
raking reaper and mower, was one of the pro- 
moters of the Galena & Chicago Union and the 
Illinois Central Railways, and wrote a volume 
entitled, "Chicago: Past, Present and Future,'" 
published in 1870. Died, in Chicago, Sept. 26, 1874. 

WULFF, Henry, ex-State Treasurer, was born 
in Meldorf, Germany. August 24, 1854; came to 
Chicago in 1863, and began his political career as 
a Trustee of the town of Jefferson. In 1866 he 
was elected County Clerk of Cook County, and 
re-elected in 1890 ; in 1894 became the Rejjublican 
nominee for State Treasurer, receiving, at the 
November election of that year, the unprece- 
dented plurality of 133,427 votes over his Demo- 
cratic opponent. 

WYANET, a town of Bureau Coimty, at the 
intersection of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
and the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Railways, 
7 miles southwest of Princeton. Population 
(1890), 670; (1900), 902. 

WTLIE, (Rev.) Samuel, domestic missionary, 
born in Ireland and came to America in boyhood ; 
was educated at the University of Pennsylvania 
and the Theological Seminary of the Reformed 
Presbjterian Chuich, and ordained iu 1818. 
Soon after this he came west as a domestic mis- 
sionary and, in 1820, became pastor of a church 
at Sparta, 111., where he remained imtil his death, 
March 20, 1872, after a pastorate of 52 years. 
During his pastorate the church sent out a dozen 
colonies to form new church organizations else- 
where. He is described as able, eloquent and 
scholarly. 

TVYMAN, (Col.) John B., soldier, was born in 
Massachusetts. July 12, 1817, and educated in the 



schools of that State until 14 years of age, when 
he became a clerk in a clothing store in his native 
town of Shrewsbury, later being associated with 
mercantile establishments in Cincinnati, and 
again in his native State. From 1846 to 1850 he 
was employed successively as a clerk in the car 
and machine shops at Springfield, Mass., then as 
Superintendentof Construction, and, later, as con- 
ductor on the New York & New Haven Railroad , 
finally, in 1850, becoming Superintendent of the 
Connecticut River Railroad. In 1852 he entered 
the service of the Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany, assisting in the survey and construction of 
the line under Col. R. B. Mason, the Chief Engi- 
neer, and finally becoming Assistant Superin- 
tendent of the Northern Division. He was one 
of the original proprietors of the town of Amboy, 
in Lee County, and its first Jlaj-or, also serving 
a second term. Having a fondness for military 
affairs, he was usually connected with some mili- 
tary organization — while in Cincinnati being 
attached to a company, of which Prof. O. M. 
IVtitchell, the celebrated astronomer (afterwards 
Major-General Mitchell), was Captain. After 
coming to Illinois he became Captain of the Chi- 
cago Light Guards. Having left the employ of 
the Raih-oad in 1858, he was in private business 
at Amboy at the beginning of the Civil War in 
1861. As Assistant- Adjutant General, by appoint- 
ment of Governor Yates, he rendered valuable 
service in the early weeks of the war in securing 
arms from Jefferson Barracks and in the organi- 
zation of the three-months" regiments. Then, 
having organized the Thirteenth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry — the first organized in the State 
for the three years" service — he was commis- 
sioned its Colonel, and, in July following, entered 
upon the duty of guarding the railroad lines in 
Southwest Missouri and Arkansas. The follow- 
ing year his regiment was attached to General 
Sherman's command in the first campaign 
against Vicksburg. On the second daj' of the 
Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, he fell mortally 
wounded, dying on the field, Dec. 28, 1863. Colo- 
nel Wj'man was one of the most accomplished 
and promising of the volunteer soldiers sent to 
the field from Illinois, of whom so many were 
former employes of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road. 

■WYOMING, a town of Stark County, 31 miles 
north-northwest from Peoria, at the junction of 
the Peoria branch Rock Island & Pacific and the 
Rushville branch of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railway ; has two high schools, churches, 
two banks, flour mills, water-works, machine 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



603 



shop, and two weekly newspapers. Coal is mined 
here. Pop. (1890), 1,116; (1900), 1,277. 

XEJilA, a village of Clay County, on the Balti- 
more & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 87 miles 
east of St. Louis. Population (1900), 800. 

YATES CITY, a village of Knox County, at the 
junction of the Peoria Division of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with the Rushville 
brancli, 23 miles southeast of Galesburg. The 
town has banks, a coal mine, telephone exchange, 
school, churclies and a newspaper. Pop. (1890), 
687; (1900), 650. 

TAXES, Henry, pioneer, was born in Caroline 
County, Va., Oct. 29, 1786 — being a grand-nephew 
of Chief Justice John Marshall ; removed to Fa- 
yette County, Ky., where he located and laid out 
the town of Warsaw, which afterwards became 
the county-seat of Gallatin County. In 1831 he 
removed to Sangamon County, 111., and, in 1832, 
settled at the site of the present town of Berlin, 
which he laid out the following year, also laying 
out the town of New Berlin, a few years later, on 
the line of the Wabash Railway. He was father 
of Gov. Richard Yates. Died, Sept. 13, 1865. — 
Henry (Yates), Jr., son of the preceding, was born 
at Berlin, 111., March 7, 1835; engaged in merchan- 
dising at New Berlin ; in 1862, raised a company 
of volunteers for the One Hundred and Sixth 
Regiment Illinois Infantry, was appointed Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel and bre%'etted Colonel and Briga- 
dier-General. He was accidentally shot in 1863, 
and suffered sun-stroke at Little Rock, from 
which he never fully recovered. Died, August 
3, 1871. 

YATES, Richard, former Governor and United 
States Senator, was born at Warsaw, Ky., Jan. 
18, 1815, of English descent. In 1831 he accom- 
panied his father to Illinois, the family settling 
first at Springfield and later at Berlin, Sangamon 
County. He soon after em ered Illinois College, 
from which he graduated in 1835, and subse- 
quently read law with Col. John J. Hardin, at 
Jacksonville, which thereafter became his home. 
In 1842 he was elected Representative in the Gen- 
eral Assembly from Morgan County, and was 
re-elected in 1844, and again in 1848. In 1850 he 
was a candidate for Congress from the Seventh 
District and elected over JIaj. Thomas L. Harris, 
the previous incumbent, being the only Whig 
Representative in the Thirty-second Congress 
from Illinois. Two years later he was re-elected 
over John Calhoun, but was defeated, in 1854, 
by his old opponent, Harris. He was one of the 



most vigorous opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska 
Bill in the Thirty -third Congress, and an early 
participant in the movement for the organization 
of the Republican party to resist the further 
extension of slavery, being a prominent speaker, 
on the same platform with Lincoln, before the 
first Republican State Convention held at Bloom- 
ington, in May, 1856, and serving as one of the 
Vice-Presidents of that body. In 1860 he was 
elected to the executive chair on the ticket 
headed by Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, 
and. by his energetic support of the National 
administration in its measures for the suppression 
of the Rebellion, won the sobriquet of "the Illi- 
nois War-Governor." In 1865 he was elected 
United States Senator, serving until 1871. He 
died suddenly, at St. Louis, Nov. 27, 1873, while 
returning from Arkansas, whither he had gone, 
as a United States Commissioner, by appointment 
of President Grant, to inspect a land-subsidy 
railroad. He was a man of rare ability, earnest- 
ness of purpose and extraordinary personal mag- 
netism, as well as of a lofty order of patriotism. 
His faults were those of a nature generous, 
impulsive and warm-hearted. 

YORKYILLE, the county-seat of Kendall 
County, on Fox River and Streator Division of 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 13 miles 
south we.st of Aurora; on interurban electric line; 
has water-power, electric lights, a bank, churches 
and weekly newspaper. Pop.(1890) 375; (1900), 413. 

YOU>'G}, Brigham, Mormon leader, was born 
at Whittingham. Vt., June 1, 1801, joined tlie 
Mormons in 1831 and, the next j'ear, became asso- 
ciated with Joseph Smith, at Kirtland, Ohio, and, 
in 1835, an "apostle." He accompanied a con- 
siderable body of that sect to Independence, Mo., 
but was driven out with them in 1837, settling 
for a short time at Quincy, 111., but later remov- 
ing to Nauvoo, of which he was one of the foun- 
ders. On the assassination of Smith, in 1844, he 
became the successor of the latter, as head of the 
Mormon Church, and, the following j-ear, headed 
the exodus from Illinois, which finally resulted in 
the Mormon settlement in Utah. His .subsequent 
career there, where he was appointed Governor 
by President Fillmore, and, for a time, success- 
fully defied national authority, is a matter of 
national rather than State historj-. He remained 
at the head of the Mormon Church until his 
death at Salt Lake City, August 29, 1877. 

YOUNG, Richard Montgomery, United States 
Senator, was born in Kentucky in 1796, studied 
law and removed to Jonesboro, 111. , where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1817; .served in the Second 



604 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



General Assembly (1830-22) as Representative 
from Union County ; was a Circuit Judge, 1823-27 ; 
Presidential Elector in 1828 ; Circuit Judge again, 
1829-37 ; elected United States Senator in 1837 as 
successor to W. L. D. Ewing, serving until 1843, 
when he was commissioned Justice of the Su- 
preme Court, but resigned in 1847 to become 
Commissioner of the General Land Office at 
Washington. During the session of ISoO-.'il, he 
served as Clerk of the National House of Repre- 
sentatives. Died, in an insane asylum, in "Wash- 
ington, in 1853. 

YOUNG MEX'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, 
first permanently organized at Chicago, in 1858, 
although desultory movements of a kindred char- 
acter had previously been started at Peoria, 
Quincy, Chicago and Springfield, some as early 
as 18.54. From 1858 to 1873, various associations 
were formed at different points throughout the 
State, which were entirely independent of each 
other. The first effort looking to union and 
mutual aid, was made in 1872, when Robert 
Weidensall, on behalf of the International Com- 
mittee, called a convention, to meet at Blooming- 
ton, November 6-9. State conventions have been 
held annually since 1873. In that of 1875, steps 
were taken looking to the appointment of a 
State Secretary, and, in 1876, Charles M. Morton 
assumed the office. Much evangelistic work was 
done, and new associations formed, the total 
number reported at the Champaign Convention, 
in 1877, being sixty-two. After one year's work 
Mr. Morton resigned tlie secretarysliip, the office 
remaining vacant for three years. The question 
of the appointment of a successor was discussed 
at the Decatur Convention in 1879, and, in April, 
1880, I. B. Brown was made State Secretary, and 
has occupied the position to the present time 
(1899). At the date of his appointment the 
official figures showed sixteen as.sociations in Illi- 
nois, with a total membership of 2,443. and prop- 
erty valued at $126,500, including building funds, 
the associations at Chicago and Aurora owning 
buildings. Thirteen officers were employed, 
none of them being in Chicago. Since 1880 the 
work has steadily grown, so that five Assistant 
State Secretaries are now employed. In 1886, a 
plan for arranging the State work under depart- 
mental administration was devised, but not put 
in operation until 1890. The present six depart- 
ments of supervision are: General Supervision, 
in charge of the State Secretary and his Assist- 
ants ; railroad and city work ; counties and 
towns; work among students; corresponding 
membership department, and office work. The 



two last named are under one executive head, 
but each of the others in charge of an Assistant 
Secretary, who is responsible for its development 
The entire work is under the supervision of a 
State Executive Committee of twenty-seven 
members, one-third of whom are elected annually. 
WilUs H. Herrick of Chicago has been its chair- 
man for several years. This body is appointed 
by a State convention composed of delegates 
from the local Associations. Of these there were, 
in October, 1898, 116, with a membership of 
15,888. The value of the property owned was 
§2,500,000. Twenty -two occupy their own build- 
ings, of which five are for railroad men and one 
for students. Weekly gatherings for young men 
numbered 248, and there are now representatives 
or corre.spondents in 665 communities where no 
organization has been effected. Scientific phys- 
ical culture is made a feature by 40 associations, 
and educational w-ork has been largely developed. 
The enrollment in evening classes, during 1898-99, 
was 978. The building of the Chicago branch 
(erected in 1893) is the finest of its class in the 
world. Recently a successful association has 
been formed among coal miners, and another 
among the first grade boys of the Illinois State 
Reformatory, while an extensive work has been 
conducted at the camps of the Illinois National 
Guard. 

ZANE, Charles S., lawyer and jurist, was born 
in Cumberland County, N. J., March 2, 1831, of 
English and New England stock. At the age of 
19 he emigrated to Sangamon County, lU., for a 
time working on a farm and at brick-making. 
From 1852 to '55 he attended McKendree College, 
but did not graduate, and, on leaving college, 
engaged in teaching, at the same time reading 
law. In 1857 he was admitted to the bar and 
commenced practice at Springfield. The follow- 
ing year he was elected City Attorney. He had 
for partners, at different times, William H. 
Herndon (once a partner of Abraham Lincoln) 
and Senator Shelby M. CuUom. In 1873 he was 
elected a Judge of the Circuit Court for the Fifth 
Judicial Circuit, and was re-elected in 1879. In 
1883 President Arthur appointed him Chief Jus- 
tice of Utah, where he has since resided, though 
superseded by tlie appointment of a successor by 
President Cleveland. At the first State elec- 
tion in Utah, held in November, 1895, he was 
chosen one of the Judges of the Supreme Court 
of the new Commonwealth, but was defeated 
for re-election, by his Democratic opponent, in 
1898. 




SCENES IN SOUTH PAKl 




WORLD'S FAIR BUILDINGS. 

The Peristyle. Administration Building. German Building 

The Fisheries. 



SUPPLEMENT. 



The following matter, received too late for insertion In tlie body of this worlc, is added In the form of a supplemeal. 



COGHLi-N, (Capt.) Joseph Bullock, naval 
officer, was born in Kentucky, and, at the age of 
15 years, came to IllinoLs, living on a farm for a 
time near Carlyle, in Clinton County. In 1860 he 
was appointed by his uncle, Hon. Philip B. 
Fouke — then a Representative in Congress from 
the Belleville District — to the Naval Academy at 
Annapolis, graduating in 1863, and being pro- 
moted through the successive grades of Ensign, 
Master, Lieutenant, Lieutenant-Commander, and 
Commander, and serving upon various vessels 
until Nov. 18, 189G, when he was commissioned 
Captain and, in 1897, assigned to the command 
of the battleship Ealeigh, on the Asiatic Station. 
He was thus connected with Admiral Dewey's 
squadron at the beginning of the Spanish- Ameri- 
can War, and took a conspicuous and brilliant part 
in the affair in Manila Bay, on May 1, 1898, which 
resulted in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. 
Captain Coghlan's connection with subsequent 
events in the Philippines was in the highest 
degree creditable to himself and the country. 
His vessel (the Raleigh) was the first of Admiral 
Dewey's squadron to return home, coming by 
way of the Suez Canal, in the summer of 1899, he 
and his crew receiving an immense ovation on 
their arrival in New York harbor. 

CRANE, (Rer.) James Lyons, clergyman, 
army chaplain, was born at Mt. Eaton, Wayne 
County, Ohio, August 30, 1823, united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Cincinnati in 
1841, and, coming to Edgar County, Illinois, in 
1843, attended a seminary at Paris some three 
years. He joined the Illinois Conference in 1846, 
and was assigned to the Danville circuit, after- 
wards presiding over charges at Grandview, Hills- 
boro, Alton, Jacksonville, and Springfield — at the 
last two points being stationed two or more 
times, besides serving as Presiding Elder of the 
Paris, Danville, and Springfield Districts. The 
importance of the stations which he filled during 
his itinerant career served as evidence of his 
recognized ability and popularity as a preacher. 



In July, 1861, he was appointed Chaplain of the 
Twenty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteers, at 
that time commanded by Ulysses S. Grant as 
Colonel, and, although he remained with the 
regiment only a few months, the friendship then 
established between him and the future com- 
mander of the armies of the Union lasted through 
their lives. This was shown by his appointment 
by President Grant, in 1869, to the position of 
Postmaster of the city of Springfield, which came 
to him as a personal compUment, being re 
appointed four years afterwards and continuing 
in olfice eight years. After retiring from tho 
Springfield postofiice, he occupied charges at 
Island Grove and Shelbyville, his death occurring 
at the latter place, July 29, 1879, as the result of 
an attack of paralysis some two weeks previous. 
Mx. Crane was married in 1847 to Miss Elizabeth 
Mayo, daughter of CoL J. Mayo — a prominent 
citizen of Edgar County, at an early day— his 
wife surviving him some twenty years. Rev. 
Charles A. Crane and Rev. Frank Crane, pastors 
of pi'ominent Methodist churches in Boston and 
Chicago, are sons of the subject of this sketch. 

DAWES, Charles Gates, Comptroller of tho 
Treasury, was born at Marietta, Ohio, August 27, 
1865; gradiiated from Marietta College in 1884, 
and from the Cincinnati Law School in 1886; 
worked at civil engineering during his vacations, 
finally becoming Chief Engineer of the Toledo & 
Ohio Railroad. Between 1887 and 1894 he waa 
engaged in the practice of law at Lincoln, Neb., 
but afterwards became interested in the gas busi- 
ness in various cities, including Evanston, IlL, 
which became his home. In 1896 he took a lead- 
ing part in securing instructions by the Republi- 
can State Convention at Springfield in favor of 
the nomination of Mr. McKinley for the Presi- 
dency, and during the succeeding campaign 
served as a member of the National RepubUoan 
Committee for the State of Illinois. Soon after 
the accession of President McKinley, he was 
appointed Comptroller of the Treasury, a position 



605 



606 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



•which he now holds. Mr. Dawes is the son of 
R. B. Dawes, a former Congressman from Ohio, 
and the great-grandson of Manasseh Cutler, who 
was an influential factor in the early history of 
the Northwest Territory, and has been credited 
with exerting a strong influence in shaping and 
securing the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787. 

DISTIN, (Col.) William L., former Depart- 
ment Commander of Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic for the State of Illinois, was born at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 9, 1843, his father being of 
English descent, while his maternal grandfather 
was a Colonel of the Polish Lancers in the army 
/if the first Napoleon, who, after the exile of his 
leader, came to America, settling in Indiana. 
Tlie father of the subject of this sketch settled at 
Keokuk, Iowa, where the son grew to manhood 
and in February, 1863. enlisted as a private in the 
Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, having been twice 
rejected previously on account of physical ail- 
ment. Soon after enlistment he was detailed for 
provost-marshal duty, but later took part with 
his regiment in tlie campaign in Alabama. He 
served for a time in the Fifteenth Army Corps, 
under Gen. John A. Logan, was subsequently 
detailed for duty on the Staff of General Raum, 
and participated in the battles of Resaca and 
Tilton, Ga. Having been captured in the latter, 
he was imprisoned successively at Jacksonville 
(Ga.), Montgomery, Savannah, and finally at 
Andersonville. From the latter he succeeded in 
effecting his escape, but was recaptured and 
returned to that famous prison-pen. Having 
escaped a second time by assuming the name of 
a dead man and bribing the guard, he was again 
captured and imprisoned at various points in Mis- 
sissippi until exchanged about the time of the 
assassination of President Lincoln. He was then 
so weakened by his long confinement and scanty 
fare that he had to be carried on board the 
steanier on a stretcher. At this time he narrowly 
escaped being on board the steamer Sultana, 
which was blown up below Cairo, with 2,100 
soldiers on board, a large proportion of whom lost 
their lives. After being mustered out at Daven- 
port, Iowa, June 28, 186.'), he was emploj-ed for a 
time on the Des Moines Valley Railroad, and as a 
messenger and route agent of the United States 
Express Company. In 1872 he established liim- 
self in business in Quincj', 111., in which he 
proved very successful. Here he became prom- 
inent In local Grand Army circles, and, in 1890, 
was unanimously elected Commander of the 
Department of Illinois. Previous to this he Ivad 
been an officer of the Illinois National Guard, and 



served as Aid-de-Camp, with the rank of 
Colonel, on the staff of Governors Hamilton, 
Oglesby and Fifer. In 1897 Colonel Distin was 
appointed by President McKinley Surveyor-Gen- 
eral for the Territory of Alaska, a position which 
(1899) he still holds. 

DUMMER, Henry E., lawyer, was born at 
Hallowell, Maine, April 9, 1808, was educated in 
Bowdoin College, graduating there in the class of 
1827, after which he took a course in law at Cam- 
bridge Law School, and was soon after admitted 
to the bar. Then, having spent some two years 
in his native State, in 1833 he removed to Illinois, 
settling first in Springfield, where he remained six 
years, being for a part of the time a partner of 
John T. Stuart, who afterwards became the first 
partner in law of Abraliani Lincoln. Mr. Dum- 
mer had a brother, Richard William Dummer, 
who had preceded him to Illinois, living for a 
time in Jacksonville. In 1838 lie removed to 
Beardstown, Cass County, wliich continued to be 
his home for more than a quarter of a century. 
During his residence there he served as Alder- 
man, City Attorney and Judge of Probate for 
Cass County ; also represented Cass County in the 
Constitutional Convention of 1847, and, in 1860, 
was elected State Senator in the Twenty-second 
General Assembly, serving four years. Mr. 
Dummer was an earnest Republican, and served 
that party as a delegate for the State-at-large to 
the Convention of 1864, at Baltimore, whicli 
nominated Abraham Lincoln for tlie Presidencj' a 
second time. In 1864 he removed to Jackson- 
ville, and for the next year was the law partner 
of David A. Smith, until the death of tlie latter 
in 1865. In the summer of 1878 Mr. Dummer 
went to Mackinac, Mich., in search of health, but 
died there August 12 of that j-ear. 

ECKELS, James H., ex-Comptroller of the 
Currency, was born of Scotch-Irish parentage at 
Princeton, III, Nov. 22, 18.58, was educated in 
the common schools and the high school of his 
native town, graduated from the Law School at 
Albany, N. Y., in 1881, and the following year 
began practice at Ottawa, 111. Here he con- 
tinued in active practice until 1893, when he was 
appointed by President Cleveland Comptroller of 
the Currency, serving until May 1, 1898. when he 
resigned to accept the presidency of the Com- 
mercial National Bank of Chicago. Mr. Eckels 
manifested sucli distinguished ability in the dis- 
charge of his duties as Comptroller that he 
received the notable compliment of being 
retained in office by a Republican administration 
more than a year after the retirement of Presi- 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



607 



dent Cleveland, while his selection for a place at 
the head of one of the leading banking institu- 
tions of Chicago was a no less marked recognition 
of his abilities as a financier. He was a Delegate 
from the Eleventh District to the National 
Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1893, and 
repiesented the same district in the Gold Demo- 
cratic Convention at Indianapolis in 1896, and 
assisted in framing the platform there adopted — 
which indicated his views on the financial ques- 
tions involved in the campaign of that year. 

FIELD, Daniel, early merchant, was born in 
Jefferson County, Kentucky, Nov. 30, 1790, and 
settled at Golconda, 111., in 1818, dying there in 
1855. He was a man of great enterprise, engaged 
in merchandising, and became a large land- 
holder, farmer and stock-grower, and an extensive 
shipper of stock and produce to lower Mississippi 
markets. He married Elizabeth Dailey of 
Charleston, Ind., and raised a large family of 
children, one of whom, Philip D., became Sheriff, 
while another, John, was County Judge of Pope 
County. His daughter, Maria, married Gen. 
Green B. Raum, who became prominent as a 
soldier during the Civil War and, later, as a mem- 
ber of Congress and Commissioner of Internal 
Revenue and Pension Commissioner in Wash- 
ington. 

FIELD, (Jreen B., member of a pioneer family, 
was born within the present limits of the State of 
Indiana in 1787, served as a Lieutenant in the 
War of 1813, was married in Bourbon County, 
Kentucky, to Miss Mary E. Cog.swell, the 
daughter of Dr. Joseph Cogswell, a soldier of the 
Revolutionary War, and, in 1817, removed to 
Pope County, Illinois, where he laid off the town 
of Golconda, which became the county-seat. He 
served as a Representative from Pope County in 
the First General Assembly (1818-20), and was 
the father of Juliet C. Field, who became the 
wife of John Raum; of Edna Field, the wife of 
Dr. Tarlton Dunn, and of Green B. Field, who 
was a Lieutenant in Third Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers during the Mexican War. Mr. Field 
was the grandfather of Gen. Green B. Raum, 
mentioned in the preceding paragraph. He died 
of yellow fever in Louisiana in 1823. 

GALE, Stephen Francis, first Chicago book- 
seller and a railway promoter, was born at 
Exeter, N. H., March 8, 1812; at 15 years of age 
became clerk in a leading book-store in Boston ; 
came to Chicago in 1835, and soon afterwards 
opened the first book and stationery establish- 
ment in that city, which, in after years, gained 
an extensive trade. In 1843 the firm of S. F. 



Gale & Co. was organized, but Mr. Gale, having 
become head of the Chicago Fire Department, 
retired from business in 1845 As early as 1846 
he was associated with W m. B. Ogden and John 
B. Turner in the steps tlien being taken to revive 
the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (now a 
part of the Chicago & Northwestern), and, in 
conjunction with these gentlemen, became 
responsible for the means to purchase the charter 
and assets of the road from the Eastern bond- 
holders. Later, he engaged in the construction 
of the branch road from Turner Junction to 
Aurora, became President of the line and e.\;- 
tended it to Mendota to connect with the Illinois 
Central at that Point. These roads afterwards 
became a part of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy line. A number of years ago Mr. Gale 
returned to his old home in New Hampshire, 
where he has since resided. 

HAY, John, early settler, came to the region of 
Kaskaskia between 1790 and 1800, and became a 
prominent citizen of St. Clair County. He was 
selected as a member of the First Legislative 
Council of Indiana Territory for St. Clair County 
in 1805. In 1809 he was appointed Clerk of the 
Common Pleas Court of St. Clair County, and 
was continued in office after the organization of 
ihe State Government, serving until his death at 
Belleville in 1845. 

HAYS, John, pioneer settler of Northwest Ter- 
ritory, was a native of New York, who came to 
Cahokia, in the "Illinois Country," in 1793, and 
lived there the remainder of his life. His early 
life had been spent in the fur-trade about Macki- 
nac, in the Lake of the Woods region and about 
the sources of the Slississippi. During the War 
of 1813 he was able to furnish Governor Edwards 
valuable information in reference to the Indians 
in the Northwest. He filled the office of Post- 
master at Caliokia for a number of years, and was 
Sheriff of St. Clair County from 1798 to 1818. 

MOULTON, (Col.) George M., soldier and 
building contractor, was born at Readsburg, Vt., 
March 15, 1851, came early in life to Chicago, and 
was educated in the schools of that city. By pro- 
fession he is a contractor and builder, the firm of 
which he is a member having been connected 
with the construction of a number of large build- 
ings, including some extensive grain elevators. 
Colonel Moulton became a member of the Second 
Regiment Illinois National Guard in June. 1884. 
being elected to the office of Major, which he 
retained until January, 1893, when he was 
appointed Inspector of Rifle Practice on the staff 
of General Wheeler. A year later he was cout 



608 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



missioned Colonel of the regiment, a position 
which he occupied at the time of the call by the 
President for troops to serve in the Spanish- 
American War in April, 1898. He promptly 
answered the call, and was sworn into the United 
States service at the head of his regiment early 
in May. The regiment was almost immediately 
ordered to Jacksonville, Fla., remaining there 
and at Savannah, Ga., until early in December, 
when it was transferred to Havana, Cuba. Here 
he was soon after appointed Chief of Police for 
the city of Havana, remaining in office until the 
middle of January, 1899, when he returned to his 
regiment, then stationed at Camp Columbia, near 
the city of Havaua. In the latter part of March 
he returned with his regiment to Augusta, Ga., 
where it was mustered out, April 26, 1899, one 
year from the date of its arrival at Springfield. 
After leaving the service Colonel Moulton 
resumed his business as a contractor. 

SHERMAN, Lawrence Y., legislator and 
Speaker of the Forty-first General Assembly, was 
Ijorn in Miami County, Ohio, Nov. 6, 1858 ; at 3 
years of age came to Illinois, liis parents settling 
at Industry, McDonough County. When he had 
reached the age of 10 years he went to Jasper 
County, where he grew to manhood, received his 
education ia the common schools and in the law 



department of McKendree College, graduating 
from the latter, and, in 1881, located at Macomb, 
McDonough County. Here he began his career 
by driving a team upon the street in order to 
accumulate means enabling him to devote his 
entire attention to his chosen profession of law. 
He soon took an active interest in politics, was 
elected County Judge in 1886, and, at the expira- 
tion of his term, formed a partnership with 
George D. Tunnicliffe and D. G. TunnicHffe, 
ex-Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1894 he was 
a candidate for the Republican nomination for 
Representative in the General Assembly, but 
withdrew to prevent a split in the party; was 
nominated and elected in 1896, and re-elected in 
1898, and, at the succeeding session of tlie 
Fort)'-first General Assembly, was nominated 
by the Republican caucus and elected Speaker, 
as he was again of the Forty-second in 1901. 

VIJfTARD, Philip, early legislator, was born 
in Pennsylvania in 1800, came to Illinois at an 
early day, and settled in Pope County, which he 
represented in the lower branch of the Thirteenth 
and Fourteenth General Assemblies. He married 
Miss Matilda McCoy, the daughter of a prominent 
Illinois pioneer, and served as Sheriff of Pope 
County for a nimiber of years. Died, at Grol' 
conda, in 186^ 



SUPPLEMENT NO. II. 



BLACK HAWK WAR, THE. The episode 
known in history under the name of "The Black 
Hawk War," was the most formidable conflict 
between the whites and Indians, as well as the 
most far-reaching in its results, that ever oc- 
curred upon the soil of Illinois. It takes its 
name from the Indian Chief, of the Sac tribe. 
Black Hawk (Indian name, Makatai Meshekia- 
kiak, meaning "Black Sparrow Hawk"), wlio 
was the leader of the hostile Indian band and a 
principal factor in the struggle. Black Hawk 
had been an ally of the British during the War 
of 1812-15, served with Tecumseh when the lat- 
ter fell at the battle of the Thames in 1813, and, 
after the war, continued to maintain friendly re- 
lations with his "British father.'' The outbreak 



in Illinois had its origin in the construction 
put upon the treaty negotiated by Gen. William 
Henrj' Harrison with the Sac and Fox Indians 
on behalf of the United States Government, No- 
vember 3, 1804, under which the Indians trans- 
ferred to the Government nearly 15,000,000 acres 
of land comprising the region lying between the 
Wisconsin River on the north, Fox River of Illi- 
nois on the east and southeast, and the Mississippi 
on the west, for which the Government agreed to 
pay to the confederated tribes less than $3,500 in 
goods and the insignificant sum of $1,000 per an- 
num in perpetuity. While the validity of the 
treaty was denied on the part of the Indians on the 
ground that it had originally been entered into by 
their cliiefs under duress, while held as prisoners 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



609 



under a charge of murder at Jefferson Barracks, 
during which they had been kept in a state of con- 
stant intoxication, it had been repeatedly reaf- 
firmed by parts or all of the tribe, especially in 
1815, in 1816, in 1822 and in 1823, and finally recog- 
nized by Black Hawk himself in i831. The part of 
the treaty of 1804 which was the immediate cause 
of the disagreement was that which stipulated 
that, so long as the lands ceded under it remained 
the property of the United States (that is, should 
not be transferred to private owners), ' the Indians 
belonging to the said tribes shall enjoy the priv- 
ilege of living or hunting upon them." Al- 
though these lands had not been put upon the 
market, or even surveyed, as "squatters" multi- 
plied in this region little respect was paid to the 
treaty rights of the Indians, particularly with 
reference to those localities where, by reason of 
fertility of the soil or some other natural advan- 
tage, the Indians had established something like 
permanent homes and introduced a sort of crude 
cultivation. This was especially the case with 
reference to the Sac village of "Saukenuk" ou 
the north bank of Rock River near its mouth, 
where the Indians, when not absent on the chase, 
had lived for over a centurj-, had cultivated 
fields of corn and vegetables and had buried their 
dead. In the earlj- part of the last century, it is 
estimated that some five hundred families had 
been accustomed to congregate here, making it 
the largest Indian village in the West. As early 
as 1823 the encroachments of squatters on the 
rights claimed by the Indians under the treaty 
of 1804 began; their fields were taken possession 
of by the intruders, their lodges burned and their 
women and children whipped and driven away 
during the absence of the men on their annual 
hunts. The dangers resulting from these con- 
flicts led Governor Edwards, as early as 1828, to 
demand of the General Government the expul- 
Bion of the Indians from Illinois, which resulted 
in an order from President Jackson in 1829 for 
their removal west of the Mississippi. On appli- 
cation of Col. George Davenport, a trader of 
much influence vpith the Indians, the time was 
extended to April 1, 1830. During the preceding 
year Colonel Davenport and the firm of Davenport 
and Farnham bought from the United States Gov- 
ernment most of the lands on Rock River occupied 
by Black Hawk's band, with the intention, as has 
been claimed, of permitting the Indians to remain. 
This was not so understood by Black Hawk, who 
was greatly incensed, although Davenport offered 
to take other lands from the Government in ex- 
change or cancel the sale — an arrangement to 



which President Jackson would not consent. On 
their return in the spring of 1830, the Indians 
found whites in possession of their village. Pre- 
vented from cultivating their fields, and their 
annual hunt proving unsuccessful, the following 
winter proved for them one of great hardship. 
Black Hawk, having made a visit to his " British 
father" (the British Agent) at Maiden, Canada, 
claimed to have received words of sympathy and 
encouragement, which induced him to determine 
to regain possession of their fields. In this he 
was encouraged by Neapope, his second in com- 
mand, and by assurance of support from White 
Cloud, a half Sac and half Winnebago — known 
also as " The Prophet " — whose village (Prophet's 
Town) was some forty miles from the mouth 
of Rock River, and through whom Black Hawk 
claimed to have leceived promises of aid in guns, 
ammunition and provisions from the British. 
The reappearance of Black Hawk's band in the 
vicinity of his old haunts, in the spring of 1831, 
produced a wild panic among the frontier settlers. 
Messages were hurried to Governor Reynolds, 
who had succeeded Governor Edwards in De- 
cember previous, appealing for protection against 
the savages. The Governor issued a call for 700 
volunteers " to remove the band of Sac Indians'' 
at Rock Island beyond the Mississippi. Al- 
though Gen. E. P. Gaines of the regular army, 
commanding the military district, thought the 
regulars sufficiently strong to cope with the situa- 
tion, the Governor's proclamation was responded 
to by more than twice the number called for. 
The volunteers assembled early in June, 1831, at 
Beardstown, the place of rendezvous named in 
the call, and having been organized into two regi- 
ments under command of Col. James D. Henry and 
Col. Daniel Lieb, with a spy battalion under Gen. 
Joseph Duncan, marched across the country and, 
after effecting a junction with General Gaines' 
regulars, appeared before Black Hawk's village on 
the 25th of June. In the meantime General 
Gaines, having learned that the Pottawatomies, 
Winnebagos and Kickajxjos had promised to join 
the Sacs in their uprising, asked the assistance of 
the battalion of mounted men previously offered 
by Governor Reynolds. The combined armies 
amounted to 2,500 men, while the fighting force 
of the Indians was 300. Finding himself over- 
whelmingly outnumbered. Black Hawk withdrew 
under cover of night to the west side of the Missis- 
sippi. After burning the village. General Gaines 
notified Black Hawk of his intention to pursue 
and attack his band, which had the effect to 
bring the fugitive chief to the General's head- 



610 



HISTORICAL EXCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



quarters, where, on June 30, a new treaty was 
entered into by wliich lie bound himself and his 
people to remain west of the Mississippi unless 
permitted to return by the United States. This 
ended the campaign, and the volunteers returned 
to their homes, although the affair had produced 
an intense excitement along the whole frontier, 
and involved a heavj- expense. 

The next winter was spent by Black Hawk and 
his band on the site of old Fort Madison, in the 
present State of Iowa. Dissatisfied and humil- 
iated by his repulse of the previous year, in disre- 
gard of his pledge to General Gaines, on April 6, 
1833, at the head of 500 warriors and their fam- 
ilies, he again crossed the Mississippi at Yel- 
low Banks about the site of the present city of 
Oquawka, fifty miles below Rock Island, with the 
intention, as claimed, if not permitted to stop at 
his old village, to proceed to the Prophet's Town 
and raise a crop with the Winnebagoes. Here he 
was met by The Prophet with renewed assurances 
of aid from the Winnebagoes, which was still 
further strengthened by promises from the Brit- 
ish Agent received through a visit by Neapope to 
Maiden the previous autumn. An incident of this 
invasion was the effective warning given to the 
white settlers by Shabona, a friendly Ottawa 
chief, which probably had the effect to prevent 
a widespread massacre. Besides the towns of 
Galena and Chicago, the settlements in Illinois 
north of Fort Clark (Peoria) were limited to some 
thirty families on Bureau Creek with a few 
cabins at Hennepin, Peru, LaSalle, Ottawa, In- 
dian Creek, Dixon, Kellogg's Grove, Apple Creek, 
and a few other points. Gen. Henry Atkinson, 
commanding the regulars at Fort Armstrong 
(Rock Island), having learned of the arrival of 
Black Hawk a week after he crossed the Missis- 
sippi, at once took steps to notify Governor Rey- 
nolds of the situation with a requisition for an 
adequate force of militia to cooperate «-ith the 
regulars. Under date of April 16, 1832, the Gov- 
ernor issued his call for "a strong detachment of 
militia " to meet by April 22, Beardstown again 
being named as a place of rendezvous. The call 
resulted in the assembling of a force which was 
organized into four regiments under command of 
Cols. John DeWitt, Jacob Fry. John Thomas and 
Samuel M. Thompson, together with a spy bat- 
talion under Maj. James D. Henry, an odd bat- 
talion under Maj. Thomas James and a foot 
battalion under Maj. Thomas Long. To these were 
subsequently added two independent battalions 
of mounted men, under command of Majors 
Isaiah Stillnmu and David Bailey, which were 



finally consolidated as the Fifth Regiment under 
command of Col. James Johnson. The organiza- 
tion of the first four regiments at Beardstown 
was completed by April 27, and the force under 
command of Brigadier-General Whiteside (but 
accompanied by Governor Reynolds, who was 
allowed pay as Major General by the General 
Government) began its march to Fort Armstrong, 
arriving there May 7 and being mustered into the 
United States service. Among others accompany- 
ing the expedition who were then, or afterwards 
became, noted citizens of the State, were Vital 
Jarrot, Adjutant-General; Cyrus Edwards, Ord- 
nance Officer; Murray McConnel, Staff Officer, 
and Abraham Lincoln, Captain of a company of 
volunteers from Sangamon County in the Fourth 
Regiment. Col. Zachary Taylor, then commander 
of a regiment of regulars, arrived at Foi:t Arm- 
strong about the same time with reinforcements 
from Fort Leavenworth and Fort Crawford. The 
total force of militia amounted to 1,935 men, and 
of regulars about 1,000. An interesting storj- is 
told concerning a speech delivered to the volun- 
teers by Colonel Taylor about this time. After 
reminding them of their duty to obey an order 
promptly, the future hero of the Mexican War 
added: " The safety of all depends upon the obe- 
dience and courage of all. You are citizen sol- 
diers; some of you may fill high offices, or even be 
Presidents some day — but not if you refuse to do 
your duty. Forward, march !" A curious com- 
mentary upon this speech is furnished in the fact 
that, while Taylor himself afterwards became 
President, at least one of his hearers — a volunteer 
who probably then had no aspiration to that dis- 
tinction (Abraham Lincoln) — reached the same 
position during the most dramatic period in the 
nation's history. 

Two days aifter the arrival at Fort Armstrong, 
the advance up Rock River began, the main force 
of the voUinteers proceeding by land under Gen- 
eral Whiteside, while General Atkinson, with 
400 regular and 300 volunteer foot soldiers, pro- 
ceeded by boat, carrying with him the artillery, 
provisions and bulk of the baggage. Whiteside, 
advanciilg by the east bank of the river, was the 
first to arrive at the Prophet's Town, which, 
finding deserted, he pushed on to Dixon's Ferry 
(now Dixon), where he arrived May 12. Here he 
found the independent battalions of Stillman and 
Bailey with ammunition and supplies of which 
Whiteside stood in need. The mounted battalions 
under command of Major Stillman, having been 
sent forward by Whiteside as a scouting party, 
left Dixon on the 13th and, on the afternoon of 



HISTOKICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



611 



the next day, went into camp in a strong position 
near the mouth of Sycamore Creek. As soon dis- 
covered, Black Hawk was in camp at the same 
time, as lie afterwards claimed, with about fort}' 
of his braves, on Sycamore Creek, three miles 
distant, while the greater part of his band were en- 
camped with the more war-like faction of the Pot- 
tawatomies some seven miles farther north on the 
Kishwaukee River. As claimed by Black Hawk 
in his autobiography, having been disappointed in 
his expectation of forming an alliance with the 
Winnebagoes and t)ie Pottawatomies, he had at 
this juncture determined to return to the west 
side of the Mississippi. Hearing of the arrival of 
Stillman's command in the vicinity, and taking 
it for granted that this was the whole of Atkin- 
son's command, he sent out three of his young 
men with a white flag, to arrange a parley and 
convey to Atkinson his offer to meet the latter in 
council. These were captured by some of Still- 
man's band regardless of their flag of truce, while 
a party of five other braves who followed to ob- 
serve the treatment received by the flagbearers, 
were attacked and two of their number killed, the 
the other three escaping to their camp. Black 
Hawk learning the fate of his truce party was 
aroused to the fiercest indignation. Tearing the 
flag to pieces with which he had intended to go 
into council with the whites, and appealing to his 
followers to avenge the murder of their comrades, 
he prepared for the attack. The rangers num- 
bered 2T.5 men, while Black Hawk's band has been 
estimated at less than forty. As the rangers 
caught sight of the Indians, they rushed forward 
in pell-mell fashion. Retiring behind a fringe 
of bushes, the Indians awaited the attack. As 
the rangers approached, Black Hawk and his 
party rose up with a war whoop, at the same time 
opening fire on their assailants. The further 
history of the affair was as much of a disgrace to 
StiUman's command as had been their desecra- 
tion of the flag of truce. Thrown into panic bj- 
their reception by Black Hawk's little band, the 
rangers turned and, without firing a shot, began 
the retreat, dashing through their own camp and 
abandoning everything, which fell into the hands 
of the Indians. An attempt was made by one or 
two officers and a few of their men to check the 
retreat, but without success, the bulk of the fu- 
gitives continuing their mad rush for safet}' 
through the night until they reached Dixon, 
twenty-five miles distant, while many never 
stopped until they reached their homes, forty 
or fifty miles distant. The casualties to the 
rangers amounted to eleven killed and two 



wounded, while the Indian loss consisted of two 
spies and one of the flag- bearers, treacherously 
killed near Stillman's camp, 'ihis ill-starred af- 
fair, which has passed into history as "Stillman's 
defeat," produced a general panic along the fron- 
tier by inducing an exaggerated estimate of the 
strength of the Indian force, wliile it led Black 
Hawk to form a poor opinion of the courage cf 
the white troops at the same time that it led to 
an exalted estimate of the prowess of his own 
little band — thus becoming an important factor 
in prolonging the war and in the bloody massacres 
which followed. Whiteside, with his force of 
1,400 men, advanced to the scene of the defeat 
the next day and buried the dead, while on the 
19th, Atkinson, witli his force of regulars, pro- 
ceeded up Rock River, leaving the remnant of 
Stillman's force to guard the wounded and sup- 
plies at Bixon. No sooner had he left than the 
demoralized fugitives of a few days before de- 
serted their post for their homes, compelling At- 
kinson to return for the protection of his base of 
supplies, while Whiteside was ordered to follow 
the trail of Black Hawk who had started up the 
Kishwaukee for the swamps about Lake Kosh- 
konong, nearly west of Milwaukee within the 
present State of Wisconsin. 

At this point the really active stage of the 
campaign began. Black Hawk, leaving the 
women and children of his band in the fastnesses 
of the swamps, divided his followers into two 
bands, retaining about 300 under his own com- 
mand, while the notorious half-breed, MikeGirty, 
led a band of one hundred renegadePottawatomies, 
Returning to the vicinity of Rock Island, he 
gathered some recruits from the Pottawatomies 
and Winnebagoes, and the work of rapine and 
massacre among the frontier settlers began. One 
of the most notable of these was the Indian 
Creek Massacre in LaSalle County, about twelve 
miles north of Ottawa, on May 21, when sixteen 
persons were killed at the Home of William 
Davis, and two young girls — Sylvia and Rachel 
Hall, aged, respectively, 17 and 1.5 years — were 
carried away captives. The girls were subse- 
quently released, having been ransomed for $2,000 
in horses and trinkets through a Winnebago 
Chief and surrendered to sub-agent Henry 
Gratiot. Great as was the emergency at this 
juncture, the volunteers began to manifest evi- 
dence of dissatisfaction and, claiming that they 
had served out their term of enlistment, refused 
to follow the Indians into the swamps of Wis 
consin. As the result of a council of war, the 
volunteers were ordered to Ottawa, where they 



612 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



were mustered out on May 28, by Lieut. Robt. 
Anderson, afterwards General Anderson of Fort 
Sumter fame. Meanwhile Governor Reynolds had 
issued his call (with that of 1831 tlie third,) for 
2,000 men to serve during the war. Gen. 
Winfield Scott was also ordered from the East 
with 1,000 regulars although, owing to cholera 
breaking out among the troops, they did not 
arrive in time to take part in the campaign. The 
rank and file of volunteers responding under the 
new call was 3,148, witli recruits and regulars 
then in Illinois making an army of 4,000. Pend- 
ing the arrival of the troops under the new call, 
and to meet an immediate emergency, 300 men 
were enlisted from the disbanded rangers for a 
period of twenty days, and organized into a 
regiment under command of Col. Jacob Fry, 
with James D. Henry as Lieutenant Colonel and 
John Thomas as Major. Among those who en- 
listed as privates in this regiment were Brig.- 
Gen. Whiteside and Capt. Abraham Lincoln. A 
regiment of five companies, numbering 195 men, 
from Putnam County under command of Col. 
John Strawn, and another of eight companies 
from Vermilion County under Col. Isaac R. 
Moore, were organized and assigned to guard 
duty for a period of twenty days. 

The new volunteers were rendezvoused at Fort 
Wilbourn, nearly opposite Peru, June 15, and 
organized into three brigades, each consisting of 
three regiments and a spy battalion. The First 
Brigade (915 strong ) was placed under command 
of Brig. -Gen. Alexander Posey, the Second 
under Gen. Milton K. Alexander, and the third 
under Gen. James D. Henry. Others who served 
as officers in some of these several organizations, 
and afterwards became prominent in State his- 
tory, were Lieut. -Col. Gurdon S. Hubbard of the 
VermiUon County regiment; John A. McClern- 
and, on the staff of General Posey ; Maj. John 
Dement ; then State Treasurer ; Stinson H. Ander- 
son, afterwards Lieutenant-Governor; Lieut.- 
Gov. Zadoc Casey; Maj., William McHenry; 
Sidney Breese (afterwards Judge of the State 
Supreme Court and United States Senator) ; W. 
L. D. Ewing (as Major of a spy battalion, after- 
wards United States Senator and State Auditor) ; 
Alexander W. Jenkins (afterwards Lieutenant- 
Governor) ; James W. Sample (afterwards United 
States Senator) ; and William Weatherford (after- 
wards a Colonel in the Mexican War), and many 
more. Of the Illinois troops, Posey's brigade 
was assigned to the duty of dispersing the Indians 
between Galena and Rock River, Alexander's sent 
to intercept Black Hawk up the Rock River, 



while Henry's remained with Gen. Atkinson at 
Dixon. During the next two weeks engage- 
ments of a more or less serious cliaractei ssere 
had on the Pecatonica on the southern border of 
the present State of Wisconsin ; at Apple River 
Fort fourteen miles east of Galena, which was 
successfully defended against a force under Black 
Hawk himself, and at Kellogg's Grove the next 
day (June 25), when the same band ambushed 
Maj. Dement's spy battalion, and cam« near in- 
flicting a defeat, which was prevented by 
Dement's coolness and the timely arrival of re- 
inforcements. In the latter engagement the 
whites lost five killed besides 47 horses which had 
been tethered outside their lines, the loss of the 
Indians being sixteen killed. Skirmishes also 
occurred with varying results, at Plum River 
Fort, Burr Oak Grove, Sinsiniwa and Blue 
Mounds — the last two within the present State of 
Wisconsin. 

Believing the bulk of the Indians to be camped 
in the vicinity of Lake Koshkonong, General 
Atkinson left Dixon June 27 with a combined 
force of regulars and volunteers numbering 2,600 
men — the volunteers being under the command 
of General Henry. They reached the outlet of the 
Lake July 2, but found no Indians, being joined 
two days later by General Alexander's brigade, and 
on the 6tli by Gen. Po.sey's. From here the com- 
mands of Generals Henry and Alexander were 
sent for supplies to Fort Winnebago, at the Port- 
age of the Wisconsin ; Colonel Ewing, with the 
Second Regiment of Posey's brigade descending 
Rock River to Dixon, Posey with the remainder, 
going to Fort Hamilton for the protection of 
settlers in the lead-mining region, while Atkin- 
son, advancing with the regulars up Lake Koshko- 
nong, began the erection of temporary fortifica- 
tions on Bark River near the site of the present 
village of Fort Atkinson. At Fort Winnebago 
Alexander and Henry obtained evidence of the 
actual location of Black Hawk's camp through 
Pierre Poquette, a half-breed scout and trader 
in the employ of the American Fur Company, 
whom they employed with a number of Winne- 
bagos to act as guides. From this point Alex- 
ander's command returned to General Atkinson's 
headquarters, carrying with tbem twelve day's 
provisions for the main army, while General 
Henry's(600strong). with Major Dodge's battalion 
numbering 150, with an equal quantity of supplies 
for themselves, started under the guidance of 
Poquette and his Winnebago aids to find Black 
Hawk's camp. Arriving on the 18th at the 
Winnebago village on Rock River where Black 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



613 



Hawk and his band liad been located, their camp 
was found deserted, the Winnebagos insisting 
that they had gone to Cranberry ( now Horicon) 
Lake, a half-day's march up the river. Messen- 
gers were immediately dispatched to Atkinson's 
headquarters, thirty-five miles distant, to ap- 
prise him of this fact. When they had proceeded 
about half the distance, they struck a broad, 
fresh trail, which proved to be that of Black 
Hawk's band headed westward toward the Mis- 
sissippi. The guide having deserted tliem in 
order to warn his tribesmen that further dis- 
sembling to deceive the whites as to 
the whereabouts of the Sacs was use- 
less, the messengers were compelled to follow 
him to General Henry's camp. The discovery pro- 
duced the wildest enthusiasm among the volun- 
teers, and from this time-events followed in rapid 
succession. Leaving as far as possible all incum- 
brances behind, the pursuit of the fii^^uives was 
begun without delay, the troops wadiug through 
swamps sometimes in water to their armpits. 
Soon evidence of the character of the flight the 
Indians were making, in the shape of exhausted 
horses, blankets, and camp equipage cast aside 
along the trail, began to appear, and strag.gling 
bands of Winnebagos, who had now begun to 
desert Black Hawk, gave information that the 
Indians were only a few miles in advance. On 
the evening of the 20th of July Henry's forces 
encamped at "The Four Lakes, " the present 
site of the city of Madison, Wis. , Black Hawk's 
force lying in ambush the same night seven or 
eight miles distant. During the next afternoon 
the rear-guard of the Indians under Neapope was 
overtaken and skirmishing continued until the 
bluffs of the Wisconsin were reached. Black 
Hawk's avowed object was to protect the passage 
of the main body of his people across the stream. 
The loss of the Indians in these skirmishes has 
been estimated at 40 to 68, while Black Hawk 
claimed that it was only six killed, the loss of 
the whites being one killed and eight wounded. 
During the night Black Hawk succeeded in 
placing a considerable number of the women and 
children and old men on a raft and in canoes 
obtained from the Winnebagos, and sent them 
down the river, believing that, as non-combat- 
ants, they would be permitted by the regulars 
to pass Fort Crawford, at the mouth of the Wis- 
consin, undisturbed. In this he was mistaken. 
A force sent from the fort under Colonel Ritner to 
intercept them, fired mercilessly upon the help- 
less fugitives, killing fifteen of their number, 
while about fifty were drowned and thirty-two 



women and children made prisoners. The re- 
mainder, escaping into the woods, with few ex- 
ceptions died from starvation and exposure, or 
were massacred bj' their enemies, the Menomi- i 
nees, acting under white officers. During the 
night after the battle of Wisconsin Heights, a 
loud, shrill voice of some one speaking in an un- 
known tongue was heard in the direction where | 
Black Hawk's band was supposed to be. This 
cau.sed something of a panic in Henry's camp, as 
it was supposed to come from some one giving 
orders for an attack. It was afterwards learned 1 
that the speaker was Neapope speaking in the | 
Winnebago language in the hope that he might j 
be heard by Poquette and the Winnebago guides, j 
He was describing the helpless condition of his j 
people, claiming that the war had been forced 
upon them, that their women and children were i 
starving, and that, if permitted peacefully to re- ' 
cross the Mississippi, they would give no further [ 
trouble. Unfortunately Poquette and the other 
guides had left for Fort Winnebago, so that no 
one was there to translate Neapope's appeal and 
it failed of its object. ' 

General Henry's force having discovered that the I 
Indians had escaped — Black Hawk heading with ' 
the bulk of his warriors towards the Mississippi — '. 
spent the next and day night on the field, but on 
the foUowingday (July 23) started to meet General 
Atkinson, who had, in the meantime, been noti- 
fied of the pursuit. The head of their columns 
met at Blue Mounds, the same evening, a com- 
plete junction between the regulars and the 
volunteers being effected at Helena, a deserted 
village on the Wisconsin. Here by using the 
logs of the deserted cabins for rafts, the army 
crossed the river on the 27th and the 28th and the 
pursuit of black Hawk's fugitive band was re-| 
newed. Evidence of their famishing condition' 
was found in the trees stripped of bark for food, 
the carcasses of dead ponies, with here and there 
the dead body of an Indian. ' 

On August 1, Black Hawk's depleted and famish-l 
ing band reached the Mississippi two miles belowl 
the mouth of the Bad Ax, an insignificant! 
stream, and immediately began trying to cross 
the river; but having only two or three canoes.i 
the work was slow. About the middle of the 
afternoon the steam transport, "Warrior," ap-i 
peared on the scene, having on board a score of 
regulars and volunteers, returning from a visits 
to the village of the Sioux Chief, Wabasha, td 
notify him that his old enemies, the Sacs, were 
headed in that direction. Black Hawk raised the 
white flag in token of surrender but the officer 



6U 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



in command claimiag that he feared treachery or 
an ambush, demanded that Black Hawk should 
come on board. This he was unable to do, as he 
had no canoe. After waiting a few minutes a 
murderous fire of canister and musketry was 
opened from the steamer on the few Indians on 
shore, who made such feeble resistance as they 
were able. The result was the killing of one 
white man and twenty -three Indians. After this 
exploit the "Warrior" proceeded to Prairie du 
Chien. twelve or fifteen miles distant, for fuel. 
During the night a few more of the Indians 
crossed the river, but Black Hawk, seeing the 
hopelessness of further resistance, accompanied 
by the Prophet, and taking with him a party of 
ten warriors and thirty-five squaws and children, 
fled in the direction of "the dells" of the Wis- 
consin. On the momingof the 2d General Atkinson 
arrived within four or five miles of the Sac 
position. Disposing his forces with the regulars 
and Colonel Dodge's rangersin the center.the brig- 
ades of Posey and Alexander on the riglit and 
Henry's on the left, he began the pursuit, but 
was drawn by the Indian decoys up tlie river 
from the place where the main body of the 
Indians were trying to cross the stream. This 
had the effect of leaving General Henry in the rear 
practically without orders, but it became the 
means of making his command the prime factors 
in the climax which followed. Some of the spies 
attached to Henry's command having accidental- 
ly discovered the trail of the main body of the fu- 
gitives, he began the pursuit without waiting for 
orders and soon found himself engaged with some 
300 savages, a force nearly equal to his own. It 
was here that the only thing like a regular battle 
occurred. The savages fought with the fury of 
despair, while Henry's force was no doubt nerved 
to greater deeds of courage by the insult which 
they conceived had been put upon them by Gen- 
eral Atkinson. Atkinson, hearing the battle in 
progress and discovering that he was being led 
off on a false scent, soon joined Henry's force 
with his main army, and the steamer " Warrior," 
arriving from Prairie du Chien, opened a fire of 
canister upon the pent-up Indians. The battle 
soon degenerated into a massacre. In the course 
of the three hours through which it lasted, it is es- 
timated that 150 Indians were killed by fire from 
the troops, an equal number of both sexes and 
all ages drowned while attempting to cross the 
river or by being driven into it, while about 50 
(chiefly women and children) were made prison- 
ers. The loss of the whites was 20 killed and 13 
wounded. When the "battle" was nearing its 



close it is said that Black Hawk, having repented 
the abandonment of his people, returned within 
sight of the battle-ground, but seeing the slaugh- 
ter in progress which he was powerless to avert, he 
turned and, with a howl of rage and horror, fled 
into the forest. About 300 Indians (mostly non- 
combatants) succeeded in crossing the river in a 
condition of exhaustion from hunger and fatigue, 
but these were set upon by the Sioux under Chief 
Wabasha, through the suggestion and agency of 
General Atkinson, and nearly one-half their num- 
ber exterminated. Of the remainder many died 
from wounds and exhaustion, while still others 
perished while attempting to reach Keokuk's band 
who had refused to join in Black Hawk's desper- 
ate venture. Of one thousand who crossed to the 
east side of the river with Black Hawk in April, 
it is estimated that not more than 150 survived 
the tragic events of the next four months. 

General Scott, having arrived at Prairie du Chien 
early in August, assumed command and, on 
August 15, mustered out the volunteers at Dixon, 
111. After witnessing the bloody climax at the 
Bad Axe of his ill-starred invasion. Black Hawk 
fled to the dells of the Wisconsin, where he and 
the Prophet surrendered themselves to the Win. 
nebagos, by whom they were delivered to the 
Indian Agent at Prairie du Chien. Having been 
taken to Fort Armstrong on September 21, he 
there signed a treaty of peace. Later he was 
taken to Jefferson Barracks (near St. Louis) in 
the custody of Jefferson Davis, then a Lieutenant 
in the regular army, where he was held a captive 
during the following winter. The connection of 
Davis with the Black Hawk War, mentioned by 
many historians, seems to have been confined to 
this act. In April, 1833, with the Prophet and 
Neapope, he was taken to Washington and then 
to Fortress Monroe, where they were detained as 
prisoners of war until June 4, when they were 
released. Black Hawk, after being taken to many 
principal cities in order to impress him with the 
strength of the American nation, was brought to 
Fort Armstrong, and there committed to the 
guardianship of his rival, Keokuk, but survived 
this humiliation only a few years, dying on a 
small reservation set apart for him in Davis 
County, Iowa, October 3, 1838. 

Such is the story of the Black Hawk War, the 
most notable struggle with the aborigines in Illi- 
nois history. At its beginning both the State 
and national authorities were grossly misled by 
an exaggerated estimate of the strength of Black 
Hawk's force as to nvunbers and his plans for 
recovering the site of his old village, while 



HISTOEICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



615 



Black Hawk had conceived a low estimate of the 
numbers and courage of liis white enemies, es- 
pecially after the Stillman defeat. The cost of 
the war to the State and nation in money has been 
estimated at $2,000,000, and in sacrifice of life 
on both sides at not less tlian 1,200. The loss of 
life by the troops in irregular skirmishes, and in 
massacres of settlers by the Indians, aggregated 
about 250, while an equal number of regulars 
perished from a visitation of cholera at the 
various stations within the district affected by 
the war, especiall)' at Detroit, Chicago, Fort 
Armstrong and Galena. Yet it is the judgment 
of later historians that nearly all this sacrifice of 
life and treasure might have been avoided, but 
for a series of blunders due to the blind or un- 
scrupulous policy of officials or interloping squat- 
ters upon lands which the Indians liad occupied 
under the treaty of 1804. A conspicious blunder — 
to call it by no harsher name — was 
the violation by Stillman's command of the 
rules of civilized warfare in the attack made 
upon Black Hawk's messengers, sent under 
flag of truce to request a conference to settle 
terms under which he might return to the west 
side of the Mississippi — an act which resulted in 
a humiliating and disgraceful defeat for its 
authors and proved the first step in actual war. 
Another misfortune was the failure to understand 
Neapope's appeal for peace and permission for his 
people to pass beyond the Mississippi the night 
after the battle of Wisconsin Heights; and the 
third and most inexcusable blunder of all, was' 
the refusal of the ofiicer in command of the 
" Warrior " to respect Black Hawk's flag of truce 
and request for a conference just before the 
bloody massacre which has gone into history 
under the name of the " battle of the Bad Axe." 
Either of these events, properly availed of, would 
have prevented much of the butchery of that 
bloody episode which has left a stain upon the 
page of history, although this statement implies 
no disposition to detract from the patriotism and 
courage of some of the leading actors upon whom 
the responsibility was placed of protecting the 
frontier settler from outrage and massacre. One 
of the features of the war was the bitter jealousy 
engendered by the unwise policy pursued by 
General Atkinson towards some of the volun- 
teers — especially the treatment of General James 
D. Henry, who, although subjected to repeated 
slights and insults, is regarded by Governor Ford 
and others as the real hero of the war. Too 
brave a soldier to shirk any responsibility and 
too modest to exploit his own deeds, he felt 



deeply the studied purpose of his superior to 
ignore him in the conduct of the campaign — a 
purpose which, as in the affair at the Bad Axe, 
was defeated by accident or by General Henry's 
soldierly sagacity and attention to duty, although 
he gave out to the public no utterance of com- 
plaint. Broken in health by the hardships and 
exposures of the campaign, he went South soon 
after the war and died of consumption, unknown 
and almost alone, in the city of New Orleans, less 
two years later. 

Aside from contemporaneous newspaper ac- 
counts, monographs, and manuscripts on file 
in public libraries relating to this epoch in State 
history, the most comprehensive records of the 
Black Hawk War are to be found in the ' ' Life of 
Black Hawk," dictated by himself (1834) ; Wake- 
field's "History of the War between the United 
States and the Sac and Fox Nations" (1834); 
Drake's" Life of Black Hawk" (1854); Ford's 
"History of Illinois" (1854); Reynolds' "Pio- 
neer History of Illinois; and "My Own Times"; 
Davidson & Stuve's and Moses' Histories of Illi- 
nois; Blanchard's "The Northwest and Chicago"; 
Armstrong's "The Sauks and the Black Hawk 
War, " and Reuben G. Thwaite's "Story of the 
Black Hawk War" (1892.) 

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, a village in the southern 
part of Cook County, twenty -eight miles south of 
the central part of Chicago, on the Chicago & 
Eastern Illinois, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern and 
the Michigan Central Railroads ; is located in an 
agricultural region, but has some manufactures 
as well as good schools — also has one newspaper. 
Population (1900), 5,100. 

GRANITE, a city of Madison County, located 
five miles north of St. Louis on the lines of the 
Burlington; the Chicago & Alton; Cleveland, 
Cincinuati, Chicago & St. Louis; Cliicago, Peoria 
& St. Loxiis (Illinois), and the Wabash Railways. 
It is adjacent to the Merchants' Terminal Bridge 
across the Mississippi and has considerable manu- 
facturing and grain-storage business; has two 
newspapers. Population (1900), 3,122. 

HABLEM, a village of Proviso Township, Cook 
County, and suburb of Chicago, on the line of the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, nine miles 
west of the terminal station at Chicago. Harlem 
originally embraced the village of Oak Park, now 
a part of the city of Chicago, but, in 1884, was set 
off and incorporated as a village. Considerable 
manufacturing is done here. Population (1900), 
4,085. 

HARVEY, a city of Cook County, and an im- 
portant manufacturing suburb of the city of Chi- 



616 



HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS. 



cago, three miles southwest of the southern city 
limits. It is on the line of the Illinois Central 
and the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railways, and 
has extensive manufactures of harvesting, street 
and steam railway machinery, gasoline stoves, 
enameled ware, etc. ; also has one newspaper and 
ample school facilities. Population (1900), 5,395. 

IOWA CENTRAL RAILWAY, a railway line 
having its principal termini at Peoria, 111., and 
Manly Junction, nine miles north of Mason City, 
Iowa, with several lateral branches making con- 
nections with Centerville, Newton, State Center, 
Story City, Algona and Northwood in the latter 
State. The total length of line owned, leased 
and operated by the Company, officially reported 
in 1899, was 508.98 miles, of which 89.76 miles- 
including 3.5 miles trackage facilities on the 
Peoria & Pekin Union between Iowa Junction 
and Peoria — were in Illinois. The Illinois divi- 
sion extends from Keithsburg — where it enters 
the State at the crossing of the Mississippi — to 
Peoria. — (History.) The Iowa Central Railway 
Company was originally chartered as the Central 
Railroad Company of Iowa and the road com- 
pleted in October, 1871. In 1873 it passed into 
the hands of a receiver and, on June 4, 1879, was 
reorganized under the name of the Central Iowa 
Railway Company. In May, 1883, this company 
purchased the Peoria & Farmington Railroad, 
which was incorporated into the main line, but 
defaulted and passed into the hands of a receiver 
December 1, 1886; the line was sold under fore- 
closure in 1887 and 1888, to the Iowa Central 
Railway Company, which had effected a new 
organization on the basis of $11,000,000 common 
stock, $6,000,000 preferred stock and $1,379,625 
temporary debt certificates convertible into pre- 
ferred stock, and §7,500,000 first mortgage bonds. 
The transaction was completed, tlie receiver dis- 
charged and the road turned over to the new 
company. May 15, 1889.— (Financial). The total 
capitalization of the road in 1899 was $31,337,5.58, 
of which $14,1.59,180 was in stock, $6,650,095 in 
bonds and $.528,283 in other forms of indebtedness. 
The total earnings and income of the line in Illi- 
nois for the same year were $532,568, and the ex- 
penditures $566,333. 

SPARTA, a city of Randolph County, situated 
on the Centralia & Chester and the Mobile & 
Ohio Railroads, twenty miles northwest of Ches- 
ter and fifty miles southeast of St. Louis. It has 



a number of manufacturing establishments, in- 
cluding plow factories, a woolen mill, a cannery 
and creameries; also has natural gas. The first 
settler was James McClurken, from South Caro- 
lina, who settled here in 1818. He was joined by 
James Armour a few years later, who bought 
land of McClurken, and together they laid out 
a village, which first received the name of Co- 
lumbus. About the same time Robert G. Shan- 
non, who had been conducting a mercantile busi- 
ness in the vicinity, located in the town and 
became the first Postmaster. In 1839 the name 
of the town was changed to Sparta. Mr. McClur- 
ken, its earliest settler, appears to have been a 
man of considerable enterprise, as he is credited 
with having built the first cotton gin in this vi- 
cinity, besides still later, erecting saw and flour 
mills and a woolen mill. Sparta was incorporated 
as a village in 1837 and in 1859 as a city. A col- 
ony of members of the Reformed Presbyterian 
Church (Covenanters or "Seceders") established 
at Eden, a beautiful site about a mile from 
Sparta, about 1822, cut an important figure in 
the history of the latter place, as it became the 
means of attracting here an industrious and 
thriving population. At a later period it became 
one of the most important stations of the "Under- 
ground Railroad" (so called) in Illinois (which 
see). The population of Sparta (1890) was 1,979; 
(1900), 3,041. 

TOLUCA, a city of Marshall County situated 
on the line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 
Railroad, 18 miles southwest of Streator. It is in 
the center of a rich agricultural district ; has the 
usual church and educational facilities of cities 
of its rank, and two newspapers. Population 
(1900), 3,629. 

WEST HAMMOND, a village situated in the 
northeast corner of Thornton Township, Cook 
County, adjacent to Hammond, Ind., from which 
it is separated by the Indiana State line. It is on 
the Michigan Central Railroad, one mile south of 
the Chicago City limits, and has convenient ac- 
cess to several other lines, including the Chicago 
& Erie; New York. Chicago & St. Louis, and 
Western Indiana Railroads. Like its Indiana 
neighbor, it is a manufacturing center of much 
importance, was incorporated as a village in 
1892, and has grown rapidly within the last few 
years, having a population, according to the cen- 
sus of 1900, of 2,935. 



Effingham County 




^•s-f 









EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUOrORY. 



SPIEIT WHICH ANIMATED EARLY SETTLEBS IN ILLI- 
NOIS GEIFFIN TIPSWOED THE FIEST WHITE SET- 
TLER IN EFFINGHAM COUNTY- — SETTLED AMONG 
THE INDIANS IN 1S14 — ORIGINAL NAME AND 

PERSONAL HISTORY OTHER EAELY COMEES AND 

EEMINISCENCES OF FEONTIEB LIFE. 

History continually repeats itself, and in noth- 
ing more than in the great migrations which 
take place from one section to another less civ- 
ilized. In the United States there has ever been 
that tendency to press for«-ard, even when there 
are serious dangers to be encountered, for the 
people are essentially home-seelvers and, when 
one locality becomes congested, the more adven- 
turous leave for those that promise better 
things. The settlere of Illinois were not in quest 
of gold, but of land whereon they might build 
homes for themselves, and those who came after 
them and in their work they accomplished more 
than their most sanguine expectations ever 
imagined. 

It is not the purpose of this work to deal with 
the State at large, but with that part of it which 
is embraced within the confines of Effingham 
County, one of the most fertile localities in the 
commonwealth. About 181-t Griffin Tipsword 
emigrated to this section of Illinois, taking up 
his residence among the Kickapoo Indians, who 
then occupied portions of the present counties 
of Fayette, Shelby and Effingham, and, without 
doubt, he was the first white settler. He came 
here from Virginia, and was a pioneer doctor 
and preacher. Utterly fearless in his dealings 
with the Indians, he ministered to their spir- 
itual and physical needs and gained their con- 



fidence and affection. His family name was 
Souards, but he changed it to Tipsword after 
he left Virginia, for reasons best known to him- 
self. 

Many entertaining accounts are given of this 
remarkable man, and his nephew, Moses Dot}-, 
who came to the county some years after him, 
pictures the mighty pioneer as one of the bene- 
factors of humanity. True it is that he under- 
stBod the nature of the Indian and saved the 
succeeding settlers much trouble. WTiat he told 
them to do, the Indians did. His death occurred 
in 1S45, and he was buried on the banks of 
Wolf Creek, his three sons, John, Isaac and 
Thomas, surviving him. No costly monument 
marks his last resting place ; but none is needed, 
for as long as Effingham exists, his work will 
live and his name be honored. 

John Tipsword married and became the father 
of Jackson, Griffin, Jei-usha, James and Carlin, 
all of whom married and had large families. 
Isaac Tipsword married Nancy Stanberry, and 
their children were : Isaac, Ashby, Sallie, Ruth, 
Thomas, Martha. Marion, John, William, Rebecca 
and Melissa, and these, too, all married and had 
many children. Thomas Tipsword was the 
father of Albert, Jonathan, Isaac, Jackson, Mil- 
lie, Lydia, Mary and Bell, and they, too, mar- 
ried and their descendants are to be found all 
over the county. 

It is claimed that Dr. John O. Soott was the 
first white man to kindle a fire within the con- 
fines of Effingham County, although there were 
others here before him. The following record 
is as authentic as can be gathered from material 
on hand. 

Griffin Tipsword and family in 1815 : 
Isaac Fancher and family in 182.5 : 
Ben Campbell, Jesse and Jack Fuller in 1826 : 
John O. Scott and Elliott and wife passed 
through in 1825. 

In 1828 came Thomas I. Crockett and family, 
Stephen Austin, Dick Robmson, John McCoy, 
Bud Moore and Richard Cohea, followed in 



618 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



1829 by Johu Broom, Jouathau Parkluirst, Beu 
Allen, Mrs. Charlotte Kepley, Jacob Nelson, 
Andrew Martin, Alexander Stewart, John Ingra- 
bam, Johu Trapp, Samuel Brattou, John Fair- 
lelgU, Alfred Warren, Amos Martin, old Auaty 
Bratton, Andrew Lilley, Henry Tucker, William 
Stephens, Alec Stewart, Bill Stewart and Jacob 
Nelson. 

In 1S30 came Jesse Surrells, T. J. Renfro, 
James Turner, Johu Allen, Micajah Davidson, 
Henry P. Bailey, George Neavills, Alexander 
MeWhorter, Jesse White, Enoch Neavills. 

The settlers in 1S31 were Jacob Slover, Isaac 
Slover, John Gallant, William Gallant; Sey- 
mour, Powell and Thomas Loy ; William J. Han- 
bins, the Hutchinsous and John Galloway. 

This shows there were fifty-one families lo- 
cated within Effingham County before February 
15, 1831, when the county was organized by 
act of the Legislature. 

These people were in settlements in Blue 
Point, on Fulfer Creek, the Wabash River, 
Brockett's Creek, and Union Township. 

One of the most important of the early 
pioneers was Ben Campbell, who located here 
in 1826. He was a typical pioneer, rough in 
appearance and speech but possessed of sterling 
traits of character, able and willing to do the 
work of many and fearless iu his actions. He 
was a great fighter and hunter, and was always 
to be seen with his gun and clothing made of 
skins, -with a close fitting red bonnet, which 
he never removed. His death occurred on 
Christmas Day, 1856, when he was riding on 
horseback, and his grave is unmarked, but his 
memory lives, and bis deeds are recounted, 
and his jokes remembered, although many who 
could lay claim to higher things are forgotten. 



CHAPTER II. 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



DATE OP ORGANIZATION COUNTIES OF WHICH 

EFFINGHAM HAS FORMED A PART AT DIFFERENT 

PERIODS AREA AND BOUNDARIES- — TOPOGRAPHY 

— STREAMS — INDIAN REUCS MINERAL RE- 



SOURCES COAL, BUILDING BOCK AND MINERAL 

WATERS — EWINGTON THE FIRST COUNTY SEIAT 

REMOVAL TO EFFINGHAM — SOME FIRST EVENTS 

FIRST LAND DEED, FIRST MARRIAGE AND FIRST 
SCHOOL. 

Etfingham County was created by act of the 
State Legislature February 15, 1831, out of the 
eastern portion of Fayette County and a tier of 
three townships from the western portion of 
what was then Crawford County. The terri- 
tory which it comprises had previously consti- 
tuted successively parts of the following coun- 
ties: Knox County (which theu included East- 
em Illinois and Western Indiana), 1790 to 1801; 
St. Clair County, 1801 to 1812 ; Madison County, 
1812 to 1815; Edwards County, 1815 to 1816; 
Crawford Countj-, 1816 to 1821, with the excep- 
tion of three half-towuships on its northern bor- 
der, theu embraced in Crawford County ; and 
finally Fayette and Crawford Counties, 1821 to 
1831. 

Area and Boundaries. — The area, as defined 
by the act of February 15, 1831, creating the 
county, is described as follows : 

"Beginning at the northwest corner of Jasiier 
County, running south with the line thereof to 
the southeast c-orner of Township No. 6 ; thence 
with the line dividing Townships 5 and 6 to the 
northwest corner of Township 5 North, in Range 
4 East ; thence north with the township lines to 
the northwest comer of Section 19 of Town- 
ship 9 North, Range 4 East ; thence east with 
the section line to the northeast corner of Sec- 
tion 24, Range 6 East, thence south with the 
township line to the southeast comer of Town- 
ship 9 North ; thence east to the northeast 
corner of Township 8 North, Range 7 East, and 
thence south with the range line to the place of 
beginning." 

As thus defined the county embraces twelve 
entire congressional townships — Towns 6 to 8 
North (inclusive) from south to north, and 
Ranges 4 to 7 East, from west to east, with a 
tier of three half townships on its northern 
border adjoining Shelby County, making a total 
of thirteen and one-half congressional townshii>s 
— an area of 486 square miles, which has re- 
mained unchanged since the date of organization. 
This area is divided into fifteen Incorporated 
townships under the general Township Organi- 
zation Act, which are treated separately in 
another chapter under the head, "Township His- 



I 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



619 



tory." The county is bounded on the north by 
Fayette and Cumberland Counties, on the 
east by Cumberland and Jasper, south by Clay 
and Fayette and west by Fayette County. 

Streams — Topography.- — The county is about 
equally divided by the Little Wabash River, 
while in the eastern ijortiou are the Lucas, Big 
Bishop, Little Bishop and Ramsey Creeks, Big 
and Little Salt Creeks, Brush Creek. Green 
Creek and Sugar Fork ; and in the western por- 
tion Fulfer and Limestone Creeks, Big and 
Brockett's Creeks, Second Creek, Funkhouser, 
Blue Point and Shoal Creeks and Green and 
Moccasin Creeks. 

When the first settlers came into the county 
they found about half of it swamp land and 
practically useless, becau.se of the water lying 
upon it a large part of the year. Now, through 
the magnifieent drainage system that has been 
developed, all of this land has been redeemed 
and produces astonishing crops. Then the 
higher surfaces were covered with white and 
burr-oaks, hickory and post-oaks. There is some 
Tolling land in the county and several marked 
elevations, notably Blue Mound, in the eastern 
part of the county, and a low ridge near JIason. 

Curious graves, containing relics of Indians, 
have been found in the extreme southern part of 
the county, along the Wabash River. 

Mineral Resources. — There are indica- 
tions that coal will be found at some distant day, 
but as yet none has been discovered for mining 
purposes. Iron ore has been found in different 
parts of the count.v. especially in the neighbor- 
hood of the mouth of Big Creek. 

Building stone is found on Sugar Creek and 
Green Creek, and there is a quarry of excellent 
gray sandstone on Salt Creek Bluffs ; on Shoal 
Creek, Fulfer Creek, Ramsey Creek and Big 
Creek there is a good quality of sandstone. A 
large portion of the stone u.sed on the National 
Road was obtained from the limestone quaiTies 
on Limestone, Fulfer and Big Creeks. 

Effingham County is well supplied with min- 
eral waters, as would be exjiected from the 
presence of limestone. Douglas. Watson, Mason, 
and Jackson Townships contain springs that 
possess excellent medicinal qualities. Some of 
these are iron, others sulphur springs, and in 
olden times the Indians, who perhaps under- 
stood their properties better than their white 
successors, used to frequent them. 

However, EfHngliam is e.ssentially an agricul- 
tural county. The soil is peculiarly adapted to 



the growing of wheat and corn, and since the 
redemption of the low lands through drainage, 
its .soil is of unrivaled richness and blackness. 

County-seat.— John Haley, James Galloway 
and John Hall were appointed by the Act creat- 
ing Effingham County in 1831, commissioners to 
select the location of the county-seat, and they 
located it at Ewington and a court house was 
built by Hankins & Cartwright, at a contract 
price of $580.371,4. In 18C0, nearly thirty years 
after its establishment at Ewington, the county- 
seat was removed by the vote of the people to 
Effingham, which was considered more central, 
and there it has since remained. Ewington at 
that time had a population of about 200. while 
Effingham (originally called Broughton) was 
still a very small village. The county buildings 
are excellent, and add much to the beauty and 
dignity of Effingham, the largest and most sub- 
stantial of the congested districts of Effingham. 

Some First Events. — The first deed recorded 
in Effingham County was dated on February 
27, 1833, and bears the names of Isaac Fancher 
and his wife Amy, who transferred farm land to 
T. J. Gillenwaters. During the first year of the 
county's existence, the entire revenue from taxes 
was but $50. The heaviest tax-payer during 
1837 was John Fiuikhouser, who paid $5. The 
first marriage license issued bears the date of 
January 21, 1833, and was for James C. Haden 
and Nancy Nesbitt. 

The first school taught in Effingham was that 
of Elisha Parkhurst, who established' it in 1831, 
when he was only twelve years old. Thomfis I. 
Brockett established a school, and the twelve- 
year old lad was followed by Dr. John Gillen- 
waters. In 1838 John Funkhouser was elected 
School Oommi.ssioner for the county, and during 
that year $103.10 was paid out for teachers in 
the entire county. 

Judge William J. Hankins was one of the 
earliest la\\Ters of Effingham County, others are 
mentioned in the various townships wherein ttiey 
settled. 



CHAPTER III. 



EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 



CONDITIONS AND MODES OF LIFE IN PIONEER DAYS 
— EARLY SETTLEMENT.S — MEETINGS OF OLD SET- 



620 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



TLEBS' ASSOCIATION REMINISCENCES OF SOME 

OF ITS MEMBEES — -WOLF CREEK, GREEN CREEK, 
LIMESTONE CREEK, FREEMANTON AND ELLIOTTS- 
TOWN SETTLEMENTS — LETTERS AND SPEECHES 

INCIDENTS OF LOCAL AND GENERAL COUNTY 
HISTORY. 

To those of the present generation the details 
of pioneer life seem imjwssible. The traveler 
through the fertile I'arming districts of Effing- 
ham County finds it difficult to realize that, 
scarcely half a century ago, this land was almost 
a wilderness. Log-houses sheltered but imper- 
fectly the people, who were content to plant bits 
of land, although they might be the owners of 
whole sections. Here and there was a primitive 
schoolhouse, usually used for church purposes as 
well. Wild game was plentiful, and the wood- 
man's gun was an imiwrtant adjunct to the 
housekeeping outfit, for by means of it the 
housewife could have her larder supplied with 
game. The roads were miserable, the settle- 
ments few and far between, and the comforts 
of life unknown. 

The settlers who came into the county from 
the earliest .settlements until long after the es- 
tablishment of the railroad, made the trip with 
wagons, drawn sometimes by oxen and at other 
times, when they were a little better off, by 
horses. The timbered regions were preferred 
because of the necessity for wood, and here in 
the midst of dense forests, tangled with under- 
growth, the little log-house was erected, the only 
light coming from the swinging door on its 
leather hinges. A mud fireplace sheltered the 
huge logs, and in its embers the housewife 
cooked the frugal meals. And yet there come 
down to us accounts of good cheer, boundless 
hospitality, great deeds, wonderful courage, and, 
above all, a compassionate Christianity, that 
oannot be equaled today. Whenever these 
I>ioneers were called upon, they responded in a 
remarkable manner. These pioneers reared 
large families, and but few of these children 
of the frontier turned out badly. They made 
the best of their limited opiwrtunities, learned 
to work hard and to save their scanty earnings, 
continually investing in land, that eventually 
was destined to repay them many-fold for their 
efforts. Lacking, though, the founders of Effing- 
ham County may have been in many things, 
they had plenty of courage, endurance and pa- 
tience; they knew how to work hard and to a 



purijose, and those who have sprung from their 
loins need have no hesitation in claiming for 
them the honor that is most justly their honest 
due. 

The following sketches of the more important 
early settlement in Effingham County are 
taken, in somewhat c-ondensed form, from 
articles read at different meetings before the 
Effingham Old Settlers' Association, for which 
the publishers are indebted to D. H. Wright, 
.Secretary of the Association : 

WOLF CREEK SETTLEMENT. 
(By G. W. Tipsword. VMS.) 
According to the most reliable authority, this 
locality was first invaded by the white race of 
that adventurous creaure known as man, about 
1814 or 1815, in the person of Griffin Tipsword. 
Further than this we know not, until in the 
■30s. Then we begin to learn of such sterling 
and noble characters as the I'owells, Coxes, 
John Scully, Benjamin Griffith, Barr, Pullen, 
Dutton, Allen and Elisha Howard, A. J. Gilbert, 
Isaac D. Sidwell, John D. Acres, Daniel White, 
John Myers, the Cunninghams and Olingers, Ly- 
man Pratt. Edward and Samuel Mahan, Alfred 
McCann, Dickey Reynolds, Henry Copeland, 
Joseph and Thomas Dowty, William Stamer, 
Walker D. Gossage, the descendants of Griffin 
Tipsword, and many others. These people came 
from various European countries and from the 
Buckeye, Hoosier and Southern States. 

Wolf Creek Precinct was formed June .3, 1839, 
and was known as the Third Justice's District. 
The place designated for holding general elec- 
tions was at the house of Isaac Tipsword, near 
Wolf Creek, on the south bank, in Town 8 
North. Range 4 East of the Third Principal 
Meridian. It comprised all that part of Effing- 
ham County lying north of the National Road 
and west of the middle of Grand Prairie. In 
August, 1840, the first election was held. Walker 
D. Gossage, William Starner and John Tip- 
sword being judges. They received $1.00 each 
for their services, and Mr. Gossage received 72 
cents for carrying the poll back to Ewington, 
at that time the county-seat. The last election 
held in this precinct was in November, 1860. 
Then followed township organization and the 
formation of Moccasin and Liberty Townships, 
which include all the territory once comprising 
Wolf Creek Precinct. 

June 3, 18.39. the first Board of School Trus- 
tees for Town 8 North, Range 4 East (which 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



621 



Is Moccasin Township), was appointed, and the 
members were Walljer D. GJossage, John Lyles 
and Thomas Tipsword. The first entry of land 
in this precinct was made by Isaac D. Sidwell, 
on the east % of the southwest Vi of Section 30, 
To\Tn 9 North, Range 4 East. March 1, 1837. 
Then followed John Tipsword. southwest M of 
the northeast Vt of Section 32. Town 9 North. 
Range 4 East. October 20, 183S ; by John Scully 
the east Va of the southwest Vi of Section 5, 
Town 8 North, Range 4 East, November 26, 
1839; by Isaac Tipsword the northeast M of the 
northwest % and part of southeast % of Sec- 
tion 5, Town 8 North, Range 4 East, January 23, 
1839 ; on the same date S. B. Sturgeon entered 
land in Section 21. Town 9 North, Range 4 East, 
in 1S39 ; A. W. Hopt. in Section 19, Towi 9 Noi-th, 
Range 4 East, in 1838; and John Acres in Sec- 
tion 23, same town, November 8, 1838. We find 
from an examination of the entr.v records that, 
at the formation of this precinct, there were per- 
haps more entries of land made there than in 
any other portion of the county. 

In June. 1840. Walker D. Gossage was ap- 
pointed the first Assessor of the precinct, and 
the same year was appointed Supervisor of 
Roads, and allowed $5.00 in full for his services 
as Supervisor during that year. The total 
amount of taxes upon all the property in the 
^ounty, in 1840. was $193.3.3-1/3. 

March G. 1S4G. the territory now comprising 
Moccasin Township was formed into one road 
district, No. 4, and John Scully was the first 
Supervisor. All able-bodied men over twenty- 
one and under fifty years of age were required 
to perform four days' labor on the public roads 
each year. June 'j. 1849. the road running from 
Freemanton northwest to the "mouth" of Lor- 
ton's Lane, on the county line between Effing- 
ham and Fayette Counties, was ordered by the 
Court and (so far as the writer can learn) was 
the first public road in this precinct. The same 
day this action was taken the County Commis- 
sioners' Court allowed D. W. Powell .$f5.00 for 
wolf-scalps. He later removed to Altamont. 

Among others following those alread.v men- 
tioned were : William Getz. Senas Spore. Ben- 
jamin .Tones. John and Wendell Hotz. William 
and Samuel Garrison. William Owens. Anthony 
Grant. Douglas Larimore, the Sweazeys, John 
Alsop, George Eceles, Thomas Tennery, S. D. 
Lorton, L. R. McMurry. W. B. Metham. Dr. 
John Wills, Moses and Pickett Dowty, John 
Scoles, the Bodkins family. Gabriel McKinzey, 



the Townsend family, Thomas Perrj-, Thomas 
Patterson, Parker Davidson, G. W. Harrison, 
Henderson Gillmore, James Gilstrap, Abram 
and James Force, the Loekards, Mordecai Yar- 
nall, Jonathan Smith, Henry Yunker, John T. 
Frazey, G. W. Barcus, Edwin Buckley, Peter 
Campbell, Arema Clark, Isham Jennings. Samuel 
Jones, a Mr. Hedge. Stacy Lawyer, and many 
others who furnished brave sons to do patriotic 
duty in the '60s. 

Perhaps the first schoolhouse in this precinct 
was situated on Section 17. Town 8 North, 
Range 4 East, and was built of logs. It was 
replaced by another log building located on the 
same section of land, but further north, and in 
this house the writer first attended school, in t^e 
'50s. About this time there was another school- 
house built north of where Beecher City now 
stands, known as the Eceles School. There was 
also- -one farther up the creek, known as the 
Bar School. 

The first church building erected in tl.e pre- 
cinct was located on the north line of ijectioa 
17. Town 8 North. R<inge 4 East, near the 
center east and west, and it is still used for 
worship. It was built in the '50s, and is known 
as Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. 

We remember many difficulties and hardships 
that all, in a measure, were compelled to endure. 
The iX)st-office was at Freemanton and the doc- 
tor, too; the grist mills at Shelbyville and Teu- 
topolis; our markets were distant and many 
took their produce to St. Louis and Terre Hante 
in wagons. Yet, with all our disadvantages and 
drawbacks, civilization has steadily moved on 
and developed a mo.st generous and hospitable 
people and a country second to none for iieni.e, 
health and happiness. We should contiiuie to 
let fond memories cling to the past in remem- 
brance of the old settlers. 

Perhaps S. R. Powell, gi-andfather of the 
writer, was the first carpenter in this territory ; 
he came fom Tennessee to Vandalia. in 1829. 
and a few years later settled in what is now 
Moccasin Township. Daniel White is supt)osed 
to have been the first blacksmith, unless it 
should have been the father of Captain T. H. 
Dobbs. Ben.iamiu Griffith was the first chair- 
maker and Mr. Hedge the only hat-maker ever 
located in this territor.v. John Hubbartt, 
Douglas Larimore and L. R. McMurry brought 
the first threshing machines, known as "chaff 
fillers." but it remained for A. S. Moore, later a 
resident of Effingham, to bring into the precinct 



622 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



the first threshing machine known as a "sep- 
arator." L. R. McMurry, who came from Mar- 
shall County, 111., along in the '50s, and bought 
a large iwdy of land and at that time, we think, 
was the largest farmer iu the ijreciuct. He 
brought in the first reaping machine, whieh was 
a self-raker, knoi^ii as the Atkins Pateur, and 
it was, indeed, a wonder for us "natives" to 
gaze at. W. B. Matthews followed soon after, 
with a combined reaper and mower, known as 
the John H. Manny Patent. Then followed Joliu 
T. Frazey, with the Illinois harvester, and Ashby 
Tlpsword, with the John P. Manny com- 
bined reaper and mower. Samuel Jones brought 
the first steam grist and saw mill into the pre- 
cinct, and ran it successfully for many years. 

Abner Dutton, we think, was the pioneer 
store-keeper in this territory. His store was 
located near Jones' Mill, one-half mile west 
of where the Village of Moccasin now is. Sam- 
uel Jones was the first Postmaster and the post- 
office was called Moccasin. This was near his 
mill, and when first begun, the route gave mail 
each way one day iu the week ; later, mail came 
from each way two days in the week. This 
was along a pony route, running from Free- 
mantown to Greenland, better known as Bob 
Done, a village long since extinct. Joseph 
Stevenson was the mail-can'ier from the forma- 
tion of the route until it was abandoned in 1871, 
when the railroad invaded this precinct. This 
railroad was the present Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern, the first railroad to pass through 
this comer of the county. 

Much might be said of the sterling worth, not 
only of these we have mentioned, but many 
others that identified themselves in making the 
early history of the Wolf Creek Settlement, but 
space and time forbid further review on this 
occasion. The writer well remembers the fea- 
tures of the majority of those we have men- 
tioned, and can vouch for their valuable a.s- 
sistance in bringing about the pleasant sur- 
roundings which we all, we trust, gladly enjoy 
this day. The writer believes he can justly 
claim the distinction of pioneer stock, being a 
lineal descendant, in the fourth generation, of 
the first white man in the county. 

GREEN CREEK SETTLEMENT. 
(By Anton Jansen, 1905.) 
The Green Creek Settlement, in the real sense, 
is identified with the Teutoiwlis Settlement. The 



verj- first white settlers in the vicinity of 
Green Creek were Americans, commonly called 
Yankees, but who emigrated from some of the 
Southern States, most of them from Tennessee. 
The first of whom there is any record is Rich- 
ard Cohea, who came as early as 1827 and 
settled on the banks of Green Creek, in Section 
32, on a little round hill, but next to a spring 
whieh was all people looked for ; wherever they 
found a good spring there was a good place to 
settle down. The next man to come was .\lex 
Stewart, who came a few years later and settled 
one-half mile from Richard Cohea, on the west 
side of the creek. A few years later came 
William Dunham, who settled on the north side 
of the creek (where it runs a more easterly and 
westerly course), about one mile northeast of 
Mr. Cohea ; with him came John Hooten, who 
settled a mile and a quarter southeast of Dun- 
ham, near a little creek called Sugar Fork, a 
tributary of Green Creek. Some time after 
John and Nell Lankford came, settling north- 
west of all the others, nearer the Little Wabash 
River. All of them came from Tennessee. 

James Ramsey came iu 1830, settling on the 
Waijash River, in Section 19; he was the first 
one that owned or built a mill of any capacity. 
The first he had was a horse-power mill, but 
after operating that a few years, he began to 
build a water mill on the Wabash, to which 
people came from all the surrounding country 
to have their grain ground. Cohea had 
brought a hand-power mill with him and con- 
templated building a water mill, but when 
Ramsey began to build his on the Wabash, the 
neighborhood concluded that would be a better 
location than Green Creek, on account of having 
a more constant water supply. Cohea aban- 
doned his own plans and he, as well as the 
entire settlement, helped build Ramsey's. At 
this water mill the old settlers would come 
together from near and far and have a good 
time. This .settlement later on develoijed into 
what was more familiarly known as "Bull 
Flat.'' (This information is mostly obtained 
from John R. Cohea, a grandson of Richard 
Cohea. ) 

The settlement of Green Creek by the Ger- 
mans began as early as 18.37. when H. H. Nie- 
man, Bernard Tebbe and Jacob Doedtman came 
with other immigrants, from Cincinnati, to 
Iniild up the colony at Teutopolis. Some of 
tliose who came with them went southeast to 




lJ^~^,^T_^/ ^.yL^T^'lAJyL/ 



a 



c 




I 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



623 



Bishop, while these others came to the Green 
Creeic Settlement. Nieman bought out John 
Hooten — i. e., the little improvements in the 
way of buildings, etc., he had made, as at that 
time nobody owned laud. Tebbe an Doedtman 
built their own cabins. In December, 1839, my 
grandfather, J. B. Brummer, came with his 
family (wife and one daughter, my mother), 
and bought the cabin Richard Cohea had bUilt 
In 1827. With them came the Surs, who settled 
about one-half mile east of them, on the same 
side of the creek. In ISIO Richard Lohman 
came and Iwught William Dunham's few im- 
provements ; with him came Henry Hollera, who 
settled about a quarter-mile east of hinu 
About the same time came William and Dick 
Kabbes, Bernard Arns and Peter Thoele; these 
four settled about two and one-half miles north- 
east of the others. Joe Woerman and Herman 
Siemer settled near the north county line. Soon 
after them came a Mr. Remme, who had a 
family, and with him came three bachelors — ■ 
Fisher, Osterhaus and Doreukamp ; these three 
built their log cabin together in a hollow, or 
branch, as some call it, about one-half mile 
east of where the Green Oreek church now 
stands. They built in the low place to overcome 
the hard work of lifting the logs up on the 
building ; they had the advantage of rolling 
them down. Remme built a little farther north- 
west. 

In 1841 my father, Anthony B. Jansen, came 
to stay, as he had been here previously on a 
visit to his father, who had .settled east of 
TeutoiX)lis. About the same time Henry Dust 
came to stay ; he had been here some years 
before and entered the piece of land he wanted 
to settle on, which is still owned by his oldest 
son, II. W. Dust. A few years later his brother, 
Rudolph Dust, and their brother-in-law, William 
Aulenbrouck, came. In lS4.o Gerhard Doedtman 
and Herman Doedtman (brothers of Jacob 
Doedtman, who had come in 1837), Henry 
Gerdes, Clem and Harmon Stubbers, arrived on 
Green Creek and settled down in different 
places. In 1816 H. H. Tegencamp, H. Mette, 
H. H. Koors, and a Mr. Knoppe followed the 
others. H. B. Tegencamp, the oldest son of H. 
H. Tegencamp, who came with his father as a 
little boy, is now the second oldest surviving 
settler, and to him Is partly due the information 
I am relating. 

In 1847 F. Meyer, H. Koors, B. Sanders and 



Joe Wendt settled down in the northeast corner 
of Douglas Township. Henry Worman came 
about the same time and settled about one mile 
north of the church. In 1850-55 G. H. Nuxoll, 
B. J. Arnzen, Mr. Wolters and several others 
arrived on Green Creek, and by this time the 
settlement, as a permanent one, was pretty well 
established. 

The settlers had, as soon as possible, built a 
place of worship. The first one was built of 
logs and with that they had also provided for a 
school as best they could in those days. At 
this time (from 1855-60) they made prepara- 
tions, under the direction of the Franciscan 
Fathers, who then had charge of the congrega- 
tion, to build the fine, spacious church, which 
was the second largest structure of its kind in 
the county at the time it was built. It stands 
an everlasting monument to the zeal, energy 
and religious conviction of our German fore- 
fathers. 

The firet settler in the locality, Richard 
Cohea, came from Tennessee to Illinois, spend- 
ing a short time in Clay County. For some rea- 
son or other he went in search of another loca- 
tion and finally struck the spot that I now own. 
He immediately went to work to build a log 
cabin and the necessary enclosure to keep the 
.stock that he possessed at the time. By making 
several trips to the place he finally had it in 
shape to move his family there. The first night 
he stayed there, he had to build a big fire in 
tlie enclosure and. every now and then, take a 
burning stick from the fire and throw over the 
enclosure to keep the wolves from coming over 
into it and devouring the few cattle and hogs he 
had. The Indians at that time were peaceful, 
but not much to be trusted. The greatest an- 
noyance was, that they would now and then, 
when on a hunting trip, shoot a hog that be- 
longed to the whites. 

The first houses or log cabins the settlers had 
did not require the services of an architect to 
plan or a carpenter to build. Meats could often 
be obtained with little difficulty but the bread- 
stuff was more difficult to get. They often had 
to carry it for miles on their backs or grind it 
in a hollow stump. 

LIMESTONE CREEK SETTLEMENT. 
(By Henry B. Kepley, 1903.) 
The Limestone Creek Settlement was begun 
in the year 1828, in Section 18, Town 6 North, 



62-1 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Range 5 East of the Third Principal Meridian. 
This section became the central point of the set- 
tlement, which extended north into Sections 7 
and 8, east into Section 17 and south into Sec- 
tion 19. The following is a list of those who 
settled there before and during the year 1843 : 
John McCoy, John McCoy, Jr., Fielding McCoy, 
Tilghman McCoy, Andrew Lilly. Benjamin Al- 
len, John Broom, John McGuire, William V. 
Broom, Samuel Broom, John Barton, John Min- 
ton, Drewi-y Andrews, Charlotte Kepley, old 
Mrs. Young, Bryant Young, Alexander Young, 
Joseph Young, Samuel B. Gray, James Gillmore, 
John Gillmore, Green Key, Dick Jones, old Mr. 
Edwards, Charles Edwards, David Edwards, 
Berry Edwards. Wesley Golden, John Allen, 
William George, John Hunt, John Catlin, Morgan 
Kavanaugh, Asahel Chamberlain, Lewis Cham- 
berlain, Dr. William W. Jones. There may liave 
been a few others, not now remembered. This 
list includes only the heads of families and oth- 
ers who had homes of their own and were, 
therefore, entitled to be recognized as settlers. 

The first settler here was John McCoy, who 
in the year 1828 made a small improvement on 
the northeast % of Section 18, Town 6 North, 
Range 5 East. The next year he sold out to 
Benjamin Allen and, later on, made another im- 
provement about one mile northwest, where he 
remained till his death about the year 1842. 
He was survived by the following children : 
John, Fielding, Tilghman, Franklin, Washing- 
ton, Arena, Mary, Luvicey and Nancy, all of 
whom became members of the Limestone Creek 
Settlement. 

Benjamin Allen became a settler in Limestone 
Creek Settlement in 1820 having purchased the 
Improvement made by John McCoy, as before 
mentioned. He afterward entered the land on 
which this Improvement was made and occu- 
pied it as his home until his death in the year 
1841. He was born in Rowan County, N. C, 
remained in that State till past middle life, 
moved to Tennessee, where he remained some 
years, and then came to Limestone Creek Set- 
tlement. When he moved, he took with him all 
his family, his sons, his sons' wives, his daugh- 
ters and their husbands and his grandchildren. 
The names of his sous were Jephtha. Abner and 
Henry; his daughters were Charlotte, Mary, 
Abigail and Aletha. None of his sons became 
permanent settlers in the Limestone Creek set-, 
tlement. 



Drewry Andrews, who became a member of 
the settlement about the year 1838 or '39, was 
formerly from Tennessee, a tanner and a shoe- 
maker. The first pair of shoes the writer of 
this paper remembers wearing were made by 
Mr. Andrews out of leather tanned by him. He 
died December 5, 1845. His daughter Mary mar- 
ried John Barton, Susan married John Minton, 
Lizzie married Dick Jones, and Sophia married 
John Catlin, all early settlers in that settlement. 
Mr. Andrews had a son, Thomas A. 

Samuel B. Gray became a member of Lime- 
stone Creek Settlement about 1840. He came 
from Marion County, 111., and remained a mem- 
ber of the settlement until his death, which 
occurred about the year 1850 — possibly a year 
or so later. Mr. Gray was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and was noted as 
an exhorter of that denomination. His voice 
was full, rich and pleasant. 

John Barton came to the settlement about 1840, 
coming to Illinois from Tennessee. He was a 
Baptist and began to preach here in 1841, con- 
tinuing that calling till his death, February 25, 
1865. When he first began to preach he had but 
little education, and it was with difficulty that 
he could read the hymns and his texts, but later 
on, by diligent effort, he improved his education 
and became fairly well informed. He was a 
man of sterling qualities and greatly devoted to 
his church and to his duties as a minister of the 
gospel. 

Joseph Young married Nancy Kepley and set- 
tled in Section IS as a member of the Limestone 
Creek Settlement. About 1858 or '59 he moved 
to Clay County, 111. He enlisted in the army 
and became a member of Company A, Ninety- 
eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteers. 

Wesley Golden married Mary Kepley and be- 
came a member of the Limestone Creek Settle- 
ment, in the year 1842. After three or four 
years, however, he moved to Clay County, 111. 
He. too, became a member of Company A, 
Ninety-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteers. 

Samuel Broom became a member of this settle- 
ment about the year 1838. lie was the first 
school teacher there and made a small farm in 
Section 18, and later became a merchant, hav- 
ing erected a small storehouse on his farm near 
his residence. He laid off on his farm the 
town of Broomsburg, which, however, did not 
flourish, and later became extinct. After fol- 
lowing tlje vocation of merchant for some years, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



625 



he sold his farm and moved his stock of mer- 
chandise to White County, 111. 

William V. Bi-oom became a member of the 
settlement before 1838, opened a farm in Section 
17, and became the owner of a large body of 
land. He was one of the prosperous and promi- 
nent citizens of the settlement. At an early 
date he was elected Justice of the Peace and 
held that oflice continuously till his death, about 
1857 or '58. 

Andrew Lilly married Arena McCoy, a daugh- 
ter of John McCoy, Sr., and settled on the south- 
west quarter of the northwest quarter of Sec- 
tion 19, about 1830. He lived there until about 
1855. when he moved to Union CVsunty, 111., 
where he died at a ripe old age. 

John McGuire married Mrs. Aletha Seal, the 
widow of Solomon Seal, and daughter of Ben- 
jamin Allen. He settled in Section 18. and for 
many years continued to be a member of the 
settlement. He finally met his death while at 
work in the construction of the Illtnois Central 
Railroad, near Dismal Creek, 111. 

The first land entry in the Limestone Creek 
Settlement was made by Benjamin Allen, who, 
on August 5, 1833, entered the northeast quarter 
of the northeast quarter of Section IS, Town 6 
North, Range 5 East. On December 21, 1833, 
he entered the southwest quarter of the north- 
east quarter of Section 18. The next land entry 
was made by John McCoy, Jr., who. on May 
24, 1839, entered the .southwest quarter of the 
northwest quarter of Section 7, Town 6 North, 
Range 5 East. In the same year be also entered 
the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter 
of Section 7. Town 6 North. Range 5 East. The 
next entry was made by Dr. William Jones, who, 
on the 17th of June, 18.39. entered the northeast 
quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 9, 
and the west half of the southeast quarter of 
Section 15, both in Town 6 North. Range 5 East. 
On the same date Asahel Chamberlain entered 
the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter 
of Section 9. and the west half of the northeast 
quarter of Section 15, in Town 6 North, Range 
5 East. On June 5. 1840, Andrew Lilly entered 
the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter 
of Section 19, Town 6 North. Range 5 East. 
After this date the land entries in the settlement 
became quite frequent. Before that date the 
majority of the settlers were content to live on 
Congress land. 

The first public industry in Limestone Creek 



Settlement was the quarrying of rock on Lime- 
stone Creek, for use in the building of the Na- 
tional or Cumberland Road. The place where 
the rock was quarried was called "The Dig- 
gings." The rock was quarried and hauled to 
the level ground near the quarry in such a large 
amount that it covered two acres of ground. 
While the quarrying was going on, the work on 
the National Road was abandoned and the rock 
that was quarried was not used for the purpose 
intended. As years went by, it was used by the 
people of the settlement for walling wells, foun- 
dations for buildings and burned into lime. It 
was a good quality of limestone and from this 
the creek got its name. 

The first school in the settlement was taught 
by Samuel Broom, in a log building belonging to 
John Broom, which had formerly been used as 
a blacksmith shop. The building was neither 
chinked nor daubed, and was not floored. This 
was in the summer of 1841. The following year 
a small log sehoolhouse was built near the south 
Hue of Section 18. Samuel Broom taught the 
school of the settlement in this building during 
the summer and part of the winter o^ (.842. 
This sehoolhouse was found to be too small and 
too far south to meet the needs of the school 
district, and in the year 1843 a large sehoolhouse 
was built of hewed logs, on the southwest quar- 
ter of the southeast quarter of Section 8, Town 
6 North, Range 5 East. This sehoolhouse was 
about twenty-five by thirty feet and was used 
until the year 1850, when Peter McElroy entered 
the land on which it was built and took jwsses- 
sion of the house. This house was also used for 
religious pui-poses, the Baptist, Christian, and 
Methodist Churches holding meetings there at 
different times. The first school taught in the 
new sehoolhouse was by Samuel Broom, in 
1843. The next year (1844) the school was 
taught by a Mr. Adams. In 1845^8 the school 
was taught by J. W. P. Davis, of Clay County. 
In 1819 it was taught by Samuel D. Elder and 
in 1850 William A. Broom taught the last school 
there. 

The first church organized in the settlement 
was in 1842, the Wabash Baptist Church, also 
known in those days as the Missionary Baptist. 
The place of meeting during its first year was 
the small log sehoolhouse in Section 18. After 
the large sehoolhouse was built in Section 8, the 
place of worship was changed to that building, 
and meetings were held there as long as it was 



626 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



used as a schoolliouse ; then a church building 
was erected about a quarter of a mile west of 
the site of that schoolhouse. The first pastor 
of the church was Rev. Kellum, who at that 
time lived in Vandalia. He was a man of fair 
ability, a pleasant speaker and one who won 
the friendship of the church members and con- 
gregation. He did not, however, long remain 
pastor, as rumors came to the church author- 
ities, from where he had formerly lived, that 
he was of anything but an exemplary character 
and that he was wholly unfit for the ministry. 
Investigation resulted in confirming the rumors 
and the ending of his pastorate of the church. 
The church soon obtained worthier preachers, 
among whom were Revs. Boyakin, Stacey, Steel, 
Odell, I. H. Elkin, John Barton and Steven 
Blair. 

The first sermon preached in the settlement 
was by John Barton, in the year 1S41, at my 
mother's home. About ten o'clock in the fore- 
noon people began to gather, the majority of 
the men bringing their guns with them. It was 
then the custom of the majority of the men of 
the settlement to carry their guns with them all 
the days of the week, Sunday not excepted. 
There was no need of doing so except the proba- 
bility that a deer might, impertinently and dar- 
ingly, come within very close range, and no 
Limestone Creek settler would talve such a dare 
from a deer, even if it were Sunday ; hence, 
they brought their guns on the day of the preach- 
ing. They stacked their guns around a large 
tree in the yard, most of them retaining their 
shot-bags swung over their shoulders in the 
usual manner, and attached to them were the 
hunting knives. I may further say that this 
was not only the first sermon preached in the 
settlement, but it was also the first sermon 
preached by John Barton and was also the first 
sermon I ever heard preached. I was then only 
five years old, and I well remember the impres- 
sion it made on me at the time. At the begin- 
ning of the sermon some of the men were whit- 
tling with their hunting knives. After Mr. Bar- 
ton had progressed a while with his sermon, he 
talked very loud and gesticulated vigorously, 
telling them of some one having been slain or, 
as I got the impression, that some one was 
about to be slain. WTiile he was preaching most 
earnestly, some of the men stopped whittling 
and looked, as I thought, threateningly at the 
preacher, retaining their hunting knives in their 



hands, and it seemed to me there was going to 
be a c-ouflict between the preacher and the men. 
I went to my mother and asked her if there was 
any danger that anyone would be killed or hurt, 
and she assured me there was no danger, which 
quieted my apiJrehensions. 

Following are the names of some of the per- 
sons who were members of the Wabash Baptist 
Church at the time of its organization, or soon 
thereafter became members thereof : Jeremiah 
Gillmore and wife, Jackson Gillmore and wife, 
James Gillmore and wife, Charlotte Allen, An- 
drew Lilly and wife, William Gillmore, James 
L. Gillmore, John Gillmore and wife, Alex. 
Xoung and wife, old Mrs. Young, (I think) old 
Mr. Edwards and wife, David Edwards, John 
Mintou and wife, Elizabeth Seal, Cynthia Seal, 
and John Barton and wife. There were others, 
whose names I cannot now recall. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church formed a 
class in the settlement about 1843. Their meet- 
ings were held in the houses of members of the 
class, or occasionally in the schoolhouses above 
mentioned. Finally they erected a church build- 
ing in Section 8, Town 6 North, Range 5 East 
near Fulfer Creek, which they named "New 
Hope." Here that church kept its place of wor- 
ship for a number of years. 

While the Christian Church had no organiza- 
tion in the settlement, they held religious meet- 
ings and had preaching there from about 1844. 
The principal place of holding meetings was in 
the large schoolhouse in Section 8. Among the 
preachers of the Christian denomination who 
preached in the settlement was Steven J. Wil- 
liams, who lived a few miles east of the Wabash 
River, and who preached frequently in the largo 
schoolhouse in Section 8. He continued to 
preach from time to time in the settlement up 
to the breaking out of the Civil War, when he 
enlisted in the army. 

I was a member of the Limestone Creek Set- 
tlement. I was born there June 20, 18.36, and 
made that settlement my home until November, 
1862, and when I "have shuffled off this mortal 
coil," I expect to be buried there on a piece of 
land in Section 18, owned by me and reserved 
for that purpose. 

FREEMANTON SETTLEMENT. 
(By J. B. Jones) 
The settlement in the vicinity of Freemanton 
commenced perhaps as early as 1830, that being 




(O ^^^^ir^--^ ^ 




EPFINGHAIVI COUNTY 



627 



the earliest date of entries of land iu the United 
States Land Office in that locality. The first 
entry was made by Riley Howard, the land be- 
ing situated about two miles west of what was 
afterwards the location of the town site of Free- 
manton. The first settlers in this locality, with 
few exceptions, were not land owners in the be- 
ginning of the settlement. Many of them were 
men who had come with the building of the Na- 
tional Road, and when work on the road was 
suspended and the enterprise abandoned in 1834, 
they remained with their families and finally 
most of them entered land from the Government 
and became actual settlers and made themselves 
homes. Among these were William Drysdall, 
Christopher Radley, Henry Job and Isaac 
Lackey. What was known as the Freemanton 
Settlement extended along the National Road 
from Funkhouser Creek west to what is now 
Altamont Prairie, north of the National Road 
to Devore's Point and south of the road as far 
as Brockett's Creek. All the earliest settlers 
made their first improvements in, or close to, 
the timber ; first, for the convenience of obtain- 
ing fuel and building material easily and, sec- 
ond, to avoid the danger of the prairie fire and 
the ravages of the green-head flies. Riley How- 
ard, Christopher Radley, John and William 
Freeman, and Henry Job are the first settlers 
in the vicinity of Freemanton that we have any 
record of, Howard in 1830, Radley in 1831, and 
John and William Freeman in 183.3. From this 
time the settlement spread out and new settlers 
were coming from the East and South almost 
continuously. 

About four miles south of Freemanton a set- 
tlement was begun in 1826 by Benjamin Camp- 
bell, and between 1826 and 1829 this settlement 
had increased to several families, viz, : Thomas 
I. Brockett, Stephen Austin, William Ostein and 
others. This settlement increased and extended 
north to Big Creek and Second Creek, being 
finally recognized as a part of the Freemanton 
Settlement. On April 18, 1834, the land which 
was made the town site was entered from the 
Government by Robert H. Peebles, and was a 
short time afterwards conveyed to John Free- 
man, and on the 21st day of June, 18.34, William 
J. Hankins, County Surveyor, certified that he 
laid out and platted the Town of Freemanton. 
The people then began to settle there and make 
improvements, and it was not long before a iJost- 
office was established and Freemanton became 



one of the important stations where all the 
United States Mail coaches stopped for relay 
and mail delivery. This post-office accommo- 
dated the Wolf Creek Settlement, a part of the 
Blue Point Settlement, the Rock Creek SetUe- 
ment, which was along the county line north 
and west of Freemanton and extended into 
Fayette County ; and all the people south and 
west of Freemanton got their mail at this office 
as far south as Fulfer Creek, until there was a 
post-office established in the vicinity of Mason. 

Joseph Thomasson and family and Hugh 
Combs and family came in 1836 ; John Galloway, 
Charles Bogges. and Jonathan L. Taylor and 
their families settled near Freemanton in 1833 ; 
and Hiram Maxfield and John Trapp settled 
in the vicinity in 1839. In 1840 immigration 
came very rapidly, bringing the Devores, Mr. 
McCracken, George Wood, Evan Jenkins, W. W. 
Young, John M. Brown, James Martin, the two 
Gallants and their families, and James D. Clark, 
Richard J. Hill and Eli Bishop, with their fam- 
ilies. In 1841 Jacob Bishop, James Woodruff, 
Henry W. Davis and Major Mitchell, with their 
families, arrived in the settlement. In 1842 
Maxwell Crabb, Horace Toothaker and John 
Moore came with their families from Ohio. In 
order to induce immigration and to protect the 
early settlers, the Legislature passed a law mak- 
ing it a penal offense to set fire in the prairie 
or timber, for any unlawful, malicious or care- 
less purpose. It had been the practice of the 
trapper and hunter, heretofore, during the dry 
season of the year, to drive the game from its 
cover by setting fire to the prairie, thereby en- 
dangering the improvements of the early set- 
tlers ; in this way they might, without so much 
labor, procure plenty of meat for their families. 
These hardy, self-reliant pioneers pronounced 
this law a very unjust and wicked innovation 
of their rights. It was in 1842 that Richard J. 
Hill, who lived in the east end of Freemanton, 
was shot and instantly killed while sitting on 
his horse near the blacksmith shop, conversing 
with a neighbor. 

In 1843 the settlement in this part of the 
county had increased until the voters began to 
think they ought to have a voting place at Free- 
manton ; and on the 4th day of September, 1843, 
Samuel Houston, who was at that time C(>unty 
Surveyor, presented a petition to the Commis- 
sioners' Court asking that body to grant a new 
voting precinct, to be known as Freemanton. 



628 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



This petition was grauted aud tlae boundaries 
were fixed. They are a little indefinite, but 
presumably tooli in all of what is now Mound 
Township, about one-half of Jackson Township, 
aud a part of Summit and Moccasin Townships. 
The tirst election was held at Freemanton, Oc- 
tober 2, 1843, Charles Bogges, AV. W. Young 
and Richard D. McCranor being the first election 
judges. I find no record as to what officers 
were elected. The village and vicinity were 
now getting into a condition to put on airs ; 
there was a blaclismith shop, a store, a mill, 
and other industries, as well as a post-office. It 
Is not known to any certainty who kept the first 
store; the best information we have on this part 
of our history is. that Jacob Bishop started a 
little store and trading shop atx)ut 1S43, and in 
1844 he also started a mill, which was propelled 
by oxen on a tread wheel. 

John Armstrong and family settled in the 
vicinity in 1844. About this time a church or- 
ganization was effected, and steps were taken to 
have regular church services. The organizers 
of this church were James Devore and Jacob 
Bishop, both licensed preachers. Charles Bogges 
and wife. Maxwell Crabb and wife, Mrs. Wood- 
ruff, and the families of Jacob Bishop. James 
Devore. Joshua Devore, W. W. Young and others 
were among the first members of the church 
organization. They were of the Methodist Epis- 
copal faith and the first building they used was 
a log structure built at the east end of the vil- 
lage, near where the cemetei-y is located. Later 
on, John Miller and Levi Lowei-j- located in the 
settlement ; Mr. Lowei-y was a Methodist min- 
ister of considerable ability, and Miller was a 
man full of zeal, a Methodist and a great church 
worker. The church organization has been kept 
up by such men as these, and they now have a 
good ecmgregation and edifice at Dexter. 

In 1S45 the village and settlement were well 
established, with post-office, store and black- 
smith shop, and to this shop is given the credit 
of making the first steel-plow made inside the 
county. About this time William Johnson, a 
Scotchman, opened a little store in the village 
and became a very successful merchant, accumu- 
lating a nice little fortune. He sold out his hold- 
ings in 1858 and moved to Cumberland County. 
111. In 1S44 Dr. C. F. Falley located at Free- 
manton and practiced medicine successfully for 
several years, then moved to E>wington and 
afterwards to Georgetown, Olay County, 111. 



Joseph Bishop studied medicine while engaged 
in the milling and store business, and entered 
into the practice of his profession about 1849, 
becoming a very suc-cessful practitioner. In 
1850 he also put steam power in his mill, and 
became famous as miller, doctor and merchant. 

In 184G the settlement had spread out ovet 
considerable territory, and when the Mexican 
War broke out and volunteers were called for. 
Freemanton proved its loyalty and furnished its 
quota of six soldiers to the army. viz. : James 
'Tucker, Jonathan P. Tucker, Tillman Clark, 
Hiram Maxfiekl and Duma B. Elder. Soon after 
the close of this war John C. Defenbaugh opened 
a general store in the village and kept for sale 
evei-j-thlng from silk goods down to ox-yokes, 
ox-bows and bow-pins. He ran this business 
succe.ssfully up to about 1802 and sold out to 
Daniel Boyer, who. after the building of the 
Vandalia Railroad, moved the business to Alta- 
mont. 

During the 'oOs there were several enterprising 
men who entered into merchandising, among 
them John M. Brown aud Peter Nelson. Sam- 
uel Jackson and his son Joe manufactured chairs 
at this time, and were acknowledged good me- 
chanics in that line. About 185G John JI. Brown 
became owner of the Bishop mill, and prepared 
to turn it into a factory for making jilows and 
other farm implements. He had it partially 
completed when the war commenced. This 
brought on a confusion in almost all of the home 
industries, and it forever stopped the Freeman- 
ton plow factory. AATien the call was made for 
volunteers, this settlement again responded to 
the call of their country, and somewhere near 
one hundred men enlisted from the settlement 
before the close of the war. During the war, 
business in the village of Freemanton was al- 
most entirely abandoned and the village depopu- 
lated. When the Vandalia Railroad was built 
in 1869-70. it missed Freemanton by alx>ut half 
a mile, and the village of Altamont was laid out 
about four miles west, becoming a thriving town 
and a good business point, and later the railroad 
company established a station just north of the 
old village, which station was named Dexter, 
and a rwst-ofBee of the same name was estab- 
lished. By this time the old Village of 
Freemanto'^^^l was almost entirely abandoned, 
everj-thing movable taken away, the village plat 
vacated and the lots turned into farm lands, and 
to-day, a stranger would hardly recognize it as 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



629 



once a village site. Tlie lauds in that vicinity 
are all improved and under cultivation, and the 
original settlement has become well populated. 
On marble slabs In the cemetery near by may 
be found the names of a great many of the first 
settlers ; some went further west and some went 
to different neighborhoods in Illinois. There are 
a very few of the descendants of the first set- 
tlers living in the old settlement. The lands 
in the vicinity are all occupied by a good class 
of intelligent and industrious citizens, sur- 
rounded by modern improvements and conven- 
iences, and they have excellent schools and 
churches. 

"The wolf and the deer are seen no more 
Among the woods along the shore, 
And where was heard the panther's scream, 
The farmer drives bis jocund team. 
Where once the Indian wig^vam stood. 
Upon the border of the wood. 
The stately mansion now is seen. 
Amid broad fields and pastures green." 

ELLIOTTSTOWN SETTLEMENT. 
(By Dr. Thomas J. Dunn.) 
The task of preparing a paper on the history 
of the Elliottstown Settlement has been difficult, 
for the reason that the settlement was begun 
long before I was on the ground, — even before 
I was born. The first settler, of whom I could 
obtain anything like a definite account, was 
Thomas Stroud, who located on the northeast 
% of the southeast % of Section 4, in Lucas 
Township, in 1840. He bad lived In Southern 
Indiana and, desiring to change his lo<?ation, 
moved to Louisville, Ky., but not being satisfied 
there, went to Iowa. Here be also failed to be 
suited and started back to his old home in In- 
diana. While camped near where the City of 
Jacksonville is now located, his horses strayed 
away and started toward Indiana. He followed 
and overtook all but one at the home of one 
Eckels, who lived on the above-described land. 
Stroud proposed to trade the chance of finding 
the missing horse for Eckels' claim, which propo- 
sition was accepted by Jlr. Eckels, who pursued 
and captured the runaway horse and took his 
family back to Indiana, whence they had come. 
Stroud returned to his camp and brought his 
family to the claim. He resided there contin- 
uously until 1856, when he removed to the 
\icinity of Quincy, 111., but returned a year or 
tivo later and settled on Trapp Prairie, where 



be died in 1S73. His wife died in 1852 and was 
buried ou the old farm, as also was he. They 
reared a large family and two sons, Ner and 
Richard N., are still residents of the vicinity. 

Bob French, a brother-in-law of Mr. Stroud, 
came with him and located on the land now 
owned by Joseph Lidley. Mr. French remained 
only a short time and then sold his claim to Dr. 
Tilton, who, in turn, sold or traded it to James 
Holt and went to Iowa, about 1849-50. 

William White settled in Section 31, Bishop 
Township, about ISStMO, lived there several 
years, and finally moved two or three miles 
further east, where he died. He and his brother. 
Dr. Thomas White, who lived at Bishop Point, 
were noted characters, but iJerbaps not quite as 
bad as painted in Perrin's History of Effingham 
County. 

Henry Armsti-ong settled on the King Place, 
now owned by G. H. Schmidt, about the time the 
■VXTiltes came. He was a useful citizen and, it 
is supposed, built the first gi-ist-mill in the set- 
tlement. He died many years ago and some 
of Ills descendants now live in Clay County. 

Richard Marion and James Bennefield settled 
just west of where Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal 
Church now stands, about 1837-38. Mr. Marion 
lived there until his death and some of bis de- 
scendants still live in the county. Bennefield 
remained only a few years, then removed farther 
west. The land on which they settled is now 
owned by S. M. Haynes. 

Old Mr. Simpson located at the mouth of the 
Little Bishop in Union Township, about 1838-39, 
and lived there a number of years. He finally 
moved to the Delaney Farm in Watson Town- 
ship, where he died. He had several sons, — 
John, George W., William, Joseph and Thomas 
— all of whom settled a few miles west of El- 
liottstowji, though all have now moved away or 
died. A son-in-law of Mr. Simpson, Ed. Llewel- 
lyn, settled on the place now owned by George 
A. Woodworth, and was quite a prominent 
trader. He built the first brick building in the 
neighborhood, a residence, in 1852-53, but left 
the neighborhood years ago. Another son-in- 
law of Mr. Simpson, Jacob Lewis, settled where 
L. D. Dunn now lives, in Lucas Township, al- 
though he sold out to Elijah Poynter some time 
in the '40s and removed to Jersey County, 111., 
where he died a few years ago. 

Thomas Walls settled in Section 31, Bishop 
Township, about 1844 ; he sold his claim to Am- 



630 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



brose Field, who came from Kentucky, spending 
a few years in Edgar Countj-, and reached the 
settlement at EUiottstown iu 1847. Mr. Walls 
moved a few miles further east, where he spent 
the remainder of his life, and Field remained on 
the farm mentioned until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1855, during an epidemic of cholera. 
He left a large family, and several of his de- 
scendants are well-known residents of Effingham 
County. 

Mr. JIurphy located iu Section 28, Bishop 
Township, in 1845-46. He died there many years 
ago, leaving three sons, two of whom lived in 
the count>' until very recently. 

Smith Elliott and George Barkley, Kentuck- 
ians, located on Section 5 in Lucas Township, in 
1&45-46, after spending a few years in Edgar 
County. Mr. Elliott settled on land now owned 
by Mrs. Rheney Merry and Mr. Barkley on the 
Hand Farm. Mr. Elliott was prominent in 
church and Sunday-school work, becoming a 
member of the Baptist Church at its organiza- 
tion. He was the founder of the village that 
bears his name, and died during the cholera 
epidemic of 1855. He left a large family, all 
of whom have left the county, and all except 
one son and one daughter are deceased. Mr. 
Barkley died near Watson, 111., in 186". He 
was a veteran of the War of 1812 and left sev- 
eral children, all of whom have now removed 
from the county. 

James Holt settled in Section 4, Lucas Town- 
ship, in 1845. About 1860 he removed to Union 
Township, and died there several years ago. 
The only member of his family now living in 
the State is a daughter in Clay County. Isaac 
McBroom, a brother-in-law of Mr. Holt, also 
settled in Section 4 in 1847-48. He died north 
of EUiottstown, atwut 1860. and none of his de- 
scendants remain in the neighborhood. 

John L.. G. W. and William Baty came to the 
settlement about 1845-46, John L. and William 
settling in Section 6, Lucas Township, and G. 
W. on the place now occupied by W. D. Wiles. 
William died soon after locating in the settle- 
ment and his widow afterward married James 
Green. John L. sold out many years ago and 
removed to the far Northwest, where he died 
soon after. G. W. removed to Kansas about 
thirty-five years ago, and he. too. is deceased. 
W. C, a son of John K. was Sheriff of the 
county one term, and died a few years ago in 
Colorado. 



William King located on the land where 
Henry Armstrong first settled, about 1S48, and 
he and his son William died of cholera in 1853 
or '54. A daughter, Mrs. Joseph GiUmore, now 
resides in Watson Township. 

George W. Merry came to the settlement from 
Madison County, 111., about the year 1845, and 
was prominently identified with the early his- 
tory of the county. He died in 1868, leaving 
several sons and one daughter (Mrs. Sarah 
Green). His sons, William II., Owen T., James 
R., Daniel and George W., are all deceased ex- 
cept Daniel, who now lives at Montana, Kan. 
Several descendants of Owen T. and James R. 
still live in the vicinity. 

James Green came to the settlement at the 
same time as Mr. Jlerry, and located on and 
improved the northwest % of the northeast Vi 
of Section 12 in Union Township, where he re- 
sided several years. His father, Thomas Green, 
who came with him, is buried on this farm, 
having died at the age of one hundred and three 
.years. Mr. Green reared a large family, of 
whom one sou, William, died only a few years 
ago, and several descendants still reside in the 
county. 

John Knowles came to the farm where Wil- 
liam White settled, about the year 1849. He 
died soon after, leaving a large family, all of 
whom moved away. Richard Wood and Jacob 
Forsythe, sons-in-law of Mr. Knowles, came a 
few years later. Mr. Wood died in Union Town- 
ship, April 1, 1903, and Mr. Forsythe at one 
time sold goods in EUiottstown, but left many 
years ago. Andrew Wood, son of Richard 
Wood, still lives in Union Towniship. 

Jane Walker, a sister-in-law of James Holt, 
took iX)ssession of the Tilton Place, now owned 
by Joseph Lidley, about 1850, and remained 
there about ten years, when she moved to the 
vicinity of Springfield, Mo. 

John B. Streife came to the settlement from 
Switzerland and located in Section 36, Watson 
Township, about 1850. A few years after the 
Civil War he removed to California. 

John S. Tedrick located on the place which 
still bears his name, in 1850-51. lie was origin- 
ally from Maryland, but had stopped a few years 
in Ohio or Indiana. He prospered from the 
start and liecame possessed of considerable prop- 
erty. His wife was prominent in church and 
temperance work. He died over twenty years 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



631 



ago and his wife about ten years later ; they left 
a number of descendants In the locality. 

Levi Jacobs came to the settlement in lSol-52, 
and lived where Jacob L. Kagay now resides. 
He accumulated a great deal of property and it 
is said the first election in the place was held 
at his house. He died in Effingham. 

Andrew Dunn and Jolm Barkley came in 1S53, 
the former settling on a farm in Lucas Town- 
ship that now bears his name. He died in 
Teutopolis, 111., January 6, 1871, and his widow, 
Sarah A. Dunn, died on the old farm October 
16, 1892, when past the age of eighty years. A 
son. Dr. T. J., of Lucas Township, and a daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Andrew Bailie, of Mason, are still resi- 
dents of the county. Mr. Barkley removed to 
Missouri about the beginning of the Civil War. 

After 1853 the country settled up very fast. 
John H. Anderson, Enoch Fishback and W. H. 
Delaney came in 1854. Mr. Anderson died at 
Mason, 111. ; Fishback removed to Missouri after 
the Civil War, and Mr. Delaney died in Effing- 
ham. William James bought the farm now 
owned by William Dye, in 1855, and died there 
about four years later. John G. James, a well- 
known citizen of Watson Township, is his son. 

Many others located in the settlement about 
this time, and among them were Rev. G. W. 
Barcus and John Trapp, who came from "The 
Patch" and located on Trapp Prairie, or, as it 
was sometimes called. "Lazy Neck." Rev. Bar- 
cus lived at Bobdoane, Fayette County, and 
Trapp at Freemanton and vicinity for quite a 
while before going to "The Patch." Mr. Wilkin- 
son, Adam L. Walker, David Kersliner, Jacob 
S. Covert and Richard P. Rogers also came to 
the settlement about this time. 

The village of Elliottstown was surveyed and 
platted by R. A. Howard, for Smith Elliott, 
owner of the land, in June, 1854 ; Dr. L. J. Field 
had built a residence on the land a year or 
so previously. A. E. Elliott built a house about 
the time the town was platted ; and Richard P. 
Rogers, Robert B. Evans, and some others, built 
residences about the same time. G. W. Baty 
built a steam saw-mill in 1855, and later added 
a grist mill. This mill was owned by various 
men and remained for several years in opera- 
tion. It was patronized by people for many 
miles around the town. Several others have 
conducted saw and grist mills in the village; 
I recall to mind Samuel Field, who did a good 
business for some time. 



Robert B. Evans conducted the first store, and 
he was followed by Jacob Forsythe, L. J. Field, 
John Marble, Thomas S. Duckworth, Hamilton 
L. Smith, G. W. Sloan, Sloan & Barr, C. C. 
Hunter, Kennedy & Lloyd, Wiles & Lloyd, Dye 
& Sloan, J. P. Floyd & Co., Ira Pendlay, and 
many others. O. T. Merry did a successful 
business for several years and his widow suc- 
ceeded to his business at his death, which oc- 
curred in January, 1895. N. A. Kite is also in 
business at present. 

Dr. L. J. Field was instrumental in establish- 
ing a post-office in 1855 and was the first Post- 
master, serving many years. The post-office 
was discontinued August 31, 1906. 

The following physicians have practiced in 
the village in about the order named: L. J. 
Field, Dr. Abbott, Dr. Hughes, Dr. Lesseur, Dr. 
Shindle, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Sloan, Dr. Lloyd, Dr. 
Larrabee and Dr. Dunn. 

A schoolhouse was erected in 1856, by Uavia 
Kershner, and John Russ taught the first school 
therein ; he was followed by Samuel Field, H. 
B. Kepley, Robinson McCann, W. B. Hanna- 
walt, C. A. Van Allen, W. P. Surrells, T. J. Dunn 
and many others. Dr. Field taught the first 
school in the settlement long before the Village 
of Elliottstown was thought of, in a cabin on 
the land now owned by Lee Burrell. A school- 
house was built a few years later on the land be- 
longing to Smith Elliott, about a mile north of 
the village. This was used for school purposes 
until the building was erected in town, as before 
mentioned, in 1856. 

John V. Bail conducted the first blacksmith 
shop, beginning about the year 1855. W. D. 
Wiles is now in that business, and has a good 
trade. 

The first church was organized by the Bap- 
tists, who held a meeting at the home of Smith 
Elliott in 1852. After the town was laid out 
they erected a good building, which was de- 
stroyed by fire about fifteen years ago. Rev. G. 
W. Barcus was conspicuous in maintaining this 
church. The organization has now ceased to 
exist. The Christian Church was organized 
during the Civil War. They have a church 
building and hold regular meetings, also sup- 
porting a Sunday School. 

The Methodist Protestant Church was or- 
ganized some years ago; they own a good build- 
ing and have regular services, as well as a well- 
attended Sunday School. 



632 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



A lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons was moved from Winterrowd to Elliotts- 
town about 1869. They have a hall and about 
twenty members. 

The village has had no regular saloons ror 
many years. Farther back each grocery and 
general store was well provided with "Old John- 
sou County," but this was discouraged and 
finally discontinued. 

The settlement was very prompt to respond to 
the call for volunteers, at the outbreak of the 
Civil War. Three families that I now call to 
mind, — the Field, KershuU and Stroud families, 
each contributed six soldiers. The following 
sent all male members old enough for enlist- 
ment : the Abraham, Barkley, Barcus, Dunn 
and King families. The Green, Merry, Baty, 
Knowles and many other families also contri- 
buted freely. All Jacobs and King families who 
went gave up their lives, — not a member of 
either family retui-ned. 

Many other persons are desening of mention 
in this paper, did space permit. The Ramsey 
Point Settlement is also worthy of mention. 

LETTER OF H. H. WRIGHT, 189S. 

I came to the county in 1834, and if I could 
recall all the conditions that existed at that 
time, I could give you an interesting letter. The 
county was then pretty much a wilderness. The 
settlements were on the Little Wabash, Lime- 
stone Creek, along the National Road, on Wolf 
Creek and on Bishop and Ramsey Creeks. Rob- 
ert Moore lived at the head of Blue Point, on 
the old road that ran north to Galena. He had 
a small field on the prairie and a little bottom 
at Blue Point; this was the only farm on the 
prairie in the county at that time, and he owned 
about a thousand acres. The voting places were 
then in Ewington, Freemanton, on Wolf Creek, 
and at Jolvn Broom's near Mason. We then 
polled about sixty votes in the county, which 
would make nearly 300 inhabitants. 

The first persons buried in the Ewington 
Cemetery were John Hankins and Mrs. Samuel 
White. In this cemetery are headstones that 
mark the graves of many old settlers of the 
county. 

There are few left of those who were here 
sixty-four years ago. Those who have seen the 
black bear prowl around the cabin and heard 
the panther scream or the wolf howl ; the men 
who wont ten or twelve miles to mill with a 



bushel of corn and had to wait till the next day 
to get their grist ; who plowed corn with a single 
ox or c-ow, hitched to bull-tongued plows with 
rawhide or hickoi-y bark tugs; who plowed by 
moonlight to eseai)e the ravages of the green- 
head flies ; the women who carded wool and 
spun it into yarn and wove it into cloth, and 
who soaked hard com and grated It on a tin 
grater to make bread: these men and women 
are passing away and we cannot too often do 
them honor. 

The family names of the old settlers in 1834 
were: 'I'urner, Nelson, Higgs, Broekett, Trapp, 
MeWhorter, McCann, Cronk, I'arkhurst, Tucker, 
Porter, Scott, Gilmore, Lankford, Neaville, Le-' 
vitt, Slaven, Cartwright, Tarrant, Rentfrow, 
Ramsey, Cohen, Dobbs, Tlpsword, Jennings, 
Griffitli, Holmes, Gordon, Cox, Gossage, Powell, 
Lorton, Harris, Andereon, Olinger, Ingraham, 
Thomason, uagner, Bengaman, Gillenwaters, 
Funk. Funkhouser, Shadwell, StalHugs, Mairtln, 
Broom, Ostin, Hankins, Loy, wVight, Gillespie, 
Bailie, Blirit, Farley, McCoy, Kepley. 

I used to carry the mail from Vandjilia to 
Palestine, In Crawford County, by way of Mar- 
tinsville, taking three days for the trip. While 
I was on this route the Government established 
an "E.xpress train," which was the talk of the 
whole country. Tliis consisted of a saddle horse, 
the carrier riding at the greatest iK>ssible speed 
the horse could sustain, relays of horses being 
provided at close and convenient stations. This 
ex]>ress made ten miles an hour and was really 
a great achievement. It used to pass me on my 
route. 

The mills were great industries in those days ; 
in ISSi they were all horse mills. Those I can 
recall were Parkhurst Mill, near Mason ; Short's 
mill in Ewington, which my father bought in 
18.35; White's mill on Bishop Creek; Davidson's 
mill at Turner's Place, and Ramsey's mill, north 
of Effingham. The first water mills were Meek's 
mill at the Park's ford on the Waba.sh ; Brock- 
eft's, since called Robinson's, and the Flems- 
burg mill. The first steam mill was built in 
Freemanton by Bishop and was a "wonder." 

LETTER FROM GEORGE C. VAN ALLKN. 

The following are extracts from a letter sent 
to the Effingham Old Settlers' Association in 
1898, by George C. Van Allen, of Mt. Pleasant, 
Iowa : 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



633 



"The years 1857-59 I spent looking after the 
interests of the Illinois Central Railroad Land 
Department, and making friends for myself 
meanwhile. I remember how I visited almost 
every section of land in Effingham County ; how 
I was kindly entertained on my trips, which 
were often made on foot from some station 
along the raih-oad. I sold railroad lands all 
over the region to men who made their first 
pajTuent, but never came back to claim the 
land. The great crash of 1857 closed out al- 
most all the contracts. 

"I was married in 1857 and brought my wife 
to Effingham. Our social life was very agree- 
able. My wife was young and not very strong, 
yet she put a new activity into the place, being 
the cause of a Sunday school, a sewing circle 
and a reading club. Among others, I remember 
Boleyjack ; Mr. Mette, who kept a store at the 
comer of the square ; Mr. George Scoles, who 
lived near by ; Bob Philips, who at one time 
kept a hotel and did other business for a living; 
and Mt. Holdskom, who kept a hotel and har- 
ness shop in the same building, — ^he working at 
his trade and his wife doing the honors of the 
hotel, which did a thriving business. 

"Altogether my recollection of Effingham life 
is very agreeable. I had great hopes there, 
wiped out, however, by the financial depression 
of 1857. After that and before removing from 
Effingham, I did a great deal of surveying in 
and around Effingham. I understand many of 
the corners I set are still standing as land 
marks for other surveyors. 

"I was sick with ague in the fall of 1859. I 
became discouraged and went back to New York, 
where I spent about two years completing a 
course in law." 

SPEECH OF OWEN SCOTT. 

The following includes some brief extracts 
from a speech delivered by Hon. Owen Scott, at 
a meeting of the Effingham County Old Settlers' 
Association held in 1898. Mr. Scott is a native 
of Effingham County, born in Jackson Township 
in 1848: 

"It took genuine courage for these men to come 
into this wilderness and make and maintain a 
settlement, to fight against those obstacles that 
beset every step of their onward progress. One 
of the greatest difficulties in settling this section 
of tbe country was the green-bead flies ; these 
ravenous pests would take a horse and abso- 



lutely eat him up. They came in swarms and 
droves. 

"Not only green-head flies, but ague, another 
enemy of civilization, had to be conquered. It 
wasn't fought with guns, but with quinine. In 
those days they did not have any quinine, so 
they fought it the best way they could by taking 
the barks of certain trees, the elder and others 
that produced the same element as quinine. 
They had to fight wolves and all the wild beasts 
that infested this section. They had to fight 
these single-handed anj at gi'eat odds. 

"The way they made most of their clothes in 
those days was to plant a little patch of flax 
and raise, cut, reap, 'hackle' it, weave it. and 
make it iip into the 'wamus' that the men wore 
in those days. They also wore buckskin and 
leather breeches. A little later came the wool 
that was sheared from the sheep and carded. 

"They had no mills. They had to go in the 
early days to Shelbyville to mill. I have heard 
my father tell about going there, driving his 
horses at night (when he had a horse), to es- 
cape the green-bead flies, getting his grist 
ground or grinding it himself on the old horse 
mill uix)n the river, and then the next night 
drive back." 



CHAPTER IV. 



TOWNSHIP HISTORY. 



HISTOKT OF INDIVIDUAL TOWNSHIPS IN EFFING- 
HAM COUNTY — EARLY SETTLERS AND WHEN 
THEY' CAME — PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS — TOWNS 
AND VILLAGES — ^SCHOOLS. CHURCHES AND FRA- 
TERNAL ORGANIZATIONS — OTHER ITEMS OF LOCAL 
HISTORY. 

Township organization in Effingham County 
was adopted by popular vote in 1860, and went 
into operation in 1801, the first meeting of the 
Board of Supervisors lieing held on April 22d of 
the latter year, the county then being divided 
into thirteen townships which have been in- 
creased by subsequent divisions to fifteen. In 
the following pages will be found a history of 
individual townships arranged in alphabetical 
order : 



634 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



BANNER TOWNSHIP. 

Bauner Township, organized in 1874, from the 
northern part of Summit Township, is located 
In the middle of the northern tier of townships 
in Effingham County, and made up of the south 
half of Town 9 North, Range 5 East of the 
Third Principal Meridian. 

John Blngamau is the tirst recorded settler 
in the territory now embraced in Banner Town- 
ship, having located in the timber along the Lit- 
tle Wabash about 1840. Prior to this he had 
lived in Jaclison Township. In 1843 Jefferson 
Rentfrow came to the same locality, and located 
ou a farm, which he redeemed from the wilder- 
ness. Robert Shumard came here alwut the 
same time. Nathan Ramsey located east of the 
present site of Shumway in 1S49, and there were 
a number of other early settlers, all of whom 
had in mind the establishment of permanent 
homes. 

When settlement was first made here, Shelby- 
ville was the nearest source of supply, aii'l the 
roads were mere Indian trails. Com was the 
first crop, but several years later, wheat was 
planted and grown successfully. Banner Town- 
ship is now the best wheat-producing township 
in Effingham County. 

Unlilie some of the other townships, Banner 
early established churches, the first sen-ices hav- 
ing been conducted in the home of Nathan Ram- 
sey by Elder Henry Shelleuberger of the Old 
School Baptist denomination. A little later a 
log church was built on Wall Creek, and for 
some years the faithful gathered here to be min- 
istered to by traveling preachers. Later the 
congregation moved to Shumway. The German 
Methodists established a church on the north of 
Shumway about 1809. Other denominations 
followed, until Banner Township is as well sup- 
plied with places of worship as any other in 
Effingham County. 

While the people of Banner Township were 
anxious about their spiritual welfare, they did 
not neglect the intellectual development of their 
children, for they soon built a log school house, 
and placed F. M. Griffith in charge of the school. 
After twelve years of service, this little building 
burned. Another was built In Its place, also of 
logs, for the first frame schoolhouse was not put 
up until about 18t38 or 18G9, and stood north of 
Shumwa.v. In it was taught the first public 
school, by P. M. Griffith, and he was followed by 



Hester Ann Crollard, Maggie Means, Martha 
Means, Susan Small, Riley Walker and J. A. 
Arnold. The Paducah & Chicago Railroad 
passes through Banner Township. 

The village of Shumway was formerly a part 
of the farm of Hugh Dennis, one of the pioneers 
of the county, and he sold it to the Paducah & 
Chicago Railroad in 1863. The lots were not 
placed on the market until 1874, and the first to 
buy were Henry Bernard, Edward Meyer, M. M. 
Hemphill, Henry Metzler, and D. J. N. Phifer. 
The first house and blacksmith shop were owned 
by Fred Meyer, and about the same time M. M. 
Hemphill built a hotel. Dr. Phifer erected his 
house during the summer of 1874, and thus was 
the beginning of the village assured. Henry 
Bernard had the first store, and he carried a 
general stock calculated to supply all the needs 
of the people depending upon him for their 
goods. The second store was established by 
Henry Metzler in the fall of 1874. 

The first physician in Shumwa.v, and probably 
in the entire township was Dr. Phifer, and he 
was later followed by Drs. J. H. Cancer, J. B. 
Johnson, John Vandervort and George Haum- 
messer. 

Shumway's first school house was put up in 
1875, and Prof. J. A. Arnold, later County 
Superintendent, presided over its fortunes. The 
Shumway Flouring Mill was built in 1878 by 
Henry Bernard, and became an imixtrtant in- 
dustry. Several warehouses were also estab- 
lished, and Shumway became a center of a large 
shipping business. 

As Banner is essentially so religious a com- 
munit.v, the religious element is well represented 
here by a number of substantial churches, the 
Lutheran, the German Methodist and the St. 
Mary's Roman Catholic being among the oldest. 
As already explained. Banner Township was 
set off from Summit Township in 1874, and is 
bounded ou the noith by Shelby County, on the 
east by Douglas Township, on the south by Sum- 
mit and west by Liberty. The Little Wabash, 
Shoal and Moots Creeks water it, and at one 
time it was covered by heavy timber and under- 
growth. A good deal of the land was under wa- 
ter, but since its redemption through drainage, 
this hitherto valueless land has become the most 
desirable in the township, and those owning it 
are either refusing to sell or are quoting very 
high prices. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



635 



BISHOP TOWNSHIP. 

Bishop Township, one of the original town- 
ships of Effingham County, in the middle of the 
eastern tier of townships, embraces the whole 
of Town 7 North, Range 7 East. The township 
takes its name from Bishop Creek, which, with 
Salt Creek, waters this section. It is noted for 
its fruit, there being scarcely a farm within its 
confines where fruit-growing is not specialized. 
Wheat and corn are also grown extensively, but 
the soil is better suited for the raising of fruit, 
and the farmers have been quick to appreciate 
this fact. Stock growing has attracted the at- 
tracted the attention of many, and the ship- 
ments of stock form an important factor in the 
business life of this part of the county. 

The first settlement in Bishop Township was 
made in 1837 by Samuel Bishop, who gave his 
name to the creek and township. Others fol- 
lowed, but none seemed suited with this region, 
until Christian Reanien, a German, came here. 
With the patience and industry of his nation, 
he entered land and lived here the remainder 
of his life, dying in 1878. A Mr. Westendorf, 
also a German, settled here a year later. Until 
1842 these two were the only settlers in the 
township, but that year brought Elias Layton, 
Theophilus Wilson, William White and Thomas 
White, all from Ohio. Joseph Melson, John 
Tedrlck, Isaiah Wall and a Mr. Armstrong came 
here about 1844. In 1847 Ambrose Field es- 
tablished the prominent Field family in the 
township, as did Dr. Field. The latter entered 
land and taught school while continuing his 
medical studies, and he was the first physician 
in Bishop. The first mill was built by Mr. Arm- 
strong and was operated by horsepower, and 
another was built by Dr. White. 

The first election in the original precinct was 
held in 1848, at the home of Levi Jacobs, and 
the result was strongly Democratic. Schools 
were regarded of first importance, and there 
are some excellent schools now maintained in 
various parts of the township. The first reli- 
gious services were held at a private residence 
by Elder Stephen A. Williams, a Christian min- 
ister, who organized a church of that denomina- 
tion. The Methodists also held services early in 
the history of the township. The Catholic and 
Lutheran churches bore their part in the re- 
ligious development, and all have flourishing 
congregations. 



EUiottstowu, the principal village of Bishop 
Township, was surve.ved June 17, 1854, for 
Smith Elliott, who gave his name to the place. 
Dr. L. J. Field and E. A. Elliott had already 
built houses, and they were followed by others 
who recognized the possibilities of the new town. 
There had been a ix)st-oflice established here, 
with Dr. Field as Postmaster. Robert Evans 
opened a store, and in 1854 John Marble started 
another. In 1855 H. L. Smith opened up a third, 
and now the mercantile interests of this thriv- 
ing village are well represented by several 
stores, conducted by merchants of public-spirit 
and enterprise. The hotel here was established 
by George Dye, who also operated a drug store. 
Dr. Field was the first physician, and was fol- 
lowed by Drs. Abbott, Hughes, Sloan, Johnson, 
Lesseur, Shindle and Larrabee. 

The first school in Elliottstown was taught 
by John Russ, beginning with the fall of 1856, 
in a small frame building. Samuel Field, H. B. 
Kepley and W. B. Hannawalt are remembered 
as early teachers, and a number of the leading 
men of the township laid the foundations of a 
broader education under them. The Baptist 
Church was organized .March 27, 1852, at the 
residence of Samuel Elliott. The Christian 
Church dates its beginnings back to 1866, and 
other denominations are here repre.sented, al- 
though they are of later gi-owth. The people of 
Elliottstown are law-abiding, intelligent citizens 
who are proud of their progress, their schools 
and churches, and are eager to add to their 
improvements. 

Delia Lodge, No. 525, A. F. & A. M. has the 
distinction of being the first fraternal organiza- 
tion in Elliottstown. but of late years other 
orders have been organized here. 

The village of Dieterich was laid out by M. 
Dieterich, and it was surve.ved January 8, 1881. 
It is on the Springfield, Efliugham & South- 
eastern Railroad, and is a shipping center for 
the agricultural district surrounding, and sev- 
eral important warehouses and elevators are 
located here. Naturally several stores have also 
sprung up about this prairie village. .Tohn 
Richards was the first Postmaster of the place, 
and he was succeeded by Dr. Chapman, the 
first physician here. 

Grace^ille was surveyed February 5. 1881, 
for John Grace, and it adjoins Dieterich. It, 
too. is a shipping center, but without much indi- 
vidual history. These three places — Elliotts- 



636 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



town, Dieterich and Graceville — make up tlie 
quota of villages in Bishop, and tbey control the 
large amount of shipping of gi-ain and stock 
done from their part of the county. 



DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP. 

Douglas Township first included all of Town 
8 North, and the south half of Towti 9 North, 
Range G East, but in December, 1863, the east 
half of Town 8 North, was organized into what 
is now Teutopolls Township. The present town- 
ship Is therefore made up of the south half of 
T. 9 N., R. 6 E., and the west half of T. 8 N., 
R. 6 E., and is bounded on the north hy Shelby 
County, on the east by Cumberland County and 
Teutopolls Township, south by Watson and Teu- 
topolls Townships and west by Summit and Ban- 
ner Townships, with the Little Wabash River 
draining it. The principal city of the c-ounty is 
located In this tomishlp. being Effingham, which 
is the county-seat. The remainder of this town- 
ship Is given up to agricultural activities. 

The first settlers of the township were Isa*c 
Slover. James Cartwright, James Leavitt, Jef- 
ferson La^igfbrd, John Ganuaway, James and 
Nathan Ramsey, Aaron Williams, Richard 
Cohea and othei-s. In the list of Germans who 
located in the townsbip prior to 1840, are to be 
found the names of Joseph Bernard, Henry and 
George Koester, Ferdinand Braum. Joseph Feld- 
hake. Matthias lloenniug, Joseph Boessing, Ger- 
hard OstbofC, Fr. Hoffman, Bernard Vogt, John 
Fecbtrop. Bernard Detei-s, Fred Grimmeg, Ar- 
nold Kreke. Joseph Suer, Henry Herboth and 
many others. 

The second Catholic Church organized in Ef- 
fingham County was located ofi Green Creek 
Tn the northern part of the to^^^lship. and is the 
Maria Help or Green Creek Church. This was 
established in 1857 by the Rev. Father Frauen- 
hofer. 

Effingham City is situated at the intersection 
of the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central 
and the Vandalia Railroads, and at the end of 
the Wabash and the Effingham & Southeastern 
Narrow-Guage lines. The town was originally 
named Broughton, for Gov. John Brough, of 
Ohio, who was then the principal promoter of 
the Vandalia Railroad line, but this name was 
dropiied in ISTjS. The plat of Effingham, proper, 



was made by James M. Healey, Deputy County 
Surveyor, September 12, 1855, and a number of 
additions have since been made to it, until the 
population now numbers something between 
4,000 and 5,000. 

Tbe first store In Effingham was opened in 
1854 by William Dorsey, from Princeton, Ind. 
Tlie post-office, before the appointment of a 
Postmaster was called Wehunka, but this name 
was later changed to Effingham, and John 
Hoeuy was made the first Postmaster and 
George Scoles was his successor. 

The first regular hotel was tbe Central House, 
located west of the Illinois Central tracks, and 
was kept by Dr. Bishop about 1855-56, but he 
soon sold It to John Woods, who was succeeded 
by Samuel Fleming. There are a number of 
first-class hostelries in Effingham, which are 
noted for their admirable cuisine and com- 
fortable quarters. 

Dr. George Scoles was the first practicing 
physician of Effingham, located there about 1857, 
and continued for many years. Dr. Farley was 
also an early and much beloved physician, and 
there are many others whose names might well 
be added to the roster. 

Craddock & Habing organized the first bank- 
ing institution of Effingham, in 1866. in the Lit- 
tle Building, and this was continued until 1873, 
when the firm was dissolved. Tbe Effingham 
Bank was founded in 1879 b.v F. A. Von Gassy. 
Other financial institutions have sprung up, and 
some are still in existence, while others have 
pas.sed out or been absorbed b.v the larger ones. 

Effingham is essentially a residence city. Its 
beautiful streets and avenues Ijelng lined with 
some of the most handsome and modem homes 
to be foimd in this part of the State. Manufac- 
turing interests are not largely represented here 
for that very reason, for the men of this locality, 
realizing the beauty of the place, have hesitated 
to invade it vrith the smoke and grime so much 
a part of large plants of this character in other 
cities. However, the city has a large enough 
number of manufactories to give employment to 
a considerable projiortion of the population, and 
the products rank well in the markets of the 
country. 

The big fire of 1863 will long be remembered 
for its destructive nature, and there have been 
several others of less importance, but now the 
citj- has a very fully equipped fire department 




AUSTIN OPERA HOISE, EI-FINXtHAM. ILL. 



effixgha:\i county 



637 



and is able to handle the tires with which it 
may be visited. 

The village of Effingham was incoriwrated, 
but no record of that act can be found. In 1867 
it bec-ame a city with B. F. Kagay as Mayor; 
E. H. Bishop, Clerk; Wesley Spitler, R, E. 
Moore. W. H. St. Clair and Fred Mindi-up as the 
first Board of Aldermen. 

The first church to be established in Effing- 
ham was the Methodist, presided over by Rev. 
ilr. Graham in 1S35. The Baptist Church was 
oi^anized in 1S61. by Elder Uriah McKay. The 
St. Anthony's Catholic Church was organized 
iu 1858 by Father Bartels. The Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South, was organized by Rev. 
Mr. Luther iu 1865, but is now extinct. St. 
Mary's Mission Episcopal Church was estab- 
lished by Rev. John W. Osborne about 1871. 
The first Presbyterian Church of Effingham 
dates back to November 13, 1864, when it was 
organized in the court house by Revs. A. T. 
Norton and S. R. Bissell. St. John's Lutheran 
Church was organized in 1864 by Rev. Charles 
Meyer. 

There are many fraternal organizations in 
Effingham, of which only passing mention can be 
given. The Free Masons were established in 
the county at Ewington, February 10, 1854, 
with James M. Long as Master. 

Effingham has always been noted for the ex- 
cellence of its schools, and, from its very begin- 
ning, the foundation and maintenance of schools 
occupied the minds of the settlers. The first 
school was presided over by John Hoeny. who 
began in 1855, and Alexander S. Moffitt taught 
the second school. Now the school system is one 
of the best in the State, and the teachers rank 
with the highest. The buildings are thoroughly 
modem, and the methods are the liest known in 
pedagogy. 

The sick are taken care of iu Mercy Hospital, 
a city institution, under the care of the Fran- 
ciscan Sisters of Mercy, and was established 
by St. Anthony's congregation. 

Effingham is one of the best examples of a 
flourishing mid-state city that can be found in 
the country. It is conveniently located, both as 
to transportation, and climatic conditions; is 
the center of a rich farming community that 
looks to it as a natural source of supply, and is 
the home of a number of wealthy men who have 
retired from their farms. Effingham is a city 
of homes, and its people are not transients, but 



are bound to it by ties of property as well as 
friendship, so that its government is stable, 
and its improvements made for all time, and not 
to gratify an empty love of display. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

Jackson, one of the central townships of Ef- 
fingham County, embraces all of Town 7 North, 
Range 5 East. For many years the laud in the 
township was considered of little worth, as much 
of it lay under water, but now, owing to the 
present drainage s.vstem, it is included with the 
most valuable in Efflugham Count.v. It lies in 
the Wabash bottoms, southwest from Effingham 
City, bounded on the north by Summit To-n-n- 
ship, on tlie east by Watson, on the south by 
Mason and on the west by Mound. The Little 
Wabash flows through it, and with its tribu- 
taries, gives it all the water it can stand. The 
trees of the bottom lands were walnut, papaw, 
Cottonwood, sycamore, sugar maple, buckeye, 
soft maple, whUe on the ridges were to be found 
the different oaks, hlekoi-y and other hardy 
growth. 

The first settlement in what is now Jackson 
Township was made by Isaac Fancher in 1825. 
A couple of .years later, his brother Byron came 
on and located here too. They were both na- 
tives of Tennessee. Indeed a good deal of Effing- 
ham County was settled by Southern people, 
who sought in the new lands a home free from 
the conflicting questions of the day, that were to 
terminate later on in the greatest struggle the 
world has ever known. Ben Campbell was the 
next settler, he coming about 1826, and he was 
followed by Jesse and Jack Fuller, Thomas I.. 
Fred and William Brockett, and in 1829 by 
Samuel Bratton, Andrew Lilly, Henry Tucker, 
Willijim Stephens. In 18.30 there were many 
settlements made by men who wanted to make 
permanent homes in the wilderness. None of 
these pioneers were afraid of hard work; they 
came prepared to subdue the wild land and con- 
quer adverse circumstances, and the.v succeeded 
beyond their wildest expectations. An interest- 
ing circumstance is. that the first births in the 
townships were those of twins, born of different 
parents in the same house on the same night. A 
son was bom to Stephen Austin, and a daughter 
to Thomas I. Brockett. The first death resulted 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



tvum au aicident. Isaac Fulfer was caught by 
a fallhii; limb and killed. The first graveyard 
was located uear Freeniantoii, but there were a 
number of private graveyards, it being quite an 
ordinai-y thing for people to be buried on the 
property they had owned while living. 

Naturally thos*? jx^ople living along the water 
courses Imilt mills sooner than the ones who 
lived further in the interior, and Jackson soon 
had its uiills, Brockett probably establishing the 
first. Funkliouser had a horse mill ; Tucker 
established another, and others were built as 
there was nwd of them. They were all primi- 
tive affairs, but served their purpose. 

At first there were no roads, paths through 
tlie timber serving. The old National Road 
runs through a corner of Jackson Township. 
The first voting place was in the house of 
Thomas I. Brockett, and the first store in the 
township was opened in 18.3.3 by John Fiuik- 
houser. This store was a large one for the 
times, and Mr. Fnnkhouser did an e.^cten.sive 
business. 

The first school in Jackson Township was 
taught by Elisha Parkhurst in tlie stable owned 
by Thomas I. Brockett, and Col. Houston had 
another. As tile number of the children in- 
creased, better facilities were furnished, i.ntil 
now the schools of Jackson compare favorably 
with any other farming district in the State, 
and pupils from them are constantly entering 
the larger institutions of learning throughout 
the country. 

Naturally churches were founded soon after 
the settlement, although of course the first serv- 
ices were held in the houses of the pioneers. 
Tlie Baptists seem to liave been the leailers in 
the religious movement here, the first pi-o«cher. 
Elder Whitely being of that faith. The Metho- 
dists were not far behind tlieir Baptist brethren, 
and now there are a number of flourishing 
churches in different parts of the towmsliip, hav- 
ing excellent congregations and doing a good 
■work. 

The village of Freemanton. in the east half of 
the northwest <iuarter of Section 7 of the town- 
ship, was laid out June 21, 18.34, William and 
John Freeman being among the earliest settlers, 
and the place named in their lioner. The ori- 
ginal name was The X Roads, but as it gained 
an unsavory reputation on account of the drink- 
ing and gambling, which was carried on under 
the old rule, when the village was laid out, the 



name was changed. The first store at Free- 
manton was probably kept by a Mr. Johnson, 
a Mr. Jenks was the first blacksmith, and a 
iwst-otfice was established with Milton Flack 
as Postmaster, but this was removed to De.\ter. 
The first tavern was kept by Toothaclvcr. The 
Methodists were early in starting a church by 
the graveyard, with the Rev. Mr. Ix)wry in 
charge. Until the railroads were built Freeman- 
ton was prosjierous, but now its glory has de- 
parted. 

Dexter is another village of Jackson Town- 
ship, located on the Vandalia Railroad. .\ store 
was opened there by II. II. Brown ; a Meth- 
odist church was established, and the place has 
an excellent school. 

Still another village, Granville, is on the 
maps, although as a village It lias disapjwared. 
It was surveyed by Samuel Houston for John 
I"\inkhouser and William Clark. There were 
a few stores and houses there, hut they disap- 
peared, leaving nothing but a memory behind 
them. 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 

This townshi]), lying in the northwest corner 
of Effingham County, consists of the south half 
of Town North, Range 4 East. It is of the 
same size as Banner To\\Tiship, these two being 
the smallest tovvaiships in the county, each cover- 
ing an area of eighteen square miles. The town- 
ship, however, has a history of its own that is 
very interesting to those who have helped to 
make It, or who can trace back to those who are 
intimately as.sociated with its early develop- 
ment. Liberty is south of Sheiiiy County, west 
of Banner Township, north of Moccasin Town- 
ship, and east of Fayette County. Along the 
water courses timber was found in abundance, 
the trees being oak, hickory, walnut, elm, syca- 
more, sugar majile and cottonwood. Wolf Creek 
runs through the township, and furnishes a 
good natural drainage, hut the farmers have 
found it necessary to do considerable tiling. 
Moore Creek empties into Wolf Creek. The 
Springfield Division of the Baltimore & Ohio 
SouthwesteiTi Railroad runs through the tomi- 
ship, and there are suflicient transportation facil- 
iti(>s to accommodate the shipments of grain 
and live stock. 

The early settlers of Liberty Township came 




VAN LA.Ml' >.! /.\l,i■,,^r^. .K 1 . j-.i- i- 1 M ,1 1 AM. ILL 




JEFFERSON STREET. EFFEN(iHA.M, ILL. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



639 



from New England, Ohio, Indiana, the various 
Soutliem States, from Germany, England and 
Ireland, and they have blended together into 
one of the most patriotic communities to be 
found in Illinois. Among the very early set- 
tlers were the Coxes, who came from Tennessee, 
and there were also Thomas Button, George 
Eecles, Allsop, Alexander Bylaski, George Super- 
oskl, Dennis Stebbins, Samuel L<ortou, and many 
others who combined to make the loc-ality what 
it now is — a delightful place in which to live, 
and the center of some of the most valuable 
farming lands in the State. 

Beecher City is the only village in the town- 
ship, and the station of the railroad. It was 
recorded April 8, 1872, and was named for the 
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, who was then in the 
zenith of his fame. The first store here was es- 
tablished by Miller & Nelson. Jennings Broth- 
ers had the second, and there are now a num- 
ber, and all are in a flourishing condition. A 
post-ottice was soon established with H. L. 
Beecher as Postmaster. The churches and 
schoolhouse are among the best in the county, 
and the people take a pride in them and their 
proper care. Many of the secret societies are 
well represented, for the people recognize their 
value. 



LUCAS TOWNSHIP. 

Lucas Towaiship, embracing Towns 6 North, 
Range 7 East, is located in the southeast corner 
of Effliip-ham County, and is bounded on the east 
by Jasper, and south by Clay County. It long 
enjoyed the distinction of being the only Repub- 
lican township in a strongly Democratic county, 
and proudly made its returns. In 186.3 there 
was but one Democratic vote cast in the entire 
township, — a very remarkable occurrence, but 
indicating the sturdy loyalty of the ma.ss of its 
citizens in Civil War days. 

As this township offered excellent opportuni- 
ties for a successful agricultural life, many set- 
tlers flocked there. Probably William MoiTis 
was the first, he coming here in 18.30. His place 
of settlement is known as Morris' Field. The 
next pioneer was from Kentucky, he locating 
near Lucas Creek in 1831. Until 1840 there 
were no permanent settlements made, but in 
that year a number located in this vicinity. In 
1845 there was a regular influx of settlei-s, and 



the township began to assume some of the aspects 
of a partially settled region. W. C. Davis, Wil- 
liam and Henry Lake, and John L. Baty'came 
about 1840. There was hard work ahead of 
all of the pioneers when they came here to 
make a home for themselves, but there seems 
to be no recxird of their shirking their responsi- 
bilities. Evidently they expected hardships, and 
took them as a matter of course. 

The first mill was a small one oijerated by 
horsejx)«-er. As time went on, good roads were 
established, schools were founded, churches were 
erected, and the people felt that there was no 
longer any necessity to consider themselves pio- 
neers, for they had become old residents. 

In the fall of lS4(i the first marriage in the 
township took place, when Jesse Marion and a 
Miss Greenwood were united. The first school 
was taught by Dr. Field, and the second one 
was presided over by James Gibson. The first 
public school was taught by Elizabeth Taylor. 
All the old conditions governing educational 
matters have passed away, giving place to all 
the new ideas, that have resultetl in the estab- 
lishment in this country of the finest school 
system in the world. 

Lucas Township was not backward in secur- 
ing places of worship. The first preacher was 
Rev. George Monical, a Methodist preacher, who 
held services in 1846 at the home of Edward 
Sanderson. Alexander Ortrey was also an early 
minister of the township. The Lutherans are 
strong in this locality, as are the Baptists. The 
Presljyterians once had a church here, but there 
were not enough of this denomination to justify 
the maintenance of a church organization. 

The Eberle i)ost-office was established in 1867, 
with Dr. Allen as Postmaster. When the Civil 
War claimed so many loyal men. Lucas Town- 
ship was not lacking in patriotism, but contri- 
buted many of its brave men to the mighty con- 
flict, some of whom never returned. 



MASON TOWNSHIP. 

Ma.wn Township, in the southern tier of Ef- 
fingham County townships, and embracing all 
of Town 6 North, Range 5 East, is one of the 
oldest of the divisions of Effingham Countj-, and 
includes several prosperous villages. It is not 
a manufacturing center, however, the business 



640 



effi.\gha:m county 



of the entire section being devoted almost solely 
to agi-ic-ultural interests. Tlie settlement of tliis 
part of tlie county occurred in 1829, its tirst 
settlers c-oming eliiefly from Tennessee. Jobna- 
than ParkJiurst is cue of the earliest pioneers; 
John McCoy, Alexander Stewart and several by 
the name of Lilly came a little later, followed by 
John Broom, Benjamin Allen and others. The 
tirst wheat planted in Eliingham, was sown by 
these last two named. Additional pioneers were 
John and Joslah Stewart, Andrew Martin, John 
Trapp and Isaac L- Leith. 

The first school in the township was taught 
by Col. Sam Houston. The first preachers were 
the Kevs. Whitely and Surrells, belonging to 
the Regular Baptists, and they held servic-es 
in private houses. The Wabash Church was or- 
ganized in ISIO, and was of the Missionary 
Baptist faith. A log church was built, followed 
in ISGO by a more pretentious structure. 

The Tillage of Mason is a beautiful little town 
on the Illinois Central Railroad, twelve miles 
south of EBingham, which was surveyed and 
platted by George Wright for Aaron W. Henry, 
Josiah W. Robinson and Robert M. Rankin, who 
owned the land. Additions have since been 
made. Mason was known originally as Bristol, 
but it was absorbed in the later town. A. W. 
Heni-j- was the first merchant of Mason, as well 
as the first Postmaster. The second store was 
kept by Stephen Hardin. 

The first residence in STason was Imilt by Mr. 
Rankin, and he ojiened a hotel in it. Whiting 
Averj- taught the first school of Mason, which 
was conducted on the subscription plan. Now 
the school system is excellent, the town being 
proud of it, and sparing no expense to provide 
comfortable buildings and eflicieut teachers, rea- 
lizing to the utmost the grave imiMrtanee of 
furnishing first-class educational facilities to 
the growing generation. 

The Methodists and Baptists early established 
churches in Mason, and are in a flourishnig 
condition. The fraternal soc-ieties have a good 
representation in Mason, and rank well with 
other lodges. 

Mason was very patriotic during the Civil 
War. and in the spring of 1863 a paper was es- 
tablished called the L'>J/a7i>^ which was devoted 
to the cause of the Union. 

The village was incorporated in 1865 under 
an act of the Legislature. While the business 
Interests of this to^-n are not as extensive as 



those of Etfingham or Altamont, the various 
houses are in an excellent financial condition, 
and, as a residence district, it offers advantages 
ditticult to be bettered. 

Edgewood is another village of Mason Town- 
shij) that is a desirable place for those seeking 
a pleasant home in a somewhat retired neigh- 
borhood. It is located at the crossing of the 
Illinois Central and the Springfield Division of 
the Baltimore & Ohio. S. W. Railroad, in the 
south half of the northeast quarter. It was sur- 
veyed and platted in 1857 for the Illinois Central 
Railroad. The first house in it was built by 
James Buckner, and the next was built by Byron 
Woodhull. Ichabod Stedman kept the first 
store, which he opened in 1859. The iX)st-offiee 
was located in 1858, with Byron Woodlnill as 
Postmaster. Ichabod Stedman built a flourmill. 
The Methodists established themselves here in 
1870. St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church was 
founded in 1866, with Father Kellin as first 
priest. Like the other villages in Effingham 
County, Edgewood has its quota of fraternal or- 
ganizations, the ilasons numbering the largest 
membership, the lodge having been established 
here in October, 1866. 

The village of Edgewood was Incorporated in 
1869 with the following Board of Trustees: 
E. Barbee, James Johnson, J. F. Erwin. Joseph 
Fieehs and Joseph Hall, with E. Barbee as 
President and Joseph Hall, Clerk. 



MOCCASIN TOWNSHIP. 

This township, located in the western tier of 
townships in Etfingham County, includes in its 
area the whole of Town 8 North, Range 4 East. 
Tl\e name Moccasin indicates that, at one time, 
this locality was the home of the deadly Moi:- 
casin snake, when a goodly portion of it lay 
submerged by water and its fallow acres brought 
forth nothing but rank swamp grasses, and bred 
the miasma so fatal to the settlers who ventured 
into this part of the wilderness. Moccasin and 
Wolf Creeks flow through its territory, which 
now is the location of some of the most fertile 
and valuable farms in the State. The names 
of these streams were given them by the pioneer 
Griffin Tipsword, who was the first settler of 
the county, locating in this vicinity. The tim- 
ber of this locality consisted of white oak, hick- 





'€^, 



P! « 





i;i-,Mlil-.-\Xl-. I>1- 11 11 l.Ali,l-,\, .\l.; .\.M' 'N 1. 11. L, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



641 



ory, walnut, cottonwood, sugar maple and elm. 
The boundaries of tUe township are Liberty 
Township on the north, Summit on the east, 
Mound on the south, and Fayette County on the 
west. 

The Tipswords were quite active in the his- 
tory of Moccasin Township, but Moses Doty 
became prominent later, though he did not lo- 
cate here until 1840. When he came to this 
region he found S. R. Powell, Thomas Perry, 
John Scully, J. P. and Hiram Doty, Samuel 
Cuuuiugham, Edward and Samuel Mahou, Jesse 
and Daniel Doty already here, and probably all 
of these came between 1830 and 1840. 

Moses Doty, who has given much effort to- 
wards the compilation of c-ouuty and township 
liistory, tells many interesting stories in his 
published articles of those early days. Accord- 
ing to him the people of Jloccasin were not 
backward in securing educational advantages 
for their clilldren, and Samuel Mahon was the 
first teacher. The first preacher of whom there 
is any record was Boleyjack, and he held meet- 
ings in the houses of the settlers. The Metho- 
dist Episcopal church was the first to be built 
in the township. It was built about 1854-55, 
and later was established an excellent school. 
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was 
organized and a church edifice built in 1868-69. 
The German Methodist Church is also repre- 
sented here. 

The village of Moccasin is on the Wabash 
Railroad and was named after Moccasin Town- 
ship. Snook & Ross opened the first store here. 
The village was surveyed in 1872 for Benjamin 
Jones, Joseph Yaruall and J. H. Miller, who 
were the proprietors. While it is small, it is 
in an excellent condition, and considerable ship- 
ping is done from this point. However, like 
many of the other townships of Effingham, Moc- 
casin is more important as an agricultural neigh- 
borhood, and its residents are substantial 
farmers who look to other neighborhoods for 
their social advantages, as well as for business 
transactions. 



MOUND TOWNSHIP. 

Mound Township, located on the western bor- 
der of Effingham County immediately south of 
Moccasin Township, is identical in area with 
Town 7 North, Range 4 East. The second town 



in point of iwpulatiou, it is one of the most 
flourishing subdivisions of Eflingham County, 
and the center of some of the most valuable 
farming land in this part of the State. It is 
watered by Big Creek, Coon Creek, and several 
smaller streams. On the north Mound is 
bounded by Moccasin Township, east by Jack- 
sou, south by West Township and west by Fay- 
ette County. The Vandalia, the Springfield Divi- 
sion of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern, and 
the Wabash Railroads furnish excellent 
transportation. 

Perhaps one of the first settlers of the town- 
ship bore the name of Moore. He located in the 
eastern part of the township, but this family 
had no relationship to the present Moores of 
Blue Mound. John C. Deffenbaugh, William 
Ashton, James Grant, Peter Coleman, Daniel 
Conner, John Armstrong, Alfred Newman, 
James Woodruff, Nelson Wallace, Peter Poor- 
man were also very early settlers. James Stev- 
enson and George Ingraham are also numbered 
among those who early located in Mound Town- 
ship. 

The southern part of the township was settled 
largely by Germans, and they naturally estab- 
lished their church as soon as possible, prior 
to 1860, and it was of the German Lutheran 
faith. A log building was put up about 1862, 
and in 1868 a fine edifice was erected at a cost 
of $8,000, said to be the best in Effingham 
County. At the same time a town plat was laid 
out, a store was opened, and a post-office estab- 
lished, but the settlement did not flourish. 
There is also another church of the Lutheran 
faith in Mound Township, the Hilleman Church, 
which was established in 1860. 

The scuools of Mound Township not only are 
good but beyond the average, and are governed 
by teachers of a superior order. The people 
of this township have always been interested in 
educational matters, and have seen to it that 
the children are given every opportunity along 
this line. 

Altamont, the principal town of the town- 
ship, was laid out by J. W. Conologue, the first 
Superintendent of the Vandalia Railroad, the 
plat being recorded July 19, 1870. The first lot 
was bought by Abner Dutton ; R. S. Cutter 
bought the second, and opened a store. Daniel 
Boyer, Dr. J. N. Groves, H. H. Brown, J. C. 
Russell and Mr. Broom were the next settlers, 
and from then on the little settlement flourished. 



642 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



The town Is beautifully located at the crossing 
of the Vaudalia and the Springfield Division of 
the Baltimore & Ohio S. W. Kailroads, and a 
numher of additions have been made to the origi- 
nal plat. Mound Township derived its name be- 
cause of its elevation, and the name Altamont 
was given to the new town for the same reason. 

The first hotel was built in 1871 by Daniel 
Boyer, and named after him, the Boyer House. 
The Altamont House is also a well known hos- 
telrj-. Ben Brazil was the first blacksmith. 
There had been a post-offlce established at Mont- 
ville, on the National Road, several miles south 
of Altamont, but it was moved to the latter 
place in 1871, and the first Postmaster was G. 
H. Melville. The town is a center for several 
Important manufacturing industries, being ad- 
mirably suited for such purposes on account of 
its transportation facilities. The grain business 
of the town is very large, farmers from the 
country surrounding, marketing their product 
here. 

The Altamont Bank was established in July, 
1874, and was the first financial institution of 
the town. The founder was George Mittendorf. 
In 1876 another bank was established by C. M. 
Wright & CM. 

On September 4, 1870, the railroad station 
was opened, and this resulted in the establish- 
ment of the town. Naturally a newspaper fol- 
lowed, and the Altamont News and the Courier 
divided honors. The first school here was taught 
by George Poorman, and the first schoolhouse 
was put up in 1870, to be followed in 1874 by 
substantial buildings. 

The German Reformed Church was founded 
in 1872; the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran 
Church was founded in 187.3; the Methodist 
Episcopal Church was founded in 1S72; St. 
Clare's Roman Catholic Church had its begin- 
nings in 1874. The cemetery is one of the most 
beautiful iu the county, and is well kept up by 
the Town Trustees. 

Hale Johnson was the first lawyer of Alta- 
mont, coming here in 1873. W. S. Holmes and 
P. K. Johnson were also among the early legal 
representatives. 

Nearly all the fraternal societies are repre- 
sented in Mound Township. Of course, the 
Masonic order is firmly established, as well as 
the Odd Fellows, Modem Woodmen, Knights of 
Pythias and others. 

Altamont was organized as a town in 1871, 



and as a village in 1872, the first Board of 
Trustees being Daniel Boyer, J. M. Huffman, J. 
Holtz, A. H. Dutton and W. L. Snook, with Mr. 
Boyer as President, and Mr. Hugg as Olerk. 



ST. FRANCIS TOWNSHIP. 

Located in the northeast corner of Effingham 
County, St Francis Township embraces in area 
the whole of Town 8 North, Range 7 East. The 
township is one of the richest farming sections 
in this part of the State. The soil is a rich 
black loam, which pi-oduces magnificent crops. 
There was more prairie than timber land in 
this township, although at one time Salt Creek 
was heavily wooded with hickory, oak, elm, syc- 
amore, maple and walnut. This township is in 
the wheat belt, although corn, rye, oats, barley, 
flax and other cereals are grown profitably. 

This township was not settled as early as 
some of the others, although there seems no 
reason why it should not have been, except, per- 
haps, that it was not as heavily wooded, and in 
the early days the pioneers sought the timber 
regions because they needed wood for fuel, build- 
ing houses and inclosing fields. It is generally 
supposed that the first settler was a German 
named Taela, who came here in the years be- 
tween 1840 and 1845, with his family from Cin- 
cinnati. The next settler was probably Abraham 
Marble, who was from Ohio and came in 1845. 
His settlement was made on the present site of 
Montrose, on the .stage line of the National 
Road, and he kept a hotel. There was a little 
settlement formed on the National Road by Kit 
Radly, who kept a hotel which did not bear a 
good name, and, fortunately, he did not prosper 
for long. H. B. Hobbings, John H. Wernsing, 
and B. H. Dryer were later settlers. Henry 
Rump, John Lorkins, the Hartlips, and many 
others came here, located property and began 
to develop farms out of the wild lands. 

When the township was still new some of the 
pioneers had to go to Terre Haute for neces- 
sities, so that they were forced to depend upon 
game and the scanty crops for much of their 
food, and the early settlers knew how to get 
along in ways that would astonish their de- 
scendants. 

In St. Francis, the Methodists did the mis- 
sionary work, although the XiUtherans have be- 




^^^t^^MU^^-.-^^^^^ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



643 



come very strong and closely followed their 
Metbodist brethren. The first church was es- 
tablished by the Lutherans, in 1868, by Rev. 
H. H. Holtermeiu, in a schwjlhouse, but in 1871 
a more commodious structure was reared to 
meet the requirements of the rapidly increasing 
congregation. The religious spirit has always 
been very strong in St. Francis. 

The first settlers of this township did not es- 
tablish schools as early as some others, because 
of the better advantages offered by Cumberland 
County. Hovfever, about 1854 Miss Lizzie RoUe 
taught a little school west of Montrose. The 
first school building was put up by Newton Gib- 
bon, in 1S56. Now, however, there are fine 
schools all-over the township, presided over by 
teachers carefully selected and of exceptional 
ability. 

Transportation is furnished by the Vandalia 
Railroad, and when it was completed in ISGS. 
realty took a decided leap, and has been in- 
creasing in value ever since. On account of tbe 
installation of proper drainage, much of land 
formerly regarded as worthless has been re- 
deemed, and now yields magnificent crops. 
Strange to say there are very few mills in St. 
FIraucis Township, the only one of any im- 
portance being that put up by John F. Wasehe- 
fort, near Teutopolis, which is a combination 
lumber and grain mill. 

The only village in the township is Montrose, 
on the Vandalia Railroad, which has a popula- 
tion of four to five hundred. This was laid out 
by Calvin Mitchell, and the first building was 
put up by Browning and Schooley as a store 
house. They laid in a stock of general merchan- 
dise, and carried on an extensive business for 
several years. Another store building was put 
up, and in 1871 a third came into being. This 
last was built by P. H. Wiwi, who also built a 
grain storehouse and operated extensively along 
both lines. Still later he embarked in a live 
stock business, and was one of the most wealthy 
and influential men of the township. About 1871 
a blacksmith shop was established at Montrose 
by James Tubert, and the Brazil House was the 
first hotel, the James House becoming the sec- 
ond hostelry. Dr. John Hohnson located here 
about a year after the village was established, 
and he was followed by Drs. Hallenbeck. Glad- 
well. Schefner, Minter and Park. 

Owing to the grain and live-stock shipni'^its 
made from Montrose, the railroad laid a switch 



here, and later built a depot, which has been 
well patronized. 

Miss Eva Gilmore taught the first school in 
Montrose, but now there is an exc-ellent graded 
.school. The religious spirit of the community 
has manifested itself in the erection of several 
places of worship, although the Methodists and 
Roman Catholics were the first to locate here. 
Taking the village, all in all, it probably exhibits 
more lines of commercial industry than any 
other place of its size in the State, and the 
public-spirit displayed by its people has re- 
sulted in a beautifully kept town, and the erec- 
tion of residences that c-ompare favorably with 
those in any of the other townships in Effing- 
ham County. 



SUMMIT TOWNSHIP. 

Summit Township, comprising the territory 
embraced in Town 8 North, Range 5 East, lies 
west of Douglas Township, and contains some of 
the best fai-ms in the county. Originally the 
land was fairly well divided between prairie 
and timber land, the latter lying along the Wa- 
bash River, and consisting of walnut, sugar ma- 
ple, burr oak, poplar, oottonwood, buckeye, 
hackberry, soft maple ; while on the ridges were 
to be found white-oak, pin-oak, post-oak, red- 
oak and hickory. Summit Township is much 
better drained than Effingham and Douglas 
Townships. 

Summit Township originally belonged to Ban- 
ner Township, and was not separated from that 
township until June, 1874. The Vandalia and 
two branches of the Wabash Railroad pass 
through it, but the Vandalia is the only one 
that has a shipping point within its limits. 

The first white people to .settle in Summit 
Township were Alexander JleWhorter, Robert 
Moore, John Trapp and the Renfros who came 
here in 1830, and others followed. In 1831 
others came to swell the little settlement. The 
first marriage in Summit Township was that 
of Alexander McWhorter and a Miss Loy, In 
182G. The first death was that of old "Grand- 
daddy" Hankins. 

The old National Road, also called the Cum- 
berland, passed through the southern part of 
the township, where the Vandalia Railroad 
now runs, and it was the highway of commerce. 
Lining it were the taverns, the stores and the 



644 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



leading farms of the locality. A man by the 
name of Keed kept the first tavern ; Judge Gil- 
lenwaters kept one of the early ones, as did 
Charles Kinzie. William H. Blakely sold the 
first goods here, and a Mr. Fisher was the first 
blacksmith. In 1832-33 the first mill was built 
in Summit Township, near Ewiugton. and was 
ojjerated by a Mcintosh. Jlr. Reed built a 
horse-mill iu Evvington, and later the fii-st grist- 
mill. 

The first bridge in the township was built 
over the Little Wabash, about 1838, and was a 
toll bridge, but in 1847 It was made free by 
the Legislature, the act to go into effect ten 
years later. It was washed away in 1872-73, 
and was never re-built, there being an excellent 
one tno miles north of the old site. The first 
mail was brought from Terra Haute over the 
National Road to St. Louis, once a week. 
Later another was established between Fair- 
field and Shelbyville, passing through Ewington. 

The name of Summit was given to the town- 
ship because the gi-eater part of it is higher 
than the surrounding country. 

The first school was taught by Dr. John 
Gillenwaters and all of the schools were ^sub- 
scription until 1838. The first preadier of the 
towniship was a Methodist, and he was suc- 
ceeded by a Mr. Chamberlain. The first church 
edifice was a log building on Section 2, and it 
was used for school purposes as well, put up 
in 1852. Later it became a barn. The Bap- 
tist denomination was founded here in 1872. and 
the Etowell Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
was founded in 1874-75. 

Ewington, the original county-seat, is located 
in Summit, but it is no longer of any importance. 
It was incorporated as a village in 1855, but in 
1860 the county-seat was removed to Effingham, 
as its location was regarded as more convenient. 
The old court-house is now used as a poor- 
house. 

Funkhouser was laid out in 1869 by C. A. 
Van Allen. Wilson Funkhouser kept a store 
here, and established quite a large grain busi- 
ness. He was also Postmaster, but the import- 
ance of this village has also departed. 

Summit therefore is principally noted as an 
agricultural district. The fertile acres of the 
many valuable farms yield so handsome a profit 
upon the investment that there is no inducement 
to convert them into more settled localities. 



TEUTOPOLIS TOWNSHIP. 

Teutopolis Township, organized in 1804, out 
of the eastern part of Douglas Township, in- 
cludes the east half of Town 8 North, Range 
6 East. It is claimed that the township owes 
its origin to the superior patriotism of its citi- 
zens during the Civil War period, resulting in a 
larger proiortiou of enlistments iu that sec- 
tion than in other parts west of Douglas Town- 
shiji. In order to secure credit in proix)rtiou to 
their actual enlistments, its citizens demanded 
to be set apart as a seiwrate township and as 
a result its quota was filled and no draft was 
found necessary there. 

The township is bounded on the north by 
Douglas Township, on the east by St. Francis, 
on the south by Watson, and on the west by 
Douglas, and contains 11,520 acres, or just one- 
half of a governmental township. The original 
woodland was c-omprlsed of white oak, ash, wal- 
nut, hickory, elm, burr-oak, black oak, pin-oak 
and Cottonwood. The soil is excellent and the 
farms are especially valuable. Salt and Willow 
Creeks, with smaller streams water the town- 
ship. A goodlj- portion of this section lay under 
water, in all seasons, and was practically value- 
less until the present system of drainage was 
introduced. 

Teutopolis, the principal village of the town- 
ship, and situated in the eastern part, was in- 
corporated in 1837, but the real settlement was 
not made until February 27, 1845, when the site 
was bought by a committee of Germans. This 
organization was formed iu Cincinnati, consist- 
ing of 138 membere, who furnished by assess- 
ment the sum of $16,000. A sub-committee con- 
sisting of Clem Uptmor, John F. Waschefort 
and G. H. Bergfeld, was chosen to select a 
suitable location. After much investigation, 
they decided upon this locality, and they bought 
10,000 acres of land, paying .$1.25 per acre for 
all except the 80 acres comprised within the 
site of the tovni, for which they paid $400. 
The old National Road was made the main 
street of the town, and the blocks were 48 in 
number, each block containing nine lots, with 
fifty-foot frontage, and extending back 533 feet. 

In 1838 J. H. Uptmor, Henry Vormor, G. H. 
Bergfeld and Joseph Bockniann located here, 
and the first house was built by Mr. Uptmor, 
and he sold it to his brother Clemens for $5. 
In 1839 the former started a small store, with 




-t .He r^^^^cr^oi' h^. 



I 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



645 



$50 worth of goods, and his stock was eagerly 
sought by the pioneers. In 1S42 Clemens Upt- 
mor built a four-arm mill, which was turned by 
hand. The first saw mill was built by Theodore 
Penner in 1848, and was oi)erated by ix)wer ob- 
tained from Salt Creek. The first schoolhouse 
was built in ISiO of logs, and C. Robe was 
the first teacher, and six pupils attended. Now 
the public school system is one of the best in 
the county, and practically all the children in 
the neighborhood attend. St. Joseph Diocesan 
College is located here, and Is one of the best 
Catholic Institutions in this port of the State. 
St. Francis Convent is also located here, and 
Teutopolis has long been the center of the work 
of the Catholic Church in the county. St. 
Francis Catholic Church was begun in a log 
church in 1839, and this primitive structure 
was replaced by another more pretentious, 
which gave way in 1850 to a substantial brick 
edifice. Additions have been made to this as 
the growth of the congregation demanded. 
Other denominations are represented, but in 
the main the people belong to the Catholic 
Church. 

The first Postmaster of Teutopolis was C. 
Uptmor, and he continued in oSice for twenty- 
eight years. The Vandalia Railroad nins 
through the village, affording excellent trans- 
portation, while the Effingham & Southeastern 
Railroad runs through the township. Many 
branches of industrial and commercial activity 
are represented in Teutopolis, and its people, 
with those of the township, are in a flourish- 
ing condition, and are a credit to the county. 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 

Union Township is one of the southern tier 
of townships in Effingham County, embracing 
within its area all of Town G North, Range 6 
East. The township has more level land within 
its limits than any other in Effinghm County, 
although along the Little Wabash River, which 
is the principal water course, there are beau- 
tiful bluffs which once were covered with hardy 
trees. This township was settled in 1829 by 
Frederick Broekett, who entered land, cleared 
off forty acres, and put up the first mill. He 
was the only miller in this locality for some 



years, and so was an imiwrtant factor in the 
development of this locality, for men coming to 
him witli their grain were influenced by the 
opportiuiities offered, and remained to build 
home.s. Broekett came from Tennessee, was a 
man of sterling Integrity, and possessed of a 
true Christian spirit and love of mankind. He 
espoused the cause of education, started a 
school, and as he could not get a teacher, 
taught the first pupils himself. At the first 
election he was made a Justice of the Peace, 
and administered justice for many years with 
impartial vigor. His death occurred in 1856, 
and his remains were buried in this locality. 
The next settler was his son-in-law, JIartin K. 
Robinson. William, Pleasant, Abraham, Joseph 
and Nelson Gordon seem to have been the next 
settlers. The first legal entry of land was made 
in 183G by Isaac Gtordon, who was an uncle of 
those above named, who entered land near 
Flemsburg Mill, in Section 30. William and 
Redding Blunt located near the center of the 
township about 18.36. John Trapp came about 
1838. and in 1842 Josiah and Martin Iluill 
settled near Salt Creek. 

As in all the other townships, the roads were 
mere Indian trails until the settlers took the 
matter in hand. However, until a recent date 
the roads were in bad shape, often being al- 
most impassable during the spring rains. The 
Louisville and Ewingtou road passed through 
the southern part of the township. Another 
imijortaut road in early times was that known 
as the Clay County and Mason road, which 
ran east and west. Still another ran from the 
Broekett mill to Mason. There were no bridges 
at fir.st, and the streams were forded, with dan- 
ger to man and beast. Later, of course, the 
bridges were built, and now are in excellent 
condition, the people taking a pride in them and 
the preservation of them. 

Union To^^'nship has not allowed her sister 
townships to distance her in the matter of af- 
fording the childi-eu exceptional educational 
advantages, and from the fir.st she had main- 
tained the best schools ixjssible under e.xisting 
conditions. Emeline Little was among the fii-st 
educators of the township, and Dempsey Hamil- 
ton was another. The first regular schoolhouse 
was built in the fall of ]S4S. in Section IS, of 
hewed logs. The first public school was taught 
by David Phelps. 



646 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



In regard to matters spiritual. Union Town- 
ship has been abreast of the times, and boasts 
some very modem churches of various denomi- 
nations. The New Lights, or Christians, or- 
ganized the first church in the township. Dr. 
James Long was the first physician of the 
township. The first birth was that of a child 
of Martin K. Robinson, soon after the family 
settlement here. 

The Flemsburg Mill was put up by Hartwig 
Samilson, in 1850, on the Little Wabash, and 
a small village was laid out about it in 1851, 
but did not prosper. The township contains 
many valuable farms, and some of the most 
progressive fanners in this part of the State — 
men who understand their business and have 
met with a remarkable success, although the 
land in this township is not as fertile as in 
some other parts of the county. 



WATSON TOWNSHIP. 

Watson Township, embracing Town 7 North, 
Range 6 East, traces its historj- back to a na- 
tive of Tennessee, named Davenport, who came 
here and located north of the present site of 
Watson village. He and his family lived alone 
in this section for some time, their only neigh- 
bors being the wolves and other wild things of 
the wilderness. He died in 1840, and his grave 
is in the old cemetery. The second settler was 
John Hudtson of Alabama, who came here in 
1835. Benjamin Bryant made a settlement on 
Salt Creek soon after 18.35, and he was a na- 
tive of Kentucky. A Mr. Browning followed in 
1838. An old hunter, Ci Blansett, was another 
well known settler. Others were Michael 
Sprinkle, Daniel Rinehart, William Moody, 
Alexander McDuester, Thomas Hillis. John Tay- 
lor, Daniel Le Crone, William Le Croue and the 
Ley family, the latter having been prominent 
from the beginning. 

Watson is bounded on the north by Dougias 
and Teutopolis Tonvnships, Bishop on the east, 
Union on the south, and Jackson on the west. 
The name was given In honor of an official of 
the Illinois Central Railroad, who had the vil- 
lage of Watson laid out. 

Originally there was much valuable timber in 
the township, but a good deal of it has been 



cleared off. The soil is very rich, and the farm.s 
lying within the confines of this township are 
exceedingly fertile. The surface is both high 
and low, with some beautifully rolling prairies 
between. Salt, Little Salt and Bishop Creeks 
drain the land excellently, while the Illinois 
Central Railroad affords splendid transporta- 
tion. 

The people of Watson Township did not wait 
for the inauguration of the free school system 
before they provided schools for their young. 
As early as 1846 a little log schoolhouse was 
built in the northwestern part of the township, 
and James Leavitt was placed in charge. An- 
other early school was built near the Loy home- 
stead, and others followed. 

As is often the ease, the Methodists were 
the first to gain permanent hold in this locality, 
the Loy Chapel being the first church, and 
John Loy was the first class leader, while the 
Rev.s. Allen and Williamson were among the 
first clergymen here. Several years later, a 
Lutheran Church was established. 

The village of Watson is a pleasantly loctited 
town, which had its birth October 26. 1857. 
Its first building was a storeroom, in which a 
stock of goods was kept by Davis Trexler. A 
second store was started the following year by 
C. T. Burroughs. .\ sawmill was built in 1867 
by A. J. Vance. Dr. G. S. Shindle was the first 
practitioner of Watson, locating here when there 
were but a couple of houses. He was followed 
by J. Ross, J. M. Wilhite, P. M. Martin, S. G. 
Huff, J. N. Groves, J. N. Matthews, L. W. 
Hammer and H. C. Finch, and S. G. Huff was 
the first dniggist. 

Watson is especially proud of its schools, 
which are among the best in this part of the 
State. The first teachers under the public school 
s.vstem were N. E. Clutter and Annie Mc- 
Pherson. 

There are few localities in Illinois, now, 
which have not some secret societies, and Wat- 
son is no exception, for the Masons, Odd Fel- 
lows, Knights of Pj-thias, Modem Woodmen and 
others are well represented here, and rheir 
members take an active part in lodge work. 

The Methodist, Christian, Presbyterian and 
Baptist churches are well organized here, and 
are doing some exceptionally good work. The 
people of Watson are law-abiding, home loving, 
and are deeply interested in civic improve- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



647 



ments. They own in most part their homes, 
and take a pride in lieeping them up to standard 
and in imiwoving their beautiful little town, 
for they realize that its strength lies in the fact 
that it is so essentially a home place, where all 
the advantages of the country can be secured 
without sacrificing any of those pertaining to 
urban life. 



WEST TOWNSHIP. 

West Township, located in the southwest cor- 
ner of Effingham County, consists of Town 6 
North, Range 4 East. Owing to the fact that 
the township is made up mostly of level prairie 
land, it is very fertile and especially well adapted 
to farming purposes. The township is drained by 
Fulfer Creek, which extends from west to east 
through its entire width. Along this creek some 
excellent tiinber was originally found, comprising 
■white oak, walnut, hickory, cottonwood, hack- 
berry, buckeye and sugar maple. The township is 
bounded on the north by Mound Township, on 
the east by Mason and on the south and west 
by Fayette County. The Springfield Division 
of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad runs 
through it, and there is considerable shipping 
done from Gilmore Station. 

As West Township was mostly prairie, set- 
tlements were not made here as early as in 
Bome of the other parts of the county, but about 
1840 several families came here. However, it 
was 1845 before a permanent setlement was 
made by Nelson Simons, Abraham Riddle, Jesse 
NewTnan, Jacxib Nelson, Jack Houchin, JeiTy 
and Abraham Hammonds and Morgan Kav- 
anaugh, nearly all of whom were from Ten- 
nessee. Jesse Newman located on Fulfer Creek, 
opened a store, and bought the produce of his 
neighbors. Later he moved to Mason Town- 
ship. Others followed, and soon the township 
was the home of earnest, energetic pioneers, 
struggling to make farms out of the wild land. 

The first voting place for this section of the 
county was at the residence of John Broom, in 
Section 13. Mason Township, after which the 
voting place vi'as changed to "Broomsburg," which 
was located in Section 18 Mason Township. Here 
it remained until the adoption of township or- 
ganization in 1859. when the voting place was 
established at the Gillmore Schoolhouse, and 



William Gillmore was elected the first Supervisor. 
The next change was made by removal of the vot- 
ing place to the Mahon Schoolhouse, where it re- 
mained until the iweseut town hall was built in 
1901. This is located in the center of the town- 
ship and is one of the best town halls in the 
county. 

The first schoolhouse was built on Section 
10 on Fulfer Creek, but the names of the teach- 
ers are not recorded. The only village In the 
township is Gilmore or Welton, the last name 
having been given in honor of H. S. Welton. 
The jxist-offlce was established in 1872, with 
John Furneaux as Postmaster. He had the 
first store in the place. 

West Township is essentially an agricultural 
district, never having been the home of any 
manufacturing plants nor of commercial enter- 
prises. The people find a ready market for 
their products In other localities, and are near 
enough to various centers of trade to obtain 
their necessities at a reasonable rate. Churches 
have not flourished here for the same reason, 
the people belonging to the various denomina- 
tions in more closely populated sections, and 
they go to them for their amusements and 
secret societies. Taken as a whole, they are 
hard-working, economical, and solid, and they 
have brought their land into a magnificent state 
of culture. 

The following gentlemen have represented the 
township as Supervisors in the order named : Wil- 
liam Gillmore. J. L. Gillmore, N. T. Wharton, 
August Wolf. J. JI. Schaief, Volina Willet, Wil- 
liam Voelker. R. P. Mahon, H. A. Winkler, Joseph 
Danks and H. R. Burton. 



CHAPTER V. 



EFFINGHAM WAR RECORD. 



EVIDENCE OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY PATRIOTISM — 

PART TAKEN BY ITS CITIZENS IN VARIOUS WARS 

LIST OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE BLACK 
HAWK AND MEXICAN WARS — BREAKING OUT 
OF THE CIVIL WAR — FIRST COMPANY ORGAN- 



648 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



IZED IN EFFINGHAM COUNTT BECOMES A PAET 

OF THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT LATEE REGIMENTS 

ORGANIZED IN PART FROM EFFINGHAM COUNTT 

DR. J. N. MATTHEWS' REMINISCENCES OF WAR 

DATS IN MASON VILLAGE — TREASONABLE AND 
UNPATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS — SOME OF EFFING- 
HAM COUNTT's PATRIOTIC HEROES VFHO GAVE 
THEIR LI^'ES FOR THEIR COUNTRT. 

Effingham County has never been backward 
in responuing to tlie call of patriotism, and in 
all of the wars of the country, it has furnished 
more than its full quota. Both the Black Hawk 
and the Mexican Wars claimed many of the 
zealous iMtriots of this part of the State, but 
it was during the Civil War that the souls of 
men and women were tested. It is impossible 
to do full justice to these brave men ; they did 
not fall when the country had need of them, 
and the Government has not forgotten them, 
but gratefully does all it can to offer a small 
recompense for the dangers braved, the sacri- 
fices offered up and the lives endangered. 

The Black Hawk War. — Effingham County 
sent out its first warriors in 1832, when the 
Black Hawk War was in progress. This was 
even before the young county had a completely 
organized existence. Although not very strong 
in numbers, this little battalion was a large 
proportion of the able-bodied men of the county 
to go to war. The fourteen names recorded are 
as follows: Alexander McWhorter, John Griffy, 
Henry P. Bailey, John Ti'app, Mike Broekett, 
. Tj John Allen, James Porter, Eli Parkhurst, John 
•^ Beasley, Isaac B"'ancher. Alexander Fancher, 
XJames Patton, Gideon Louder and John Meeks. 
■^^e last survivor of this number was Alex- 
ander McWhorter. Although this war was not 
great in the nvmiber of its battles or the pro- 
portion of men who lost their lives, it rendered 
a valuable service to the people of Illinois and 
the whole region of the Mississippi Valley, as 
the little band went forth to protect their homes 
and families from the dangers of the tomahawk 
and the fire and fagot of the cruel savage. 

The Mexican War. — In response to the sec- 
ond call for Illinois volunteers to go to Mexico, 
on the 14th day of May. 1S47, the following 
thirty -six volunteers left Effingham for Alton : 
W. J. Hankins, Samuel Hankins, Dennis Kelly, 
George Zears, Jonathan Tucker, James Tucker, 
James Porter, Andrew J. Parks, William Parks, 






Samuel Parks, T. D. Reynolds, D. C. Loy, 
Emanuel Cronk, David Perkins, Stephen Coy, 
William Ashley, Samuel Fortne^, James Martin, 
James Green, Joseph Harris, Hurman Max- 
field, Dr. Shindle, Mat H. Gillespie, a Mr. 
Duncan, T. J. Gilleuwaters, James Gillenwaters, 
Dennis Elder, Tilmau Clark, William Brj-ant, 
Reed i\iuk, Mathias Le Crone, John L. Baker, 
Henry Phyiips, a Mr. Browning and J. W. Lee. 
These men were attached to Company C, under 
Captain Harvey Lee, of Fayette County, with 
H. W. Goode as First Lieutenant and William J. 
Hankins as Second Lieutenant. This company 
formed part of the Sixth Regiment, under com- 
mand of Colonel James Collins. After being 
mustered in at Alton, August 2, lSi7, the regi- 
ment started for Mexico by way of Xew Or- 
leans. There it was divided into two battalions, 
one under command of Colonel Collins being 
sent to Vera Cruz, and the other, including 
Company C, under Lieutenant Colonel Hleks, 
to Tampico. Both battalions were occupied 
chiefly in guard or camp duty, with occasional 
conflicts with guerrillas, their period of service 
extending from August 3, 1847, to July 25, 1848, 
when they were mustered out, but without hav- 
ing taken part in any regular battle. It was 
probably Cue to this comparatively inactive 
life, that so many of the men were the victims 
of sickness during the entire length of their 
service. Andrew J. Parks and Samuel Parks 
died of sickness at Puebla. The war being 
over, the men returned to their homes in July, 
1848. 

The Ci^tl War.— It was a little over twelve 
years after the close of the Jlexiean War when 
the war cloud again gathered over the country, 
and, in 1861, the rebellion attained formidable 
proportions. During the war Illinois furnished 
the army with 225,300 men — a great army of 
itself — and as there were 102 i-ouuties in the 
State, the average would be a little more than 
2,200 men from each county. Although Effing- 
ham was one of the smaller counties. It is be- 
lieved that from first to last she furnished not 
less than 2,000 soldiers. She furnished twelve 
regularl.v organized companies, besides several 
squads of recruits, while a large number were 
taken to different camps in Illinois and Mis- 
souri and scattered among the regiments of 
various other States. Among these stragglers 
mav be mentioned about 400 men who were 



EFPINGHAil COUNTY 



649 



taken to Missouri by Charley Kinsey and Sam 
Winters. 

The news that Fort Sumter had been fired 
upon on Friday, April 12, 1861, and had sur- 
rendered on the following day, marked the be- 
ginning of the Civil War, and two days later 
(Monday, April 15) President Lincoln issued 
his first call for 75.000 troops for three months' 
ser\-iee in defense of the Union. This intelli- 
gence promptly reached Effingham County and 
stirred the patriotism of its citizens as it had 
never been stirred beiore. Colonel J. W. Fil- 
ler and John L. Wilson, two prominent citizens, 
conferred together, with the result that Filler 
soon after closed his printing office and with 
Wilson began raising a company and, on Satur- 
day following, telegraphed Got. Xates that they 
had a company ready and were awaiting or- 
ders. The following Tuesday the comjiany, then 
102 strong, started for Springfield, with Captain 
Filler and Lieutenants J. H. Lacy and George 
W. Parks in command, which became a part of 
the Eleventh Regiment under command of Col. 
W. H. L. Wallace, who was fatally wounded at 
the battle of Shiloh. This company, w^hich was 
recruited in so short time, was probably the 
finest looking lot of soldiers who ever left Ef- 
fingham Countj-. The night before they were 
to leave, a meeting of the citizens was held in 
the Court House in Effingham, the house was 
packed and speeches delivered, and the music 
of the fife and drum added greatly to the en- 
thusiasm of the people. The company proceeded 
to Springfield, where they camped in a brick 
yard, being among the first on the ground. 
From Springfield they went to Villa Ridge, near 
Cairo, where they remained until June 20th, 
when they went to Bird's Point, Mo., and there 
served out their term. Upon the promotion of 
J. W. Filler to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, 
Lucius M. Rose became Captain of the Efiing- 
ham company. 

Under a subsequent call for troops, three 
comimnies were organized, -with Colonel Funk- 
houser. Captain O. L. Kelly and Captain Me- 
Cracken in command, and these companies be- 
came a part of the Ninety-eighth Illinois Regi- 
ment of Infantrj-. The field offic-ers and staff 
of the regiment were: John J. Funkhouser, 
Colonel ; W. B. Cooper, Major ; J. H. J. Lacy, 
Adjutant ; with William Mc-Cracken, Captain of 
Company C, Stephen I. Williams First, and 



John P. Powell, Second, Lieutenants. Williams 
resigned December 19, 1862, Powell was pro- 
moted to the rank of First Lieutenant and 
Henry S. Watson became Second Lieutenant. 
David D. Marquis was Captain of Company B 
and A. W. Le Crone of Company F. Captain 
O. L. Kelly was killed September S, 1S62. and 
A. S. Moffitt became Captain, with William Tar- 
rant First Lieutenant. Captain Dobbs raised 
a full company and joined the Thirty-fifth Il- 
linois Infantry under Col. G. A. Smith; and 
Lieutenants Jesse D. Jennings and Nelson 
Staats, Captain Dobbs was severely wounded 
and resigned October 14, 1862, when Jennings 
tKjcame Captain and Joseph Moore First Lieu- 
tenant. In 1862 Captain Presley B. O'Dear and 
Merritt Redden First, and John F. Barkley 
Sec-ond, Lieutenants, recruited a company and 
jointed the Fifty-fourth Regiment, Illinois In- 
fantry, captain J. P. M. Howard, with D. P. 
Murphy, First, and John Loy, Second Lieu- 
tenant, Captain D. L. Horn and Captain David 
Young each entered service with a company of 
men for the one hundred days' service. 

Colonel Funkhouser's Company, with S. A. 
Newcomb First Lieutenant and D. P. Murphy 
Second Lieutenant, formed a part of the Twen- 
ty-sixth Infantry under Colonel Loomis. They 
were sent to Palmyra, Mc, and guarded that 
place two weeks before they were provided with 
gims, using clubs as substitutes. Colonel Funk- 
houser retired from this service and raised the 
Ninety-eighth Regiment. 

Captain H. D. Caldwell raised the first and 
only cavalry company enlisted in the county, 
and which became a part of the Fifth Illinois 
Cavalry. The company was mustered in Sep- 
tenjber, 1861. and went to Benton Barracks. 
Pilot Knob, Greenville. Reeves Station, Poca- 
hontas and Smithville. Ark. They took part in 
the skirmish at Davison, and. in the next one 
at Strawberry River, Ark.. Marion Weller was 
killed and Sylvester Nye wounded. They also 
took part in the small engagements at Green- 
ville and Cherokee Bay. Mo., and were pres- 
ent at the Siege of A'icksburg. after which they 
took up a long and dangerous march, in which 
they had skirmishes all the way to Champion 
Hills and back. 

As soon as Captain Dobbs had sufficiently 
recovered from his wound, he raised a com- 
pany of one hundred day men, who served in 



650 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



the One Hundred Fifty-Fourth Regiment, after 
which Captain Dobbs returned home and raised 
a company for the One Hundred Thirty-fifth 
Regiment. Captain Dobbs thus raised over 300 
men for service in the war, and although he was 
badly wounded at Pea Ridge, he served during 
most of the entire war. 

Some Was Reminiscences. — We give below- 
some local history of the war as connected \vith 
the Town of Mason, the same being taken from 
c-ontributions furnished to the Efflngham Re- 
publican, by the late Dr. J. N. Matthews. 

"When Mason entered upon her second decade 
the country was convulsed with prospects of 
the impending war. A few days after the fall 
of Fort Sumter, a gigantic flag was run up near 
Goddard's Hotel, bearing the belligerent and 
patriotic inscription. 'Death to Traitors!' The 
citizens were wild with excitement and soon 
the streets began to exhibit palpable evidence 
of a determination to act in accordance with 
the sentiment expressed upon the flag. Men, 
feeble and old, rose up In the market-place and 
denounced secession In the most violent lan- 
guage, and admonished the youth to prepare 
for the inevitatile struggle. Soon the fife and 
drum began to send forth their martial diapa- 
sons, and Mason, for the first, and it is to be 
hoped for the last time, was resonant with the 
tumult of approaching war. Old and young, 
rich and poor, alike caught up the patriotic fire 
and resolved to aid in the common cause of 
liberty and Union. Nightly meetings were held, 
and men unskilled in the art of oratory, but in- 
spired by the occasion, delivered speeches with 
great force and eloquence. At one of these 
assemblies held in the Baptist Church, an en- 
listment paper was presented and many of our 
fellow-citizens put their names upon it with 
John Hancock boldness. Mr. Vincent Wright, 
then a young man hardly out of his teens, was 
the first to enlist. Many others followed his 
example, and in a few days a company of the 
Eleventh Illinois Infantry, three months' vol- 
unteers, left JIason for the tented field. And 
still the excitement waxed higher. Every train 
that thundered southward was loaded down 
with boys in blue and huge engines of war. 
Companies of home guards and minute men 
were formed, and paraded the streets almost 
daily in their battle-robes, awaiting anxiously 
their marching orders. 



"Such were the scenes that Mason presented 
in the terrible spring and summer of 18C1. The 
cry was "Liberty and Union,' and he was but 
a traitor or a craven who refused to raise his 
hand in defense of his falling country at that 
time. WTien the spring of 1SG2 dawned there 
were only one or two young men left in the 
town above the age of sixteen. The rest had 
wandered off to the war — some to fall in bat- 
tle, others to perish iu Southern prisons. It 
was a time never to be forgotten. Even the 
children formed themselves into mimic baf> 
talions, threw up breast-works, built clay forts 
and understood the evolutions of a company 
drill. When the news of a great victory ar- 
rived the town reverberated with their childish 
exultations and triumphal marches. Truly the 
children of those story times deserve to be re- 
membered in connection with the history of 
Mason. 

"When the town had at last been depleted of 
all wlio were willing and able to bear arms, 
and when the war clouds were every day gath- 
ering more ominously in the southern sky, then 
it was that the so-called 'Copper-heads' began 
to wriggle forth from their hiding places and 
empty their venom in the tracks of our departed 
townsmen. They foi-med themselves into 
'Knights of the Golden Circle,' and held treason- 
able orgies almost nightly. They denounced 
the President, the soldiers and the war, and 
talked violently in places where no danger 
could be apprehended. When the soldiers were 
away they wore 'Butternut badges' and flour- 
ished and ti'umpeted their traitorous principles 
with surprising boldness. They even resolved 
at one time to lay the town in ashes, and made 
one or two futile attempts in that direction. 

"Rank disorder and trea.son flaunted their 
black pennons with impunity. The few loyal 
people left in the town were subjected to all 
sorts of insults and indecencies at the hands of 
these renegades, and nearly every man trembled 
for his personal safety. A 'Union League' was 
organized, but its numbers were so scanty that 
it proved of little advantage in checking the 
rancor of the Butternut Brotherhood. Finally 
a mass meeting of all parties was called in 
the old Methodist church for the purpose, if 
Ijossible, of effecting some reconciliation be- 
tween them. Resolutions were presented and 
pas.sed to the effect that all bitterness and po- 




/^^^. X S^-r^/^,^ 






EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



651 



litical differences might be made subservient 
to the more ijeaceable and social relations as 
neighbors and friends. The result of the con- 
vention was beneficial. And from that night 
onward to the close of the rebellion there was 
less hostility between the home factions, and 
more courtesy, toleration and good will. 

"In the month of April. 1863, the first num- 
ber of the 'Loyalist,' edited and published by 
Mr. George Brewster, made Us appearence. It 
was a neatly printed, seven-column folio, and a 
red-hot exponent of abolitionism. Its motto 
was 'Union and Libert.v, now and forever, one 
and inseparable.' This was the first paper ever 
published in Mason. The printing office occu- 
pied the lower story of Stephen Hardin's store- 
bulldlng, on the corner of Main and Washington 
Streets. It was the scene of many an exciting 
caucus and political jamboree during the few 
fierce months of its life, and was a constant 
eye-sore to anti-war Democrats and rebel sym- 
pathizers. The paper was made up chiefly of 
war news, soldiers' letters and scorching edi- 
torials. Every man in the neighborhood who 
c-ould swing a goose-quill gave vent to his party 
feelings, through its columns, with unbridled 
boldness. The editor was a man of considerable 
learning and talent as a writer, but of a phleg- 
matic temperament, which vacillated from one 
extreme to another. His leaders were pithy 
and pointed. His numerous tirades against 
deserters and other local insurgents frequently 
brought him face to face with dangers from 
which a man less courageous would have 
cowered. His office was constantly threatened 
with destruction, yet he continued to write with 
unflinching force and fidelity. Each compositor 
and. even the 'devil' himself — who, by the way, 
was your correspondent — was supplied with a 
gun and with orders to use it in case of at- 
tack, but fortunately no such occasion was pre- 
sented. After a vigorous career of seven 
months the 'Loyalist' failed financially and was 
moved to Salem, Slarion County, where it 
breathed its last shortly aftenvards. 

"When the war was ended, the last fight done, 
the battle-flag furled and the final roll was 
called, the following young men who had left 
their quiet homes with happy hearts and jubi- 
lant voices in the opening of the conflict, were 
not present to answer to their names : David 
Hughes, Frederic Hollls, Ezra Hollis, William 



Tyuer, Washington Tyner, Nathaniel Bailie, 
John Bailie, George McElroy, James McElroy, 
William Rankin, William Leith, Morgan Wright, 
John Ginter, Martin Bright, John Kimborts, 
John Hardin, James Parks, William Woods, 
Henry Brewster, Frank Carpenter, Daniel Hill, 
George Amspacher, Wyatt Baley, Pati-ick Bran- 
nom, Jonathan Blunt, James McCastlin, Miner 
Rogers, Joseph Willis, Jac-ob Willis, Christopher 
GlUmore. Our list is made up from memory 
and Is possibly incomplete, but in our heart of 
hearts is a list, and a perfect one, which can 
never be forgotten, so long as we have the 
'stars and stripes,' the emblem of freedom, to 
remind us of their heroic deeds. 

"Of these only five or six were married. The 
rest were school boys in years and in appear- 
ance ; but in soldier-life, they showed themselves 
to be brave and active men, capable of enduring 
all manner of hardships and dangers for the 
cause of their c-ountry, tinith and humanity. 
How dull and insipid sounds the single voice 
of praise when we remember the hallowed tri- 
butes that fell, like benedictions, from the lips 
of a weeping nation upon the graves of our 
glorious dead! With what tearful anxiety did 
we watch the papers through the dark years of 
the war ; and with what pangs of fear and 
gi'ief did we scan the never-ending columns of 
the killed and wounded, and shudder to draw 
black lines around the names of those we loved 
— our tried friends and brothers ! Aye ' words 
are but prison-pens to the pure, patriotic pride 
that thrills our bosoms when we consider the 
Spartan-like manner in which these noble fel- 
lows, the flower of our community, sacrificed 
their young lives with all their hopes and as- 
pirations, upon their eounti-j-'s altar. Looking 
far down the dew vale of the past, the war 
appears like some monstrous vision that hides 
everything behind It, and presents a horrid 
front of death and desolation. Weeping widows 
and fatherless children stand out in melancholy 
relief to this, the most sorrowful picture in the 
book of time. Every nation has its honored 
dead, and towering monuments transmit the 
story of their deaths to generations unborn ; 
but where in all the civilized universe can a 
.grander and prouder record be seen upon a 
soldier's sepulcher than that which embellishes 
the tomb of Columbia's martyrs, who laid down 
their lives in defense of the lowly and oppressed. 



652 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Truly did they die, but lilie tlie stars 
which go dowu in darlcuess they will arise with 
greater brilliance, and nieu v\-lll love aud rev- 
erence them and be guided by their holy light 
to similar deeds of righteous warfare. 

"Considering the population of Mason at the 
time of the rebellion, there are probably few 
places which can show a gi-eater mortality 
among their volunteers, aud esi)ecially of the 
youth. But strange as It may appear, there 
were scarcely any of them who died from nat- 
ural diseases. They lost their lives either in 
battle or prison. Several of them reiwrted as 
missing have never been lieard of, and all the 
long cherished hopes of their ultimate return 
have been given up. \\Tien the final trumpet 
shall send its awakening blasts across the 
fields of Shiloh, Chattjiuooga, Franklin, Ander- 
sonville, and the thousand and other historic 
acres presided over by the God of Battles, then, 
and not till then, shall the last resting-places 
of Ezra Hollis, Nathaniel Bailie, and numerous 
others of our dear soldier friends, be revealed. 
. . When we look abroad upon our free 
and beautiful prairies and marvel at the rich- 
ness of the blessings that have been bestowed 
upon us, and as we watch the golden splendors 
of the peaceful and progressive future breaking 
over us, let us not forget the six hundred thou- 
sand silent hearts that sleep beneath our soil." 
"How sleep the brave who sink to rest 
By all their country's wishes blest? 
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold. 
Returns to deck their hallowed mould. 
She there shall di-ess a sweeter sod 
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod. 
"By fairy hands their knell is rung. 
By forms unseen their dirge is sung; 
There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray. 
To bless the turf that wraps their clay. 
And Freedom shall awhile repair 
To dwell a weping hermit there." 



CHAPTER VI. 



RAILROADS. 



LINES OF RAILROAD IN EFFINGHAM COUNTY 

DATES OF ORGANIZATION AND PERIODS OF CON- 



STRUCTION HISTORY OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL — 

VANDALIA LINE — WABASH BALTIMORE & 

OHIO SOUTHWESTERN — MILEAGE AND STATIONS ON 
VARIOUS LINES WITHIN EFFINGHAM COUNTY. 

In common with every other section of the 
State, the railroads have played an imiwrtaut 
part in the development of Effingham County. 
Until the interior portions of the State were 
penetrated by the railroad, progress was slow, 
as little could be accomplished outside of in- 
dividual effort, for transportation was so dif- 
ficult that it did not pay a farmer to raise 
either stock or grain for a distant market. All 
he tUd was to grow enough to supply his im- 
mediate wants, aud to barter for some of the 
manufactured and other necessities. With the 
coming of the railroads, nowever, all this was 
changed and gi-adually the farmers of EHing- 
ham County have become some of the heaviest 
stock aud gi-ain producers in the State. 

The first railroad to enter Eflingham County 
was the Illinois Central, which was chartered 
in February, 1851, on the basis of a grant of 
lands made by Congress in accordance with an 
act passed during the previous year. While 
the construction of a line of railroad from the 
mouth of the Ohio River, and extending at 
least as far north as the Illinois River at La- 
Salle, and covering substantially the region now 
occupied by the Illinois Central to that point, 
had been advocated as early as 1835, there 
has been considerable controversy as to who 
was entitled to the credit of having first sug- 
gested the enterprise. One of the names most 
prominently mentioned in this connection was 
that of Judge Sidney Breese. then on the Cir- 
cuit Bench but later (1813-49) United States 
Senator and. during a part of that time, Chair- 
man of the Committee on Public Lands. Judge 
Breese was a zealous supiwrter of the plan 
for the construction of a railroad through Illi- 
nois, aided by a gi-ant of public lands, and as- 
sisted in securing the passage of such an act 
by the United States Senate in 1844 — which was 
defeated in the House by the opijosition of the 
Illinois delegation, headed by Judge Dougla.s, 
on the ground that such a grant should be made 
to the Stale, and i ot to "an irresiwusible cor- 
poration"— and later (1848) supiwrted a bill in- 
troduced by Douglas (wlio had then been trans- 
ferred to the Senate), which also passed that 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



653 



bod}-, this time making the grant directly to the 
State, and pix)yiding for the construction of a 
railroad from Cairo to the Upper Mississippi 
and Chicago. This pas.sed the Senate but again 
failed in the House, and at the next session 
Judge Breese introduced a bill embodying a 
scheme for the preemption of lands by the State 
for a like purpose, which passed the Senate, 
but was rejected by the House. 

The retirement of Judge Breese from the 
United States Senate by expiration of his term 
in 1849, left Judge Douglas as the principal 
factor in future legislation on the subject, al- 
though he had the hearty cooperation of Sen- 
ator Shields (Judge Breese's successor) and 
the members of the House from Illinois. A 
bill introduced by Douglas in the Senate on 
January- 3, 1850. passed that body on May 2d, 
and the House on September ITth. following, 
becoming a law by approval of the President 
on September 20, 1850. This act made a grant 
of "every alternate section of land designated 
by even numbers of six sections in width on 
each side" of the projected road and its 
branches, for the coustiniction of a railroad 
"from the southern terminus of the Illinois and 
Michigan Canal to a point at or near the junc- 
tion of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers," with 
a branch of the same to Chicago, and another 
branch, via Galena, to Dubuque. Iowa — the ag- 
gregate lands c-oveiied by this grant amounting 
to 2.595.000 acres. 

At the next session of the State Legislature 
(1851) an act was passed authorizing the in- 
corporation of a comi>any for the c-onstruction 
of the railroad by the aid of this grant of 
lands, with the condition that seven per cent, 
of the gross earnings of the road be paid to the 
State annually in consideration of same. This 
act became a law on February 10, 1851. and 
the Illinois Central Railroad Company was or- 
ganized the same day. An engineering party 
was oi-ganized in May following and a prelim- 
inary survey begim. and the letting of contracts 
and work of construction were under way on 
different parts of the line during the following 
year. John F. Barnai-d. who had the con- 
tract for the section betneen Mattoou and Cen- 
tralia, including the EfHngham County district, 
and covering a distance of 75 miles, began work 
in the latter part of 1852, and for nearly three 
years, Ewington was the headquarters of sev- 
eral hundred employes scattered in squads and 



housed in tents and cabins along the line. Ac- 
cording to Moses' History of Illinois, the main 
line from Cairo to La Salle (300.99 miles) was 
completed June 8, 1855; the Galena branch 
from La Salle to Dunleith (14G.73 miles). Jan- 
uary 12. 1855; and the Chicago branch, from 
Chicago to junction with the main line near 
Centralia, (249.78 miles). September 26, 1856. 

The city of Effingham, by this line, is 197.77 
miles south of Chicago, and 162.35 miles north 
of Cairo. The Illinois Central operates about 
25 miles of its main line (or Chicago branch) 
within Effingham County, besides 11 miles of 
the Indianapolis Southern, originally the Spring- 
field, Effingham & Southeastern. 

The St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute 
Railroad was chartered February 10, 1865, for 
the construction of a line from Ea.st St. Louis 
to the Wabash River, the first train ran into 
Effingham, April 26, 1870, and the line was 
completed June 12 following. This road was 
first leased to the Terre Haute & Indianapolis 
Railroad Company, but has since undergone 
a number of changes. At present it is operated 
under control of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany, funiishing that system a direct connec- 
tion with St. Louis, via Indianapolis, and 
■nath roads tributary thereto, extending to Vin- 
cenues, Ind., on the south, and South Bend, Ind., 
on the north. The line within Effingham County 
ten-itory extends in a northeasterly and south- 
westerly direction, with a mileage of 25I2 miles. 

The Wabash Railroad, originally chartered 
March 10, 1869. as the Bloomington & Ohio River 
Railroad, underwent various changes, by consoli- 
dation with the Fairbury, Pontiae & Xorthwest- 
ern, becoming the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, 
and later the northern division of the Wa- 
bash Railroad, extending from Bement to Chi- 
cago. The southern division extends from Be- 
ment, on the main line of the Wabash Railway, 
by way of Sullivan in Moultrie County and 
Wind.sor 'u Shelby Countj-, to Altamont and 
Effingham in Effingham County. The first train 
on this line reached Altamont June 29, 1874. 
but it was not until February. 1876. that trains 
began running into Effingham, the consolida- 
tion with the Chicago & Paducah Road taking 
place about 1881. The total mileage of this 
line in Effingham County is about 20 miles. 

What is known as the Springfield Division 
of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, 
extending from BeardstowTi, on the Illinois 



654 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



River, to Shawneetowu, on the Ohio, owes its 
existence to the consolidation, in 1S69, of the 
Pana, Springfield, & Xorthwesteru and the Illi- 
nois & Southeastern Eailroads — each receiving 
Its charter in 1S67 — and the new conwratlon 
taking the name of the Springfield & Illinois 
Southeastern, under which it was built and 
operated until March, 1871. After having passed 
through the hands of receivers, in 1875, by sale 
under foreclosure, it came into possession of the 
Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company, and in 
1S93 the latter was consolidated with the Bal- 
timore & Ohio Southwestern, which was the suc- 
cessor of the Cincinnati, Washington & Balti- 
more Railroad. This line enters Effingham 
County near Beecher City in the northwestern 
corner, extending south-southeasterly through 
Altamont and the western tier of townships, 
leaving the county at Edgewood on the southern 
border of Watson Township, and covering 22^^ 
miles within the county. 

The Indianaiwlis Southern Railroad, — now, 
as already explained, a branch of the Illinois 
Central, and extending from Effingham to In- 
dianapolis, of which 50 miles is in the State of 
Illinois — was originally chartered in ISO!) as the 
Springfield, Effingham & Quiucy Railroad. It 
was first constructed as a narrow-gauge line, 
and successively bore the name of the Indiana 
& Illinois Southern, the St. Louis, Indianapolis 
& Eastern and the Springfield, Effingham & 
Southeastern, in the meanwhile being changed 
to standard-gauge. 

The total mileage of these several lines within 
Effingham County amounts to a little more than 
100 miles, with the following stations within 
the county: Illinois Central (main line) — 
Effingham, Watson, Mason and Edgewood ; In- 
dianaix>lis Southern (branch Illinois Central) — 
Effingham and Dieterich ; Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern — Beecher City, Moccasin, Alta- 
mont, Gilmore and Edgewood ; Vandalia Line— 
Altamont, Dexter, Funkhouser, Effingham and 
Teutopolis; Wabash — Effingham and Altamont. 



CHAPTER VII. 



BANKING INTERESTS. 



HISTORY OF BANKING ENTERPRISES IN EFFINGHAM 
COUNTY — EARLY BANKS, WITH NAMES OF PRO- 



MOTERS AND DATES OF ORGANIZATION LIST OF 

PRESENT BANKS, LOCATION AND OFFICERS 

CAPITALIZATION, DEPOSITS, ETC. 

(By W. H. Engbring.) 

A history of Effingham County v^'ould not be 
complete without a short sketch of its banks. 
The gi'owth of the banking intere.sts of the 
county has kept pace with its other business 
interests, both farming and mercantile. The 
wTiter of this well remembers when, in 1872, 
he had an opportunity to see the books of the 
only bank in the county, and seeing that it had 
a capital of $0,000 and dei)osits of .$60,000, 
he was astonished at what, to him, seemed an 
Immense amount of money. Today, at a low 
estimate, at least one-third of a million dolKars 
is invested as capital in Effingham County banks, 
while the deposits ■will reach into the millions. 
The year 1866 saw the beginning of the first 
bank in the county owned by Tom Craddock 
and H. G. Habing. It was a partnership af- 
fair until 187.3, when Oi'addock retired, but 
Habing continued the business, however, until 
1876, when, in the general iianic of that year, 
the bank was discontinued. 

In July, 1874, George Middendorf engaged in 
the banking business at Altamont, Illinois, but 
retired from business after a short time. 

In 1876 C. M. Wright and L. Butler entered 
the business as C. M. Wright & Co., Bankers, 
Altamont, 111., continuing the business until 1893' 
when Mr. Wright retired and the bank went into 
liquidation. 

The city of Effingham, having been without 
banking acc-ommodation for several years, F. A. 
Von Gassy in 1879 opened the Effingham Bank, 
W. II. Engbring being the cashier until the fall 
of 1880. when F. H. Ewers succeeded him as 
cashier. In 1883 F. A. Von Gassy disappeared, 
necessitating the cloising of the Bank. 

September 1, 1881, Henry Eversman, Benson 
Wood, Virgil Wood and G. H. Engbring estab- 
lished the private bank of Eversman, Wood & 
Engbring, and in 1886 W. II. Engbring was ad- 
mitted as a partner. The officers of the bank 
were Henry Eversman, cashier, W. H. Engbring, 
assistant cashier. In 1903 the bank was in- 
corponated under the State Banking Laws, with 
a capital of .$50,000, under the name of "The 
Effingham State Bank." 
The officers were Henry Eversman, President ; 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



655 



Benson Wood, Vice President ; W. H. Engbring, 
Cashier; Henry Eversman, Jr., Assistant 
Casihier. 

After the death of Mr. Eversman in 1903, 
Benson Wood was elected President of the bank. 
The bank can look back uixjn a successful 
business career for the past twenty-eight years, 
and the esteem and confidence held in it by the 
people of Efiingham County is evidenced by a 
deposit line of nearly half a million dollars. 

In 1885 Joseph Partridge established a private 
bank with Col. J. W. Filler as cashier, who 
shortly after was succeeded by Joseph Partridge, 
Jr. The officers of this bank continued un- 
changed until its incorporation as a National 
Bank with Joseph Partridge, Jr., as Cashier and 

C. L. Xolte, Assistant Cashier. 

In 1890 this institution was reorganized as 
the First National Bank of Effingham, with a 
capital of $50,000, taking over the business of 
its predec-essor. The officers of the new in- 
stitution were Joseph Partridge, President ; 
Joseph Partridge, Jr., Cashier, and C. L. Nolte, 
Assistant Cashier. 

In 1S95 H. B. Weinsing succeeded Joseph 
Partridge, Jr., as Cashier, and at the death of 
Mr. Joseph Partridge, Sr., in 1898, Jlr. L. Bur- 
rell was elected President. 

At present the officers of the bank are L. Bur- 
rell. President ; H. B. Wenising, Cashier ; Paul 
Partridge and Harry Alt, Assistant Cashier. 
Under the active management of H. B. Wern- 
sing and Paul Partridge, the steadily increasing 
business of the bank shows that it enjoys the 
fullest confidence of the people. 

In 1902, The Merchants and Farmers' Bank 
at Dieterich was organized by Gerhard Lufkin, 
Henry Lufkin, M. Wendt, J. C. Crews and 
H. C. Baldwin. They sold the business to T. F. 
and A. T. Collinson and A. C. Crays of Windsor, 
111., who are well kno\^^l bankers of Central 
Illinois. The active management of the bank 
is in the lands of J. A. Parker. Cashier, who 
has, in the past six years, built up an enviable 
and prosperous business. 

The same year (1902) the Crews Bank was 
established at Montrose, Illinois, by D. B. Crews, 
one of the wealthy landowners and stock-men 
of Effingham Count.v. The present officers are 

D. B. Crews, President ; James Johnson, Jr., 
Cashier and Vera Crews. Assistant Cashier. 
Under the active management of James John- 



son, Jr., Cashier, the bank is growing rapidly, 
and the financial advantages it offers are made 
good use of by the people of Montrose and 
vicinity. 

The Bank of Edgewood, at Edgewood, 111., 
was established by Anderson & Graham in 1903. 
Mr. B. F. AATiarton, one of the best known resi- 
dents of the southern part of Effingham County, 
is the cashier and active manager of this insti- 
tution. 

In 1905 a number of local business men or- 
ganized a private bank at Teutoix)lis, Illinois, 
knowTi as the Teutopolis Bank. The officers of 
this bank were B. H. Wernsing, President ; J. C. 
Rundy, Vive President. H. H. Hardick, Cashier; 
and H. J. Weber, Assistant Cashier. 

At the death of Mr. Wernsing, J. H. Uptmor 
was elected President. The cashier, Mr. H. H. 
Hardick, has, for a long time been one of the 
foremost business men of the county, and under 
his management the bank enjoys the fullest 
confidence of its patrons, and its rapidly in- 
creasing deposits, show that the services of the 
bank are made use of and appreciated by the 
citizens of Teutopolis and vicinity. 

x\fter the retirement of Mr. O. M. Wright 
from the banking business at Altamont, 111., Mr. 
M. E. Hogan. one of the wealthiest residents 
of Effingham Count}-, supplied the business in- 
terests of that place with banking facilities 
in connection with his other mercantile enter- 
prises, in 1905 establishing the Hogan Bank of 
Altamont, of which for several years Mr. F. 
Gre.sching was the efficient cashier. In 1907 
Tliomas C. Hogan succeeded Mr. Gresehing, 
and is at present the active manager of the 
concern. The Hogan Bank enjoys a reputation 
second to none in the county for strength and 
reliability. 

The western part of the county al.so is being 
well served by the Bank of P. R. Phillipps & Co., 
organized in October, 1905, by P. R. Phillipps 
and W. H. Jennings. The present offic-ers are 
P. R. Phillipps, President; W. H. Jennings, Vice 
President and F. G. Morrison, Cashier, and 
W. J. Campbell, Assistant Cashier. 

The Shumway Bank, of Shumway, 111., was 
opened for business in 1906. The officers of this 
bank are J. P. Richardson. President ; M. W. 
Kelly. Vice President, and W. F. Lane. Cashier. 
Messrs. Kelly and Lane are both old residents 



656 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



of Effingham County and well known business 
men of Shuniway. 

In 1907 several banks were organized in tlie 
county, tbe first of that year being the bank at 
Watson. 111., known as Abraham & Co., bankers, 
of which A. L. Abraham is the Cashier and Leo 
J. Munday, Assistant Cashier. 

In July, 190V, W. II. Shubert and others or- 
ganized the First National Bank of Altamont, 
111., and although one of the youngest, it Is 
forging rapidly to the front among the banks of 
the county. The officers of this bank are: W. H. 
Shubert, President; H. Schwerdtfeger, Vice 
President ; L. B. Osborn, Cashier, and J. L. Brum- 
merstadt, Assistant Cashier. 

In September, 1907. was established the Mason 
Exchange Bank, of Mason. 111., owned by Mrs. 
Ella Gibson and A. K. Gibson, of which A. K. 
Gibson is the cashier and manager. As the towns 
of Mason and Watson are quite important ship- 
ping points for grain, hay, etc., the banks at 
both places are appreciated by the people in their 
vicinity, as indicated by their growing business. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY BENCH AND BAR. 



blackstone's definition op municipal law — 

importance of duties vested in courts 

effingham county organized early courts 

and presiding justices first practicing 

attorneys in the county — -distinguished 
citizens who have practiced at the effing- 
ham county' bar — list of later and present 
justices and members of the bar. 

(By Hon. William B. Wright.) 

"THE Law — Her seat is the bosom of God ; her 
voice the harmony of the world; all things on 
earth and in heaven unite to do her homage — 
the weak as feeling her protecting care and the 
strong as not exempt from her power." 

Municipal law, as defined by Blackstone. is 
"a rule of civil conduc-t prescribed by the Su- 
preme power in a state, commanding what is 
right and prohibiting what is wTong." 



The ministers of this great force in the con- 
duct of human affairs are those who occupy the 
Bench and those who constitute the Bar. Prom 
the members of the bar those who preside over 
the courts are chosen. 

It is to the courts and to the attorneys, who 
are sworn officers of the courts in which thev 
practice, that all must look for the final and 
righteous settlement of disputed matters be- 
tween themselves and their neighbors, regarding 
their property rights and the just and impartial 
disposition of all charges made against indi- 
viduals involving life and liberty. Possessed of 
such important functions, it is of the highest 
importance that Bench and Bar be composed of 
broad, liberal minded, learned, clean, conscien- 
tious, courageous members. 

Effingham County has the right to be satisfied 
with its good fortune in that respect. Its Bench 
has been represented by clean and able men with 
hardl.v an exception. And its practitioners at 
the Bar have, in the main, been men of ability 
and integrity. 

But the reader will search this volume for 
facts, not for the moralizing of the writer, and 
the following facts are presented, not as a fu!l 
and complete history of the Bench and Bar of 
this county, but rather as an epitome of such 
history. 

Effingham County was organized in 1S33. 
The bill for its organization was introducf'd 
in the Legislature by Hon. William L. D. Ewing, 
a distinguished lawTer who represented Fay- 
ette County, of whicli the territory now em- 
braced in Effingham County was then a part. 
The bill was introduced in 1831. It was passed 
and the county organized. Its county-seat was 
named Ewington in his honor. 

William L. D. Ewing has long since gone to 
his reward and the to\vn named for him long 
since been abandoned. For twenty seven years it 
flourished on the western bluffs of the Little 
Wabash River, a prosperous, hustling, progres- 
sive village, with dreams of future greatness, 
justified by the grandeur of its site and the fer- 
tility of the soil around it. In 1855-56, the 
Illinois Central Railroad Company completed its 
line of road through the county, and Effingham, 
in anticipation of the building of the road, had 
sprung up and soon that claimed its location upon 
the railroad entitled it to the county-seat. Its 
claim was approved by the people of the County 




ALEXANDER CRAVER 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



657 



at an election for the removal of the seat of 
Justice held in 1859. Effingham became the 
County Seat and Ewington went into a decline. 
The old court house, standing on the hill facing 
the setting sun, is the only monument of its de- 
parted glory. The churches and school house 
are gone, the cemetery is growii over with brush 
and briers and vines, and the spirit of "The 
Deserted Village'' hangs, like a pall, over the 
scenes of its former activities. 

Here we are moralizing again. We must 
get down to the facts. 

I'he first term of the Circuit Court, as it was 
held in Effingham County, met at Ewington, in 
May, 1833, Theophilus W. Smith, Judge presiding. 
At that time the Judges of the Supreme Court 
held the Circuit Courts, and all of the Circuit 
Judges, sitting together, constituted the Supreme 
Court. 

At that term of court there were four civil 
cases on the docket and the Grand Jury re- 
turned three indictments. Three lawyei-s were 
present ; William L. D. Ewing, Levi Davis and 
A. P. Field, all residents of Vandalia. 

Thomas Ford, who was afterward elected 
Governor of the State, was the next Judge to 
hold court in Ewington. Judge Sidney Breese 
held the courts from 1835 to 1842, and was the 
third Judge. Hon. James Shields was the 
foiirth presiding Judge ; Hon. James Semple, 
the fifth; Hon. William H. Undenvood, the 
sixth ; Gusta\'us Koerner. the seventh ; Justin 
Harlin, the eighth ; Charles Emerson, the ninth ; 
and Charles Constable the tenth, the term of 
office ending in October, 1SC5. 

The history of Illinois cannot be written with 
fullness and accuracy without siiecial mention 
of all these men and an account of the part 
they took In forming and moulding the in.stitu- 
tions of this great State, yet an individual notice 
of each cannot be given in an article so short 
as this. 

The attorneys, who.se names appear on the 
records of the court during the period above 
mentioned, are few in number, but among them 
are those who distinguished themselves and 
their people by their sen'ices. Those w^orthy of 
being here mentioned include Samuel McRoberts, 
Thomas C. Browne, Anthony Thornton. Daniel 
Gregor.v, Ferris Forman, George Bissell, Philip 
Fouke, A. J. Gallagher, Elam Rusk. Orlando B. 



FIckliu, Samuel Moulton, Usher Linder and 
Abraham Lincoln. 

These are among the most distinguished, and 
the mere mention of their names must force 
the conclusion the early courts were held and 
the business conducted in a dignified manner, 
and that the legal rights of parties litigant were 
skillfully and ably protected. 

The lawyers resident in the county, in the 
order of location and admission to the bar were : 
Kendal H. Buford, Eli Philbrook, James Ladow, 
John Anderson, Henry D. Caldwell, Wm. J. 
Stevenson, William B. Cooper, and Benjamin 
F. Kagay. 

Cooper, Caldwell and Kagay came to Effing- 
ham when It became the county-seat and for 
many years engaged in active practice. Cooper 
and Kagay maintaining their position as lead- 
ers of the bar until late In the seventies. Mr. 
Cooper died in 1883 and Mr. Kagay continued 
in practice the Nestor of this bar, until Feb- 
ruary, 1908, when he was garnered to his final 
re.st, a riiiened sheaf ready for the harvest. 

Capt. H. D. Caldwell did not devote himself 
exclusively to the practice of law after the re- 
moval of the county-seat, but engaged in farm- 
ing and other enterprises, maintaining a law- 
office only a part of the time. He was one of 
the sti-ong characters of his time and always 
enjoyed a good practice when engaged in the 
law business. He died in 1905. With the 
passing of Cooiwr and Kagay and H. D. Cald- 
well, the last links connecting the old seat of 
justice with the new were severed. No other 
lawyer now living in Effingham ever practiced 
in Ewington and. with the exception of the 
writer, none of them ever lived there, and liis 
parents brought him to Effingham before he was 
five years of age. 

Of the Judges w<ho have presided over our 
c-ourts at Effingham, Emerson and Constable 
have been mentioned. 

Judge Hiram B. Decius held the courts from 
January, 1866, to April, 1873, and Hon. James 
C. Allen from 1873 to 1878. Judge Allen is still 
living at Olney, 111., at the ripe age of about 
eighty-eight. 

Judge James H. Halley presided from 1878 
to 1879, when three Judges were elected for the 
circuit, viz. : William O. Jones, Thomas Casey 
and Chauncey S. Conger, who held the courts 
until 1885. They were succeeded by William 



658 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



C. Jones, S. Z. Landes and Curtis C. Boggs, 
whose terms expired in 1891. Landes and 
Boggs were re-elected and E. D. Youngblood 
tools the place of William C. Jones, who had 
already served two terms. 

In 1897 Judges William M. Farmer, Samuel 
L. Dwight and Tinman E. Ames were elected 
and, in 1903, were all re-elected. In 1907 Judge 
Farmer was elected to the Supreme Bench of 
which he is now Chief Justice, and the vacancy 
caused by his promotion was tilled by the 
election of Hon. Albert M. Rose. At the regular 
election in 1909, Judge Rose was re-elected and 
with him, as associates, James C. McBride and 
Tliomas M. Jett. These three constitute the 
present Bench and the service they are giving 
the people is up to the standard set by their 
distinguished predecessors, two of whom, Curtis 
C. Boggs and William JI. Farmer, were found 
worthy of seats on the Supreme Bench and each 
of them has measured fully up to the duties and 
responsibilities of that exalted and responsible 
I)osition. 

The lawyers practicing in our court during 
the period from 1860 not above mentioned 
were and are: H. B. Kepley, S. F. Gilmore, 
Benson Wood, Virgil Wood, J. N. Gwin, A. W. 
LeCrone, William H. Barlow, William H. Gill- 
more, Ada H. Kepley, E. N. Riuebart, John C. 
^Tiite, D. W. Wood, R. C. narrah, Owen Scott, 
W. S. Holmes, William B. Buckner, P. W. Loy. 
P. K. Johnson, William B. Wright, Jacob Zim- 
merman, G. F. Taylor, David L. Wright, B. 
Overbeck, Charles H. Kelly, A. S. Loy, M. 
U'Donnell, H. S. Parker, Walter E. Rinehart, 
Harry J. Rickelman, Guy P. Denton, Byron 
Iriper, George I. Danks. 

Of the foregoing the following are deceased: 
H. B. Kepley, J. N. Gwin, A. W. LeCrone, Will- 
iam H. Barlow, William H. Gilmore, John C. 
White, P. K. Johnson and Charles H. Kelly. 
The following have moved away : D. W. Wood, 
Owen Scott, William E. Buckner and F. W. 
Loy. 

The present Bar consists of the following 
firms and individuals: Wood Brothers & Rickel- 
man, composed of Benson Wood, Virgil Wood 
and Harry J. Rickelman; Wright Brothers & 
Denton, composed of William B. Wright, David 
L. Wright and Guy P. Denton ; Zimmerman & 
Rinehart. composed of Jacob Zimmerman and 
Walter E. Rinehart. Those practicing alone 



are : S. F. Gilmore, R. C. Harrah, W. S. Holmes, 
G. F. Taylor, B. Overbeck, A. S. Loy, M. 
O'Dounell, and H. S. Parker, all of Effingham, 
Byron Piijer of Altamont, and George I. Danks 
of Edgewood. 

Mrs. Ada H. Kepley is not engaged in prac- 
tice. A. D. McCallen and Manson McOallen have 
both been admitted to the bar, but neither of 
them have taken up the practice of law. 

Since the County Court has had jurisdiction 
in civil and criminal eases the Judges have 
been : Joseph B. Jones, S. P. Gilmore, William 
B. Wright, David L. Wright and M. O'Donnell. 
Judge Jones now lives in Chicago, the otners 
live in Effingham and are active practitioners. 
M. O'Donnell is the present Judge. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



LIST OF PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE PBACTICED IN EF- 
FINGHAM COUNTY DATE OF ENTRANCE INTO 

THE PEOFESSION AND COMING TO THE CODNTY — 
SOME PROMINENT CHAKACTEBS AND NOTABLE 
EVENTS. 

(By Dr. F. W. Goodell.) 

"In writing this article concerning the Medi- 
cal Profession, I have endeavored to be correct, 
impartial and truthful. I have used all the 
means at my command to get each member and 
treat him fairly, and forgetting any frailties 
Which he may have posses.sed, have sought his 
virtues and placed them on record, with charity 
toward all and malice toward none. If I've left 
out a name or important event, I yet feel that 
I've compiled the best history of the profession 
so far put together. Judge S. F. Gilmore has 
written the biography of your historian. 

"Our in'ofession has passed, in its advance- 
ment, all other societies of letters or learning in 
its rapid strides of progress, in the last few 
years. New ideas of the transmission of dis- 
eases have been proven tme, new modes of 
diagnosis have been found, and new medicines 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



659 



have been discovered or invented. The micro- 
scope has been improved and has revealed hid- 
den mysteries, while surgery has daringly in- 
vaded every organ in the human body. Go on, 
my beloved profession, vpith study, care, courage 
and success ; go the limit, asking God to direct 
you. Stop not with fright at lions by the way- 
side, — you'll find them tied when you get to 
them; stop not for the river that would carry 
you across to greener tields and fairer pastures 
of Investigation ; labor ere the sun sets — for us, 
the sun is up. And the sands of time are pass- 
ing fast away, and soon we'll join that glorious, 
grand profession, on that immortal river, not so 
far away." 

[Owing to lack of space it has been found 
necessary to present the following matter in 
condensed form, although the attempt has been 
made to preserv-e the history of the more im- 
portant facts and events. — The Editor.] 

Dr. George Sooles was one of the first physi- 
cians to begin practice in Efflngham, which he 
did in 1857. He is said to have been endowed 
with literary taste and gave evidence of culture. 

Dr. Farley is believed to have been the 
second doctor to practice in Effingham. 

Dr. G. S. Shindle, the first doctor in Watson, 
came when there were but two or three houses, 
also practiced in Teutopolis in 1857 ; he served 
as Assistant Surgeon for a short time in the 
Mexican War and in the Civil War. 

Dr. Worley began pi'actice on Green Creek, 
Douglas Township, in 1S71, in 1875 removed to 
Stewardson, 111., where he remained until 1889, 
when he removed to Baton Rouge, La., and there 
spent the remainder of his life. He married 
Miss Macy Mitchell, and in a steamboat ex- 
plosion on the Mississippi, their two daughters, 
fourteen "and sixteen years of age, leaped into 
the water, and were drowned. From this shock 
neither he nor his wife ever recovered. 

A Dr. Vandervort was practicing in Efflngham 
County during the days of the Civil War. 

Dr. Jonathan W. Loy, born in Ewington in 
1840, studied medicine with Dr. J. N. Groves, 
graduated from Rush Medical College. Chicago, 
and took a post-graduate course in Tennessee; 
served in the Civil War and afterward practiced 
successfully in Millshoals until his death. 

Dr. John Wills,, born in St. Charles County, 
Va., in 1825, removed to Ohio in 1848; after 
spending a short time as clerk in a .store, began 



the study of medicine, graduating from Cleve- 
land Medical College in 1853; in 1857 located 
in Fa.vette County, 111., and in 1873 purchased 
a farm near Beecher City, Effingham C<)unty, 
where he made a permanent home, pursuing 
his profession of physician and surgeon and 
also cultivating his farm. He married Jose- 
phine E. Methan, in 18.54. and they became par- 
ents of nine children. Dr. Wills died on his 
homestead, mourned by the entire community. 

Dr. Cook, a single man, practiced medicine in 
Winterrowd from 1867 to '70, when he died. 

Dr. Samuel Clark, born in Piketon, Ohio, 
in 1831, took a course of medical lectures at 
Rush Medical College, Chicago, and later re- 
ceived a diploma from the St. Louis Medical 
College in 1878. After practicing some t\\-enty 
years in Ramsey, 111., and sijeuding five years 
in Altamont, he located in Effingham, October 
5, 1882, where he engaged in the dry-goods 
business in connection with his practice ; for a 
time was partner of the late Dr. J. N. Groves, 
at Altamont. He died of asthma and uraemia 
at Effingham, leaving a handsome estate. He 
was a member of the Efflngham County and 
Southera Illinois Medical Societies, and mar- 
ried Miss Hargia Harris, of Shelbyville, 111., in 
1858. 

Dr. McMarty was engaged in practice in 
Mason, 111., about 1865-70. 

Dr. Gardner practiced medicine in Mason 
1859-61 ; then moved to Mahomet, 111., where 
he had a son in the practice of the same profes- 
sion. 

Dr. Olaus Deitrich Koch, born in Hanover, 
Germany, in 1824, died at his home in Effing- 
ham, 111., in 1879. His wife was Miss Hen- 
rietta Schmidt. 

J. W. Dunn, M. D., was bom at Elliotts- 
town, 111., in 1882, and after receiving the de- 
gree of B. S. from Austin College, Efflngham, 
spent some time studying medicine with his 
father, and attended Marion Simms Beaumont 
Medical College, St. Louis, from which he grad- 
uated in 1905. He practiced in Oklahoma for a 
time and in 1909 located in Dieterieh, 111., where 
he is now practicing. (See sketch of Dr. Dunn 
in Biographical Chapter of this volume.) 

Dr. Mack practiced medicine In Mason at an 
early day, dying there of cholera, about 18.54-55. 

N. Curtis Calhoun, M. D., born in Effingham 
County in 1881, attended Austin College, was 



660 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



engaged in teaching some years, resigning a posi- 
tion in the Effingham High School in 1905, after 
which he attended the St. Louis College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, with Franli W. Goodell, 
M.D., as preceptor, receiving his degree in 1909 ; 
later located in Watson, 111., also had some ex- 
perience in Jefferson Hospital, St. Louis, and 
spent two summers at the State Insane Asylum 
at Peoria, 111. In 1900 Dr. Oalhoun married 
Louise Klinger, of Mason, 111. 

Dr. McKivans came from the East, purchased 
a farm near Altamont, and practiced there about 
eight years ; about 1854 sold his farm and re- 
turned to his former home. 

Dr. Henry Eversman, born in Hanover, Ger- 
many, in 1837, was educated in his native coun- 
try, and after coming to the United States, in 
parochial schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. After 
spending three years at St. Xavier College, he 
studied three years at Ohio Medical College 
and read medicine with his father. In 1861 
he was apiwinted House Surgeon in the Com- 
mercial Hospital, and a year later became As- 
sistant Surgeon in the Union army. Six months 
later he was promoted as Surgeon, also served 
on staff duty in Lexington, Louisville, and Cin- 
cinnati, and for nineteen mouths was Chief 
Medical Offieer at Johnson's Island. In 18G5 
he removed to Effingham, HI., and entered busi- 
ness life; was member of the private banking 
firm which later became Effingham State Bank, 
being Cashier of both institutions; was Mayor 
of Effingham in 1870-71. He married Miss 
Caroline Wasehefort, of Teutopolis, in 1865, and 
died In Effingham. 

Dr. John Alsop, who was a Southerner, grad- 
uated from a medical school of Louisville, Ky. ; 
located in Beeeher City, Effingham County, in 
1878, and practiced medicine there until his 
death, about ten years later. He kept a drug 
store, was a successful physician. 

Presley M. Martin, M. D.. born in Martins- 
ville, Va., which was named in honor of his 
father; worked seven years as clerk in the 
Patent Office in Washington, meanwhile study- 
ing medicine; after graduating came to Effing- 
ham County and purchased the old Andy Parks 
farm, near Watson, later moving into Watson 
where he practiced until his death in 187G. He 
married, in 1845, Miss Eliza King, of Wheel- 
ing, W. Va. 

J. L. Kershner, M. D., now practicing in 



Dieterich, is a native of Illinois, and graduated 
from Marion Sims Medical College, St. Louis, 
in 1892, when he began practicing at Elliotts- 
town, Effingham County; is a member of the 
County and State Medical Societies, and official 
examiner for several insurance companies. 
He married Miss Florence Emma Dueker, of 
Bible Grove, 111., June 11, 1898. (See more 
detailed sketch in Biogi-aphical chapter of this 
volume.) 

J. C. Chapman, M. D., practic-ed at Dieterich, 
111., in 18S5, then moved to Wheeler, the first 
station east, where he opened a store and looks 
after same in connection with his practice. 

Dr. Willien practiced medicine in Effingham 
about 1869, at the same time being engaged in 
the drug business, in partnership with Mr. 
Newell. He sold his drug store interest and 
removed to Terre Haute, Ind., where he still 
resides. 

Joseph H. Walker. M. D., born on a farm 
near Robinson, 111., received his iireiiminai-y 
education at St. Joseph's and Au.stin Colleges; 
in 1896 graduated from Barnes Medical Col- 
lege, and has since practiced at St. Louis, Mo., 
and Mechaniesburg and Effingham, 111., being 
now a resident of the latter city. He is a mem- 
ber of the local. State, and American Medical So- 
cieties .and Assistant Surgeon in the Fourth In- 
fantry Illinois National Guard. He married 
Miss Aldula Sartorus, June 22, 1902. 

Dr. Clark practiced some time in Beeeher 
City, then moved with his family to Watson, 
Effingham County, where he remained from 
1892-96, then locating in Memphis, Tenn. 

Dr. L. A. Coonse, after living a number of 
years in Chicago, located in Watson, Effingham 
County, in Januaiy, 1898; is now a resident 
of the latter place and enjoys a good practice. 

Dr. Christian removed from Northern Illinois 
to Effingham County about 1880, and lived some 
time near Funkhouser ; now resides some five 
miles west of Effingham and devotes his time to 
agricultural pursuits, having retired from ac- 
tive practice. 

Dr. W. I. N. Fisher, Ixn-n in Mifflin County, 
Pa., in 1814, in .vouth was a school teacher 
and in 1841 came to Illinois, where he met and 
married Miss Sarah A. Turney. After studying 
medicine with a Dr. Miller, about 1844 he re- 
moved to Shelbyville and began practicing. In 
1860 he located in Effinguam, and there was 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



661 



actively engaged In organizing companies for 
the Union Army, becoming a member of Com- 
pany L, Fifth v.avalry, but nine months later 
returned broken in health; afterward served as 
County Superintendent of Schools. He died in 
Effingham, Januaiy 28, 1873. 

Dr. William Sloan came to Illinois from In- 
diana, and after spending some time in Clay 
County, located in EUiottstown, Effingham 
County, about 18C2 ; later removed to Teutoixilis 
and there died of small-pox in 1869. He mar- 
ried JIai-y Dye. 

Dr. Travice, commonly known as an "Indian 
doctor," practiced medicine west of EUiottstown, 
in 1863. 

Dr. HufEaker graduated from the Homeo- 
pathic Medical College. Cincinnati, and about 
1882 commenced practic-e at Effingham. A few 
years later he removed to Denver, Colo., where 
he has continued in practice. He married Miss 
Ada Connolly, whose father practised law in 
Effingham about 1874-81. 

Dr. Louis T. Beemer lived in Teutopolis in 
the '60s and located in Effingham in 1882. In 
1889 he made affidavits that he had practiced 
medicine ten years previous to "the "Medical 
Practice Act," and was allowed to continue. 
His "materia medica" consists of preparations 
from herbs, and he makes no pretensions to 
scientific acquirements. He is a man of sagacity 
and good judgment. 

Dr. Stewart came to Watson, 111., from 
Washington, Ind., in 1893, and five years later 
he moved to Tacoma, Wash. ; was considered 
a good physician and made many friends. 

Dr. Morey came to Effingham about 1898, 
fi-om southwestern Illinois, where he had ac- 
quired a reputation for unusual success in treat- 
ment of tyi5hoid fever. In 1905 he removed 
to Cotter, Ark. He was greatly interested in 
botanical and agricultural matters and this in- 
terfered somewhat with his practice. 

Dr. Carter began practice in Effingham in 
1903, continuing there with gratifying success 
until 190.5 : then went to Texas where he mar- 
ried Miss Wiwi. of Montrose, 111., as his third 
wife ; now lives in Indianafiolis, Ind. 

Dr. Johnson, a brother of A. B. Johnson, lived 
near the present town of Shumway, and prac- 
ticed medicine among his neighbors. 

J. N. Groves, M. D., born in Perry Countj-. 
Ohio, in 1841, and came in 1856 with his parents. 



to Crawford County, 111., in 1856. For three 
years he attended Wesleyan University, at Dela- 
ware, Ohio, but returning to Illinois in 1858, 
formed a partnership with Dr. S. M. Meeks, at 
Hardinsville. In 1860 he took a course at the 
Chicago Medical College, and in July, 1861, lo- 
cated in Watson ; the next year enlisted as pri- 
vate in Company F, Ninety-eighth Illinois In- 
fantry; in 1863 was appointed Hospital Stew- 
ard, later became First Assistant Surgeon of 
the regiment, and was detailed as Surgeon to 
accomiwny the expedition of the Fourth Michi- 
gan Cavalry when they captured Jefferson 
Davis. After the close of the war he located 
in Effingham, where he formed a partnership 
with Dr. John LeCroue, but later took a course 
at Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which 
he graduated in the spring of 1806 ; then prac- 
ticed for a time at Freemanton and Altamont, 
but in 1880 removed to the City of Effingham, 
where he established the Effingham Surgical 
Institute and Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. 
Groves was a charter member of the Effingham 
Medical Society, and belonged to the Southern 
Illinois, the Illinois State and the Interstate 
Jledical Societies. He served one term as Mayor 
of Effingham and was a popular physician ; 
was three times married, (first) to Miss White, 
(second) to Jliss Kellom and (third) to Mi.ss 
Sligar. He died a few years ago. 

Dr. Ellison graduated from a medical course 
in 1876, then formed a partnership with Dr. 
Cornwell and practiced in Mason a few years, 
when he removed to Bedford, Ind. 

J. B. Johnson, M. D., located in Shumway, 
111., in 1875, for active practice, but in 1879 re- 
moved to Alma, 111., his former home; was later 
ordained a Baptist minister, and was a great 
worker for the cause of temperance. 

Dr. Parks engaged in the practice of medi- 
cine and conducted a drug-store in Montrose, 
alx)ut 1880; in 1890 moved, with his family, 
to Cumberland County, 111., where he continued 
in practice until his death; a good physician 
and well liked. 

Dr. John LeCrone, bom in Fayette County, 
Pa., in 1816, removed with his parents in boy- 
hood to Fairfield County, Ohio. By close 
economy he was able to save enough money 
from his salary as a school teacher to pursue 
the study of medicine; began his studies with 
Drs. Hyde and Evans, at Rushville, Ohio, in 



662 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



1842 removed to Geneva, Ohio, and after spend- 
ing two years there in 1S44 came with his father 
to Effingham County, 111. The following year 
he moved to Ehvingtou, then the county seat 
and began the practice of his profession. In 
1861 he removed to Effingham and in 18G4 
served as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hun- 
dred Twentj-fifth Illinois. In 183.5 he married 
Miss Elizabeth Allen, of Yii-ginia. who bore him 
eleven children, but later died and he married 
again. He was a member of the Aesculapian, 
Illinois State Medical and Interstate Medical 
Societies, a Protestant, a Mason and a Demo- 
crat. He served as County Clerk and twice as 
Mayor of Effingham, finally dying in that city. 

John G. McCoy, JI. D., bom in Smithfield, 
Ohio, in 1835; when a boy removed with his 
parents to New Philadelphia. Ohio; taught 
school when seventeen years of age, to help 
finish a course at college in Mt. Union. Ohio. 
In 1855 he began the study of medicine and in 
1857 removed with his parents to Wayne County, 
111., where he taught school and practic-ed his 
profession. In company with A. J. Rud.v, he 
raised Company K, Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, of which he was elected Lieutenant, 
gix months later becoming Captain. After the 
close of the war, he located in Effingham, where 
In 1875 he purchased an interest in a woolen 
mill which was destroyed by fire in 1881. He 
married Miss L. M. Lock, of Grayville, 111., and 
they had twelve children. He performed some 
delicate surgical operations with success; re- 
moved with his family to Greencastle, 111., where 
he engaged in dry-goods business. 

J. L. Schifferstein, M. D., born in Jasper 
County, 111., in 1850, as a young man, from 
1867-69, was express agent at Olney, 111., mean- 
while pursuing the study of medicine under the 
direction of Dr. H. A. Lemon. In 1SG9 he en- 
tered St. Louis Medical College, and graduated 
in the spring of 1873; spent one year in the 
City Hospital as the First Assistant Physician, 
•when returning to Olney, 111., he practiced there 
until 1882. then locating in Effingham. He 
served in the famous Bolin trial as chemist for 
the Coroner, Dr. William Goodell, Effingham. 
He had studied the diseases of the eye and ear 
for three summers under the tutelage of Prof. 
H. C. Gill, of St Louis, a specialist and lecturer 
on this subject. He later took charge of the 
eye and ear department of the Effingham Sur- 



gical Institute, which he conducted three yeai-s. 
He then engaged In general practice, making a 
specialty of diseases of the eye, and was becom- 
ing very successful in this line, when he was 
seized with paresis and died, after a few weeks' 
illness, in 1901. For a time he was Surgeon- 
iu-Chief of the St. Louis & Southeastern, the 
Ohio & Mississippi Railroads. He married Miss 
Kate Couners, in 1874, at St. Louis, Mo. He was 
a Roman Catholic and buried in the cemetery 
just north of the city. 

Dr. John O. Scott born in Davidson County, 
Tenn., in 1805, about 1821 came with his father 
to Franklin County, 111., after moving twice to 
Gibson County, Ind., and returning to Illinois, 
in 1831, made a permanent location in Effingham 
County, and in 1833 broke ground in what later 
became Jackson Township. He often helped 
nurse his neighbore, and becoming imbued with 
a desire to study medicine, borrowed some 
books of Dr. Le Crone, and studied in connec- 
tion with cultivating his farm. He was often 
called in case of emergency, and so gradually 
drifted into practice, which he carried on some 
tiventy years. In 1875 Dr. Scott retired from 
active practioe and located in Effingham, where 
he died. He held various local offices. His 
wife, familiarly known as "Aunt Polly," was a 
Miss Martha Parkhurst, of Tennessee. 

Dr. Wesley Thompson was born at Fort 
Wayne, Ind., in 1845, served two years in the 
Union Army, studied medicine under Dr. J. H. 
Loughridge, of Rensselier, Ind., and graduated 
from Jliami Medical College, of Cincinnati, in 
1869, after which he located in Effingham and 
engaged in the drug business. In 1870 he re- 
moved to Lincoln, Nebr., remaining there seven 
years, when returning to Effingham, he resumed 
practice, but in 1880 virtually retired and de- 
\x)ted his time to his orchard and horticulture. 
About 1884 he removed to San Bernardino, 
Cat, where he resumed practice. He served 
several terms as Coroner of Effingham County, 
once on account of the death of the Sheriff, 
being called to fill the vacancy for nearly a 
whole term. 

Dr. Thomas G. Vandiveer, born in Orange 
County, Ind., in 1834. at nine years of age re- 
moved with his parents to Clay County, 111., 
and in 1850 began operating his brother's mill 
in Union Township. Effingham County ; in 1853, 
began tlie study of medicine under Dr. J. H. Rob- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



663 



inson, of Mason, also studied t«-o years under 
Drs. Hull and Barber, of Clay County, 111.; 
took a course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, 
and then, after practicing six months in George- 
town, 111., removed to Mason, where he prac- 
ticed until 1859; in 1860 served as Deputy Cir- 
cuit Clerk, and in 1862 became Contract Sur- 
geon in Companies I and K, Seventy-first Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry. In 1864 he engaged 
as clerk for R. Gilbert and in 1877 entered the 
drug store of W. F. Pape, where he remained 
some years, when, his health failing, he and 
his wife removed to California, where he died 
a few years since. He served four years as 
County Coroner, was a Protestant and a Demo- 
crat. May 3. 1865, he married Miss Martha 
Jackson, of Effingham County. 

Henry M. Drewry, M. D., bom in Switzerland 
County, Ind., in 1847, in 1862 came with his 
parents to Mason, 111., and in 1868 entered the 
University of Illinois, graduating in the class 
of 1872. In 1863 he married Miss Harriet A. 
W. Dunn, who lived but a few months after- 
ward. The following year returning to Urbana, 
he began the study of medicine under Dr. Sam- 
uel Birney, receiving the degree of M. D. from 
the Chicago Medical College, in March, 1867. 
After returning to Effingham he practiced in 
partnership with Dr. J. N. Groves, at Altamont. 
and later with Edwin M. Yarletz, M. D., but 
has since continued practice alone. He is a 
successful practitioner and a well-read man. 
He married (second), October 22, 18S2, at New- 
ton, 111., Miss Harriet Mann. 

Slyvester Stuart Rice, M. D., was born in 
Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1834; in 1853-55, 
taught school in Bucksville, Ky. ; in 1855 at- 
tended medical lectures at Cincinnati and in 
1SS2 took a post-graduate course at the Missouri 
Medical College, St. Louis, Mo. He first prac- 
ticed his profession in 1858, at Collinsvllle, 111., 
but in 1872, removed to Altamont, where he 
remained until his death, some years ago. He 
was liberal-minded, a Protestant, a Democrat, 
a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and member of 
several medical societies. 

George Schlagenhauf, M. D., bom in Stutt- 
gart, Germany, In 1849, in 1854 was brought to 
America by his father, who died in Hamilton 
County, Ohio, and the son then went to live 
with his brother John in St Louis. He attended 
the St. Louis Medical College, receiving the 



degree of M. D. in 1874, later took a post-grad- 
uate course at the same institution, 'and in the 
fall of 1870 he oi>ened an office for the prac- 
tice of his profession in Altamont, where he 
continued until his death, caused by heart dis- 
ease. 

C. M. Wright, M. D., was born in Boston, 
Mass., in 1834, earned his way through a med- 
ical school in Philadelphia by teaching, grad- 
uated from the Eclectic College in 1856, and 
located in Altamont, 111., where he began his 
practice. He came to the town without a dol- 
lar, but after continuously practicing medicine 
twenty-tno years, was able to retire from active 
life and opened a private bank, although several 
times called into council after his retirement. 
With but one hand, he drove spirited horses 
and was very successful in every enterprise. 
He occupied one of the finest homes in Effing- 
ham County, where he died a few years since. 

Thomas J. Dunn, M. D., born in Bracken 
County, Ky., in 1845, came with his parents to 
Lucas Township, Effingham County, in 1853, in 
1864 enlisted in Company H, One Hundred 
Fifty -fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, became 
Sergeant and was mustered out as Lieutenant 
in September, 1865. Returning to Effingham 
County he taught school until 1S75, when he 
began the study of medicine and in ISSl re- 
ceived the degree of M. D. from Rush Medical 
College, Chicago, and began practice in Elliotts- 
town, which he has since continued with grati- 
fying success. He is a Protestant, a Repub- 
lican, a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of 
Effingham Cotmty and Illinois State Medical So- 
cieties ; has served in several official positions 
Including chairman of the v^entral Republican 
Township Committee, Town Clerk, and the 
Medical Pension Board, having been twice ap- 
pointed to the latter on which post he is now 
serving, with Drs. J. N. Matthews and Frank 
W. Goodell. (For a more detailed sketch of 
Dr. Dunn, see Biogi-aphioal Chapter in this 
volume. ) 

William J. Jayne, M. D., bom in Pendleton 
County, Ky., August 22, 1855, took a prepar- 
atory course at a seminary in Sullivan, 111., 
and then by teaching earned the means for a 
course of medical lectures at Vanderbllt Uni- 
versity, Nashville, Tenn., later graduating from 
tue Medical School at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1879. 
He began the practice of medicine at Winter- 



664 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



rowd, and in 1867 was appointed tlie first Post- 
master of tliat town. 

B'raneis F'. Eversman, M. D., was bom in 
the Province of Hanover, Prussia, in 1807, and 
finished a course of study in Baltimore, Md., in 
1837. In the cholera epidemic of 1849, though 
not yet a graduate physician, he volunteered to 
treat eases, as he had studied medicine and 
had a good knowledge of drugs. In 1850 he 
graduated from a medical college in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and began practicing in that city, but in 
1S53 he moved to Teutoiwlis, where he continued 
in practice until his death. In 1865 he estab- 
llslied a drug store in Teutopolis, which was 
conducted by his son Charles. He married 
Charlotte Fier. At the time Dr. E>versman lo- 
cated in Teutopolis there was only a small set- 
tlement there, and his services among the 
pioneer Germans will long be remembered. He 
was a Democrat in polities and a Roman Cath- 
olic in religion. 

G. W. Oornwell, M. D., was born in Fleming 
County, Ky., about 1851 began the study of 
medicine in Stilesville, Ind., under Dr. J. N. 
Green, and also attended Asbury University two 
years. In 1855 he graduated from Rush Medi- 
cal College, in Chicago, and in August follow- 
ing located in Mason, 111., and there continued 
practice until his death. He was a Democrat, 
a Protestant and a member of the Masonic 
Order, and served once as Representative in the 
State Legislature (18(37-68). He was a skilled 
physician and met with success in his profes- 
sion. 

Joseph Hall, M. D., born In Ontario County, 
New York, in 1840, at fifteen years of age came 
to Mason, 111., spent a short time there, and 
in 1864 married Miss Laura A. Turge, of 
Wayne County. Mich., a few months later re- 
turning to Mason, where he was engaged in the 
practice of medicine until his death. He con- 
ducted a drug store several years, in 1870 was 
appointed Postmaster, but resigned in 1873 and 
was re-appointed to office in 1881. He studied 
medicine with his father, who was practicing 
in Bloomfield, N. Y. 

Dt. Joseph Hall, Sr., father of the above, was 
born in Westchester County, N. Y., in 1805, and 
studied medicine under Drs. Beach and Smith, 
of New York City ; was also an ordained min- 
ister. He prac-ticed medicine in New York until 



1859, then located in West Township, Effing- 
ham County, where he died February 14, 1861. 

William Matthews, M. D., was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Va., July 27, 1819; in 1839 be- 
gan the study of medicine under Dr. Talbot, of 
Greencastle, Ind., and later attended Rush Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, 111., from which he grad- 
uated with honor. His first wife was a Miss 
Ruth A. Jessop. In 1848 he married Miss 
Delia Hopwood, of Belleville, Ind. ; from 1848 
to '58 he practiced in Putnam County, Ind., then 
moved to Effingham County, 111., where he prac- 
ticed in Mason until his death, January 14, 1874. 
He had unusual literary talents and wrote ex- 
tensively for the press. He was a Universalist 
in religion and a Republican in politics. 

James N. Matthews, M. D., son of the preced- 
ing, was bom near Greencastle, Ind., May 27, 
1852. and came to Mason with his father when 
a small boy, and at ten years of age began work- 
ing in a printing office, and was widely and 
favorably known as a writer of ability. He 
entered the University of Illinois, from which 
he graduated with first honors in 1872 and in 
1875 entered a St. Louis medical college, grad- 
uating therefrom with the degree of M. D. and 
first prize for proficiency. In 1878 he married 
Miss Luella Brown and began practicing at Ma- 
son, Effingham County, where he spent the re- 
nuiinder of his life. He was an officer of the 
Effingham County Medical Society and a mem- 
ber of the Illinois State Medical Society, was 
also President of the Medical Pension Board of 
Effingham Count}', and of the Western Writers' 
Association, of which he was the organizer. 
His first wife having died, he married (sec- 
ond), in 1800, Miss Madeline Wright. He 
died deeply mourned by a large circle of friends, 
March 7, 1910. 

Dr. G. H. Paugh was bom in Kentucky, De- 
cember 27, 1814. His mother having died when 
he was a child, he was reared by a sister, 
who took him to Monroe County, Ind., at seven 
years of age. When a young man he began 
the study of medicine, and spent five years 
under the tutelage of Dr. E. C. Moberly, later 
engaged in practice at Bedford, Ind., removing 
thence to Spring\'ille, in the same county, where 
he resided thirty consecutive years. In 1867 
he located in Mason, 111., where he made a 
Iiermanent residence. He was twice married. 



I 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



665 



first, to Miss Hannah Scroggin, who died May 
13, 1840, and second, in the latter part of the 
same year to Miss Eliza Cook, of LawTence 
County, Ind. He was a Methodist, a Mason and 
Republican. 

William M. Trimble, M. D.. born in Illinois \n 
1874, graduated from the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, St. Louis, lu the class of 1902, 
and after spending a short time in practice at 
Gila, 111., went to Dieterich, where he still prac- 
tices medicine, and is Medical Examiner for 
several social life insurance organizations. He 
married Miss Maude Marks, June 10, 1905. 

J. C. Paugh was bom in Lawrence County, 
Ind., in 1841, and received his primary medical 
education from his father. Dr. G. H. Paugh. 
Later he studied under Dr. Grey and, when he 
had completed his course, became Dr. Grey's 
partner. He located in Mason, 111., in 1805 aud 
married Miss Marian Woods in 1870. 

Dr. Golightly practiced some time in Beecher 
City; in 1905 removed to Green Biver. 111., 
where he still practices. 

Dr. Guthrie pi'acticed at Beecher City some 
time, but since about 1905 has been a resident 
of Pueblo, Colo. 

Dr. Maun located in Ewington about 1880, 
practiced there some years with success ; but 
later moved to Terre haute, Ind., and died 
there. 

Dr. Mallett practiced iu Ewingtovi in 1800-fll, 
then sold his practice to Dr. L. W. Smith and 
removed to Indiana. 

E. A. Bing, M. D., of Altamont, is a native 
of Illinois, bom in 1876; attended Austin Col- 
lege at Effingham, and graduated from the medi- 
cal department of the Missouri University, after 
which he began practice at Browns. 111. He be- 
longs to the Effingham County and Illinois State 
Medical Soc-ieties. In 1906 he married Miss 
Cora Whitson. 

Henry Stein, M. D., bom in Iowa, in 1869, 
graduated from the Missouri Medical College 
and married Miss Clara Williams, of Mount 
Vernon ; began practice at Defiance, Iowa, later 
moving to Altamont, 111., where he is still prac- 
ticing and serving as City Health Officer. 

John Edward Groves, M. D.. bom in Illinois 
in 1865, received his degree from the Bennett 
Medical College, Chicago, in 1887, practiced for 
sometime at Greenville, East St. Louis and 
Eflingham, 111., and in 1902 was appointed phy- 



sician of the Southern Illinois Hospital for 
the Insane, at Anna, which position he held four 
years. In 1907 he located in Altamont and en- 
tered general practice. In 1888 he married 
Miss Minnie Norman, of Greenville. (For a 
more extended sketch of Dr. Groves see Bio- 
graphical Chapter in this volume.) 

Dr. Williams, an early physician of Effing- 
ham County, practiced in Douglas Township 
in 1847, living near Ramsey's Mill on Green 
Creek. He won considerable public notice as a 
hypnotist. 

Dr. Wiles, an eclectic physician, located in 
Effingham for practice about 1878. Seven years 
later he removed to Decatur, 111. 

G. Homesser, M.D., has had a large practice 
in the vicinity of Shumway, 111., since 1887, 
married a Miss Rice aud has carried on a 
business in addition to medical practice. He is 
a Modern Woodmen, a Democrat, and a mem- 
ber of the Effingham County and Illinois State 
Medical Societies ; is also Medical Examiner 
for several insurance companies. 

R. O. Broadway, M.D., was registered for 
practice in Illinois in 1894, being located sev- 
eral years at Watson, Effingham County, then 
removed to Nebraska, returned to Watson, and 
is no located in Southern Illinois. 

G. M. Baker, M. D., took the degree of M. D. 
in 1892, from Beaumont Medical College, St. 
Louis, Mo., and was registered in Illinois the 
same year. He is a member of Effingham 
Count}- and Illinois State Medical Societies, 
and is engaged in practice iu Altamont. (See 
sketch of Dr. G. M. Baker in Biographical 
Chapter in this volume.) 

Bert Caldwell, M. D., is a native of Illinois, 
took his medical course in a St. Louis Medical 
college, located at Mouti-ose, 111., later spent a 
short time at Watson, then moved to Oklahoma 
and was there appointed a member of the State 
Board of Health, of which he became Secre- 
tary ; is now holding the jxisition of Surgeon 
under the United States Government in the 
Canal Zone. 

Ralph R. Holson, M. D., graduated from the 
Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisville, in 
1891, and the .same year located iu Altamont. 

James E. Beard, M. D., a native of Effingham 
Count.v, graduated from Barnes Medical College, 
St. Louis, in 1895 ; then began practicing at 



666 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Dieterich, Effingham County, where he remained 
until his death in 1903. 

William Sherman Goodell, M. D., bom in 
Weathersfield, Vt., in 1813, after receiving 
a superior education, chose the profession of 
medicine and began to fit himself for the same. 
In the spring of lS(i7 he located in Effingham, 
having previously practiced his jwofession in 
various places in Illinois and other States, and 
took his son, William L., into partnership with 
him. He built a substantial house in Effingham, 
but later removed to Texas, where he invested 
a considerable sum of money in cattle, and was 
so successful in this enterprise that, after a few 
years he prepared to return to Effingham and 
spend the remainder of his life in ease and com- 
fort. Before his arrangements were completed, 
however, he was aslsed to visit an Indian chief 
in a professional way, and being caught in a 
severe rainstorm, contracted pneumonia, from 
which he never recovered, but after a sickness 
of five days, passed away and was buried near 
Bonham, Fannin County, Tex. After his death 
his money was stolen and his cattle and fine 
horses driven to the Indian Nation and scat- 
tered along the Rio Grande. (A more extended 
sketch of Dr. William S. Goodell will be found 
in Biographical Department of this volume.) 

Dr. Casper studied medicine with a Dr. Knott 
in Northern Illinois ; in 1874 located in Shum- 
way, remaining two years. 

Dt. J. G. Allan, bom in Kentucky, attended 
Hanover (Ind. ) College and, taking up the 
study of medicine, received his degree of M. D. 
from the University of Louisville, Ky., in 1882. 
ifter practicing some years in his native State, 
in 1898 received his certificate to practice in 
Illinois ; is now located in Edgewood, and is a 
member of the Effingham County and Illinois 
State Medical Societies. 

Charles McWhorter. M. D., was born in Effing- 
ham, about 1864, studied medicine for a time 
and. in 1,898, went to St. Louis, where he at- 
tended medical lec-tures : in 1900 graduated in 
his course and returned to Effingham County 
for practice; from 1901-08 practiced in Diet- 
erich, and then moved to Texas. 

Dr. I. P. Cromwell was born in Queensbury. 
N. Y., in 1848 ; studied medicine under his 
father, and later under Dr. L. H. Holden, and 
then attended medical lectures at the University 
of New York, until receiving his degree. He 



practiced for a time at Cleveland, Patten's Mills 
and Salem, N. Y., and at Chicago, 111., after 
which he spent fourteen consecutive years at 
DeKalb, III., then moved to Colorado and from 
there, in K)03, to Effingham, 111., where he is 
now engaged in the practice of homeopathy. 
He is a Protestant, a Democrat and a member 
of the Masonic Order. 

James R. Scott, M. D., was born in Jefferson 
Countj', Ky., September 13, 1840; removed to 
Pike Countj' with his parents when a child, and 
received his preliminary education under the 
tutelage of A. T. Hendricks, brother of Thomas 
A. Hendricks ; then removed to Petersburg, Ind., 
where he began the study of medicine under 
the direction of Drs. J. R. Adams and J. L. 
Hallin, and afterward attended lectures at Cin- 
cinnati Medical College, from which he grad- 
uated with the Class of 18C2. The same year 
he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the 
Third Kentucky Infantry, and was discharged 
in October, 1864. At the close of the war he 
located at Edgewood, where he has since prac- 
ticed his profession. He is a Protestant, a 
Mason and a Democrat. (For a more extended 
sketch see Biographical Chapter in this volume.) 

Dr. A. McAnderson received his diploma from 
Jefferson .Medical College in 18.51, served as 
Surgeon in the Civil War ; began practice in 
Mason, Effingham County, in 1880, and lived in 
the last log cabin that stood in Mason, where 
he was found dead in bed one morning in 1884. 

B. P. Holland, M. D., passed the examination 
of the State Board of Health, and began the 
practice of medicine in Mason, 111., in 18T8; 
about three years later removed to Louisville, 111., 
where he operated a saw-mill in connection with 
his practice. 

Owen Wright. M. D., was born near Green- 
castle. Ind.. in Feliruary, 18.3.5 ; in 1852 began the 
study of medicine, just after coming to Effingham 
County, and in 1856 entered Rush Medical 
College. Chicago; later attended lectures in St. 
Louis and at the Ohio Medical College. He 
served as First Assistant Surgeon in the One 
Hundred Twenty-flfth Illinois Volunteers, and 
in 1865 was detailed a Surgeon in an army 
corps. At the close of the war he located in 
Mason, Effingham County, where he has since 
continued in the practice of his profession. He 
is a Protestant, a Republican and a Mason, and 
preaches occasionally. He married Miss Mar- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



667 



garet Wallis, in 1860. (A fuller sketch will 
be found in the Biographical Chapter, this 
volume.) 

John Cook, M. D., born in Kent, England, 
came to the United States in 1S68, and, after 
spending some time in Chicago, located in Lib- 
erty Township, Effingham County ; there en- 
gaged in teaching school until 1878. when he 
began studying medicine with Dr. Wills, later 
attended St. Louis Medical College, graduating 
in ISSO with the first honors of his class. He 
formed a partnership with Dr. J. Pipher. of 
Shumway, but a year later moved to Beecher 
City, where he began an Independent practice. 
August 24, 1873, he married Miss Julia Ten- 
ner}-. He is a Universalist in religion and a 
member of the I. O. O. F. 

Lucien W. Hammer, M. D., was born in Clark 
County, Ky., November 12, 1819; in 1828 moved 
to Sangamon County, 111., with his parents, and 
later to Moweaqua, where he began the study 
of medicine from text-books; became acquainted 
with drugs by working in a drug store, and in 
1855 entered upon the practice of medicine. In 
1879 he moved to Fuukhouser, 111., practiced 
there a year and then located in Effingham, 
where he practiced two years, later practiced 
several years at Watson, and then moved to 
Nebraska, where he died in 1905. 

Dr. R. H. Shamhart, a native of Ohio, studied 
medicine with his father and began practicing 
in Winterrowd. 111., in 1877. He died in 1908. 
He married (first) Miss Molly Fry, of Jasper 
County. 111., and (second) Miss Hagan. of 
Effingham. 

Dr. George S. Shamhart, born in 182.S. studied 
medicine with his father's family physician ; 
practiced for a time in Winterrowd. 111., then 
moved into Jasjjer County, but he continued to 
care for his old patients in the vicinity of Win- 
terrowd ; married Miss Leach McVeigh, of Ohio, 
and died aged 84. 

Dr. J. L. Field was born in Kentucky in 1S21, 
when ten years old accompanied his brother to 
Edgar County. 111., and as a .voung man taught 
school in Illinois and Kentucky. Having studied 
medicine for a time, in 1852 he began practice, 
locating in Bishop Township, Effingham County. 
There being then few doctors in the county, 
his practice was quite extensive. In November, 
1861, he enlisted as Hospital Steward, in Com- 
pany D, Sixty-fourth Illinois, from which he 



was discharged the next year for disability. Re- 
turning home, he continued practice until he 
was so old and feeble he had to be helped in and 
out of his buggy, and when unable to make 
visits, many of his patients came to him for 
advice. He accumulated considerable land and 
drew a war pension. He died in 1906. He 
was a Protestant, a Democrat and a member 
of the Masonic Order. For seventeen years he 
was Postmaster at Elliottstown, and also served 
as To^-nship Clerk and School Trustee. In 1843 
he married Miss Frances T. Conrey, of Edgar 
County. 

W. S. Jones. M. D., born in Harrison County, 
Ohio, in 1827, attended a course of medical lec- 
tures at Cincinnati, and in 1854 he began prac- 
tice in Iowa, later moving to Knox County, 111., 
and six years later to Moccasin Township, Effing- 
ham County, where he was in practice many 
years ; was twice married, first in 1850, to Miss 
Elizabeth Johnson, of Holmes County, Ohio, who 
died in 1873, and second, 1876, to Miss Tena 
Piper. 

Dr. Larable practiced for a time in Craw- 
ford Countj', 111., and in 1871 came to Effingham 
Count.v. where he formed a partnership with 
Dr. John LeCrone, in Effingham ; now resides 
in Wheeler, 111., much broken in health. 

H. G. A'an Sandt, M. D., was torn in Ham- 
ilton, Ohio, in 1843, graduated from St. Louis 
Medical College, served in the Civil War, then 
practiced for a time in Missouri, but later 
moved to Montrose. 111., where he continued in 
practice until his death. He came to Montrose 
a poor man, but was helped to make a start and 
soon acquired a good practice ; also had a gen- 
eral store, a di'ug store, and was engaged in 
buying and shipping cattle, dealing in real estate 
and loaning money. He was a Protestant, a Ma- 
son, an Odd Fellow and a Republican. In 1871 
he married Miss Henrietta Morton. 

John Gillenwatei's, M. D., became a resident of 
Effingham County in 1835 and on account of the 
small jwpulation, being unable to make a living 
in the practice of his profession, engaged in teach- 
ing for a time, receiving a small pay for his serv- 
ices. He was a learned man, and became influ- 
ential, and as his practice increased was able to 
devote his whole time to it. 

William Lott Goodell. M. D., was born in Rich- 
land County. Ohio, in 1S4G, a son of Dr. William 
S. Goodell ; at twelve years of age was brought 



668 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



by his parents to Clark County, 111. ; while at- 
tending Marshall College and during his leisure 
hours and \ acations assisted his father in a print- 
ing olBce, conducted in connection with his medi- 
cal practice ; later accompanied his i)arents to 
Ann Arbor, Mich., and there entered the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, where he .spent three years. 
Returning with his parents to Illinois a short 
time afterward he went to live with Dr. Wil- 
liams, of Marshall, 111. Later formed a partner- 
ship with Dr. Garner, of Salisbury, 111., and in 
1867 located in Effingham, where he and his 
father opened an office together. The younger 
man built up a large practice, at times trav- 
elling extensively night and day, over rough 
roads, often without certainty of remuneration 
for his service. He has been a member of vari- 
ous professional associations, organized the first 
medical society in Effingham County, the Inter- 
State Medical Society, sei-ved as delegate of the 
Illinois State Medical Society to the American 
Medical Association, was the first Secretai-y of the 
Effingrtiani County Medical Society, and has been 
many times called into consultation with other 
physicians and surgeons, is now serving as City 
Health Officer, and has held other city and 
county offices. He works hard in the interest of 
his profe.ssion, which he con.slders a noble call- 
ing. (A more extended sketch of Dr. Good'ell's 
professional career and personal history will be 
found in the Biographical Department of this 
volume. ) 

Dr. Wilson practiced sometime in the vicinity 
of Beecher City, and in 100.5 moved to Centralia, 
where he is now in active practice. 

Dr. Lesher practiced medicine in EUiottstown, 
111., in the '50s. 

Dr. S. C. Lloyd moved from Rising Sun, Can- 
ada, to Pennsylvania, where he practiced before 
coming to Illinois, later practiced in the vicinity 
of Watson and EUiottstown al>out 186.5-71, and 
in 1878 moved to Harper. Kans.. where he is 
now residing. 

Dr. J. C. Brady practiced medicine in Elliotts- 
town in an early day, moved to Teutopolis about 
1861, and in 1862 became a resident of Effingham, 
as deputy for County Clerk John Trap; some 
twenty years later moved to the State of Texas, 
where he died. 

Dr. .Jacob Bishop, one of the earliest physicians 
of Effingham County, was engaged In practice 
in Freemanton in 1844. He was self-educated 



and owned and operated the first grain mill and 
carding machine in Jackson Township: in 18.56-57 
kept a hotel in Effingham, and was also a Meth- 
odist minister. His practice extended outside the 
county and was quite successful. 

Dr. James Long was practicing in Effingham 
County as early as 1843 ; moved from Union 
Township into Mason and in 1846 located near 
Flemsburg, where he practiced five or six years ; 
was also a carpenter and millwright. He per- 
formed a number of amputations successfully, 
with such primitive instruments as a butcher 
knife and carpenter's saw, using a common needle 
and sewing thread for the closing of wounds. 
Later he removed to California, and there con- 
tinued his practice. In 1850 he married Miss 
Louisa Williams. 

Dr. Morgan began practicing medicine in 
Mason, 111., about 1880, and a year later moved 
to Odin, 111., where he now resides. 

Frank Buekmaster, M. D., gi'aduated from a 
medical college in St. Louis, in 189.3, receiving 
a gold medal for proficiency ; then began practic- 
ing at Altamont, 111., and in 1909 moved to Effing- 
ham, where he opened an office in the Austin 
Opera Block. He devotes most of his time to 
surgery, is a member of the Effingham County 
and Illinois State Medical Societies and the 
American Medical Association. (For a more 
extended sketch of Dr. Buekmaster see Biograph- 
ical Chapter in this volume.) 

J. B. Walker, M. D., the first President of the 
Effingham County Medical Society and member 
of the Illinois State and .Esculapian Medical 
Societies and the American Medical As.sociation, 
at one time Mayor of the City of Effingham and 
for several years President of the Commercial 
Club, was liom near Robinson, 111., in 1857, there 
began studying medicine and later attended lect- 
ures in Cincinnati graduating in his course in 
1882. He first formed a jiartnership with Dr. 
,Tohn LeCrone, of Effingham, who had an exten- 
sive practice, I)ut being .soon after elected County 
Clerk, practically retired for a time from practice, 
which was of great advantage to Dr. Walker in 
making a start. He is local Surgeon for a rail- 
road company, at one time served as President 
of the School Board, is a Protestant, a Repub- 
lican and a Mason. He married Miss Alice Max- 
well, of Crawford County, 111., (See sketch in 
Biographical Chapter, this volume.) 

E. W. Brooks, M. D.. liorn in Parker, Ind., in 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



669 



1S76, graduated from Barnes Medical College, St. 
Louis, in 1901, and in 1907 took a ix>st-graduate 
course at Chicago. He began practicing at St. 
Elmo, 111., was c-onnected with Charleston San- 
itarium in 1905, and is now practicing in Beecher 
City ; he is a member of the County and Illinois 
Medical Societies, a Protestant and a Mason. In 
190S he married Miss Nellie Costivans. (A more 
extended sketch will be found in Biographical 
Department, this volume.) 

Dr. Long was born near Newton, 111., graduated 
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. 
Louis, in 1907, and located in Etfingham for the 
practice of his profession, starting in the office 
made vacant by the death of Dr. Sehifferstein. 
He carries on a general practice but pays special 
attention to the diseases of the eye, having re- 
ceived instruction in this branch of the pro- 
fession under Professor Ball, the author and 
lecturer. He is a Roman Catholic and a Dem- 
ocrat. In 1908 he married Miss Dora Dallmier, 
of Newton, III. 

Dr. E. D. Damson is a native of Illinois and, 
after graduating from a medical course, engaged 
in practice in Effingham a few years ago; is a 
member of the County and State Medical Soci- 
eties, a Protestant, a Republican and a Mason. 
(See fuller sketch in Biographical Chapter in 
this volume.) 

Dr. William H. St. Clair has practiced many 
years In Effingham County and served one term 
Mayor of Effingham ; was practicing in partner- 
ship with Dr. John LeCrone in the 'GOs. although 
his certificate from the State Board of Health 
is dated 18S7. He is a member of the Effingham 
County, the Illinois State and the American 
Medical Societies ; is a Democrat in jwlitics. 

Dr. Pruott was bom in Marshall, 111., about 
1870, studied medicine with his father and grad- 
uated from an accredited medical college; began 
the practice of his profession in Effingham about 
1S98, and in 1901 moved away, is now i)ractic- 
ing in northwestern Illinois. He was appointed a 
member of the Medical Pension Board for Effing- 
ham County, by President Cleveland, and served 
as Secretary of the Board, which included Drs. 
J. N. Groves and Frank W. Goodell. Dr. Pruett 
married Miss Van Allen, of Effingham. 

Dr. Stewart, believed to be a regularly grad- 
uated physician, was practicing medicine in Teu- 
topolis, in 1851-52. His patients included most 



families living on upper Green Oi-eek, Effingham 
County. 

Joseph B. Ewers. M. D., graduated from a 
•medical school at St. Louis, Mo., and after prac- 
ticing in Brownstown, 111., in 1882 located in 
Effingham, where he remained about three years, 
then moved with his family to Moultrie County, 
111., for some time was employed as travelling 
representative of a Surgical Institute. 

Dr. Tarrant was practicing medicine In Sum- 
mit Township, near the west end of the 
bridge over the Wabash River in 1857. He served 
as Probate Judge three terms, and also had 
an extensive practice. He died in Summit Town- 
ship. 

C. H. Diehl, M. D.. a native of Effingham 
County, 111., in 1894 entered the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, St. Louis, graduating in 
the Class of 1908. During the summer of 1907 
he had practiced in Oklahoma, and in 1906 acted 
as inteiTie at Jefferson Hospital ; also took a 
special course in anatomy and diseases of the 
nervous system in the medical department of the 
University of Illinois. He is now practicing in 
Montro.se, 111., Is a Lutheran and a Republican ; 
in 1907 married Miss Jennie Delchman, of Effing- 
ham. ( See fuller sketch in Biographical Chapter, 
this volume.) 

Dr. Boggs, commonly known as "Bill Boggs," 
was practicing medicine in Watson Township in 
1858; carried his medicine in a tin "writing 
box," to which he had fastened a handle; had 
many patients who could not afford to pay a 
"town" doctor and in emergency cases. 

C. H. Foote, M. D.. now practicing medicine at 
Beecher City, 111., was bom in Ohio, in 1873, is 
a graduate of the medical depjirtment of the 
University of Mi.s.souri, in the Class of 1895, and 
the same year married Mi.ss Minnie Smlthe. He 
takes no active part in political affairs and in 
religious views is a Methodist. 

Di-. H. C. Finch was practicing medicine in 
Watson, 111., about 1878, having attended medical 
lectures in Chicago, though not graduated from 
a course; in 1879-80 attended the medical de- 
partment of Butler Unlvei-slt.v, of Indianapolis, 
Ind.. and then located in Iowa, where he is still 
engaged in practice. 

F. N. A. Hoffman, M. D., was born in Missouri 
in 1865. gi-aduated from the College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons, St. Louis, in 1894, and be- 



670 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



gan practiiiiif; in Montrose. III., but later moved 
to Evanstou ; its now prautic-iug in Teutojwlis and 
is a member of several medical societies. lu 
1S97 he married Miss Mary Gress, of Stewardson, 
111. 

Dr. D. F. Lane practiced medicine in Mason, 
111., from 1873 to '75, tlieu moved to St. Elmo 
and thence to Oregon State. He attended the 
Missouri Medical College, St. Louis and grad- 
uated from the Indiana Medical College. He 
married Miss Anna Leith, of Mason. 

Dr. Fisk was practicing medicine in Mason, 
111., in 1866 ; married Miss Mapes of Mason, and 
they moved to Missouri in 1870. 

Dr. C. F. Falley was practicing medicine in 
Ewington in 1857, having moved there from 
Freemanton; later moved to Fuller Creek, and 
from there to Clay County, where he died in 
1905. He was a Protesant and a Mason, and is 
kindly remembered by many old settlers of Effing- 
ham County. 

Dr. Abbott, who came to Effingham County 
from New York, was a graduate of West Point, 
a good draftsman, sign painter, civil engineer 
and artist. In 1858 he formed a partnership with 
Dr. Bishop, at Freemanton, later be<-ame Fife 
Major in the Uuion Anny ; and died in service. 
Dr. White, bom in Ohio, in 1858 entered 
land at Bishop Point, Effingham County, 
111., where he carried on farming and practiced 
medicine; also started a horse-mill for grinding 
gi-ain. He died about 1884, was a Democrat and 
a Protestant. 

John G. Schuette, M. D., was bom in the 
Province of Westphalia, Germany, in 1874, grad- 
uated from the Gymnasium of Rhine In 1868, 
took post-graduate courses at Wnrzburg, Mar- 
burg and Grifswold, and graduated from a med- 
ical course in 1872. He served in the Prassian 
Army during the war with France, and in 1872 
emigrated to the United States, locating in Teu- 
topolis. 111. He studied the EInglish language 
eighteen months and then began giving instmc- 
tion in languages and mathematics, which he con- 
tinued a number of years. He married Catherine 
Mette, who died in 1877. Dr. Schuette was a 
Roman Catholic and a Democrat. 

Dr. John N. Pipher was bom in I^uisiana in 
1840, In 1878 graduated from St. Douis Medical 
College, and began practicing at Shumway, 111., 
moving thence to Cliicago. where he spent 
only a few months, when he engaged in practice 



in Stewardfcon, 111. He is a member of the Effing- 
ham County and Illinois State Medical Societies. 
Dr. J. H. Robinson practiced medicine in 
Mason, 111., in an early day, moving thence to 
Oklahoma, where he continued ijractic'c, and there 
died in 1906 at an advanced age. 

Dr. J. L. Yolton was bom in Illinois, in 1857, 
in 1887 was engaged in the practice of medicine 
in Montrose; was a graduate of the Missouri 
Jledical College in the Class of 1885. 

Eugene E. West, M. D., was born in New 
Jersey, in 1801, studied medicine as a young 
man, and graduated at Hahnemann Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, in 1884. He immediately began 
the practice of homeopathy in Effingham, but a 
few years later returned to New Jersey, where 
he continued his practice. He married Miss 
Beulah Bessy, of Effingham. 

H. C. Sanders, M. D., was born in Tennessee 
in 1852 ; in 1886 graduated from the Homeopathic 
Medical College of Missouri, St. Louis, and in 
1887 began practicing at Altamont. 

Dr. G. Schmidt was practicing medicine in 
Elliottstown, in 187S. 

Dr. J. F. Guthrie was bom in Illinois in 1849, 
and in 1885 graduated from the Missouri Medical 
College, St. Louis ; in 1887 was practicing at 
Moccasin, 111., 

Dr. Clemens A. Westholter was born In Ger- 
many in 1843, and his certificate giving him the 
right to practice in the State of Illinois was 
dated Septemper 2. 1887. 

Joseph A. Bmmleve, M. D., who has practiced 
medicine many years in Teutoiwlis, 111., is a na- 
tive of Illinois and graduated from the Medical 
College of Ohio. 

Lawrence A. Bnuiileve, M. D., sou of the pre- 
ceding, studied UKMlicine with his father and in 
1901 graduated from the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, St. Louis. Retumiug home, he 
engaged in practice with his father, which he 
still continues. In 1906 he was elected County 
Coroner, is a member of the Effingham County 
and Illinois State Medical Societies, and both 
he and his father are Catholics and Democrats. 
Both are able to speak both English and Ger- 
man fluently. 

Charles A. Vandre, M. D., was bom in New 
York, in 1843, in 1884 graduated from the Eclec- 
tic MecUcal Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 
1887 was engaged in practice in Altamont. 
Dr. J. P. Hutchinson studied medicine in 




CKRHARD ENGBRINO 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



671 



Masou, 111., where he practiced many years. In 
1877 he was granted a certilicate from the State 
Board of Health, having practiced twenty-four 
years. 

Dr. Schuricht practiced medicine with .suc- 
cess in Effingham alwut fourteen mouths, then 
moved to Missouri. 

Dr. Barney was practicing medicine in Winter- 
rowd, 111., in 1865. 

Dr. Martin began practicing medicine at Wat- 
son, attout 1861, also engaged in farming; was a 
native of Virginia, a Democrat aud a Protestant. 
He married Miss King, of Effingham County. 

L. W. Smith, M. D., bought the practice of Dr. 
Mallett, in ISOl. He was a graduate of au Eclec- 
tic Medical College, served one term as Post- 
master of Effingham, and was probably the first 
surgeon in Effingham County appointed by the 
Government to examine soldiers for pensions. 
He practiced in Effingham a number of years, 
but becoming enfeebled from age, sold his home 
and went to Newton, 111., where he died about 
1898. 

Dr. Jolly was practicing 'medicine in Free- 
manton in 1857, studied medicine under Dr. 
Bishop of that place, and moved from Effingham 
County to Iowa. 

Dr. Meeker practiced medicine in Effingham 
1870-72, and was considered a good physician. 
He moved to California where he continued in 
practice. 

Dr. John G. Hughes, a native of Ohio, practiced 
medicine in Ewington in 1863-70, having pre- 
viously practiced five years in Elliottstown. He 
died of ulcer of the stomach, in Ewington about 
1873. 

Dr. Ingram .studied medicine with Drs. Bishop 
and Falley. and began jiraetice in 1861, a few 
miles south of where Montrose now stands ; after- 
wards practiced in Elliottstown and in Jackson 
Township, and died about 1895. He was a Dem- 
ocrat and a Protestant. 

Frank Wise Goodell, M. D., was born in 
Marshall. Clark County, 111., March 1, 1859, and 
in the spring of 1861 removed with his parents to 
Ann Arbor, Mich. The family later returned 
to Jasper County, 111., and in the spring of 1867 
located permanently in the City of Effingham. 
The subject of this sketch attended the Louis- 
ville (Ky.) Medical College and returning home 
in 1878, being then only nineteen years of age, 
entered into the practice of medicine under the 



supervision of his brother, William L. Goodell, 
M. D., with whom he has since been associated. 
In the spring of 1880 he graduated from the 
medical department of Butler University, Indian- 
apolis, just before attaining his majority. He 
has always enjoyed a large practice aud has held 
memberships in many medical societies and is 
Secretary of Effingham County Medical Society. 
He has travelled extensively and is the author 
of several well-know poems. (A more extended 
personal sketch of Dr. Goodell is given in the 
Biographical Chapter in this volume.) 

Dr. Henry Taphom, of Effltngham, was born 
in Carlyle. 111., in 1871, and graduated from 
Washington University, of St. Louis, Mo., with 
degree of M. D., in 1898 ; in 19<10 was apiwinted 
First Assistant Surgeon of St. Mary's Hospital, 
East St. Louis, 111., where he remained four 
yeai-s, then engaged in general practice, is a 
member of a number of professional and fraternal 
organizations. (For a more extended sketch of 
Dr. Taphorn, see Biographical Department of this 
volume. ) 

Robert L. Wishard, M. D., an eclectic practi- 
tioner, graduated from the American Medical 
College, St. Louis, in the Class of 1892 ; in 1902 
was practicing in Eberle, Effingham County, 111. 

George B. Tope, M. D., graduated from Rush 
Medical College. Chicago, in 1896, and the same 
year located in Montrose, where he has a general 
practice and is local examiner for several insur- 
ance companies. He is a member of the local 
and State Medical Societies. 

Nathan B. Thresh, M. D., graduated from 
Barnes Medical Colege, St. Louis, in 1902, and be- 
gan practicing the same year in Beecher City. 

C. M. Wright, M. D., was born in Altamont, 
and after studying medicine with his father, at- 
tended Washington University, St. Louis, grad- 
uating in 1902. He entered into practice in his 
native town and is a member of the local and 
Illinois State Medical Societies. 

W. N. Davis, M. D., graduated from a med- 
ical school in St. Louis and began practicing in 
Brownstown, 111.; about 18S2 began practice in 
Effingham, and some three .years later moved to 
Moultrie County, 111. ; was engaged for some time 
as travelling representative of a surgical institute. 
Dr. Zaehariah Allen was born in Putnam 
County, Ind., in 1.S.30, studied medicine in 1855 
and in 1859 attended a medical college. He 
practiced some time in Effingham County, at E!- 



672 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



liottstown and Winterrowd, being the first Post- 
master of the letter place, appointed in 1867. He 
was a Republican and a member of the G. A. R. 
He died in 1902. 

C. F. Burkhardt, M. D., a native of Kentucky, 
graduated from the Kentucky School of Mer- 
iciue in 1S93, received his certificate admitting 
him to practice in Illinois in 1898. After prac- 
ticing at various points in Illinois and Nebraska, 
located in Effingham, in 1907, and now makes 
a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose 
and throat. He is President of the Effingham 
County Medical Societj- and member of the Ill- 
inois State Medical Society. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE NEWSPAPER PRESS. 



THE NEWSPAPEE PRESS OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY — 
THE PIONEER OF EWINGTON, THE FIRST PAPER IN 

THE COUNTY CHANGES OE NAME AND LOCA- 

TJON — IT FINALLY BECOMES THE DEMOCRAT 

OTHER PAPERS OF A LATER PERIOD THE UNION- 
IST AND THE LOYALIST OF WAR TIME — THE 

DAILY DEMOCRAT ESTABLISHED IN 1899 THE 

EFFINGHAM REGISTER AND REPUBLICAN — PAPERS 
AT ALTAMONT — GERMAN PAPERS THE EFFING- 
HAM VOLKSBLATT — TEUTOPOUS PRESS — LATER PA- 
PERS WHICH HAVE GONE OUT OF EXISTENCE. 

(By Ge-ji-ge M. LeCrone.) 

The newspaper press has been well represented 
in Effingham County ever since the founding of 
the first newspajx^r in the c-ounty at Ewing- 
tou, in 1855. This was "The Pioneer," which 
was established by W. B. Cooper, Ewington 
then being the county-seat. In 1857 the plant be- 
came the property of Col. J. W. Filler, who, on 
the removal of the countj--seat to Effingham, re- 
moved the paper to that place. In 1861, Col. 
Filler, having enlisted in the Civil War, left the 
paper in charge of Dr. T. G. Vandeveer, who 
soon after purchased "The Gazette," the first pa- 
per published in the City of Effingham, and which 
had been started In the spring of 18G0 by L. M. 



Rose as a l{ei)ublican organ, but who later en- 
tered the army as Filler had done. Mr. Van- 
deveer then brought the material of the two 
offices together and both papers were suspended 
until October, 1801, when Col. Filler having re- 
turned from the field, in partnership with Dr. 
Vandeveer, began the publication of "The Union- 
ist." But three editions of the paper had been 
issued, however, when Col. Filler again entered 
the army, leaving the paper in the hands of his 
partner. 

In the spring of I8U2 the o\\^le^ of the mort- 
gage on the old "Gazette" plant sold it to John 
Hoeny, who immediately renewed the publication, 
shortly thereafter purcbasing the outfit of "The 
Pioneer," and uniting the two. The publication 
in this form was continued until July. 1862, when 
the office-building, which was located on the east 
side of the courthouse square, was burned and the 
entire outfit of both papers destroyed, except the 
old Pioneer hand-press, which had fortunately 
been left in the yard of the building. As there 
was no insurance on the property, the loss was 
entire, but Mr. Hoeny, borrowing $100 from Mr. 
Bareus, the County Treasurer, went to Chicago 
and bought a quautitj- of second-hand type from 
Mr. Story, of the old "Chicago Times." With 
this publication of "The Gazette" was resumed 
and continued until 1865, when Mr. Hoeny sold 
out to Messrs. Hays & Bowen. The name of the 
paper was then changed to "Effingham Oountj- 
Democrat," but in the fall of the same year, the 
property was taken in charge by the creditors. 
Col. Filler, having then returned from the field, 
was placed in charge, and continued until 1868, 
when the concern was sold to H. C. Bradsby, 
who later dropped the word "County" from the 
name, and this has continued to the present 
time. In 1870 the paper again changed hands, 
J. C. Brady becoming the proprietor, and he 
soon after associated himself with John Hoeny, 
who in June of the same year became sole owner. 
This arangement continued until 1878, when Mr. 
Hoeny sold one-half interest to George M. Le- 
Crone, and in 1880 his remaining interest to 
Owen Scott, the firm then becoming LeCrone & 
Scott, but a .vear later Mr. LeCrone sold to Mr. 
Scott, the latter continuing the publication of 
the paper alone until 1884. when Mr. LeOrone 
purchased the entire plant. In 1890 he sold a 
half-Interest to Mr. George V. Mechler, who re- 
tired in 1898, and Mr. LeCrone became sole pro- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



673 



prietor, which has continued to the present time. 
On the retirement of Mr. Met-hler. H. O. Adams, 
who had previously been in charge of the me- 
chanical department. Ijecame business manager. 

On July 31, 1899, a daily edition of "The Dem- 
ocrat" was established, being publisjied every 
afternoon except Sunday, and this has since been 
continued, proving an important aid to the reg- 
ular weekly issue. On January 1, 1900, a Mer- 
ganthaler linotype machine was introduced for 
type-setting purposes and a Cranston cylinder 
press and engine, installed in 1891, gave place in 
lft02 to a Cottrell four-roller book and job press, 
and the mechanical equipment of the office is 
now one of the most complete to be found out- 
side of the larger cities. The mechanical and 
business departments occupy a large two-story 
brick building, erected in 1901. and lighted by 
electricity, and in addition to the daily and 
weekly Issues of the paper, the proprietor 
turns out a large amount of job-printing in- 
cluding books, periodicals, etc. In 1903, a 
souvenir edition of the "Democrat" was published 
by Mr. LeCrone in celebration of the semi-cen- 
tennial of the founding of the City of Effingham, 
from which the principal facts regarding the 
history of the Effingham County Press have been 
taken. 

The third paper published in Effingham was 
"The Register." which was established in Novem- 
ber. 1S&4, as a Republican organ, by Maj. William 
Haddock. This was continued until 18T2. when 
the paper having deflected to the support of 
Horace Greeley for President, on account of the 
loss of patronage, it was compelled to suspend. 
During the same .year, Maj. Haddock removed 
his plant to Champaign. 111., and purchasing "The 
Illinois Democrat." of that citj-. changed the 
name to "Liberal Democrat," to which he later 
gave the name, "Champaign Times," continuing 
its publication until his death in 1879. 

During the month of April, 1863, a paper called 
"The Loyalist" was established at Ma.son, Effing- 
ham County, by Mr. George Brewster. Accord- 
ing to the late Dr. James N. Matthews, who, as a 
boy, was an employe on this paper, and who is 
the contributor of .some reminiscences connected 
with the history of Mason, published in Chapter 
V. on "Effingham War Record," in this volume, 
"The Loyalist" was a zealous supporter of the 
war policy of the Government against secession 
and was vigorously denounced as an abolition 



organ. It stirred up popular sentiment and 
evoked much hostility among the anti-war Dem- 
ocrats, but had a brief e.xisteuce, being suspended 
after a career of about seven months. 

The next paper connected with Effingham 
County history was "The Effingham Republican," 
established at Effingham by Martin Brothers, of 
ShelbjTille, in August, 1872, as successor to "The 
Register," referred to in a previous paragraph. 
In the fall of 1873 "The Republican" was .sold 
by its founders to H. C. Painter, who continued 
its publication with success until the fall of 
1885, -when he sold out to E. B. Gorrell. Later 
Samuel Moulden succeeded to the management 
of the paper, but still later it again pas.sed into 
the hands of Mr. Gorrell, who continued in 
charge until June. 1893, when it was sold to 
a stock company with R. F. Lawson as editor 
and business manager. This arrangement was 
continued until February. 1898. when Mr. Law- 
son, having been been appointed Postmaster, was 
succeeded by W. H. Dietz as editor. In January, 
1899. Dr. Sumner Clark purchased a large 
amount of stock of "The Republican," and his 
son. Homer Clark, was then installed as editor 
and business manager. In April, 1909, Mr. Clark 
sold "The Republican"' to a new set of stock- 
holders composed of leading Republicans of the 
county, among whom were Representative J. H. 
Loy and his brother. Rev. F. W. Loy. Rev. Loy's 
son-in-law, Harris Dante, was selected as man- 
ager, and the paper is now in his charge. 

In May, 1873 "The Altamont Courier" was 
established in the village of Altamont, by G. W. 
Grove, of Kinmundy, but was published only one 
year, when it was discontinued and the plant 
moved away. In 1876 Loofbarrow & Humble 
established "The Altamont Telegram ;" this was 
continued until June, 1877. when C. M. King, of 
Lexington, 111., became proprietor. Selling out 
the old material and procuring a new equipment, 
Mr. King continued the publication until 1881, 
when he removed the plant to Gardner. 111. In 
December of the same year, C. F. Coleman, later 
of "The Vandalia Leader." and George M. Le- 
Crone. now of "The Effingham Democrat," 
established "The Altamont News." In 1884, Mr. 
LeCrone having returned to "The Effingham 
Democrat," L. J. Wallach acted as editor of "The 
News" for some ten years, was succeeded by F. 
M. Schilling, and Mr. Schilling in 1906, by H. H. 
Bailey, the present editor and proprietor. The 



674 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



paper is issued as a weelily, has a good rural cir- 
culation aud is meeting with satisfactory success. 

The first German paper published in Effingham 
County was "The Effingham VolUsblait,' estab- 
lished at Effingham in June, 1878, as a result of 
the visit of the late Gen. Herman Lieb, of Chi- 
cago, for the benefit of the growing German 
piopulation of Effingham. Mr. A. Gravenhorst, of 
Effingham, at first furnished the local matter, 
the paper, a seven-column folio, being printed in 
the office of "The Chicago Democrat.'' A few 
months later "The Democrat" having been dis- 
continued, the publication was transferred to 
Milwaukee, the paper in the meantime being en- 
larged to a teu-colunni folio. In 1882 an outfit 
of tj-pe was procured from St. Louis, and for the 
first year the mechanical work was done in local 
offices, but in 1883 Mr. Gravenhorst became pro- 
prietor of the press and tlie building from which 
the paper was issued, aud has continued to lie its 
publisher to the present time. The paper is a 
six-column, eight-page sheet, is Democratic in 
political views, and enjoys a large circulation 
among the German population of Effingham and 
adjoining counties. 

"The Teutopolis Press" was established in 
Teutopolis, Effingham County, in 1898, by C. A. 
Wornian and Henry Tegenkamp. its first issue ap- 
pearing April 21st of that year. About a month 
later Mr. Tegenkamp sold out his interest, Mr. 
Worman becoming sole owner, which has con- 
tinued to the present time. It was started as an 
independent paper, but a few years later became 
Democratic. Up to 1005 the paper was printed on 
a hand-press, propelled by human power, but in 
that year a gas engine was put in operation, and 
other material added to its equipnient. Origin- 
ally a seven-column folio sheet, in April, 1900, it 
was enlarged to a six-column quarto (eight-page), 
at the same time a large .37 x 52 two-revolution 
press being installed, and on January 1, 1010, it 
took possession of its present quarters, a com- 
modious two-story brick building. "The Press" 
has a large circulation, its patrons being mostly 
German-Americans. 

"Tlie Special-Gazette," of Dieterich, is the out- 
come of the consolidation of two journals — "The 
Special" and "The Gazette" — which had an in- 
dependent existence for some time, the latter 
being established by William Marrs, one of the 
oldest residents of Bishop Town.ship. Later the 
consolidated paper was published by J. N. Stroud. 



who was succeeded by the present proprietors, 
Arlen B. Wright and Frank Field, both natives 
of Dieterich aud members of prominent families 
of that plac-e. 

"The Mason News," established in 1896, is a 
six-column quarto under the management of two 
ladies — Misses Xettie Richmond aud Susie 
Smith — as editors and proprietors. The paper 
has a healthy circulation amoug an intelligent 
village and rural population. The publishers also 
conduct a job department in connection with 
their pai)er and are meeting with deserved suc- 
cess. 

Other papers which have had a brief existence 
in Effingham County, include "The Herald," at 
Edgewood ; "The Montrose Comet," at Montrose, 
and a paper published at Shumway for a short 
time. "The Jeffersonian" was established In 
Effingham, in August, 1902. by the Effingham 
Publishing Company, composed of Phillip Wiwi, 
P. W. Loy and Jonathan Arnold, with Mr. Arnold 
as editor. It was a neat six-colimm quarto, and 
was well edited, but had a brief career, going 
out of existence in 1904. 



CHAPTER XI. 



CHURCHES— SCHOOLS. 



EARLY CHURCHES OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY — THE 

METHODIST EWINGTON MISSION FIRST LOCAL 

CHURCHES — DATE OF ORGANIZATION AND FIRST 
MEMBERS — ^FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EF- 
PTNGHAM — ITS HISTORY AND PRINCIPAL PAS- 
TORS — LAY'ING OF CORNER STONE OF NEW CHURCH 
BUILDING IN AUGUST, 1909 — ST. MARY's CATHOLIC 

CHURCH FIR.ST GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN 

EFFINGHAM COUNTY — PRIESTS WHO HAVE PRE- 
SIDED OVER ST. MARY''S CHURCH AND THE CHURCH 
AT TEUTOPOLIS — GERMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS — 
BISSELL COLLEGE. 

Following is a history of principal church 
organizations in Effingham county : 

EARLY METHODIST CHURCHES. 

According to a history of Methodist Episcopal 
Churches in Effingham County, prepared by Mr. 




CHURCHES, EFFINGHAM, ILL. 



1 . Christian 

2. St. John's 

3. Baptist 

4. Methodist 



5. St. Anthony's 

6. Sacred Heart 

7. Presbyterian 

8. St. Paul's 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



675 



Joseph B. Joues and read before a meetiug of 
the Effingham County Old Settlers, the first 
organization of that denomination in the county 
occurred in 1835 at Ewiugtou, then the county- 
seat of Ethngham County and situated at the 
crossing of the Cumberland Road over the Little 
Wabash River. The first members of this church 
were T. J. Gillenwaters and wife, Aaron Williams 
and family, John Loy and family, Caleb Randall 
and wife, Michael Beem and wife, Jolm_^jevitt\ 
and wife, with a few others whose names are not 
now recalled. At the annual session of the Illi- 
nois Conference the Ewingtou Mission was estab- 
lished and Rev. Graham placed in charge. The 
boundaries of this mission are not known with 
entire accuracy, but it included Eflingham County 
and the northwest part of Fayette County, ex- 
tending as far west as the Kaskaskia River. In 
1851 this mission was divided, placing the north- 
western part of Effingham County and the part 
of Fayette County that had belonged to the mis- 
sion, in the Louden City circuit, the remainder of 
Effingham County remaining in Ewiugton Mis- 
sion. 

Prior to this time a number of church soci- 
eties had been formed within the territory covered 
by the Ewington Mission and preaching places 
established at Preemanton, Ebenezer, Gray's, 
Harrell's, New Hope, and Rankin. While Ewing- 
ton remained the county seat and until 1860, it 
continued to be a preaching place, but no church 
was built, meetings being held at different periods 
in the courthouse and In the sctiool house. In 
the meantime, the Illinois Central Railroad had 
been built, Effingham laid out, a railroad station 
established there, and the residents of Ewington 
began to move to the new town and county-seat. 
As a consequence the town of Ewington was fi- 
nally absorbed by Its new rival, and a church 
with a large membership was built up at Effing- 
ham, which now has a fine church building. 

Freemanton became a preaching place in 1837. 
services being held at the home of Charles 
Boggess and about 1839 the second church society 
in the county was organized there. The leading 
members of the new organization were Charles 
Boggess and wife, Jacob Bishop, Richard Mc- 
Cranor and wife, and a few others. In 1844 Mr. 
Horace Toothaker donated a tract of land as the 
site for a church at Freemanton, and a log 
building was completed on it by the first of May 
of that year, which was the first Methodist 



EpiscoiMl church building In the county. This 
remained a regular preaching place until about 
1860, when most of the society met at Mr. 
Devore's, where regular services were held in 
a building erected by Mr. Devore and others. For 
a number of years services were held alternately 
at both Devore's and Freemanton. After the 
building of the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre 
Haute Railroad, a station was located at Dexter, 
near the village of Freemanton, and the two con- 
gregations were united and a church built at 
Dexter, which has a flourishing congregation. 
Two local preachers — James Devore and Jacob 
Bishop, — ^and two exhorters — John Miller and 
Joshua Devore,— emanated from this congrega- 
tion, and later, three ministers — Douglas Shouse, 
Thurham Shouse and Denton Baker — came from 
the same source. 

About 1837 to 1839, church services began to 
be held at various private homes under the aus- 
pices of the Ewington Mission, in the neighbor- 
hood of the Rentfros, w'ho, with others, had come 
from Tennessee as early as 1830 and settled on 
the Little Wabash about seven miles north of 
Ewington. In 1839 arrived with his family, 
Leonard D. Tarrant, a licensed exhorter, and his 
presence stimulated the organization of a new 
church in that vicinity. Among the first mem- 
bers were Joseph Rentfro and wife, James M. 
Rentfro and wife. Levi Rentfro and wife, L. D. 
Tarrant and wife. Hickman Langford and wife, 
with Joseph Rentfro as class-leader, who later 
became a licensed exhorter. A log building was 
here erected for church purposes and dedicated 
in 1851, which became the seat of the Ebenezer 
Church. This church flourished until 1870, when 
some dissension having arisen, a few of its mem- 
bers withdrew, and the remainder uniting with 
the M. E. Church, South, erected a new build- 
ing about half a mile from the old site, but re- 
taining the old name. The character of Rev. 
L. D. Tarrant, who was largely responsible for 
the original organization of this church, is still 
held in high regard. 

The Loy congregation was organized in 18.39 at 
the house of John Loy on the farm now owned 
by the county and used as the County Infirmary, 
with John Loy and family, Joseph Loy and wife, 
Mrs. Katy Bryant. Mrs. Betsy Funk and Mrs. 
Sally McKinnon among its first members. Jo- 
seph Bolyjack and Thomas M. Loy — the former 
an eccentric character and of limited education 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



but of reputed native ability, and tlie latter the 
son of Joliu Ley — were noted' exliorters who 
grew up in this church. The church held its 
serv-ices first in private homes and later in school 
houses uutil 1871, when a neat building was 
erected on the site first used as a school house 
and church, and which was dedicated as Loy 
Chapel, in luemorj' of the original founder. 
Frank W. Loy and Henry Pitkin were later 
members of this church who won reputation as 
ministers and members of the Southern Illinois 
Conference. 

The house of Samuel B. Gray, on Fulfer 
Creek, a little south and west of the village of 
Welton in West Township, was an early preach- 
ing place, although there is no evidence that a 
church was organized here. Later the home of 
Samuel Broom, three or four miles from Gray's, 
and still later, that of Jethro Harrell, four or 
five miles north of Broom's, were used for the 
same purix>se. For some years services were 
kept up alternately at these places. About 1846 
these three neighborhoods united and, in 1847, 
a building was erected and dedicated under the 
name of the New Hoi)e Church. This church 
was continued until about 18C2, when William 
W. Hollls, who had beeu a leader In its organiza- 
tion, having moved to the village of Mason on 
the Illinois Central Railroad, the New Hope 
church was finally abandoned, and under the 
leadership of Jethro Harrell a church was es- 
tablished three or four miles north of the New- 
Hope site. Services were held here for several 
years when the church building was destroyed 
by fire ; later a division arose over questions 
connected with the Civil War, and Harrell and 
his family and several of his neighbors joined 
the M. E. Church, South. 

ApiK>intments were kept up for a number of 
years at the home of R. M. Rankin, a licensed 
exhorter and early settler, aliout three miles 
south of the present village of Mason on the 
Illinois Central Railroad, but there is no evi- 
dence that a church was organized there. Mr. 
Rankin having moved to Mason, services which 
had been conducted at his home, were discon- 
tinued. 

About 1847 services began to be held at the 
home of John Scoles in the vicinity of where the 
Pleasant Grove Church now stands, a small log 
building being erected about one-half mile south 
of the present church site. In the early '50s a 



class was organized consisting of Thomas Patter- 
son and wife, John Hotz and wife, John Wills 
and wife, Wiliam M. Methain and wife, Mor- 
decai Yaruell and wife, Abraham Force, Elisha 
Howard and wife and others, Thomas Patterson 
being the first class-leader. William Getz, who 
soon after settled there, became an active factor 
in securing the erection of a house of worship, 
which was begun in 1857 but not completed until 
18G0. This church took the name of Pleasant 
Grove, and became a part of Louden City Cir- 
cuit with Rev. R. G. Potner as its first pastor, 
and has maintained a prosperous career to the 
present time. 

Mt. Zion M. E. Church had its beginning in a 
small settlement southeast of the city of Effing- 
ham about 1846, Rev. George Monical of Clay 
Count}', delivering the first sermon at the house 
of Edward Sanderson. An organization was 
finally effected with Edward Anderson and wife, 
David Merry and wife, Elijah Poynter, and John 
Tedrick and wife as first members, and a log 
house was built and served as a church and 
school house for several years. Through a strug- 
gle of many years, this church maintained its 
organization and is still served by an itinerant 
pastor in a comfortable house of worship. 

The church edifices of Efiingham County, in a 
general way, speak well for the enterprise, lib- 
erally and Christian zeal of its people. 

The following is a list of names of those who 
served as itinerants of the Ewington Mi.^sion, be- 
tween 18,'^5 and 18.51 : Rev. Graham, first 
preacher in charge, followed by Revs. Chambers, 
Levi Lowry. Tennison, Newman. Washburn, 
Blackwell, Wilson C. Pitner, Cleveland, Massey, 
Hale, Barr and David Williamson. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, EFFINGHAM. 

The following history of the First Presbyte- 
rian Church of Effingham is taken from the col- 
umns of the Effingham Republican of August 10, 
1909: 

(By Calvin Austin.) 

The First Presbyterian Church of Effingham, 
111., was organized at the Court House in Effing- 
ham, November 13, 1864, by the Rev. A. J. Nor- 
ton, and Rev. Sanford R. Bissell, with the fol- 
lowing members : Solomon Swingle. Mrs. M. C. 
Swingle, Mrs. Sarah Preston Bis.sell. Mr. Isaac 
Bates and Mrs. Jane Bates. The next record. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



677 



dated March 24, 1866, records the admission of 
Mr. John Trapp aud wife, Mary Ann Trapp, Mrs. 
V. Yant from a Presbyterian Church, Henry 
Thompson from the Methodist, and his wife, 
Laura Thomiwon, from the Bairtist Church of 
Effingham. 

The first record of any otiicers elected in the 
church was under date of February 1, 1868. 
Heury Thompson, Solomon Swingle, Alfred 
Stewart aud S. F. Gilmore were elected trustees. 

Februarj- 2, 1808, Mr. Seneca Austin and his 
wife, Julia A. Austin, were received from the 
First Presbyterian Church of Newiwrt, Kentucky, 
and Mr. Virgil Wood was received on profession 
of faith and baiitized. The same day the first 
board of ruling elders was elected and ordained, 
consisting of Seneca Austin and Henry Thomp- 
son. 

The Presbytery of Wabash met with the Pres- 
byterian church at Ettingham April 13, 1869, and 
opened with a sermon l)y Rev. J. L. McNair. 
Rev. G. A. Pollock preaching on the following 
Sunday. Up to this time the church had beeu 
served by the Rev. Bissell, preaching part of the 
time in the Court House and part of the time iu 
a small school house, belonging to ilr. Biss;ell, 
standing the second house north of the present 
site of the Armoi-y, aud now occupied as a resi- 
dence by S. G. Barbee. 

In the autumn of 1869 the session of the church 
arranged with Rev. G. A. Pollock to preach for 
one year. He began his services the second 
Sunday of December. 1869 and remained eight 
years, or until the second of December. 1877. 

In the early part of the year 1870 this c-on- 
gregation commenced to build a church, and on 
the 25th of October, 1870, the building was com- 
pleted and dedicated at a total cost of $4,.30O. 

On Sunday, July 25. 1874. a terrific storm 
broke over the little city of Eflingham. St., An- 
thony's church was struck by lightning and con- 
siderable damage done, also the Presbyterian 
church was struck. About half of the brick wall 
at the rear end was knocked down, and nearly 
two-thirds of the roof blown off. The congrega- 
tion secured the Southern Methodist church 
(afterwards known as The Temple and now- 
used as a residence) to hold services in, and con- 
tinued to hold them there until their own build- 
ing was repaired. I find no records of the cost. 
or how long it took to make these repairs, but 
the record shows that the session met in the 
church Or-tober 1, 1874, so it is presumed the 



repairs were completed by or before that time. 

The ministers sen'ing the church since its or- 
ganization are as follows : Rev. S. R. Bissell, 
1864-'69; Rev. G. A. Pollock, 1869-'77; Rev. W. 
C. Cort, January, 1878, to April, 1879; Rev. M. 
F, Paisley, September, 1879, to April, 1880 ; Rev- 
J. E. Green, 1880, to April, 1881 ; Rev. G. D. Mc- 
Culloch, July, 1881, to October, 1882 ; Rev. Henry 
Gardner, June, 1883, to October, 1885; Rev. A. 
W. Wright, January, 1887, to June, 1887; Rev. 
H. J. VanDuyn, November. 1887. to September, 
1891 ; Rev. J. H. McDonald, February, 1892, to 
June, 1894; Rev. J. E. McXutt, June, 1894, to 
April, 1898; Rev. S. M. Morton, April, 1898, to 
October, 1907 ; Rev. R. L. Roberts, January, 
1908, to May, 1909. Chas. R. Murray, a student 
from McCormick Seminary, supplied the pulpit 
during the summer of 1909. 

[The corner-stone of a new church building 
for the First Presbyterian Church of Effingham 
was laid August 9, 1909, Rev. G. A. Pollock, of 
Elgin, 111., a former pastor, conducting the serv- 
ices, while a number of pastors from other 
churches were present. The new building, 
erected on the site of the old one, is constructed 
of pressed brick with Bedford stone trimmings 
50x80 feet with basement. It is composed of a 
main auditorium and Sunday school room, with 
a gallery providing several class rooms, and is 
heated by steam and lighted by electricity.] 

Ladies Aid Society. — The date of the organi- 
zation of the Ladies Aid Society connected with 
the First Presbyterian Church of Effingham, 
cannot be given with entire accuracy, but from 
some reminiscences furnished by Mrs. J. H. 
Walker to the Eflingham Republican of August 
10, 1909, the society has been in existence for 
over twenty-five .vears. Mrs. Walker says : 
"Twenty-five years ago Effingham was not a city 
of many lodges, clubs and other diversions, the 
churches were the social centers of the town, 
and the Aid Society of the Presbyterian as well 
as the other churches, set a high standard for 
soeyil and educational entertainment." Chicken 
dinners, beaut.v contests and quilting bees are 
mentioned among the entertainments. "The 
philanthropic work of the soeietj' was given over 
to a committee known as The Silent Workers. 
Through them much help was given the poor ; 
the names of those receiving donations were 
never mentioned outside the committee meetings. 
In 1894 the society held a Jubilee Social in honor 
of release from the debt on the church building. 



678 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



The mortgage was burned at this meeting and a 
general good time was enjoyed by all. ... In 
1909, by a unanimous vote the name The Ladies 
Aid Society was restored. In 1895 under the 
direction of Mrs. Ruth Busse the exchange or 
weekly market was installed. This was found 
to be the best 'money maker' the society had yet 
undertaken." 

Those who have served as Presidents of the So- 
ciety within the past twentj'-flve years have been 
Mesdames Stevens, Loer. Austin, Walker, But- 
ler, Parker, Broom. Bissell, Surrells and Brady. 

Sabbath School.— The Sabbath School now 
connected with the First Presbyterian Church 
of Effingham, was organized by the Rev. R. S. 
Bissell, one year prior to the organization of the 
church in 18G4, the sessions being held in what 
was known as the Bissell school house, under 
charge of Mr. Bissell. Later the school was re- 
moved to the Baptist church and held there un- 
til the erection of the Presbyterian church. 
Among those who served as superintendents of 
the school after its removal to the Presbyterian 
church appear the names of A. Stewart. Virgil 
Wood, John W. Lacock, Alfred Fitch, Emma P. 
Cooper and A. J. Hasbrouck. Those who have 
served as superintendents during later years in- 
clude Jesse Pruett, Mrs. Alice Gwin, Mary Has- 
brouck, Harry Parker and E. E. Flack, who has 
been superintendent during the past year. One 
of the most successful i^eriods in the early his- 
tory of the school is said to have been during the 
first two or three years of what was cnlle<l the 
Loyal Sunday School Army plan, when the at- 
tendance ranged from ISO to 220 pu]iils and 
the collections from six to ten dollars, while the 
home study of lessons was general. 

Other organizations connected with the First 
Presbyterian Church of Effingham include a 
Christian Endeavor Society, of which Miss 
JIamie Hough Is President, and the Presbyterian 
Brotherhood. The latter, originally The Men's 
League, was organized under its present name 
in April, 1907. as a branch of the National Pres- 
byterian Brotherhood of America, its object be- 
ing the promotion of spiritual development, fra- 
ternal relations, denominational fealty and 
strengthening of fellowship among its members. 

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



Section 22, in the north part of Douglas Town- 
ship. The first German Catholics settled in this 
neighborhood towards the end of the '30s. In 
order to fulfill their religious duties, they were 
obliged to go to Teutopolis. The distance, how- 
ever, was a serious drawback to regular attend- 
ance, and henc-e. as the number of conuimnicants 
increased, they were anxious to have a church 
of their own. 

In 1S46, John Osterhaus and Anthony Doren- 
kamp donated forty acres of land for church and 
school purposes; and two years later. Rev. Jo- 
seph Kuenster, who resided at Teutopolis, built 
a small log house, in which he occasionally held 
services. On week days this building served as 
a school. In 1S.50 Rev. F. J. Fischer said mass 
a few times. From 1850 to 1854 Rev. Joseph F. 
Zoegel, and 1854-30 Rev. X. M. Raphael, who 
probably built the second log church and school, 
attended to the spiritual wants of the congre- 
gation. One other priest, probably Rev. Joseph 
Weber, S. J., may have held religious services 
a few times in lS."i4. as Rev. Thomas Frauen- 
hofer, the first resident pastor, aptwinted Octo- 
ber, 185G, by the Rt. Rev. Anthony O'Regan, 
BLshop of Chicago, states that five priests had 
preceded bim at Green Creek. For the first six 
months, Fr. Frauenhofer said mass alternately 
at Green Creek and Effingham ; then for three 
months, from the beginning of May until the end 
of July, ISoT. alternately at Green Creek and 
Teutopolis. In the spring of 1857, when the con- 
gregation numberetl fifty families, the pastor 
called a meeting of the members, to discuss the ■ 
advisability of building a large brick church. 
With one exception all were in favor of the 
plan. A subscription list was started and $3,- 
685 pledged for the new church. Shortly after, 
the Rt. Rev. H. D. Juncker, first BLshop of Alton, 
administered the sacrament of confirmation and 
gave permission for tlie erection of the building. 
Many difficulties, however, aro.se. Father Frau- 
enhofer was a zealous and pious priest, untiring 
in his lalwrs, bearing many personal sacrifices, 
yet he had enemies who continually thwarted his 
plans and persuaded many to withdraw their 
support. Seeing that lie could make no headway 
he asked to be removed. 

Two weeks later, in October, 1858, the Fran- 
ciscan Fathers, who had just arrived at Teuto- 
polis, took charge of the congregation at the re- 
quest of the Rt. Rev. Bishop. Rev. P. Capistran 
Church," as it is familiarly known, is located inZwinge, O. F. M., 1858-62, immediately began 



(By Rev. F. J. OstendoTf.) 
St. Mary's Church, or "The Green Creek 



fjj J'i'l'Jlp -^ 








CENTRAL SCHOOL BL'ILDLXG. KI•■^'IN(',HA^L ILL 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



679 



preparations for the erection of the new church. 
Though many were willing and a building com- 
mittee appointed, nevertheless, owing to adverse 
circumstances, it was not until the spring of 
1860 that ground was broken. On the 5th of 
June, the Rt. Rev. H. D. Juncker laid the corner- 
stone, and on June 30th of the following year 
( 1861 ) , the first services were held. The steeple 
was completed in 186i. The substantial build- 
ing, 92x40 feet, erected at a cost of |5,500, is 
still in good condition and will stand for many 
years to come. 

From 1862-93 the following Franciscan Fath- 
ers were pastors of St. Mary's Church : 

Rev. P. Damlau Hennewig, O. F. M., 1862-64. 

Rev. P. Raynerius Dickneite, O. F. M., 1864-65. 

Rev. P. Killian Schloesser, O. F. M., 1865. 

Rev. P. Eugene Ptiers, O. F. JI., 1866. 

Rev. P. Nazarius Kommerseheidt, O. F. M., 
1867-69. 

Rev. P. Francis Albers, O. F. M., 1869-73. 

Rev. P. John Rings, O. F. M., 1873-75. 

Rev. P. Anselm Puetz. O. F. M., 1875-77. 

Rev. P. Paulus Teroerde, O. F. M., 1877-78. 

Rev. P. Andrew Butzkueben, O. F. M., 1878- 
79. 

Rev. P. Symphorian Forstmann. 0. F. JI., 
1879-84. 

Rev. P. Sebastian Cebulla, O. F. M., 1884-85. 

Rev. P. MaTcus Thienel, O. F. M.. 1885-91. 

Rev. P. Polycarp Rhode, O. F. JI., 1891-93. 

Rev. P. Aloysius Wiewer, O. F. JI., 1893. 

In November, 1893. the Rt. Rev. James R.van, 
Bishop of Alton, apiwinted Rev. J. Storp rector 
of St. Jlary's Church Green Creek, and of the 
Sacred Heart Church, Lillyville. Cumberland 
County, as the Franciscan Fathers who had at- 
tended both missions, resided at Teutoixtlis 
Father Storp's first attention was directed to- 
wards the building of a rectory. In August of 
the following year the foundation was laid and 
in a comparatively short time a fine two story- 
brick residence was erected at a cost of about 
$2,400, one fourth of which was contributed by 
the good pastor himself. Father Storji was a 
devoted and conscientious priest. lalx)ring zeal- 
ously for the welfare of the flocks entrusted to 
his care, unceasingly admonishing and encour- 
aging his people to lead good Christian lives and 
to be honest and upright in their dealings with 
their fellow-men. He made many improvements 
in the church and, that at the time when the 
farmers had been having one failure after an- 



other. He literally gave up his life for his peo- 
ple. No matter how bad the roads or how un- 
pleasant the weather, he unfailingly conducted 
services every Sunday and Holiday at both Green 
Creek and Lillyville. On one of these trips, a 
very cold day in February, 1902, being in poor 
health, he contracted a severe cold, which de- 
veloped into pneumonia and caused his death 
a few days later on the Sth of February. He 
was laid to rest at the foot of the large stone 
cross he had erected in the nearby cemetery. 

After the death of Father Storp, the Fran- 
ciscan Fathers, Rev. P. Desiderius von Frenz, O. 
F. M., and later. Rev. P. Alexius Bender, O. F. 
M., took charge of St. Jlary's till a successor 
should be named. 

On July 1, 1903, Rev. F. J. Osteudorf assumed 
charge for the two c-ongregations, holding ser- 
vices on alternate Sundays at Green Creek and 
Lillyville. The good people, however, who had 
been having services regularly every Sunday 
for so many years, did not take kindly to this 
arrangement, and requested the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
to leave Father Ostendorf in charge of Green 
Creek alone. The following December this re- 
quest was granted. The congregation, consist- 
ing of fifty-five families or two hundred com- 
municants, is in a flourishing condition with 
practically no debt. 

In 1870-71 a large two-stor>- brick school 
house was erected, which cost approximately 
$2,000. Half of the first story is a schoolroom 
and the remainder of the building serves as a 
residence for the teacher, who is also the organ- 
ist. From tlie beginning it has been the en- 
deavor of the congregation to have competent 
educators for the children. In the '40s and '50s 
there were few who would teach school, as the 
people were imable to pay a competent salary. 
As the number of children increased and a suit- 
aWe building was erected, the teacher received 
a better compensation. The following teachers 
have Ijeen employed: 

H. Koelker, H. H. Jlette, H. H. Nuxoll. John 
Kroes, Leo Baltenwiek, Jlr. Stillike, Francis 
Hoene (1865-73), J. JIasquelet (1873-74), B. 
Hussmann (1874-79). Jos. K.aufmann (1879-94), 
Henry Schlemmer (1894-1909), Jacob Karlin 
(1909—). 

SCHOOLS. 

The history of early common schools is treated 
in a general way in connection vrith the history 



680 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



of individual townships. As a closing part of 
tliis cliapter, therefore, it is only necessary to 
present some facts in regard to other insti- 
tutions : 

GERMAN CATHOIJC SCHOOLS. 

(By J. II. Probst.) 

The history of the German Catholic School 
dates back to the vei-j- begiuniug of the city. 
Being convinced that knowledge is a greater 
treasure than big farms, fine houses and a great 
deal of money, the German Catholics, who set- 
tled in and around the city of Effingham, were 
anxious to procure a good education for their 
children, and also knowing well, that the Catho- 
lic school is the bulwark of the church, the 
garden in which the pillars of the church are 
reared, and the foundation of every congrega- 
tion, they built a school as soon as their means 
permitted them. 

In regard to the early history of the Catholic 
schools, we have carefully collected the follow- 
ing from very reliable sources : 

The first school, a small log house, was built 
early in the spring of 1854. It stood between 
Second and Third streets, south of Dr. Groves' 
office and due east of Joseph Thoele's residence. 
The funds for the hulkling were raised by sub- 
scription. 

The first teacher was B. H. Wernsing, our 
former County Treasurer. He commenced 
school at once after the building was finished, 
about the month of ilareh. By the request of 
John B. Cari^enter, who was then Superinten- 
dent of the public schools, Mr. Wernsing wrote 
his own certificate, which, signed by Mr. Car- 
penter, made him a full-fledged teacher. This 
transaction took place in a house ea-st of the 
courthouse, now owned by Jos. H. Probst. There 
being no other school In this city which Mr. 
Wernsing wielded the rod, his school was at- 
tended by children of all denominations, and he 
got along well, but his health falling, he was 
obliged to quit, after teaching about four months. 
His successor was Jos. Masquelet. who, after 
teaching only a very short time, was followed 
by Henry Ackersmann, who taught about two 
years. Then came .John Kabbes, who taught 
only a few terms. The latter was succeeded by 
Liorenz Holmes, who successfully conducted this 
school till the year 1802. By this time the St. 
Anthony's congregation had erected a substan- 



tial two-story brick school house near the old 
church, now used as a hall. Here Mr. Holmes 
continued to teach for a number of years, re- 
ceiving his salary from the public funds, as all 
his predecessors had done. Children of all de- 
nominations attended this .school. In the course 
of time the school became so crowded that an 
assistant teacher was required. This was about 
the year 1863-64. The first assistant was Jos. P. 
Sc-hwerman. our present supervisor. Mr. Holmes 
left about the year 1865. and was succeeded by 
Teacher Royer. who conducted the school about 
two years. Jos. P. Schwemian held his posi- 
tion from 1863 to 1867. Mr. Royer was followed 
by Teacher Bonn, who taught only a short time, 
about four or five months, assisted b.v the Yen. 
Sisters of St. Francis, from Joliet. About this 
time the school was changed from a public to a 
parochial school, and the Yen. Sisters conducted 
the school till April. 1872, when Louis Rieg, 
under the principalship of Rev. Father Weis, 
took charge of the school, assisted by Barbara 
Weis, and very ably and successfully conducted 
the same till July. 1874. 

The new church being finished at this time, 
the old one was converted into two large and 
commodious class rooms. Before this a third 
class had been conducted across the street in a 
small frame building. In the fall of the same 
year a change was made in the schools, the 
larger boys and girls were separated and taught 
In different rooms. Jos. P. Greuel was placed 
in charge of the big boys and two Yen. Sisters de 
Notre Dame in charge of the girls and the little 
boys. The number of pupils at this time was 
about 160. At the beginning of 1877 Jos. Gruel 
quit, and from that time on, till the fall of 1879, 
w-hen Jos. H. Probst, the present incumbent, took 
charge of the school, the Yen. Sisters had charge 
of all the classes. 

The following Is the corps of Sisters, who 
taught since 1874 : 

Sr. ilr. Leonissa, from 1874 to 1876. 

Sr. Sixta. from 1874 to 1878. 

Sr. Tolentlne. from 1877 to 1879. 

Sr. Mathlasa. from 1878 to 1879. 

Sr. Bernarda. from 1876 to 1877. 

Sr. Castula, from 1878 to 1883. 

Sr. Zenonis. from 1879 to 1882. 

Sr. Pionina. from 1879 to 1889. 

Sr. Leonarda. from 1882 to 1888. 

Sr. Gelasia, from 1883 to 1891. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



681 



Sr. Columbana, from 1888 to 1902. 

Sr. Vita, from 1889 to 1890. 

Sr. Norbertine, from 1890 to 1891. 

Sr. Paulette, from 1S91 to 1893. 

Sr. Paul, from 1893 to 1894. 

Sr. Serapia, from 1894 to 1898. 

Sr. Leoua, 1894 only. 

The Superiors during tliis time were the fol- 
lowing : 

Sr. M. Lebnlssa, from 1874 to ISTi'i. (She also 
taught. ) 

Sr. M. Bemarda, from 1870 to 1877. 

Sr. M. Basilia, the ever memorable, from Oc- 
tober 5, 1877, till she died suddenly during a 
visit to Teutopolis. July 26, 1891. 

Sr. M. Regis, the pious, from Aug. 29, 1891, till 
she also died July 12, 1898. 

The present teachers are : Sr. M. Gottharda, 
superior, since 1898 ; Sr. Gaudine, since 1891 ; Sr. 
Antonine, since 1902, and Jos. II. Probst, since 
1879. 

The c-ourse of study pursued is perfect and 
complete. It is perfect because the first on the 
programme is religion, which teaches the child 
its relation to God, the relation of the creature 
toward its Creator, the end for which man is 
created and the means to be used, in order to 
obtain ttiis end. 

It is complete because it embraces all branches 
required by law, general business forms, ele- 
mentary book-keeping. Civil Government, and, 
at last, but not least, the teaching of the Ger- 
man language. Besides these, the Sisters teach 
the girls how to sew, knit, crochet, hemstitch, 
how to darn their stockings, and other fancy 
needle work. The practice of handling the 
broom and duster is not exempted, and it is a 
pleasure to see even the little tots h<!rd at work 
to keep their schoolroom and surroundings In 
good order. 

The present superb and substantial two-story 
brick school house was erected in 189.3 at a c-ost 
of .$8,000. It contains six large, well lighted and 
ventilated class rooms, spacious halls, and fine, 
commodious seats. It is also equipped with all 
necessary up-to-date appliances, such as globes, 
charts, maps, etc. For the last twenty-five .years 
there has existed the best hannony between the 
respective Rev. Rectors, the teachers, pupils and 
parents. The number of pupils, yearly enrolled, 
has been for the last twenty years from 200 to 
2.35. Difficult was the task and hard the burden, 



but teachers and pupils worked diligently and 
quietly together, and how well they succ-eeded is 
shown by the fact that so many of our best 
scholars, able citizens, c-ouipetent business men, 
and accomplished ladies have received their 
education at St. Anthony's. Among those w'ho 
deserve special mention are the following: 
Johanna Rebel, Mary Wiesman, Martie Merz, 
Julia Willenborg, Celestia Bickelman, Rosa 
Ki-eke, Mamie Jacobs, Minnie Bachman, Mary 
Hoefliger, Dr. Ewers, Lawrence Nolte, Fr. 
Xolte, Jos. Feldhake. Charles Worman, John 
Thies, Hary Rickelman, Theodore Gravenhorst, 
John Gravenhoi-st, Otto Reutlinger, Rud Flugge, 
Joseph Mussman, Chas. Bachman, Bernard Muss- 
man, Chas. Boos, Chas. Ewers, John Purtill, Ben 
Wolters, Harry Underreiner, Henry Boos, Paul 
Partridge, Alois OsthofC and Anton Lange. 

In these facts we must admit that a remark- 
able change has been wrought in the development 
of the Catholic school system, and that St. An- 
thon.v's school has kept in line with the general 
education, as well as with the progress of the 
city, and we, the citizens in general, as well 
as the members of St Anthony's congregation, 
can be proud of having such an institution in 
our midst. 

In 1895 another department was added, in- 
cluding the seventh and eighth grades, and In 
1900 the ninth grade, taught by Rev. S. P. Hoff- 
mann, was instituted. The course of studies in 
this grade consists of Stenography (Greggs), 
Type Writing, Book-keeping, General Business 
Forms, German and Latin. 

The present teachers are: 

Rev. S. P. Hoffman. Ninth Grade. 

Jos. H. Probst, Seventh and Eighth Grades. 

Sr. M. Silentia, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth 
Grades. 

Sr. M. Gaudine. Fourth and Fifth Grades. 

Sr. M. Olivia. Third and Fourth Grades. 

Sr. M. Antonine, First and Second Grades. 

BISSELL COLLEGE. 

What are known as the Bissell Collies of 
Efllngham, 111., are made up of two principal de- 
partments for the teaching of different branches 
of art, viz. : photography and photo-engraving— 
the one being called the Illinois College of Pho- 
tography and the other the Bissell College of 
Photo-Engraving. The former was established by 
its present President, Prof. Lewis H. Bissell, in 



682 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



1893, and has had a successful career to the 
present time. The institution is provided with 
a Board of Officers and a Faculty of Instructors, 
the latter including some eight or ten members 
qualified for imparting instruction fi-om the first 
steps in the art of photography to eugi'aving and 
printing. The object of the institution is ex- 
plained In an "annual prospectus" to be : "First 
to give practical training to those who have de- 
cided to adopt some branch of photo-mechanical 
photography as a business ; second, to provide in- 
struction in the different branches of work for 
those engaged in the profession who are able 
to spare the necessaiy time."' 

At the eighth annual convention of the Inter- 
national Association of Photo-Engravers held at 
St. Louis, June 22, IIXU, a series of resolutions 
was adopted commending the work done by the 
institution, declaring it well equip])ed and pro- 
vided with competent instructors, and adding, 
"we further agree to accept a certificate of grad- 
uation as sufficient recommendation for a po- 
sition in our work rooms." A few years ago 
the institution came into possession of the build- 
ings formerly occupied by the Austin College at 
Effingham, and is now especially well equipped 
in that line. It has been strongly commended 
by art periodicals, both in this country, and in 
Europe, as well as by other publications inter- 
ested in art works. 



CHAPTER XII. 



DAIRYING INDUSTRIES. 



DEVEIX)PMENT OF DAIRYING INDUSTRIES IN EFFING- 
HAM COUNTY — EARLY CONDITIONS — 'FIRST SIGNS 
OF IMPROVEMENT — COMING OF THE JERSEY COW — 
FIRST ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A CREAMERY" IN 
THE COUNTY- — OTHER EARLY' CREAMERY' ENTER- 
PRISES AND FAILURE.S THE OLEOMARGARINE CON- 
TEST — EXTRACTS FROM THE "CREAMERY PATRONS' 

HAND BOOK" LATER EXPERIMENTS AND THE 

MORE SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISES OF THE PRESENT 
DAY. 

(By A. F. Jansen.) 

From the pioneer days up to about twenty 
years ago, there was not much development of 



the dairj' business, for two reasons. One reason 
was, the people thought they did not have to, or 
rather they were not aware, they would event- 
ually farm themselves out by continual crop- 
raising, without replacing the exhausted fertil- 
ity of the soil. You see they were always tak- 
ing from the soil. The other reason was, they 
did not want to because it did not pay. 

In the earlier days of this c-ountry there was 
no market or demand for dairy products, such 
as we have now. The town and cities often had 
as many cows as families that lived inside their 
corix)ration limits. While domestic animals 
were running at large, they were of very little 
expense during the summer months, and in win- 
ter those town cows would always be on the 
lookout for the farmers to come in with loads 
of hay or com or anything that came handy, 
even if it was bran or shorts gotten at the mills. 
Under these circumstances, the people could 
have their milk supply fresh and unadulter- 
ated, and as clean as they cared to make it, at 
less cost than a dairyman could possibly fur- 
nish it. 

However, these things gradually changed and 
a little custom dairying began. Besides that, a 
few farmers, or rather farmers' wives, made a 
special effort to make good, first-class butter, 
for which they invariably succeeded in getting a 
good price. My wife, at one time, had a trade 
established for butter for which we received 
twenty cents a pound the year round, for all we 
could supply ; but how does that compare with 
the prices creamery patrons now realize for 
butter? 

Tlie cows of those earlier days were, as a rule, 
just simply cows. Natives you might call them, 
but nevertheless there were some excellent milk- 
ers among them. The first improvement in that 
respect was made when some of the fine looking 
roan Shorthorns were brought to this State 
from Kentucky. They were known here as 
"Kentucky Roans." 

The first dairy breed that attracted any at- 
tention were the Jerseys. In some instances the 
ignorant were imposed upon, — "tried to make 
believe that, when milking one of these cows, 
the milker would have ready-made butter in her 
pail by the time she had done the milking. 

At one time an overland traveler (a mover) 
went through this vicinity who had one of those 
"Chursey cows" tied behind his wagon. Along- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



683 



side the road he was traveling, one of our Ger- 
man friends was working in the field. He had 
heard of the "Chursey cows'' already maliing so 
much butter, that he concluded to buy one at 
the first opportunity. So, when he saw this little 
yellow cow behind the wagou, he thought this 
was his chance. When the traveler was near 
enough, he says, "Goot morning, mine friend ; how 
was you this morning." "Oh, thank you, very 
well," says the other, who happened to be an 
Irishman, "and how are ye?" "Oh, I was al- 
right, I guess," he says, "but vat kind of cow Is 
dat behind your wagon?" "That is the liest little 
Jersey cow that iver walked on four feet," says 
the Irishman. "Das Is all humbug," says the 
other, "an animal vat does not walk on four 
feets. never was a cow at all. But is dat one of 
dem real Chursey cows vat makes so much but- 
ter?" "Yes sir," says the other, "that is a full 
seven-eighths Jersey cow, begoora." "And vat 
is de odder eighth?" asked the German. "Why, 
I suppose just simply cow," said the Irishman. 
"O, I thinks may be it was Angora Goat," says 
the German, "but anyhow, vat you sell dat cow 
for?" "Oh, well." says the other," "that cow is 
worth fifty dollars, between brothers." "Das 
may be, aberuicht between strangers," replied 
the first. "Das is too big money for so little 

{10W." 

The first attempt to make butter for market 
outside of what was made by the farmers at 
home, was commenced here in Effingham In the 
year 1889 by a creamery which was run on a 
cream gathering .system. The proprietor was a 
man by the name of Stempel. He commenced 
operations some time in April, and closed and 
left again in tbe fall of the same year. 

The next creamery to open was at Shumway, 
alwut eight miles northwest of here on the Wa- 
bash Road. It started in October, 1889, and was 
iiiu until 1S95. when it had to close on account 
of not getting enough milk; the supply varied 
from 2,500 to 4,500 pounds per day, with too low 
prices for the butter. The operator paid as low 
as forty cents per 100 pounds for milk. 

The first co-operative creamery was established 
in Montrose, nine miles east of here, on tbe Van- 
dalia Itailroad. It oi>ened up in 1890, and re- 
ceived the first day about 500 pounds of milk, and 
the highest it reached was about 4,000 pounds. 
After running a few years it was forced to close, 
for several reasons. One of these reasons was 



that it, the same as Shumway creamery, did not 
receive enough milk, and another reason was 
possibly a little mismanagement, but the most 
important reason was, the low price of butter. 

Now right here, my farmer friends and cream- 
ery patrons and shareholders, I wish to call 
your attention to some facts which, may be, you 
are not aware of. One is, what you owe to the 
State Dairy Association of this and other States, 
for insisting and forcing our Representatives in 
Congress to pass laws to restrict the sale and 
manufacture of oleomargarine. 

I will read an extract from the "Creamery 
Patrons' Hand Book," proving the effect these 
laws have had in bringing better prices for good 
creamery butter: 

"Farmers who sell milk to the creamery and 
receive pay therefor upon the basis of the market 
price of butter, little realize the losses which 
they have incurred as a rasult of the manufac- 
ture and sale of a mixture of lard, tallow and 
oottenseed oil, known as oleomargarine, but, un- 
til July 1 of this year, almost universally sold or 
served as butter, because of the fact that it was 
colored in exact imitation thereof. 

"In 188G this traffic amounted to 21,513,5.37 
pounds; in 1894 it had grown to 69,622,246 
pounds ; in 1900 to 107,045,023 pounds, and dur- 
ing the last fiscal year was 123,180,075 pounds,— 
equal to 2,463,615 fifty-pound tubs, over six 
thousand car-loads, or as much oleomargarine as 
one thousand large creameries turn out of but- 
ter. In other words, twenty-seven oleomarga- 
rine factories turned out oleomargarine equal in 
quantitj' to 25 per cent, of the butter product 
of all the creameries in the United States." 

"The National Dairy Union was organized for 
the purpose of fighting this fraud. In Decem- 
ber, 1898, the proposition to ask Congre.ss to place 
a tax of 10 cents per jiound upon oleomargarine, 
colored in imitation of butter, was laid before 
the dairymen of the counti-j- by this organization. 
The work was immediately taken up, and, after 
more than three years of constant effort, the 
measure was finally passed. Every buttermaker 
or creamerj' manager knows what the results 
have been. 

"Those most benefited by the work of the 
National Dairy Union are. the milkers of cows. 
Every cent added to the value of butter is a cent 
directly in their pockets. The merchant makes 
as much on liutTer sold at 15 cents as he does 



684 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



ou that soUl at 25 leiits. aiul the toriiiiT price 
reciuires less capital to handle ; the creamery 
company is benefited only to the extent of its in- 
creased output of butter, which results from 
driving a fraudulent competitor out of the mar- 
ket. It is the farmer who gets nine-tenths of 
any advance in price of butter." 

The next creamery established was at Sigel, 
eight miles north of here, on the Illinois Cen- 
tral. Although being just over the line iu Shelby 
County, it is somewhat connected with Efiing- 
ham county iu a business way — at any rate with 
the creamery, because it had quite a few patrons 
from this countj-. It commenced to operate Au- 
gust 7, 1899, with forty patrons and 1615 pounds 
of milk. It was the first creamery that was 
ojierated successfully in this part of the coun- 
try, having paid as high as 40 per cent, dividend, 
one year, to its shareholders. It received as 
high as something over 22,000 jwuncls of milk in 
one day. 

The next co-operative creamery established 
was right here in Effingham. It opened up to 
receive milk April 21, 1900. It paid out to 
patrons for the first full month of May, .$.587.97 ; 
June, $.J97.G3; Juno, lOfJl. .$99<i.05; June. 1902, 
$1,274.02; June, ltX'3, $l,H77.1.o. It paid a fair 
dividend to Its shareholders for two j-ears. It, 
however, closed its doors July 15, 1904, on ac- 
count of the condenser paying better prices for 
nilllj than any creamery could afford to pay for 
milk of the average test, 4 per cent butter fat. 
However, I hoiie it will open up again some day 
when this part of the country will be develoiied 
enough in the dairy business to produce milk 
enough to supply both plants satisfactorily, and 
those who prefer the creamery business will 
have the cows that will be the most profitable 
for the creamery business. 

The condenser before alluded to was built iu 
1902, after a long, persistent effort on the part 
of the citizens of Effingham to have a milk con- 
densing factory located here. >Iy farmer, as 
well as city friends, all remember the grand, 
jolly time we had going to Greenville and High- 
land viewing those factories, and the dairy con- 
ditions around there, and esiiecially rememt>er 
coming home more than going there. Well, those 
hopes and expectations failed to verify, but as 
before mentioned, we later on succeeded in get- 
ting a flrst-class, latest, up-to-date condensing 
factory here. It opened up to receive milk 



February o, 1903, witli 2,9.'!G iwunds of milk. It 
kept on increasing from mouth to month until, 
in a year's time, ou the first of February, 1904, 
it received 13.239 pounds. Excepting the follow- 
ing month, when the receipts were little less, 
the supply has kept steadily increasing until, on 
August 9th of the same year, the concern received 
42,554 pounds, and up to June 19th it had paid 
out for milk alone .$115,301. 

The next cooperative creamery, after the 
one built here in Eflingham, was at Teutoixilis, 
three and a half miles east of here on the Van- 
dalia line. It oi)ened up on the 18th of August, 
1901, with 55 patrons and about 3,500 pounds 
of milk. It has at present about 130 patrons. 
The highest amount of milk received in any one 
day was about 12.000 pounds, and it has been 
fairly successful. The concern at one time 
shipped milk to St. Louis, but, after a few ship- 
ments, made butter again exclusively. 

The next successful creamery opened up at 
Dieterich, about twelve miles southeast of here, 
on a branch of the Illinois Central near the east 
side of the county. It began to do business on 
the 15th of September, 1902, with forty-six pa- 
trons. During the first year this creamery made 
56.137 ixjunds of butter. The largest amount 
of milk received by it in one day was 15,500 
I)ounds, on June 12, 1905. Since it commenced 
operations, it has made 213,103 pounds of butter. 

Besides those creameries mentioned, there is 
one doing business in Beecher City, on the ex- 
treme west side of the county. There is also 
one in the southern part of the county, at Wel- 
ton. It opened May 17, 1901, with thirty-two 
patrons and about 1,700 pounds of milk. The 
highest amount received in one day was 5,000 
pounds. 

Some time last spring a cheese factory opened' 
up at Edgewood, on the edge of the south county 
line. 

The future possibilities of dairy farming are 
very promising for Effingham County, inasmuch 
as the farmers generally are aware of the ne- 
cessity of more systematic and better farming, 
on a basis of fairer treatment of their land in 
the way of returning something to the soil they 
are always taking something from. In that 
way they will become what every farmer of 
this country -should be: a malntainer and pro- 
moter of the national resources of our 




.MR. AM) .AIRS. JoHX L. K.NCEI. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



685 



"Great Land of Liberty, 

Land of the brave and free. 

Whose fertile soils provide, 

If every farmer for himself decide 

To be the Nation's Pride, 

Everlastingly." 



CHAPTER XIIL 



CX)UNTY AND IXJCAL FAIRS. 



FIRST EFFINGHAM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZED IN 1856 — FIRST OFFICERS AND SOME 

EARLY FAIRS SUSPENSION DURING THE CIVIL 

WAR PERIOD ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 

AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND MECHAN- 
ICAL SOCIETY NEW COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SO- 
CIETY ORGANIZED IN 1880 ANOTHER PERIOD OF 

SUSPENSION — FAIRS AT WATSON — ALTAMONT AG- 
RICULTURAL ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED IN 1905 

SUBSEQUENT FAIRS. 

The fii'^t attempt to organize an Agricultural 
Society in Effingham County, of which any rec- 
ord has been obtainable, occurred in 1S5C, 
when, on May 5th of that year, a meeting of 
citizens of tbe county was held for that purpose 
at Ewlngton, then the county-seat. The meeting 
was organized with Dr. J. H. Robinson as 
Chairman and Greenbury Wright Secretary, and 
on motion of Presley Fuukhouser. a consti- 
tution and b.v-laws were adopted. The following 
were elected the first officers: President, J. H. 
Robinson ; Vice President. Presley Funkhouser ; 
Secretary, Greenbury Wright ; Ti-easurer, J. M. 
Long. An Executive Committee was also ap- 
pointed c-onsi.sting of sixteen members, represent- 
ing the several townships of the county, and at 
a meeting held in July following, this committee 
was in''reased by the addition of twenty-six 
members. 

At a meeting held October 21, 1857, the fol- 
lowing officers were elec-ted : Isaac L. Leith, Pres- 
ident ; Daniel Rinehart. Vice President : John S. 
Kelly, Secretary ; Presley Fuukhouser, Ti'eas- 
urer. The roll of membership at this time 



amounted to 59, with a membership fee of fifty 
cents. A fair was held about the same time, at 
which premiums were issued to the amount of 

At a meeting held in June, 1859, it was decided 
to hold a fair in October following, and a new 
Executive Committee was appointed. Dr. Will- 
iam Matthews also delivering an address on 
some agricultural theme. The second County 
Fair was held at Ewlngton on October 21st and 
22nd of that year, this being regarded as quite 
successful, the premiums awarded amounting to 
$93.50. 

The fair of 18(X) was held October 18th and 
19th, and in March, 1861, a new set of officei-s, 
with an Executive Committee of nine members, 
was appointed, the award of premiums at the 
fair held on October 10th, 11th and 12th of 
that year amounting to $84. In 1862 the list of 
members had increased to 115, but the Civil 
War being then in progress, no fair was held 
this year, and the Society went out of existence. 

For a period of eleven years no fairs were 
held, but on August 24, 1ST2, a meeting was held 
in the City of Effingham, for the punwse of 
organizing the Effingham County Agi-icultural, 
Horticultural and Mechanical Society. This 
step was endorsed by the signing of 102 names 
to the articles of association, each subscriber 
taking shares of stoc-k and the association being 
formally incorporated. The organization was 
completed by the election of William Gillmore, 
President ; T. L. Sexton, Vice President ; E. H. 
Bishop, SecretaiT, and the following Board of 
Directors: M. V. Parks, Eli Kelly, William C. 
Wright, I. L. Leith and W. H. Blakely. The 
coriwration purchased a quarter section of laud 
just outside the city limits, the northeast corner 
of this tract touching the southeast comer of the 
city corporation. The site was improved by in- 
closing the land and erecting an amphitheater, 
with halls, sheds and stock-pens, for the care of 
machines and implements and the housing of 
stock while on exhibition. 

December 10. 1872. in conformity with the 
State law, the name of the Society was changed 
to the "Effingham County Agricultural Board," 
and the first fair under this arrangement was 
held September 30th and October 1st to 3rd, 1873. 
The original cost of the land was $2,160, and 
with other expenditures, there was a constant 
balance of indebtedness. Fairs were held for 



686 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



the next two years— for 1874, October 6-9, and 
for 1875, October 5-8— but in the former year 
the grounds were sold under foreclosure of mort- 
gage, and the fair of 1875 was the last held un- 
der this organization, the coriwration going out 
of existence, and for five yeara no fairs were 
held. 

A Second County Agbicultural Society. — In 
1880 a renewed attempt was made to secure a 
series of fairs. A new Count}' Agricultural So- 
ciety was organized, with E. H. Bishop, Presi- 
dent ; G. M. LeCrone, Secretary ; J. J. Funk- 
houser, Superintendent, and A. Gravenhorst, 
Treasurer. The old Fair Grounds were leased at 
a rental of $60, and a fair was held the same 
year, the receipts amounting to about $500, in- 
cluding $100 from the State. Besides this 
amount about $500, raised by subscriptions, was 
expended in improvement of the grounds and re- 
pair of buildings. Another fair was held in 1881, 
which met with a moderate degree of success, 
and in 1882 a vigorous effort was made to win 
success, about $1,000 being expended, the receipts 
at the gate and for other privileges amounting to 
$916. These fairs were continued only a few 
years, when the organization was abandoned 
and exhibitions disc-ontinued. 

Watson Fairs. — Out of this, however, grew 
the Watson Fair, an association being formed 
at that place as the place for holding exhibitions 
in 1887, with the following officers: Henry 
Turner. President ; W. M. Abraham. Secretary ; 
W. T. Jaycox, Treasurer. During the seventeen 
years that the fair was held at Watson, it al- 
ways paid one hundred cents on the dollar in 
premiums, and when it was closed by mutual 
consent, the shareholders received two and one- 
half times the amount of their original stock. 
In addition to the above named officers, the fol- 
lowing i)ersons served at different times: H. N. 
Ruffner as President ; L. P. JIautz as Secretary. 
Altamont Agricultural Association. — Fol- 
lowing a free stock-show in the city of Alta- 
mont in the fall of 1905. the Altamont Agri- 
cultural Fair Association was organized. The 
first fair was held in September of 1906 with 
these officers: G. W. Gwin, President; Fred 
Naumer, Vice President ; C. O. Faught, Secre- 
tary ; Dr. C. N. Wright, Treasurer, with Directors 
as follows : G. W. Gwin, Fred Naumer, Dr. G. 
M. Baker, H. 11. Klitzing, F. G. Burrow. G. W. 
Heth and Samuel Schroeder. The officers for 



the second and tliird meets were Dr. G. M. 
Baker, President ; Fred Naumer, Vice Presi- 
dent ; C. O. Faught, Secretary ; W. L. Snook. 
Treasurer: for the fourth meet C. O. Faught, 
President ; N. L. Brown, Vice President ; Fred 
Naumer, Secretary ; T. E. Hogan, Treasurer : 
and for the current fair, Dr. G. M. Baker, Presi- 
dent; H. H. Bailey, Vice Presddesit; Fred 
Naumer, Secretary ; T. E. Hogan, Treasurer, 
^^ith the following directors : Dr. G. II. Baker, 
Fred Naumer, N. L. Brown, Samuel Schroeder, 
G. C. Dial, G. R. Voelker, G. W. Heth. 

The grounds of this association are situated a 
half mile east of Altamont and contain forty- 
three acres of land. This land cost the associa- 
tion sixty-five dollars per acre. At the present 
time, these grounds, together with the improve- 
ments, are appraised at practically ten thousand 
dollars. The association has one of the finest 
half-mile si^eed rings in this section of the coun- 
try, its buildings are adequate for all purposes 
required by an agricultural fair, and the man- 
agement has installed a c-omplete system of 
water works. 

The annual premiums of the Altamont Agri- 
cultural Fair Association amount to over five 
thousand dollars, and all premiums awai-ded 
have always been paid one hundred cents on the 
dollar. The efforts of the progressive officials 
of this fair, coupled with the untiring enthusi- 
asm of the citizens of the community, have made 
it one of the greatest county fairs in the State. 
Unlike other institutions of its kind, it is ex- 
l>eriencing a continual and rapid gi'owth. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. 



organization of EFFINGHAM COUNTY OLD SET- 
TLERS' association — FOUNDERS AND FIRST OF- 
FICERS — SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS AND LATER OF- 
FICERS POPULAR INTEREST IN ANNUAL RE> 

UNIONS — ASSOCIATION IN PROSPEROUS CONDI- 
TION. 

[By David L. Wright.] 

Long prior to the organization of the Effing- 
ham Countv Old Settlers' As-sociatiou, an effort 




MRS. IDA ENGEL 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



687 



on the part of pioneer settlers bad been made to 
formulate an organization looking to tbe perpet- 
uation of tbe recollections of pioneers, tbe pres- 
ervation of biograptiieal sketches of old settlers 
and the making and conservation of records of 
all important events transpiring in Effingham 
County, but no definite organization was ef- 
fected until August 17, 18S7. 

It was through tbe efforts of such pioneers as 
Henry B. Kepley, Dr. John LeCw>ne, James L. 
Gillmore, Benjamin Kagay, Henry H. Wright, 
Frank Scott, Joseph B. Jones, Micajah David- 
son, H. H. Hulse, Daniel Needbam, N. T. Whor- 
ton, James P. Tucker, Lewis Hankins, Clemens 
Uptmor, Dr. L. J. Field, Col. John J. Funk- 
houser, Nute T. Gibbons, Edward Austin, Alex- 
ander McWhorter, I. L. Leith, Thomas H. Dobbs, 
Dr. W. H. St Clair, Peter Tb. Johnson, Joseph 
Feldhake, John J. Worman, Eli Kelly and Eras- 
tus N. Rinebart, that a call was made assembling 
the Pioneers and Old Settlers together at the 
beautiful and historical springs now known as 
Kepley Sulphur Springs, in the township of Ma- 
son, on the 17th day of August, 1887, at which 
time and place the Effingham County Old Set- 
tlers' Association was organized and the follow- 
ing named persons were duly elected tbe first 
officers of the association : 

President — James L. Gillmore. 

Vice President — Hon. B. F. Kagay. 

Secretary — Frank Scott. 

Treasurer — Slicajah Davidson. 

Hon. Henry B. Kepley was, by the President, 
appointed Historian of the Association and in- 
structed to draft a Constitution and By-Laws 
for tbe regulation of the Association, which 
■were to be submitted at tbe next annual meet- 
ing to be held in tbe Court House Yard in the 
City of Effingham on the 2Sth day of October, 
1888. 

Tbe second meeting of tbe Association was 
held on the above date. A splendid program was 
rendered and an able address was made by Hon. 
Erastus N. Rinehart. Hon. Henry B. Kepley, 
the Committee on Constitution and By-Laws, 
submitted his report, which was unanimously 
adopted as drafted, and about four hundred Old 
Settlers of the County became members by sub- 
scribing their names to tbe Constitution and By- 
Laws. The Constitution provided, among other 
things, that the name of the Association should 
be the Effingham County Old Settlers' Associa- 



tion, provided for its officers and tbe election and 
appointment thereof, stated tbe object of the 
association, qualifications of its members (thirty 
years' residence in the county), and that the 
Association should hold an annual reunion in 
the City of Effingham at such times as should be 
fixed by the members. 

Tbe officers elected and appointed at the sec- 
ond meeting of the Association consisted of the 
following influential and well known old settlers 
of tbe c-ounty : H. H. Hulse was elected Presi- 
dent, and one Vice-President from each Con- 
gressional Township In the county, as follows : 

N. T. Wborton, West Township. 

Daniel Xeedham, Mound Township. 

George W. Tipsword, Moccasin Township. 

Samuel Lorton, Liberty Township. 

Jas. P. Tucker, Jackson Township. 

Presley C. Hankins, Summit Township. 

Thos. J. Rentfroe, Banner Township. 

Dal Wilson, Union Township. 

Andrew J. Parks, Watson Township. 

Dr. John LeCrone, Douglas Township. 

John Merrj', Lucas Township. 

Dr. L. J. Field, Bishop Townisbip. 

N. P. Gibbons, St. Francis Township. 

Clemens Uptmor. Teutoiwlis To\iTishlp. 

Joshua Bradley, of Effingham, was chosen 
Secretai-y; James White, of Watson, Treasurer; 
Col. John J. Funkhouser, of Effingham. Mar- 
shal, and Hon. Benj. F. Kagay, Historian. 

For some unknown reason no meeting of the 
Association was again held until the 18th day 
of Septeml>er, 1895, at which time the Associa- 
tion met in reunion, in the Court House Yard 
in tbe City of Effingham. This reunion was a 
pronounced success, more than four hundred 
members of the association and some two thou- 
.sand friends and relatives being in attendance 
and participating in the festivities of the occa- 
sion. At this meeting the Hon. Heni-y B. Kep- 
ley was elected President of the Association and 
served in that capacity until 190.3, when Judge 
Joseph B. Jones was elected as bis successor 
and served- until 1906, at which time Albert 
Gravenhorst was elected and has continued in 
this position to the present time. 

From the election of Mr. Kepley as President, 
the Association has held its annual reunions, 
regularly, on the second Tliursday in September 
of each year. Great care has always been taken 
in the preparation and arrangement of the pro- 



688 



EP^FINGHAM COUNTY 



gram, looking to the special entertainment of the 
Old Settlers. In addition to the usual features 
of entertainment and the principal address, 
usually made by some iiersou of more than local 
reputation, the program consisted of si)ecially 
prepared written biogi-aphical sketches of pio- 
neer citizens and historical acc-ounts of the early 
settlement of the county. These biographical 
sketches and historical accounts have, from year 
to year, been filed in the archive of the Asso- 
ciation until they now form almost a complete 
history of our people and our countj-. 

The Association, and its annual reunions 
from its organization, have continued to grow in 
popular favor, each reunion surpassing in at- 
tendance and popularity the preceding one. 
These reunions are so favorably recognized that 
people from all parts of the county contribute 
liberally of their means to their support and 
promotion of their success. In fact, the Old 
Settlers' Association has come to be regarded as 
a public benefactor and its annual reunions are 
looked forward to by the entire population of 
the county as the one gala day and festive occa- 
sion of all the year. 



CHAPTER XV. 



JIASOXIC FRATERNITY— AUXILIARIES. 



MASONIC ORGANIZATIONS IN EFFINGHAM COUNTY 

FIRST LODGE IN THE COUNTY ORGANIZED AT 

EWINGTON IN 1854 REMOLD TO EFFINGHAM IN 

1862 INDRIDUAL HISTORY OF LATER LODGES- 
MASON, DELIA, EDGEWOOD. ALTAMONT, PRAIRIE 
CITY, WATSON, MAYO AND BEECHER CITY — DATES 
OF ORGANIZATION, FIRST AND PRESENT OFFICERS 
AND PRESENT MEMBERSHIP AUXILIARY ORGAN- 
IZATIONS — EFFINGHAM CHAPTER R. A. M. ^EF- 
FINGHAM AND GOLDEN LAKE CHAPTERS OF THE 
EASTERN STAB. 

Prior to the year 18.54 the population of Effing- 
ham County was very small, and what there was 
was made up of people from different States and 
from Euroiie, and confined to settlements scat- 



tered about in different parts of the county. 
Among these were a few membei-s of the Masonic 
fraternity who had maintained their member- 
ship in their original lodges. There was at that 
time no Masonic Lodge or Society in the county, 
and they began to long for the privileges of those 
fraternal greetings and friendships which are 
found only in some fraternal order. The nesir- 
est lodge at that time was about twenty-four 
miles distant. About this time the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad was located through the county, 
and this brought a nunilier of other members of 
the order into the vicinity and enough were now 
found to organize a lodge. 

Effingham Lodge, No. 149, Organized. 

During the year 18.54 a dispensation was 
granted by James L. Anderson, Grand Master of 
the Order in the State of Illinois, to James M. 
Long, residing at Ewingtou, the county-seat of 
Effingham ; Greenljerry Wright, residing at Ma- 
son, in the south part of the county, and John 
H. Crocker, residing at Ewington, with others, 
to open a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, 
V. D., at the Village of Ewington. On the even- 
ing of Febniarj' 10, 18.54, the first lodge meeting 
was held in a hall provided for the purpose in 
the village. The lodge was oiieued with Brothers 
James M. Tx>ng, W. M. ; Elisha L. Cunningham, 
G. W. pro tem. ; John H. Crocker. J. W. ; Eli 
Philbrook, Sec'y. ; James M. Healy, S. D. ; 
Brother Hubbard, J. D. pro tem. ; and Brother 
Parker, Tyler, pro tem. 

Ewington Lodge A. F. & A. M.. U. D., was now 
ready for work. Brothers James M. Healy, 
Elisha L. Cunningham and John G. Wilson were 
appointed on the Finance Committee, and John 
H. Crocker, Greenljerry Wright and Eli Phil- 
brook on the Relief Committee. 

James M. Long, first Master of this lodge, was 
from Indiana, and was a member of some lodge 
in that State. Greenberry Wright, the second 
officer of the lodge, was also an Indiana Mason 
and lived in the Village of Mason, in Effingham 
County. John C. Crocker, the third officer, was 
from Hiram Lodge, No. 118, located at St. 
Charles. Mo. Eli Philbrook, the first Secretary, 
resided at Ewington. 

The membership was scattered over a large 
area extending northwest to the Ka.skaskia River 
in Fayette County, and south and east to Cla.v 
and Jasper Counties, and its membership was 




HKNRV EVERSMAN 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



689 



made up of the most prominent and enterpris- 
ing citizens. I deem it proper, in this connec- 
tion, to name a few of tliem and their respective 
occupations at that time: Presley FuuUhouser, 
residing at Ewington, leading merchant of the 
county, also farmer and stock-dealer. Repre- 
sentative in the General Assembly several terms. 
and Member of the State Senate at the time of 
his death ; James M. Long, physician and sur- 
geon ; Greenberry Wright, attorney -at-law ; John 
H. Crocker, civil engineer on construction of 
Illinois Central Railroad; I>aniel Riuehard, 
County Clerk, merchant and farmer, residing at 
Bwington; John S. Kelly, Circuit Clerk and 
County Recorder ; John LeCrone, physician ; 
On'ille L. Kelly. Sheriff and farmer ; Thomas 
J. Gillenwaters, member of the County Commis- 
sioners' Court ; Calvin B. Ivitehell. County Su- 
perintendent of Schools and a prominent Masonic 
instructor. 

This lodge flourished and increased its mem- 
bership from its first meeting in February-. 1S54. 
until October of the same year, when a charter 
was granted by authority of the Grand Lodge of 
the State, being under the name and number, 
E«ington Lodge No. ]49. The first W. JI. un- 
der the charter was James M. Ix)ng. the first 
S. W.. Greenberry Wright, and the first J. W., 
John H. Crocker. At a meeting held in their 
hall in the Village of Ewiugtou the three prin- 
cipal officers named met and. by virtue of the 
authority of this charter, dated October 2, 1854, 
A. M. 5So4. organized said Ewington Lodge Xo. 
149 A. F. & A. M., elected a full set of officers, 
and it was from that date recognized as a regu- 
lar lodge with full authority to work under the 
jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the State of 
Illinois. This lodge worked and flourished, en- 
tering the names of quite a number of our best 
citizens on its roll of members. At the time of 
the organization under the charter it had a mem- 
bership of thirty-eight. 

Ewington Lodge grew in numbers and was in 
a flourishing condition from its first organiza- 
tion up to the year 1860. when, by a vote of the 
people, the county-seat was moved from Ewing- 
ton to Effingham. That caused the Village of 
Ewington to be almost entirely abandoned — so 
much so that there was no place left where the 
members could be accommodated or entertained 
when attending the meetings of the lodge. As a 
consequence, on April 11, 1862, by a vote of its 



members, the lodge was moved from Ewington 
to Effingham, and in October, 1869, by authority 
of the Grand Lodge, the name was changed to 
Effingham, and it is now Effingham Lodge Xo. 
149, A. F. & A. M. This has always been the 
leading lodge of the county and has held a prom- 
inent place in the Grand Lodge of the State. 
Past Grand Master Owen Scott was once one of 
its members, and Past Grand Master William B. 
Wright was made a Mason here and has re- 
tained his membership here up to this time. 

Effingham Lodge is to-day in a healthy and 
ivrosperous condition. Its present officers are: 
William M. Stewart, W. M. ; Frank W. Goodell, 
S. W. ; Frank O. Green. Jr., J. W. : David L. 
Wright, Ti'eas. ; Mannie L. Ellx>w, Sec'y. ; Louis 
H. Broom. S. D. ; Charles E. Bellchamber, J. D. ; 
Rev. William Pruitt, Chaplain ; Strather G. 
Barbee. Organist ; Gustav Napossa, S. S. ; A. H. 
Clark. J. S. It now has seventy-one members. 

Mason Lodge. No. 217, A. F. & A. M., is located 
at the Village of Mason, on the Illinois Centi-al 
Railroad in the south part of Effingham Countj\ 
I find no record of its first meetings under dis- 
liensation. In fact, there is no record to be 
found at this time of any of its meetings piior 
to the date of its charter, which was granted 
October 7, 1856. The officers named in the char- 
ter were : Greenben-y Wright, W. M. ; John S. 
Wilson, S. W. : Joseph H. Robinson, J. W. The 
members under the charter were: Morgan 
Wright, Larkin Wright, Owen Wright. Isham 
Mahan, Greenberry Wright. J. X. Wilkinson, 
and James Claypool. This lodge has had among 
its members, at different times, some of the most 
prominent citizens within its jurisdiction, viz. : 
Stephen Hardin, once a Member of the State 
Legislature, merchant and farmer ; John Broom, 
. Countj- Judge and farmer ; Greenberry Wright, 
attorney-at-law ; Joseph H. Robinson, physician 
and surgeon ; Captain Adam L. Walker ; William 
Glllmore. Sheriff; G. W. Cornwell, physician 
and surgeon and once a member of the State Leg- 
islature ; Hon. Isaac L. Leith. Member of the 
Constitutional Convention of 1862 ; Hon. David 
Leith, Member of the State Legislature at the 
time of his death ; Owen Wright, M. D., A. M. ; 
Hanson X. Ruffner. prominent farmer and fruit 
grower. This lodge is now in a healthy condi- 
tion, with forty-seven members in good standing. 
Its present officers are E. W. Ruffner, W. M. ; 
R. E. Hardsock, S. W. ; C. E. Mesnard, J. W. ; 



690 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



A. K. Gibson, Treas., and L. M. Harding, Sec'y. 
Deua Lodge, No. 525.— Delia Lodge, U. D., 
A. F. & A. M., was constituted a lodge October 
20, 1866, by dispensation granted by Jerome K. 
Gorin, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ill- 
inois, to Pbineas Palmer, J. M. Long, Washing- 
ton Winterrowd, John C. Palmer, Daniel Palmer, 
L. J. Field, William C. Baty, and Curtis Scott. 
Phineas Palmer was the first W. M. ; J. M. I^ong, 
S. W., and Washington Winterrowd, J. W. The 
other officers of the Lodge U. D., are not made 
a matter of record. This lodge worked under 
disi^eusation until October 1, 1SG9, when a char- 
ter was granted. The charter members were: 
Phineas Palmer, R. G. Scott, C. M. Scott, Wash- 
ington Winterrowd, John C. Palmer, L. J. Field, 
David C. Kerstner, John A. Ban-, George W. 
Sloan, B. L. Papmer, Andrew Wiles, J. W. 
Honrigan and Waymack Merry. Phineas Palmer 
was the first Master under the charter, and R. 
G. Scott and Washington Winterrowd were the 
first Wardens. 

February 12, 1870, Delia Lodge was moved by 
vote of the members from Winterrowd to Elli- 
ottstown, a small village about six miles distant, 
where it is now located. It owns the hall where 
it continues to hold its meetings. It was named 
Delia out of the great respect the members had 
for the deceased wife of Brother Washington 
Winterrowd. The present officers are: J. D. 
Marshall, W. M. ; F. J. Davis, S. W. ; J. L. 
Poynter, J. W.; W. H. Poynter, Treas.; L. J. 
Dunn, Sec'y.; L. F. Hale, S. D. ; Barlow Hig- 
gins, J. D. ; E. R. Cambridge, Chap. ; L. J. Wood, 
S. S. ; N. A. Kite, J. S. ; A. J. Stubbs, Tyler. This 
lodge has in all seventeen members. 

The original members and promoters of this 
lodge are nearly all gone to join that Celestial 
Lodge where the Supreme Grand Master of the 
Universe presides, and where their work will be 
examined and tested by the Square of the 
Mater Overseer, and accepted or rejected ac- 
cording to its merits. 

Edgewood Ix)dge, No. 484. — In the year 1866, 
the population of the south part of Effingham 
County had increased, and the Village of Edge- 
wood, located on the I. C. R. R. and within half 
a mile of the Clay County line, had grov\Ti to be 
a populous and enterprising place, and the coun- 
try surrounding it was being settled also by an 
energetic and enterprising class of citizens. In 
the village and country were quite a number of 



Free Masons — enough to form a new lodge — 
and on March 6, 1866, a dispensation was granted 
by Grand Master Gorin to John S. Kelly, Jona- 
than Hooks, Thomas A. Austin, Isbam Mahon, 
J. L. Gillmore, J. N. Faulk, F. C. Healy, Daniel 
Dyer and William McNiel to open a lodge at the 
Village of Edgewood, to be known as Edgewood 
Lodge, U. D., A. F. & A. M. Under authority of 
this dispensation the brethren named oi>ened a 
lodge with John S. Kelly, W. M. ; Jonathan 
Hooks, S. W. ; Thomas A. Austin, J. W. The 
lodge worked and prospered until October 3, 
1866, when it was chartered, and on November 
17, 1866, its members met at their hall in the 
Village of Edgewood and were constituted a 
lodge in due form, R. W. James Claypool act- 
ing as Grand Master, under and by the authority 
of Most Worshipful Grand Master H. P. H. 
Bromwell. The officers of the chartered lodge 
were: John S. Kelly, W. M. ; Jonathan Hooks, 
S. W. ; Thomas A. Austin. J. W. ; James L. Gill- 
more, Treas. ; Jay N. Faulk, Sec'y. The other 
members present at the first meeting were : F. C. 
Healy, Daniel Dyer, William McNiel, M. Sted- 
man, John Hanson, S. B. Fox. H. Behn, John 
Brown, G. W. Garey, M. A. Browai, L. D. Con- 
ley, E. Parks, J. A. Merwin, James McCaffey, 
John Scarife, B. W. Burk. Thomas Hamilton and 
John McDonald. 

This lodge has worked and prospered from its 
fir.st organization and its members are from the 
best citizens of the village and surrounding 
countrj'. The present officers are : John JI. Lieb, 
W. M. ; C. M. Doty, S. W. ; Wilbur Bartle.v, J. 
W. ; Samuel Ging, Sec'y. ; W. J. Cole, Treas. ; 
J. R. Danks, S. D. ; Roy Krohn, J. D. ; Charles 
Robertson, Tyler. It has a present membership 
of fifty. 

Altamont Lodge, No. 5.33, A. F. & A. M.— The 
original records of this lodge were destroyed by 
fire, but they have been replaced as nearly as 
possible, based uiwn the memoi-y of its members. 
Some time in the winter of 1866-67, a dispensa- 
tion was granted by Grand Master Gorin and 
directed to Joseph B. Jones, John C. Russell, 
Jesse H. Said, Jacob Baker, Henry S. Hook, 
John Armstrong, James K. Slater, Asbby Tips- 
word, I. P. Carpenter, and others, to open a 
lodge at Freemanton. a small village on the Na- 
tional Road, nine miles southwest from Effing- 
ham. This lodge was to be known as Freeman- 
ton Lodge, U. D. Joseph B. Jones was its first 




ROBERT G. GIBSON 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



691 



Worshipful Master ; John C. Russell, first S. W. ; 
Jesse J. Said, first J. W. ; Henry S. Hook, first 
Treasurer, and I. P. Carpenter, Secretary. The 
first meeting was held soon after the dispensa- 
tion was granted, and the lodge worked and 
prospered, making a very creditable report of 
its acts and doings to the Grand Lodge of the 
State, held at Springfield, October 1, 1S67. A 
petition for a charter was presented to that 
twdy, which was granted, and October 1, 1S6' 
the charter was issued and the new lodge named 
Freemanton Lodge and numbei-ed 533, A. F. & 
A. M. The first officers were : John C. Russell 
W. M. ; Jesse H. Said, S. W. ; Jacob Baker, J, 
W. ; Henry S. Hook, Treasurer ; J. C. Walker 
Secretary. The other members were: I. P. Car 
penter, B. W. Eakin, W. F. Ingram, John F 
Hipsler, John Harrison, John Armstrong, Shep- 
ley Cochran, and Ashby Tipsword. 

In the year 1S74, by the vote of the members, 
this lodge was moved from Freemanton to Alta- 
mont, a village at the intersection of the Van- 
dalia and Baltimore & Ohio Railroads, and the 
name was changed to Altamont Lodge, No. 533. 
On January 14, 1905, the lodge hall and its eon- 
tents, including all its records, charter and par- 
aphernalia, were destroyed by fire. January 20, 
1905, a duplicate charter was issued by Grand 
Master William B. Wright and signed by J. H. C. 
Dill, Grand Secretary, attested by the Seal of the 
Grand Lodge of the State. This lodge is in a 
healthy condition at the present time, and has 
thirty-two members. Its oflicers are : S. S. 
Smith, W. M. ; G. N. Grant, S. W. ; N. L. Brown, 
J. W. ; G. F. Frollinger, Treas. ; D. F. Piper. 
Sec'y. : Fred Nauraer, S. D. ; J. R. Thomas. J. D. ; 
T. L. Carpenter, T.yler; and G. W. Guinn. Chap. 
Pbaibie City Lodge, No. 578. A. F. & F. M., is 
located at Montrose, 111., a small village on the 
T. H. & I. R. R. (Vandalia Line) in the north- 
east part of Effingham County, and about one 
mile from the Cumberland County line. Its 
early history has nothing to do with the Masonic 
history of Effingham County, having been char- 
tered in 1868 and located at Prairie City, in 
Cumberland County. The first officers of this 
lodge were : Joel Smith, W. M. ; J. H. Tanaway, 
S. W. ; H. W. Green, J. W. ; Wiley Ross, Treas. ; 
R. Bloomfield, Sec'y.; M. R. Lee, S. D. ; R. M. 
Young, J. D. : W. E. Lake, Tyler. 

.\11 of the first officers were residents of Cum- 
berland County. The lodge was moved from 



Prairie City to Montrose by a vote of the mem- 
bers, under a dispensation from the Grand Mas- 
ter of the State, on November 10, 1891. It stUl 
remains in Montrose, working under its first 
name and number. It is in a flourishing condi- 
tion at the present time and has forty-three 
members. The pi-esent officers are: George H. 
White, W. M. ; C. B. Hyatt, S. W. ; John Hill- 
yer, J. W. ; William Fearingtou, Treas. ; C. S. 
Printz. Sec'y. ; J. C. Spitter, S. D. ; John Berry, 
J. D. ; C. G. Hess, Tyler. 

Watson Lodge, No. 602, A. F. & A. M. The 
records of Watson Lodge while working under 
dispensation, have been lost or mislaid, so that 
the date of its organization cannot here be given. 
On October 6, 1868, a charter was granted to the 
lodge, the charter members being : F. Cooper, 
A. L. Walker, S. T. Hillis, W. F. Scott, F. B. 
Schooley, Robert Ward, J. M. Wilhite. J. B. Gil- 
lespie, J. V. Bail, J. T. Barkley and H. Barkley. 
The first meeting under the charter was held in 
March, 1869, the officers present at that time 
being: F. Cooper, W. M. ; A. L. Walker, S. W. ; 
S. L. Hillis. J. W. ; J. V. Bail, Treas.; J. M. 
Wilhite, Sec'y.; J. T. Barkley, S. D. ; F. B. 
Schooley, J. D. ; Robert Ward. Tyler. The other 
members present were : J. B. Gillespie, H. Bark- 
ley and W. F. Scott. 

This lodge worked and prospered and is now 
in good condition. It owns a one-fourth interest 
in a hall in the Village of Watson, the other in- 
terests in same being owned b.v various other 
societies or lodges. Watson Lodge now has 
thirty members. Of its charter members only 
two are now living. Captain Joseph T. Barkley, 
residing at Watson, and Captain F. B. Schooley, 
a resident of England, Ark. The present of- 
ficers of the lodge are : J. F. Henderson, W. M. ; 
L. P. Mantz, S. W. ; R. H. Oliver J. W. ; J. C. 
Reynolds, Treas.; J. W. Claar, Sec'.v. ; F. M. 
Brown, S. D. ; J. W. Wilson, J. D. ; J. C. Trim- 
ble, Tyler. 

Our Past Grand Master of the State of Illi- 
nois, Owen Scott, was initiated as a Mason in 
this lodge. 

Mayo Lodge No. 664. — ^This lodge is located at 
Wiuterrowd. a small hamlet in the southeast 
corner of Effingham County. On the 16th day 
of November. 1870, a disijensation was granted 
to A. M. Clark, Daniel Palmer, Washington Wiu- 
terrowd, Jesse Creech, C. M. Soott, R. H. Sham- 
hart, J. O. Palmer, J. N. Holt and George Sham- 



692 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



bart, to open a lodge, U. D., at WinteiTowd, to 
be known as Mayo Lodge, U. D. The first meet- 
ing was held at the hall at Winterrowd, January 
11, 1871, present: A. M. Clark, Daniel Palmer, 
Washington Winterrowd, Jesse Creech, C. M. 
Seott, R. H. Shamhart, J. C. Palmer, J. N. Holt, 
and George Shamhart. The names of the first 
officers are not given in the record. 

Mayo Lodge No. 664, A. F. & A. M., was char- 
tea-ed by the Grand Lodge on October 3, 1871. 
The charter was gi-auted to A. M. Clark, Daniel 
Palmer. Washington Winterrowd, Jesse Creech, 
C. M. Scott. R. H. Shamhart, J. C. Palmer, J. 
N. Holt, and George Shamhart. The offlcei-s 
named in the charter were : A. M. Clark, W. M. ; 
Daniel Palmer, S. W. ; Washington Winterrowd, 
J. W. ; Jesse Creech, Treas. ; C. M. Seott, Sec'y. ; 
R. H. Shamhart, S. D. ; J. C. Palmer, J. D. ; 
J. N. Holt, Tyler. 

The present membership numbers twenty-nine 
and the lodge is in a healthy condition. The 
present officers ai'e : J. S. Clagg, W. M. ; J. M. 
Chestnut, S. W. ; George W. Pulliam, J. W. ; 
Joseph Giossman, Treas. ; James A. McCorker, 
Sec'y. ; Henry 0. Carter, S. D. ; Noah Rifle, J. 
D. ; C. Clark. Tyler. 

Beecher City Lodge No. 665. — At Greenland, 
a small hamlet in Fayette County, and in its 
vicinity, there lived quite a number of Free Ma- 
sons, but located quite remotely fi-om any or- 
ganization of the order. Being desirous of par- 
ticipating in the privileges and benefits derived 
from a fraternal society, they resolved to or- 
ganize a lodge in their neighborhood. On 
August 16. 1870, a dispensation was granted by 
the Grand Master of the State to open a lodge 
U. D. at Greenland, to be known as Greenland 
Lodge U. D. This warrant of dispensation w-as 
directed to G. W. Spurgeon, Jesse D. Jennings, 
John Wills, Jacob Young. Samuel Arnold, Sam- 
uel D. Lorton. Orlando I'. Nevins, Thomas D. 
Tennery, William Vail, and Richard A. Lilly. 
G. W. Spurgeon was named in the warrant of 
disijensatlon as first W. M.. Jesse D. Jennings as 
S. W., and John Wills as J. W. They worked 
under this warrant until October 3, 1871. when 
a charter was granted and the lodge was named 
Greenland Lodge No. 665, A. F. & A. M. This 
charter named G. W. Spurgeon as first W. M. ; 
Jesse D. Jennings as S. W. ; John Wills. J. W. 
The members were: Jacob Young, Orlando P. 
Nevins, Samuel Beal, Samuel D. Lorton, Wil- 



liam H. Jennings, Samuel Arnold, William AH- 
sop, Thomas D. Tennery, Henry L. Arnold, 
Richard A. Lilly and Eli Undenvood. 

October 30, 1878, the members of this lodge 
decided to move from Greenland to the Village 
of Beecher City, located on the railroad and in 
Effingham County. The warrant of authority 
for removal of the lodge was signed by Grand 
Master Theodore L. Gurney, and the name of 
the lodge was changed to Beecher City No. 665, 
A. F. & A. M., on October 7, 1903. Beecher City 
is a thriving village in the northwest part of 
Effingham County and the lodge is in a thrifty 
condition, with thirty-three members. Its pres- 
ent officers are: F. B. Huffman, W. M. ; H. R. 
Eugel, S. W. ; George J. Davis, J. W. ; George W. 
Tipsword, Treas. ; J. F. Jennings, Sec'y. ; S. D. 
Larlmore. S. D. ; G. C. Tipsword, J. D. ; Daniel 
Barr, Tyler. Its membership is made up from 
citizens of both Fayette and Effingham Counties. 
Effingham Chapter No. 87, R. A. M. — Pursu- 
ant to a dispensation from W. M. Egan, Most 
Excellent High Priest of the Grand Chapter of 
Royal Arch Masons of the State of Illinois, 
dated August 7, 1865, directed to Comiianions 
William B. Cooper, H. P. ; Joseph B. Jones. K. ; 
and William H. St. Clair, Scribe, emiKwered 
them to organize a Chapter under the name 
Effingham Chapter U. D., R. A. M. On the 15th 
day of August following, the above-named Com- 
panions met at their hall in the City of Effing- 
ham and opened the chapter in due form, for 
business. The officers present were : William B. 
Cooi>er. H. P. ; Joseph B. Jones. K. ; Jacob 
Goddard, Scribe. The comjianions present were : 
H. N. Buffner, James Claypoole, Jesse Newman, 
N. C. Turner, H. B. Turner, J. T. Barkley and 
C. B. Kitchen. 

This chapter worked under disjwnsation until 
the meeting of the Grand Chapter, when a reg- 
ular charter was granted under the name of 
Effingham Chapter No. 87. R. A. M., loc-ated at 
Effingham, 111. On November 16, 1865, the 
first meeting was held under this charter and 
the following were installed as officers and char- 
ter members : William B. Cooi>er, H. P. ; Jo- 
seph B. Jones. K. : George Wright, S. ; Benja- 
min F. Kagley, C. H. ; N. L. 'Uliltney, P. S. ; 
Daniel Rinehart, Treas. ; W. I. N. Fisher, Sec'y. ; 
Wiliam L. Myers, R. A. C. ; J. H. I. Lacey, M. 
8d v.; George W. Parks, M. 2nd V.; John C. 
Eversman. M. 1st V. ; E. L. Cunningham, Sent. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



693 



This chapter has a membership at the present 
time of fifty-three. The present officers are : 
H. N. Huffner, II. P. ; Joseph B. Jones, K. ; R. C. 
Harrah, S. ; D. L. Wright, Treas. ; S. G. Barbee, 
Sec'.v. ; William B. Wright, C. of H. ; S. A. John- 
sou, P. S. ; M. L. Elbow, R. A. C. ; F. W. Goodell, 
M. 3d V. ; John Jones, M. 2nd V. ; TJ. M. LeCi-one, 
M. 1st V. ; Stephen A. Johnson, Sentinel. 

Effingham Chapter No. 110, O. E. S. — A 
Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star Masons 
was organized at Effingham, 111., and held its 
first meeting June 23, 1SS7. The first officers 
were : Lizzie LeCrone, W. SI. ; Charles Butler, 
W. P. ; Mrs. Charles Butler, A. M. ; Nora Evers, 
Sec'y- ; Ruth C. Busse, Treas. ; P. A. Haunou, 
Con. ; Mrs. L. A. Bowling, A. C. 

This chapter prospered and became quite pop- 
ular, as it admits ladies under certain condi- 
tions, and is quite an important auxiliar.v to the 
fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. It is 
in a prosperous condition and has sixty-three 
members. Its present officers are : Mrs. Charles 
Ackerman, W. M. ; George F. Taylor, W. P. ; Ark 
Smith, A. M. ; Sedalia Baker, Sec'y. ; Minnie 
Burkhart, Treas. ; Anna Flack. Con. ; Mrs. J. B. 
Sumiier, Chap. ; Mrs. Charles Butler, Mar. ; Jes- 
sie Gravenhorst, Org. ; Mrs. Brady, Adalia ; Mrs. 
J. H, Walker, Ruth ; Anna Surrels, Esther ; 



Ellie Mechler, Martha ; Mrs. G. M. LeCrone, 
Electa; Mrs. J. McCallen, Warden; Mrs. S. A. 
Johnson, Sentinel. 

Golden Lake Chaptee No. 143, O. E. S. — 
Golden Lake Chapter No. 143, Order of Eastern 
Star, was organized under dispensation Jlay 1, 
1S80, by Mrs. Jane Rieketts. Its officers U. D. 
were : Eva Gladsou, W. M. ; D. H. Holloway, 
W. P. ; Louisa Davis. A. M. ; Emma Holloway, 
Sec'y. ; J. A. Gladson, Treas, ; Mollie Hall, Con. ; 
L. A. Sells, A. C. 

A chapter was granted November 22, 1S89, and 
the chapter was constituted under its original 
name and with the same officers who acted un- 
der the dispensation. The present officers are : 
Addie Danks, W. M. ; Joseph Danks, W. P.; 
Dora Hardsock, A. M. ; Lulu Goddard, Sec'y. ; 
Martha Holloway, Treas. ; Rosa Ruffner, Con. ; 
Ella Miller, A. C. This chapter is located at 
Mason, 111., is in good condition and has seventy- 
five members. 

Fi\-E Points Chapter No. 51.3, O. E. S. — This 
chapter is located at Watson, 111., and has a 
membership of nineteen. The principal officers 
are: Mrs. E. M. Trimble, W. M. ; L. P. Mants, 
W. P. ; Elizabeth Reynolds, A. M. ; J. C. Trimble. 
Sec'y. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE PART OF BIOGRAPHY IN GENERAL HISTORY 

CITIZENS OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY AND OUTLINES 
OF PERSONAL HISTORY — INDIVIDUAL SKETCHES 
ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 

The verdict of mankind lias awarded to the 
Muse of History the highest place among the 
Classic Nine. The extent of her office, however, 
appears to be, by many minds, but Imperfectly 
understood. The tasli of the historian is c-ompre- 
hensive and exacting. True history reaches be- 
yond the doings of court or camp, beyond the is- 
sue of battles or the effects of treaties, and re- 
cords the trials and the triumphs, the failures 
and the successes of the men who malie history. 
It is but au imperfect conception of the philoso- 
phy of events that fails to accord to portraiture 
and biography its rightful position .as a part — 
and no unimportant part — of historic narrative. 
Behind and beneath the activities of outward life 
the motive power lies out of sight, just as the 
furnace fires that work the pistoB and keep the 
ponderous screw revolving down in the darkness 
of the hold. So, the impulsive power which 
shapes the course of communities may be found 
in the molding influences which form its citizens. 
It is no mere idle curiosity that prompts men 
to wish to !eam the private, as well as the public, 
lives of their fellows. Rather is it true that such 
desire tends to prove universal brotherhood ; and 
the interest in personality and biogi'aphy is not 
confined to men of any particular caste or voca- 
tion. 

The list of those, to whose lot it falls to play a 
conspicuous part in the great drama of life, is 
comparatively short ; .vet communities are made 
up of individuals, and the aggregate of achieve- 
ments — no less than the sum total of human hap- 
piness — is made up of the dee<ls of those men and 
women whose primary aim. through life, is faith- 
fully to perform the duty that comes nearest to 
hand. Individual influences upon human affairs 
will be considered potent or insignificant, accord- 
ing to the standpoint from which it is viewed. To 
him who. standing upon the seashore, notes the 
ebb and flow of the tides and listens to the sullen 
roar of the waves, as they break upon the beach 
in seething foam, seemingly chafing at ttieir lim- 
itations, the ocean appears so vast as to need no 
helps to swell the "Father of Waters," the mighty 
torrent of the Mississippi would be lessened, and 



the beneficent influence of the Gulf Stream di- 
minished. Countless streams, currents and coun- 
ter currents — sometimes mingling, sometimes 
countei'actiug each other — collectively combine to 
give motion to the accumulated mass of waters. 
So is it — aud so must it ever be — in the ocean of 
human action, which is formed by the blending 
and repulsion of currents of thought, of influence 
and of life, yet more numerous and more tortu- 
ous than those which form the "fountains of the 
deep." Thj acts and characters of men, like the 
several faces that compose a composite picture, 
are wrought together into a compact or hetero- 
geneous whole. History is condensed biography ; 
"Biography is History teaching by example." 

It is both interesting and insti-uctive to rise 
above the generalization of history and trace, in 
the personality and careers of the men from 
whom it sprang, the principles and influences, the 
impulses and ambitions, the labors, struggles 
and triumphs that engross their lives. 

Here are recorded the careers and achieve- 
ments of pioneers wlio, "when the fullness of time 
had come," came from widely separated sources, 
some from beyond the sea, impelled by divers 
motives, little conscious of the import of their 
acts, and but dimly anticipating the harvest 
which would spring from the sowing. They built 
their primitive homes, toiling for a present sub- 
sistence while laying the foundations of private 
fortunes and future advancement. 

Most of these have passed away, but not before 
they beheld a development of bu.siness and popu- 
Lation surpassing the wildest dreams of fancy or 
expectation. A few yet remain whose years have 
passed the allotted three-score and ten, and who 
love to recount, among the cherished memories of 
their lives, their reminiscences of early days. 

[The following items of personal and family history, 
having been arranged in encyclopedic (or alphabetical) 
order as to names of the individual subjects, no special 
index to this part of the work will be found necessary.] 

ABRAHAM, Arthur L., Postmaster, merchant 
and banker of Watson, 111., presents in his life 
an instance of what a man can accomplish if he 
is persistent and does not permit himself to 
•weary in his work of advancement. Mr. Abra- 
ham was born in the village of Watson, July 
25, 1873, a son of William M. Abraham, a sketch 
of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. 

Arthur L. Abraham was reared in Watson, 
and received a good common school education, 
which he followed liy a course in the State Uni- 
versity, and a busines course at the Austin Busi- 
ness College of Effingham. Having completed 



695 



696 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



his education, Mr. Abraliam made a six months' 
trip to Caliloruia, after which he returned home 
and entered the mercantile business of his 
father under the firm name of W. M. Abraham 
& Company of Watson. 

In IS'JS, Mr. Abraham enlisted in the Spanish- 
American War, in Company G, Fourth Illinois 
National Guards, volunteering for a three years' 
service. The regiment was organized and 
placed at the service of the United States at 
Sijringfield, 111. It was sent to Jacksonville, 
Fla., reaching there May 30, 1S98, and went into 
encampment. In July Mr. Abraham became ill 
and was operated upon for appendlcitJs. As 
soon as he was able to go he was sent home on 
sick leave. When he had recovered sufficiently, 
he was seat to Jefferson Barracks, at St. Louis, 
and there honorably discharged from the United 
States Service. Returning home, he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster at Watson, which office he 
has since retained. 

On June 1, 1899, Mr. Abraham married Edith 
Gladson, born in Mason, 111., November 7, 1878, 
daughter of John and Eva (Baker) Gladson, 
the former now a merchant of Edgewood, 111. 
Mrs. Abraham is one of a family of five children. 
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham have children as follows: 
Maurice, born March 8, 1901 ; Leonard, born 
September 25, 1904 ; John M., Iwrn Januai-y 30, 
1908. and Ethelyn, born May 8, 1909. They are 
members of the Methodist C^iurch. Mrs. Abra- 
ham is a highly educated lady, a graduate of 
the State University, and for three years she 
was a teacher in Effingham County, two of 
these years being spent at Watson. She is now 
very active in church work. 

In 1902, Mr. Abraham Sr. retired from his 
mercantile business, at vi-hich time his son took 
charge of it, and has since handled it very suc- 
cessfully. In 1904 he added lumber to his other 
stock and in February', 1907, organized the 
Abraham Company Bank, of Watson. Under his 
skillful management a large business has already 
been built up, and he is justly numbered among 
the most enterprising young business men of the 
oounty. Mr. Abraham carries a full and varied 
stock of general merchandise, and controls a fine 
trade from the surrounding country. He belongs 
to the United Sp.inish War Veterans of Effing- 
ham. 111. Like his father he is an all-round good 
business man, pleasant in manner and capable of 
making and retaining friends. Progressive in 
his methods, he never forgets to give the other 
man a fair deal, and there is a brilliant prospect 
before him, if what he has accomplished in tlie 
past be taken as an index of his future work. 

ABRAHAM, Hon. W. M., a citizen whose career 
as merchant, soldier and legislator has reflected 
honor ui)on himself and his community, now 
lives in comfortable retirement in Watson, Effing- 
ham County, 111., where his hospitable home is 
still the Mecca to whioli come many of the dis- 
tinguished friends of bis political life, as well 
ns those whose appreciation is entirely of a 



personal nature. Mr. Abraham was born in 
Clermont County. Ohio, July 26, 1842, a son of 
John and Martha (Barkley) Abraham. The 
family is of old American stock, the father be- 
ing born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ken- 
tucky, the former dying in Ohio in 1852. There 
are but two surviving children : W. M. and 
Olive. The latter is the widow of George S. 
Elliott, who was Lieutenant of Company D., 
Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantrj', and afterward 
moved to Kansas, where he died, leaving his 
widow, who remains there. 

In 1860. the mother of Mr. Abraham thought 
best to have him leave the Clermont County 
Academy, where he was an advanced student, 
and accompany her to Elliottstown, Effingham 
County, 111., and assist her in establishing a little 
store and he became Deputy Postmaster there. 
They continued the store until May, 1861, when 
he enlisted for service in the Civil War, answer- 
ing the first call for troops. He served (first) 
for three months as a member of Company K 
Twentj'-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
then re-enlisted for three years. General Grant 
at that time commanding his regiment. In the 
present limited space it would be impossible to 
trace every step by which the young soldier ad- 
vanced, but promotion came fast, as did al.so 
dangers and hardships. He participated in the 
Battles of Predericksto^-n, Pittsburg Landing. 
Perrj'ville. Corinth and others, and at the Bat- 
tle of Stone River, near Murfreesboro, Tenn., 
was seriously wounded and was left on the battle 
field until the following day, when he was car- 
ried to a field hospital, which was shortly after- 
ward captured by the enemy and the wounded 
were left in the hands of the Confederates. In 
recalling these unhappy days it is necessary to 
touch upon, as lightly as we can. the overwhelm- 
ing personal loss that came to him. As soon as 
the devoted mother heard of her son's injury, 
she hastened to bis side, although not in good 
health herself. She reached him and ministered 
to him for a week, when, overcome by grief, fa- 
tigue and sorrow, she succumbed. Her remains 
were reverently sent back to Elliottstown, but 
the injuries Mr. Abraham had received kept 
him in the hospital until July. 186.3, being at 
Nashville, Tenn.. when he was honorably dis- 
charged in the following month. 

Mr. Abraham then returned to Elliottstown. 
where his one sister still resided. In November. 
1863, he entered into partnership with J. F. 
Barkley, in the mercantile business, under the 
firm name of Barkley & Abraham, and a very 
extensive business was built up; the firm con- 
tinued until 1873. when Mr. Abraham bought 
out Mr. Barkley's interest and continued the 
store alone, making his home in Watson Town- 
ship. He saw profit in acquiring land and still 
owns 1,200 acres; at one time he owned S.fXK) 
acres iii Effingham County. He has directed hi.«! 
business affairs wMth careful outlay and with 
the abiliti' which has brought him prosperity 
along the legitimate avenues of trade. In piw- 




^MklU/-^ 



/ 



.u 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



697 



pering himself. Jlr. Abraham has not been un- 
mindful of those less fortunate, and his liberality 
has covered not only the usual eases of charity 
which come to the notice of every man of capi- 
tal, but he has been generous in his contribu- 
tions to public-spirited enterprises and has been 
particularly interested in the erection of sub- 
stantial school-houses throughout the county. 

Not only has Mr. Abraham been a prominent 
business man for forty years, but he has also 
been a leader in public affairs. In 1878 he was 
elected, on the Republican ticket, to the Thirty- 
first General Assembly of the Illinois House of 
Rejiresentatives. representing Effingham. Cum- 
berhuul and Shelby Counties. While a member 
of that august body he had the satisfaction of 
casting his ballot for Gen. John A. Logan for 
linited States Senator. After the close of his 
legislative term he returned to his home and 
subsequently served in a number of local offices, 
in each one performing the duties in such a man- 
ner as to add to the confidence and esteem of his 
fellow citizens. 

Mr. Abraham was married, November 15, 186.5, 
to Miss Eliza R. Wayne, a native of Shelbyville, 
K.V.. daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Cline) 
Wayne, both natives of Pennsylvania. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Abraham were born five children, two 
of whom died in infancy. Ida A., the eldest 
daughter, is the wife of John H. Curry, who is 
owner and proprietor of the Tacific Hotel, at 
Effingham, and they have four children — Vera. 
Donald, Mildred and Wayne. Arthur L. Abra- 
ham has a separate sketch in this work. Eda 
A., the youngest daughter, is the wife of Frank 
G. Austin, a sketch of whom will be found else- 
where in this work. 

Mr. Abraham continued to be active in busi- 
ness until 190.3. when he turned his interests 
over to his son, Arthur L.. who is also a capable 
business man. For many years Mr. Abraham 
has been identified with the Masonic fraternity 
and has frequently been an official of the local 
lodge. On several occasions he has been com- 
mander of the G. A. R. Post at Watson and is 
held in the highest regard by his old comrades 
in arms, many of whom, like himself, have never 
entirely recovered from the injuries received 
while defending the caxise of their country. Mr. 
Abraham and family are prominent members and 
liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Watson. 

^Hien Mr. and Mrs. Abraham came to Watson 
there were two saloons and no church : now there 
are four churches and no saloons. No saloons 
have existed in Watson for twenty-five years, 
and of this fact Mr. and Mrs. Abraham feel 
very proud. Watson is a neat little village, and 
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham have done their share 
toward its progress and welfare. 

ALBERS, William Adolph. — One of the large 
business finns of Altamont. 111., is the wagon 
building company of D. Albers & Son. of which 



William Adolph Albers is the junior member. 
Mr. Albers was born in Altamont, 111., November 
22, 1S81, and is a son of Dietrich and Augusta 
(Miller) Albers. 

John Albers. the grandfather of William A., 
was born in Holstein, Germany, and was a black- 
smith by trade, and died when quite young. 
He married Meta Brewer, a native of Hagenow, 
Hanover, Province of Stode, and she died at the 
age of forty-five years, having been the mother 
of three children : John, who is now living re- 
tired in California ; Fred, a retired farmer of 
Broadlands, Champaign County, 111., and Diet- 
rich. Dietrich Albers was born in Hanover, 
Germany. February 14, 18.51, and attended school 
until fourteen years of age, when he was left 
an orphan and forced to make his own way in 
the world. He became a shepherd bo.v, but at 
the age of seventeen .vears he sailed from 
Bremen to New York, in the sailing vessel 
"Charlotte," and from New York went to Hamil- 
ton, Wis., where he rented a farm for two years. 
After two years spent at the wagonmaker's trade 
he located in Chicago, where he spent two years 
at that business, followed by one year in Mil- 
waukee. In the fall of 1S7.3. he located in Alta- 
mont, and worked at his ti-ade for about two 
years, then going to Assumption, Christian 
County, where he went into business for him- 
self. After two years he again engaged in farm- 
ing, but two years later returned to Altamont, 
where he established his present business, and 
he has continued therein with much success to 
the present time. The present style of the 
firm, D. Albers & Son, was adopted in 1905, 
when his son. William A., was admitted to the 
compan.v. Mr. Albers is a member of the Ger- 
man Lutheran Church, and was formei-ly an 
official. A Republican in politics, he has served 
Altamont in the capacity of Alderman. On April 
15. 1877. Mr. Albers was married to Augusta 
Miller, of Altamont. daughter of Gottfried and 
Dorothea (Shertzler) Miller, and they have had 
five children, namely : Alvina. Mrs. Martin Sy. 
of Broadlands. 111. : Antoinette. Mrs. Henry 
Seider. of Champaign : William Adolph ; Lena, 
who died at the age of twenty yeai-s ; and Dor- 
othy, a milliner in Jefferson County, Mo. 

William Adolph Albers was sent to the Luth- 
eran Parochial school from seven years of age 
until he was fourteen, and from that time until 
his nineteenth year he attended the grammar 
and high schools of Altamont. His first work 
was In the offices of express companies In Alta- 
mont, and he then spent four years in the ship- 
ping department of the Racine Sattley Co.. of 
Springfield. Returning to Altamont. he assisted 
his father for one year, and in 1905 became the 
latter's partner in the business ; they manufac- 
ture and deal in wagons, carriages, buggies and 
agricultural implements. Like his father, he is 
a good business man, and the Ann's name is be- 
coming widely known throughout the State. In 
politics, Mr, Albers is a stanch Republican, and 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



he is connected with the Altamont Free Public 
Library Board. His religious c-ouneetion is with 
the German Lutheran Church. 

ALT, Henry, who is prominently identilied with 
the business and political interests of Effingham, 
bears an old and honorable German name, one 
that he has lived up to, his .sterling character 
being generally recognized by his fellow citizens, 
who have, on many occasions, placed their public 
interests in his hands. Mr. Alt was born in St. 
Clair County, 111., August 11. 1859. a son of 
Christian and Anna M. (Scharth) Alt. Chris- 
tian Alt was born March 30, 1822, in Weede- 
hausen Provinc-e, Nieder Ileihn, Koeringteich, 
Prussia, and came to America in 1835. His 
wife was born July 20, 1833, in Essenheim, Gross- 
herztoghtum, Hesse Darmstadt, came to America 
with her parents in 1843, and later to St. Clair 
Couut.v, III. Her father, Adam Scharth, died at 
Effingham, when aged seventy-three years. In 
October, 1865, the two families came to Effing- 
ham County, where Christian Alt engaged in 
farming and milling and continued until within 
a .short time of his death, which occurred in 
1888. The venerable widow still survives, is in 
the en.ioyment of excellent health, and has a 
wide circle of attached friends. To Christian 
and Anna Alt there were boni eleven children, 
namel.v : Adam and Mary, both died in infancy ; 
John, who died in 1.88-t, was aged thirty-two 
years, married and left one son, Harry J. ; 
Christian, who resides at Effingham, married 
Mary Custer and has two sons. Edward C. and 
Oscar ; Henry ; Elizabeth, who died when aged 
twelve years ; Fred, who is a machinist at 
Effingham, married Ora Rhodes, and they have 
one child. Marie; Louise, who is the wife of 
Fred Benke. a machinist at Decatur : Kate, who 
is the widow of Fred Witt, who died in 1890. 
lives at home with her mother and has one son, 
Walter : Carrie, who is the widow of J. L. Wil- 
son, has two sons, Carl and Paul : and William 
J., who died in 1900, married Adalina Franlje- 
steln. 

Henry Alt was six years old when his parents 
located in Effingham, and as his parents Iniew 
no English he c-ould neither siM?ak nor under- 
stand it w-hen he started to school on the second 
day after reaching there. He was a boy of 
great ambition, however, and before long he was 
able to converse in the hitherto unknown lan- 
guage and in the coiu-se of years became as 
familiar with it as with the German, keeping 
up his studies in the public schools, where he 
was graduated with the class of 1875, having 
graduated from the German school two years 
earlier. He then went into the milling business 
with his father and worked most of the time 
with him until 1885. In 1880 he went into rail- 
road work at Chicago, but returned home Decem- 
ber 24. 18S1. After finally leaving the mill he 
engaged in teaming and hauled the stone which 
went into the construction of St. Anthony's 
Church. In 1887 lie was appointed a member of 



the police force of Effingham, and served until 
March, 1S80, resigning in order to accept a posi- 
tion as Deimty County Clerk, and continued to 
IJerform the duties of that office until March, 
1895, when he was elected Assessor of Douglas 
Township and had other duties, but sickness 
made it uecessarj' for him to resign all public 
work for a time. 

Mr. Alt then became managing editor of the 
Effingham Democrat and it was while capably 
filling this position that he was appointed suix*r- 
intendent of the Effingham Water Works Com- 
pany and drew up the rules and regulations for 
the Iward. On April 17, 18!XJ, he took charge 
of the water works as superintendent, and con- 
tinued in the emi>loy of the company until 
September 1, 1007, when he resigned. Mr. Alt 
then embarked in sewer contracting, fire insur- 
ance and real estate investing, and does a large 
amount of business. He is located in Room 7, 
Austin Opera House Block. In addition to the pub- 
lic offices mentioned. Mr. Alt was Alderman from 
the First Ward from 1897 until 1899, and in 1907 
he was elected Supervisor and was re-elected in 
1909, to sen'e two years. He has always advo- 
cated public improvements and many imiwrtant 
measures have been furtlierp<l Iiy his influence. 
In politics he is a strong DcniiH-rat and for a 
number of years has Ijeen secretary of the Dem- 
ocratic County Central Connnittee. 

On October 12, 1882. Mr. Alt was married to 
Jliss Anna Streiff, who died Novemlwr 22, 1900. 
She was born at Highland, Madison County, 111., 
lost her mother in childhood, and was reared 
by her aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Alt had four chil- 
dren, namely: Karl F., born August 27. ISSo, is 
a plumber by trade: Frank W., liorn Sciitember 
.30, 1887, is a machinist: Elsie B., lK)ni Septem- 
ber 13, 18f)0. is her father's very efficient house- 
keeper: and Anna M.. born July 24. 1802. 

Mr. Alt is a member of numerous social and 
fratenial bodies and holds office in many of them. 
He is secretai-y of the local lodge of Elks, treas- 
urer of 'he Labor Union, and deputy of the 
Modern American Fraternal Home. Lodge No. 1, 
Effingham. 111. He drew up the constitution of 
the Effingham Hook and Ladder Company Xo. 1, 
which he organized in 1883. and is treasurer of 
same, a position he has filled for twenty-six 
years, and takes an active and real interest in 
all these bodies. He is a deservedly popular 
citizen. He has prospered materially, but only 
as the result of continued industry and a faith- 
ful adherence to duty. 

ALWERT, Charles. — The business interests of 
Altamont. 111., have grown to an amazing extent 
during the last few years, and the credit for 
this desirable state of affairs may be given to 
the enterprising business men. whose energy 
and modern metliods have put the citj- on a 
sound financial basis, while co-operating with 
the city officials in looking after its municipal 
needs.' It may be said of -Charles Alwert. a 
leading citizen of Altamont. that he belongs to 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



both classes, for not only is he one of the city's 
representative business men, but he is also serv- 
ing as Alderman from the Second Ward. He 
was born in Altamont, November 29, 1868, a 
son of Fred and Sophia (Trost) Ahvert. 

Fred Alwert was born in Jleckleuburg, Ger- 
many, in 3S33, and attended the schools there, 
after which he became a laborer. He was mar- 
ried in 1S60 and in 18G6 set out for the United 
States, with two children, John F., and Minnie, 
the latter of whom died on the voyage and was 
buried at sea. The trip was a stormy one and 
the ship, which sprung a leak, was six months 
crossing the ocean. On landing in ,\nierica Mr. 
Alwert came direct from New York to Illinois 
located in Effingham County, where relatives had 
preceded him. He bought a forty-acre farm, 
which he soon had under cultivation, adding forty 
acres, and still later eighty acres to his original 
tract, and here he resided until emigrating to 
Garfield County. Okla., where his death oc- 
curred, in 1906, and where his widow still sur- 
vives. They were faithful members of the Luth- 
eran Church and the parents of these children : 
John F., a traveling saleman of Denver, Colo., 
who married Cora Hurley ; Lena, who mar- 
ried Henry Durheira and resides in Okla- 
homa : Charles : Ernest, of Oklahoma, who 
married Jennie Kreuger ; Augusta, who mar- 
ried William W. Bursing, of Oklahoma ; and 
Sophia, who married C. W. Eggers, of Oklahoma. 

Charles Alwert passed his early life on the 
home fanu, attended the private German school 
at Bethlehem and spent three months in the 
public school at Altamont. He was thirteen 
years old when eonflnned, and the following 
morning he started out with his little bundle to 
go to work for G. W. Leitzell, a farmer located 
seven miles distant, for eight dollars per month. 
He continued there eight months, then returned 
to his home, where he remained until the follow- 
ing spring, when he became porter in the Boyer 
House, then conducted by Wesley Vermillion, but 
left that position to enter the employ of G. W. 
Gwin. an implement dealer of Altamont. Afer six 
years with Mr. Gwin. Mr. Alwert commenced at- 
tending public school, and after one term's study 
became clerk in a store at St. Elmo. 111., re- 
turning to Altamont a year later. For eighteen 
months he was engaged in tending bar for Al- 
bert Zacha, but subsequently became a clerk in 
the store of Klitzing & Munzel, general mer- 
chants, and continued with them for four years, 
at the end of which time he formed a jiartner- 
ship with Barney Dettert. in the saloon Ijusiness 
a connection which continued for seven years. 
Mr. Alwert then began selling groceries and 
queensware. and kept adding from time to time 
to his stock until he now has a complete line of 
dry goods, groceries, clothing, hats, caps, boots, 
shoes, notions, and such articles as are to be 
found in a complete stock of general merchan- 
dise. Starting on practically nothing, he has 
built up one of the best trades in his line in 
the city, and his establishment is well known 



throughout this part of the county. He located 
in his present commodious quarters in 189.5. A 
stanch Democrat in politics, Mr. Alwert has 
been prominent in public matters, having served 
as Alderman for six years and as Mayor for one 
term. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. 
Mr. Alwert was married, Februai-y 12, 1893, 
to Bertha Schwerdtfeger, daughter of Henry and 
Fredericka Schwerdtfeger, and they have had 
three children : Edna ; Jennie, who died when 
six years old ; and Martin. 

ANDERS, James B.— Effingham County is the 
home of some excellent citizens who have em- 
ployed themselves in tilling the soil. Many of 
them have spent their lives on the farm, but 
there are others who have been engaged in 
other lines and have returned to an agricultural 
vocation. James B. Anders, of Altamont, is a 
man who has given up his own ambitions and 
sacrificed personal desires to do what he be- 
lieved to be his duty. Mr. Anders was born 
September 2, 18.52, at Dallas. Gaston County, 
N. C. a son of Peter Martin and Elizabeth 
(Stroup) Anders. When he was only two years 
old, the family removed to Prairie County, Ark., 
where the f.ather took up a homestead of 160 
acres. In 1866, he left there and located near 
Ramsey, 111. Here James B. Anders received 
his education and grew to manhood. About 1885, 
the family settled near Altamont, on a farm 
of forty acres, and here his death occurred, 
March 29, 1903. Meanwhile his son, James B. 
Anders, had gone to California and had estab- 
lished himself nicely in San Fi-ancisco. How- 
ever, when the father died, the young man real- 
ized where his duty lay, and, giving up his 
promising prospw'ts. he came back home to take 
care of his mother. She passed away April 4, 
1909. a kindly Christian woman, who is deeply 
mourned by all who knew her. She and her 
husband were devout Methodists. In political 
faith, the father was a Republican. There were 
five children in the family: .loseph, who mar- 
ried Lucy Moore and lives at Delavan, 111,, 
James B. : Albertine, who married James Jett, 
and lives at Carrollton, Ky. : Almarinda, who 
married C. K. Rlioades. and lives near St. 
Elmo : and Martin L.. who married Amy F. 
Flagers. and lives at Delavan. Mr. Anders is 
a hard-working, reliable man, and one who, 
having done his duty by those nearest and dear- 
est, can rest content with what he has accom- 
plished. Mr. Anders is a Republican. 

ARNOLD, Bartlett M. — ^Industry, perseverance, 
intelligence and good judgment are the price 
of success in agricultural work in these modern 
days of farming, when the hard, unremitting 
toll of former years has given way to scientific 
use of modern machinery and a knowledge of 
the propei- treatment of the soil. Effingham 
County has many skilled farmers, who treat 
their vocation more as a profession than a mere 
occupation, and take a justifiable pride in their 



roo 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



accomplishments, and among those may be men- 
tioned Bartlett M. Araold. of Section 28, Wat- 
son Township, who was born in Fayette, 111., 
September 2, 1868, son of Wiliam A. and Mary 
J. (Arnold) Arnold. 

W. B. Arnold, the grandfather of Bartlett M. 
Arnold, was a native of Illinois, who came to 
Effingham Goinity at a very early day, and 
here the father. William A. Arnold, was born 
in what is now Bishop Town.shlp. was there 
educated and married Mary Arnold, a native 
of Alabama, who came with her parents from 
that State to IllinoLs. William A. Arnold fol- 
lowed farming in Bishop Township until 1876, 
when he bought eighty acres of land in Watson 
Township, where he has spent his life and is 
still living at the age of eighty years. He has 
been a devoted member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and in his political views a Repub- 
lican, but although strong in the councils of his 
partj-, has never accepted public ofHee. His 
wife, who was bom in IS-W, passed to her final 
rest in 1875. having been the mother of the fol- 
lowing children : Barbara, at home ; Emma, wife 
of W. S. Loy, and Jemima, wife of John Brosan, 
and both of Watson Township; Bartlett M. ; and 
George, of Effingham. Mr. Arnold's second mar- 
riage was to a sister of his first wife, and they 
had two children : Lovina. wife of B. F. Palmer 
of Watson Township ; and James B.. a resident 
of Mattoon, 111. 

Bartlett JI. Arnold came to Watson Township 
with his father in 1876 and was educated in 
the district schools, after which he engaged in 
working on the farm, his earnings being given 
to his father until he reached the age of twenty- 
one .vear.s. On March 6. IStK), he was married 
to .Josephine Loy, daughter of D. C. (Uncle 
Clint) Loy. one of the pioneers of Effingham 
County who is now deceased. After marriage 
Mr. Arnold rented land and started out to estal)- 
lish a home for himself and wife. In December, 
1891. he bought the proiierty which he was rent- 
ing, and has since purchased and sold several 
tracts in that locality. His holdings now ag- 
gregate 210 acres in one body, on which stands 
a comfortable residence and substantial barns 
and outbuildings. Mr. Arnold has been one of 
the pi-ogressive agriculturists of his section, and 
has also done considerable in the line of breed- 
ing fine horses and cattle. In 1006 he began 
giving some attention to the dairy business, and 
since that time his interests in this line have 
grown to large proiwrtions. It is interesting 
to note that the majority of successful men of 
Effingham County, especialy among the farming 
class, are those who started life in humble cir- 
cumstances, and who through the force of their 
own industry and perseverance, have fought 
their way to tlie front, overcoming all obstacles 
which have lain in their path, and Mr. Arnold 
is no exception to this nile. He is considered 
one of the best' judges of stock in his part of 
the county, and his judgment is often sought 



on iiuestions connected with agricultural inter- 
ests. 

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have had five children: 
Cleo, born February 10, 1891, is the wife of 
Andrew Wood, a farmer of Watson township; 
George R., born April 29, 180.3; William Clin- 
ton, toiTi April 27, 1896; Herbert A., Iwrn 
February 22. 1899; and Myrtle, born May 2, 
1002, died February 26, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. 
Arnold are members of the Methodist Episcx)pal 
Church, and his fraternal connections are with 
the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen and Yeo- 
men. He has always been a Republican, and 
on April 3, 1906, was elected on that party's 
ticket to the office of Highway Connnis-sioner 
against a strong oi>poneut. 

ASHBAUGH, Capt. William W., veteran of the 
Civil War and enterprising farmer on Section 8, 
Union Township, Effingham County, was born 
in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 6, 1840, a 
son of John S. and Catherine (LeCrone) Ash- 
baiigh, the former a uati\e of Ohio and the 
latter of Pennsylvania. John Ashbaugh. the 
father of John S., was an early settler of Ohio, 
and is said to have seiTed in Indian wars, 
while John S. was a native of Fairfield County, 
that State, where he was born in Februarj-, 1818. 
The mother, Catherine LeCroue, born in Penn- 
s.vlvania in 1821, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, 
there married John S. Ashbaugh, and seven 
children were boi-n to them — five in Ohio and two 
after coming to Illinois — four of whom died in 
infancy. Those surviving are: William A.; 
Daniel C, a resident of the city of Ettingham, 
and Mrs. Mary M. Loy, widow of Wiliam Loy, 
and a resident of St. Louis. Mo. 

In 1852 John S. Ashbaugh and family came 
to Illinois and settled a short distance south of 
the village of Watson, and there erected a log 
cabin and began improving a farm. Much of 
the country was then in a primitive condition, 
the prairies covered with a heavy growth of 
grass and the timbered region with brush and 
in some cases with dense forests. The use of 
"the "mud and stick" chimneys sometimes made 
it neccessary for the early settlers, especially 
during the winter season, to be extremely 
watchful to jirevent their homes from being 
destroyed by fire. 

Mrs. Catherine (LeCrone) Ashbaugh had been 
reared in the faith of the Pi'esbyterian Church. 
but after coming to Illinois, there being no 
church of that denomination in her vicinity, she 
united with the Methodist Church, though ad- 
hering to her original belief. Up to the begin- 
ning of the Civil War, Mr. Ashbaugh was a 
Democrat, but then espoused the principles of 
the Reimblican party and was a zealous sui>- 
porter of the Union cause, both his sons, William 
and Daniel C. euli.sting in Illinois regiments — 
the latter being a member of the Twenty-sixth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry from the start to the 
finish of the war. A fuller statement of the 
war record of William W. will be given later on. 



EFr LXGIIAil COUNTY 



roi 



John S. Ashbaugh remained at bis home in 
Union Townsbip, Effingham County, until his 
death in February, 1S75, his widow surviving 
him until February o, 1W2. the last years of her 
life being spent with her son, the subject of 
this sketch. 

Until twelve years of age, William W. Ash- 
baugh spent his life in bis native couutj- of 
Fairtield, Ohio, there attended the commou 
schools, and in 1852 came with his parents to Ef- 
fingham Count}-, 111. As already explained, the 
family settled south of the village of Watson, 
and there the sou assisted his father in improv- 
ing the farm, meanwhile during the winter sea- 
sons attending the primitive schools taught in 
the log school-house. With the ox-team he as- 
sisted in breaking the prairie sod and trans- 
foi-ming the soil into its present productive con- 
dition. This eontinuetl until the breaking out of 
the Civil War, wbeu in April, 1S61, at the age of 
a little more than twenty years, he responded to 
the first call of Abraham Lincoln for troops to 
preserve the Federal Union, by enlisting in Com- 
pan.v G, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry 
under command of Col. W. H. L. Wallac-e, of 
Ottawa, 111. The regiment was mustered in at 
Springfield, 111., April 30, was ordered promptly 
towards Cairo, and after si:)endiug some time at 
Villa Kidge. Union County, went to Bird's Point, 
Mo., where it was on guard duty until muster- 
out, on the 30th of July following. At that time 
a large portion of the regiment reenlisted for 
three years' service, but Mr. Ashbaugh, then 
suffering from an attack of measles, was prevent- 
ed from keeping step with his conu-ades. In the 
fall of 1802, he reenlisted and was mustered in 
at Centralia on September 3d as Corporal of 
Company F, Ninety-eighth, uuder the command 
of Albert W. LeCrone as Captain and John 
J. Funkhouser as Colonel. The regiment was 
promptly ordered to Kentucky, and at Bridge- 
port, 111., while on the way to Louisville, Ky., 
the train was thrown from the track, and eight 
men, including one Captain, were killed, and 75 
men injured. By successive promotions he 
served as Sec-ond and First Lieutenants and as 
Captain of his company, being mustered with 
this rank June 27, 1865. While on detached 
dut.v at one time as Second Lieutenant, he was 
placed in command of the company. 

In January, 1863. at Murfreesboro, Tenn., the 
Ninety-eighth was assigned to Wilder's Brigade, 
was on guard duty for some time, and in March 
following was mounted and for nearly two years 
served as cavalry. In the meantime it took part 
in the engagement at Hoover's Gap, the battles 
of Farmington, Chickamauga and the defeat of 
Bragg at Chattanooga. In January. 1864, it was 
assigned to the Second Cavalry Division, and 
during that year participated in the battle of 
Buzzard's Boost and the Atlanta campaign. At 
Macon, Ga., it assisted in the capture of four 
brass cannons which had been buried by the 
Confederates near the smallijox hospital, the 
spot being marked with head and foot-boards 



as the burial place of deceased soldiers. One of 
these pieces was turned over to the Ninety- 
eighth Illinois, and later presented to the State 
of Illinois, and is now on exhibition in Memorial 
Hall at Springfield. Ou Novem'jer 1, 18tH, the 
regiment was dismantled, turning over its 
horses and cavalry equipment to Gen. Kilpatrick, 
then moved to Chattanooga and Nashville, and 
during the winter of 1804-65, took part in the 
campaign in Alabama, reaching both Selma aud 
Montgomery. In the spring of 1865, again re- 
turning to Nashville, was mustered out Jane 27, 
aud ou July 7 received its final discharge at 
Springfield. 

Keturning home after the expiration of his 
term of uiilitaiy service, Capt. Ashbaugh resumed 
employmeut on the farm in Eflingham County 
aud in 1806. was married to Miss Hattie Voor- 
hies, a native of Hamilton County. Ohio, who 
Ciuue to EUingham Count}- with her parents in 
1863. After his marriage Mr. Ashbaugh con- 
tinued farming on rented land, in the meantime 
devoting attention to clearing a tract of eighty 
acres of laud he had bought in Section 8, Union 
Township, and on which he built a log cabin about 
1871. This land was heavily timbered, but by 
thorough clearing has been transformed into a 
well improved farm. Much of this timber was 
found available tor manufacture into lumber or 
oak-ties for railroads, bringing the owner some 
return for his labor. 

Captain and Mrs. Ashbaugh have had five 
cbildi-en born to them, namely: Charlie, the old- 
est sou, died at the age of ten years ; Alfred C. 
and Edwin S., both at home; Nellie, wife of Rob- 
ert Brown, a resident of Arthur, 111., and they 
have two children — Raymond and Maurice; 
Harry W. of .\rthur. 111. 

For fifty-eight years Capt. Ashbaugh's home 
has been in Effingham County, and there he 
has seen many wonderful changes, a fair pro- 
portion of which have been due to his {)ersouaI 
industry and entenirise. With the exception of 
more than three years spent in the patriotic 
service of his country, his life has been devoted 
to tilling the soil. A Reijublican in political 
principles and a Presbyterian in religious faith, 
he has wou the resjjec-t and confidence of his 
fellow-citizens by a life of patriotism and in- 
tegrity. 

AULENBROCK, Henry.— The Germans have 
been the leading settlers in a considerable por- 
tion of Effingham Count.v. bringing with them 
from their Fatherland those imixirtant character- 
istics of their nation, — industry aud thrift, — 
and the farms owned by them and their chil- 
dren show the results of their hard work and 
prudent management. Henry Aulenbrock, al- 
though born in this county, comes of a German 
father. Mr. .Vulenbrock was born in Douglas 
Township, within a mile of his present home, 
October 1, 18(a), a son of William and Elizabeth 
(Koors) Aulenbrock. natives of Germany and 
Cincinnati, respectively. 



702 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



William Auleiiliroi-lc, tlie fatliei-, ciuue to 
America iii jouiis manljoocl. anil for some time 
traveled exteusively over the f-ouutry, but iu 
1S48 located hi Effiugham County, 111., aud tooli 
up land which he developed into a farm, later 
going to -vvorli for the Illinois Central Railroad 
Company aud saving his earnings. A sister of 
his, Mrs. Rudolph Diest, lived in Effingham 
County, so lie was not without home ties, lu 
18.58, he married and moved to his farai on Sec- 
tion 2!), Douglas Towuship. He improved his 
land, addetl to it so that at the time of his death 
he ovaied 1(50 acres. His widow survives mak- 
ing her home on this farm. The following chil- 
dren were born to William Auleubrock and 
wife: Henry; Anna, wife of Henry Lohmauu of 
Willmont, Canada ; Kallie, wife of Herman Loh- 
inanii, a farmer of Douglas Township; Joseph 
who is on the home farm : Mary, wife of Joseph 
Hadallar, a fanner of Douglas Towuship: 
Francis and Clara at home ; John, who died when 
twenty-two years old; and Lizzie aud Maliuda, 
at home. 

Henry Aulenbroek attended the Green Creeli 
Catholic School and, being the eldest, when only 
twelve years old, began work on the farm. He 
well remembers those early days, when he had 
to make earnest effort to keep up with every 
task his father set for him. He helloed to clear 
the land, and remained at home until twenty- 
four years old. Iu 1884, he man-ied Catherine 
Ney, bom near the city of Effingham, a sister ot 
John Diesfs wife, and his own cousin. He had 
t)Ought a 40-acre farm on Section 30, on w'hich 
was a log-cabiu, and in that the young couple be- 
gan housekeeping, and there six of their twelve 
children were born. He immediately began 
planning to buy more land, and he now owns 
ISO acres in Sections 30 and 31. In 1893, he 
built a more commodious residence, and has put 
up other buildings on the farm. Only thirty 
acres were cultivated when he tiought his land, 
but he has cleared 120 acres, and his property 
is now in as good condition as any in the county. 
Some years ago he began breeding Poland-China 
hogs, and since then has lieoome a leader in this 
line, feeding 100 head each year. About 1901 
he turned his attention to the dairy business, 
and now has a fine herd of fifty cows, while at 
the head he has a full bred Holstein bull he 
bought from Stevens Bros., im]wrters of Hol- 
stein cattle in New York. His dairy is a splendid 
one and he sells all his iiroduets to the Van 
Camp Condensing Company of Effingham. One 
of his barns is 48 x 75 feet, and the other 
40 X .50 feet, and he has accommodations for 
fifty-five head of cows. He does all his own 
shredding and other work. He is one of the 
most progressive of farmers, and is jironipt to 
experiment with new methods or devices. He 
was the first in his vicinity to grow alfalfa. In 
which he lias been very successful, taking off 
four crops each year. He put iu the first silo, 
the first gasoline engine, and other new machin- 
ery. Mr. Aulenbroek also raises tomatoes in 



lar^'f (luantilics for the canning factory at Effing- 
ham. He takes all the leading dairy and agri- 
cultural iiapers aud keei>s thoroughly posted on 
what is being done in his several lines. Many 
of his neighbors have been inclined to laugh at 
him iu the past, but they have lived to see that 
he was right and they were wrong, and now 
they are following his example. In politics he 
is a Democrat and he and his family belong to 
the Greeu Creek Catholic Church. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Aulenbroek 
are: Lizzie, at home; Francis, died in infancy; 
Xellie and Nancy, twins, also died in infancy ; 
Mary, Annie, Malinda. Phrona, Clara, Willie, 
Traise and Leo, all at home. They help with the 
farm work and the dairy, and so helpful are 
they, that Mr. Aulenbroek does not have to em- 
ploy outside labor, and therefore can be sure 
that his work is well done as he wishes it. 

AULENBROCK, Joseph.— Some of the leading 
men of Effingham County are to be found on 
well-regulated farms, whicli demonstrate the 
ability, business aeuincn and sense of the own- 
ers. Joseph Aulenbroek, of Section 29, Douglas 
Towuship, is one of these prosiierous young men. 
He was born and reared on the farm he now 
owns, his birth occurring January 2, 1866. He 
is a son of William Aulenbroek. A further ac- 
count of the Auleubrock family will lie found 
elsewhere in this work. Joseph Aulenbroek was 
educated in the district schools and brought up 
as most country boys of his time; attending school 
in the winter, aud farming in the summer. 
However, as neither the river nor creeks were 
bridged, his studies were seriously interrupted. 
After the death of his father, Mr. Aulenbroek 
took charge of the farm of 200 acres of finely 
cultivated land. Mr. Aulenbroek is very proud 
of this farm, for he helped to clear it as a boy, 
and much of its present condition is due to his 
efforts. Until 1809, he devoted himself to general 
farming, but then turned his attention towards 
Hie dairy business, with ten cows of common 
stock, but he soon saw that the Holstein stock 
was much superior, and in 1906 began to breed 
that brand, now having iioue other. At the 
head of his herd he has the registered bull 
Osceola, one of the finest in the county. He feeds 
twenty-seven head of full breed Holstein stock, 
and has forty-five head in all. All his stock is 
of a good line breed, aud his product during 
the season averages alxiut $200 per month. His 
fine dairy barn is 40 x 100 feet, and he has all 
the latest improved appliances. The building 
is well ventilated and kept in a perfectly sani- 
taiy condition, and he has a remarkable record, 
for not a can of milk has ever been returned to 
him. 

Mr. Aulenbroek is assisted in the manage- 
ment of the farm by his four sisters, — Frances, 
Clara, Lizzie and Malina. They attend to nearly 
all of the dairy work, and this insures perfectly 
pure milk. During 1908 Mr. Aulenbroek sold 
over $2,000 worth of milk. He feeds all the 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



703 



grain he raises. Mr. Aulenbrock is an excellent 
example of the live, progressive, up-to-date 
farmer of the Twentieth Century, who knows 
how to make his land pay him a good profit, 
and how to enjoy his life, among the surround- 
ings which have always been his. 

In politics Mr. Aulenbrock is a Democrat, al- 
though his farm duties have prevented his tak- 
ing any active part in public events. He, as well 
as the rest of the family, belongs to the Green 
Creek German Catholic Church. 

AUSTIN, Calvin. — Most intimately associated 
with the growth and character of any com- 
munity are its business interests. They mold 
the life of its people, give direction to their ef- 
forts, and crjstallize the present and future 
possibilities of the locality into concrete form. 
The leading business men of a town are its 
greatest benefactors, silently controlling the 
forces that bring progress and prosperity, and 
the measure of the credit that is due them is 
not always fully appreciate<l. To write of the 
lives of these leaders in material gi-owth is a 
pleasure, for the influence of their careers is 
ever helpful and cheering. When tlie develop- 
ment of Effingham is under discussion, one 
name is always mentioned, viz. : that of Austin. 
One of the members of this very prominent 
family is Calvin Austin, who, as promoter and 
business man, has made his influence felt for 
many years, and always for the good of the 
community. 

Mr. Austin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 
10, 1853, a son of Seneca and Julia Ann 
(Burnett) Austin. The father was born in 
Orwell, Vt., December 21, 1798, while the mother 
was a native of Dayton, Ohio, born August 29, 
1812. 

Seneca Austin, was a farmer, lawj-er and 
minister, was graduated from the Litchfield, 
(Conn.) Law School, and practiced law at Bur- 
lington, Vt. It was while practicing law with 
a Mr. Foote, that Mr. Austin furnished the 
money and Mr. Foote published the still famous 
"Burlington Fi'ee Press." In 1840 Mr. Austin 
removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there studieil 
in the Lane Theological Seminary, becoming a 
clergjTnan and later called to a number of dif- 
ferent charges. His fields of Iatx)r included 
Hancock County, 111.; Walnut Hill, Ohio; and 
Campltell County. Ky., going fix)m there to Cin- 
cinnati. Prom Cincinnati he went to Kenton 
County. Ky., and finally returned to Illinois, 
settling in Jasper County in 1S(>4. In 1807 he 
moved to Eflingham County, where he died in 
June. 1880. Besides his other occupations he 
had been engaged in farming, and was every- 
where loved for his gentle, kindly nature. The 
mother died near Cincinnati in 1873. Although 
a strong Republican, he never desired office. His 
religious life was devoted to labor in the Pres- 
byterian Church. Calvin Austin is the young- 
est of a family of three sons and one daughter. 

The Austin family is of English descent, An- 



thony Austin having come from England with 
his widowed mother and brother Richard; and 
settled in Suftield County, C\)nn., about 1650. 
Caleb Austin was a private in Captain John 
Stark's Company of Militia. Colonel Ira Allen's 
Regiment, in the Revolutionary War. The 
Burnett family is also prominent, Isaac G. 
Burnett, the maternal gi-andfather of Calvin 
Austin, having served as Mayor of Cincinnati 
fourteen years. Dr. William Burnett was Sur- 
geon-in-Chief in the Essex Cavalry Militia, and 
hospital physician and surgeon in the Conti- 
nental Army, from February 17. 177(5. to the end 
of the Revolutionary War. 

As often hapi)ens to the children of clergy- 
men. Calvin Austin's education was interrupted 
liy changes of the family residence, but he went 
to school in Campbell County, Ky., in Newton, 
111., spent tw-o winters in the log schools of Jas- 
I)er County. III., and part of two winters in the 
school taught by Rev. S. R. Bissell. in Effingham. 
Leaving school, he engaged in various kinds of 
work. For four years he was a cabinet-maker 
during 1809-70. being in Effingham. 1871-72 in 
Mattoon, and he inade dozens of black walnut 
coffins that were used in Effingham Count.v. 
Following this. Mr. Austin worked for two vears 
in a jewelry store for C. L. Smith, of Mattoon. 
Then, for two years he was at Salem. N. Y., as 
companion of an unmarried uncle, when he re- 
turned to Illinois and for a short time was in 
the dry-goods store of Frank Kern at Newton, 
and In ia81-83 was employed in the Big Four 
Railroad car-shops at Mattoon. In 18S4-,86 he 
worked in a Mattoon stocking supiiorter factory, 
beciwning general superintendent. In 1.880 he 
returned to his uncle in New York, but later 
settled in Effingham as an undertaker. For 
alx>ut ten years from 1893 he was manager of 
the Effingham Electric Light & Power Com- 
pany. Mr. Austin is a graduate of the Barnes 
School of Embalming and of the Philadelphia 
School in the same line. 

Fraternally Jlr. Austin is a member of Ven- 
ice Lodge No. 168. Knights of Pythias, of which 
order he is Deputy Grand Chancellor. He is 
also affiliated with the Modern American Fra- 
tenial Order, the Jlodern Woodmen of America, 
and the Illinois State Fndertakei-s' Association. 
In religious belief lie is a Presbyterian and is 
one of the most active members of that church 
in Effingliam. having served fffteen years as 
elder. Wliile reiiresenting the Effinshaiii Church 
at a meeting of tlie JIattoon Presl>ytery. at Tus- 
cola in 1903. Mr. Austin was elected Modera- 
tor, this being the second instance of the choice 
of a layman as Moderator in the history of the 
>Iattoon Presbytery. His political belief makes 
him a Republican, but he has held no office 
aside from serving as President of the School 
Board for three years. 

On September 15, 1,880. at Newton. III.. Mr. 
Austin was married to Sarah Bl-ooks, Ixn-n 
March 29. 1,857. in Newton. 111., daughter of 
John E. and Mary (Barrett) Brooks, both of 



704 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



whom are deceased. Jlr. Brooks was a farmer 
and mereUant. and one of the pillars of the 
Metho<llst Church for years, while in ijolitical 
faith he was a Democrat. Jlrs. Austin was one 
of thirteen children, of whom five are living. 
Mr. and Mrs. Austin have had five children: 
Harriet, wife of Theodore R. Jennings, of Bay 
Countv Mich.; Gordon Burnet, an engineer in 
the eiec-tric light plant in Effingham; Seneca 
Brool<s, a stenographer worliing for Dr. J. B. 
Walker; MaiT I>ouise. and Paul Reuben, who 
are at school." Mr. Austin is an excellent ty 
of the old-school gentleiiuin. and his sympathetic 
manner and tactful .-apability have made him 
welcome at many homes of mourning. Mrs. 
Austin is a member of the Narcissus Club and of 
the Jlodern American Lodge. The Austin home 
is one of the most delightful in the city, where 
refined taste and genial hospitality prevail. 

AUSTIN, Edward (deceased). — In every com- 
munitx- there are certain men who, by reason of 
their abilitv. stand out from the rest. Upon such 
men nianv cares devolve, they are the center of 
all activity: it is their brains and money that 
are back of most enterprises, whether private or 
pulilic. and to them belongs the credit of the 
progress gained. Edward Austin, financier, pro- 
moter and public-spirited citizen of Effingham, 
was one of the best kno^^■n men in his county, 
and was recognized as the head of the most im- 
portant enterprises that engage the people of 
his connnunitv. Jlr. Austin was born in Han- 
c-ock Countv. 111.. August 20. 18i2, a son of Sen- 
eca and .Tuiia ( Burnett ) Austin, the former bom 
in 170S, in Orwell. Vt., and died in Effingham, 
in May, 1880. and his wife, born in Dayton. Ohio, 
August 29, 1812. died May 8, 1873. in Delhi, 
Ohio. They became parents of four children. 

Edward Austin attended school in Walnut 
Hill, Ohio, and at Walnut Hill Academy, Camp- 
bell Countv. Ky.. graduating from that institu- 
tion in 1860. He was appointed Professor of 
Mathematics in the Academy and held this chair 
one year. In 1861 he moved to Kenton County, 
Kv.." where with his wife he started a private 
school, and continued the same until they came 
to Jasper County, 111., in 1863, where for the fol- 
lowing three years they engaged in farming. 
They then moved to Effingham County and for 
a (liiarter of a centiin*. Mr. Austin was exten- 
sively engaged in the farming and dairying busi- 
ness.' At the expiration of this iierlod he retired 
from farm life and began to interest himself in 
some of the mammoth entenirises which en- 
grossed his attention and energy for the rest of 
his life, and have proved beneficial to Effingham 
County. 

Xot confining himself to any one line of busi- 
ness. Mr. Austin was interested during his busi- 
ness life in many different industries. For four- 
teen years he owned a large green-house and was 
successful as a florist. In 1803 he built the 
Austin Opera House, which has furnished the 
people of Effingham with some excellent enter- 



tainments and housed some noted actors. He 
and his brother bought the electric light plant 
and formed a corporation, but later Mr. Austin 
became sole owner and operator of the x'lant. 
Five years ago he rebuilt the plant at a cost of 
$60,000, putting in the most modem electrical ma- 
chinery, and the people of Effingham are now fur- 
nished with l)etter electric light at a lower rate 
tlian any other city in the State. Mr. Austin and 
his liruther also furnished the money for building 
and estalillshiiig Austin College, the buildings of 
which were later imrchased for the use of the 
well-known P.issell's College of Photo-Engraving. 
They also promoted the canning company, now 
known as the Mullen.s, Blackledge, Xellis Com- 
pany, and the furniture company, which they 
sold out to J. Boos & Company, manufacturers 
of butcher-blocks. Mr. Austin and Joseph Par- 
tridge, Sr., organized the First National Bank 
of Effingham, with Mr. Partridge as President 
and Mr. Austin as Vice President, and Mr. Aus- 
tin also financed the Effingham Roller Mills, and 
was ever ready to lend encouragement to all 
enterprises which he deemed of benefit to the 
cit.v and its people. 

Mr. Austin was strong enough as a Republi- 
can to ran ahead of his ticket, in the face of a 
Democratic majority of 500 votes, being elected 
to the offic-e of Supervisor, which he held two 
terms. He also served as School Director in 
Effingham for six years, and was always much 
interested in educational matters. While on the 
Board of Education he effected some important 
changes, his former experience as an educator 
proving of benefit to him in this regard. He was 
a charter member of the Jlodern Woodmen of 
America and al.so of the Benevolent Protective 
Order of Elks. In religious faith he was a 
Presbyterian and liberal in his donations to his 
church. 

October 17, 1861. Mr. Austin married, in 
Campbell County, Ky., Susie L, Winter, bom in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, November 23, 1&30, a daughter 
of William and Nancy (Phillips) Winter, na- 
tives of England and Kentucky, respectively. 
Mr.s. Austin is one of their three daughters, all 
living. Mr. Austin and his wife had nine chil- 
dren, namely : Harry B., of Florence, Ala., a 
contractor; Charles E.. manager of his father's 
farming interests ; Cornelia B.. living with her 
parents ; Frank G.. who has large dairy intei-ests 
in Effingham ; William W.. Postmaster of Effing- 
ham ; W. G., Manager of the Effingham electric 
light plant; Calvin P., conducts an electric sup- 
ply store ; Julia A., wife of Claude Williford, of 
Florence. Ala.; Gertrude E.. formerly a 
teacher of stenography in a business college, but 
now Assistiint Postmaster under her brother. 
The pupils who have studied under Jliss Ger- 
trude Austin are numbered among the most 
efficient stenographers in many of the large cities 
of the State and conmiand good salaries. In 
1880-00 Mr. Austin built a magnificent modem 
residence, at a cost of $15,000. It is locat«l in 
the edge of "he city, is elegantly furnished and 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



705 



one of the finest liomes in Southern Illinois. Mr. 
Austin died February 15, 1910, and was buried 
In Oakridge Cemetery, EtBngham, 111. 

AUSTIN, Frank G.— The subject of this sketch 
Is the proprietor of the F. G. Austin Farm, on 
which he carries on the breeding of the famous 
Holstein-Friesian cattle from the best and most 
approved strain of the breed. Mr. Austin's herd 
is headed by "Lord Netherland Cornucopia De- 
Kol" H 375!>0 H. F. II. B., one of the best bred 
bulls in this c-ountry, being a sou of a full 
brother of "Aaggie Cornucopia Pauline," wlio 
made the world's butter record of 34.31 lbs of 
butter in seven days. The milk from Mr. Aus- 
tin's herd is bottled and retailed in the city of 
Ettiugham. 

Frank G. Austin was born on a farm one mile 
southwest of Effingham, 111., on March 26, 1809. 
He is a sou of Edward Austin, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this volume. The boyhood 
of Jlr. Austin was spent ou his father's farm, 
and he attended the public schools of Effingham 
until December, 1885, when he went to Ken- 
tucky to spend the winter with an uncle and 
attend school there. He worked ou his uncle's 
farm lor awhile, drove a milk-wagon in Newiwrt, 
Ky., a month and then took a job in the Hecla 
Iron Works in Cincinnati. In June, 1886, he 
was sent down the Ohio River and up the Ten- 
nessee in charge of a steamboat hull for the 
JlcXabb Coal & Coke Company. He landed at 
Florence, Ala., on June 1-lth, and it was found 
impossible to take the Iwat hull any farther 
until there should be a rise in the river, so the 
company decided to complete the boat at Flor- 
ence instead of Chattanooga, as had been in- 
tended. Then being taken sick, he was com- 
pelled to leave before the boat was completed. 
On August 25th, he left Florence for Cincin- 
nati via HuntsviUe, Ala., and Chattanooga, 
Tenn.. and from Cincinnati he came back to 
Effingliam, arriving on September 9th. During 
the following winter he attended the high school 
in Effingham. Ou February 7, 1887, he again 
went to Florence, Ala., and worked at the car- 
penter's trade until May, 1889, when he again 
returned to Effingham. Mr. Austin was mar- 
ried July 31, 1889. to Miss Emma L. Smith, 
by whom he had two c-hildren : Frank G., who 
died in infancy, and Beulah, who graduated 
from the Effingham High School in the class of 
1909. Mrs. Austin died in May, 1893. and on 
August 26, 1S95, he was married (second) to 
Miss Eda Abraham, of Watson, 111. He pur- 
chased his present home, the "F. G. Austin 
Farm." in October, 1889, and has lived on it 
continuously to the present day. Six children 
have been born of this second marriage; Mar- 
garet W.. Milton, Dorothy, F. Gilbert, Arthur 
Herbert and Abraham. 

Mr. Austin built the Effingham Canning fac- 
tory in the summer of 1890, and ojjerated It as 
Its manager for fifteen years, employing as 



many as 150 persons at one time. In 1899 he 
packed forty-three carloads of canned goods in 
twenty-seven days. In 1905 he sold his interest 
in the canning factory, to enable him to give his 
entire attention to the operation of his dairy 
farm. 

Mr. Austin is a leader in breeding dairj- cat- 
tle in his community, Is the President of the 
Effingham County Holstein-Friesian Association, 
has served as Secretary of the Effingham County 
Daii-j- Association and as Treasurer of the Illi- 
nois State Dairy Cattle Improvement Associa- 
tion. In politics he is a republican, and fra- 
ternally he is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America and Modern American Asso- 
ciation. 

AUSTIN, Thomas B., one of the honored 
pioneers of Ettiugham County, 111., stands out 
preeminently for the work he has accomplished 
and the 'interest he has shown in the develop- 
ment and welfare of his community. Jlr. Aus- 
tin was born in Jackson Township, Effingham 
County, October 24, 1828, son of Stephen and 
Elizabeth (Martin) Austin, both natives of 
Tennessee, where they were married. The par- 
ents came to Illinois in 1828, shortly before the 
birth of Thomas B., and before the organization 
of the county. Jlr. Austin entered eighty acres 
of Government land, paying $1.25 per acre for 
it. The land was all covered with timber and 
he had to cut down trees to clear a space large 
enough to put up his cabin. After he had 
cleared and improved this farm he entered an- 
other forty acres from the Government at the 
same price. This land was all in Jackson 
Township, and here the family lived until the 
death of the mother in 1845. Mr. Austin sur- 
rived his wife ten years, dying at the age of 
sixty-five years, and both are burled in Jackson 
Township. They were parents of eight children, 
six of whom reached maturity, and Thomas B., 
the fifth in order of birth, was the first white 
child born in Effingham County. 

Thomas B. Austin received a scanty education 
in the subscription schools of his native county, 
the same being held In the little log-cabin that 
was common to the period, so ably described in 
the historical portion of this work. He worked 
hard on his father's farm and remained at home 
until his marriage, in 1845, to Elizabeth Hig- 
gins, a native of Crawford C^ounty, 111. She died 
in early life and is buried in Jackson Township, 
having borne her husband three children : James 
R., who is deceased, William F., and Mary C, 
still living. Mr. Austin married (second) in 
1863. Elizabeth Xevil, who was born and reared 
in Effingham County, daughter of Elijah and 
Phoebe Nevil, natives of Tennessee. Mr. Nevil 
and his wife were early settlers in Illinois and 
both died on their farm in Effingham CXiunty. Mr. 
Austin's .second wife died about 1894 and is buried 
in Jackson Township. She and her husband had 
seven children, five of whom reached maturity. 



706 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



as follows: Mary, Caroline. Evelyn, George T. 
and Evista. Mr. Austin has twenty-four grand- 
children and four great-grandchildren. 

Mr. Austin formerly owned another farm in 
Jackson Township, but in 18tJ(J sold It and pur- 
chased the farm where he now lives. It was 
then l)ut little improved, and he has worked 
hard, early and late, and being industrious and 
energetic, "has brought it to a high state of cul- 
tivation. He has added all possible modern 
conveniences and machinery and is surrounded 
by the comforts he has himself earned. WTieu a 
young man he spent much time in hunting, using 
an old flintlock gun and powder and ball rifle. 
Being a splendid marksman he secured an abun- 
dance of wild game. 

X stanch Democrat, Mr. Austin has always 
been active in the interests of his party and has 
held the office of Road Commissioner several 
times, though he has never aspired to public 
office. Some years ago he was a member of the 
F.M. B. A., of Effingham. Reared in the Chris- 
tian Churcli, he joined that organization as a 
young man and is one of its most liberal sub- 
scribers. When he first began to cany on his 
farm he had little machinery and cradled his 
wheat by hand, also cut his grass with a scythe. 
At one "time he helped mow 300 acres of gi-ass 
in this way, for Wiliam iliddlesworth, of Shelby 
County. He cut his own lumber and hewed it, 
for his house and barns, and made his own rude 
wagons, making the wheels ity cutting a large 
tree and sawing blocks from it. At first he had 
to go to mill on horseback, waiting his turn to 
have his grist ground. Though he is now eighty- 
one years old, he greatly enjoys fishing and is so 
proficient in this sport that he is able to com- 
pete successfully with almost any young man of 
the county. He is much interested in current 
events and issues and has traveled extensively 
through the United States. He is known by his 
friends as "Uncle Tommy" .\ustin. and is well 
known and revered throughout Effingham 
County. 

AUSTIN, Capt. WilUam W.— From the begin- 
ning of the postal service the representative men 
of each connnunity have been chosen to fill the 
important office of rostmaster. As so much re- 
sponsibility rests in their hands, it is necessary 
for them to be men of strict honesty, reliability 
and solidity. Captain William W. Austin, Post- 
master of Effingham, is one of the best officials 
in the employ of the po.stal authorities, and he is 
discharging his duties in a way that awakens 
admiration and brings forth commendation on 
every side. Captain Austin was born on his 
father's farm, near the City of lOffliigham, 
April 3, 1871 ; is still in the full flush of vigorous 
young manhood, and has already accomplished 
more than many men twice his age. He is a 
son of Edward Austin, a sketch of whom is 
found elsewhere in this work. 

C'aptain W. W. Austin was reared on the 
farm and taught to work hard, although he was 



given an excellent education in the High School 
at Effingham, .ifter completing this course he 
entered Austin College, and there took a two 
yeans' course. Having completed his studies, he 
entered the Effinghiim Planing Mills Company, 
in 1892, as Secretary, and in 1807 took charge 
of the Austin Lumber Company of Effingham, 
holding this ixjsition until 1902. 

Meanwhile, politics claimed him, and in 1898 
he was nominated by the Republican party for 
Alderman from the Fourth Ward, and although 
this is a Democratic stronghold, he was elected 
by a large majority on account of his personal 
iwpularity. During the two years he was a 
member of the City Council,- he proved himself 
worthy of the trust reposed in him. In 1904 
new honors awaited him, for he was elected as 
a member of the State Board of Equalization 
from the Twenty-third Congressional District. 
This, too, is strongly Democratic, yet he re- 
ceived a majority of 1,400 votes, 500 more than 
the head of the ticket, a most remarkable oc- 
currence, considering the strong influence of 
President Roosevelt. As a memljer of this Board 
Captain Austin proved his mettle and showed his 
capabilities. However, owing to his .appoint- 
ment, February 13. 1907, by President FUxjsevelt, 
to the offlc-e of Postmaster of Effingham, he re- 
signed from the board. He assumecl his new 
duties April 1, 1907, and since then has l)ent 
every effort to gain all advantages for the pa- 
trons, and in June, 1909, had the satisfaction of 
installing city delivery. During his incumbency 
in his present office the business done in the 
Effingham postofflce has increased as shomi by 
the increase of receipts amounting to $3,000. 

April IS, 1903, Captain Austin received the 
commission of First Lieutenant of Company G, 
Foui'th Infantry Illinois National Guard, and 
June 24, 1907, was elected Captain of his com- 
Iiany. In 1908 he served with his company in 
Springfield, to assist in suppressing the trouble 
there; also at Cairo in a similar capacitj-, No- 
vember 11 to 15. 1909, and again at Cairo Feb- 
nmrj 18 to 27, 1910. Company G is one of the 
best in the State. 

July 7. lS9(j. Captain Austin married Miss 
Jlaniie Wade, l>orn in Effingham, daughter of 
Thomas and Linnie (Moller) Wade, early set- 
tlers in the city. Captain and Mrs. Austin are 
the parents of four children : James W., born 
December 19, 1898; T. Edward, born May 21. 
1901 : Linnie E.. born July 20, 1904. and Mary 
A., born May 11. 1909. Mrs. Austin's friends 
find it a pleasure to call at her beautiful home, 
which is situated at the extreme end of Fayette 
Avenue and surrounded by ornamental shade 
trees, and here )mth she and her husband m.ike 
all who come feel at home and welcome. She 
is a woman of culture and refinement, whose 
pleasant manner is the reflection of her charac- 
ter. Captain Austin is an active member of the 
Presbyterian Church, while his wife belongs to 
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. Fra- 
ternally he is a member of the Modern Wood- 





t 




aiic^k^ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



707 



men of America, the Modern American Fraternal 
Order, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
He is genial and popular, having been from earli- 
est manhood ass(x;iated with the growth of the 
city. His usefulness is not near its close uor 
his" advancement at its highest, as without doubt 
higher honors await this typical .son of Illinois, 
who personifies what is best and noblest in her 
public men. 

BAILlji;, Andrew. — Many of the more progres- 
sive farmers of Effingham County are -sijeeial- 
iziug on certain distinct lines, and are succeed- 
ing much better than if they had c-oufined 
their operations to the regular routine. An- 
drew Bailie, who lives on the eastern edge of 
Mason, is well known as a fruit and truck- 
grower, but has spent the greater iwrtion of his 
time at cari^enter work. He was born near 
Mt. Vernon, Knox County. Olfio. November 28, 
1834. a son of Robert and Catherine (Ham- 
mond) Bailie, both natives of Pennsylvania, 
where they were married. They located on a 
farm in Knox County. Ohio, about 18.32. and 
later removed to Hamilton County, near Cincin- 
nati. In 18.56 they came to Effingham County, 
111.. Andrew, their son, having preceded them in 
1854, where he began contracting and Ijuilding. 
His brothers. James and John, had located here 
in 1853 and bought land and began farming. 
Their successful operations were broken in uiwn 
by the war. and in Deceml>er, ISCil. Andrew 
Bailie, with his three brothers, (iilbert. .John 
and Nathaniel, enlisted in Ci(ni|>any E. Fifty- 
first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years. 
John and Nathaniel were both killed in battle. 
Andrew Bailie was mustered into servic-e at 
Chicago, and in February, 18G2. was sent to the 
front. He participated in the battles of Farm- 
ington. Corinth. Stone River and others. He 
served for a time with his regiment under Gen- 
eral Rosecrans. After the battle of Stone River. 
Mr. Bailie was wounded and being taken a pris- 
oner, was sent to the infamous Libb.v Prison at 
Richmond, where he was held thirty-one days, 
when he was sent to the parole camp at St. 
Louis, Mo. He was placed on detached duty and 
sent to Indianapolis. Ind.. where he was itlaced 
in charge of construction work on commissary 
and other buildings in the rebel prison in that 
city, and here he served the remainder of his 
term of enlistment. He then returned to Mason, 
Effingham Couutj", and resumed his contracting 
and building. 

In Ai>ril, 1856, Mr. Bailie married Sarah Win- 
teringer, a native of Ohio, who was brought to 
Illinois by her parents. The following children 
were born of this marriage : Arthur D.. a gradu- 
ate of the Illinois Law School. Circuit Judge, 
and resident of Storm Lake. Iowa : Eva. ^\-ife of 
Charles Sisson. station agent of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad at Mason : Gertrude, at home. 
Mrs. Bailie died February 2, 18!>4, firm in the 
faith of the Methodist Church, of which she was 
an active member. She was also a member of the 



W. C. T. I'. Mr. Bailie married (second) April 
17. 180S. Sarah B. Dunn (nee Harlan), bom 
near Germantown, Ky., February 19, 1S53, 
daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Elliott) Duim. 
In the fall of 1853 she was brought to Illinois by 
her parents, who settled on a fann in Lucas 
Township. Effingham County. 

In 1858 Mr. Bailie bought twenty acres of 
land adjoining Mason, and iu the fall of 1866 
built one of the finest homes in Mason Town- 
ship. Unfortunately, both his first and second 
houses were burned, and he then erected a 
beautiful eight-room cottage, with basement, 
which is a model dwelling well supplied with 
modem conveniences. Mr. Bailie has 600 fruit 
trees, which bear prolificall.v and from which he 
ships fruit to outside markets. Not content with 
improving this projierty until It is now one of 
the finest in the township. Mr. Bailie has built 
some of the best residences and business blocks 
in this part of the State. 

In politics Mr. Bailie Is a Republican and has 
always been actively identified with his party. 
He is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 217. of 
Mason, and he and his wife belong to Golden 
Lake Chapter of the Eastern Star. Both are 
active iu the Methodist Church, of which they 
are members, and Mrs. Bailie Is a factor in the 
Dorcas Society. For over half a century Mr. 
Bailie has been identified with the best interests 
of this part of the county. Naturally, considering 
his war record, he is a stanch member of the G. 
.\. R. Post, at Mason. Little by little Mr. Bailie 
has retired from the business activities which 
have occupied so much of his life, concentrating 
his care on his beautiful home. He and his ^\-ife 
are delightful entertainers, and many are the 
happy visitors who gather under their roof to 
enjoy this cordial hospitality lavishly shown 
to all. 

BAILIE, Gilbert. — Among the retired citizens of 
AJtamont, 111., may be mentioned Gilbert Bailie, 
for many years engaged in contracting, brick- 
laying and plastering business in his part of the 
State, and a veteran of the great Civil VTar. 
Mr. Bailie was born December 21. 1836. in Knox 
County. Ohio, a .son of Robert and Sarah (Ham- 
mond) Bailie. 

The grandfather of Gilbert Bailie came to the 
United States from the north of Ireland, and 
settled in Monongahela County, Pa., later re- 
moving to Knox County, Ohio, where he spent 
the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. 
Robert Bailie was born in Monongahela County, 
Pa., and after his marriage moved to Knox 
County and later to Hamilton County. Ohio, 
locating in Illinois in 1855. Settling in Effing- 
ham County on Christmas Day of that year, he 
engaged in farm work, and so continued until 
the time of his death, in 1874. at the age of 
eighty-three years. The death of his wife oc- 
curred at Mason. 111., when eighty -seven years of 
age. They had a family of thirteen children, all 
of whom reached mature years with the excep- 



708 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



tion of a cliiUl which died iu infauey. and Na- 
thauiel, who was nineteen years of age when 
liilled in the battle of Franlilin, during the Civil 
War. Another sou was thirty-five years of age 
when he died from the effects of a wound re- 
ceived at the battle of Chiekamauga. 

Gilbert Bailie received his education in the 
public schools of ICuox Couutj-. Ohio, and later in 
Hamilton County, that State. When fifteen 
years of age he went to Cincinnati, where he 
"was apprenticed for thi-ee years learning the 
plastering trade, and on locating iu Illinois 
took up that business, which he followed with 
much success throughout his active life. On 
February 10, 1862, he enlisted at Chicago as a 
private in Company E, Fifty-first Regiment, Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, tor three years, and 
served for three years and three months, fifteen 
months of which were spent as a prisoner In 
Libby, Danville, Andersonville, Charleston and 
Florence piisons, at the latter place being taken 
with scurvy and not being expected to live. His 
weight was reduced from 20S pounds to ninety 
pounds, but after a long and serious sickness he 
recovered. Among the battles in which Mr. 
Bailie participated may be mentioned Corinth, 
Decatur, Stone River (where he was slightly 
wounded three times), Talahoma, Bridgeport 
and Chiekamauga, in the latter battle being 
taken prisoner. He did his full duty as a sol- 
dier and has a war record that will .stand com- 
parison with the best. After his return from 
the war he began contracting and his business 
soon grew to such jiroportions as to necessitate 
the employment of fifteen men. 

Mr. Bailie has been Quartermaster of Robert 
Anderson Post, No. C32, Grand Army of the Re- 
public, every year (with one exception) since 
its organization, and served as its Commander 
one term. He is connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and in the past has been an 
official thereof. In political matters he is a 
stanch Republican. 

On October 16. 1858, Mr. Bailie was married 
to Catherine Hollis, born in Ohio, a daughter of 
William and Ann Eliza (Saulsbury) Hollis, and 
her death occurred in the year 1908. The fol- 
lowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Bailie : Sanmel R., of Chicago ; Edward, who 
died in Altamont in 1903 ; Margaret. Mrs. Leslie 
L. Engledon, of Watseka, 111.; Lewis Emery, of 
Terre Haute, Ind. ; and Minnie, Mrs. Henry 
Hesseman, of Altamont. 

BAILEY, Harvey Henry, the energetic and 
progressive editor of "The .\ltamont News," at Al- 
tamont, 111., conducts his paper along modem 
lines and has built up a large circulation In the 
four or five years he has been its head. Mr. 
Bailey was born iu Prairie Township. Shelby 
County, 111., March 25, 1876, a son of Samuel 
and Fanny (Williams) Baile.v. Samuel Bailey, 
son of Isaac and Jane (Moore) Bailey, was torn 
in England, October 14, 18,38. and his wife, a na- 
tive of Holland Township, Shelby County, 111., 



was bom April 15, 1847, a daughter of John B. 
and Fannie (Blue) Williams, natives of Loudoun 
County, Va., who located in Holland Township 
in 1839. 

Harvey H. Bailey spent his early years on the 
farm which his father purchased from the rail- 
road near Stewardson, and received his early 
education in the country schools. Later he at- 
tended .\ustin College, at Effingham, 111., and 
graduated from the Western Illinois Normal 
School, at Macomb, in 1898. In the fall of 1894, 
Mr. Bailey began teaching and c-ontinued in that 
profession for twelve years. For five years he 
taught the Mound School, near Altamont ; for 
two years served as Principal of the Coffeeu 
Public Schools ; spent two years as Superinten- 
dent of the Altamont Public Schools, three years 
as Superintendent of the .\lbion Public Schools 
and was one of the special teachers at the AVest- 
ern Illinois Normal School during the summer of 
1901. 

In May, 1906, Mr. Bailey purchased "The Al- 
tamont News," and since that time the circula- 
tion of this paper has more than doubled. The 
predominating qualities of the paper are its neat, 
attractive appearance. Its bright, newsy items 
and its forceful editorials. The proprietor of 
this enterprise believes in progress, and has his 
newspaper plant in one of the best appointed 
offices in Central Illinois. He has taken an ac- 
tive interest iu local affairs and has identified 
himself with several public enterprises. He is 
now Vice President of the Altamont Agricultural 
Fair Association and President of the Altamont 
Canning Company, both of whic'h are incoqwr- 
ated. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen, and for 
man.v years has been an active member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, having served six 
years as steward and is now serving his fifth 
.year as president of the board of stewards;. Mr. 
Bailey takes no active part in political affairs 
and lias never cared for public office. He mani- 
fests an interest in every movement for progress 
and improvement and is a most public-spirited 
citizen. 

He was married, September 16, 1902, at Alta- 
mont. 111., to Miss Katie E. Kuffel. the only 
child of G. W. and Amelia (Zimmerman) Kuffel. 
Mrs. Bailey was educated in the conuuon schools 
of Effingham Comity and in the Ellingham High 
School. Mr. Kuffel, a prominent farmer, is the 
oldest son of the late Adam Poe Kuffel. and a 
direct descendant of Adam Poe. one of the early 
pioneers of Ohio, and the man who killed Big 
Foot, a noted Indian warrior. Mrs. Kuffel is a 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Zimmerman, of 
Altamont, early pioneers of Effingham County. 
One diild has bles.sed the union of Mr. Bailey 
and his wife. Katharyn, born at Albion. May 23, 
1905. In 1907, Mr. Bailey erected the first con- 
crete residence In Altamont, and so complete is 
this cottage in eveiy detail that it was used by 
the Miracle Block Company in their si)eclal ex- 
hibit at the National Cement Show In Chicago, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



709 



In the fall of 1907. A picture of this house ap- 
peared lu the leading magazines of the country 
for several mouths during the winter of 1907-08. 

BAILEY, WUliam H.— The farming interests of 
Effingham County are in charge of efficient, capa- 
ble men, who have given to their labor that ap- 
plication of scientific effort that is bound to bring 
the best results. Years of observance of the 
best methods have brought the occupation of 
farming up to the standard of one of the sciences, 
and the constant improving of farming machin- 
ery has done wonders in making the harvesting 
of large crops a surety. William H. Bailey, one 
of the prosperous farmers of Jackson Township, 
was born January IS. 18-17, in Putnam County, 
Ind., son of Henry P. and Susan (Landreth) 
Bailey, and a grandson of a Revolutionary sol- 
dier who served under Washington and died in 
Virginia. 

Henry P. Bailey was bom in Virginia In 1809, 
and came with his parents to Indiana as a young 
man, having already learned the trade of a 
blacksmith. He worked at his trade in Indiana, 
and later came to Illinois and established a 
blacksmith Shop in Jackson Township, Effing- 
ham County, where he lived with his mother. 
Previous to 1839 he returned to Indiana, and, in 
Putnam County, was married to Susan Landreth, 
also a native of Virginia, aed boru in 1812. 
They remained in Putnam County for a few 
years, and then came to Illinois, settling in Ef- 
fingham County, where Mr. Bailey carried on the 
blacksmith trade until the Civil War. He had 
had earlier experience as a soldier during the 
Black Hawk War, and in 1862 enlisted in Com- 
pany B, the Thirty-eighth Regiment, Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and entering the .service 
tinder Rosecrans, seiTed for four years, during 
which time he was never wounded or captured, 
but on account of his age, his strength gave way 
on a forced march, and he was assigned to garri- 
son duty until the close of the war. Two of his 
sons were also in the war, the oldest, who served 
In the same company with his father, never 
being heard of after the battle of Chickamauga, 
it being reiwrted, however, that he had been 
wounded and captured, taken to the Confederate 
prison at Andersouville and there died. The 
other brother, being younger, enlisted late in the 
war, at Danville, 111., during the last 100 days, 
and was camped at Helena, Ark., where it was 
said the Confederates poisoned the drinking 
water, from which the young man became sick, 
and died soon after reaching Mattoon, III., where 
he w-as to have been discharged. After the close 
of the war Henry P. Bailey returned to his fam- 
ily in Effingham County, where he lived until 
his death in the fall of 1879, when past seventy 
years of age. His wife survived him some years 
dying iu 1904, past ninety-two years of age. 
Both are buried in the Bailey Cemetery in Ma- 
son Township. This worthy couple were the 
parents of twelve children, as follows : Eliza 
Jane, deceased ; Wyatt, who died while in the 



country's service; Tandy, who died at Mattoon; 
Cassander; Mary, deceased; William H. ; James 
A. ; Rebecca ; Francis, deceased ; Maria A. ; John 
L., deceased ; and Sophia, who died in Infancy. 

William H. Bailey attended .school lu Effing- 
ham County during the Civil War, being too 
young to enlist. He remained at home until his 
marriage, April 2.3, 1868, in Effingham County, to 
Nanc.v Ann Holland, who was born in Mason 
Township. November 10, 1851, and educated in 
Effingham County, being twelve years of age 
before there was a school in her district which 
she could attend. She was the daughter of Wil- 
liam and Rhoda Elizabeth (Bradley) Holland, 
the former a native of Virginia and the latter 
of Tennessee. They were married near Mem- 
phis, in the latter State, where they resided 
about two years, and then came to Effingham 
County, 111., settling in Mason Township, where 
they were engaged in agricultural pursuits dur- 
ing the remainder of their lives, the father dy- 
ing about 1872, when sixty years of age, and 
the mother in February, 1896, when seventy-five 
years of age. Both were buried iu the Bradley 
Cemetery. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren : Catherine, Martha, Robert, Sarah, Wil- 
liam, Nancy Ann, James Morris, Sophia. Evan- 
geline and Johnny. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey 
settled on a farm in Mason Township, but in 
ISSS moved to Jackson Township, w^here the 
family has lived to the present time, having re- 
sided on their present farm for the past nine- 
teen years. Mr. Bailey's tract of forty-four 
acres is in an excellent state of cultivation, and 
he has made extensive improvements on his land, 
including a fine orchard. Although living a 
somewhat retired life at present, he still takes 
a deep interest in the management of his prop- 
erty. His life has been tliat of an honorable 
and upright citizen, and he has the respect and 
esteem of the community in which he resides. 
He has always been a Democrat in politics and 
takes a lively interest in the local affairs of his 
l)arty. He was formerly a member of the F. M. 
B. A., iu Jackson Township, but is not now 
connected with any fraternal order. He is re- 
ligiously affiliated with the Baptist Church, as 
is his wife, while his two daughters are Mission- 
ary Baptists. 

The eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey 
are as follows : Clara Viola, wife of Charley 
Creek, of Mason Township, and they have two 
children, — Willie and Lola ; Susan, wife of 
Clement Herrell. a farmer of Jackson Township, 
and who has had four children, — Lucy and 
Vangy, who are deceased, and Wade H. and Ran- 
dall ; Gertrude, wife of John Culley, of Mason 
Township, has had five children. — Jennie An- 
nie, who died in infancy, and Maude, Rosle, 
Hattie and .lohn ; Eliza, wife of E. B. Tucker, of 
Effingham County, has one child, — Floyd ; Ever- 
ett, of Jackson Township, married Maude White, 
and they have fhree children, — Russell, Henry 
and Her.schel ; William, also of Jackson Town- 



no 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



ship, married Bessie Riley, and they have two 
children. — Dorothy and Carl ; and Grace and 
Nora, single and" at home. Miss Nora Bailey, 
who has decided to take up the profession of 
teaching, graduated from the eighth grade, pass- 
ing the highest examination in the township, for 
which she received a free scholarship in any 
State Normal School In Illinois, granting her 
free tuition, the scholarship being awarded her 
by County Superintendent Calvin C. Mithcell. 

BAKER, George Britton McClellan, M. D.— The 
medical profession has advanced with rapid 
strides during the past decade or two, and is still 
advancing so rapidly that the physician who 
wishes to keep abreast of the times must con- 
stantly devote his spare time to study and a 
perusal of the latest periodicals, in order that he 
may keep up with the latest inventions and dis- 
coveries in his profession. One of Effingham 
County's eminent medical men is George Brit- 
ton McClellan Baker, whose field of practice is 
the flourishing city of Altaniont, where he is 
respected both in his professional capacity and 
as a citizen. He comes of an old and honored 
family, which originated in Germany, and whence 
It emigrated to Lancaster County, Pa., 
spreading thence to Maryland and finally into 
Virginia, and It Is from the latter brandi of the 
family that Dr. Baker descends. 

Jolin Baker, the grandfather of Dr. Baker, 
settled in the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, 
where he was maiTied to a MLss Devore, and 
had a large family of children. Most of his 
children went to Iowa, where he followed them, 
and he died in Washington, that State, at the 
home of his son, his wife surviving him several 
years. 

Jacob Baker, son of John, was born June 30, 
1818, in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and there 
grew to manhood, learning the cabinetmaker's 
trade at Lancaster, Pa. In 1844 he left for the 
west, walking to Pittsburg, whence he went 
liy boat to St, Louis, and journeyed by foot 
to old Freemanton, Effingham Count}-, 111., where 
he landeil with but sixty cents. He worked at 
his trade for a time, but his principal work was 
driving the stage between Freejnanton and St. 
Louis, and he also clerked for a time in the 
store of Dan Boyer. Although he worked at his 
trade only for short intervals, he had a shop at 
Freemanton. which was known) all over the 
county, and he made furniture and coffins and 
engaged In carpenter work to some extent. He 
became prosperous, and owned .320 acres of land, 
but did not cultivate It himself, allowing his 
sons to be the farmers. While building a barn 
for a neighbor, he contracted pneumonia, and 
Ma.v 28. 1891. died from this attack, being buried 
in the old Freemanton Cemetery. Originally a 
member of the United Brethren Church, in later 
years he joined the Methodist Episcopal denom- 
ination at Dexter. In political maters he was a 
Republican. He settled up many estates, and 
being well versed in law matters, settled many 



disputes, being consulted upon numerous sub- 
jects by the people of his neighlx)rhood. 

June 20. 1848. Mr. Baker was married, in 
Effingham County, to Martha Ann Powell, who 
when a small child was brought from North Car- 
olina to Tennessee. She was a daughter of Sey- 
mour Powell, a veteran of the Black Hawk War, 
who had fought side by side with Abraham Lin- 
coln, with whom he was most intimate. Sey- 
mour Powell came to Illinois in 1826, settling 
near Vandalia, and he died in 1872, at the home 
of Mr. Baker. Mrs. Baker was born March 1, 
1826, and died June 6, 1906; she is burled at 
Freemanton beside her husband. The children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker were as follows : 
John, who died at the age of nineteen years; 
Margaret Ann, who married J. K. Wallace, of 
Altaniont; Amos W.. a merchant at Dextei', 111.; 
Daniel Webster, a minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Equality. 111. ; Michael Ben- 
ton, pastor of the Jlethodist Episcopal Church at 
Upper Alton; Rachel, who died unmarried; 
George B. M. ; Sarah Luella, who married Slegel 
Baker, of Baldwin, Kan. ; and Sedalia, unmar- 
ried. 

George Britton McClellan Baker was born 
March 25. 186.3. near Dexter, Ettingham County, 
111., n^ere his education was begun in the i)Ublie 
schools. Later he attended the State Normal 
College, at Blooniiugton, 111., and the National 
Normal Univer.slty at Lebanon. Ohio, graduat- 
ing in the teacher's course in the class of 1SS5. 
For five years he taught school in Effingham 
County, and during this time. August 29. 1S,S6. he 
was married to Annie Hijisher, of Mound Town- 
ship, daughter of John F. and Katy (Sterritt) 
Hipsher. For two years Dr. Baker farmed In 
Jackson Township, and he then sold out and en- 
tered the Central Normal College at Danville. 
Ind.. taking a scientific and medical course and 
graduating in the class of 1888. He then spent 
two years at Beaumont Medical College. St. 
Louis, graduating March 30. 1892. and on Ma.v 
18th of the same year began the practice of his 
profe.ssion at Altaniont, where he has since con- 
tinued and has built up a large practice. He is 
a close and careful student, a kind and sympa- 
thetic ph.vsician and a steady-handed surgeon, 
and his success in a number of complicated cases 
has won him the confidence of the people of his 
locality. He is a member of the State and 
county medical societies, a director in the First 
National Bank, and a Director in the Altamont 
Agricultural Fair Association, of which for two 
years he was President. He also belongs to the 
Masons, the Woo<lmen. the Court of Honor, and 
is me<lical examiner for many life insurance 
companies. In jiolitical matters he Is a Repub- 
lican, and be has been President of the Altamont 
School Board for nine years. 

The children born to Dr. and Mrs. Baker are 
as follows : Cecil H., born on a farm near Dex- 
ter. June 26. 1887. is now taking his final course 
in medicine ; Jacob St. John, born November 12. 
1888, is iirincipal of the Shumway public 




GEORGE HARVEY 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



711 



schools, a position he has held for three years ; 
Ida Elnora, born November 10. 1890. is a 
teacher in the schools of Edgewood. Effingham 
County ; William Hargrave. born January 29, 
1893, is bookkeeper in the First National Bank, 
at Altamont ; and George, liorn November C, 
18f)S, at home. 

BANDELOW, Rudolph A. W.— The "Southern 
Hotel," of Beecher City, 111., is presided over by 
Rudolph A. W. Bandelow and his capable wife. 
Mr. Bandelow is also a contractor for draying 
and teaming, and in both lines conducts a large 
and thriving business. He was born near Beth- 
lehem, in Mound. Township, Effingham County, 
111., January 7. 1870. a son of Frederick G. and 
Sophia (Schutte) Bandelow. both natives of 
Germany. 

Frederick G. Bandelow, who was a sou of 
Gottfried F. and Christina (Ster) Bandelow, 
was bom March 10. 1838, in Ukemark. Prussia, 
Germany, near the Town of Sehoenwetter. 
Gottfried Bandelow and his wife had children 
as follows: CJottfried. born January 22, 1828; 
Christina, born in 18.34 ; Wilhelmina. horn in 
1836; Frederick, born in 18.38. and Frederika, 
born in 1840. Gottfried Bandelow married 
about 18.'54, Frederika Dublin, and their chil- 
dren were : August. Frederick, Wilhelm. Henuan. 
Mary and Ferdinand, all living. His first wife 
died and his second marriage was to Mrs. Chris- 
tina Rail, a widow, of West Township. Chris- 
tina married a Mr. Pinska, and they live in Uke- 
mark, Germany. Wilhelmina married Carl 
Miar, of Ukemark. Frederika also married, but 
the name of her husband is unknown. 

When Frederick Bandelow was seven years of 
age his father died and he went to live with his 
uncle, Wilhelm Bandelow. a baker living in 
Ukemark. He began working for this imcle. 
delivering bread, by means of a dog and cart. 
He received his education while living with his 
uncle, and at the age of fourteen years, took up 
the resiwnsibility of making his own way in the 
world. He began working for a farmer in his 
native country and was assigned the duties com- 
mon to farm laborers. In 1862 he bade good- 
by to his native land and embarked for New 
York in a sailing vessel, arriving at his destina- 
tion after six weeks spent ui»on the water. He 
located immediately in Mound Township. Effing- 
ham County, 111., where he began working for 
farmers. October 18. 1864. Mr. Bandelow" was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Sophia (Schutte) 
Rahn. born April 7, 1828. at Ukemark. Prussia, 
and widow of Charles Rahn. who was born in 
Germany. Mr. Rahn emigi-ated to the United 
States as a young man and first located in Buf- 
falo, N. Y., but later settled in Mound Township. 
Efiingham County. He died March 10. 1864. and 
is buried in Bethlehem Cemetery, being survived 
by a widow and three children. The children 
are: Julius G.. liorn July 17. I8.08; Helena, 
born April 8, 1862 ; and Ottillie. Ix)rn March 20. 
1864. Julius G. maJ'ried Mary Conn and they 



had two sons — Charlie and Frank. His wife 
died in 1896 and he later married Mary Collins, 
a widow with one child, and they live near Edge- 
wood, 111. Helena is the widow of Paul Berg, of 
Spi-ingfield, 111., and has three children— Pau- 
lina, Herman and Paul. Ottillie married Henry 
Hubrich, of Blue Point, 111., and they have two 
children — Wiliam and Tillie. Frederick Ban- 
dalow's first wife died Dec-ember 11. IStMr, and he 
married (second) Frederika Wlchmann, widow 
of Karl Wichmann, of Mound Town.ship, their 
marriage taking place March 13, 1905. 

Frederick Bandelow and his first wife settled 
on Section 32. Mound Township, and here their 
children were born. They had an eightj'-acre 
farm and became prosperous farmers, and were 
parents of children as follows: John G. F. and 
Rudolph. John G. F. Bandelow was born April 
24. 1866. on November 21, 1889, married Miss 
Louisa Grasshoft", daughter of Conrad and Lou- 
isa Grasshoff, and they have two children — Con- 
rad, born August 20, 1890, and Adeline, born 
April 12. 1894. 

The boyhood days of Rudolph A. W. Bandelow 
were spent on a farm and he received his educa- 
tion in the Lutheran and public schools, helping 
in the work u^MJif the farm as soon as old enough. 
At the age of fourteen years he was confirmed in 
the Lutheran Church. He remained on the 
farm with his father until two years after his 
marriage, then rented a sixty-six acre tract, 
which is the present Fair Ground at Altamont, 
and prospered well there for a few years, when 
he located in Bloomington, where he worked 
with his brother-in-law at drilling Avells. Mr. 
Bandelow and his wife have been residents of 
Beecher City since October 18. 1807. At first he 
took a position on section work for the Balti- 
more & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, soon after 
becoming a foreman. He remained with the rail- 
road company five years and was offered a sec- 
tion, but declined the position. His wife kept 
roomers and boarders, thus helping in the effort 
he was making to lietter himself and secure a 
home of his own. They soon bought out the 
"City Hotel," which they c-onducted with profit 
three years, and then sold their interest to Rev. 
J. C. Stamper, of Herrick. 111., when they pur- 
chased a house of four rooms with eight lots. 
for which they paid six hundred dollars. They 
now have a thoroughly modern establishment, 
which has taken the place of their former home, 
and their eleven-room house, liberally suplied 
with closet and cellar space, is fitted" with all 
possible conveniences and comforts. They con- 
duct the finest hotel of its kind in a city of like 
size in the State, and the property, with all im- 
provements, is easily worth $5,000. Traveling men 
and many others enjoyed their time spent with 
the Bandelow.s, as the surroundings are both 
pleasant and sanitary, and the host and hostess 
make their guests comfortable and at home. 
They enjoy the good will of all who know them, 
and have a large circle of friends in the com- 
munity. 



712 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Mr. Bandelow was married October 18, 1891, 
to Marj' Luella Smith, daugliter of Joliu AV. and 
Martlia C. (Broom) Smith, of Mason Township, 
Effingliam County. John W. Smith, son of Da- 
vid and Jul}' Ann (Brown) Smith, was born De- 
cember 19, 183G, and Martha C. Broom, daugh- 
ter of John and Mary (Allen) Broom, was born 
August 1, 1839. David Smith met with a sad 
accident in 18(52, as he was working with a 
threshing machine, his arm being caught while 
he was feeding the macliiue and torn off near 
the elbow ; however, this did not prevent him 
from following his trade of l>lacksmithiug. 
John Broom, Mrs. Bandelow's grandfather, was 
the son of Miles and Edith (Vincent) Broom, 
the former a personal friend of General Jackson. 
John Broom had the distinction of reading the 
Declaration of Independence for the first time in 
Effingham County, performing the service at a 
meeting where Burke Berry and Aiken Evans, 
of Vandalia, were orators, and he stood upon 
a cotton-wood log, which served as platform. 
He was a typical pioneer Judge, and is given 
mention elsewhere in this work. 

John W. Smith and his wife had children as 
follows : Rosetta, Elnora, Laura A., Mrs. Ban- 
delow, John D., Julia May* and Luly Day 
(twins), William A. and Nellie H. (twins), 
Eddie C. and Ilerschel V. (twins). Rosetta, 
born June 29, 1859, is now the widow of William 
F. Redding, of Effingham County, 111., to whom 
she was married by her grandfather. Judge John 
Broom, March 16, 1879. Mr. Redding died May 
29, 1893. survived by his widow and eight chil- 
dren — Charles, Edgar, Fred, Nellie, Vernie, Reu- 
ben. Lulu and Roy (who died in 1896). Elnora, 
bom November 12, 1860, is the wife of George 
W. Johnson, and they now reside in Paragould, 
Ark., and have one child — Annette. Laura A. 
Smith, born July 3, 18(5-1, married (first) Curtis 
M. Davis, of Ma.son Township, who died, and she 
married (second) W. Henry Spade, of McLean 
Count.v, and they now live at Normal. 111., and 
have four children — Pearl, Earl, Cecil and Wal- 
ter. John D. Smith, born Januar.v 23, 1870, 
married Fannie A. Anderson, daughter of Lewis 
and Kate Anderson, of West Township, and they 
were married .\ugust 28, 1895, on a stove, at the 
park in Altamont, 111., the stove being donated 
by Mr. Pickett, a merchant of the city, to the 
bride and groom who would be married on it. 
They have five children — Jesse, Louis, Oscar, 
Mabel and Harold. Julia May and Luly Day 
Smith were liorn February 14. 1S72. but neither 
reached the age of ten yeare. William A. and 
Nellie H. Smith were born March 21, 1874, the 
former being twenty minutes older than his sis- 
ter. William A. married Eva Kienbartz. daugh- 
ter of Ambrose and Nella Kienbartz. of Mason 
Township. They were married March 16, 1888, 
and she died October 5. 1905, leaving one child. 
Vera May, born December 16, 1903. William A. 
Smith married (second) April 10, 1907, Miss 
Inez Blunt, daughter of Milton C. and Phoebe M. 
Blunt, of Mason Township, who was bom in 



Union Township May 15, 1874. Nellie H. Smith 
married Julius Wehrly, of Mason Township, 
Februarj' 17, 1897, and they live in Kenewick, 
Wash., and have three children — LaviTence, 
Sojihie and Verina. Eddie C. and Herschel V. 
Smith were born October 28, 1876, and the lat- 
ter lived only a short time. Eddie C. was mar- 
ried, November 3, 1908, in Paragould, Ark., to 
Lillie Griffith, and they live at Piggott Ark. 

Mrs. John Smith died November 11, 1876, deeply 
mourned by her husliand and children. Jlr. Smith 
passed away June 23, 1880. 

Mrs. Bandelow lived at home until the death 
of her father, then went to live in the home of 
Robert Dunbar, of Mound Township. She was 
treated the same as their own children, of whom 
there were fourteen, although at the time she 
entered tlieir household they had but seven 
living. Although she was not the oldest child, 
it devolved upon her, between 1876 and 1880, to 
care for her brothers and sisters. She received 
her early education in the public school, occupy- 
ing a .seat (part of the time) near the boy who 
was some day to grow to be the man to lead her 
to the altar. About the time she reached matur- 
ity Mr. Dunbar broke up housekeeping, his wife 
having died August 16. 1885, and she then worked 
for others, thus learning the art of cooking, in 
which she became an expert, and is well known 
in Beecher City for her skill in the culinary 
art. She was married at the home of her hus- 
band's father, whose other children had also been 
married from the same house. While living 
in Altamont one child was born to them, Edna 
Rosetta, who was born April 3, 1896, but died at 
Bloomington, October 4, 1897, and was buried 
in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery at Alta- 
mont. January 26. 1902, they were blessed 
with another daughter, whom they named Alma 
Esther, and she is a bright, beautiful and lov- 
ing little girl, who promises to develop into a 
remarkably fine woman. She attends the public 
school at Beecher City, is a member of the Chris- 
tian Church, and is a promising pupil. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bandelow are both members of the Mod- 
ern Americans, and have also joined the Chris- 
tian Church, of Beecher City. 

BARTELS, Ernest H., a prominent citizen of 
Effingham County, i-esiding at Dieterich, 111., has 
been identified with public affairs for a num- 
ber of years and now most acceptably fills the 
office of District Game Warden. Mr. Bartels 
was born in Cook County. 111., August 9, 1857, 
a son of Henry and Sophia (Darges) Bartels. 
These worthy jieople came from Hanover, Ger- 
many, and landed on the .\merican shores in 
1848. After spending three years in Pennsyl- 
vania and New York, they pushed on to Illinois 
and. in 1859. came to Effingham County settling 
in Jackson Township. On September 21, 1861, 
when the second call came for troops for ser- 
vice in the Civil War, Henry Bartels responded 
by enlisting and subsequently served for two 
years as a member of Company K, Fifth Illinois 




^, of. ^^^^. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



713 



Cavalry, being finally discharged at Jefferson 
Barracks, near St. Louis, ou account of dis- 
ability. The hardships he had endured had so 
undermined his health that he was never after- 
ward able to perform any hard work, dying Jan- 
uary o, 1877. His widow still survives, residing 
on lier farm in Jasper County, which her hus- 
hand had bought of the Illinois Central Railroad 
Company. The seven childi-en born to Henry 
Bartels and wife still survive, namely : Henry, 
living on the homestead with his mother ; Ernest 
H. ; I.«wis, a farmer, residing in Cliiy County ; 
George C, residing in Oklahoma ; Caroline, 
wido^- of Henry Rathe." residing at Mattoon, 111. ; 
Mary, wife of John Conrad, a farmer living near 
Charleston, 111. ; and Louisa, married and living 
near Jefferson Citj-, Mo. 

Ernest H. Barteis accompanied his parents to 
Effingham County in 1859. when they settled 
with other German colonists in Jackson Town- 
ship. In 1869 the famil.v removed to Jasper 
Count.v and secured land near Hickory Grove, 
and there Jlr. Bartels attended school in the 
winter time and labored on the farm in sum- 
mer. After completing his education in a paro- 
chial school in Watson Township, in 1872, he 
then learned the carpenter trade under the 
direction of his brother-in-law, Henry Rathe, in 
1875 went to Coles Count.v and worked on a 
farm near Mattoon, for five years, when he took 
advantage of the opportunity to attend school 
during part of the winter months. In 1880 he 
entered the railroad shops of the Big Four at 
Mattoon and worked as a carbuilder for three 
.vears, in his second year being promoted to the 
IKJsition of foreman under Master Car Builder 
Gove. In 188.3 he went to St. Louis and worked 
as a stair builder there, until September 27th 
of that year, when he purchased a full stock of 
furniture and undertaking goods, which he 
shipi)ed to Dieterich, with the Intention of em- 
barking in business in that place. He did a 
good business for two years but in the mean- 
while had also built up a large contracting bus- 
iness, and the latter demanded so much of his 
attention that he disposed of his furniture and 
undertaking business in 188.5. He followed con- 
tracting until 1898. and to his indu.stry and hon- 
est filling of contracts the village owes much of 
its present substantial and attractive appearance. 

On October 12, 1889, Mr. Bartels was married to 
Miss Annie Steinmetz, born in Hanover, German.y. 
She accompanied some family friends to America 
and while visiting a sister in Chicago, became ac- 
quainted with Mr. Bartels. Mr. and Mrs. Bar- 
tels have three living children : Herbert Garfield, 
bom August 17. 1892 ; Ottilie, horn May 10. 1894 ; 
and Roy R.. born March 16, 1905. Tlie two older 
children have shown great love of study, have 
■won scholarship prizes and are attending State 
Normal School. Mr. Bartels and wife are mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church, of which he is a trus- 
tee. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd 
Fellows and his wife is interested in the auxil- 
iary order of Rebekahs. 



In his political views, Mr. Bartels has always 
been a firm supporter of the Republican party, 
and has labored for the principles for which 
Abraham Lincoln laid down his life. He has 
been very active in both county and State poli- 
tics, has frequently been a delegate to impor- 
tant conventions, notably those which nominated 
Hon. Joseph W. Fifer and Charles Deneen for 
Governor, and at ps-esent is a member and sec- 
retary of the County Central Conuuittee. For 
fourteen years he was Police Magistrate, was 
twice Census Enumerator, for thirteen years a 
Notary Pulilic, and twice Commissioned Deputy 
U. S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Illinois. 
For the past twelve years he has given all his 
time to the duties of District Game Warden, to 
which office he was apiwinted by Gov. John R. 
Tanner, in 1898, and reapiwinted by Gov. Yates 
in 1903, and Gov. Deneen in 1906. September 1, 
1909, he temporarily moved to Charleston, 111., to 
give his two oldest children the benefit of the 
Eastern Illinois Normal School.- 

BEAVER, Peter (deceased).— The late Peter 
Beaver was one of the pioneers of Effingham 
County and widely known throughout its terri- 
tory. His associations with the early history 
of his locality were such as to make him a fit 
subject for a sketch in this work. He was born 
in Franklin County, Ohio, March 16. 1838, and 
came to Effingham County in 1855, locating on 
a farm in Summit Township, where he operated 
a saw-mill and manufactured brooms. Mr. 
Beaver always took a strong interest m develop- 
ing the resources of the county and was largely 
instrumental in establishing the Farmers" In- 
stitute of Effingham Count.v. being President of 
this organization at the time of his death. 

Mr. Beaver married Isabelle Besse, in Licking 
County, Ohio, where she was born. She survives 
him and still lives on the farm. Six children 
were born to them, four of whom are now living, 
namely: Frank, a farmer near the old home; 
Charlie, who died at the age of fifteen ; Seymour, 
of Texas ; Nettie, deceased, wife of Harry Keat- 
ing, of Chicago ; Eva, who married William Topp, 
was born December 12, 1S72 ; Jesse, a farmer 
of Summit Township. 

Mr. Beaver was reared in the Baptist faith 
and was much devoted to his famil.v, his church 
and his work. An excellent farmer, he developed 
his farm of 145 acres until it was one of the 
best in the neighborhood. Quiet and unassum- 
ing, he did what he believed was his full fluty, 
and is remembered as a good citizen, a kind 
friend and helpful neighbor. The death of Mr. 
Beaver occurred July 26. 1904, and his funeral 
was one of the most largely attended in the 
county for .vears. His neighbors and friends 
gathered to pay a last tribute to his memorj- and 
to testify their sympathy with his family in the 
bereavement that had befallen them. It is such 
men as Peter Beaver who have made Effing- 
hame County what it is today. 



714 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



BECKER, Charles.— The Illinois farmer, if en- 
terprising and energetic, is usually loath to trans- 
fer the control of his operations to other hands, 
even when he has reached the age at which 
men engaged in other lines of industry would 
be considered advanced in years, but when he 
finally does relir.quish active labor and retire to 
a residence in the nearby city, he malies one of 
the good, solid citizens of his new eoiumuuity. 
Charles Becker, living retired in Altamont, 111., 
has spent many years in farming in Ethngham 
County, and is a veteran of the great Civil 
AVar. He was born September 10, 1842, in the 
Province of Pomerania, Prussia, a son of 
Joachim and Mary (Krouse) Becker. 

In 1862. the father and liis family came to 
the United States and after arriving in New 
York, came from that city to Chicago, going 
thence to Crete To\\Tiship, Will County, 111., 
where the father during his four years' residence, 
owned six farms. He then removed to Effing- 
ham County, buying seventy-two acres in Sec- 
tio 3, most of which was wild laud, but in 1SS4 
sold this property to his son Charles, and moved 
to a fai-m in Union Township, where he died in 
1901, his wife having passed away some years 
before. He was a Lutheran in religious belief 
and a Democrat in ix)litics. The children of 
Joachim and Mary Becker were : Charles ; Fred, 
deceased; John, deceased; Minnie, deceased; 
Martin, of Chicago; Fredericka. who married 
A. P. Hanky, of Evanstou ; and William aud 
Theodore, deceased. 

Charles Becker went to school until fourteen 
years of age in Germany, and worked on farms 
"until coming to this counti-j- at the age of twenty 
years. After locating here he worked as a farm 
"hand, aud in iS-Sf imrchased his father's farm 
in Mound Townsliiii, adding thereto until he 
owned 174 acres, which has been oi)erated by 
his sons since his retirement in February, 1908. 
On October 5. 18C4, Mr. Becker enlisted from 
Will County, 111., for one year or during the 
war, in Company A, Twentieth Regiment. Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Milken and Col. 
King, and camped at Springfield, until the fol- 
lowing spring, when the regiment was sent to 
Golds'boro, N. C. in which vicinity it remained 
until the close of hostilities. Mr. Becker re- 
ceived his honorable discharge at Chicago, 111, 

On November 10, 1S70, Mr. Becker was mar- 
ried to Bertha Richard, daughter of Joachim 
and Minnie Richard, aud to this union were 
born ten children, as follows: Martin, who died 
in infancy ; Anne. Mrs. John Klitzing, of Cham- 
paign County; John, who is deceased; Bertha, 
Mrs. Otto Klitzing of Champaign County ; Mary, 
Mrs. &nest Winters of Altamont ; Emily, Mrs. 
Herman Haker of Moccasin Township ; Paulina, 
who died aged eight years; and Charles, Fred 
and Adolph, who are working the home farm. 

In 1800 Mrs. Becker died on the farm, and 
in 1890 Mr. Becker was married (second) to 
Mrs. Mary Krueger, daugliter of John and 
Fredericka (Ohlenburg) Klitzing, and to this 



union there were bom two children : Walter, 
who died aged five years; and one who died in 
infancy. Mrs. Becker was born July 28, 1857, 
in Chicago, and when five years of age was 
taken to Moccasin Township by her parents, 
where she attended the public schools. She 
was married (first) to Mr, Krueger, who died 
in February, 1892. They bad eight children, 
of whom two survive : Amanda and Rosa, both 
of whom are single. 

Mr. and Mrs. Becker are Lutherans, and while 
living in the countrj'. lie was trustee of St. Paul's 
Lutheran Church for eighteen years. He is a 
stanch Democrat in politics and has served as 
Road (Overseer for eight years. 

BELLCHAMBER, Charles Edward, D. M. D.— 
The dentist of today is a man thoroughly trained, 
whose e.xperience has been gained under the 
.supervision of experts. Not onl,v has he taken 
the exacting c-ourse of studj-, but he keeps 
abreast by reading and attendance ui)ou lectures, 
of all the discoveries aud imiirovemeuts in his pro- 
fession. If it were not for the fact that the 
teeth of the human race are deteriorating so 
rapidly, the science of dental surgery would pre- 
serve them Indefinitely. Among the leading ex- 
ponents of this profession in Effingham County, 
Dr. Charl.?s Edward Bellchamber occupies an en- 
viable position. He was born in Effingham De- 
cember 15. 1875, a .son of William and Ella 
( Carroll ) Bellchaml)er. 

After graduating from the Effingham Public 
Schools in 1803. Dr. Bellchamber turned his 
attention towards the law, aud studied with 
Hon. J. N. Gwin. but finally concluded that his 
inclination la.v more in the direction of dentistry, 
and so in 1895. he entered the Dental Depart- 
ment of Washington University (Mis.souri Den- 
tal College) at St. Louis, from which he 
was graduated April 28. 1898, with the de- 
gree of D. M. D. On May 10, 1898, he 
began the ]iractice of his profession in his 
native city, and now has not only the largest, 
but the best practice in Effingham County, and 
many of his patients come to him from a distance. 
His office at 120 S. Fifth Street, where he also 
resides, is .splendidly equipped with all the ai> 
pliances known to dental science, and he is thor- ' 
oughly proficient, and some of his work has 
been nothing less than remarkable. 

Dr. Bellchamber is a stanch Democrat, aud 
has represented his party in the City Council 
from the Second Ward, and his record in that 
body shows that he was a faithful official who 
carefully guarded the interests of his community. 
His fraternal connections are many, he belong- 
ing to the Modern Woodmen of America No. 451 
Effingham Lodge; the B. P. O. E. in which he 
is a life member ; Royal Arch Chapter No. 87 
and No. 149 A. F. & A. M. of Effingham, while 
professionally he belongs to the National Den- 
tal Association, the Illinois State Dental Society, 
the Wabash River Section of the State Society, 
and the Southern Illinois Dental Society, and is 




I. ^oU^ j^^H^^ ^2)d 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



715 



"Official Dentist" for St. Joseph College, Teu- 
topolis. 111. He is a Baptist in religious belief. 

Dr. Bellehanaber was married in Effing;liam, 
Ma.v 25. 1898, to Cora Maude (Bradley) Bell- 
chamber. 

Dr. and Mrs. Bellchamber are verj- popular 
socially, and in their church connections, and 
both are leaders in the society events among 
the younger set of married people. Dr. Bell- 
chamber is a most excellent dentist, conscien- 
tious, skilled and progressive, and from the very 
first practice has prosjiered. He has the full 
confidence of his city, not only as a professional 
man, but as a good citizen, and genial, pleasant 
companion. 

BELLCHAMBER, Harry A.— Every line of busi- 
ness is being successfully prosec-uted at Effing- 
ham, for it is of sufficient importance to command 
a large trade from the surrounding countrj", and 
tile people who make it their market demand 
the best of goods and service. One of the lead- 
ing business men of this citj- is Harry A. Bell- 
chamber, who carries on a plimibing and heat- 
ing establishment, and has won the confidence 
of those whom he serves. Mr. Bellchamber was 
t)orn in Effingham, May 3, 18.S.''>, a son of 'William 
Bellchamber, a history of whom appears else- 
where in this work, 

Harry A. Bellchamber was reared in his native 
cit.v, receiving an excellent education, and grad- 
uated from Effingham High School, Class of 
1901. He then commenced learning the trade 
of plumber, and in 3902 he purchased the stock 
owned by L. E. Grould, beginning business on 
his own account. In the years which have fol- 
lowed, Mr. Bellchamber has made such progress 
that he is now regarded as a leader in his line 
In this part of the State. Mr. Bellchamber 
makes a specialty of installing heating and hot 
water plants, and has executed some very im- 
portant contracts, not only in Effingham, but 
throughout the entire county, his work being 
satisfactory in every respect. His establishment 
is equipijed with all machinery and appliances 
necessary to the proper conduct of both branches 
of his business, and in the busy season he em- 
ploys from four to six assistants. 

On October 20, 1904, Mr. Bellchamber was 
married to Miss Sue Harrigan, daughter of Ed- 
ward Harrigan. Jlrs. Bellchamber is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church, towards which 
she gives liberally. Mr. Bellchamber is a mem- 
ber of the Elk.s and Modem American. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat, but although often solic- 
ited to ac-cept nomination, he has refused, as 
his time has been needed for the conduct of his 
business. Still a young man in years. Mr. Bell- 
chamber is old in experience in his work, and 
is justly proud of what he has been able to ac- 
complish in his little more than a quarter cen- 
tury of life. 

BERNHAkD, Louis.— The farming element is 
very strong in Summit Township, Effingham 



Count.v, 111., for this is essentially an agricul- 
tural locality, both soil and climate making it a 
good place for general farming. Louis Bern- 
hard, of Section 10, this township, is one of the 
leading young farmers and stock-men of the 
county. He was born in Moccasin Township, 
December 19. 1874, a son of Louis Bernhard. a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 
He attended school in the winter, and during 
the summer worked on the farm. So industrious 
was he, in his boyhood, that he oftentimes did 
more work in a day than his father. 

Until he attained his majority-, Louis Bern- 
hard, Jr., worked for his father, but then en- 
gaged by the month with Edward Austin, and 
continued with him for three years, when he 
left, though urged to remain, Mr. Bernhard then 
took a short trip, returning in 1899, when he 
located on the old farm, on account of the illness 
of his father. Owing to this, he had to abandon 
his own plans in order to take charge of the 
farm, and for t^vo years he acted as manager. 
At last he liought 160 acres of it on Section 10, 
and later bought the old home on Section 15. 
At the same time he continued to manage his 
mother's farm of 120 acres. 

On June 10, 19<:k8, Mr. Bernhard married Miss 
Emma Sporleder. born in Summit Township, 
June 7. 1884, daughter of Ernest Siwrleder, a 
farmer of that township. They lived with his 
mother until late that summer, when Mr. Bern- 
hard erected a beautiful cottage on Section 10, 
on his 160-acre farm. It is a modern home, with 
a furnace and running water. There is a tine 
basement under the main part. On December 
3, 1909, they moved into the new home, whicli 
is nicely furnislied and is one of the most pleas- 
ant in this part of the county. On April 30, 
1909, a daughter was born to them, whom they 
have named Lillian Louise. 

Mr, Bernhard has been one of the hard-work- 
ing progressive young men of this locality. He 
has saved his money and carefully invested it, 
now owning 280 acres of choice farming land. 
Each year he has fine crops of corn, oats, wheat 
and hay. When he first began dairying, he had 
the high grade short horn stock, but now pre- 
fers the Holstein breed. All that Mr. Bernhard 
possesses he has earned, and he deserves the suc- 
cess to which he has attained, for he has never 
neglected a duty or wasted his substance or time. 
He is a member of the M. W. A., Shumway Camp 
Xo. 1233, In national politics Mr. Bernhard is 
a Democrat, but in local matters he prefei-s to 
vote for the man rather than for the party. For 
several years he filled the office of Township 
Clerk of Sununit Township. Mrs. Bernard be- 
longs to the Luther-Hi Church. Many local honors 
might have been Mr. Bernard's had he chosen 
to accept them, but lie has jirefen-ed to give his 
attention to his own affairs, although he is 
interested in the advancement of his locality, 
and takes a pride in the improvements that 
have been made since he was a boy. 



716 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



BERNHARD, Louis (deceased).— The German- 
Americans of tliis cciuiitry ai'c uuuibered among 
our best citizens, wlierever tliey are fouua. Tlie 
best element in Effingham County is -largely 
composed of those who \vere born in Germany 
or c-ome from German stoclv, and in no family 
is this more clearly shown than in that bearing 
the name of Bernhard. The late Louis Bern- 
hard was one of the pioneers of Effingham 
County. He was born in Baden. Germany, No- 
vember 25, 1831. and died in Ettingham County, 
111., February 13, 1809. In 1852 he came with 
friends to America and for a time lived in New 
York, then in St. Louis, where he engaged in a 
butchering business. From that city he went to 
St. Clair County, III., and worked at the car- 
penter trade. There he boarded with Jlrs. Chris- 
tina Freidberger, \N'liose sister, Sybella Keim, 
came from Germany, and the two met and were 
married at Belleville, September 27, 1859. He 
followed the carpenter trade until ISCA, when he 
came to what is now known as Blue Point, Moc- 
casin Township, Effingham County, where he had 
previously invested in eighty acres of land. The 
family began their pioneer life In a log cabin, 
but as soon as possible replaced this by a frame 
house. 

Mr. Bernhard had but little money when he 
came to the county, but was a frugal man and 
knew how to save; he finally opened a store in 
B1h« Point, which was the first and only one 
there, and naturally he had a good trade. He 
built his residence, barns and other structures 
on his farm, himself. In 187(3 he sold his store 
aud the family moved to Shumway, where he 
became a clerk in the store of his brother, 
Henry Bernhard, one of the successful mer- 
chants of the village. In 1S7S Mr. Bernhard 
bought 280 acres of land — 120 acres on Section 
15 and 160 on Section 10 — and 80 acres in Mocca- 
sin Township, making 360 acres in Effingham 
County. He also invested in thrrtj-three Shum- 
way town lots. He thus became one of the heavy 
land o\^^lers of this part of the county. He al- 
ways voted the Democratic ticket, and worked for 
his party, but while he was enthusiastic in this, 
he would never accept office. He and his wife 
were for many years consistent members of the 
Lutheran Church, and contributed liberally to- 
wards its support. 

Mrs. Bernhard was born in Hesse Darmstadt, 
Germany, October 28, 1837, and with her daugh- 
ter resides on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bernhard had the following children: George, 
born in St. Clair County, Seirtember 13, 1860, 
now residing in Effingham; Louisa M., born 
February 22, 1863. wife of Anton Leiendieker 
of Chicago ; Christina, born September 20, 1864, 
In Effingham, died March 7, 1907; Catherine, 
bom January 5. 1860. married Frederick Goupe, 
a farmer of Summit Township; Elizabeth, born 
August 14, 1868, at home with her mother; 
Regina, born December 17, 1872, died May 20, 
1903; Louis bom December 19, 1874, a sketch 
of -whom appears elsewhere in this work ; Annie 



M., born December 3, 1876, married Joseph Hoef- 
figer, a farmer of Lafayette County, Mo.; Su- 
sanna, born March 10, 1881, married Harry M. 
Coombe, and resides at Bourbon, 111., and two 
who died in Infancy. 

By his upright, steadfast. Christian life, Louis 
Bernhard set an example that his children are 
endeavoring to follow. He never willingly 
wronged a fellow being; he was honest in all 
his dealings, and through his hard work, econ- 
omy and good management, made a fortune, 
which his heirs are now enjoying, but at the 
same time he never lost the friendship or respect 
of those who knew him. 

BIRCK, John. — England has given to the world 
its greatest colonizers, and wherever an English- 
man is found, the community is bettered by his 
efforts. Etiingham Countj' owes much to these 
sturdy pioueei's who never jjermitted any hard- 
ships to daunt them but forged steadily to the 
front. One deserving of special mention is John 
Birck of West Township, an old soldier and 
honored resident of this locality. He was bora 
in Lancastershire, England. December 24, 1842, 
a son of Henry and Alice (Al worth) Birck, Ijoth 
natives of the same place. In 1854, Henry Birck 
came to the United States, landing in New York, 
whence he went to Rhode Island, and there 
worked as a teamster and stationao' engineer. 
He brought his family west in 1857, settling on 
eighty acres of land in West Township, which 
remained his home until he left the farm and 
located in the vicinity of Edgewood, where he 
still lives, being now eighty-eight years old. 

John Birck was twelve years old when the 
family came to this country, and here he received 
a limited education, remaining at home until the 
outbreak of the war. He then enlisted for a 
three years' service, at Mason, 111., in Company 
D, Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
Captain Dare and Colonel Harris commanding. 
The regiment was assigned to the Sixteenth 
Army Corps, under General Scofield. His service 
extended over tliree years and six months, and he 
had some exciting exiseriences, being taken pris- 
oner in Arkansas by troops belonging to the 
command of Marmaduke and Shelby. He was 
paroled on the field and joined his regiment at 
Little Rock, and was there mustered out, and 
discharged at Springfield, October 15, 1865. 

On October 5, 1870, Mr. Birck married Mary 
Elizabeth Gilraore, daughter of the Rev. Gil- 
more and Cynthia (Seals) Gllmore. After mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Birck located on eighty acres 
of land on Section 26, but In March, 1887, moved 
to the present home, a farm of 160 acres on 
Section 35, West Township. This property is 
a valuable one, made so through Mr. Birck's 
efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Birck have had the follow- 
ing children : James LeRoy of Edgewood, who 
married Maggie Lewis ; William of Cliicago, mar- 
ried Kitty (Jan-ett ; Jennie, Mrs. John Deweese 
of Shelbyville, 111. ; Nettie, Mrs. George Howkey, 
of Edgewood ; Flora, Mrs. Charles Ruff, of West 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



717 



Township; Fred, of Fayette County, married 
Emma Harper, and Riley, at home. 

Mr. Birck has always supported the principles 
of the Republican party in national affairs, but 
in local matters he likes to do his own thinking. 
A hard worker, thrifty in his habits, he has been 
able to accumulate a good propertj' and to 
bring up "his family comfortably. He and his 
wife are now enjoying some of the comforts their 
industr.v has produced, aud they have the friend- 
ship and esteem of all who know them. 

BISSELL, Lewis Horace. — Some men seem des- 
tined by nature to succeed. No matter what 
obstacles may appear in their paths, they are 
able to overcome them, if for no other reason 
than that of never giring up. Lewis Horace 
Bissell, of Effingham, 111., President of the Illi- 
nois College of Photography, and President of 
the Bissell College of Photo-Engraving, is one 
of the most successful men of Effingham County, 
and one who is intimately associated with its 
best interests. 

Mr. Bissell was born in Huntington, Ind., June 
29, 1S59, a son of Sanford Rockwell and Sarah 
(Preston) Bissell. Sanford R. BLssell was a 
Presbyterian minister, and he and his wife most 
earnest. Christian people. He organized the first 
Presbyterhin church in Effingham, and was its 
pastor for a protracted period. Both he and his 
wife were born in Connecticut, but lived in Ohio 
for a number of years. Mr. Bissell was a well 
educated man, upright in the highest degi-ee, and 
a great temperance worker. He was assisted 
in all of his work by his wife, who will long 
be remembered for her loving deeds and tender 
sympathy. 

WTien he was a lad of fifteen years. Lewis 
Horace Bissell entered a photogi-aph studio and 
learned the business from the beginning. Even- 
tually he opened a studio of his own. but his 
business develoiJed into the widely known Illinois 
College of Photography, and the Bissell College 
of Photo-Engraving, of each of which he is Presi- 
dent. Students attend these two schools from iUl 
parts of the counti"y. 

Mr. Bissell is a Democrat, served as a mem- 
ber of the City Council of Effingham from 1902 
to 1904, and was JIa.vor of the citj- from 1904 
to 190*1. Fraternally he is a Mason, a Knight 
of Pythias and an Elk. His religious affiliations 
are with the Presbyterian Church. 

On March 20. 1,S82 Mr. Bissell married Ruby 
Winston Wittle.s,sey, born .June 3. 1861, in La- 
crosse, Wis. Her ancestors were active partici- 
pants in the Revolutionary War and her father 
served in the Civil War. Jlr. and Mrs. Bissell 
are the parents of two children : Ruby Harriet, 
bom September 27. lS8.i. and James Garnet, 
bom October 14. ISSO. 

BOVARD, Rev. Charles E., proprietor of the 
Cottage Grove Stock Farm, at Mas^on. 111., is 
also the beloved pastor of the Alma Metliodist 
Episcopal Church, and is as widely known for 



the success v\-hieh has attended his ministry as 
for the excellence of the stock turned out from 
his farm. The standard in the breeding of 
roadsters all over the county has been set by 
him. He was born at Howard's Point, now St. 
Elmo, Payette County, 111.. July 2, 1803, a son 
of Elijah and Mary J. (Parker) Bovard. Grand- 
father Bovard was born in France and during 
the latter part of his life was a local Methodist 
preacher in Pennsylvania, where his son, Elijah 
Bovard was born. The Bovard family came to 
Fayette County at an early day as did also the 
Parker family, the latter coming from Ohio and 
originally from England. Elijah Bovard died in 
1870, hut his widow still survives and continues 
to live on the old homestead. She was reared 
in the Catholic faith but later united with the 
Jlethodist Episcopal Church. Four children 
were born to Elijah Bovard and wife, namely : 
Charles E. ; Orival E., who lives at Davenport, 
la., is a traveling salesman ; Fannie, who is the 
wife of Walter Spears, of Villa Grove; and 
Florence, who is the wife of Fred Eagelston, 
residing at Marion, 111. 

The boyhood days of Mr. Bovard were spent 
on the home farm, his primary education was 
obtained in the local schools and later he at- 
tended the public schools of St. Elmo. At the 
age of eighteen years he was converted in the 
old Methodist Church at St. Elmo, and then he 
began the close study of the Bible which his 
good mother had provided. The little red-bound 
Testament was his c-onstant companion, and he 
pondered on the wise sayings and inspiring sug- 
ge.stions found within its covers, when he was 
plowing a furrow, working in the din of the 
threshing machine, or driving his binder or mow- 
ing machine, and thus the conviction was forced 
upon him that he was called to the ministrj'. 
When twenty-one years of age he was given a 
charge at Shobonier. 111., where he preached 
one year, and so earnest were his appeals and 
so zealous his work for souls, that he added 
more than one hundred names to the churc'h roll 
during that time. Jleauwhile. he began to recog- 
nize his need of more thorough training for his 
work, and when twenty-two years old he entered 
McKendree College, where he took a three-year 
theological course, leaving in 1888, and in the 
same year had charge of the Mason Church. 
For two years he served lx>th the Mason and 
Edgewood Churches and, as at first, his preach- 
ing added ere long to the membership of those 
congregations. Subsequently tie had charges at 
Alma. Carlyle, Altamont aud other points, up 
to 1900, when he partially retired from active 
ministerial labor, on account of failing health. 
He still has charge of the church at Alma and 
is much beloved by his congregation, old and 
.voung. 

In 1884 Mr. Bovard was married (first) to 
Miss Elizabeth Fletcher, of St. Elmo, who died 
in 1889, leaving two children, — Beula'h and 
Enola. both of whom are successful teachers. 
His second marriage took place in 1890. to Miss 



718 



EFFINGHAM COUxXTY 



Laura Cannon, born at Mason, 111., daughter of 
Ira Cannon, an honored pioneer and a survivor 
of the War of the Rebellion. The folowing chil- 
dren have been born to this union : Alma B., 
who i.s a graduate of the Mason schools ; Lois, 
who died in infancy ; George, who died in in- 
fancy ; and Charles. Paul. Robert and Nellie. 

In 1900, Mr. Bovard purehasetl the thirty- 
acre farm of Ira Cannon, adjoining the village 
of Mason, and to this he added 145 acres, having 
125 acres under cultivation. In operating his 
farm. Mr. Bovard has gained his normal health 
and is thus better fitted for the many duties 
that devolve upon him. From his Iwyhood he has 
admired a good horse and thoroughly under- 
stands these useful and intelligent animals. For 
a number of years he has raised horses and 
has tried to improve the standard. The first 
horse he raised from good stock he named 
"Bismarck." and this animal was the sire of a 
long list of fast roadsters which have made his 
stock fann notable. In addition to his sjieedy 
horses, he has fine Jersey cattle and the best 
gi-ade of hogs, and has in contemplation the ad- 
dition of Angora goats. 

In polities Mr. Bovard is a Republican but he 
is greatl.v interested in the cause of temimrance 
and has served as chairman of the Local Option 
Committee. For four years he served also as 
a member of the Town Board. 

BOYD, John L., proprietor of the beautiful 
M.-ijili'luirst Farm, of 120 acres, on Section 20, 
West Township. Eflingham County, 111., inherited 
this iiro])erty from his father, who had inherited 
it from his father's estate, so it is now the prop- 
erty of the third generation of owners. The 
Boyd family is of Irish e.xtraetion, Mr. Boyd's 
grandfather, James Boyd, having been born in 
County Tj'rone, Ireland, March 28. 1811. James 
Boyd received a good education in his native 
land and there learned the trade of a stone-cut- 
ter. Coming to America in young manhood, he 
worked at his trade in New York City, later 
moving to Columbiana Countj-, Ohio, and still 
later to Washington County, same State. His 
next removal was to St. Louis, where he heli>ed 
put up the stone work on the court house in that 
city. lie next located in Edwardsville, 111., and 
I)ought a farm in that vicinity which he operated 
in connection with his trade. In addition, 
he became an extensive cattle dealer. In the 
spring of 1808 he moved to West Township, 
Effingham County, where he bouglit 120 acres on 
Section 20, now owned b.v his grandson, John L.. 
and here he died in the fall of 1869, being buried 
in Gilmore Cemetery. He was a member of the 
Church of England. His wife, whom he mar- 
ried in New York City, died in 1880. at the age 
of sevent.v-three years. They had eliildren as 
follows: John M.. father of John L. ; James W., 
who died at Gray's Ridge, Mo., while Fife Major 
In an Illinois Regiment — had married Caroline 
M. Almyr; Mary Jane, married W. B. .Tohnson. 
and died in Edwardsville, 111. ; Sarah M., mar- 



ried Werner Phenninger; Angelica, married J. 
T. Fahnestock. 

John M. Boyd was born in Columbiana County, 
Ohio. Februarj- 18, 18.38, and was still a child 
when his parents moved to St. Louis, where he 
was educated. He was reared on a farm and as- 
sisted his father in the work in which he was 
engaged. He came with his jiarents to Effingham 
and inherited the homestead, becoming a suc- 
cessful farmer and dealing extensively in cattle. 
He retired from active life in 1899. and since 
then has been a resident of Loogootee, 111., being 
one of the most esteemed men of that locality. 
While in active life he was a powerful factor 
in the business life of Effingham County, and 
made a record for honorable dealing of which 
he may be justl.v proud. Mr. Boyd married 
Emma C. Leonard, daughter of Jonas Leonard, 
and their only child is John L. 

John L. Boyd was born on the farm which 
he now occupies, November 5, 1869, and was 
there reared to manhood, enjoying the advan- 
tages offered by the schools of West Township. 
His first teacher was John Campl>ell, and among 
the others were Amanda Spragg, Rose Milling- 
ton, Sadie Brets and Emma Fulton. When he 
was nineteen years of age Jlr. Boyd left home 
and learned telegraphy, and when twenty-one 
became operator and Station Agent at Venedy, 
111., remaining in that position four years. After 
si>ending another three years in a similar posi- 
tion at Dahlgren, 111., he was assigned to extra 
work in various parts of the countr.v. In 1899 
he left this occupation to take charge of the 
home farm, being at that time In the employ of 
the Chicago. Peoria & St. Louis Railroad, at 
East St. Louis. Since then he has improved 
the homestead by erecting a new barn and other 
outbuildings, and inaugurating other changes. 
In iMlitics Mr. Boyd is a stanch Republican, and 
altho\igh not a member of any church, he in- 
clines toward the Methodist belief. 

September 17. 1893. Mr. Boyd married Nellie 
Myrtle .Tones, of Opdyke. 111., daughter of Lewis 
E. and Katie B. (Burns) Jones, and they have 
one son. Gratton Everett, born September 23, 
ISiWr. now attending high school at Sparta. Mrs. 
Boyd is an artist of remarkable talent and 
her landscape and animal .studies are exceedingly 
true to nature and .show fine drawing and color 
work. However, it is as a sculptor that she has 
done her best work. She moulds in cement, work- 
ing with very crude tools, and the results are as 
tonishing. Her bust of Lincoln is worthy a 
place in any art gallery, especially as working 
with cement is her owu idea. Both Mr. Boyd 
and his wife have many friends in the county, 
and their home is the gathering i>lace upon 
numerous occasions, as those who have once en- 
joyed its hospitalit.v return whenever opixjrtun- 
ity offers. 

BRACKEN, WiUiam S.— The skillful and ener- 
getic farmer in Efflnsfliam County, especially if 
ixjssessed of fertile land, can always be sure of 




MR. AXIl MRS. D.WIl) H. lit H.l.. i\\ AV 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



719 



a substantial return for his labor, but many of 
the enterprising men of this section have not 
confined their attentions to agricultural pursuits, 
but have c-ombined with farming other industries, 
In which they have become equally successful. 
An example of this tyi^e of business men in 
Jackson Township, Effingbam County, is William 
S. Bracken, the owner of a fine tract of 145 acres 
of farming land, who also owns and success- 
fully operate a sawmill. Mr. Bracken was 
born in Effingham County, April 7, 1870, a son 
of Buchanan and Delia (Sarver) Bracken. 

The parents of Mr. Bracken were both bom 
in Virginia, and when .voung accompanied their 
parents to Tennessee, where they were man-ied. 
In 18G1 they moved to Illinois, settling in Effing- 
ham County, where the remainder of their lives 
was spent, the mother dying in January, 1891, 
and the father surviving until 19(>1, both being 
buried in the Sulphur Springs Cemeteiy in Ma- 
sou Township. They were the parents of the 
following children : Mary W., wife of Wiley 
Hunter, but now deceased ; Ella, wife of William 
Jenks, a resident of Jackson Township ; John ; 
Bryce ; Rhoda, wife of Frank Baughman ; Gil- 
more; Lottie, wife of Halleck Eugram, now de- 
ceased; Julia, deceased; Delia, wife of Owen 
Smith, of Jackson Township ; William S.. and 
two who died in infancy. Buchanan Bracken 
served for one year in the Kentucky State 
Militia, in the Home Guard dut>'. 

Wiliam S. Bracken received the advantages 
of a good public school education in his native 
countj', and remained at home on the farm 
until the death of his mother, when he began 
working out by the month on farms in the 
neighborhood. He was married in Effingham 
County, Febniary 10, 1897, to Maud Parker, 
who was also bom in that county, April 17, 1878, 
a daughter of Adwln and Martha (Broekett) 
Parker, who now reside on a farm in Jackson 
Township, Mr. and Mrs. Parker were the par- 
ents of six children : Claude ; Maud ; Blanche, 
the wife of Walter Mesnard ; Burrell and Pearl, 
t^vins, the latter of whom is the wife of Walter 
Fry ; and Tracy, the wife of Charles Davis. Mr. 
Parker saw three years of hard and active ser- 
vice in the War of the Rebellion, being a member 
of the Ninety-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry. 

After their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bracken 
settled nix)n a farm in Jack.son Township, and 
In 190,S located on their ppeseut farm. With the 
exception of one .vear they have spent their en- 
tire married life in this township. Mr. Bracken 
now owns a tract of 1-15 acres of well improved 
farming property, on whicli is located a fine resi- 
dence and substantial barn, and here he suc- 
cessfully carries on general farming. In ad- 
dition he owns considerable real estate in other 
portions of Illinois, including a half-interest in 
city propertj' in Bement. 111., valued at alxmt 
$1,000. He also oijerates a sawmill near his 
home, which has a capacity of 5,000 feet daily, 
and in all is considered one of the substantial 



men of his communit.v. where his sterling in- 
tegrity has won the confidence of his fellow- 
townsmen. In politics a Republican, he is stanch 
in the support of his party, although he has never 
sought public preferment. With his wife, he is 
active in the work and supiwrt of the Methodist 
Church in Jackson Township. 5Ir, and Mrs. 
Bracken have been the parents of four children, 
one of whom died in infancy, the others being, 
Roy, James and Burrell. 

BRADEN, James S.— In spite of the handicap 
of crude tools, [X)or irrigation and wild, un- 
tamed land, the farmers of fifty years ago were 
able, through their knowledge of agricultural 
methods and conditions, by hard work and un- 
tiring perseverance, to make their farms yield 
good crops, and the man who kept everlastingly 
at it was able to amass a competency for his 
later years. In these days, however, the work 
is not .so hard, nor .success so difficult to attain, 
and the farmers of the .vounger generation are 
making records in the raising of crops that should 
cause those cf former years to look to their 
laurels. James S. Braden, a successful young 
farmer of Section 9, Union Township. Effingham 
County, was born in Washington County, Ind., 
January .31. 1871. a son of John and Sarah 
(Pennington) Braden. 

John Braden was a native of Tennessee, and 
in young manhood moved to Indiana, where he 
was married to Sarah Pennington, a native of 
the latter State. He had served in the Union 
army from 1862 to 1805, and in 1886 moved to 
Effingham County. 111., where he continued to 
reside until March, 1905, after the death of his 
wife, when he went to make his home witli a 
son in Sangamon County. 111., where he now 
resides. Of eleven children lioru to John Braden 
and wife, five gi-ew to maturity, as follows : 
Charles, with whom the father makes his home 
in Sangamon Countj- ; JIary, wife of Henry 
Boggs, a farmer in Sangamon County; Blanche, 
living with her brother Charles ; Elsie, deceased, 
who was the wife of Charles Beck, of Sangamon 
County ; and James S. 

James S. Braden was educated in the common 
-schools of Indiana, and of Watson Township, 
Effingham County, and at the age of thirteen 
years began to make his own wa.y in the world. 
At the age of fourteen, he commenced work on a 
farm at $7 per month, and after five months' 
employment — during which time he was never 
absent from his work for a day — he secured a 
position at .$9, and there kept up his clean record 
for the ensuing five months. His next wages 
were .$13 per month, and he soon went to the 
northern part of the State, eventually return- 
ing to his home. Later still, he began to work 
for William M. Abraham, with whom he con- 
tinued three years. On December 25, 18S9, Mr. 
Braden was married to .lane Ashle.v, who was 
born March 10, 1871, a daughter of William and 
Armilda (Bozarth) Ashle.v, natives of Kansas 
and early settlers of Clark County, 111. Mr. 



r20 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Ashley was a soldier in tbe Mexican War and 
later entered the Twenty-sixth Regiment, Illinois 
Volnuteers, with which he served through the 
Civil War. He died In 1901, his widow still 
surviving and making her home in EfBngham 
County. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Bradeii rented a farm in Watson Township, 
which they operated until 1893, when he again 
went to work for Mr. Abraham, his old employer, 
continuing with him for three years. From Mr. 
Abraham he rented a farm in Union Township 
until 19(10, when he bought a tract of forty acres 
in Se<-tlon 9, Union Township, on which was 
located a log cabin. He at once commenced to 
cultivate his land, adding to it, until he now 
has a tract comprising 280 acres, seventy-five 
acres of which are timber, the rest being under 
cultivation. During later years, Mr. Braden 
has given much attention to the raising of stock, 
and he now owns thirteen head of fine horses, 
including some Percheron mares, as well as prize 
mules and Duroe Jersey hogs. His present suc- 
cess In life is due to his own Industi-y and per- 
severance, and, as a selfmade man, his record 
is an inspiration to the enterprising youth of the 
community. 

Mr. and Mrs. Braden had seven children : John, 
born March 8. 189.3; Ethel, January 18, 1895; 
Pearl, March 10. 1897; Inez, February 2C, 1899; 
Rtissell, December 19, 1901 ; Avis, April 23, 1905 ; 
and Loua, May 18, 1909. 

Mrs. Braden was a devoted member of the 
Christian Church, as also is her husband. 

On October 11, 1909, Mrs. Braden died, a loss 
that was deeply felt by her bereaved husband 
and their seven children. Owing to the tender 
age of his children — all except the older son 
ranging from fourteen years to four and a half 
months — Mr. Braden's friends advised him to 
place them in charge of some friendly families. 
After careful consideration, he declined to do 
so, preferring, with the aid of his older son 
and daughters, to care for them, and the wis- 
dom of his determination Is shown In the fact 
that, while they all mourn the loss of their faith- 
ful and devoted mother, the younger members 
of the family are being well cared for. The 
older daughters. Ethel, at fourteen years of age, 
and her sister, at twelve, are making a record 
as housekeepers of which their father Is justly 
proud, believing it can nowhere be suipassed. 
Besides earing for their younger sister, at less 
than five months of age at the time of her 
mother's death, they are keeping the home in 
neat condition and ui>to-date. while their brother, 
John, at seventeen years of age, cannot be beaten 
in the zeal and energj- with which he follows 
out his daily task as a farmer without com- 
plaint, giving promise of a highly successful 
future. 

The success which has attended Mr. Braden's 
business Is indicated by the fact that, while start- 
ing out In life with few advantages and depend- 
ent ui)on his personal labor, even in Iwyhood, 
for means of subsistence, he is now the owner 



of 280 acres of land developed by his own In- 
dustry and enterprise, of which as much as 100 
acres are devoted to that stable commodity of 
Illinois, Indian corn, and the local maxim Is, 
"whenever any corn is raised in the country, 
just look in Jim's crib and you will find some 
of It." 

Politically Mr. Braden is a Republican and 
has served his District as School Director. His 
fraternal relations are with the Yeomen of 
Watson, and Camp No. 2705, Modern Woodmen 
of .\meriea. 

BRADLEY, Benjamin F.— The Illinois farmer, 
if he is enteri>rising and energetic, is usually 
loath to transfer the control of his oijerations 
to other hands, even when he has reached an 
age that men in other lines of industrj- would 
consider advanced years, but when finally he 
does relinquish his hold on active labor and 
retires to a residence in the city, he makes one 
of the substantial, solid citizens of his new 
community, and as such Is a welcome addition. 
One of the best and most favorably known men 
of Effingham County, 111., residing at Xo. 326 
South Third Street, Efiingham, was born in 
Summit Township, Effingham County, 111., No- 
vember 13. 1845, sou of Joshua Bradley. 

Joshua Bradley, who was for many years a 
teacher in the suliseription schools of the pioneer 
days of Effingham County, became noted through- 
out the comity fur bis extreme kindness and good- 
nes.s of heart. No worthy claim ever made on 
his time or resources was refused, and many 
of the successful men of today can look back 
to the time \\-lien their start in life was given 
them by this grand old pioneer. Reared in a 
Christian home, with .such a father for a teacher 
and guide, it is only natural that Benjamin F. 
Bradley should inherit many of the worthy traits 
of his father. His education was secured in the 
schools of his day. and until seventeen years of 
age he remained on the home farm. At the 
time of the call for 300.000 volunteers to avenge 
the Insult when the flag was fired upon at Fort 
Sumter, young Bradley, fired with enthusiasm, 
was the second man to offer his services to his 
country, but his youthful appearance caused his 
refusal. However, in February, 1862, he was 
accepted as a member of Company A, Twenty- 
sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, be- 
ing mustered in for three years' service at Spring- 
field, and accompanied the regiment to Nash- 
ville. Tenu., afterwards serving with this, the 
hardest fighting regiment from Illinois, in its 
fifty-six battles, the sieges of Atlanta and Vicks- 
burg. the JIarch to the Sea with Sherman, and 
the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. at the 
close of the war. Mr. Bradley had no hospital 
service, never missed a roll call, or failed to be 
on hand to partake of his hard tack and rations, 
and was ever ready to do his full dutj' as a 
soldier, cheerfully, bravely and faithfully. After 
the Grand Review, the T\venty-.sixth was sent 
to Louisville, Ky., where the regiment remained 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



721 



until July 20, 1865, and then was sent to Spring- 
field, where the soldiers received their honor- 
able discharge. 

On December 29. 38CD, Mr. Bradle.v was mar- 
ried to Sarah E. Morgan, who was born in Craw- 
ford County, Ind., November 30, 1851, daughter 
of John J. and Sarah (Short) Morgan, natives 
of Kentucky, who were married young and be- 
came early settlers of Indiana, later moving to 
Coles County, 111., where both died, being in- 
terred in Dodge Grove Cemeter.v. For two 
years after their marriage, Jlr. and Mrs. Brad- 
le.v resided on the farm on which he had been 
tK>rn, and then removed to Mattoon. 111., where 
he accepted employment with the Big Four 
Railroad, with which he was identified until 
1876, and in the latter year purchased a farm 
in Effingham County. From 1879 until 1900 he 
was in continuous service with the Vandalia 
Railroad Comjiany, and it was with regi-et that 
the Company received notice of his resignation 
in the latter .year, when he again resumed farm- 
ing and shipping stock, continuing in this line 
with much success until 1905, when he practically 
■retired from active pursuits. He was an ex- 
cellent .iudge of stock, and his opinion was often 
consulted on the stock market, while buyers 
from all over the country preferred to deal with 
him rather than others. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bradle.v have never been blessed 
with any children ot their own, but their hearts 
have gone out to those who have been unfortu- 
nate, although deserving. The extent of their 
charities in this wa.v will never be fully known, 
hut almost countless boys and girls, who in no 
other wa.v would have known it, have realized 
the loving kindness and tender affection of par- 
ents through them. Fred Bradley, whom they 
reared and educated, was taken by them as a 
child of six months, and is now an honored cit- 
izen of Eflingham. Florence R. Bradley was 
found on the seat of a car. ticketed to an oiphan 
asylum, by Mr. Bradley, who was on a trip to 
Terre Haute. Ind.. .lanu'ary 2. 1889. He took the 
child home, and at once his kind-hearted wife 
decided that the.v should raise the little one, 
who is now holding a lucrative position as stenog- 
rapher with a large St. Louis concern, and 
every second Sunday makes a visit to the home 
of her benefactors, to see "Pa" and "Ma." Ed- 
ward Francis Morgan, who came to Mr. and 
Mrs. Bradley after the death of his mother, 
when he was two years old, is now living with 
them. William .T. Morgan, now State Factory 
In.spector of Missouri, owes and credits his suc- 
cess in life to this couple, who took him to their 
hearts and home when he was fourteen years of 
age, gave him an excellent education and reared 
him to be a vigorous, honorable man. Samuel 
Majors, now principal of schools of Houston, 
Tex., and one of the leading educators of the 
State, was given his educational advantages by 
Mr. and ilrs. Bradley. 

To use another's words : "Mr. and Mrs. Brad- 
ley are doing God's own work.'' Having in their 



hearts that love and tenderness which may find 
its truest expression when bestowed uiwn little 
ones, and beiug deprived of children of their 
own. they have given their lives to assisting 
little ones to grow up into good women and 
.strong men, and now in their declining years 
can look back with satisfaction upon their handi- 
work. Long after they have passed away their 
memories will be honored and kept green, not 
only in the hearts of those whom they have as- 
sisted directly, but those who saw and recog- 
nized their true worth In other ways. 

Mrs. Bradley has been a life-long member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and is active in the 
work of that denomination, the Sunday school 
and the Women's Christian Temijerance Union. 
Although not directly couuected with any de- 
nomination of a religious nature, Mr. Bradley 
has been ever ready to give of his time and 
means for the support of educational and relig- 
ious movements. Socially he is a member of 
Yates Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 
88, in which he has passed all the chairs ; of the 
Modern Woodmen of America, Tall Timber Camp 
No. 351 ; and the Order of Railroad Conductors. 
In political matters he is a stanch and earnest 
Republican. 

BRADLEY, Edwin E.— The city of Effingham, 
111., has its full quota of successful business 
men. and all lines of business endeavor are 
represented. Mr. Edwin E. Bradley, one of the 
city's prominent business citizens of the younger 
generation, was Iwni at Altamont, 111., Decem- 
ber 19, 1875, a son of John H. Bradley, whose 
sketch in this volume contains further history 
of the family. 

Edwin E. Bradley began his education in his 
native city, and in 1887 went with his father to 
Terre Haute. Ind.. where he continued his 
studies, completing same in the schools of Effing- 
ham. At the age of sixteen years he left school 
to learn the marble business, m the shop of his 
father, and was given a thorough training In 
all branches of this work, continuing as a work- 
men until 1897, when he purchased the shop 
of Cole & Nireder, at AltamOnt, and conducted 
at that place successfully until 1903. In this 
year he bought his father's shop in Effingham, 
and consolidated the two, and here he has con- 
tinued to the present time. He installed a pneu- 
matic plant, having a compressed air drill for all 
engraving, has an overhead traveling crane for 
lifting and moving heavy blocks of marble, and 
estimates that he can now handle five tons more 
easily than he could 100 pounds in the old way. 
At liis ijlant, situated at the corner of South 
Banker and Section Streets, may be found all 
kinds of foreign and domestic granite, and most 
of the fine work at the cemetery has been done 
by Mr. Bradley, \Vho makes a specialty of fine 
design work of any kind desired. He also does 
all kinds of cut stone building work, and deals 
extensively in crushed stone. 

On .June 19, 19t>3, Mr. Bradley was married to 



722 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Miss Adeline Goetting, of Altamoiit, wlio was 
born at St. Louis. Mo., December 25, 1878. Tliree 
children have been born to this union, namely : 
Margaret, born April 11, 19(>1 ; Helen, born April 
10, 190C ; and Eugenia, born December 21, 1908. 
Mr. Bradle.v is a member of the Baptist Church, 
while his wife is a Lutheran. He is socially 
connected with the A. F. & A. M., the B. P. O. B. 
and the M. W. A., of Effingham. In iwlitieal 
matters he is a Democrat, and is somewhat lib- 
eral in his views. He has ever been read.v to ad- 
vance the interests of his State, where the fam- 
ily has lieen in the marble business .since Illinois 
was admitted to the Union. 

BRADLEY, John H.— The growth and develop- 
ment of Effingham County, 111., has been rapid 
and sure, and the present general prosperity of 
the county is due to the efforts of citizens who 
have been steadfast and earnest in their efforts 
in behalf of progress. One who has made his 
home in the City of Effingham all of his life, 
although now practically retired from active 
work, is John H. Bradley, who for many years 
was engaged in the marble business there. Bom 
in Summit Township, Effingham County, De- 
cember 19, 1854, Mr. Bradley is a son of Joshua 
and Susan (Bourland-Flaek) Bradley, and 
comes of an old pioneer family of this part of 
Illinois. 

It is related that In the early settlement of 
the State, Hughes Bradley, the great-grand- 
father of John H., was killed by the Indians 
near Kaskaskia. He had gone across the river 
to a point where he had a truck patch, when he 
was surprised and shot by the Indians, who also 
killed one of the children before the frantic 
mother, who was handling the oars in the canoe, 
could get out of range. However, she managed 
to drag the child out of the water, and with the 
two bodies rowed across the river. The child 
had been shot in the breast, but recovered, and 
lived to tell the experience in after years and 
show an a^A-ful scar. This early pioneer home 
was often the stopping place of the Indians, who 
came for milk and other supplies, and when 
General LaFayette made his trip to this section 
of the country in 1825, he stoiiped there and was 
given buttermilk and corn bread by John H. 
Bradle.v's grandmother. 

Susan Bourland was bom in Kentucky, from 
■wliich State she came to Illinois, her father, 
Andrew Bourland, being at that time Enrolling 
and Engrossing Clerk at the State Capital. Her 
first husband was Milton Flack, one of the orig- 
inal surveyors of the State, and the first Post- 
master of Effingham County, the office being 
situated on the old State Road at Freemanton. 
B.v her first marriage she had two children : 
James -V. Flack, who still resides in Effingham, 
and ;i daughter who died in infancy. Her sec- 
ond marriage was to Joshua Bradle.v, who was 
Ixirn in Jackson County, 111., a son of James H. 
Bradley, who was the first man to do stone cut- 
ting and monument work in this part of the 



State, shaping boulders and sandstone into mon- 
uments in honor of the memory of the old pio- 
neers who passed to their reward ; he was also a 
maker of grindstones. The son, Joshua Brad- 
ley, having learned the business, in 1860 estab- 
lished himself in this enterprise and l>ought th^ 
business of a Mr. Gribbins. He continued in the 
marble business until his death, in 1890, and was 
successful to a large degree. His family con- 
sisted of the following children : Lucy, who died 
in infancy ; B. F.. a resident of Effingham ; J. F., 
decea.sed ; John H. ; Mary V.. the wife of A. J. 
Glo.vd of St. Elmo. 111. ;" and William A., who 
died in infancy. The mother of these children 
survived until 1904. 

John H. Bradley was educated in the common 
schools, after leaving which he went Into the 
shop with his father and continued in that busi- 
ness the rest of his active life. In 1887 he took 
charge of the establishment, and continued to 
operate it successfully until 190.3, when, on ac- 
count of ill health, he was compelled to give up 
his duties in the shop and since that time has 
been practically retired, although he still does 
some outside work, including the taking of or- 
ders. In the latter named year he sold out the 
business to his son, Edwin E., who has since 
been conducting it. 

Mr. Bradley was married to Mi.ss Sarah Kag- 
way, daughter of Daniel H. Kagway, one of the 
old pioneers of the county and a carpenter by 
trade. The following children have been bom to 
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley : Edwin E., a slcetch of 
whose successful career will be found in another 
part of this volume; C. Maude, wife of Dr. C. E. 
Bellchamber. whose sketch is also in this work ; 
Mabel, who died at the age of thirteen years; 
Nellie E.. the wife of T. A. Seller, of Peru, Ind. ; 
Walter W.. a baker of Terre Haute. Ind. : Otis 
Roy, connected with the Wellman Tobacco 
Company, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Ralph E., a marble 
cutter by trade, employed in the shop of his 
brother; Lottie Irene, at home: and Mont and 
Mart, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy. 
In political matters Mr. Bradley is a Democrat, 
and for four years held the office of Town Clerk 
of Mound Township. Fraternally he is connected 
with the Jlodern Woodmen of America, at 15f- 
fingham. and with his wife is a member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church. 

BRADLEY, William C, for thirty-five years a 
resident of Effingham County, III., where he has 
seen man.v changes take place, and as a veteran 
of the great Civil War throughout which he 
served with credit to himself and his country, is 
now retired after a long and useful life spent in 
agricultural pursuits, his only occupation being 
that of caring for his truck farm in Watson vil- 
lage. Mr. Bradley was lx)rn near Shiloh Hill, 
Jackson County. 11!.. May 10. 18.'?5. a son of 
James H. and Martha (Hughes) Bradley, two of 
the most prominent pioneer families of Illinois. 

James H. Bradley was born in North Carolina 
in 1797, and was reared in Tennessee, whence his 





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1 



/^./t^^ ^ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



723 



father emigrated in 1819. He went witli Gen- 
eral Jaclison to Xew Orleans, and served in tlie 
battle near that cit.v under Captain Coffee and 
General Carroll. He continued under General 
Jackson to the close of the war, and after his 
return home in 1815. settled in Jackson County, 
111., where he married Martha Hughes, who in 
the early days was known as "Aunt Patsie." 
Mr. Bradley was a stone-cutter by trade, and for 
many years lived on his fanu and manufactured 
monuments and chimney foundations. His death 
occurred in 1806, his wife having passed away 
in 1814. Mr. Bradley lived all of his later life 
in Jackson County, his death occurring near 
Shiloh Hill. Six of the thirteen children of 
James H. and Martha Bradley grew to niaturity. 
namely : William C. ; Joshua ; James H.. a sol- 
dier, who was honorably discharged and acei- 
dentall.v killed after his return home; Richard, 
who went to California ; Mary Ann, who married 
Nathan Woodridge and died in California. 

William C. Bradley began his school days in 
Jackson County, and one of his sch(X)lmates at 
Shiloh Hill College was that great soldier. Gen- 
eral John A. Logan, who was one of Mr. Brad- 
ley's warmest Iwyhood friends, an attachment 
that continued throughout the General's life. 
Mr. Bradley remembers him as an upright, fear- 
less lad, and a leader among the friends of 
youth, as he was later to become such a great 
leader of men. Mr. Bradley's last meeting with 
the General was while the latter was a member 
of the United States Senate, when for three 
hours at the old Logan Hotel the two talked over 
Iwyhood days, and when it came time for the 
General to speak, he took Jlr. Bradley's arm and 
led him to the platform where he gave him a 
seat on his right hand. This incident, which 
served to prove that General rx>gan never for- 
got a friend, occurred during the campaign of 
1872. 

Mr. Bradley left his home when he was six- 
teen years of age to make his home mth an un- 
cle. Richard A. Bradley, who was twice elected 
to the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket. 
In 1S55 Mr. Bradley went to Warren County, 
HI., where he remained until lS."iO, and then went 
back to Jackson County, where he was farming 
in 1861. In July of that year he enlisted in 
Company I, Tenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer 
Infanti-y, and on August 3 following was mus- 
tered in with the rank of Sergeant for three 
years under command of Col. James D. Jlorgan. 
In April. 1862. the regiment was sent to New 
JIadrid, from whence in Payne's Brigade it went 
to Island No. 10 ; was later engaged in the first 
campaign against Corinth. Miss., and operations 
in Alabama and Tennessee, taking part in the 
march to Knoxville. and afterwards for several 
months on duty about Nashville. It also took 
part in the engagements at Dalton Gap. Buz- 
zard's Roost. Resaca. Kenesaw Mountain and 
Peach Tree Creek, and after the capture of At- 
lanta, in the JIarch to Sea, the capture of Sa- 
vannah, and the subsequent campaign through 



the Carolinas and Virginia, finally taking part 
in the Grand Review at Washington, which 
marked the end of the war. The Tenth, march- 
ing in the soiled uniforms in which it had made 
its last campaign, told the story of the awful 
hardships through which it had passed. It was 
then sent to Louisville. Ky., where the regiment 
was mustered out. being finally paid off and dis- 
charged in riiicigo, Mr. Bradle.v's service end- 
ing July 14, isr,."., after four years and ten days 
of continuous service. He was always a brave 
and faithful soldier, performing cheerfully the 
duties assigned him, and won the friendship of 
his comrades and the respect of his officers. 

Mr. Bradley's first vote for President was cast 
in 1856 for John C. Fremont, and he has since 
continued to act with the Republican party. He 
considers the best vote of his life was that cast 
for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, when but eight 
votes were cast for Lincoln in his precinct. After 
the war. Mr. Bradley bought a farm in Jackson 
County, which he operated until 1875, then com- 
ing to Effingham Count.v, where he has since 
made his home. Aside from raising truck and 
fi-uit he is now living a retired life, but in his 
active years has twrne his part in the develop- 
ment of the county, and still can be counted on 
to do his full share in advancing those move- 
ments which have for their ultimate object the 
betterment of his community. 

In April, 1865, Jlr. Bradley was married 
(first) to Melis.sa Koen. who was iKirn in St. 
Clair County, 111. She died in 1869, leaving two 
children : Curtis, born May 2!), 1866. who is a 
canienter and builder of Vandalia, married Ma- 
hala Gibbs and has four cliildren, — Flossie, 
Madeline, Omer and Fred; and Frank E., born 
November 20, 1867, and died in October, 1892. 
Mr. Bradley's second marriage occurred in 1870, 
when he was united with Emily Tash. a widow 
whose maiden name was Steel, and they have 
had one daughter, Alice Ma.v, lK>rn August 21, 
1871. She married Charles LeCrone. and they 
had one daughter, Blanche, who is makinug her 
home with her grandparents, and a daughter 
who is living with her father at Watson, III. 

During Mr. Bradley's seventy-four years in 
Effingham Couutj- and Jackson County, he has 
been prominent in many directions. Always en- 
ergetic, and with a reputation for sterling in- 
tegrity, he has been elected to numerous town- 
ship offices by his fellow citizens, serving for 
years as a member of the County Central Com- 
mittee, and as a delegate to numerous county 
and State conventions, in addition to capably 
filling the office of Police Magistrate. He joined 
the Masonic fraternit.v in ISd.'i at Alma. III., now 
being a member of the lodge at \\'atson, and also 
belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the Eastern Star 
order, in both of which he has filled all the chairs. 
For many years a ]X)pular comrade of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, he is now serving as 
Commander of the Watson Post. Mr Bradley is 
rightly considered one of the representative men 
of Eflingham County, and his war record, if not 



724 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



eclipsetl, has been equaled by his record as a 
public-spirited citizen in times of peace. 

BiiAUN, Anton. — During the past forty years 
improvemeiils have been made in methods of 
farming that have almost revolutionized agri- 
cultural life. Today the farmer is one of the 
most independent men in the coimti-j-. for upon 
the success or failure of crops depends the pros- 
]>erity of the country. For this and other rea- 
sons, the farmer is making money, and enjoys 
many comforts his forbears never even dreamed 
of. Anton Braun, a farmer of Section 8. Doug- 
las Township, Effingham County, was born in 
that township, on Section 17, which was the 
original family home, August 5, 1863, a son of 
the late Ferdinand and Angela (Steinke) Braun, 
natives of Prussia and Hanover, Germany, re- 
sijectively. Ferdinand Braun was probably one 
of the most desirable German-Americans who 
ever located In Effingham County, and his mem- 
ory is held in high esteem by those who had ttie 
honor of knowing this honest, sturdy man. He 
■was born in 1815, and when twent.v-two years 
old (in 1837) he came to America, landing at 
New York. He went to work immediately, and 
saved his money, so that in 1843 he was able to 
go south. In time he reached the Missis-sippi 
River and came up it to Illinois, coming on to' 
Effingham County al)out 1844. He entered land 
on Section 17. Douglas Township, paying .$1.2.5 
per acre for it. obtaining in all 120 acres of raw 
land. On this he put up a little log cabin, in 
which he lived alone, until his marriage in 1847. 
His wife had come to America with her parents, 
who located in Douglas Township. With the help 
ot his wife. .Mr. Brann added to his farm until 
he o^^^led .300 acres adjoining his first purchase, 
on which all of his children were born. These 
children were : Ferdinand, deceased, who mar- 
ried Mary Siemer. and she later married Ben 
Starman ; William, of Hanover, Kan. ; Anton ; 
I>izzie, who lives with her brother Henry ; Bar- 
man, and five who died in infancy. 

During his long residence in his adopted 
country, Ferdinand Braun lived to see the raw 
land converted into rich farms, and no one re- 
joiced more than he over the wonderful change. 
His death occurred about 1803. his wife having 
died in 18,90. He was one of the noble-hearted 
men of the county, who will long be remem- 
bered. He was one of those honest men whose 
word was as good as another's note: whenever 
he stated a fact, its truth was undisputed. He 
was a devout Catholic, and took much comfort 
and pleasure in his religion. He and his wife 
gave their children a good education, and were 
very proud of them, and at his death they were 
all provided for thi-ongh his own hard work 
and thrifty investments. For years he was 
School Director, and gave liberally of his means 
towards the cause of religion and education. 
Mr. Braun was very charitable, and without 
doubt gave assistance to many of which ho kept 
no record. He was generous and kind-hearted to 



a fault, deeply beloved in his family, and hon- 
ored in the community. Such men are rare, and 
when they are found, special mention should be 
made of their virtues and the work they ac-com- 
plished. 

Anton Braun was educated in the district 
schools an.l at St. Anthony Parochial School at 
Effingham. When ho had finished at the latter 
institution, he came back to the farm, and lived 
until his marriage. May 3, 1887, to Rosa Koe.ster, 
Iwrn in Douglas Township, daughter of G. H. 
Koester. one of the prositerous farmers of Efflng- 
luim L'ountj-. Mr. and Mrs. Braun hegan their 
married life on the farm he ow^ls, in a small 
house he had built. The farm was a si.xty-acre 
unimproved one, and at first it was hard work 
clearing it, but they soon had a good start, and 
he now owns 200 acres in one of the best locali- 
ties of the county. He has a good house, a big 
barn 30 x 80 feet, and feeds Holstein cattle, 
having at the head of his herd a registered bull. 
He has always been progressive in his work, and 
his farm is one of which any man might well 
be proud. 

Mr. and Mrs. Braun have had children as fol- 
lows : Henry, Frank, Minnie, Clara, Edward, 
Louis, Alphonse. Louisa, and two who died in 
infancy. Mr. and Mi-s. Braun are members of 
St. Anthony Catholic Church, of Effingham. In 
ix>litics Mr. Braun is a Democrat, and for sev- 
eral years he has been School Director. Like 
his father he has alwfiys been identified with 
the best interests of the county, and the people 
of Douglas Township have every reason to be 
glad that such men as those belonging to the 
Braun family have been numbered among its 
residents. 

BROOKS, E. W., M. D.— No learned profession 
demands so much of its membere as that or med- 
icine. The conscientious physician of to-day 
has little rest, as when he is not ministering to 
the sick he must spend a great deal of time read- 
ing along the lines of his profession to keep in 
touch with recent discoveries and theories. 
Those in general practice have to give more of 
themselves in their work than those who con- 
fine their attention to specialties or to office con- 
sultations, as regardless of weather they must 
fare forth to look after patients who need their 
care. The smaller cities and villages of Illinois 
know many of these self-sacrificing men, who re- 
gard their work as a sacred dutj-, and none en- 
jo.ys a larger amount of good will in his com- 
munity than Dr. E. W. Brooks. 

Dr. Brooks was born at Parker, Randolph 
County, Ind., being a son of Daniel and Sarah 
Catherine (Artiogast) Brooks. The Brooks 
family was founded in this country by three 
brotliers who came originally from England, one 
locating in New York, a seeonci in Tennessee and 
the third in South Carolina. Dr. Brooks is de- 
scended fixim the last-named. His maternal an- 
cestors included both Dutch and Irish blood. 
His great-grandfather fought in the ^\ ar of 1812 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



725 



and his father in the Civil War. the latter eulist- 
Indiana Volunteer lufauti-j-. sening with credit 
ing in Company B, One Hundred Thirty-fourth 
and bravery. Daniel Brooks, who is now sixtj- 
flve years of age. had the misfortune to lose his 
wife, who died March 23, I'.KW, at the age of 
fifty-five years. 

The boyhood of Dr. Brooks was passed ui)on a 
farm one mile south of Beeeher City, to which 
the family had moved in 1883. from Shelby 
County. They had come from Indiana in 1876, 
and located near Cowden. in Shelbj- County. 
Having determined to study medicine when a 
boy, Dr. Brooks taught school with the purpose 
of securing money to pursue his studies, studying 
for a time with Dr. N. S. Cox. He took his 
course at the Barnes Medical College, St. Louis, 
from which he graduated in 1901, a member of 
the first class to graduate after the passage of 
the law requiring a four year course. He had pre- 
pared for his medical studies by taking a course 
at Austin College and had begun to study with 
Dr. Cox in 1806, so that at the time of his gradu- 
ation he stood well among his associates in the 
matter of good marks. Following this course he 
took a post-graduate course at the Chicago Hos- 
pital and one at the Postgraduate Medical 
School, completing these in 1007. His first prac- 
tice -was in connection with Hemmeberger & Fri- 
ant Lumber Company, at Pascola, Mo., where he 
gained valuable experience. 

Dr. Brooks had established himself in px-ac- 
tice at St. Elmo, 111., in 1901, but when the Chi- 
cago & Eastern Illinois Railroad moved its divis- 
ion from that town, he accepted a ix>sition as in- 
structor at the Charleston Sanitarium, remain- 
ing there until 1909, when he purchased the 
practice of Dr. A. L. Golightly. at Beeeher City, 
where he is now located. He has established 
himself in the confidence of his fellow-citizens 
and his prospects are good. He is a member of 
the various medical societies and is also affiliated 
with the A. F. & A. M., the M. W. A., the I. O. O 
F.. the M. A. F. O.. the K. of P. and the I. T. A. 
A. He was formerly a meml>er of Company G. 
Fourth Regiment Illinois National Guard. While 
a re.sident of St. Elmo he was President of the 
Board of Education and in 1904 was unani- 
mously chosen to represent his party as Coroner 
of Fayette Count?-, but declined the honor. 

May 19, 1899, Dr. Brooks married Nellie M. 
Casstevens, the ceremony taking place at the 
First Christian Church. No. 3126 Locust Street, 
St. Louis. Reverend F. O. Fannon officiating. 

Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. 
Brooks, two of wlioni survive: .luanita and 
Charles C. Little Earl C. died when only six- 
teen days old. 

Wherever Dr. Brooks has been located he has 
gained universal esteem and has steadily won 
friends by his reliability and warm sympathy. 
Unsolicited, he has received many testimonials 
to his skill and kindly interest in his patients, 
of which lack of space forbids mention here, al- 
though they richly deserve such recognition. 



He never spared himself in obtaining his educa- 
tion and training, sti-uggling thi-ough college 
by his own efforts, and while still in the very 
prime of young manhood, he has attained an en- 
viable ijositiou in his pi-ofession and has friends 
throughout Effingham aud adjoining counties. 
He is a close student, a skilled physician aud 
surgeon, aud it is rare indeed that his care fails 
m rendering benefit, and even in some cases 
saving the life of a patient. The services of such 
a man are a valuable boon to any community, 
and the people of Beeeher City manifest their 
appreciation of the service rendered by Dr. 
Brooks in choosing their community as the field 
of his labor. 

BkOOM, Judge John, was the second son of 
Miles aud Edith (\inceut) Broom and was born 
in the newly settled portion of the Uld Dominion 
known as "New Virginia," (now West Virginia) 
near the Tennessee line, October 10, lS(jy. While 
still an infant his parents moved to Jackson 
County, Tenn., and soon after to Smith County, 
in the same State, where his boyhood was passed 
in a log hut in the wilds of a dismal canebrake. 
Miles Broom served in the War of 1812 and 
when discharged at New Orleans, started home, 
but when only thirty miles on his way, sickened 
and died. This was in the year 1815. Mrs. 
Broom was thus left with three small children, 
and John Broom, then a very small boy, toiled 
and struggled to help his mother on the ten 
acres of land she had secured, until he w-as sev- 
enteen years old. ■\\-hen less than nineteen 
years old, in 1828, he married Mary AJlen, of 
Smith County, Tenn. In August, 1829, their first 
child was born, and in October of the same year 
the litUe family started west, taking with tbem 
their goods, which they loaded into a "carry-all." 
He joined his father-in-law, Benjamin Allen, 
and the two families arrived at their new home 
in Illinois, near the present site of Mason, No- 
vember 6th. John Broom, then a husband and 
father, but not yet a voter, was five dollars in 
debt with nothing to dept>nd upon but his stout 
heart aud brawny arm. He and his father-in- 
law purchased the improvements on a claim 
made by John McCoy, and Mr. Broom went to 
\ andalia and there bought, on a year's CTedit, 
such things as he was compelletl to have. 

In 18oo Jlr. Broom secured employment at 
thirty-seven and a half cents a day, getting out 
rock in a limestone quarry for the National 
Road, and thus earned money to pay for eighty 
acres of land, together with a yoke of oxen! 
This was the foundation of his fortune and he 
prospered so well that he was able to give each 
son 100 acres of land, each daughter forty, aud 
retain 400 acres himself. 

In 1830 Judge Broom was elected Constable 
and in 18:39 Justice of the Peace, holding that 
office for over forty years. For five years he 
held the office of Associate Judge and in 1862 
was elected County Judge, which office he held 
four years. Judge Brooms was a useful, busy 
life, as he won his success in life mainly through 



726 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



fai-niiug, stock raising, contracting and teaming 
and also various otlier occupations. lie married 
people, tried suits, adjusted the difficulties of 
neighbors, administered estates, and often gave 
gratuitous legal advice. He read the Declara- 
tion of Independence, standing on a cotton-wood 
log, at the fii-st Fourth of July celebration held 
in Effingham County, on the. occasion when Aiken 
and Berry Evans, of Vandalia. were orators of 
the day. He was well known through his public 
life and in his private capacity as neighbor and 
friend was greatly esteemed. .Judge Broom died 
February 9, 1886. 

BROWN, James W., who ranks high among the 
honored pioneers of Effingham County, and who 
has done much to advance its best interests, is 
now residing on Section 16, Summit Township. 
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 3, 
1835, a son of John and Martha (Hoou) Brown. 
Mrs. Brown was born in Kentucky, and was 
brought by her parents to Illinois at an early 
day. They located in White County, where Mrs. 
Hood died. The trip was made down tue Ohio 
River on a flat boat, which upset and everything 
was lost. After the death of her mother, Mar- 
tha Hood went to what was known as the "Amer- 
ican Bottom," near St. Louis, Mo., with a cousin. 
She was robbed of all her belongings and left 
among strangers, when only twelve years old. 
The child was then offered a home, and grew up 
with her new found friends. John Brown was 
born in Maryland, and his father was a native of 
Scotland. The family came to Ohio, locating in 
Belmont County, near Wheeling, W. Va., and re- 
mained there until after the death of Mrs. 
Brown, when John was a mere lad. They had 
made the trip overland, and John walked the 
entire distance. While in Belmont County they 
set out the first orchard there. AMien the War 
of 1812 broke out, John Brown enlisted. He was 
as brave as a lion, really courted danger, and 
had a vei-j' exciting career as a soldier. After 
lie was discharged, he came west to Alton. 111., at 
a time when the Indians were giving trouble, 
and helped to build a block house at Upper Al- 
ton, which still stands. The shingles were made 
by hand, and it was a remarkable piece of work. 
Mr. Brown then went to St. Louis, which was 
then a French settlement. He went to the 
"American Bottom," and there, at the home of 
Isaac Gilham, he met ilartha Hood. They were 
married at Edwardsville, Madison County, 111., 
In 1827. For a time they lived in a little log 
cabin they put up, and their bed was built along 
one side "of it. In 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
started back to the home in Ohio, and reached 
Cincinnati, when they ran out of money ; there 
Mr. Brown secured employment tearing up log 
rafts, and taking them through the shoals to the 
mill, for which he received seventy-five c-ents 
per day. After this he went to work in the 
shipyards, and worked until 1846, making some 
money. Part of this he invested in a good home 
in the city, in which James W. was born. How- 



ever, he was not satisfied, and in 1846 moved his 
family to Jamestown, now Dayton. Ky., remain- 
ing there until 1852, when once more a change 
was made, the family coming to Freeix)rt, 111. 
He had traded his Kentucky property for a farm 
near Freeiwrt, and they lived on it until April 
17, 18.5.5, when he sold that farm and came over- 
land to Effingham County. Mr. Brown then 
bought 280 acres on Section 15, Summit Town- 
ship, the site of the present George William 
Hertzell farm, and eighty acres of John W. 
Brow-n's farm. Here John Brown rounded out 
his useful and eventful life, dying in 1866. His 
death was vei-y sudden ; he had driven hogs to 
Effingham, and having disposed of them, was 
sitting chatting and laughing with his friends, 
when he fell dead before them. James W. Brown 
and his sister Elizabeth Jane were the only 
children born to their parents. She married 
John W. Piles, and lived and died in Campbell 
County, Ky. 

James W. Brown was farming when the call 
was issued for 300,000 volunteers, and fired by 
the same spirit that made his father a soldier of 
1812, he enlisted, July 25, 1861, at Effingham, in 
Company G, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
ti-y, for three years or until the close of the war. 
He was mustered into the service and the regi- 
ment was sent to Fort Henry, then to Bird's 
Point, where Mr. Brown was wounded in the 
jaw by a revolver, and one tooth was knocked 
out, and he was also wounded in the left shoul- 
der and small of the back. The Eleventh was 
on the right flank, under T. G. Ransom, and 
while they were charging this brave man was 
struck in the body, and the bullet is still there. 
Owing to his many wounds, he was sent to Pad- 
ucah, Ky., and from there home on a furlough. 
In spite of his serious condition, he remained at 
home only thirty days, and then rejoined his 
regiment, in time to participate in the battle of 
Sliiloh. which was so fatal that but a few of the 
old Eleventh remained. From Shiloh the regi- 
ment was sent to Vicksburg, and the Eleventh 
not only participated in the forty-six aays' 
siege, but was in the charges of May 10 and 22. 
Mr. Brown was with his regiment until July 
25, 1S(J4, when he was honorably discharged at 
Springfield, 111., having served three years to a 
day. 

Returning to his old home in Summit Town- 
ship, he resumed his duties. In 1867 he maiTied 
Cynthia A. Levitt, born south of Effingham, in 
Douglas Township, daughter of James Levitt, 
who was one of the old pioneers of Effingham 
County, and died in Summit Township, in June, 
1861. " Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had five chil- 
dren : William W., a farmer of Shelby County ; 
Martha E.. wife of Samuel W. Shewmake of 
Slielby County : Georgiana, wife of W. H. 
Smith, a farmer of Shelby County : James Frank, 
a farmer of Summit Township: Lucy J., wife of 
Leonard Young, a farmer of Watson Township. 

Mr. Brown has supiwrted the principles of 
Abraham Lincoln as embodied in the Republican 




^^-^ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



727 



party. His first vote was cast for John C. Fre- 
mont, and he has never east any since except for 
Republican candidates. While he is enthusiastic 
in his support of the party, he has no desire for 
public honors, and although he once served as 
Assessor, he did so against his own wishes. Mr. 
Bro^-n was too brave a soldier and too true a 
citizen ever to have any use for a coward or 
hypocrite. He and his wife are consistent mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, and heartily en- 
dorse its principles. Ever since its organization 
he has been a faithful member of the G. A. R. 
and belongs to Yates Post. Xo. SS, of Effingham, 
111. He openly expresses his wish that at his 
death the flag for which he suffered so mucli, 
be wrapped about him. Costly etiuipments do 
not appeal to him, — what he wants is to go to 
the last roll call beneath the flag under which he 
resfionded to so many while here on earth. 
After his long life of hard worli and heavy suf- 
fering, Mr. Brown is now surrounded by all the 
comforts his means afford. He stands very high 
in the confidence and respect of his neighbors 
and friends, is proud of his children, and com- 
forted by the devotion of his wife, so that he is 
greatly to be envied by those whose sense of 
duty has not been strong enough to keep them 
on the straight road that leads to true happiness 
and well-earned prosperity. 

BUCHHOLZ, William Frederick, one of the rep- 
sentative and enterprising farmers of Effing- 
ham County, who is operating an excellent prop- 
erty in Mound Township, was bom on the farm 
which he now occupies, February 9, 186.5, a son 
of Rev. Fred and Elizabeth (Mahler) Buehholz. 

Rev. Fred Buehholz was born in Germany and 
attended the public schools there until he was 
fourteen years of age, when he engaged in the 
manufacture of cigar boxes and carpentering. He 
was married in his native country to Elizabeth 
Mahler, a daughter of Henry Mahler, and about 
1856 they came to the United States, landing in 
New York after a voyage of eight weeks. They 
lived near Chicago about eight years and in the 
fall of 1864 came to Effingham County, purchas- 
ing 160 acres of land near Altamont and living 
in the old Hepsher home until their log cabin 
was finished. Mr. Buehholz died on this farm 
August 11, 18.S2, at the age of fifty-three years, 
his death resulting from a tumor. He was a 
German Lutheran when he came to America, but 
later joined the German Methodist Church, near 
Chicago, and later at Altamont. and soon after 
began preaching, his circuit including Altamont, 
Bible Grove, Dieterich. Effingham and Shumway. 
He was a lifelong Republican. 

The children born to Fred Buehholz and his 
wife were as follows : Fred, a German Methodist 
Episcopal minister, died at the age of twenty-.six 
years, at Ellis Grove, leaving a widow, Louisa 
(FYitz) Buehholz, and one child, Emma; Rich- 
ard, who met his death while on a hunting trip, 
December 14, 1898. having married (first) Ro- 
setta F^itz, who died ten Teeks afterward, and 



(second) Christina Rodenburg, who bore him 
four children— Joe (decea.sed), Nellie, Oda and 
Mildred, the wife having died in 1902; John, 
who married Sarah Sutton, and is a local 
preacher in the American Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Watson, III.; Lizzie (now deceased), 
who married William Dickman ; Wiliam Fred- 
erick; and Mary, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Fred Buehholz survives her husband, having now 
reached the age of seventy-nine years. 

William Frederick Buehholz was sent to the 
German Methodist Episcopal Church School for 
a year or so, aud then became a pupil in the pub- 
lic school under Mr. Baudrj- until eleven years 
of age. when he returned to the German School 
for two winters, then again attended public 
school until he was seventeen years old. Reared 
on the home farm, be worked for his father until 
his death, and after that for his mother until 
July 7, 1891, when he was married to Bertha 
Hesseman, who was bom near Dexter, Effingham 
County, and at four years of age was taken by 
her parents to Nashville, 111. ^Mieu fourteen 
years old she went to Sutter County, Cal., but 
in 1890 returned east. Her parents were Fred 
and Rosina (Corber) Hessemann, both of whom 
are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Buehholz are 
members of the German Methodist Church, of 
which he has been Steward for many years. He 
has been a lifelong Republican. 

The following children have been born to Wil- 
liam F. Buehholz and wifer Frederick Arthur, 
Walter Edward, Esther Rosina, Alma Viola, 
Edna and William Paul. 

BUCKMASTER, Frank, M. D.— In nothing has 
medie.il siicTiii' nuide such tremendous strides 
as in its treatment of tuberculosis. Until within 
the past decade this once most dreaded of all 
diseases was regarded as absolutely incurable 
and tran.smittable from one generation to an- 
other. Innumerable homes have been rendered 
desolate because of its ravages ; many young 
hearts have been kept asunder because of fear 
of its terrors. Now. however, the great White 
Plague can be prevented by the patient as well 
as the physician, and the fact that it is not an 
inherited disease has been clearly demonstrated 
beyond possibility of doubt. So interesting Is 
the study of this disease, which presents itself 
in innumerable forms, that many physicians are 
specializing with regard to it, and among these 
eminent men of science, who have attained a dis- 
tinction in this line, is Dr. Frank Buekmaster, of 
Effingham, 111. 

Dr. Buekmaster was born May 14, 1876. near 
Ramsey, Fayette County, 111., son of Frederick 
B. and Ellen (Alley) Buekmaster, natives of 
North Carolina, who were among the pioneers of 
the southern part of Illinois. The father died in 
April. 1877, and the mother survived until 
March. 1900. Dr. Buekmaster was the only 
child of his parents, and was deprived of his 
father when but one .vear old. His early educa- 
tion was secured in the district schools' and at 



728 



effingha:m county 



the age of seventeen be began teaching, wbieh he 
continued until 1895, when he tooli his carefully 
hoarded earnings and entered a medical col- 
lege in St. Louis. Next he took a three-year 
course in the Barnes Jledical College, where he 
won two gold medals, the first being the medal 
on anatomy and the second for highest general 
average in the senior class of 1899, which was 
composed or 275 members. During the last year 
he was first assistant to the chair of anatomy. 
After finishing his medical course. Dr. Buck- 
master went to Beeeher City, where he formed 
a partnership with Dr. J. F. Guthrie, and re- 
mained until January 12, 19<Xt, at which time he 
located at Altamont, successfully following his 
chosen profession until 1909, when he concluded 
to locate in Etflngham, In order to be situated 
near St. Anthony's Hospital, of which he had 
been in charge for several years, and is now 
giving his time to surgery. This hospital, which 
was the Old People's Home, has grown to large 
dimensions under his directorship, and they have 
been compelled to build a $30,000 addition t<5 ac- 
commodate the patients. 

Although still young in years. Dr. Buckmaster 
stands at the head of his profession in the south- 
ern part of the State, and has been especially 
successful in surgery and in his treatment of 
tuberculosis. His fine suite of six rooms in the 
Opera House Building Is fully equipped with all 
the modern appliances and latest discoveries of 
the profession, including a complete X-Ray out- 
fit, and one of the largest medical libraries in 
Illinois. The Doctor finds time from his pro- 
fessional duties to assist in public movements, 
and is also well known fraternally, being a 
prominent member of the Masons and the Elks. 

BURKHARDT, Charles Frederick.— The physi- 
cian of to-day must be a man of education, 
carefully trained, experienced in all branches 
and many times specially skilled in certain lines. 
His is a profession that admits of no standstill 
methods, but he must ever push onward and up- 
ward, constantly studying and keeping abreast 
of latest discoveries in scientific matters. Dr. 
Cliarles Frederick Burkhardt, of Effingham, is 
one of the most efhcient and popular physicians 
of Effingham County, and his position in his pro- 
fession has been honestly earned by efficiency 
and careful training. Dr. Burkhardt was bom 
at Elliston, Grant County, Ky., September 16, 
1868, a son of William and Nancy Elizabeth 
(Arnold) Burkhardt. the former born in Pitts- 
burg, Pa., and the latter in Grant County, Ky. 

William Burkhardt was a mechanic. He and 
his wife were married in Grant County, Ky., 
and they had two children. Dr. Burkhardt and a 
daughter, now deceased. The father died in 
1882 and the mother in 1885. In politics Wil- 
liam Burkhardt was a Democrat, and he served 
as Justice of the Peace for many years. In re- 
ligious faith he was a Lutheran. 

Dr. Burkhardt was well educated before be- 
ginning his professional training. After com- 



pleting his course in the district schools he at- 
tended the Central Normal College at Danville, 
lud., taking a teacher's c-ourse, and also gi-adu- 
ated from the business college at Pleasureville, 
Ky. He then entered the Kentucky School of 
Medicine, of Ix)uisville, Ky., from which he 
graduated June 22, 1893. In August of the same 
year he entered into active practice at Naiwleon, 
Ky., remaining there until November 22, 1897, 
when he removed to AVatson, 111., and remained 
in the latter city until May 1, 1907. He then 
settled in Effingham, where he has built up a 
large practice. Dr. Burkhardt took a post-gradu- 
ate work at the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and 
Throat Hospital, in 1908 and 1909. and also at 
the Manhattan Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hos- 
pital, New York City. He makes a specialty of 
the diseases of these organs, in which he is 
achieving success. AATiatever is undertaken by 
him is carried through with thoroughness, and 
his ability is widely recognized in his profession. 
Before entering upon the study of medicine he 
spent six years in teaching, and here his work 
was so well appreciated that he was elected 
County Superintendent of Schools of Gallatin 
County, Ky., and held this responsible position 
eight yeai"s. He is one of the leading Democrats 
in the c-ounty where he now resides. Fraternally 
Dr. Burkhardt is a Blue Lodge and Royal Arch 
Mason, a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, 
the Modern Americans, and the Court of Honor. 
He takes an active interest in the work of these 
lodges, and is a member of the Methodist 
Church. 

Dr. Burkhardt was married, April 9, 1891, at 
Warsaw, Ky., to Minnie Lee Winn, a native of 
Warsiiw. Ky.. and daughter of Henry and Mary 
Elizabeth (Flack) Winn. Mr. Winn was a na- 
tive of Kentucky, and died in 1881, but his 
widow, also a native of Kentucky, survives. Dr. 
and Mrs. Burkhardt have no children. 

Mrs. Burkhardt is a highly e<lucated lady, 
having attended Fairmount Female College, at 
Sulphur, Ky., and after graduation she taught 
school some years, becoming a member of the 
County Board of Teacher E.xaminers. She is a 
member of the Methodist Church, and is active 
in its good work. Dr. Burkhardt is a meml)er 
of the Effingham County Medical Society, the 
Illinois State and American Medical Associa- 
tions, and is President of the first named. He is 
a firm believer in the efficacy of medical socie- 
ties, and has materially assisted in the develop- 
ment of his branch of the County Jledical So- 
ciety to so large an e.xtent that his services were 
rewarded by his election to the executive chair. 

Dr. Burkhardt's paternal grandparents were 
both natives of Germany, the grandfather, 
George Burkhardt, maiTj'ing a Miss Beck. On 
the maternal side he has ancestors of whom he 
may feel justly proud, his mother's grandmother 
being a Miss Monroe, who was a relative of 
former President Monroe. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



729 



CLARE, George A. — Pioneer existence in Efting- 
hani County was a very different matter from 
farm life to-day, aud those who passed through 
the experiences of those early days can appre- 
ciate the wonderful changes much better than 
those who are of the present generation. George 
A. Clark, of Jackson Township, Is one of the 
representative farmers of this locality. He was 
born In Bedford County, Tenn., October 4, 18,3S, 
a son of James D. and Mary (Sanders) Clark, 
both natives of Tennessee, where they married 
at an early day. Prior to their permanent set- 
tlement in Illinois, they made a trip to the State 
and remained a short time in the vicinity of 
Decatur, but returned to Tennessee and there 
lived until 18.39. In that .year they came back 
to Illinois aud located In Effingham County, buy- 
ing farm land. In 186.3 the father died and be 
Is buried in the Porter Cemetery in Jackson 
Township. His widow survived him several 
years, dying In 1874, and is buried by her hus- 
band's side. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, all of whom grew to maturity. George A. 
Clark was the fifth In order of birth, but is the 
only one now living. 

Mr. Clark was married in EtBngham County, 
In November, 1858, to Elizabeth Parkhurst, who 
was bom in Indiana, in 1841. She died January 
20, 1872, and is buried in the Porter Cemetery. 
Three children were born of this marriage : 
Elsie Sophrouia, wife of J. C. Cla.v, resides in 
Jo Daviess County, III. ; Alameda, wife of James 
Sullivan (now deceased), resides in Effingham; 
Josephine, wife of Walter Eaton, resides at 
Moro, 111. Mr. Clark was again married, on De- 
cember 1.5. 1872, to Annie Mar.v I.K5rimer, who 
was born in Adams County, Pa., June 9, 18;'5, 
daughter of J. Z. Thomas and Leah (Hetting- 
ton), both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to 
Indiana, and located in Logansjxjrt, where tbe.v 
remained until their deaths. The father was 
born September 8, 1809, and died at the age of 
eighty-seven years. His widow survived him, 
dying in 1906. aged ninety years, and both are 
burled in Logansport, Ind. They were the par- 
ents of five children, all of whom grew to ma- 
turity, but onl.v Mrs. Clark and one other sur- 
vive. Three children were born to the second 
marriage of Mr. Clark : Nellie, who died Decem- 
ber 28, 1806, and is buried in Sulphur springs 
Cemetery ; Charlie, who married JIar.v Brocket, 
and they have three children, — George A.. Ruth 
Annie and Florence Beatrice, and be and his 
wife reside near Mr. Clark in Jackson Town- 
ship ; and one child who died in Infancy. 

Mr. Clark has an honorable war record, hav- 
ing enlisted Augu.st 12. 1862, in Company K. 
Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under 
Captain Kelley. He was mustered into service 
on September 3. 1862. While the regiment was 
being sent south by railroad, there was a wreck 
and twenty-eight were kiled and wounded. The 
regiment camped at Louisville, K.v., and soon 
thereafter marched through Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, spending the winter at ilnrfreesboro. 



After this Mr. Clark took part in the engage- 
ment at Hoover's Gap in Tennessee, and was 
then assigned to Wilder's Brigade, acting as 
cavalry, in which he remained during the bal- 
ance of his time of service. He was mustered 
oiit at Nashville, Tenn., June 6, 1865, and was 
honorably discharged with high marks of credit 
at Springfield, 111,, July G, 1865. 

Mr. Clark has always been a strong Republi- 
can, devoted to his party, and taking an active 
Interest in local politics. He has always done 
all he could to further the interests of Repub- 
licanism. In past years he was an active mem- 
ber of the G. A. R. Post at Watson, 111., but, ow- 
ing to- Increasing years, for some time past be 
has not attended very often. Before the war 
Mr. Clark was elected to the office of Constable 
but resigned to enlist in the service of his coun- 
try, and aside from that he has not held office, 
preferring to use his Influence as a private citi- 
zen. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Clark have 
been devoted members of the Jackson Township 
Baptist Church. Jlr. Clark has always been a 
hard-working man until recently, but now he 
and his good wife are si^ending their declining 
.years in ease, surrounded b.v the comforts his 
efforts have procured. Their farm of 100 acres 
of fertile land in Jackson Township is a source 
of pride to them, for it represents much hard 
work on the r)art of them both. Their home Is 
often the gathering place for many of their 
warm friends who delight to go there and par- 
ticipate in the generous hospitality which is 
characteristic of both Mr. and Mrs. Clark. 

COHEA, John R.— Pioneers of Effingham County 
are regarded with sjiedal favor by those who 
are now cnjiiying the fruits of their industry 
and thrift. No one man, jierhaps. In Douglas 
Town.shlp, did more to develop aud improve his 
locality than did John R. Cobea, now living on 
Section 31, of this township, who was born here, 
May 4, 1840. a son of James and Didama (Dun- 
ham) Cohea. His father, James Cohea, was 
born in Hickman County. Tenn., May 2, 1816, 
and his wife in DeKalb County, Tenn., Novem- 
ber IS. 1818. James was a son of Richard Co- 
hea, wbo was born in Maryland and was living 
there when the War of 1812 began. He entered 
the United States service wheu but a lad, and 
continued in it until the close of the war. 

He and a comrade started out for Hickman 
County. Tenn., but on the way the latter died. 
He requested Mr. Cohea to carry his gun and 
other possessions to his family, and his wishes 
were complied with. >Ir. Cohea was so pleased 
with the country that he settled there. He met 
with a serious accident, being bitten by a snake, 
but while be was being nursed back to health by 
Miss Rodisa Renfrow, he fell in love with her 
and they were married. In 1820, the.y went to 
Clay Count.v, 111., where they made their home 
until 1827, when they came to Etflngham County, 
settling on Green Creek, on land now owned by 
Anton F. Jansen. lie there built a little log 



730 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



cabin, but later, as the site was too much ex- 
posed to the wind, he built another cabin across 
the creek under the shelter of the hill. He was 
the first settler in this part of the county. 
Realizing the need of a mill, he built one oper- 
ated b.v hand, and farmers came from the sur- 
rounding country to get their corn ground. Mr. 
Cohea began building a water mill on the Little 
Wabash, but having been taken ill, the idea was 
abandoned, tliough later taken up by a Mr. Ram- 
sey in 1831 or '32. 

Richard Cohea was a natural mechanic, and 
could make almost anything in the way of house 
furnishings. Not only did he supply his family 
with furniture, buckets, barrels and like articles, 
but his neighbors as well, and his son James, 
who inherited his talent, continued the work. 
Richard Cohea was a noble, high-minded man, 
and when he died March 17, 1852, the whole 
county mourned his passing away. He was a 
man who had a deep sympathy with the under 
dog, and did not hesitate to express his opinions 
about matters. No one ever called uijon him for 
help in vain. He fed thousands in his day, for 
which he never took a cent. Both he and his ex- 
cellent wife were members of the Methodist 
Church, and they carried their faith into their 
everyday life. In the early days, meetings were 
held in their house. Mrs. Cohea survived him 
until 1S!>2. when she died. 

James Cohea. son of these honored pioneers, 
was one of the six children born to his parents, 
one of whom survives. He spent his life on the 
farm. He and his wife had six children : John 
R. : Adrian H.. gate keeper for (he Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad at Effingham ; Marj- E., wife of 
J. H. Maston of Allensville, 111. ; Verstia. wife 
of J. P. Baker, moved to Reese. Kan., where 
both died : while two other children died of chol- 
era in 1855. James Cohea died November 15, 
1890. his widow sun-iving him until 1893. He 
w-as a Democrat politically. 

John R. Cohea is a native son of Douglas 
Towniship, and with the exception of thirteen 
months spent in northern >Iissouri, this has 
been his home. There were but few educational 
advantages at that time, but Mrs. Cohea gave her 
son what instruction she could. When a Mr. 
Renfrow. a writing and singing master, came into 
the neighborhood, John attended his school. 
The teacher boarded with James Cohea. and 
took a great deal of interest in John, and taught 
him all be could. Many have been the changes 
Mr. Cohea has witnessed. When a lad, venison 
■was an every day meat. Whenever more was 
needed, he or another member of the household 
would pick out the best deer in the herds which 
were within easy reach, and shoot it with the 
old flint lock rifle. There were all other kinds 
of wild game in great profusion. 

On January 27, ISfil, Mr. Cohea married Mary 
Ellen Gamble, Ixjrn in Douglas Township. July 
29. 1,843, a daughter of .John G. Gamble, at one 
time Sheriff of Effingham County, and one of the 
very prominent men of this locality. He was a 



native of Licking County, Ohio, but is now de- 
ceased, his wife also being dead. After mar- 
riage, Mr. and Mrs. Cohea settled on Section 
29, in Douglas Township. He there built a log 
cabin, which was much better than many of their 
neight)ors possessed, for he was an exi)ert in 
building, and he put in a fine stick and clay 
chimney. In this little home four of the eight 
children were born : Sarah E., wife of S. E. 
Daniel, a farmer near Newton, III.; J.ames A., 
died in infancy ; Arminta C, wife of Charles 
Bushul, a farmer of Union Township ; Didama 
Ann, wife of E. F. Carr, a farmer and dairy- 
man near Effingham ; Samuel G.. who lives in 
one of the western States ; Frank R., a farmer of 
Douglas Township ; John H., at home ; Mary 
Alic-e, wife of A. W. Huntzburger, a contractor 
and builder and a resident of Decatur, 111. 

Mr. Cohea is a "Dry Democrat," and has filled 
the office of Township Constable, and twice has 
been Supervisor. He has very ably represented 
his c-onstituents, and has always been one of the 
leading men of the northern part of the county. 
For many years he and his wife have been mem- 
bers of the Christian Church in which for eleven 
years he has been deacon. 

Some years ago Mr. Cohea had a very favor- 
able offer for his property, so he sold it and for 
eleven years has operated 160 acres of the Scher- 
man land. He has been very successful in all 
his undertakings, and has gained the full con- 
fidence of his neighbors. Many times he is 
called upon to settle a dispute, and his advice 
is followed without question. Many a lawsuit 
has been prevented by him, for he seems to know 
the right and wrong of a question, and how to 
convince his neighbors as to what they ought to 
do. Such a man is very valuable in a commu- 
nity, and his neighbors fully appreciate his serv- 
ice and give him their confidence. Always a 
hard worker and a man of exceptional energy, 
Mr. Cohea has not only been able to attend to 
his o«ni afl'airs with success, but has given freely 
of his time and money to public matters. 

COULTER, 0. E., D. V. M.— The veterinary 
doctor and surgeon of to-day recognizes the ben- 
efit of science as applied to his profession, and it 
is a noteworthy fact tbat, within the last de- 
cade, the course in this line is as strict as that 
of a regular doctor of medicine, while the scope 
of practice being wider, many of the young meu 
of to-day are taking up the veterinary line In 
preference. O. E. Coulter, a successful young 
veterinary surgeon of Altamont. 111., was born 
in Crawford County, 111., in October, 1884, the 
youngest child of Henry and Kate (Hill) Coul- 
ter, retired farming people of Crawford County. 

O. E. Coulter's early educational advantages 
were secured in the public schools of his native 
place, and later deciding upon bis profession, he 
entered the Indiana Veterinarj- (I'ollege, from 
which he was graduated with the class of 1909. 
He has had five years' experience in this line of 
work, however, and although he has been a resi- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



731 



dent of this district but a short time, in fact 
from the sprhig of 1909. he has built up a large 
and lucrative practice, he being the only college 
veterinary graduate within twenty miles of Al- 
tamont. He uses the latest scientific methods, 
and keeps abreast of the latest inventions and 
discoveries in his profession by subscription to 
various veterinary journals, and his success has 
won for him the confidence of the community. 

On December 2.5, ]907, Dr. Coulter was united 
in marriage with Mar.v Jane Shoemaker, who 
was born in Crawford County, 111. Dr. Coulter 
is a member of the Indiana Alumni Association, 
and one of the progressive young professional 
men of his section. The standard of his science 
Is being constantly raised through the efforts of 
just such men as Dr. Coulter, and his profession 
is recognized as one of the most important. The 
Government recognizes this fact, and has many 
skilled veterinary surgeons constantly in its 
employ, to care for the health of the valuable 
stock belonging to it, as well as to pass upon that 
which is to be slaughtered. 

COX, Dr. William H., veterinary physician and 
surgeon of Mason. EfHngham County. III., dem- 
onstrates in his daily work the importance of his 
profession. The lives of valuable, registered 
stock often depend upon the skill of the man who 
is called to attend them, and such advances have 
been made in this branch of medical science, that 
the course the veterinary physician and surgeon 
takes is quite as exacting as that in many other 
professional fields. Dr. Cox was bom at Oska- 
loosa. Clay County, 111.. November 3. 1856, a son 
of Hardin and Belinda (Rakistraw) Cox, na- 
tives of North Carolina and Indiana respectively. 
Both went to Clay County. 111., at a very early 
day. before there were any I'ailroads through 
southern Illinois. They had to go to Vandalia 
for all deeds and land transfers. St. Louis was 
then the market for stock, and the source of 
supplies. The present generation has no con- 
ception of the hardships and privations of those 
noble old pioneei^s who went ahead preparing 
the way for the present advanced civilization. 

Hardin Cox became a merchant and stock- 
dealer in Clay County, and did a large business, 
buying all farm produce. Once he bought 1.000 
head of geese, which he drove to St. Louis. In 
his time he was one of the most extensive mer- 
chants and stockmen of his part of the State, 
and he operated over a wide territor.v. He re- 
mained at Oskaloosa until his death, which oc- 
curred about 1.856. his widow surviving until 
1S59. Those times were hard upon both the men 
and the women, and they aged early. It was not 
an uncommon thing for men to die soon after 
they had passed the half centui-y line, and many 
died long before that, exhausted by their priva- 
tions. The women died even earlier, for the 
bearing of large families, without even the com- 
mon necessities of life, combined with their hard 
work, was too much for them. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hardin Cox had seven children, but all of those 



now living are Dr. Cox, and his sister Prudy, 
wife of J. E. Willis, of Toloma, 111., a retired 
farmer, and one of the influential men of that 
town. 

Dr. Cox was only three years old when he lost 
his mother. He was taken in charge by a Mr. 
and Mrs. Love, and remained ^vith them until 
he was seven, when he was taken by his uncle, 
T. J. Cox, who had returned home after a three- 
years' servic-e in the Civil War. The family 
spent a year in Kansas, but in 1866 the uncle 
moved to Springfield, Mo., where the lad was 
given the advantage of attending the city schools. 
At the age of seventeen he began the study of 
his choseu profession at Little York, Mo., with 
Dr. Phelps, for three years studied with 
that distinguished veterinary physician and 
surgeon, and, when only nineteen, began prac- 
ticing with his tutor. A year later. Dr. Phelps 
having died, Dr. Ctox succeeded to his large 
practice. In 1878 he decided to return to his 
native State, so he located in Macoupin County 
and began practicing there, where he continued 
until 1880. In the latter year he came to Effing- 
ham Countj-, first locating on a farm of 120 acres 
in Union Township. This was only partly im- 
proved, and he began to clear it off, and since 
then he has greatly extended its improvements. 
At the same time he continued his practice, 
which steadily increased so that in 1900. he 
rented his farm, bought property in the south- 
eastern part of the village of Mason, and now 
devotes, all his attention to his profession. He 
has always kept up with the discoveries in his 
profession, and took a post-graduate course at 
Taylor Springs. He takes all the leading vet- 
erinary journals, and no man in his profession 
is better posted than he. For man.v years he 
has been a member of the Southern Illinois Vet- 
erinary Association, which meets twice each 
year and discusses the treatment of different 
di.seases. Some of the most prominent men of 
the profession lecture at these meetings. Dr. 
Cox makes it a point to attend all these meet- 
ings and his patrons benefit by his care in these 
matters. He has a large laboratory, and com- 
pounds his own medicines. As he thoroughly 
understands his business, he has an extensive 
practice throughout Southern Illinois, for it ex- 
tends over Jasper, Clay, Fayette, Jefferson and 
Effingham counties, and he is often called into 
consultation with others of his profession. 

Dr. Cox was married in 1877 to Mary O. Kin- 
caid. who was bom in Macoupin County. 111., the 
daughter of A. J. Kincaid. one of the prominent 
citizens of that part of the State. Dr. and Mrs. 
Cox have had children as follows : Juletta, born 
June 29. 188.3, wife of S. J. Marquis, a merchant 
of Edgewood. 111. : Claudius H.. born April 16, 
1888. a brakeman on the Illinois Central Rail- 
road, and Otto W., born October 29, 1892. The 
eldest. Nellie P., born November 3, 1878, died De- 
cember 6, 1908. She had married Oscar Boone, 
a farmer in Union Township, and they had two 
children. Ruby and George. As the children grew 



732 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



up, Dr. Cox educated them carefully. The 
youngest, Otto, is a musical genius, and has been 
given special advantages to pursue his studies. 
He has won several gold medals in oratorical 
contests, and is the pride of Mason, its citizens 
looking for something remarkable from this gift- 
ed young man. 

Dr. Cox was left an orphan at a tender age, 
and has had to make his own way in the world. 
That he has succeeded in a remarkable manner, 
his present status shows. He has friends all 
over the State, and his personality is so pleasing 
that he gains new ones wherever he goes. A 
strong Democrat, he is ever ready to work for 
his party, and has been honored upon many oc- 
casions by election to various offices, the duties 
of whichhe has discharged in the same pains- 
taking manner he does everything he attempts. 

CRAMER, Michael. — The business interests of 
Efflngliam, 111., are heavy and varied, offering op- 
]X)rtunities for development and advancement, as 
the city is the natural center of a rich farming 
community that looks to this iwint as a source 
of supplies, as well as a market for farm prod- 
ucts. It Is. therefore, ixrfectly logical that those 
engaged in business there have succeeded, and 
one of the sound, practical men of Effingham Is 
Michael Cramer, jeweler, optician, dealer in real 
estate and maker of loans. He was born In Ef- 
fingham, October 3. 1872, a son of Chris and 
Susan (Schannel) Cramer, both natives of Ger- 
many, who came to America with their parents. 
They were married in Effingham County. 

Chris Cramer was a stone mason, and after 
the great fire in Chicago he located in that city, 
in the latter part of 1872, was stricken with 
smalliwx and died there in June, 187.3, leaving 
two small sons, Michael, subject of this sketch, 
and Charles, who died at the age of five years. 
Michael Cramer was educated in the School of 
St. Anthony (German Catholic) of Effingham. 
Meanwhile, his mother had married Charles 
Schmidt, who was her third husband, she having 
been the widow of Henrj- May when she married 
Mr. Cramer. By her first marriage she had two 
sons. Joseph and Frank, the former of whom was 
killed by lightning May 17, 1908. near Benton, 
K.v. Frank is now a resident of Effingham. 

Charles Schmidt, step-father of Michael Cra- 
mer, was a son of Henry Schmidt, a jeweler, who 
came to America, and his son was also a jeweler. 
Therefore, Michael Cramer at the age of twelve 
began learning the same trade and remained in 
the Schmidt store from 1.88i to 1880, when he 
went on the road for three years, traveling over 
several States. In December. 1892. he returned 
home and embarked in a branch store at Alta- 
mont for his step-father. In 180!>, he was in 
charge of a jeweln- store at Dodge City, Kan., 
but returned to Illinois, locating at Decatur, and 
there conducted a repair shop. For alwut ten 
years he has been conducting his present liusi- 
ness, having bought out Mr. Schmidt. Since then 
he added to his stock, and now has the largest 



and finest in Effingham County. By his careful 
attention to and thorough knowledge of his busi- 
ness, and his c'omprehension of the needs of his 
patrons, he has built up a splendid trade, and is 
the most reliable man in his line in this part of 
the State. In 1902 he began dealing in real 
estate and is now doing a good real estate and 
loan business. 

Mr. Cramer had the misfortune to lose his 
mother JIarch 7, 1909. but her husband (Mr. 
Schmidt) .survives, having attained the ripe old 
age of ninety-four, being born in 1815. The 
grandmother Schannel lived to be uinety-six, and 
then her death was caused by a fall. Mrs. 
Schmidt was seventy at the time of her demise, 
so Mr. Cramer comes of a long-lived stock. 

Mr. Cramer was married in Effingham, Decem- 
ber 10, 1893, to Amelia Koch, daughter of Dr. 
Dledrlch Claus Anton Koch, who was one of the 
pioneer physicians of this part of the State. He 
and his wife had ten children. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cramer have had five children : Viola Myrtle, 
bom September 26, 1894 ; ilichael. Jr., born Oc- 
tober 12, 1895; Arthur Schaefer. born July 20, 
1899 ; one who died in infancy and Noble, born 
March 22, 1903. Jlrs. Cramer is a member of 
the German Lutheran Church. Fraternally Mr. 
Cramer is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America and Modern Americans. He has always 
been ready to do his full part in the upbuilding 
of the community, and wins many friends, which 
he has no difficulty in keeping. 

Mr. Cramer is a graduate of the Charles Mc- 
Corraiek College of Chicago, and has novi- had 
fourteen years experience, having graduated Oc- 
tober 14, 1895. 

Mrs. Cramer is a first cousin of the world- 
famous Dr. Cook, who came through Effingham 
in October, 1909, and Jlr. and Mrs. Cramer ac- 
companied him on his trip to St. Louis. 

CRAVER, Alexander (deceased). — In the death 
of Alexander Craver Effingham County, 111,, lost 
one of Its most public-spirited citizens, a man 
whose life was an exemplary one and who had 
won the esteem and regard of all who knew him 
by his honest and upright character. Mr. Craver 
was horn in North Carolina March 27, 1814, a son 
of John and Mary (or Polly) (Ladd) Craver. 
John Craver and his wife moved to Indiana and 
remained there until 1851. when they located in 
Mason Township, Effingham County, where they 
spent their remaining days. Mr. Craver was a 
successful farmer and became prominent in the 
community. 

Alexander Craver spent his boyhood in North 
Carolina and there received his education. He 
came with his parents to Illinois and settled with 
them in JIason Township. While living in In- 
diana he became a coojier and wagon-maker, but 
after coming to Illinois he engaged in farming 
nnd followed this occupation the rest of his life. 
He became one of the leading Democrats of the 
county and was several times elected Supervisor 
from Mason Township. He and his family were 




^^^^^'h^T^7^''7<ucLy QMji^i<2JnAyL£yu 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



r33 



all members of tlie Christian Churc-h. and witli 
true Southeni hospitality, he welcomed ministers 
of every denomination to his home. He made 
his religion his daily c-ompanion and was always 
ready to help the sick or distresed. Kind and 
charitable to all. he was greatly missed at the 
time of his death, which occurred January 18, 
1892. 

While a resident of Indiana Mr. Graver married 
Lydia Chadwick, thought to have been a native 
of North Carolina. They were parents of five 
children, two of them born in Efhngham County, 
namely: Mary, born January 5. 1845. married 
(first) William Wright and after his death mar- 
ried (second) John Anderson, and both are now- 
deceased ; Phoebe, born in Putnam County, Ind., 
March 2G, 1848, wife of M. C. Blount, a farmer 
of Mason Township ; Sallna. born in I'utnam 
County, April 22, 1850, deceased, wife of Ernest 
Fisher, of LaClede. 111. ; Josephine, born June 
16. 1855, wife of Hiram Anderson, a farmer of 
Mason Township, and John A., bom June 1. 
18(Xi, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
work. 

CRAVER, John A. — In naming the representa- 
tive citizens of any community, we invariably 
find among the most prominent the men who 
started out in life with little or no advantages, 
and who worked their way to the top by their 
own industry and iierseverance. One of the most 
successful farmers of Effingham County, 111., John 
A. Oaver, may be named in this class. He was 
born June 1. 1861, on his father's farm on Sec- 
tion 25. Mason Township, a son of Alexander 
and Lydia (Chadwick) Craver, natives of North 
Carolina, who were married in that State and 
moved thence to Putnam County, Ind.. later re- 
moving to Effingham County. 111. Here Alexan- 
der Craver died on January 18, 1892, and his 
wife December 4. 1876. 

John A. Craver was educated in the district 
schools, and at the age of seven years started 
out to do his share of work on the farm, toiling 
with a double shovel plow in cultivating com. 
In the fall of 1882 he was given a horse, a cow 
and a wagon, and also at this time had $150 in 
cash, with which he purchased forty acres of 
land on Section 36, Ma.son Township, the horse 
going to make a payment on a loan. His second 
oldest sister, who is now deceased, came to keep 
house for him, and In this way he started his 
farming operations, which have since proven so 
successful. 

On December 25, 1889, Mr. Craver was mar- 
ried to Ida Cornwell. who was born in Mason 
Township, a daughter of Anderson Cornwell, one 
of the i)ioneers of Effingham County. After 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Craver settled down 
to the work of the farm, although the latter had 
tieen educated for teaching, and had intended to 
take a school when her marriage to Mr. Craver 
interfered. Mr. Craver bent everj- energj- to 
make his land pay. and energy and perseverance 
won their reward and, as a result, he became one 



of tlie most successful men of his county. He 
now owns 300 acres of laud in Sections 35 and 
36, on which they lived until October 20, 1909, 
when they removed to their present location near 
Mason, on Section 23, where Mr. Craver farms 
351 acres. In addition to farming Mr. Graver 
makes a specialty of raising high grade cattle 
and hogs, and for five years was also engaged 
in raising and shipping cattle and hogs. ilr. 
Craver has always been a Democrat, and for 
years served as Road Commissioner In his town- 
ship; he is also an active member of the Chris- 
tian Church, in which his wife is prominent both 
in the choir and Sunday school, and fraternally 
he is connected with the Masons (of which for 
one year he was Master), the Modern Woodmen 
of America, and other organizations. Every 
movement of a beneficial character will find in 
him a ready supporter. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Craver 
have been as follows : Glenn, born November 
29. 1890; Bernice, born August 4, 1892; and 
Nolan, born July 12, 1894. The children have 
been given good educational advantages, and 
Miss Bernice has been trained in both vocal and 
Instrumental music, and shows promise of a 
bright future in this field, 

CREWS, David B. — The prosperous capitalist, 
illustrates by his experiences and successes the 
ups and downs of life, its fascinating promises 
of reward, as well as its equally abundant oppor- 
tunities for failure. His extended relations with 
outside concerns bring new capital to his com- 
munity, and if he has .sound judgment and is 
sufficiently consen-ative to limit his investments 
to enterprises he feels sure will succeed, he is 
certain of gratifying success. David B. Crews, a 
retired farmer and banker living at Effingham, 
111., has illustrated what may be accomplished 
by steadily directed effort, and is one of the pros- 
perous men of the city, having a good standing in 
the community. 

Mr. Crews was bom in Grove Township, Jas- 
per County, 111., August 17, 1861, son of James L. 
Crews, now deceased, who is given extensive 
mention elsewhere in this work. Mr. Crews was 
born on a farm and reared to agricultural pur- 
suits, attending the district school until he was 
about eighteen years of age. When he was 
tvventy years old he went to Ellis County, Tex., 
where he bought a large ranch and became an 
extensive stock-raiser, handling as many as 500 
head of cattle at one time, taking as his brand 
the abbreviation for his native State, "111." This 
brand had to be recorded in the State the same 
as a deed to proi)ertj-. and still stands. After 
three years of successf^ul operations in Texas. Mr. 
Crews sold his property there in 1884 and re- 
turned to his old home. 

October 26, 1886, Mr. Crews married Miss 
Frances Morton, born in Farmington. Iowa, 
daughter of Greenberry Morton, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this work. After their mar- 
riage they located on a farm near Montrose, 111., 



734 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



but in Jasper Couuty, aud Mr. Crews was elected 
Supervisor of Grove Townsliip. serving at tlie 
same time tiis father was on tlie Board. Tlie 
father was a member of the Board at the time 
of the buildins of the Peldn. Lincoln & Decatur 
(later the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville) Rail- 
road, now a branch of the Illinois Central, and 
liad oi)ix)sed the issue of the bonds the county 
donated to help build the road. However, the 
proposition having been submitted to the vote of 
the people was accepted, and bonds issued to the 
extent of $80,000, bearing interest at the rate 
of seven per cent to mature In twenty years. The 
son, David B. Crews, was a member of the 
Board when the lionds matured, being then 
Chairman. He stood for the issue of new bonds 
at five per cent interest, and in this connection 
signed his name to various documents some 500 
times, the last of the debt being paid in 1008. 
Mr. Crews remained on his 240 acre farm until 

1890, devoting himself to raising stock, and being 
very successful. He then sold this farm and 
bought 600 acres, also in Grove Township, increas- 
ing his stoclj and feeding operations, and ship- 
ping 200 to 300 head of cattle each year. He in- 
creased his holdings from time to time until he 
now owns 1,000 acres, part of which is in Clark 
County. In 1900 he retired from the farm, but 
continued in the stock business. He erected a 
handsome residence on Fayette Avenue, Effing- 
ham, where he took up his residence. In 1902 he 
established the D. B. Crews Bank of Montrose, 
now one of the most substantial institutions in 
the county. In 1907 he established the Bank of 
Commerce, of Wheeler, III., and this also has 
flourished, owing to his conservative policy and 
thorough understanding of the banking business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crews have had children as fol- 
lows: Venia May, bom August 20, 1887, is As- 
sistant Cashier of the Montrose Bank; Beulah 
Babb, born February 23. 1889. is an artist of con- 
siderable talent: Veva Claretta. born January 11, 

1891, is City Librarian of Effingham ; James Mor- 
ton, bom December 26, 1892. is at school ; Bethel 
Wood, born August 17, 18W : Zella Venus, born 
Au^ist 14, 1896 ; Archie Barton, born December 
16, 1898; Herschel Lawrence, bom May 13, 1901, 
died January 25. 1903; Lillian Ramona, born 
September 30, 1903; Frances Vivian, bom Octo- 
ber 9. 1905; and Rhea Verona, born November 
26, 1909. Mr. Crews has given his children ex- 
cellent educational advantages and the three eld- 
est are graduates of Effingham High School. 

Since coming to Effingham Mr. Crews has been 
elected Chairman of the Board of Education and 
polled the largest vote ever cast for that office. 
He is one of the leading Democrats in the county. 
Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F.. of 
Montrose. " The family attend the Methodist 
Church, of which he is Trustee. He is thor- 
oughly conversant with all the details of his va- 
rious lines of business, in which the active years 
of his life have been spent, and he has made an 
enviable reputation as a man of sound judg- 
ment and unquestioned integrity. He is an ex- 



cellent manager and a friend of progress, cham- 
pioning and adopting any changes he believes 
will work for the ultimate benefit of all con- 
cerned. 

CREWS, James L. (deceased).— The late Jamea 
L. Crews, who earned wide-spread popularity and 
held to the day of his death the full confidence 
of his community, had all the essential qualities 
for a u.^eful and successful business man. Quick 
to perceive, always ready to act as he believed 
expedient, he met all questions with ease, though 
he always acted as he considered wisest and best 
for all concerned. Mr. Crews was born near 
Terre Haute. Ind., November 14, 1825, a son of 
John and Elizabeth (McBeth) Crews. John 
Crews was a son of .Tames Crews, a native of 
Virginia, who served in the Revolutionary War. 
At an earl.v day he located in Tennessee, where 
he lived the remainder of his life, rearing a large 
family, including six sons. One of these, John, 
went to Vigo County, Ind., alx)ut 1820. and spent 
the remainder of his life there, passing away In 
1876. His wife died on the old homestead about 
seven miles west of Terre Haute, when she was 
over ninety years of age. 

The late James L. Crews left his native State 
in 1850, and locating in Jasper County, 111., 
there lx)ught a small tract of land. He became 
a successful farmer and stock-raiser and added 
to his land until he owned 1,400 acres, which he 
brought to a high state of cultivation, devoting it 
to general farming and also making a specialty 
of raising stock. 

September 19. 1850, Mr. Crews married Mary 
A. Green, of Cumberland County and they had 
eleven children, as follows : John, deceased ; 
Mar.v, became the wife of David Spitler, by whom 
sfie had three children — Cora A., Clyde and 
Stella ; Frank, now of Manhattan, Nev. ; Har- 
riet, wife of Reuben Woodward, of Montrose ; 
Alexander, deceased ; David, now a resident of 
Effingham ; Lucy A., wife of Ephraim Mason, of 
Wheeler, 111.; Ella M. (now deceased), who mar- 
ried Hon. L. Y. Sherman, former Lieutenant- 
Governor of Illinois ; James, who married Edith 
Mason, and had three children — Howard, Wayne 
and Mildred (who died in infancy) ; Joseph and 
Victoria, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. 
Crews died February 6. 1883, after a noble. 
Christian life, filled with good deeds. Mr. Crews 
died May 14. 1898. and was buried from the 
Methodist Church, of which he had long been 
a member, and to which he had been a liberal 
contributor. For man.v .years he was a member 
of the County Board of Supervisors, representing 
Grove Township, and his advice was always 
sound and practical. He will long be remem- 
bered as one of the highest tj'pes of manhood, 
always reliable, stanch and steadfast. He advo- 
cated Jefifersonian principles of politics and lived 
up to his beliefs. Although years have elapsed 
since his demise, he is remembered with respect 
and his sons are sustaining the honor of the 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



735 



name by living up to the high standard he set for 
them and otliers to follow. 

CUNNINGHAM, Fred C, D. D. S— The im- 
provements made and changes effected through a 
better Ijnowledge of the science of dental surgery 
are most remarkable. No science has shown 
such rapid advancement within the past decade 
as that which deals with the preservation of the 
teeth. The present members of the dental fra- 
ternity have to be men of intelligence, who have 
been carefully prepared by years of earnest en- 
deavor at first-class colleges, and gain some expe- 
rience before they enter upon their own practice. 
Among those who have attained success as den- 
tists is Dr. Fred C. Cunningham, of Efiingham, 
111., whose office is conveniently located in Effing- 
ham State Bank Building. 

Dr. Cunningham was born in Muskegon, Mich., 
April 16, 188G, son of Clyde Cunningham, a prom- 
inent business man of Muskegon. Clyde Cunning- 
ham was a manufacturer of furniture, and dur- 
ing his vacations, while he was studying in the 
schools of his native city, Dr. Cunningham helped 
his father, but his heart was set upon entering 
a profession, and although he worked in the fac- 
tory for two years, finally (in 190.5) he entered 
the Dental Department of the Michigan State 
University, at Ann Arbor, Mich., being gi-aduated 
In the Class of 1908. He then engaged in dental 
work with one of the faculty, L. P. Hall. Later 
he was associated with Dr. F. L. Cunningham, 
at Manistee, Mich., until May 5, 1909, when he 
bought the practice of Dr. John J. Condon, of 
Effingham, where he has already established him- 
self in the confidence of his patrons. Having 
been connected so recently with leaders of dental 
science in his university. Dr. Cunningham is 
thoroughly versed in all the new developments 
and discoveries, while his equipment is such as 
to insure perfect worli. 

On June 22, 1909, Dr. Cunningham was united 
in marriage with Mis Helen McKinley. born in 
Toledo, Ohio, daughter of David McKinley, now 
a resident of Decatur, 111. Dr. and Mrs. Cun- 
ningham are both active members of the Con- 
gregational Church, and already have many 
friends, although newcomers to the locality. 
Judging by his work, which is unquestionably 
that of an expert. Dr. Cunningham has a bril- 
liant future before him, and, measuring his prob- 
able success by what he has already achieved, he 
is destined to become one of the leading den- 
tists of his part of the State. 

CUNNINGHAM, James Perry, who for many 
years has be(»n engaged in business in Altamont, 
III., is one of the well known and highly esteemed 
citizens of that place, where he has the distinc- 
tion of being the oldest living haraess maker. 
Mr. Cunningham was born on a farm near Mans- 
field, Richland County, Ohio, September 21, 1,S49, 
son of John Perry and Rose Anna (Donaugh) 
Cimningham. 

James Cunningham, the grandfather of James 
P., was an early settler of Richland County, Ohio, 



and was of Iri.sh extraction. A farmer by occu- 
pation, he was noted as an Indian fighter, and all 
his life was spent in Ohio, where he died at the 
age of ninety-seveu years, his widow sur\-iving 
him some years and dying when she was 103. 
Of their children John P. was the eldest, and 
was born in Richland County, where early in 
life he carried on a store. At the beginning of 
the war, in addition to being a recruiting officer, 
he organized a company, becoming its captain, 
and served in the capacity of First Lieutenant of 
another company organized by him. He was a 
lawyer by profession, and an emphatic and mag- 
netic s[ieaker, and during many campaigns took 
the stump in behalf of the candidates of the 
Democratic party. Later in life he removed to 
a farm near Amity, Knox County, Ohio, and there 
spent the remainder of his days, retired from 
active life. 

The children of John P. and Rose A. Cunning- 
ham were: Arthur, a civil engineer of Pennsyl- 
vania : John Franklin, of Akron, Ohio. ; James 
Perry; Nancy, who married Charles Allen, of 
Columbus, Ohio; W. M.. of North Platte. Neb.; 
Matilda, who married Lewis Porter, of Mt. Ver- 
non. Ohio; Dora, of Akron, Ohio, and Thomas, 
deceased. 

James Perry Cunningham was still a boy when 
his parents removed to Knox County, Ohio, and 
there he received a common school education. 
Reared on the home farm, at the age of twelve 
or thirteen years he began to trade in anything 
and everything, and the training thus secured 
early in life has stood him In good stead on many 
occasions. At the age of sixteen years he learned 
the harness-maker's trade, which has been his 
principal occupation throughout life, although in 
his youth he owned and rode fast nnming 
horses. He was married in Amity, Ohio, Decem- 
ber 25, 187.3. to Louisa Belle Dowds, daughter of 
William Dowds. of Knox County, now deceased, 
and in the fall of 1877 removed to Effingham 
County. 111., and located near Gilmore, on a 
farm of sixty-five acres, on which he resided for 
seven years. He then came to Altamont, where 
for seven years he was engaged in working at his 
trade by the week for Gilbert Bailie, but subse- 
quently entered the business field on his own 
account. Later he sold out his interests and re- 
mained out of the business for some time, but 
eventually he re-entered it, establishing his pres- 
ent business. Mr. Cunningham has at times 
dealt in real estate, and he now owns another 
property in town besides the one on which his 
bu.siness is located. He has been a lifelong Dem- 
ocrat, and is well known not only as a success- 
ful business man, but as a useful and public- 
spirited citizen. 

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Cunningham, namely: Or^-ille Clifton, of Deca- 
tur. III., married Emma Tlioma.s, and has three 
children — James Earle. Audrey and Mary Belle; 
May, married Henry Flaherty, of Altamont, and 
has two children — Orviile and Inez La Verne ; and 
Edith, who is at home. 



736 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



CURRY, John H. — Few men thoroughly under- 
stand how to coiuUict ;i hotel so that it will l)e 
pleasjint and homelike to those whom business 
keeps on the road. The I'acifie Hotel, of Effing- 
ham, 111., enjoys a reputation that is sec-ond to 
none iu this part of the State, through the efforts 
of its proprietor, John H. Curry, who is an ideal 
host Jlr. Curry was born south of Terre Haute, 
in Vigo County, lud., .July 27, 1862, son of H. A. 
Curry. AVhen he was only three years old his 
father left the farm iu Indiana and came to 
Humboldt, Coles County. 111., and it was there 
that he began attending school. In 18(>!». when 
the family moved to Effingham, he entered the 
schools there, and received a lil)eral education. 

At the age of sixteen. John H. C\irry engaged 
to work in a woolen mill in Etliugham. and con- 
tinued with this concern three years. After this 
he engaged in several lines of business, both at 
Effingham and Paxton, and at the latter place 
began work as clerk of the Occidental Hotel. A 
year later he went to Charleston. 111., and 
once more entered a woolen mill, as carder. 
Later he had charge of the carding department 
at Wapello, Iowa, but returned to Effingham, 
where he began handling musical instruments, 
carrj'ing a full line of pianos, organs and other 
instruments. This business occupied him for 
seven years. 

In 1880. Mr. Cnriy married Ida Abraham, 
daughter of AVilliam M. Abraham, and imme- 
diately thereafter went to Watson, where he 
formed a partnership with Mr. Abraham, under 
the firm name of Abraham & Curry, general 
merchants, and for six years the two conducted 
a flourishing business, controlling an immense 
trade. In 1887 he once more returned to Effing- 
ham, and took charge of a general stock. Later 
he sold his interests in Watson and opened up a 
large mercantile business in Effingham, with sev- 
eral brancli stores. However, in 1894, he sold his 
main store and one of its branches, and formed 
a stock company, known as the Effingham Ice & 
Cold Storage Company, and was its manager for 
two years. About this time he resigned, and 
bought the Pacific Hotel, the largest in this part 
of the State. The ice and cold storage plant is 
an inuiiense one. having a capacity of ten tons 
of ice and fiOO gallons of ice cream, which was 
shipped to the surrounding cities within a radius 
of seventy-miles. The ic-e is as clear as 
crystal and perfectly pure. 

While the Pacific Hotel was well known when 
Mr. Curry bought it, under his able management 
it has grown in favor until it is the most largely 
patronized hostelry in Southern Illinois. With 
its annex accommodation is afforded sixty-three 
g\iests ; the rooms are large, well ventilated, and 
kept in perfect condition. Tlie dining rooms, 
parlors, and other public rooms are elegantly ap- 
pointed, and nothing is left undone to minister to 
the comfort and well being of those who make it 
their temporarj- home. Tne cuisine is excellent 
and the cooking of a quality not usually found 
outside a private home. 



Mr. Curry is a strong and faithful Republican, 
and well versed in national and local issues. He 
is genial, pleasant, and entertaining; his friends 
number legion, and are to be found in all parts 
of the country. 

Mr. and Mrs. Curry have had four children : 
Vera, Donald, Mildred and Wayne. 

DAMRON, Elbert L., M. D.— Many of the physi- 
cians and surgeons of today are devoting their 
energies to certain special lines, believing that 
in this way they accomplish much more good 
than if they spread their efforts over a wider 
field. Especially have they effected much in the 
direction of the improvement of hospitals, bring- 
ing these institutions to a marvelous state of i)er- 
fec'tion. Among the members of the medical pro- 
fession who have made names for themselves, 
may be appropriately mentioned that of Elbert L. 
Damron, of EHingham, one of the most efficient 
pliysicians and surgeons of Effingham County, if 
not of his part of the State. 

Dr. Danu-on was born in Progress. Union 
County, 111., November 22, 1878, a son of Jasper 
W. and Xancy J. Damron, natives of Union 
County, 111., and Tennessee, respectively. The 
father was a stock dealer and the family was 
early located in Union County. After passing 
through the State Normal University at Car- 
bondale. 111.. Dr. Damron entered the St. Louis 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which 
he was graduated in 1907, and he entered upon 
active practice in Effingham, where he is now 
verj^ favorably known. 

During the Spanish-American War Dr. Dam- 
ron served in Company C, Fourth Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, with distinguished bravery. He 
is a member of the Modern Woodmen, Elks, ila- 
sonie fraternity, Modem Americans and the Yeo- 
men, also the American, State and County Medi- 
cal As,sociations. His religious belief makes him 
a member of the Christian church and he is 
highly valued in that congregation. He is a Re- 
publican but has not sought public preferment, 
although his energetic efforts in the direction of 
civic reform have brought him before the people 
of Effingham very prominently. 

Dr. Damon regards his surgical work in con- 
nection with St. Anthony's Ho.spital as the best 
he has accomjilished, and certainly to his untir- 
ing efforts is largely due the present standing of 
this institution, which is recognized as one of 
the best ho.spitals in the State. 

A close student, a careful observer, full of 
energy and ix)ssessed of executive ability. Dr. 
Damron is one of the leaders not only in his pro- 
fession, but also in the city where he resides. 

DANKS, George I.— Effingham County is for- 
tunate in that it numbers among its most pro- 
gressive and energetic men those who are yet in 
the very prime of vigorous manhood, for from 
them much can be exi)ected. George I. Danks, 
merchant, attorney and manager of the large 
Gillmore estate, is one of those young business 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



737 



and professional men who have made the county 
what it is today. He was born in West Town- 
ship, Etfingham County, 111., March IS, 1878, a 
son of Josoiih and Addie (Coley) Danks. 

Joseph IJanks was torn in New Jersey, but 
came to Effingham County, 111., when a boy. and 
secured employment in JIasou Township by the 
month. He was frugal, saved his money, and 
bought land in West Township, where he Is still 
living. Eventually, he made a fine farm of 250 
acres, which is well stock and is one of the best 
in his localitj-. For three terms, he has been 
elected Supervisor, on the Democratic ticket, 
and he has acted as Chairman one term, alwa.vs 
giving his constituents the best service that lies 
in his power. He is a Mason, and a Modern 
Woodman, and in religious faith is an Episc-o- 
palian. He and his wife had thirteen children, 
and all survive, no deaths having occurred in 
the family. They are : William C. an attorney 
of Denver ; George I. ; Anna, wife of Henry 
Laugerhausen, a farmer of Liberty Township ; 
Joseph R. and Charles R.. at home ; Ada, wife 
of William E. Bell, a farmer of Logan County ; 
Sadie, wife of Joseph Lieb, a farmer of West 
Township ; Ruth, Eva, Ethel, Samuel. James and 
Mark, at home. All have been well educated, 

George I. Danks was reared to farm life in 
West Township, attending the district school 
and a private school at Edgewood. In 1895 he 
entered Austin College, of Effingham, where he 
took a teacher's course, and began teaching in 
1807. in Mason Township. During 189S and 1899 
he taught in the county .schools, and during 1900 
taught in Edgewood. Meanwhile he had been 
studying law, and in lOOC* he entered the law 
department of Huntingdon (Tenn, ) University, 
from which he was graduated in 1901. and he 
located at Great Falls, Mont., where he built up 
a large practice, and for two years served as As- 
sistant District Attorney. On August 21, 1907, 
he returned to Edgewood and married Maude 
Gillmore, daughter of Hon. William Gillmore. 
one of the most honored of Effingham's pioneers, 
who was prominent in the affairs of the county 
and State. Mrs. Danks was born in Edgewood, 
August 10, 1885, After mariage Mr. Danks re- 
turned to his home at Great Falls, closed out 
his practice, and on account of the feeble health 
of Mr, Gillmore, the.v returned to Edgewood, 
where Mr, Danks took charge of the former's 
mercantile business and various other interests. 
Owing to the magnitude of the Gillmore estate, 
Mr. Danks has been able to resume his law prac- 
tice only incidentall.v. 

Politically he is a Democrat. Fraternally is a 
Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 484. of Edgewood, 
and the O. E. S. Chapter, of Mason, and is also a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

DANKS, Joseph, a prominent citizen, Justice of 
the Peace and leading farmer of West Township, 
belongs to the old Danks family of New Jersey, 
which was founded in that State by Samuel 
Danks. a native of England who emigrated to this 



country, locating in New Jersey, One of his de- 
scendants, William Danks, the father of Joseph, 
born in England, settled four miles from Pater- 
son, N. J,, and was a farmer all his life. After 
coming to America he married Rhoda Izon, who 
was of English descent, and after rearing a fam- 
ily of children, both died in New Jersey. Their 
children were: Sarah, Mr.s, James Billings, of 
New Jersey; Samuel, deceajsed; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
JIatthews, deceased ; William ; Joseph ; Charles, 
of New Jersey, and Anna. 

Joseph Danks was brought up on the home- 
stead, where he was born, April 14, 1854, and 
there he receivetl his common school education 
and helped his father. When sixteen years old 
he and his brother Samuel went west and found 
employment at Edgewood, Effingham County, 
Mr. Danks was employed by William Coley on 
the farm which he now own.s. at fifteen dollars 
I)er month. Later Mr. Coley became his father- 
in-law. For fourteen years Mr. Danks worked 
for various farmers in this neighl>orhood, and so 
expert did he become that during the last two 
years he received twenty dollars per month. Be- 
ing a thrifty man he saved his money, invested 
it carefully and it was not long before he had 
considerable accumulated. 

On December 20, 1874, occurred the marriage 
of Mr, Danks and Addie Coley, the ceremony 
being i)erformed by the Rev, William Campbell, 
a Methodist clergyman, in the old log house then 
the Coley family home. This old residence is still 
preserved by Mr. and Mrs. Danks. Mrs. Danks was 
lK)rn January 25, 18.'i4, in Elgin, Kane County, 
111., a daughter of William and Rebecca (Dew- 
ell) Coley. Mr, and Mrs. Coley were natives of 
England who lived in Utiea, N. T,, for seven 
years after coming to the United States, then 
moving to Elgin, 111,, which remained their home 
until they located in West Township, Effingham 
County, when Mrs. Danks was six years old. 

Wlien Mr. and Mrs. Danks were married, Mr. 
Cqley gave Mrs, Danks the farm which is now 
the Danks home, consisting of 100 acres, being 
the northeast quarter of Section 28. In addition 
to this Mr, Danks owns ninety acres in LaClede 
Township, Fayette County, which he operates In 
conjunction with his home farm. Mr. Danks has 
been very active in politics for mau.v j'ears as a 
stanch Democrat, and has held various offices, in- 
cluding those of School Director, Township Su- 
pervisor, Road Commissioner and Township 
Assessor. For two years he was Chairman of the 
Board of Supervisors, and for two years was 
Chairman of the Board of Review. In former 
.vears he was a director of the Gilmore Telephone 
Com]5any, and has been interested in the work of 
the Farmers' Institute for a long period, serving 
as its President for several years. He has given 
his party .veoman service, acting as Township 
Central Committeeman for man.v years, and has 
never been found lacking In any of the essen- 
tials that go to make the good citizen, 

Mr, and Mrs, Danks are the parents of thir- 
teen children: William C. ; George I., born 



738 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



March 18, 1878, educated in the public schools 
and Austin College, taught several years, then 
studied law in the University of Tennessee, and 
after graduation practiced law for seven years 
at Great Falls, Mont., but returning to Effing- 
ham County, be and his wife (formerly Maud 
Gilmore) now reside at Edgewood — they have 
no Issue ; Annie B., born September 1, ISSO, was 
educated in the public schools and Austin Col- 
lege, taught school prior to her marriage to 
Henry Laugerhausen, now resides at Shumway, 
where she is still teaching — no issue; Joseph R., 
born December 14. 1883, educated in the public 
schools, is at home and serving as Clerk of West 
Township ; Ada Frances, born December 10, 1885, 
educated in the public schools and Austin College, 
taught school in Effingham County for several 
years prior to her marriage to W. R. Bell, of 
Logan Couuty, 111., and they have one child — 
Eva G. : Sarah J., born March 2, 1888, married 
Joseph Lieb of West Township, they have one 
child — Ruth Marie; Charles Robert, born Jan- 
uary 27, 1890, attending public school; Emma 
Ruth, born July 7, 1892, holds a teacher's certifi- 
cate; Mary Eva, born December 10, 1894, at- 
tending school ; Ethel May, born January 6, 1897 ; 
Samuel John and James Henry, twins, born 
January 6 and January 8, 1900; and Mark Jay, 
born April 28, 1902. Wiliam C, the eldest, was 
born December 16, 1875, and attended the pub- 
lie schools and Austin College, and the Lincoln 
College. He then studied law at Dixon, 111., 
where he was admitted to the bar. His first 
law practice occurred at Great Falls, Mont., but 
after a few years he returned to Illinois and 
located in Cornland, Logan County, 111., where 
he practiced law and looked after his landed in- 
terests until about 1905, when he went to Denver, 
Colo., which is his present home. lie is remem- 
bered as oue of the popular teachers of Effing- 
ham County, where he taught in young man- 
hood. 'When the Spanish-American War broke 
out, he enlisted in Company K, First Illinois 
Cavalry, under Captain John Oglesby, at present 
Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois, remaining with 
his regiment until the close of the war, when he 
was mustered out at Fort Sheridan. He mar- 
ried Tillie E. Lanham, of Logan County, 111., and 
they have two children, Edna Montana and 
Wiila E. 

DANTE, Harris. — The power of the press has 
never been more clearly demonstrated than it is 
today, when the newspapers of the country prac- 
tically control public opinion. The editors of 
these organs shoulder a great responsibility, 
when they assume charge of a sheet destined to 
go into the homes of thousands, and especially is 
this true of the newspapers that circulate in the 
rural communities. The "Effingham Republican," 
of which Harris Dante is editor, is the only Re- 
publican paper published in Effingham County. 
Mr. Dante is President of the Southern Illinois 
Editorial Association and a young man of con- 
siderable newspaper experience. 



Mr. Dante was born in Menard County, 111., 
the son of J. Frank and Anna (Curry) Dante, 
and grandson of Rev. H. P. Curry, of Petersburg, 
the oldest Baptist preacher in Illinois, and a na- 
tive of Kentucky who became one of the sturdy 
pioneer settlers of Central Illinois. Five sons 
and two daughters were born to J. Frank Dante 
and his wife, of whom Harris Dante was the 
third child in order of birth. Harris Dante is 
a self-made young man, having worked his way 
through Athens (III.) High School, from which 
he graduated at the age of seventeen years, and 
then began teaching. After following this pro- 
fession several terms, he attended Lincoln Col- 
lege one term and read law one year. However, 
his legal studies being interrupted through force 
of circumstances, he entered the newsjjaper field, 
and during his first efforts In this direction, did 
considerable work for Springfield, St. Louis and 
Chicago papers. For three years he was asso- 
ciated with Litchfield papers, and was for more 
than two .years managing editor of a Centralia 
paper, taking charge of the Effingham County 
Printing Company (publishers of the Republi- 
can) in Januarj', 1908. He is manager and ed- 
itor of the paper, having a three-fourths interest, 
with an option on the remainder, so that in a 
short time he will be sole owner. The company 
is incorporated on a capital of $5,000, and lead- 
ing Republicans throughout the county hold 
stock in the enterprise. Under its present man- 
agement the paper is recognized as one of the 
leading papers of its part of the State. 

September 17, 1907, Jlrs. Dante was married 
at Centralia. 111., to Jliss Myrtle Loy, second 
daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Frank William Loy. 
Dr. Loy is one of the foremost .Methodist preach- 
ers and lecturers of Southern Illinois, and mem- 
ber of a prominent family in that part of the 
State. Mrs. Dante is well educated, being a 
graduate of McKendree College. She is largely 
interested in her husband's work and is very 
helpful in his chosen field. Mr. Dante is a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and 
the Knights of Pythias, is prominently identified 
with the Y. M. C. A. organization of Illinois, and 
is frequently called njwn to participate in public 
meetings of the Association. 



DAVIS, Foster J. — To the man of industry and 
enterprise a life of retirement, after many years 
si)ent in hard and faithful toil, seems repellant, 
and not until he feels absolutely convinced that 
he has done his share in developing his commun- 
ity, will the average Illinois farmer relinquish his 
hold upon active operations. Then, when he 
finally does settle down in his home in the city, 
he is bound to prove a valuable asset in what- 
ever comnmnity he makes his home and is inva- 
riably a welcome addition. Foster J. Davis, an 
honored resident of Lucas Township, Effingham 
County, a veteran of the Civil War, is now living 
retired after a long period spent in agricultural 
pursuits In Effingham County. He was born in 




,0^. \/xx3tvj-^-- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



739 



Madison County, 111., October 12, 1S46. a son of 
William C. and Ruth (Holloway) Davis. 

William C. Davis was a native of Bracken 
County, Ivy., came to Madison County. 111., with 
his father, Foster Davis, and was there married, 
in 1!W4. to Ruth Holloway. Mr. Davis went to 
Effingham County in 1848, and there he and his 
wife resided until their deaths. They had a 
family of nine children, of whom four are still 
living : Andrew J., a retired merchant of Eberle ; 
Thomas W., a farmer in Lucas Township ; Lewis 
R., of Stonington, 111. ; and Foster J. Those de- 
ceased are : W. H., who died in Eberle ; John 
W., at Elliottstown ; James R., in Bishop Town- 
ship ; Curtis M., in Lucas Township : and 
Amanda A., who was the wife of Hiram Evans, 
of Lucas Township. All of these children had 
families with the exception of James and Curtis. 

Foster J. Davis went to Bond County, 111., in 
1819. and there remained until 1851, when the 
family moved to Lucas Township, Effingham 
County, settling on Section IS when the country 
was wild and game plentiful. Deer were so 
numerous that the family's first crop of wheat 
was destroyed by them, and Mr. Davis well 
remembers having to run out into the field to 
chase them away. His father planted the first 
crop of wheat in his part of the county. He was 
one of the progressive men of the day and, in 
addition to raising good crops, would each year 
drive to St. Louis with a load of dressed deer 
and wild turkeys, which he would erehange for 
sugar, coffee and other necessities, making the 
trip overland with teams, which consumed about 
six days. In these primitive days the younger 
children often had .voung deer for pets. The 
wolves were then so bold that they were a con- 
stant menace ; hogs were driven all the way to 
Chicago to market, and matches were an un- 
known quantity, the settlers often having to go 
to a neighbor's house to get coals with which to 
start fire. Mr. Davis has been the witness of 
wonderfiil changes: the haunts of the deer and 
wolf have disappeared ; in place of the flint and 
steel there is now the match with gas and elec- 
tricity, and the old hand-plow has been sup- 
planted by machine cultivator and the sickle and 
cradle b.v the reaper and selfbinder. ^ATiere 
once stood little log-cabins with puncheon or 
earthern floors, handsome churches and school- 
buildings rear their statel.v spires, and the old 
days of hard, unremitting toil and little gain 
have become the modern days of prosperity and 
plenty. William C. Davis passed to his reward 
April 6, 1881. his wife having died in October, 
1872. He was first a Wbi^ and later a Republi- 
can in politics, and he and his wife were lifelong 
nieniliers of the Xew Light Church. 

When he was but seventeen years of age. Pos- 
ter J. Davis enlisted in ^ompany D. Fifty-fourth 
Regiment. Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three 
years, and from February. 1863, until the close of 
the war, was with his regiment on all its hard 
and trying marches, heavy engagements, foraging 
exiieditions and skirmishes, ever bearing his 



hardships and privations with the utmost brav- 
ery. August 24, 1864. he was at Brownsville, 
Ark., when eight companies of the regiment were 
captured and there paroled, at which time the; 
l>oys walked to St. Louis, and after six months 
in captivitj- were exchanged. After having been 
exchanged for the prisoners then confined at 
Camp Douglas, Chicago, the regiment was reor- 
ganized at Little Rock, Ark., and from there went 
to Fort Smith, whence they were sent to suppress 
the Indian uprising in the West. Returning to 
tlie fort, they there received honorahle discharge 
in October, 186.5. At Brownsville, Ark., Mr. 
Davis lost an eye from fever and esiwsure while 
a prisoner. After his discharge he returned 
home and engaged in farming. 

In the spring of 1866, Mr. Davis married Ade- 
line Russell, a native of Ohio, and they went to 
live on a farm in Union Township, which he 
rented for seventeen years from W. M. Abraham. 
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis: 
Ida. wife of Hannibal H. Strand, a farmer of 
Elliottstown, and Charles, who married Minnie 
Richenson, and they had two children, after which 
both he and his wife died. Mrs. Davis died in 
October. 1869. and in Februaiy, 1871, Mr. Davis 
married (second) Lavina Gillmore, by whom he 
had five children: William H., married Ethel 
Rockwell and they had six children — Lester, Ar- 
dith. Glen, Lottie, Beulah and Enflr— and live on 
a farm in Lucas Township ; Hiram R., a farmer 
of Jackson Township, married (first) Emma 
Agnew. by whom he had one child, Orville, and 
(second) Elizabeth Ernie, nee Park, by whom 
he has one child, Otis; Sarah, wife of George 
Croft, a farmer in Watson Township, has had 
six children— Josie, Orvie, Ethel, Amy, Leonard 
and Ruby, of whom Orvie is deceased ; Leora, 
wife of John Calhoun, a farmer of Watson Town- 
ship : and Tony B., a farmer of Union Township, 
married Nettie Amey, and they have two children 
— Agnes and Forest. The mother of the.se chil- 
dren died in May, 1884. 

Mr. Davis married (third) Mrs. Emma Goss- 
man, who was born in Pendleton County, Ky., 
and came with her parents to Effingham County. 
She was first married to John Poe, by whom she 
had one child— Sylvester E. Mr. Poe died in 
1876 and his widow married (second) Benjamin 
Gossman, by whom she had four children — two 
who died in infancy, Henry B. and Albert R. Mr. 
CJossman died in 188.3 and June .3, 1886. she was 
married to Mr. Davis. To this union have been 
born children as follows; Curtis F., born June 
26, 1888; Joyce Alice, born September 15, 1890, 
wife of John W. Dobbins, whom she married 
March 20, 1908, and they have one child, Curtis, 
born July 10, 1909; and Naomi F., born June 
29, 1900. 

Mr. Davis has been a resident of Effingham 
County since 18.51 and, until 1899, he made his 
home in Union Township, since then having re- 
sided in Lucas Town.ship and being retired from 
active life. He was for a long period one of the 
successful farmers of his community and was 



r4o 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



also prominently identified with the Repnblican 
part}-. Although Union Township was strongly 
Democratic. Jlr. Davis was elected on the Re- 
publican ticket to every township office in the 
gift of his tellow-citizens. and while a member of 
the School Board did mucli to further the cause 
of education by erecting new buildings, installing 
innovations and ever being ready to hire the best 
instructors. He has served as Assessor of Lucas 
Township and for thirty-five years has been a 
•Tnstice of the Peace. Fraternally he is connected 
with the Masonic order, having been for thirty- 
years a member of Delia Lodge No. 525. at El- 
iidttstown, filling all the chairs in the lodge, and 
being now Senior Warden. Ilis sons are all mem- 
bers of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and his wife belongs to the Order of Rebekah.s, 
and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr. Davis has had a long and useful life and 
one to which he can look back without shame or 
regret. His record as a soldier fighting to uphold 
his counti-j-'s honor was good, and his record as a 
]jrivate citizen, striving to maintain the high 
standard of his community, is no less meritorious. 
The e.xample set by his actions may well be used 
as a pattern for the generation now growing up. 

DENTON, Guy P.— Some of the most eminent 
attorneys of the country are numbered among 
those who have fitted themselves for their pro- 
fession, without ever having had the oppor- 
tunity to attend a law school. They have proven 
themselves and their force of character by per- 
sistent, individual effort. Guy P. Denton, attor- 
ney at law and member of the law firm of Wriglit 
Brothers & Denton, was born at Paris. 111.. 
August 22, 1878. but has made Effingham his 
home since the age of four years, when he was 
brought here by his parents. Ileni-j- A. and Kath- 
erine S. (Partridge) Denton. Henry A. Denton 
was caiitain of the Twelfth Kentucky Volunteer 
Cavalry, and sened throughout the war. 

Guy P. Denton is a graduate of the Effingham 
High" School, class of 1804. and of the Steno- 
graphic Department of Austin College, Effingham, 
class of 189G. and was admitted to the Illinois 
Bar in February, 1908. When only seventeen he 
began working in the Vandalia shops as call boy, 
and remained there about two years when the 
shops were removed to Terre Haute, Ind. When 
only twenty -two he had already made himself 
felt so strongly, that he was elected City Clerk 
of Effingham on the Democratic ticket, carrying 
every ward in the city, and served veiy ably one 
term. On February G. 1905. he was appointed 
Deputy CTerk of the Circuit Court, and in De- 
cember, ItiOS, he was re-apix)inted. On February 
1, 1910. he resigned his position as Deputy Clerk 
to engage in the active practice of law, having 
entered into partnership with the firm of W'right 
Bros., one of the leading law firms of Effing- 
ham. On or about the 1st of February, 1910. he 
was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Triple 



Adjustment Company, ineoriwrated, which posi- 
tion he still holds. 

On April 17, 1902, Mr. Denton married at Terre 
Haute, Ind., C. Ethel Glick. Mr. and Mrs. Den- 
ton are pleasantly located at No. 504 E. Jeffer- 
son Street. Effingham, where they show gracious 
hospitality to their many friends. Mr. Denton 
h.is always been a Democrat, and his influence 
in his party is felt to such an e.xtent that it is 
more than probable that he will be called upon 
to represent it in much higher offices than he has 
yet occupied ; and, if he does, there is no doubt 
that he will prove himself Quite as capable then 
as he always has in the past. 

DETTERT, Barney, a well known business man 
of Altamont, 111., where he is representing the 
Evausville Brewing Company, is one of the self- 
made men of Effingham County, and has forged 
his way to a place among the prosperous business 
men of his community solely through his own 
efforts. Jlr. Dettert was born on a farm in 
Douglas Township, .January 23, 1851, a son of 
Barney and A. (Hoving) Dettert. The parents 
of Mr. Dettert came from Prussia and settled in 
Douglas Township, the father first working in a 
sa\A-null on Salt Creek. Later he purchased a 
farm of 120 acres, which he oijerated until his 
death, in 1863. His widow was eighty-four years 
old at the time of her death, which occurred at 
the home of her son Barney, in Altamont. There 
were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dettert : 
Barney ; ICaty, who died in childhood ; and Mary, 
who married B. H. Hilmer and died in Altamont. 

Barney Dettert was educated in the common 
schools of his native locality and was reared on 
the home farm, on which he remained until 
thirty years of age. He then six-ut two years in 
the roundhouse of the Vandalia lines, and in 
1884, the year of his marriage, moved to Alta- 
mont, where for si.x years he was engaged as a 
bartender. He then bought property, erected a 
building and engaged in the saloon business, in 
which he continued for twelve years with vari- 
ous partners, and at the end of that time engaged 
in the wholesale liquor business for the ludian- 
aiiolis Brewing Company. In 1902 he became 
connected with the Evansville Brewing Com- 
pany, and has been their agent in the wholesale 
trade to the present time. Starting in life with 
little or no resources, Mr. Dettert has made a 
success of his business, and is one of the best 
known men in his line in Effingham County. He 
is a prominent Democrat in iwlitics, and his re- 
ligious faith is that of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 

On Feliruary 17. 1884, Mr. Dettert was united 
in marriage with Rose Ungrunt, of Effingham, 
and tliey have one child, Anthony, born in 188G. 
who was graduate<I from the public and High 
schools of Altamont, spent part of a .year in the 
Vandalia Depot, after which he took a two 
years' course in business college, and is now keep- 
ing books for his father. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



741 



DEVORE, William C— In addition to operating 
his seveiity-seveu acre farm, William C. Devore 
conducts a treneral mercantile business at the 
cross roads, one mile west of Dexter and three 
miles east of Altamont, and by couibiuiug these 
two lines he has made a success of his work. 
The Devore family is of French origin, but the 
earliest of whom anything very definite is knomi, 
is James Devore. grandfather of William C, who 
was born, reared and married in Pennsylvania. 
He came to Illinois in the early thirties, and for 
some time lived in the vicinity of Mattoou, but 
eventually came to Effingham County, settling on 
a farm containing one-half section of land in 
Summit Township. James Devore became well 
known throughout that part of the State as a 
local Methodist preacher of great eloquence. He 
was a prominent man, served as Justice of the 
Peace many years, and impressed the community 
with his personality. He married Elizabeth 
Ashwahl, and they reared a large family. 

Jacob Devore, son of James and father of Wil- 
liam C, was born In Pennsylvania, and had 
reached maturity when the family emigrated to 
Illinois. He married Maria Reynolds, of Effing- 
ham County, daughter of Dick Reynolds, but who 
died when her son, William C, was three years 
old. Later Mr. Devore married Jane Lowry, 
daughter of a local Methodist preacher. He was 
married (third) to a Mrs. Kelly, finally dying 
on his farm in Summit To\^niship. In politics he 
was a Republican but was not so active in public 
life as his father had been. By his first wife 
Jacob Devore had children as follows : Cathe- 
rine married Thomas Dewall and, after his death, 
married (.second) an old soldier, S. S. Lovelace; 
William C. : James married a Miss Lawjei' : and 
Benjamin married a Miss Sarah E. Wells, and 
went West. By his second marriage he had chil- 
dren as follows : Susie, who married a Mr. Dom- 
inick. in California, and Robert, who is de- 
ceased. By his third marriage there were tn-o 
children : Elie and Susie. 

William C. Devore was born in Effingham 
County. October f>. ISArl. and in his youth at- 
tended school about three days out of the week 
during the winter months, when he could be 
spared from farm work. Wlien only sixteen 
years old he began doing a man's work, and con- 
tinued to work for his father until he attained 
his majority. About this time his father died 
and he worked for two imcles, Daniel and John 
Wesley Devore. five years. He then spent a year 
or two on the home farm, when he was married. 

November 5, 1S7.5, Mr. Devore married Nancy 
lyovelace. a native of Ohio, and immediately after 
their marriage they settled ujwn his present 
property, then a brush farm, which he has now 
developed until it is in a remarkably fine condi- 
tion. He has erected all the buildings himself, 
and in 1800 started his store, in which he enjoys 
a good trade. Politically he is a Republican, 
and his religious affiliations are with the Metho- 
dl.st Church of Dexter, of which he is treasurer 
and a trustee. He is liberal in his donations to 



the cause of the church and is prominent in the 
congregation. 

The children born to Mr. Devore and wife are: 
Orvil, who died young; Je.ssie, married Willard 
Young, of Effingham ; Roy, lives at Dexter, and 
married a Miss Kepler; Julia, and Durrell, at 
home. ilr. Devore enjoys the confidence of a 
wide circle of friends and is proud of the record 
his family have made in the history of the county. 

The father of Mrs. Devore was born iu Mary- 
land, came to Ohio when fourteen years of age, 
and in 1864 removed to IllinoLs, where he died, 
January 25, 1876. Mrs. Ix)velace was bom in 
Ohio and came to Illinois with her husband. 
She survived him a few years, passing away 
April 17. 1881, and both .she and her husband are 
buried in the cemetery at Altamont. 

DICKMANN, Henry.— Effijigham County has ita 
full quota of business men, manufacturers, doc- 
tors and lawyers, but particularly has it been 
noted for the high standard set by its agricultur- 
ists, whose energy and enterprise, during the past 
decade or two, have made this part of the State 
one of the garden spots of Illinois. Henry Dick- 
maun, a prosperous farmer, residing on Section 
2, Mound Township, two and one-half miles 
northeast of Altamont, was born on a farm in 
Cook County. 111., February 8, 1863, the third 
.son and fifth of a family of six children of Fred- 
erick and Catherine (Herwig) Dickmann. 

Henry Dickmann was about two years old 
wlien his parents located in Effingham Countj', 
where the father had purchased 160 acres of 
laud. Ileni-y Dickmann was sent to the public 
schools, and some of his teachers were : Mr. 
Boudry, Joe Ashing, Catherine Yarnell, Hale 
Johnson. Mr. Clark and Claude Mitchell, the 
latter now being County Superintendent of 
Schools. At sixteen years of age. Mr. Dickmann 
quit school and started in to operate the home 
farm with his two brothers. When the estate 
was divided, he received as his share fifty-sis 
acres. 

Mr. Dickmann was married, March 15, 1888, 
to Alice E. Smith, of Kossuth, Iowa, and to this 
union the following children have been born : 
George Frederic, born December 27, 1888, re- 
ceived a public school and Normal School edu- 
cation, and began teaching, October 6. 1900, at 
the Oak Ridge School and will enter college this 
fall; Charles Henry, Iwrn November 28, 1890; 
Mary Edith, born January 30, 1895 ; and Laura 
Blanche, born July 4. 1897. Mr. Diekmanu is 
considered one of the reliable citizens of his 
conmninity, and is an acknowledged judge in 
agi'icultural matters. In 1897 his home was 
destroyed by fire, but it was soon after replaced 
by his present comfortable residence. Both Mr. 
Dickmann and wife are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, at Altamont, having been 
reared in that faith. 

Mrs. Dickman was born in Kossuth, Iowa, 
where she lived until her marriage, being for a 
time a teacher in the public schools. Her father, 



742 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



James B. Smith, was born near Clarksburg, 
Ind., and removed to Kossuth with his family 
after marriage in the year 1S49. He and his 
wife, who was also a native of Indiana, died in 
Iowa, Mr. Smith in June. ISOO, and Mrs. Smith 
in May, 1898. They were parents of children 
as follows : John T., who died in August. 1907 ; 
Sarah J., who married Edward Moore, and died 
in February, 1908 ; Mary E., who was Mrs. John 
Todd, died in February, lfl09; Laura J., married 
James Moore and is living in Oklahoma ; David 
G., died in May, 1900 ; George P., of Nebraska ; 
Mrs. Dickmaun ; James W.. who died in child- 
hood ; Michael S., residing in Oklahoma ; and 
Mattie N., who married Charles Eckey, of Win- 
field, Iowa. Mrs. Dickmaun is a member of the 
Royal Neighbors, which is auxiliary of the 
Modern Woodmen, of which organization Mr. 
Diekmann is a member, being affiliated with Dia- 
mond Camp, No. 786. Mr. Diekmann and his 
family are all very pleasant and sociable, and the 
stranger who comes to their home is made to 
feel at home. In politics Mr. Diekmann is a 
Democrat. Both his sons, George F. and Charles 
H., are prominent in church work, belonging to 
the Methodist Church, its Epworth League and 
T. M. C. T. U.. and both sing in the church choir, 
the former being a member of the male quar- 
tette. The daughters also belong to this church. 
Mr. Diekmann is a member of the Epworth 
League and of W. C. T. U. 

DICKMANN, William.— The farmers of Effing- 
ham County are among the most progressive of 
the State, for this part of it is especially fertile 
and adapted to agricultural purposes. One of 
those who has proven the profit to be had from 
cultivation of the soil is William Diekmann, of 
Mound Township. He was born on a farm in 
Cook County, 111., October 12, 185.3. being a son 
of Fred Diekmann, who was born in Hamburg, 
Germany, in 1795, and was a farmer in the Fath- 
erland. His first marriage occurred in his na- 
tive land, but he had the misfortune to lose both 
his wife and their one child, and, in 1838. came 
to the United States to forget his sorrow among 
new sTirroundings. From New York he came on 
to Chicago, and there lived for a number of 
years, marrying in 1852 Mrs. Catherine Herrick, 
also a native of Germany. Following his mar- 
riage, Mr. Diekmann farmed in Cook County un- 
til 1865, when he moved to Mound Township, 
Effingham County, and bought 160 acres on 
Section 2. Here his death occurred in 1869, 
and he is buried on the farm. In religious 
faith he was a Methodist, and his political 
opinions made him a member of the Repub- 
lican party. His widow survived him until 
about 1901, when she died and was buried in 
Union Cemetery. Altamout. The children born 
to these two were: William; Mary, deceased; 
Henry, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
this work ; and John, who resides with William. 

William Diekmann first attended a private 
school in Cook County, and was about ten years 



old when removal was made to Effingham County, 
where be attended the public schools. He was 
reared uix)n the home farm, and its heavy duties 
interfered with his school work to a considerable 
degree. On December 1, ]SSl>. oci'urred his mar- 
riage with Elizabeth Buclihols. daughter of Fred 
Buchhols and Elizabeth .Mahler Buchhols. A 
year after marriage Mr. Diekmann located on 
his present farm of 140 acres. In addition to 
this he owns land in Jackson Township. On his 
propertj- he built a comfortable house. In 1896, 
Mr.s. Diekmann died, and in 1902 Mr. Diekmann 
married Mrs. Annie (McCoy) Majors, widow of 
Frank Ma.iors. By his first marriage Mr. Dick- 
maim had four children : Lydia, Mrs. Otto 
Priess ; Matilda, Mrs. Young : Christina, Mrs. 
Edward Ooumbs ; and Frederick, at home. Mrs. 
Diekmann had three children by her former mar- 
riage: George. Flora and James. Sir. and Mrs. 
Diekmann have one child, Arvitta. Mr. Diek- 
mann is a Methodist, while his political affilia- 
tions are with the Democratic party. 

Always a hard worker, intelligently applying a 
training of a lifetime to his calling, Mr. Diek- 
mann has developed a fine property and has 
something to show for his efforts. He has also 
gained and retained the friendship and esteem 
of his neighbors and business associates. 

DIEHL, Christian Herman, M. D.— One of the 
men \\lu.< has achieved success in his chosen 
walks of life, almost before the flush of youth 
has faded from his countenance, and has made 
his name a representative one in his community 
in the profession of medicine, is Dr. Christian 
Herman Diehl, who has been established in prac- 
tice at Montrose since 1908. Dr. Diehl was bom 
December 9. 1870, at Montrose. Effingham County, 
111., son of George and Louisa (Goebel) Diehl. 

The parents of Dr. Diehl were both born in 
Germany and came to America with their pa- 
rents, the mother being reared at Mendota, 111., 
and the father at Belleville. About 1860, George 
Diehl came to Effingham County and l)ought some 
200 acres of land from the Illinois Central Rail- 
road, and about the same time the Goebel family 
also came to this section, and thus the two fami- 
lies became acquainted. After his marriage, 
George Diehl .settled on his farm adjoining the 
village of Montrose, and spent many years of his 
life converting the wild, marshy land into fertile 
and productive acres. He now owns 075 acres 
in Effingham County and has become one of the 
representative citizens of that locality. His wife 
survived until March 8, 1906. She was an ad- 
mirable woman in every way, a most excellent 
manager and adviser in business matters, a faith- 
ful wife and devoted mother. Of the family of 
nine children, four died in infancy and those yet 
living are as follows; Lizzie, wife of John Ilit- 
aer, a farmer in Jasper County ; John, a farmer 
and stockman, residing north of Effingham ; 
Christian Herman ; Lena, wife of John Miller, 
of Jasper County ; and George, Jr., residing with 
his father on the homestead. 




SUSAN LANDENBERGER 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



743 



Christian Herman Diehl's boyhood was spent 
in attendance at school and helping with the farm 
duties, and when fifteen years old he entered 
the German Lutheran School at Island Grove, 
remaining there two years. At seventeen years 
of age he decided to embark in a mercantile busi- 
ness and, as a means of preparation, became a 
clerk In the store of Hyatt Bros., at Montrose, 
where he worked through the summer of 1806 
and then returned home. Later he accepted a 
position in the Illinois Southern Hospital, under 
H. G. Van Zant, and continued there until 1897, 
after which he attended two terms at the State 
Normal School at Camp Girardeau, Mo., follow- 
ing this by taking a course in Austin College, at 
Effingham, where he received the degree of B. 8. 
The young student then bent all his energies to 
complete his medical education, taking a course 
of four years at the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, in St. Louis, and was creditably grad- 
uated with the class of 1908. During his vaca- 
tions he continued to apply himself to his studies 
and investigations, taking special courses in 
anatomy and nervous diseases in the medical de- 
partment of the University of Illinois. Prior to 
graduation he took an examination in Indian 
Territory and practiced there during that sum- 
mer, and following his graduation he had the 
splendid experience afforded as an interne in 
the Jefferson Hospital, taking the Mis.souri State 
medical examination and the rigid one exacted 
by the Illinois State Board. To his old home 
town he then came and has proved the falsity of 
the ancient saying that a prophet has no stand- 
ing in his own community. He has built up a 
large and lucrative practice, and has handled 
some very discouraging cases with complete suc- 
cess. He has his own laboratory and com- 
pounds his own medicines. He keeps thoroughly 
abreast of the times and is identified with medi- 
cal organizations. 

Dr. Diehl was married October 6, 1907. to Miss 
Jennie Deiclimann, who was also educated at 
Austin College. Her father, Leonard Deich- 
mann, is a prominent retired farmer living at 
Eflingham. She was reared in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and he In the Lutheran faith. 

DIEHL, John H. — Some of the most successful 
farmers of Effingham County, 111., are tho.se of 
the younger generation, who are now profiting 
from the sacrifices made for them by the pio- 
neers who braved everything to secure homes in 
the new country. Mr. John H. Diehl, a farmer 
and dairyman of Section 17. Douglas Township, 
is a native of the county, born in St. Francis 
Township. September 12. 1S70, a son of George 
Diehl. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
this work. 

John H. Diehl was the eldest son of his pa- 
rents, and as his father's health failed, he vir- 
tually had charge of affairs from boyhood. 
While he endeavored to secure an education his 
studies were often interrupted and he studied 
many branches without a teacher. At the age of 



eighteen years he began managing the farm, but 
was not content to work in the old-fashioned 
way, so he studied the properties of the soil, the 
best methods of breeding and raising stock, and 
kindred subjects, becoming a scientific and prac- 
tical farmer. 

On March 15, 1896, when about twenty-five 
years of age, Mr. Diehl married Minnie F. Fel- 
lers, who was born in Shelby County, 111., a 
daughter of Louis and Eliza (Gibbons) Fellers, 
the former a native of Ohio and now living in 
Fayette County. Mrs. Fellers died when her 
daughter, Mrs. Diehl, was about four years of 
age. Mr. and Mrs. Diehl moved, after their mar- 
riage, to a portion of the old homestead in Jas- 
per County, and here he farmed successfully 
nine years, but in 1900 purchased 100 acres of 
land in St. Francis Township, Effingham County. 
In 1902 Mr. Diehl purchased eighty-five acres 
of land in Jasi^er County, and in 1904, 180 acres 
more in Section 17, Douglas Township, Effing- 
ham Countj-. which he now rents. There were 
some buildings on this farm when he located on 
it in December. 1904, but he has improved them 
all and has made many other improvements. 
There was a fine dwelling on this farm and also 
a good cattle barn, 48 by 90 feet, with room for 
fifty-four cows and nine horses. Mr. Diehl has 
added to his farm until now he owns 242 acres, 
having paid as much as $80 per acre for a portion 
of it. In the year 1909 he built a handsome 
modern residence, with all possible conveniences, 
and also put up a good cattle barn, 30 by 48 feet, 
and a concrete silo, 12 by 30 feet. He is one of 
the most progressive of Effingham County farm- 
ers and is making a number of experiments. 

On his Fayette County farm, which he pur- 
chased in January, 1909, Mr. Diehl is raising 
grain, while devoting his attention on his Effing- 
ham County farm to dairying and raising Duroc 
Jersey hogs of the finest breed, all of registered 
stock. His dairy cows are all Holsteln and he 
has twelve full-blooded cows, having sold one for 
$175. which had produced over 15,000 pounds of 
milk annually. Another cow, which produced 
12..500 pounds annually, he sold for $100. These 
figures demonstrate the difference between full 
blooded stock and the ordinary kind, whose an- 
nual yield at the best does not often exceed 6,500 
pound.s. Mr. Diehl's judgment of dairy stock is 
autlioritative and is recognized as fiual. In 1909 
he built several buildings of good quality on the 
east side of his farm, which he now occupies, as 
he wishes to turn all his attention to his dairy 
work and the breeding of hogs. He attends the 
State and County Fairs and many stock exhibits, 
and is well informed on the latest advances made 
In his line of work. He has long been a firm 
believer in blooded stock, and judging from the 
results he has obtained, he has a bright future 
before him. He now owns 410 acres of land, 
stocked with full-bloode<l stock, and his success 
in everything he has undertaken is remarkable, 
going to show what intelligent study and re- 
search will do for a man. Had he continued 



744 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



contented with old ways, be would not be occupy- 
ing the ixjsitlon he enjoys to-day. Mr. Diehl is 
a member of the Efflngham County Dairy Asso- 
ciation, and for two years was its Vice President. 
Politically he is a Republican, and he and his 
wife are members of the Lutheran Church of 
Effingham. 

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Diehl, namely : Bertha C. and George, who died 
In infancy ; Pearla, died at the age of two and 
one-half years ; Ella Helena, bom December 18, 
Raymond Sylvester, l)om December 27, 1909. 
Mr. Diehl has not confined his interests to his 
own personal affairs, for he has ever been found 
ready to lend his aid to whatever promised to 
work out for the ultimate good of the community, 
and by his own example he has done much to 
advance and imiirove the standard of farming 
throughout Effiugliani Count}'. It is such men 
as he that the farming communities need — men 
who keep abreast of the times and do not hesitate 
to embrace eveiy opportunity to improve their 
farms and rear their families in comfort and 
plentj-. 

DOBBINS, Newton. — Ever since its incorpora- 
tion Effingham Couiity has been noted for Its 
phenomenal devclopiucnt, due not only to the fer- 
tility of its land, but to the enterprise and pub- 
lic spirit of Its citizens as well. Especially has 
this growth and development been apparent in 
the last few years, during which it has advanced 
in great strides and taken Its place in the 
front rank of Illinois counties. One who has 
done his share in bringing about this state of 
affairs is Newton Dobbins, of Section 17, Watson 
Township, who was born in Greene County, Ind., 
November 7, 1849, a son of Almus Dobbins. 

Joshua Dobbins, the grandfather of Newton, 
was a native of North Carolina, who after his 
marriage to a Miss Trueblood, removed to Wash- 
ington County, Ind., settling on a farm, where 
Almus Dobbins was born September 5, 1826. 
When a boy he went to Greene County with his 
parents, grew to manhood on a farm, and on 
March 2, 1848, was married to Sarah Warnick, 
daughter of Thomas and granddaughter of James 
Warnick. who moved to Greene County, Ind., 
March 16. 1818, and in 1821 was one of the first 
County Conmiissiimers. On Ai>ril 27, 1821, 
Thomas Warnick was conunissioned Clerk of 
Greene County, and <>n June 4, 1822, was quali- 
fied. For some years lie made his home with his 
father, Bloonifield tlicn being the county-seat of 
Greene County, but towards the close of his four- 
teen years as County Clerk, he purchased a home 
and moved to the farm. Under the Militia Law 
of Indiana, Thomas Warnick was elected Colonel 
of Greene County, and served as such for many 
years. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dob- 
bins, they settled on a farm in Greene Count>', 
Ind.. but in 1851 the family emigrated to Jasi>er 
County. 111., and at Vandalia, then the Capital 
of the State, Almus Dobbins entered a squatter 
claim for eighty acres of land on which was 



located a small log cabin. At this time, Mr. 
Dobbins' personal property consisted of a yoke 
of oxen and one horse, but nothing daunted, he 
started out to make a comfortable home for him- 
self and family, one of his first occupations being 
the acceptance of the contract to split rails at a 
compensation of fifty cents per 100. He rode to 
and from his labor on his horse, a distance of 
about three miles, on each trip carrying a sack 
of corn to an old horse-mill, where he hitched 
his own horse to do the gi'inding. These trips to 
the mill were made at night, as during the day 
the green flies were so numerous as to make 
traveling almost dangerous, in fact almost im- 
possible. Overcoming every obstacle, with the 
true pioneer siiirit, Almus Dobbins succeeded 
eventuall.y in making a comfortable home for his 
family and surrounding them with every com- 
fort. He and his f.unily were devout members of 
the Christian Church. He was first a Whig and 
later a Republican in politics, and during his 
later years cast his vote with the Prohibition 
party. A temjierate man in all things, through- 
out his long life he never touched liquor or to- 
bacco, and none of his sons have ever done so. 
Of the children of Almus and Sarah (Warnick) 
Dobbins. Newton is the eldest; Lovel H.. bom 
July 13, 18.52, has never married, and lives with 
NewtoiT; and Jason, born March 16, 18.5.5, re- 
sides in Jasper County, 111. Almus Dobbins died 
March 14, 1901. aged over seventy-four years, 
and his widow survived him until October 27, 
1907, when she passed away, aged nearly seventy- 
nine years. 

Newton Dobbins was two years of age when he 
came with his parents to Illinois, and he can 
well remember his first day at the little primi- 
tive log house that served for a school. His 
teacher is still living, Mrs, Nancy J. Debolt. a 
resident of Newton, and widow of ex-County 
Judge Carter. Until the age of twenty-five years 
his life was spent much as that of other youths 
of those days, and at the time mentioned his 
father turned over the management of the home 
place to him. On April 2, 1874. he was married 
to Susan Royston. who was born in Clermont 
County, Ohio, May .31, 18.56, daughter of Jonas 
and Sircelia (Starkey) Royston. Jonas Royston 
was born in Ohio, July 17, 1816. moved to the 
farm now occupied by Mr. Dobbins in 1871, and 
died February 3, 1908. His wife was born in 
Virginia September 18, 1829, and died December 
18, 1907. Mrs. Dobbins was the youngest of a 
famil.v of seven children, the only other survivor 
of this being Daniel, who resides near Shumway, 
111. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dob- 
bins, he built a home on the old farm in Jasper 
County, 111., where he lived until 1897, caring 
for his parents in their declining years, and later 
moving to Effingham County, where Mrs. Dob- 
bins' parents were taken care of. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dobbins have given the greater portion of their 
lives to caring for others, and they have per- 
formed their duties in this line faithfully and 
cheerfully. They have been the parents of nine 




JOHN T. LANDENBERGER 




MABEL LANDENBERGER 



EFFINGHA:\r COUNTY 



745 



children : Robert O., bom February 22, 1S75, a 
farmer near Antlers, Okla., married Maud Kiu- 
oaid and has one child, Cecil ; George C, born 
March 2, 1878, is a larmer in Watson Township, 
married Emma Smart, and has two children, 
Clarence L. and Ruth L. : Ro.v E., born January 
28, ISSO, a farmer near HoUinville, Okla., mar- 
ried Fern Nevils and has five children, — William 
R., Newton Paul, Floyd, Annabelle and Dorothy 
D. ; Fi-ank, born February 6, 1882, a farmer of 
Jasper County, married May Painter, and has one 
child, Flossie E. ; John W., born February 17, 
1884, a farmer of Union Township, married Joice 
Davis, and has one child, Arlln C. ; James H., 
Iwru November 3, 1887, lives in HoUinville, Okla. ; 
Charles, born August 1, 1890, died January 17, 
1900; Frances Edith, born September 24. 1893, 
lives at home ; and Elsie Starkey, born Decem- 
ber 3, 1896, is attending school. The family are 
active members of the Christian Church. 

Jlr. Dobbins now owns 100 acres of choice land 
in Section 17, Watson Township, and he has al- 
ways been one of the enterprising and energetic 
men of his community, being a leader of impor- 
tant public enterprises. He is a Democrat in 
politics and a great admirer of William Jennings 
Bryan. ^Tiile a resident of Jasper County, he 
was twice elected Supervisor of North iluddy 
Township, serving four years, and since coming 
to Effingham County he has been Collector and 
Assessor, his majorities at various elections 
proving his popularity and the confidence and 
esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. 

DOBBS, Capt. Thomas Hamilton, was born at 
Milledgevllle, Ga., October 15, 1829, the son of 
Alexander and Millie (Smith) Dobbs. Alexander 
Dobbs was a native of Scotland and emigrated 
to the United States as a young man. He was 
married in North Carolina, later moved to 
Georgia, and in 1834 came with his wife and 
children to Shelbyville, Ul. He and his wife 
had five children liorn in the South, namely : 
James, William, Eliza, Thomas H. and Peter. 
The mother of these children died soon after lo- 
cating in Illinois and they were scatterecL 
Thomas H. was reared by his uncle, Isham Jen- 
nings, who lived in Fayette County, near the line 
which separated Shelby and Effingham Counties. 
Alexander Dobbs finally settled in Effingham 
County, near the Shelby County line. 

Like other children of the early pioneers, 
Thomas H. Dobbs had no opportunity to secure 
an education, never attended school, and at the 
time of his marriage could not read or write. 
During the second year of the Mexican War he 
enlisted in Company H, Fifth Regiment Illinois 
Infantry, which regiment was mustered into 
service June 8, 1847, leaving Alton by steamboat, 
June 14, and proceeding to Fort Leavenworth, 
whence they marched across the plains to Santa 
Fe. In October of the same year they marched 
to El Paso. The regiment was ordered back to 
Alton and was mustered out of .service, October 
18, 1848. 



Captain Dobbs married Elizaljeth Miller in 
1854 and they went to housekeeping on Wolf 
Creek, Eflingham Couutj-. Five children were 
born of this union, all of whom are deceased. 

July 3, 1861, Mr. Dobbs enlisted for three 
years' service in the Civil War, being mustered 
in at Decatur, 111., August 28, and commissioned 
Captain of Company K. Thirty-fifth Regiment, 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He went to the front, 
participating in the Battles of Springfield, Mo., 
and Pea Ridge, Ark. In the latter engagement 
he was stnick on the left leg by a six-pound can- 
non ball and seriously wounded, and on October 
14, 1862, he was discharged at Crab Orchard, Ky., 
on account of di-sability. In 1S64 Captain Dobbs 
re-enlisted for one hundred days, and was mus- 
tered into service at Mattoon, 111., June 0, of that 
year, being commissioned Captain of Company 
D, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment Illi- 
nois Volunteers. He served the term of his en- 
listment, was honorably discharged, and re-en- 
listed for one year or during the war, being mus- 
tered into service at Camp Butler, February 22, 
1865, and commissioned Captain of Company H, 
One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Infantry. This 
regiment went to the front and remained on ac- 
tive duty until the close of the war, and Captain 
Dobbs received his final discharge September 18 
1865, at Springfield. 111. 

In 1867 Mr.s. Elizabeth Dobbs died and was 
buried at Efiingham, 111. Captain Dobbs mar- 
ried (second) in 1869, Miss Maggie Maxfleld, 
and four children were born of this union, one of 
whom is now living. Mrs. Maggie Dobbs died in 
1876, and in 1878 Captain Dobbs married (third) 
Miss Elizabeth Green, by whom he had four 
children, three of whom survive. 

Captain Dobbs learned to read and write after 
entering the army. He is a Democrat of the old 
school tyiie and has held several public offices. 
He served thirteen years as Marshal of the City 
of Effingham, two terms as Sheriff of Effingham 
County, and one year as Supervisor of his town- 
ship. He is a member of the Baptist Church. He 
feels the weight of his .vears and the result of 
his long exposure while serving in the army, 
yet he walks out on the streets whenever the 
weather is pleasant, and most thoroughly enjoys 
meeting his old comrades and friends and having 
a social chat. He and his wife have a comfort- 
able home and their simple needs are supplied by 
the generosity of the Government. All who know 
Captain Dobbs accord him the highest respect. 

DOTY, Charles M., M. D.— One of the leading 
professional men of Mason, III., is Dr. Charles 
M. Doty, who for some years past has had a large 
medical practice in that city and the surroundin<' 
country. Dr. Doty was born August 6, 1869 on 
a farm near Vergennes. in Jackson County 111 
a sou of Daniel and Margaret (Blacklock)' 
Doty, the former born in Jackson Countv, HI., and 
the latter a native of Scotland, who came to this 
country with her parents. Daniel Doty was a 
farmer by occupation, following that pursuit iii 



746 



effingha:\i county 



Jackson County, nud although a quiet and un- 
assuming man, became one of the best known 
farmers and stock-raisers in his section of the 
State. He died about 1875, while his wife 
survived him until 1802, when she passed away, 
leaving four children : Charles M. ; James, on the 
old farm in Jackson County ; Agnes, who resides 
in Peabody, Kan. ; and Robert, who also lives in 
Peabody, Ivan. 

Dr. Charles M. Doty's boyhood was spent 
much the same as other farmers' sons, attending 
the district school during the winter months and 
assisting in the work on the farm during the 
summer. Later he entered the old Duquoin Sem- 
inary, and after graduating from that institu- 
tion'weut into the office of his uncle. Dr. Thomas 
W. Blacklock, of Albany, Iowa, where he re- 
mained one year. He then spent one year in the 
Keokuk (Iowa) College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, and from there went to the College of 
Ph.vsieians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mo., grad- 
uating therefrom with the class of 1897. Re- 
turning to the town of his boyhood, he opened an 
office for the ja-actice of his profession, and con- 
tinued there successfully until 1002, when he 
took a post-sraduate course at the West Side 
Collejje of Physicians and Surgeons. He located 
in Edgewood in I'HK!, and there continued in 
practice until 1010, when on March 14th, he re- 
moved to Mason. 111., where he en.ioys an en- 
larged practice, and retains the confidence of a 
large body of patrons In Effingham County. He 
is a close" and careful student, a steady-handed 
surgeon, and keeps himself posted on the latest 
discoveries In his profession by subscription to 
numerous medical journals. He is one of Ma- 
sou's most public-spirited citizens, and can al- 
wavs be found in the front rank of any move- 
ment which will prove of benefit to his profession, 
to the cause of education or to the city. He is 
an enthusiastic motorist and drives his own auto- 
mobile. 

On January 10, 1000, Dr. Doty was maiTied to 
Lulu Gruenewald, who was born in Belleville, 
111,, March G. 1875, a daughter of George Gruene- 
wald. a stock dealer and meat merchant of Belle- 
ville. Mrs. Doty is a member of the Eastern 
Star' Lodge and of the Modern American Insur- 
ance Company, while the Doctor is connected 
with the Masons, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica, the Odd Fellows and the Modern Americans. 
In political matters he is a Democrat. 

DUCKWITZ, John Gottfried. — Many of the 
bravest soldiers in the Union army during the 
great Civil War were natives of Germany, In 
whicli country liad been instilled into them val- 
uable military knowledge, and in turn, after the 
war had ended, they became men of industry and 
sobriety, fully able to fight the battles of peace as 
well as of war. John Gottfried Duckwitz. prom- 
inent farmer, old soldier and highly esteemed 
citizen of Mound Township, was born in Prussia, 
Germany, April 25. 1830, son of Christian and 
Banta (Kuhl) Duckwitz. both of whom died In 



Germany. They had six children, namely : Fred 
and Charles (both of whom died in the United 
States), Dorothea, Loui.se, Mary and John Gott- 
fried. 

John Gottfried Duckwitz went to school from 
the time he was six years old until his fourteenth 
year, and for one summer was engaged in herd- 
ing sheep, after which he hired out to a preacher, 
for whom he did chores. He was thus engaged 
in 1857, when his brother Charles, who had pre- 
ceded him to the United States and was living 
near Buffalo, N, Y,, sent him money to pay his 
passage to America, and on May 18th of that 
year he left Hamburg on the sailing vessel 
"Quebec," which made iwrt at New York City on 
July 6th. On arriving in this c-ountry, Mr. 
Duekvrltz was in very limited circumstances, but 
he at once found employment on a farm with his 
brother, and remained in that part of the coun- 
try for four years, when, in 1801, he came to 
Mound Township, Effingham County. In 1862 
he enlisted at Horner's Point. 111., for three years, 
as a private of Company F. Fourth Illinois Cav- 
alry, and was stationed at Peoria for a time. In 
the spring of 1863 the regiment joined Sherman's 
army in time to t^ake part in the battle of Nash- 
ville and the Atlanta campaign, and later pur- 
sued Morgan, under <'aptain Jenkins, and cap- 
tured that notorious finerrilla on the Ohio side of 
the Ohio River, ilr. Duckwitz was captured 
near Atlanta, but refused persistently to dis- 
mount, and in the meantime the Federal troops 
had recovered and charged back. Mr. Duck- 
witz was disixissessed of his horse and equip- 
ments, but espying a mounted Confederate some 
distance away, he made a wide detour .and pick- 
ing up a carbine, soon was In possession of the 
Confederate's horse and equipments. On rejoin- 
ing his company they thought he had deserted to 
the enemy, as he wore a Confederate hat and 
blanket. Among many other notable battles, Mr. 
Duckwitz was a participant in the notable en- 
gagement at Keuesaw Mountain, and his record 
is one that will stand comparison with an.v sol- 
dier during the war. He was also at Oakville 
Gai), where all the Union soldiers suffered greatly 
for want of provisions, and their horses ate the 
leaves of the trees as high as they could reach. 
Later he participated in the raid through North 
Carolina. At the close of hostilities he was 
honorably discharged at Nashville, and returned 
to the farm, which he has continued to operate 
to the present time with gi'atlfying success. He 
built a home in 18G6, and his present residence 
was erected in 1888, and he has put up all of his 
other buildings. He has an excellent property of 
LW acres, all In the finest state of cultivation, 
and he ranks among the leading agriculturists 
of Mound Township. He is a faithful member 
of the Lutlicran Church. 

On Septenilier 21, 18G0, Mr. Duckwitz was 
married to Minnie Celline. who died in 1877, 
leaving one child. Gustave, who resides at home. 
Mr. Duckwitz's second marriage was to Jennie 
Bahlow, of Mound Township, daughter of Fred- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



747 



eriek and Louisa (Brauer) Bahlow. and tbis 
union lias been blessed witb tbree children, 
namely: Gottfried, who married Annie Wach- 
mann ; Minnie, ilrs. Theo. Rich ; and Mary, who 
lives at home. 

DUNN, John W., M. D.— It very frequently 
happens that tlie men in a family will show an 
inclination towards a certain profession or line 
of work, and especially is this true with regard 
to men who make a study of medicine. There are 
often generation after generation of physicians 
in a family, the sons inheriting their skill and 
inclination from their fathers. However, the 
physican and surgeon of to-day faces an entirely 
different proiMsition from that of a quarter of a 
century ago. Each day brings some new dis- 
covery, some improved methods, and but adds 
to the strictness of the requirements, so that the 
younger physicians of 191(1 are often better fitted 
to cope with disease than those who have had 
many years of experience behind them. One of 
the most successful physicians and surgeons of 
Effingham County is Dr. J. W. Dunn, a son of 
the beloved Dr. Thomas J. Dunn, who for so 
many years ministered to the people of Elliotts- 
town. Dr. J. W. Dunn was born at Elliottstown, 
March 19, 1882, and a full history of his distin- 
guished family will be found elsewhere in this 
work. 

After completing the course of study in the 
district school, known as Grange Hall, Dr. Dunn, 
in 1900, entered Austin College at Effingham, 
from which he graduated in the Class of 1902, 
with the degree of B. S. and also with the pre- 
paratorj- medical degree. In the fall of 1902 
he entered the Marion Sims Beaumont Medical 
College, at St. Louis, now the medical depart- 
ment of the University of St. Louis, and took a 
four years' course in medicine. He was credited 
with one year's work on account of the degree he 
had received from Austin College, so that he 
graduated in the Class of 19<J5. with the highest 
honors, in a class of 102. Then taking the State 
Board examination in Illinois, be served two 
terms as interne at Anna. Iil., when he entered 
into practice on his own account at Watson, 111. 
He next went to Oklahoma and there passed the 
State examination, after which he spent his time 
until April, 1909, building up a practice at Tryon 
in that State. Then returning to his native 
county, he settled at Dieterich. which is now his 
home, and where he has built up a remai-kably 
good practice. 

Dr. Dunn was married, January 14, 1005, to 
Nettie Graham, born in St. Louis, Mo., where she 
was reared and carefully educated. A man of 
scholarly tastes and able to throw light on almost 
any subject connected with his profession, yet 
drawing from a fund of rich experience and rip- 
ened knowledge. Dr. Dunn is also a man of rare 
sympathy, great kindness of heart and magnetic 
personality. Possessing a fine presence, a cheer- 
ful manner and an invigorating voice, he is des- 
tined for great things in the hajipy future that 



stretches before him, as a reward for his years 
of faithful, painstaking preparation for what is 
the noblest work in which a man can engage. 

DUNN, Thomas Jefferson, M. D. — Prominent 
among the professional and public men of Effing- 
ham County, 111., is Thomas Jefferson Dunn, 
M. D., who has served in various positions in the 
gift of the people, .•aid who is well and favorably 
known to the medical profession throughout the 
State. Dr. Dunn was born in Bracken County, 
Ky., December 29, 1845, a son of Andrew and 
Sarah Ann (Elliott) Dunn. Dr. Dunn's mater- 
nal grandfather was Elijah Elliott, a soldier of 
the War of 1812, who was wounded and made 
prisoner at Fort DuQuesne, Pa., and carried to 
Canada. Becoming unable to travel he was 
killed, scalped and left unburied by the side of 
the River Raisin. The account of his death was 
given by his fellow prisoners after their release 
and return to their homes. 

Andrew Dunn was born in Bracken County, 
Ky., March 30, 181.3, and August 4, 1835, was 
married there to Sarah Ann Elliott, who was 
born in that county August 4, 1812, lu the fall 
of 1853 they removed to Effingham County. 111., 
compjleting their journey October 4th, and there 
Mr. Dunn engaged in farming and stock-raising 
until his death, which occurred at Teutopolis, 
January 6, 1871, being caused by hemorrhage of 
the brain, after an illness of twelve hours. His 
wife died in Lucas Township. Effingham County, 
October 16, 1892. They were parents of childi-en 
as follows : John William, a physician of Lamar, 
Mo., who died at Olympia, Wash., October 1, 
1884; Mary Elizabeth, married (first) O. T. 
Merry, and (second) Samuel L. Parks, and died 
in Lucas Township, September 9, 1892 ; Martha 
Frances, wife of James R. Merry, died in Lucas 
Township, May 20, 1875 ; Thomas Jefferson ; 
Elijah Smith, died at Lamar, Mo.. December 9, 
1868 : Andrew Thornton, died in Kentucky, in in- 
fancy : Sarah Belle, married Sylvester Harlan 
and (second) Andrew Bailie, of Mason, 111. 
Andrew Dunn was an officer in the Kentucky 
Militia and served as Sergeant in Company I, 
Fifty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
try, in the Civil War, being discharged at the age 
of fifty years. 

Dr. Dunn's early education was secured in the 
common schools of Kentucky and Illinois and his 
childhood was spent on his father's farm. For 
ten years he followed school-teaching and in 1875 
took up the study of medicine, receiving the de- 
gree of M. D. from Rush Medical College, of Chi- 
cago, February 22, 1881. He has practiced his 
profession at Elliottstown and vicinitj- through- 
out his long career, and has attained high rank 
in his profession, being equally well known in 
public life. He became a Republican upon his 
majoritj- and May 2, 1888, was a delegate to the 
State Convention, and was a member again in 
1904 from May 11 to June 3, when the famous 
"deadlock" occurred, during which he voted for 
Yates seventy-eight times and for Deneen once. 



748 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Dr. Dunn was Town Clerk of Bishop Towusliip 
four years, being elected on the non-partisan 
ticket, was Supervisor of Lucas Township two 
years, being elected on the Kepublicau ticket, 
and served for more than seventeen years as Sec- 
retary of the Board of Examining Surgeons at 
Effingham, — except for four years, (August, 1893, 
until August, 1897) — being a member of the 
board from the time of its aigiiiiizatinu. He is 
a stanch supporter of the cause of cdncation and 
has done much towards building up the present 
excellent school system in Effingham County. 
Fraternally he has been connected with the Ma- 
sonic Order since 1870, was Worshipful Jlaster 
of his lodge many years, and is now Secretary of 
Delia Lodge No. 525, in which capacity he has 
served for a long period. He is also a member 
of the Court of Honor and other fraternal or- 
ganizations. Mr. Dunn served as First Sergeant 
and Lieutenant of Company H, One Huudi-ed 
and Fifty-fourth Regiment Illinoisc Volunteer In- 
fantry, during the ivil War. his regiment, at the 
time it was mustered out, being under command 
of Francis Swanwick, son-in-law of Shadrach 
Bond, the first Governor of Illinois. He has been 
a member of Ed Kitchell Post, Xo. 159, Grand 
Army of the Republic, has been its Commander 
several times, and now holds the rank of Adju- 
tant. Dr. Dunn was reared in the faith of the 
Baptist church, but has never joined any relig- 
iotis organization, although he supiwrts all 
churches liberally. Weighing everything care- 
fully before he espouses any cause, he is always 
ready to defend his opinion after he has made 
his decision with regard to any subject, and is 
known as a man of determination and stability of 
character. 

October 4, 1866, Dr. Dunn was married, at 
ElUottstown, 111., by Samuel Field, J. P., to Mary 
Frances Field, who was born Februarj- 5, 1849, 
in Effingham County, a daughter of Dr. L. J. 
Field, who practiced medicine for many years 
at Elliottstown. She died September 20, 1887, 
having been the mother of children as follows: 
Lewis Oscar, born February 3, 1868, a resident of 
Lucas Township, Effingham County; Elijah An- 
drew, born August 28, 1871, died September 6, 
1872; Sarah Frances, born July 28, 1873, died 
January 30, 1875; Mary Elizabeth, born Febru- 
ary 26, 1876, is a well-known educator in the 
Effln^am schools; Ada Belle, born September 
2.3, 1878, died October 24, 1879; John William, 
Iwrn March 19, 1882, is practicing medicine at 
Dieterich, III. ; and Susan Ellen, born October 
25. 1884. and is at the paternal home. 

December 26, 1895, Dr. Dunn was married 
(second) at Effingham, III., by William B. 
Wright, County Judge, to Anna Perkins, who 
was bom In Effingham County. December 25, 
]8t36, a daughter of the late William J. Perkins, 
for years a well-known resident of the vicinity of 
Elliottstown. Two children have been born of 
this union, namely : Cora Edyth. January 5. 1897, 
and Eva Ix)uisa, March 6, 1904, both attending 
school. 



DURHEIM, William F.— Men born in Germany 
appear to inherit many excellent virtues from 
tiieir ancestors, and when they come into a new 
country, bring these traits with them to bear 
upon their every day life in such a way as to 
better the community and advance the interests 
of the individual. William F. Durheim, of Sec- 
tion 10, West Township, is one of the men who 
owe their pros|)erity to their industry, thrift and 
sterling honesty of purpose. Mr. Durheim was 
born ;it Acomost, Prussia, Germany, May 24, 
1851, being a son of August Durheim. The lat- 
ter was a farmer in Germany until he came to 
the United States with his son in 1880. Being 
already an old man, he died on October 27, 1890. 
at the home of his son. He had lost his wife in 
Germany. They had had two children : Wilhel- 
mina, who stil resides in Germany, and Wil- 
liam F. 

Until he was fourteen years of age, William F. 
Durheim attended the parochial schools of his 
neighborhood, and then for tile following six 
years worked on the farm owned by his father. 
As is the euston] in Germany, he then went into 
the army for three years, and was subject to 
further call at different times. In all he si)ent 
six years in military service. On November 27, 
1879, he was married in Germany, to Miss Wil- 
helmiua Durheim. The following year he em- 
barked from Hamburg, Germany, for New York 
City on the steamship "Freseor,"' and from the 
latter city came direct to Altamont, reaching his 
destination November 26th. Here he joined his 
uncle. Frank Durheim, of West Township, and 
soon thereafter purchased his present eighty -acre 
farm. On this property, he has erected new 
buildings, and cleared off the heavy timber on 
the land, developing it into a fine farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Durheim have become the parents 
of five children : Herman of Sangamon County ; 
John ; Gustave and Otto, twins, and Bertha. 
The four youngest are at home. Mr. Durheim be- 
longs to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Politi- 
cally he is a stanch Democrat, but has not as- 
pired to public office. No man stands higher in 
the community than he, and he is recognized as 
a sound, reliable man, a good farmer and hon- 
orable business man. 

DUST, Henry W. — The present generation has 
little c-onception of what was endured by the 
early pioneers in Illinois, or appreciation of the 
changes that have taken iilace in agricultural 
methods, and which have transformed farm life 
to such an extent that to-day it offers more in- 
ducements than at any previous time in the 
world's history. These conditions may be the 
result of the endurance and bravery of those who 
blazed the trail for advanced civilization. Ef- 
fingham County has a most interesting history, 
made so by the efforts of its pioneers, and a rec- 
ord of their lives is appropriate and necessary in 
preparing a work that has to do with the locality. 
A family that has been important in the county 
for some generations is that bearing the name 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



749 



of Dust, one of its most prominent members be- 
ing Henry W. Dust. 

Mr. Dust is a native of the county, bom In 
Douglas Township, which is still his home. May 
15, 1S48. the son of Herman H. and Catherine 
(Aulenbrock) Dust, both born in what is now 
Hanover, Germany. The father, In hope of find- 
ing a better field for labor, emigrated to the 
United States in 1837. locating first in Effingham 
County. 111. Later he went to Indiana and Ohio, 
where he worked on a canal. Returning to Ef- 
fingham County in 1840, he entered eighty acres 
of land on Section 32, Douglas Town.ship, and 
built a small log cabin for himself and bride on 
this land. In 184.5 he went to Louisville. Ky., 
where he married the sister of Rudolph's wife, 
and they drove back in a covered wagon to begin 
their married life in the little cabin, where four 
of their six children were born. Their children 
were : Henry W. and his twin brother. Rudolph, 
Who died at the age of three years ; William, now 
an extensive fanner in Bishop Township ; Lou- 
isa, died at the age of two years ; Louis, who 
married Anna Niemert and they had six children, 
though he and his wife are now deceased. The 
brother of Herman II.. Rudolph Dust, afteiward 
moved with his family from Louisville to Effing- 
ham County, and he and his wife both died soon 
after their arrival, although he lived long enough 
to pay taxes. 

Herman H. Dust paid his first tax. amounting 
to thirty-seven cents, in 1S41. He was successful 
from the time of his location in Douglas Town- 
ship, being a man of undaunted courage and en- 
erg.v, ready to work hard in improving his land 
and bringing it to a high state of cultivation. He 
made a good home for his children and gave each 
one of them a farm when ready to leave the 
parental roof. A Whig, and later a Democrat, he 
was stanch in the support of his part.v and served 
a number of years as Road Commissioner of his 
township. He and his wife were members of the 
Catholic Church. They lived to c-elebrate their 
golden wedding, in 189.5. a day long to be re- 
membered by their family and friends. Mrs. 
Dust died in 1898. at the age of eighty years 
and her husband survived until 1903, passing 
away at the age of eight.v-nine years. During 
his long and useful life he gained and retained 
many warm friendships, and although he had 
attained an unusual age. his death camj as a 
shock to all who had known and loved him. 

Henr.v W. Dust secured most of his early edu- 
cation through his own exertions, as he had 
little time to attend school. However, he studied 
nights to fit himself for St. Joseph College at 
Teutopolis. He worked to such good purjwse 
that in 1S6S he was able to take his earnings and 
go to St. Louis, where he entered a commercial 
college, from which he graduated the next year. 
He then secured a position in a wholesale and 
retail grocery, and continued with the concern 
until 1ST2. when he returned home and began 
working on the farm. 

April 17. 1876, Mr. Dust married Anna M. 



Niemert. who was bom in Bishop Township, 
Effingham County, a daughter of Bernard and 
Mar.v (Bruggerman) Niemert, both natives of 
Germany. Mr. Niemert died about 1878 and his 
wife in 1890, Uie latter while on a visit with her 
daughter, Mrs. Dust. Ten children have been 
born to Mr. Dust and wife, namely : Bernhart, 
died at the age of two years; Herman H., born 
April 18. 1878, married Catherine Blosemer and 
is now living on a farm in Douglas Township ; 
Katie, born October 23. 1879. married Henry 
Xotall. a farmer of Douglas Township; Henry, 
bom June 10, 1885. married Annie Lang, of Ef- 
fingham, and is farming on the old homestead ; 
Joseph F., born June 11, 1881, married Kate No- 
tall and is carrying on a farm in Section 5, Doug- 
las Township ; Elizabeth, born in 1889, married 
a farmer of Douglas Township; Louisa, born 
February 17, 1890, at home ; William, born No- 
vember 11, 1893, and Helena, born December 20, 
1895. Herman H. was a favorite grandson of 
Herman H. Dust ( 1 ) and drove the surrey for the 
latter on occasion of the celebration of the golden 
wedding of the latter mentioned in a preceding 
paragraph. All except the younger children who 
are still at home, have settled near the old home. 

Mr. Dust is a strong Democrat and has taken 
an active part in political matters. He served 
eighteen years as Supervisor and during the time 
he occupied this office some important improve- 
ments were made. Among other things that re- 
quired attention was the fact that the township 
was heavily in debt and the bonds which had 
been issued by it -neve heavily incumbered by un- 
paid interest. Being a practical business man 
Mr. Dust knew that these conditions must not 
continue, and exerted himself to reduce both 
principal and interest, until finally the debt was 
discharged. Because of his good work in the 
interest of the county, he was nominated in 1898 
on the Democratic ticket for County Treasurer, 
being elected by a large majority', and proving 
worthy in every wa.v of the confidence reposed in 
him. In 1900 he became a stockholder in the 
first creamery built in his localit.v and was ap- 
IMinted its manager. This enterprise continued 
in successful operation until combined with the 
new creamery at Effingham. 

It is diflicult to say whether Mr. Dust has made 
the best record as a private citizen or a public 
official, having been most faithful in discharging 
all duties which have come in his wa.y. Return- 
ing, at the request of his parents, from the pros- 
pect of a successful business career, he settled 
down on a farm and made their declining years 
the happiest of their lives. He reared his chil- 
dren to revere their grandparents and the entire 
family gave them the highest honor and regard. 
As a member of the Catholic Church he has al- 
ways been faithful and earnest, while in public 
life his honor is without a stain. Few men can 
look back with more pride upon a career filled 
with such good deeds, with care for others and 
devotion to public trust. His parents were up- 
right. God-fearing people and he was reared to 



750 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



follow In their faith and foot-steps. Judging from 
present appearances and conditions, his own chil- 
dren are following the same honorable lines. 
Such men as Henry W. Dust are the best citizens 
any community can desire. 

DUST, John H. — There is something in the 
sturd,v nature of the German that enables him 
to succeed in what he undertakes. When he is 
given the opportunities offered in tills country, he 
develops remarkably and becomes a prosiierous 
man. solid in his community and honored for his 
industry, integrity and thrift. So it is that the 
children of German parents have every reason 
to l)e proud of their origin and to jirofit by the 
excellent example set by those of their family 
who have come before them. John H. Dust, of 
Section 32, Douglas Township, Effingham County, 
111., is one of those fortunate men. He was born 
on the farm which he now occupies, December 1-1, 
1^9, the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Aulen- 
brock) Dust, both natives of Germany. 

Uixin coming to the United States, Rudolph 
Dust and his wife first located at Louisville, Ky., 
and later came to Effingham County, arriving 
there in 1S16. Mr. Dust Iwught land on Section 
32, Douglas Township, on which he erected a log 
cabin, with clay and stick chimney, and in this 
primitive dwelling the family lived until the 
death of the father in 1S.j7. John H. being only 
seven years of age at that time. The other chil- 
dren were: Josephine, who died at the age of 
twenty-five years ; Mary, became the wife of 
Henry Osterhaus, and lived near Green Creek 
Catholic Church, but is now deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Osterhaus were the parents of one son, 
Heni-j- F., and one daughter, Mary, lx)th of whom 
are married. Mrs. Dust died in 1874. 

John H. Dust was educated in the common 
schools of the district and often had to ride upon 
the logs in order to cross tlie swollen streams on 
his way to school. There were no roads at that 
time, but the children went up the creek to the 
log school-house, which was of the same tyiJe as 
the early ones described in the general history 
of the c<3unty in this work. As soon as he was 
old enough he began working on the home farm, 
at first doing plowing with oxen, as his mother 
was afraid to have him use horses. The days of 
his youth were days of hard work most of the 
time, and he had little time for play, as the coun- 
try was new. Much of the land had been bought 
at $1.25 per acre and lay under water part of the 
.vear, so that it was difficult to raise enough food 
on it to feed the family, wild turkeys often form- 
ing a part of the bill of fare. Mr. Dust loves to 
recall those days and feels that, in spite of the 
hardships endured, they were good ones and the 
means of developing character. Friendships 
formed then were of an enduring nature. 

November 12. 1878, Mr. Dust married Miss 
Mary Ney, who was also born in Douglas Towu- 
.ship, Effingham County, a daughter of Herman 
and Adelheid (Gebbe) Ney, who lived on a farm 
south of Effingham. Five children were born of 



this marriage: Rudolph, at home; Elizabeth, who 
died at the age of fourteen ; Kattie, wife of 
Frank Heuermaun, a farmer of St. Francis 
Township ; Mary, at home ; Anthony and Willie, 
at home. 

Mr. Dust owns 240 acres of as good land as can 
be found in Effingham County. He has always 
taken an active part in building up the locality, 
has been a successful farmer and stockman for 
half a century, and for the past seven years has , 
been engaged in the dairy business, feeding about 
thirty-five head of stock. His dairy barn is 30 
by 88 feet and one of the most sanitary in the 
towaiship. His has been a busy, useful, happy 
life. In politics Mr. Dust is a Democrat, while 
he and his family belong to the Green Creek 
Catholic Church. He has worked hard for his 
iwssessions, has reared a fine family and can 
now look with pride on what he has accom- 
plished. He and his wife are among the most 
highly respected people in Douglas Township. 

DUST, William H. — In every community in 
Illinois are found men who have risen above 
their fellows in business and iwlitical life, not 
because they have had better advantages, but 
because their natural abilities created opportuni- 
ties, of which they were quick to take advan- 
tage. In a section like Effingham Countj', 111., 
where good and reliable men are easily found, he 
who is given preferment above his fellows has 
Indeed attained honor, for he has proven him- 
self a person whom any man might trust. Wil- 
liam H. Dust, farmer, stock-raiser, land-owner 
and a prominent citizen of Bishop Township for 
thirty-five years, who has spent his entire life 
within the confines of Effingham County, where 
he has been identified with the growth and de- 
velopment of the community in which he lived, 
and who has been elected to several positions of 
honor and trust, was born in Douglas Township, 
April 8, 18.51, a son of Herman H. Dust. 

The education of William H. Dust was ac- 
quired in the country schools of his native vicin- 
it.v, and at the age of ten years, being large for 
his age, began to assume his share of the duties 
of the home farm. His two brothers having left 
home for a time, and his father having had rheu- 
matism about that time, at the age of seventeen 
years the youth took entire charge of the old 
homestead, and under his management it be- 
came one of the best producing farms in the 
township. In 1874 William H. and his brother 
Henry located on a tract of 200 acres of land in 
Bishop Township which their father had pur- 
chased, and for two years kept house for them- 
selves, but in 1876 William married Miss Anna 
Riemann, who was born August 4. 1860, in a lit- 
tle log cabin, on the farm he was then occupying. 
She was a daughter of Henry Riemann, one of 
the pioneers of the county, now deceased. Her- 
man H. Dust had always provided for his chil- 
dren as they left the homestead, and as a re- 
ward for his faithful service on the home place, 
William H. received 200 acres of land, to which 




JOHN HIAVKV 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



751 



he has since added until he now owns 390 acres, 
in addition to which bis wife owns 120 acres. 
This does not include eighty acres in Watson 
Township which Mr. Dust gave to his son Henry 
when he left home. 

Mr. Dust has been one of Effingham County's 
most successful agriculturists, and his rise in the 
business world has been little short of phenome- 
nal. Always interested in anything that prom- 
ised to be of benefit to his community, be has 
supported all movements that his business judg- 
ment showed him to be good. He is President 
of the Prairie State Creamery Company and of 
the Importer Percheron Horse Company, and a 
heavy stockholder in the First National Bank, 
all of Dieterich. In politics he has been identi- 
fied with the Democratic party all his life, and 
has been chosen by his fellow-citizens to fill of- 
fices of public honor and trust. He has been a 
member of the Democratic County Central Com- 
mittee for two years, was Supen-isor two years. 
Collector one year, Commisioner of Highways 
nine years, — during which time the roads were 
kept in the best condition the township has ever 
known, and for the past seven years has been 
School Treasurer, which office he is now holding. 
In all these positions he has shown the utmost 
honesty and integrity as to his handling of funds 
and such matters ; has been steadfast to bis 
sense of duty, and his efficient service has been 
such as to win the highest approbation from those 
who elected him. He and his family are con- 
nected with the Catholic Church. Mr. Dust has 
been a resident of the county continually since 
birth — has, in fact, spent only three nights out- 
side of the county, and those when he was at- 
tending the St. Louis Fair in 1904. During this 
long residence he has gained a reputation for 
honesty, integrity and capability, and is known 
as an efficient and public spirited citizen whose 
worth has been tried and not found wanting. 
He is a true friend and good neighbor. 
The following children were born to Mr. Dust 
and his first wife : Mary, born November 18, 
1S79, is the wife of Barney Hartke, a farmer of 
Bishop Township, and they have four children — 
Dena. Robert, Ralph and Barnhard ; John, born 
February 20, 1881, lives at home ; Henry H., born 
Deceml)er 1, 1883, married Annie Worman, is 
a farmer of Watson Township, and they have one 
child, Agnes : Bernhard, better known as "Ben," 
born January 12, 1886, and is at home ; and The- 
resa, born December 20. 188S, is also at home. 
The mother of these children died July 2, 1897, 
in the firm faith of the Catholic Church. She 
had been a kind and loving wife and mother, and 
had many admirable traits of character. 

February 6, 1900, Mr. Dust was married (sec- 
ond) to Mrs. Anna Kemme, who was bom in 
Bishop Township, April 1, 1866. a daughter of 
George Westendorf, an old settler, now deceased. 
Her first marriage occurred February 26. 1889, 
when she was united with Henry Kemme, who 
died November 24, 1806, leaving six children, 
namely : Carrie, born October IS, 1889, married 



Benjamin Brummer, a farmer of Bishop Town- 
ship, and they have one child, Inez ; Mamie, 
born June 27, 1891 ; Francis, born December 22, 
1892, died October 20, 1894 ; Fraukie, born Sep- 
tember 24, 1894 ; Agnes, twm July 26, 1896, and 
George, born April 26, 1898, and who died Octo- 
ber 24, 1898. By his second marriage Mr. Dust 
has had children as follows : Anna M., born Octo- 
ber 30, 1900 ; Josephine H., born December 11, 
1903; William F., born October 25, 1905, and 
Alice A., born July 13, 1907. Mr. Dust has re- 
cently purchased forty acres of land in Bishop 
Township, which adjoins the farm on which he 
has resided for so long a period. Fraternally he 
Is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. 

EILERS, Charles WiUiam, one of the most 
prominent business men and Influential citizens 
of Dieterich, 111., has inherited from his parents 
many of the characteristics so notably shown in 
the lives of natives of Germany. Mr. Filers was 
born in Whiteside County, 111., December 12, 
1862, and is a son of Jergen and Helen (Minor) 
Filers, both born near Bremen, Germany. The 
parents were married in their native land and 
in the early 'forties came to the United States, 
settling in ^\1iiteside County, near Earling on the 
Rock River, where they made their home until 
lSt32, when removal was made to Bishop Town- 
ship, Effingham County. 111. In the latter place 
Mr. Eilers purchased eighty acres in Section 26, 
and at the time of his death owned 120 acres. 
He had been an officer in the German Army and 
served in the Franco-Prussian War. He died 
August 12, 1878, and his widow survived him 
until March 26, 1903. Both were devout Luther- 
ans. The children Ixirn to them were : Hannah, 
wife of Samuel J, Stroud ; Eliza, wife of J. H. 
Cross ; Edward, a machinist near Houston, Tex. ; 
Helen, died in infancy ; Emma, wife of J. H. 
Mc-Coy ; Gerhart, died as the result of an acci- 
dent ; Charles William ; Frances, died in 1879, 
at the age of twenty years; Delia, died in in- 
fancy ; Ella, wife of William Martin, and Nora, 
wife of J. H. Meyer. 

Charles William Eilers was reared on the farm 
of his father, attending the German Lutheran 
School of his locality and at the same time per- 
forming the duties alloted to him at home. These 
included the grinding of cane and the making of 
molasses, and he discharged all his tasks cheer- 
fully, always recognizing the authority of his 
parents. Having been but two years old at the 
time of the removal of the family from White- 
side County to Effingham County, he has no 
recollection of that event. The trip was made in 
a prairie schooner and they found most primi- 
tive conditions in their new home. The town- 
ship in which they settled was over-run by wolves 
and wild turkeys, .\fter the death of the father 
Charles W. remained on the home farm and 
helped his mother until he was twenty-two years 
of age. He then went to Moultrie County and 
worked three years on a farm, during the first 
vear of which he sent his mother his entire earn- 



752 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



ings of $15 per montli, and during the other two 
years his earnings of $17.50 and $20 ijer mouth. 
He then returned to Bishop Township and March 
3, 18S5, married Miss Nora Field, daughter of 
Nels and Sarah (Ladon) Field. She was one of 
eight children, namely : Douglas and Charles, of 
Fields, Moultrie County ; Nora and Dora, twins, 
the former Mrs. Filers and the latter Mrs. W. N. 
Bridges ; Cora, wife of S. L. James ; Stella, who 
is deceased but survived by her husband, Fred 
Bradley ; Cecilia, wife of Mr. Wild, of St. Louis, 
and Nina, wife of L. E. Roberts. 

After their marriage Mr. Filers and his wife 
remained a year on the farm in Bishop Town- 
ship. He then rented a farm of seventy acres on 
Section 11 of the same township and oi)erated it 
two years, after which he spent two years on a 
rented farm of 120 acres in Moultrie County. 
For another six years he rented another farm 
of 240 acres in the same locality, then rented 
still another farm in the same county, where he 
remained two years. December 28, 1900, he 
located in Dieterieh and began buying and ship- 
ping cattle, hogs and sheep on an extensive scale, 
carrying ou this business several years. Later 
he branched out and also conducted a meat mar- 
Itet, enjoying a good patronage from the people 
of the town, still later purchasing a bar and cafe, 
and subsequently erected the substantial two- 
Btory brick structure in the heart of the busi- 
ness section, and which lie now occupies. 

Mr. Filers and his wife have a delightful fam- 
ily of ten children, namely : Ollie, Nellie, Victor, 
Nina, Cora, Bessie, Charley, Enola, Claudia and 
Ruby, all at home except the oldest, Ollie, who 
Is the wife of Willard G. Gray, of Indianapolis, 
Ind. The family have a handsome residence and 
their guests meet with a generous hospitality that 
is widely appreciated. 

Mr. Filers is a Republican and has been quite 
prominent in local affairs, having served in 
various public offices. While a resident of Shelby 
County for two years he served as Constable. 
He also served one tenn as Alderman of Diete- 
rieh, one year as Tax Collector in Bishop Town- 
ship, and was for three years a member of the 
School Board. After serving two .years as Presi- 
dent of the Board of Dieterieh, he resigned that 
office. He inaugurated many improvements dur- 
ing his administration of affairs, including the 
construction of sewers, the laying of crushed 
rock roads in the town and the introduction of 
cement sidewalks. He has always discharged 
every obligation laid upon him loyall.v and con- 
scientiousl.v, has always been the friend of prog- 
ress and has advocated permanent improvements 
and good government. 

ELLIOTT, James Franklin.— It is to a large 
degi'ee to the self-made men of Effingham County 
that this section owes its jiresent prosperity ; to 
those who, starting life witli not a dollar to their 
name, have worked their w-ay to tlie front, pla- 
cing themselves by the sheer force of their en- 
ergy and perseverance, among the successful men 



of the State. James Franklin Elliott, a sub- 
stantial farmer of Section 1, Mason Township, is 
one of Efliugham County's self-made men. Born 
January 6, 1809, in Jasper County, Mo., he is a 
son of Josiah and Frances (Madkin) Elliott, 
natives of Cumberland County, 111., where they 
were married. 

Josiah Elliott served three years during the 
Civil War, as a member of the Ninety-Seventh 
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after 
his marriage, in 18G7, removed to Jasper County, 
Mo., where he remained until a short time after 
the birth of his .son, James F., when he returned 
to Cumberland County, 111., where he has since 
been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and 
has become one of the prominent men of his lo- 
cality. His wife died aiwut 188S, having been 
the mother of eight children : James Franklin ; 
William, who died at the age of twenty years ; 
Alpha, wife of Rev. John W. Jackson, residing 
near Sullivan : Clara, wife of Charles Keller, a 
farmer of Union Township; Thomas, a farmer of 
Cumberland County ; Newton, who died at the 
age of twent}--two years ; George, a farmer in 
Cumberland County ; and Emma, who died in 
infancy. In politics Josiah Elliott is a Demo- 
crat, and has filled the office of Township Com- 
missioner in Summit Township. He belongs to 
the Masonic fraternity and tlie Grand Army of 
the Republic. 

James Franklin Elliott was educated in the 
common schools of Cumberland County and spent 
his youth on the farm, living there until twenty- 
one years of age. In 1889 he was married to 
Jane Hillard, who was born in Cumberland 
County, a daughter of Josiah and Elizalieth 
(Starwault) Hillard, prominent people of Cum- 
berland County, After their marrjage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Elliott settled on a farm in Spring Point 
Township, Cumberland County, which they rented 
until 1897, and in the latter year purchased a 
farm of seven t,v-four acres on Section 1, Mason 
Township, on which at that time there were no 
improvements. Mr. Elliott at once began to 
clear his land, to which he has added from time 
to time, and he has now 145 acres of finely im- 
proved property, forty-five acres of which he 
devotes to broom corn, an industry which he has 
carried on for some years with much success. 
In 1905 he erected a handsome eight-room resi- 
dence, and from being a renter but a few years 
ago, he has become tlie owner of one of tlie best 
improved farms in the southern part of the 
county. He has given a great deal of attention 
to the breeding of fine horses and feeding of 
hogs, and during later .years has handled a con- 
siderable number of Sliropshire sheep. Always a 
hard worker. Mr. Elliott has combined his en- 
ergy with a knowledge of farming and stock- 
raising conditions, and this explains his almost 
lihenomenal success. 

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have had four children: 
Elizabeth F.. born in Cumberland Count.v. April 
0. 1891 ; Martha J., born in Cimiberland County. 
November 28, 1893 : Roy, born in Cumberland 




MR. AND SIRS JOHN' T. I,ri)\VIG 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



753 



County, November 7. 1895, and Josie, born De- 
cember 16, 1808, in Effingham Countj-. Elizabeth 
is the wife of Calvin Sims, a farmer of Watson 
Township, and has one child, Leslie. 

In political matters Mr. Elliott is a Democrat, 
and has served in his district as School Director. 
He and his wife are members of the Court of 
Honor at Watson. He is liberal in his views, 
and is public-spirited to a high degi-ee, always 
doing more than his share in promoting any 
movement calculated to be of benefit to either 
Effingham County or his immediate locality. His 
standing among his fellow-citizens is high. 

ENGBRING, William H.— The successful life of 
any financial institution depends largely upon the 
character of the officials who control its destiny, 
and insure its prosi)erity and the safety of its 
patrons. The State Bank of Effingham, one of 
the most solid and reliable banks of this part of 
the State, and one which passed through the 
panic of 1907 with added prestige, is fortunate 
in its Cashier. William H. Engbring, one of the 
substantial, conservative men of Effingham 
County. Mr. Engbring was born in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, March 24. 1860, a son of Gerhard and 
Catherine (Boedker) Engbring, both natives of 
Germany. The father was born in the village of 
Epe, Prussia, April 27, 1825, on a farm where he 
lived until 1847, and then came to the United 
Slates, landing at New Orleans, whence he came 
on to Cincinnati. Ohio. There he embarked in a 
merchandising business, keeping a grocery and 
notion store for twelve years. In 1865. he came 
to Illinois, bought property in Effingham and 
commenced conducting a general store. After 
ten .vears spent in this line on Third and Wash- 
ington Streets — which was one of the first 
stores in the city — he disposed of his interests. 
and on September 1. 1881. in association with 
Messrs. Wood and Eversman, opened a private 
bank, under the firm style of Eversman, Wood & 
Engbring. 

Mr. Engbring was married in Cincinnati. Ohio, 
to Catherine Boedker, tlie ceremony being per- 
formed September 2, 1856. She was born in 
Prussia and was a schoolmate of her husband 
In their native land. They became the parents 
of the following children: Henry, William, John, 
Mary and Anna. 

William H. Engbring was five years old when 
his parents came to Effingham, and he was edu- 
cated in the parish school and St. Joseph's Col- 
lege. When only twelve .vears old. he began his 
business career by working for his father in the 
store. After seven years of this kind of work, 
he taught school for one year. When twenty 
years old. he engaged with the banking house of 
F. A. A^an Gassy. When his father embarked in 
the same line of business. Mr. Engbring entered 
his employ, and in 1886, was made a partner. 
When in lOO-i tlie bank was incorix>rated as the 
Effingham State Bank. Mr. Engbring was elected 
Cashier and has held this position ever since. 
He is a heavy stockholder in the bank, and one of 



its Directors. In addition, he owns considerable 
city propertj' and is one of the successful busi- 
ness men of the countj'. 

Mr. Engbring was married in Effingham 
County, October 11, 1887, to Louise Eversman, 
who was born in Effingham in 1868. A sketch of 
the family is given eLsewhere in tliis work. Mr. 
and Mrs. Engbring have had children as follows : 
Clara, Mary, Henry, Gertrude, Hilda and Louise. 
In politics Mr. Engbring is a Democrat and takea 
a very active part in party matters, and for ten 
years has been a member of the City Board, al- 
though his ambition does not lie in the direction 
of public honors. He and his wife are members 
of St. Anthony Catholic Church, and are inter- 
ested in church work. 

It has always been the policy of Mr. Engbring 
to strive for pei"sonal success, for he believes that 
the prosperity of the individual is the keystone 
to national prosperity. He has always labored 
systematically, and with a definite end in view, 
and in his responsible position in connection with 
the bank, he shows that same careful attention 
to detail and c-onservatlve method of action 
which have worked so advantageously in his pri- 
vate affairs. 

ENGEL, Jolin Louis. — Shumway is the home of 
some flourishing business houses which supply 
the large contiguous territory with necessities. 
One that controls an extensive trade and is con- 
stantly enlarging its operations, is that owned 
by John Louis Engel, an extensive dealer in lum- 
ber and hardware. He was born in Linzburg, 
St. Clair County, 111., a son of Louis and Cathe- 
rine (Metzler) Engel, a sketch of whom appears 
elsewhere in this work. 

The boyhood days of ilr. Engel were spent on 
the farm one half mile from Shumway, and he 
attended school in the neighborhood. When six- 
teen years old he began learning the carpenter 
trade with his bix)ther-in-law, Dieterich Bru- 
merstadt, a contractor and builder of Shumway, 
with whom he remained for five years. Having 
learned his trade thoroughly, Mr. Engel then 
began building and contracting, thus operating 
for alxiut nine years. He built many of the best 
farm and city residences in this vicinity, operat- 
ing from 1877 to 1889. when he formed a part- 
nership with his father under the firm name of 
Engel & Son. They bought the lumber business 
of Frank Iloese, and c-ontlnued together until 
1892. when the junior member purchased the 
stock of his father. At this time he abandoned 
his contracting work, to devote his attention ex- 
clusively to his other interests. At all times he 
can-ies a lull line of builders' supplies of all kinds, 
His business has increased by adding to his stock, 
until he is. now one of the largest dealers in the 
county. He also has a branch yard under the 
management of his brother, H. E. Engel, in 
Beecher City. In 190.3, Mr. Engel purchased 
another lumber yard at Stewardson, and put his 
brother, Theodore Engel, in charge of it. In 
1902. he erected a store building which he stocked 



754 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



with a fine line of millinery and notions, 
placing it under the manageuient of Eva Stans- 
field, whose efforts have resulted in its estab- 
lishment on a solid basis. Later his daughter 
Lillie took charge of it for her father. A year 
earlier he had embarked in another line, stoekiug 
a store with hardware, wall paper, paints, oil and 
glass. This store is the best stocked of its kind 
In this part of the State, and Shumway is very 
proud of it. Mr. Engel is one of the most ener- 
getic of business men and a most excellent mana- 
ger, conducts his several enterprises intelligently 
and proiitably and through them brings many 
customers into Shumway. In this way he has 
beeu instrumental in largely increasing the gen- 
eral trade of the place. 

On November 5, 3885, Mr. Engel married Ida 
Rath, bom in Summit Township, March 13, 1866, 
a daughter of Charles Rath, a native of Ger- 
many who came to Effingham County in 1865. 
He died here, but his widow survives, making her 
home in Shumway. Mr. and Mrs. Engel (1.) 
had five children : Lillie. torn August 31, 1886, 
married Dr. L. H. Pbifer, a dentist of Chicago; 
Emil, born April 3, 1891, died July 22, 1894; 
Amy, lx)rn September 9, 1894 ; Walter, born Feb- 
ruary 25, 1897 ; Martha, born May 2, 19a3. Mrs. 
Engel died May 12, 1003, and was deeply mourned 
as a kind and loving wife and mother, and a 
consistent member of the Lutheran Church. On 
May 29, 1904, Mr. Engel married Mary Ai>i)el, 
born in Shumway, 111., daughter of William Ap- 
pel, a pioneer of Moccasin Township. One son, 
Clarence, was born March 7, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. 
Engel are active members of the Lutheran 
Church, of which Mr. Engel has been trustee for 
fifteen years. In politics he has always been a 
Democrat, and he has filled various township 
oflices, discharging the duties pertaining to them 
faithfully and con.scientiously. He is ever ready 
to bear his full share in the upbuilding of his 
conmmnity, and is generous in his contributions 
to religious and educational work. A man of 
his business capacities, public spirit and enter- 
prising character is a very valuable asset in tlie 
life of any community, and without him Shum- 
way to-day could not occupy the place it does. 
for be has largely influenced Its commercial life 
and aided in its material advancement. 

ENGEL, Louis, (deceased), who was for many 
years numbered among the leading men of Effing- 
ham County, was born in Rhinbeiren. Germany, 
August 2.3. 1830, a son of Philip and Mary 
(Hengstenberg) Engel, the third child of a fam- 
ily consisting of three sons and four daughters. 
He was born on a farm and was reared to till the 
soil, attending the school in the neighliorhood. 
Losing his mother when he was six years old 
and his father a little later, he lived with a ma- 
ternal aunt until he was .sixteen yars old. At 
this time, liaving heard many stories of the ad- 
vantages given young men in America, he came 
to New Orleans, a young lad in a strange coun- 
try. Notwithstanding this, he immediately found 



employment with a gardener in that city for 
whom he worked for three months, after which 
he went to LouLsville, Ky., where for three years 
he worked for a gardener by the month. Leav- 
ing Kentucky, he came on to Illinois, settling in 
St. Clair County, where he went to work on a 
farm by the month. Here he was married, in 
July, 1854, to Catherine Metzler. A history of 
the Metzler family is given In the sketch of 
Henry Metzler, to be found elsewhere in this 
work. 

Mr. Engel continued on his farm after his 
marriage, eventually purchasing forty acres in 
St. Clair County, which he immediately began 
to operate. Having improved this land, he sold 
it in 1865 at a good profit, and bought 100 acres 
near Shumway, which he developed into a fine 
property. This farm was only half a mile from 
the village, and increased in value with the 
growth of the community. In 1886 he began buy- 
ing grain, and leaving his farm estalilished him- 
self in Shumway, where he also became inter- 
ested in the poultry business, continuing his 
operations until 1889. At this time he bought a 
lumber yard in conjunction with his son, J. L. 
Engel, under the firm name of Engel & Son, 
operating it until 1892, when he sold his interest 
to the junior partner. 

Mr. Eugel and his wife became parents of chil- 
dren as follows : Christina, wife of Herman 
Lane, a farmer of Banner Town.ship ; Mary, wife 
of Dieterich Brumerstadt, of Shumway ; .John L., 
mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Adam, a 
farmer of Banner Township ; Theodore, manager 
of a lumlier yard at Stewardson ; Catherine, wife 
of Theodore Kunze; Minnie, married Ben Miller 
and they live at Villa Grove ; Mary Matilda, mar- 
ried F. J. Struse, a section foreman at Wind- 
sor; Henry, manager of a lumber yard at Beech- 
er City; and William, in real-estate business at 
Strasliurg. Mr. Engel died April 8. 1809. at his 
home in Shumway, and many people assembled 
to do him honor at the funeral. 

Mr. Engel was a stanch Democrat and held 
several local offices, always striving to discharge 
all his obligations, Iwth public and private, faith- 
fully and honorably. He and his wife had been 
for many years united with the Lutheran Church. 
The history of this man's life -shows what can be 
accomplished by a jwor boy if he possesses the 
right principles and is willing to be thrifty and 
indu.strious. His example is one that may be prof- 
itably cited to the coming generations, and the in- 
fluence of it is still strongly felt in the com- 
munity where, for so many years, he was so 
important a flgure. 

ENGLE, Samuel, a veteran of the Mexican and 
Civil Wars, now living in quiet retirement in his 
home in Effingham, 111., was born in Indiana. 
April 0. 1825. a son of Abraham Engle. The 
father moved from Union County, Ind.. to Wi,nd- 
sor, Randolph Countj'. and located on a farm 
where Samuel Engle si>ent his boyhood. Abraham 
Bngle died before Samuel reached his majority 





THOMAS B. AUSTIN 



JOSEPH B. JONES 





HENRY STAIJJNGS 



LEWIS J. HANKINS 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



755 



and the latter was apprenticed to Andrew Ringer. 
May 9, 1S47, Samuel Engle enlisted in the volun- 
teer service of the United States Army, in Com- 
pany A, Fourth Indiana Infantry, for service dur- 
ing the War with Mexico, and was honorably 
discharged May 20, 1S48. at Madison, Ind. 

Mr. Engle was married, at the age of twenty- 
two years, to Annie Catherine Pope, and of this 
union ten children were born, of whom two sons 
and two daughters still survive. In 1858 Mr. 
Engle moved with his family to Effingham Coun- 
ty. III. At first he worked at any emjiloyment he 
could find, but in October, 1861, enlisted In Com- 
pan.v K, Eleventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, 
to serve three years, being enrolled October 8th, 
being discharged from service, however. July 9, 
1862, on a surgeon's certificate of disability. 
After his return home he was employed by John 
F. Wasehefort. of Teutopolis. who was at that 
time engaged in an extensive milling and lumber 
business, and for seven years Mr. Engle worked 
In this business, driving a team and hauling logs 
and himber. He then moved to a farm. In 
1881 his wife died and was buried in Blue Point 
Cemetery in Effingham County. Mr. Engle was 
married (second) In 1891, to Mrs. Davis, a widow 
living in Fayette County. At the present time 
Mr. Engle has fifteen grandchildren and seven 
great-grandchildren. 

Mr. Engle is now much broken in health, but 
cheerfully retains his interest in affairs alwut 
him. and walks out on his crutches whenever 
the weather will permit him. He much enjoys 
meeting his old friends, comrades and neighbors, 
and is a very sociable and agreeable companion. 
He is not a member of an.v church and belongs 
to no society except the Grand Army of the Re- 
public. He and his wife live quietly and com- 
fortably in their little home, their wants being 
supplied by the liberality of the generous Govern- 
ment for which he fought in two mighty wars. 
Mr. Engle has established a reputation as an 
honorable and upright citizen, who has lived a 
simple, pure life and has been strictly honor- 
able In his transactions with his fellow men. 

EVANS, Robert Clark.— With many men there 
seems to be but one line which they can follow, 
one vocation which fits their abilities, one spe- 
cial occupation in which they can find success, 
and until they have settled themselves in that spe- 
cial groove, they make little headwa.v. To the 
man of versatile traits and abilities, however, 
any line of occupation which presents itself is 
acceptable, and if he be persistent enough he will 
win success in whatever field he finds employ- 
ment. Robert Clark Evans, merchant and promi- 
nent citizen of Ebevle. III., is not only a man of 
versatile abilities, but is a good example of the 
successful self-made man of to-day. He was born 
on the farm now owned by .John Woody, in Sec- 
tion 24. Union Township, Effingham County, 111., 
November 20, 1857, and Is a son of Ran.som and 
Anna (Morris) Evans. 

Robert Clark Evans cau remember but little of 



his parents, as he was but a child when both 
died. However, it is thought that Ransom Evans 
came from South Carolina as a youth, with his 
parents, and .settled in Indiana, where he was 
married and where four of his children were 
born. Aljout 1850 he came with his family to 
Effingham County, settling on the farm in Union 
■iviw uship. which some years later he traded for a 
mill near Flemsburg. in Union Township. He 
operated the mill until his death In 1860, his wife 
passing away four years later. They were the 
parents of these children : Amanda, wife of John 
McXelley, of New Bible Grove, Clay County, 111. ; 
John, who died in infancy ; William ; Robert 
Clark ; Ruhama. wife of James Rentfrow, of 
Perkins. Okla. : Louisa J., widow of Henry Mc- 
Gee, residing on a farm near Bible Grove, Clay 
County ; and Henry, of Custer County, Neb. 

Robert Clark Evans went to live with his 
brother William after the death of his mother, 
and was given a limited education, but at the age 
of fourteen years he started to shift for himself, 
going to work for John Woody on the farm on 
whicli he was born, his wages being .$12 per 
mouth for the first year and $16 per month for 
the two years following. In 1872 he began rent- 
Jug land for himself in Lucas Township, and con- 
tinued farming until 1892, when he engaged in 
mercantile business at Elaerle with Peter Jacob, 
under the firm name of Evans & Jacob, and this 
partnership continued until 1900, when Mr. 
Evans purchased Mr. Jacob's interests, and since 
then his son Theron has been admitted into part- 
ner.ship. the firm style now being R. C. Evans & 
Son. They handle a full line of high-class goods 
needed by the people of their community, and 
their practice of giving farmers with whom they 
deal the full worth of their produce, as well as a 
.square deal for their money, has won them a 
fine trade throughout the town and its vicinitj'. 
Mr. Evans is a good business man and realizes 
that his best profits will come through doing a 
large amount of business and having the confi- 
dence of his customers, and his business has in- 
creased correspondingl.v. Left early in life to 
shift for himself, he has .shown what a man can 
do by persistently and earnestly seeking success, 
and his example should be a good one for those 
who have not had the benefit of an easy start. 
In politics he is a Democrat, and fraternally Is 
connected with the Odd Fellows at Eherle. He 
will be found supporting all movements for the 
good of the public or the community. 

In 1872. Mr. Evans was married to Fran- 
ces (Holt) Trapp, and to this union there were 
born four children : Leslie, a photographer, of 
Kearney. Neb. ; Ollie, the wife of Charles Woody, 
a farmer in Union Township ; and twins that 
died in infancy. The mother of these children 
died in 1878, and Mr. Evans was married (sec- 
ond) to Mrs. Eliza Thorp, widow of Charles C. 
Thorp, born July 20. 1844. in Shelby County, Ind., 
daughter of Robert B. and Pennelia (Steers) 
Peek, natives of Boone County, K.y., where they 
were reared and married. Alx)ut 1830 thev emi- 



756 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



grated to Shelby County, Ind., where they en- 
tered land from the Government and made a 
home. They were parents of twelve children, 
of whom four survive : Elender, wife of Corne- 
lius Mingle, a resident of Rush County, Ind. ; 
Permelia, wife of George Howe, of Shelby Coun- 
ty, Ind. ; John T.. on the old home farm in Shelby 
Count.v, Ind. ; and Mrs. Evans. Eliza Peek was 
married and oame with her husband, Charles C. 
Thorp, to Elliottstown. Effingham County, and 
in 1872 they located on a farm in Liieas Town- 
ship. Five children were born to Mr. Thorp and 
his wife : two of whom died in infancy ; Pres- 
ley T., a resident of Alberta, Can. ; Amy A., wife 
of Mike Crouk, a farmer in .Jackson Township ; 
and Ora A., a resident of Champaign Comity, 
III. Mr. Thoi-p died in 1870. and the marriage 
of his widow and Mr. Evans took place Februar.v 
4, 187f). Mr. Evans and his wife have had one 
son, Theron. a member of the firm of Evans & 
Son, who was born July 1. 1885, was educated 
in the common schools, and April 22, 1906, was 
married to Iva Woody, daughter of John Woody. 
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Theron Evans : Beulah, torn December 12, 1906 ; 
and Clenna, November 19, 1909. 

EVERSMAN, Henry.— There are certain traits 
of character that are necessary to make a man 
an efficient and successful financier. He must 
IX)ssess sound judgment, know human nature, be 
well ae<]uainted with financial conditions, and be 
conservative in his action. The Effingham State 
Bank is fortunate in its Assistant Cashier. Henry 
Eversman, who although still a young man is 
well known in banking circles, and is associated 
with some of the substantial Institutions of the 
county. Mr. Eversman was born in Teutopolis, 
111.. April 4, 1880, son of Dr. Henry and Caroline 
(Wasehfort) Eversman. 

Dr. Eversman was torn in Hanover, Germany, 
February 23. 1837, a son of Francis F. and Char- 
lotte (Tirren) Eversman, the former born in Alf- 
hausen, Hanover, Gennany. in September, 1807, 
and his wife born in Osnabruck, Hanover, Ger- 
many. Francis F. Eversman educated his son 
Henr>-, later Dr. Eversman, in the parochial 
schools of his native country. After coming to 
this country, the young man studied in Cincin- 
nati. Ohio, and later attended St. Xavier's Col- 
lege, at Cincinnati, for four .years. He then be- 
came a student in the Ohio Medical College of 
that city, and remained three years. In January, 
1862, he was appointed house physician in the 
Commercial Hospital in Cincinnati by President 
Lincoln, with the rank of Assistant Surgeon. 
Later he became Chief Surgeon after a service 
of six months, and also held other important 
professional offices during his term of service. 
Returning home in September. 1865. he began the 
practice of his profession in Effingham. In 1881 
he embarked in the banking business as member 
of the firm of Eversman, Wood & Engbring. pri- 
vate bankers. He remained active in this insti- 
tution until his demise, which occurred April 7. 



liWa, when Effingham lost one of its most valu- 
able and desirable citizens. His widow sur- 
vives him, residing iu Effingham. Dr. and Mrs. 
Eversman were the parents of six children, 
four of whom are now living: Louise, wife 
of W. H. Engbring; Mary, wife of J. G. 
Schultz. of Lewiston, Idaho; Elizabeth, wife of 
Dr. H. Taphorn, of Effingham ; Henrj' ; Freder- 
ick and Clara, both deceased. 

Henry Eversman was married May 4, 1905, to 
Ursula Fisher, born in Effingham County, Novem- 
ber 17, 1885, daughter of John and Bridget 
(Wade) Fi-sher, a sketch of whom appears else- 
where in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Eversham 
have one child — Henry Louis. 

Mr. Eversman was given a thorough education 
in the schools of Teutopolis and at St. Joseph 
Catholic College, from which he graduated in 
the commercial course with high honors. His 
business career began when he was only fifteen 
years old, in the bank where he has remained for 
fourteen years, gradually earning promotion until 
he now is Assistant Cashier. He is also a di- 
rector and stockholder in this bank, is a Director 
in the Washington Building and Loan Associa- 
tion, and Treasurer of the Effingham Building 
and Loan Association, and owns city realty of 
considerable value. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Eversman are members of 
the Catholic Church of Effingham, and are active 
in church work. In politics Jlr. Eversman is a 
Democrat, but has never aspired to public office. 
He is a member of the K. of C. and the C. K. of 
A., both of Effingham. Mr. Eversman is one of 
the most practical and reliable bankers of the 
county, and having given all his life to the work, 
knows Its every detail. Thoroughgoing in all he 
undertakes, with a keen taste for his business, 
he has a brilliant future before him and an out- 
look on life not usually gained by a man of his 
years. 

FAUGHT, Charles Otis.— One of the represen- 
tative men of Effingham County, 111., is Charles 
Otis Faught. who was for many years known as 
one of the most prominent railroad constructors 
in the country, and is now living retired at Alta- 
mont. 111., wliere he is President of the Altamont 
Agricultural Fair Association. He was Iwrn in 
Kenton. Hardin County. Ohio. November 22, 1858, 
son of Preston anl Lena (Pughl Faught, who 
moved to Shelby County, 111., in 1864, and located 
on a large tract of land near Shelbyville. The 
father died at Tower Hill in the fall of 1894. 

Charles Otis Faught was sent to the public and 
high schools at Tower Hill and Pana. On com- 
pleting his education he took up the study of 
telegraphy, but shortly thereafter started civil 
engineering, which he in turn gave up for rail- 
road contract work, and m 1S82 finished a few 
contracts on the old Clover Leaf, then a nar- 
row gauge road. He soon accepted a contract for 
superintending the construction of a road from 
Wakefield to Niobrara. Neb., for Charles Pelts, 
of Minneapolis; one on the Little Blue River, at 




^ 



^)l>BiXz.U^. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



757 



Hanover, in Kansas, for Patrick Fitzgerald of 
Lincoln. Xeb.. and in 1SS4 came East and as- 
sisted the engineering department in locating a 
line between Altamont and Jletropolis City, 111., 
w-liicli is now part of tlie Chicago «& Eastern 
Illinois Railroad. His next work was the build- 
ing of a road from East St. Louis to Springfield, 
which was later built through to Peoria, and in 
1885 he went to Jamestown, N. Y., and built a 
road from that place to Ma.vville. Chautauqua 
County. Returning to Illinois, he built a line 
from Mt. Olive to Springfield, one from Grand 
Tower to Cape Girardeau, on the Mississippi 
River, next built the T. P. & A., a road from 
IVIontpelier. Ohio, to Chicago, and in 1892-03 built 
the Alton to St. Louis. In 1894 he built the C. P. 
& au., now part of the 'Fi'iseo. and the year fol- 
lowing built from Johnson City to Carbondale, 
now a part of the Chicago & Texas. In the fall 
of the same year he built from Holmesville te 
Wooster, Ohio, and from Trenton to Pattonsburg. 
JIo., an extension of the Stillwell System. His 
next work was a road from Sapulpa to Oklahoma 
City, Okla. ; from New Ulm. Minn., to Storm 
Lake. Iowa ; from Sapulpa. Okla.. to Denison. 
Tex. : from Weatherford. Okla., to Tucumeari, X. 
M.. from a point in Arkansas to Lawton. Okla., 
from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Tex., and from 
Chandler to Guthrie, Okla. His last work was 
a line from Red Fork to Enid, Okla. During 
these active years. Mr. Faught made his home 
in St. Elmo, 111., but in 189.5 he moved to Alta- 
mont, where in 1897 he erected his present beau- 
tiful residence. He was one of the founders of 
the Altamont Agricultural Fair Association, and 
has been its Secretary three years and Presi- 
dent one, being the present incumbent of the lat- 
ter office, ilr. Faught has always done big 
things, and although practically retired from ac- 
tive business, any movement of public moment 
will find in him a ready supporter. He is the 
owner of mucli valuable property-, located in vari- 
ous States. Fraternally he is connected with the 
Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern 
Woodmen ; he is a member of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Altamont. and one of its trus- 
tees. Politically a Republican, he was Mayor 
of Altamont from 190.5 to 1907, and proved one 
of the best executives the city has had. He also 
served some time as alderman. 

Mr. Faught was married, at Rochester. Ind., 
May 30, 1885. to Orr Davidson, daughter of the 
late State Senator W. D. Davidson, of Indiana. 
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Faught: Donald. Gail, Bemice and Madeline, of 
whom Bernice is deceased. 

FELLHOELTER, Joseph.— The annals of Effing- 
ham County show many records of the lives of 
farmers who have rounded out the duties con- 
nected with agricultural pursuits, and have 
amassed considerable fortunes gathered from the 
fertile soil. One who has met with remarkable 
success along these lines is .Taseph Fellhoelter 
of Section 33, Douglas Township, who was born 



in Hanover, German.v, March 1, 1867, and pos- 
sesses all of the German characteristic-s that 
make for such good citizenship. He is a son of 
Ernest and Mary (Sehwoeppe) Fellhoelter, both 
natives of Hanover, Germany, where both died, 
the mother in October, 1898, and the father in 
October. 1902. The father was a farmer and 
stock-rai-ser. and devoted his life to this work. 
Four sons and four daughters were torn to these 
parents : Minnie, .Iosei>h, August, Bernard, Ger- 
trade, Theresia JIary. and Henry, who came to 
America, and two others who remained in the 
old country. Minnie married Anton Xiebrugger 
and came to Effingham County, settling on Green 
Creek, where she died in 1895, leaving five chil- 
dren. Gertrude came to America and married 
Henry Rocklage, a farmer of Washington County, 
111. Henry Fellhoelter is a farmer of Sheridan 
County, Kan. 

Joseph Fellhoelter was brought up in Germany 
and there educated. In 1.S84, desiring larger 
opportunity for employment and development, 
Mr. Fellhoelter came to America with his sister 
Minnie and located in Douglas Township, where 
he secured employment with Anthony Jansen on 
a farm. Here he worked by the month for two 
years, receiving for all that time only .$2-W. For 
the following t^-o years he secured $260, and of 
this $500. he saved nearly all. He then secured 
work at $11..50 per month, when he married. May 
28. 1889, Minnie Jansen, daughter of his first em- 
ployer. (A full histoi-j^ of the Jansen family is 
given elsewhere in this work.) After marriage, 
the young couple settled on Section 33. iu Doug- 
las Township, on a partly developed farm, which 
had received .some improvements. He at once 
began to bring this property into a good state of 
cultivation, put up a beautiful five-room house, 
a good barn, and now has one of the best farms 
in this part of the township, .\bout six years 
ago. Mr. Fellhoelter began experimenting with 
dairy stock, putting in eleven head of mixed 
breed. He now has a large dairy barn, 50x90 
feet, well equipped with the latest dairy appli- 
ances. He also has thirty-five head of cattle, 
eleven head being pure bred Holstein stock, and 
at the head of his herd is Sir Korndyke Johanne 
De Kol, a pure blood Holstein bull, which he 
bought from Samuel Campbell of Genoa, 111., a 
breeder of Holstein cattle. Mr. Fellhoelter has 
been very .successful in his dairy business, as well 
as in other lines, and for a quarter of a century 
he has been closely identified with the develop- 
ment of Effingham County. Coming here as a 
stranger, not even knowing the English language, 
he has made remarkable progress and his Ger- 
man friends are very proud of him. In 1900 he 
made a trip to his old home, but found that 
things had changed, and after a month's stay he 
was glad to return, although regretting to leave 
his father, brothers and sisters. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fellhoelter have no children of 
their own. but after the death of Mrs. Xiebrug- 
ger, they adopted two of her children— Anton and 
John — and have cared for them as for their own. 



758 



EFFINGHAM COUxNTY 



In iwlities Mr. Fellhoelter lias been a Democrat. 
He and his wife are members of the Green Creek 
German Catholic Church. 

FISHER, John H. — Naturally a man's success 
in lite is geuerally measured by his prestige in 
business, political or social circles, and when he 
figures prominently in all. then he has accom- 
plished much. John H. Fisher, of Effingham, 111., 
who conducts one of the largest cluthing and 
gent's furnishing houses in Effingham County, is 
a representative of his party in the City Council, 
is a welc-ome guest in the best homes of the city 
and is recognized as one of the best representa- 
tives of successful men in his part of the State. 
Mr. Fisher was born in the county, January 22, 
1853, and was educated in Its public and Catholic 
schools. He is a son of John H. and Mary 
(Knoppe) Fisher, both natives of Germany, from 
whom Mr. Fisher inherited the sterling traits of 
character that have made him what he is today. 
The parents came to the United States prior to 
their meeting, and were married in Effingham 
County, in 1848 or 1849. 

Locating upon a farm of 160 acres in Douglas 
Township, which they bought, the two prosiiered, 
and lived there until the father died, in 1857, 
aged fifty years. He is buried at Green Creek 
Catholic Church Cemetery. The mother sur- 
vives, aged eighty yeai-s, and enjoys exc-elleut 
health. She bore'her husband four children, but 
only three grew to maturity : Annie, married Jo- 
seph Kreke, and both are deceased; Angeline 
is unman-ied and lives in Effingham with her 
motner ; John H. ; and Catherine, who died in 
infancy. 

John H. Fisher remained at home until he was 
seventeen and then became a clerk in a grocerj- 
store, after which be entered the employ of a 
clothing merchant and, having learned the busi- 
ness, in 1884 embarked in the clothing line for 
himself, in Effingham. 

His business house has been a leader from the 
beginning and his volume of trade shows a 
healthy and steady increase. Mr. Fisher carries 
a full line of clothing and men's furnishing goods 
and does a very large business, not only in Ef- 
fingham, but throughout the large territory tribu- 
tary to that city. Havin- such excellent con- 
nections, Mr. Fisher is able to offer special in- 
ducements to his customers, both as to the qual- 
ity and prices of his stock. 

On May 18, 1875, Mr. Fisher was married to 
Bridget E. Wade, who was born in Somerset, 
Perry County, Ohio. July 5, 1849, but came to 
Illinois in 1872, after the death of her parents at 
Somerset, where they were buried. Mr. and 
Mrs. Fisher have had the following children : 
Mary, unmarried ; Adelia, unmarried : John, died 
at the age of twenty -two; Clarence L.. unmar- 
ried, is associated with bis father in the clothing 
store; Ursula, married Henry Eversman and 
they reside in Effingham ; Georgia, died at the 
age of two years ; and Henrietta, unmarried. 

In polities Mr. Fisher is a Democrat and be 



takes an active part in local affairs. He has 
served as Alderman for three terms, although he 
never aspired to public office, fraternally he is 
a member of the K. of C, of Effingham. He and 
all his family belong to the Sacred Heart Catho- 
lic Church, of Effingham, and are all active in 
church work. 

Mr. Fisher is a genial, wuole-souled man, who 
has countless friends, and his remarkable success 
is due to his good business sense, sterling integ- 
rity and courage. Owing to the lack of good 
schools in his youth, he received but a limited 
education and was early forced to earn his own 
living, but he has gone steadily forward and the 
results of his labors must be very gratifying to 
him and his family. 

FRITSCHER, Henry M., Postmaster at Diete- 
rich. III., where he is also interested in business 
enterprises and active in all that concerns the 
welfare of the place, .serving efficiently in public 
office and .setting an example in private life as a 
church member and worth.v citizen, was born in 
St. Francis Township, Effingham County, 111., 
October 3, 18(57. His father, Fred Fritscher, was 
one of the pioneers of the county, coming to 
America from Germany in 1852. He located first 
in Cook County, 111., where he was married to 
Miss Louisa Kenner, also a native of Germany. 

In 1800 Fred Fritscher removed with his fam- 
ily to Effingham County and settled in St. Francis 
Township, where he bought land and engaged in 
cultivating it until 1879, when he returned to 
Chicago. There he was engaged for a time in 
mercantile business and became well-to-do, finally 
retiring and dying there in 1899, when aged sixty- 
t\\o years. His wife died at the age of fifty- 
nine years. He was an active member of the 
Republican party. In religious faith he was a 
Lutheran and was one of the original twelve 
members in St. Francis Township that funiLshed 
the means to build the first Lutheran church edi- 
fice there, both he and wife being constant at- 
tendants and supiwrters as long as they lived in 
the township. To them were born nine children, 
four sons and five daughters, of whom three sons 
and three daughters still survive: Fred. H. is a 
merchant residing in Indiana ; Albert is a rail- 
road man and lives at St. Paul ; Henry M. is 
Postmaster at Dieterich ; Louisa is the wife of 
John L. Minor, a railroad conductor, and they 
live in Chicago ; Alma is the wife of Paul Joer- 
gensen, a steel engraver, and they live in Chi- 
cago ; Ella is the mfe of James M. Donehue. an 
actor, their home is at Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Done- 
hue and his wife both appear publicly in opera, 
she as pianist and he as vocalist, and are recog- 
nized as highly gifted musicians. 

Henry M. Fritscher remained on the home 
farm until he was fourteen years of age. attend- 
ing school and making himself generally useful, 
and then accompanied his parents to Chicago, 
where he entered the Haves School and was grad- 
uated in the class of 188.S. For a short time he 
made his living at bookkeeping and then followed 




:^rmh^^^^^ ^,(5%/^^/^^— 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



759 



paper hanging and decorating, remaining in the 
great city by Lalie Michigan until 1S91, when he 
returned to the old farm, where he remained 
until 1893, then returned to Chicago, where he 
followed his trade until ISOC, when he came to 
Dieterich. Here he embarked in busine.ss as a 
general merchant, putting in a 13ne stock of sea- 
sonable goods and erecting two business houses 
on Main Street ; he continued in that line for five 
years and then sold out. He then accepted a 
position with the J. H. White Company, of Chi- 
cago, dealers and commission merchants in poul- 
try and produce, remained with that iirm one 
year and then accepted a better proposition from 
G. H. Lewis & Sons, of New York, and continued 
with that commission house until M.iy 31, 1905. 
He is interested at jiresent in the produce trade 
and is western agent for Lewis & Sons Company. 

In politics Mr. Fritscher has alwa,vs been a 
Republican and his services have been recognized 
and acknowledged b.v his part.v on mau.v occa- 
sions. He has served several terms as Alderman 
of his ward and one term as President of the 
Village Board. He has invested in property and 
built a comfortable, attractive residence in the 
town. From 1S97 until 1901 he was connected 
with the Post Office and was First Assistant to 
Postmaster J. P. Wendt. In 1906 he completed 
the building in which the post-office is installed, 
equipping it with all modern conveniences, and 
making it the best building for the purpose in 
the southern part of the State. He took charge 
of the office as Postmaster May 31, 1905. 

In 1893 Mr. Fritscher was married to Miss 
Bertha Gust, born also in St. Francis Township, 
daughter of August Gust, a prominent farmer of 
the township. Two children have been bom : 
Arneta and Grant. With his family Mr, Frit- 
scher belongs to the Lutheran Church. 

GIBSON, Aden K.— The banks of Effingham 
County are sound, reliable institutions, as a 
class, and in the care of financiers of experience, 
who conserve carefully the interests of their de- 
positors. Mason is the home of one of these 
establishments, known as the Mason E.xchange 
Bank, and its Cashier, A. K. Gib.son. is one of the 
most astute men in this part of the State. Mr. 
Gibson was born in Mason, 111., July 20, 1881, a 
son of the late Robert G. and Ellen L. (White) 
Gibson, and was educated in the common schools 
of his native place. 

When but eighteen years of age. Aden K. Gib- 
son took charge of the affairs of the firm of Gib- 
son & Company, organized by his father in 1869. 
This is the leading dry goods and grocery house 
in Mason, and since his father's death, Mr. Gib- 
son has built up its trade wonderfully, each 
year's profits showing steady growth. He is also 
a member of the firm of Evans & Gibson, deal- 
ers in hardware, established in 1906. Since the 
organization of the Mason Exchange Bank, 
ownied b.v himself and his mother, Mr. Gibson 
has been its Cashier, and under his conservative 



management the confidence of the people has been 
gained and maintained. In 1906 Mr. Gibson was 
honored by appointment to the oflice of Post- 
master at Ma.son, being entitled to this recogni- 
tion by his prominence and services in the inter- 
ests of the Republican party, of which he is an 
enthusiastic adherent. 

Mr. Gibson was married in Chicago, October 
24, 1905, to Mabelle L. Holloway. Since he 
reached the age of twenty-two years Mr. Gibson 
has been a Mason, and is also a member of the 
Methodist Church. A good business man, keen, 
shrewd and resourceful, he has a bright future 
before him, both as a private citizen and as ac- 
tive member of the party whose interests he and 
his father before him have done so much to main- 
tain and advance. 

Mr. Gibson's maternal grandfather, Perigrene 
White, was a member of Company E, Thirty- 
eighth Illinois Infantry, in which he served three 
years during the Civil War. His father served 
in the same company and regiment and was taken 
prisoner and confined in Andersonville, Libby, 
Belle I.sle and Florence prisons. 

GIBSON, Robert G. (deceased).— The life of a 
successful man is an interesting study, but that 
of a good one furnishes a fitting example for 
others. Some men never shrink from the line 
laid out by duty, but unflinchingly tread it to the 
goal, wherever it may be. Many remarkable 
characters were developed by the Civil War. 
The trials, dangers and privations of that great 
struggle brought out the good and strengthened 
the weak points in a man, making him a hero. 
Among those who are honored above the ordl- 
nai-y in Effingham County i.s the late Robert G. 
Gibson, whose life was one of long sacrifice for 
■what he believed to be the principles of honor 
and dut.v. Mr. Gibson was born in Ohio County, 
Ind.. May 10, 1841, and died in Mason, 111., where 
he had made his home for many years. 

Mr. Gibson learned the cooper's trade but 
never followed it, for coming to Illinois in 1861, 
he began quarrying rock at Mason. But the call 
made upon his patriotism was too strong to with- 
stand, and on August 12, 1861, he answered it by 
enlisting in Company B, Thirty-eighth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, for a perioci of three years. 
During the two .years that followed he partici- 
pated in all the hard-fought battles in which his 
regiment was engaged, but at the battle of Chick- 
amauga, September 19, 1863, he was captured and 
for two months was held a prisoner at Richmond, 
Va. From Richmond he was taken to Danville, 
Va., where he was held five months and then 
consigned to the horrors of Andersonville Prison. 
After remaining there four and one-half months, 
he was sent to Charleston. S. C. (being one of 
those selected by the rebel authorities for the 
piiriwse of being exjwsed to the dangers of bom- 
bardment by the Federal war ves.sels), but thirty 
days later was sent to Florence, N. C, where he 
remained until February 17, 1865, when he was 



760 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



released, returned to Illinois and was mustered 
out of the service, receiving an honorable dis- 
charge at Springfield, May 9, 1805. 

No mere words can describe the horrors en- 
dured during those weary months in Southern 
prisons, and ijerhaps it is as well so. Mr. Gibson 
himself was of too kindly a disposition to dwell 
upon them at length, preferring to consider the 
outcome of the struggle and the subsequent de- 
velopment of the eouuti-j- made possible by his 
personal sacrifice and that of many like him. It 
was but as the shadow of the brave young soldier 
of 1861 that he came back to Mason after his dis- 
charge ; but, although broken in body, he was 
still full of mental vigor, aud soon after em- 
barked in the milling business, buying a half-in- 
terest in the firm of D. W. Sisson & Company. 
This interest he later traded for a farm, but in 
the fall of 1868 bought a stock of goods of Isaac 
Baker and engaged in mercantile business. Mr. 
Gibson was a born organizer, and soon became 
identified with almost every leading line of busi- 
ness in the village. He. Imugbt and sold grain, 
railroad ties, hav and hoop i»les, and became the 
owner of a large tract of land. It api>eared that 
he had only to take up an enterprise in order to 
make it sueces.sful. With all his business suc- 
cess he gave liberally of his personalitj-, winning 
friends everywhere and dispensing charity of 
which no one beside himself and those who en- 
joyed its benefits were aware. However, his 
strength, wasted by disease in consequence of his 
sufferings in prison, could not withstand the de- 
mands made upon it, and he was forced to relin- 
quish his affairs to the care of his son, A. K. 
Gibson. 

Mr. Gibson joined the Grand Army of the Re- 
public as soon as it was formed, and was one of 
its most enthusiastic members. Every Decora- 
tion Dav, in spite of his loss of physical strength, 
he would march in the procession to the cemetery, 
where he would scatter flowers upon the graves 
of those who had already answered the last roll 
call. His favorite song was "Marching Through 
Georgia," and whenever it was sung his voice 
could be beard leading in the inspiring battle 

Mr. Gibson was married, October 24, 1867, to 
Ellen E. White, who bore liim children as fol- 
lows ■ Walter, of Mason, 111. ; A. K. ; Flora, who 
died in infancy ; Ada B.. married Harry D. Sis- 
son • Iva M., married W. W. Carroll, of Cham- 
paign 111., a conductor of the Illinois Central 
Railroad ; and Nona M. Robert W. Gibson is in 
the mercantile business at Mason. 

Mr. Gibson was a member of the Masonic fra- 
temitv, and took much interest in his lodge. He 
was one of those whole-souled men whose ener;^ 
far outweighed bodily strength, and May 17. 
1900. his remains were added to the soldiers' 
graves in Mason Cemetery, where on Decoration 
Day following his old comrades decorated his 
grave. There was not a dry eye in Mason when 
the march of the veterans was made on that day. 
Mr. Gibson's place was empty as his favorite song 



was played, and his fellow members of the G. A. 
R., with bowed beads and streaming eyes, held 
him in reverential memory, as they advanced to 
do him honor beside the grave that held all that 
was mortal of him. 

"BOB GIBSON" 

By 

James Newton Matthews. 

"As I look at you, Bob Gibson, and size you up 

and down, 
You are just a common neighbor in a common 

country town, — 
But under that old coat of yours throbs a heart 

as kind 
As the Maker in His wisdom ever made to match 

a mind; 
And so it is I rhyme your name with everything 

that's fair. 
And braid the purple pansies of my praise for 

you to wear. 

"Tho' Nature never gifted you with silver-plated 

speech. 
She never filled your head with thoughts your 

language couldn't reach ; 
And more than that she gave you common-sense 

enough to know 
That the simple path of duty is the smoothest 

road to go, — 
And so .you jog along it, Bob, a jolly sort of man. 
Keeping eveo'body jubilant and happy that you 

can. 

"You are just the man. Bob Gibson, that my 
fancy likes to paint, 

A kind of happy cross between a sinner and a 
saint — 

A cunning intertangling of antagonistic traits, 

A palatable compound of big loves and little 
hates — 

Yes, Gibson, you are all of these, and all of these 
combine 

To make your friendship sparkle like an over- 
flowing wine. 

"You suffered in the army, Bob, and sweltered 

in the suns 
Of Georgia, when the Johnnies had you girdled 

with their guns ; 
And they say a better soldier and a braver never 

drew 
The buckles of a cartridge-belt around a coat of 

blue; 
But those were times of trouble and have long 

since passed away. 
And I shall not recall them in the sun-light of 

to-day. 

"You are just the same, Bob Gibson, that I found 

you long ago. 
Save that your curly hair begins to hint of early 

snow — 
Save that your eyes are dimmer, and there's 

something in your gait. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



761 



That seems perhaps a little less elastic here of 

late,— 
But your augh is just as hearty, aud the fun 

flows Just as free. 
From the bearded mouth of fifty as the lips of 

twei.ty-three. 

",' health to you, Bob Gibsou ! aud may the com- 
ing time. 

When you meet it. melt to music lilse the ripple 
of my rhyme ; 

May the years break into blossoms of enchant- 
ment at your feet, 

And over-head the skies be clear, and all the 
songs be sweet ; 

And when your hands have weary gro\^-u, and 
Nature calls to rest, 

Go down the twilight singing like a glad bird 
to its nest." 



etery, Altamont. He was a consistent member 
of the Methodist Church and died firm in Its 
faith. For years he served as an ofiicial of the 
church, always giving it bis earnest supix>rt. In 
political faith he was a Republican. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gieseking had children as fol- 
lows : Louisa, now Mrs. Joachim Priess, of Ef- 
fingham County ; Friedricb, of Altamont, married 
Mary Schrotb ; William G., a creamery man, of 
Altamont, married Laura M. Watton ; John H., 
on the home fann, married Lena Karrer ; Henry 
C, is also on the farm and is married to Melva 
Young ; C. Herman, of Altamont, is unmarried ; 
Lena E., at home ; two daughters who died in 
infancy, and Hannah, who died in 1S94, at the 
age of twentj'-six years. The famil.y is one of the 
best known in the locality of their home, and its 
representatives are lionored and respected, a 
credit to their father and his earnest life. 



GIESEKING, William (deceased).— Some men, 
in their quiet, earnest way, make themselves be- 
loved and leave their impre.ss upon their com- 
munities. Public honors may not have been 
theirs, but in their private lives they have accom- 
plished much good and left a name of which their 
families may well be proud. Such a man was the 
late William Gieseking. who during life was a 
successful farmer of iloccasin Township, Effing- 
ham Count.v. He was born in the City of Quet- 
zen, Westphalia, Germany, October 18, 1828, being 
a son of William Gieseking, who died in Ger- 
many. 

In addition to attending the public schools in 
his native country. Mr. Gieseking learned the 
trade of cai^enter and followed it there until 
he sailed for the United States, in 1852. making 
the trip in a sailing vessel which took six weeks 
for crossing. From New York, where he landed, 
Mr. Gieseking went to St. Louis, thence to Belle- 
ville, 111., working all the time at his ti-ade. His 
next location was at Nashville. 111., where he was 
married, in November, 185.5, to Caroline Hesse- 
mann, who was born in Bergkirchen, Westphalia, 
Germany. February 0, 1837, but was brought to 
the t'nited States when fourteen years old, by her 
parents, who landed at Baltimore, after a voy- 
age of seven weeks and three days. The family 
lived in York. Pa., two years, then moved to 
Na.shville, 111., and later to Minden, 111., where 
the father died. 

In 1SG.3 Mr. Gieseking moved from Nashville 
to Effingham, and operated the mill now called 
the Alt Mill. In 1866 he moved to old Freeman- 
ton, and two years later located in Jloccasin 
To^-nship. where the remainder of his life was 
spent. While living in Freemanton his brother- 
in-law. Fred Hes.semann, was associated with him. 
The farm In Jloecasin Township, on which he lo- 
cated in 1868. was given his best efforts aud he 
made it a valuable propert.v. He was well 
known for his industry and thrift, and at his 
death owned 400 acres of land. January .30. 
1887. occurred the death of this most excellent 
man. and his remains are interred in Union Cem- 



GILLESPIE, Ambrose D.— Ever since scientific 
investigation has proven the imiwrtance and ne- 
cessity for having pure milk, the production of 
that article has become an imiwrtant factor in 
the agricultural life of Illinois, .so that many 
farmers are specializing along the lines of dairy 
work with profitable results. Ambrose D. Gil- 
lespie, one of the leading daii-j- farmers of Wat- 
wn Township. Effingham Coiuit.v, was born in 
Bishop Township, same county, September 3, 
18.55. and is a sou of Herman aud Margaret 
(Field) Gillespie. 

Herman Gillespie was born on Blennerhasset 
Island, in the Ohio River, April 10. 1810, one of 
the sixteen childre]i of John and Esther (James) 
Gillesi)ie. and the only one of this family ever 
.<een b.v Ambrase D. Gillespie. As a .vouug man 
Herman Gillespie was employed at the Indian 
Trading Post, at Upper Sandusky. Ohio, and in 
1854 came to Illinois, settling at Elliottstown. 
November 22. 1854. he married JIargaret Field, 
who was bom in Bracken County, Ky.. Decem- 
ber 4. 1823. and they remained in Bishop Town- 
ship, Effingham County. 111., until 1865. when 
they removed to Watson Township and settled on 
a tract of 120 acres. When he settled in Elliotts- 
town, Mr. Gillespie started to make brick, being 
one of the first men in the State to use the molds 
in which the slap sand-brick was made, the old 
method having been to roll the bricks in sand. 
When the call was made for 300.000 volunteers, 
in 1801, Mr. Gillespie enlisted in Company B, 
Thirt.v-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, and was mustered in at Camp Butler, 
near Springfield, being later ordered to Pilot 
Knob. Mo. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Mo., 
he was permanently disabled, and was finally dis- 
charged aud mustered out of the service in 1863. 
Herman Gillespie was one of the typical old fron- 
tiersmen. In 1823 he was employed by the Gov- 
ernment as guide and pilot to remove the Miami 
and Missionary Indians from their reservations 
near Fort Wa.vne, Ind., to Chicago, in those days 
a French trading post. Being quite familiar with 
the Indians and understanding their language. 



762 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



he made an excellent guide, and for this reason 
he had been chosen to take them to Fort Dear- 
born. His death occurred February 7, I'JOO, on 
his farm, when he reached the age of ninety 
years, his wife having passed away in ISSl. They 
had two children : a daughter who died in in- 
fancy, and Ambrose D. In politics Herman Gil- 
lespie was a Republican and held various town- 
^ip offices. He was a devout Christian and was 
much loved and highly esteemed because of his 
many noble traits of character. 

Ambrose D. Gillespie attended his first school 
in Elliottstown, and at the age of eleven years 
came to Watson Township with his father, fin- 
ishing his education in the latter place. He was 
marrietl, December 5, 1878, to Alice Loy, who 
was born in Watson Township, daughter of 
Thomas S. Loy. Five children were born of this 
union : Mary Catherine, wite of Otto White, a 
farmer of Watson Township ; Charles E. ; Homer 
M., on the farm with his father; Kenneth L., 
at home, and one child who died in infancy. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie 
settled on the home farm, to which he has added 
from time to time, through hard work and per- 
severance. For the past several years, in addi- 
tion to his farming operations, he has given con- 
siderable attention to raising cattle, and also 
has a dairy of twenty-five c-ows, thirteen of 
theni being of mixed breed. During the fifty- 
four years of his residence in Bishop and Wat- 
son Townships Mr. Gillespie has ever been a 
stanch supporter of any movement having as its 
objec-t the benefit of the community. He has 
seen many changes come to the county, Itetween 
the time when it was nothing unusual for him to 
take his gun and go on a hunting trip for wild 
game near his home to the jirescnt time, and he 
has done his share in causing these changes to 
appear. He has served in various local offices, 
including that of Town Clerk, and is a stanch 
Reimblican in politics. Since his fiftieth .vear 
he has been a faithful nieml)er of the Christian 
Church and has never shrunk from doing what 
he considered his Cliristian duty. His vote was 
cast for the Local Option Bill which swept sa- 
loons from so many Illinois towns and villages 
in 1908. Fraternally he is connected with the 
Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 321, and Modern Wood- 
men of America Camp No. 270.^. of Watson. He 
is Secretary of the Watson Telephone Company. 

GILMORE, John P. — By a long and honorable 
business career, a thoughtful interest in others 
and public-spirited efforts in behalf of his com- 
munity. .John P. Gilmore. familiarly spoken of 
as "Xic." has made himself one of the best- 
known and most popular men in West Township. 
He is one of the heaviest landowners of south- 
eastern West Township, owning ten forty-acre 
tracts in this township and one half of a sixty- 
acre tract just across the line in Fayette Coiraty. 
His farm is the old homestead on Section 27 of 
this township, where he was born October 14, 
1840. being a son of .Tames LeRoy and Cynthia 
(Seals^ Gilmore. .Tames L. Gilmore was born 



in Kentucky and his further history will be 
found elsewhere in this work. 

The homestead now owned by Pohn P. Oil- 
more was bought by his father after his arrival 
in Illinois, for $1.50 per acre. He also invested 
in other land at the same price, owning consid- 
erable property in Effingham County where his 
death finally occurred. Prominent as a Demo- 
crat, James L. Gilmore served as Supervisor of 
West Township for years, and as County and 
Circuit Clerk of Effingham County. He was one 
of the pioneers of his locality and too much 
credit cannot be given him for what he accom- 
plished. His children are very proud of his 
record and give much credit for their success to 
the training they received from him, as well as 
to the force of his example. 

John P. Gilmore was educated in the Gilmore 
school which was located on a portion of the 
home farm, and named after his father. He 
■worked on the farm from boyhood, and just be- 
fore his father's death, came into possession of 
the homestead. This property has been greatly 
increased in value by his intelligent operation 
of it, and he has every reason to be proud of his 
success. 

Mr. Gilmore was married in 1872 to Miss Jo- 
sephine Marion, of Lucas Township, Effingham 
County, and daughter of Andrew Marion, a 
native of Quebec, Canada. Mr. Marion moved 
from Quebec to New York State, where Mrs. 
Gilmore was bom, and still later to Lucas Town- 
ship, Effingham County. 111. Mr. and Mrs. Gil- 
more have had children as follows: Rose. Mrs. 
George Peeler of Oklahoma : Erastus of Edge- 
wood ; Nell. Mrs. Charles Donaldson of Alta- 
mont : Henry of Mason Township: Gertie. Mrs. 
Herbert Bradford of Mason Township : Emma, 
Mrs. ITarry Henry of Jacksonville, 111. ; Mar.v. .it 
home, and LeRoy, deceased. 

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Gilmore supports 
the candidates of his party, but does not seek 
public notice. He was reared in the faith of the 
Baptist Church, and gives liberally towards its 
support. He is a whole-souled, big-hearted 
man. generous to others, and always willing to 
assist in the advancement of his community. No 
movement for the betterment of the township 
which he approves fails to receive his sxipjiort. 
.and he has done much to bring about present 
prosperous conditions. It is to such men as he 
that the people of Effingham Countv are proud 
to point as representative of their business men 
and agriculturists. 

GILMORE, Sylvester F. — There are few attor- 
neys-at-law who stand higher in public esteem, 
who have done more to uphold the dignity of the 
law. then the astute Sylvester F. Gilmore. of 
Effingham. He was born in Putnam County. 
Ind.. .\ugust 17. 1S.'?7. a son of Thomas and 
Margaret fLeachl Gilmore. and grandson of 
William Gilmore. the latter of whom served in 
the Revolutionarj- War from Virginia, and was 
present at the surrender of Cornwallis. Thomas 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



763 



Gilmore. who also came from Virginia, served 
in the War of 1812. 

Judge Gilmore attended Hanover College, 
South Hanover, Ind., and graduated March 27, 
1860, from the law department of the Indiana 
De Pauw University. He was a member of the 
Seventy-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry for 
sixty day service, and was captured by the en- 
emy at Uniontown, Ky., September 1, 1802. 

In 1867 Judge Gilmore located in Effingham 
County, and from April, 1869, to December 1, 
1873, he served as Superintendent of Schools of 
the County. From December 1, 1882, he served 
as County Judge for twelve years, and was one 
of the best known and most able members of 
the Bench in this part of the State. During the 
many years he occupied this jiosition. Judge 
Gilmore was associated with many able jurists, 
and performed the duties of bis office with great 
efficiency. 

Judge Gilmore is a Mason, having attained to 
the Royal Arch Degree, is also a member of the 
G. A. R., and is enthusiastic in his support of 
the latter. The Presbyterian Church is his re- 
ligious home, and he has been one of the main 
factors in its growth and present prosperity. 

The first marriage of Judge Gilmore occurred 
April 11, 1860, to Julia A. Matkin, at Greencastle. 
Ind. His second marriage occurred November 
4, 1882, to Margaret Means, at Effingham. The 
following children have been born to him : Clar- 
ence H. : Mary E.. married L. M. Cornwell, and 
died January" 6, 1902; William and Thomas E. 
In i)oIitics .Judge Gilmore is a Democrat, and he 
has been active in the services of his party. He 
is one of the most prominent men of Effingham, 
and has taken a very important part in the his- 
tory of the coianty. He is well known both as a 
lawyer and jurist, and the distinguished honor 
that is paid him has been justly earned by his 
unfaltering devotion to duty. 

GILMORE, (Hon.) William, a leading capital- 
ist and prominent citizen of Effingham County, 
who has been identified with public affairs and 
closely associated at times with such men as 
General Logan, Senator Oullom, Xewton. Bate- 
man and Paul Seiby. is a native of Kentucky, but 
has been a resident of Effingham County for 
sixty-seven busy years. He was born in Morgan 
County, November 7, 1826, is a son of Jeremiah 
and Mary (Landsaw) Gilmore, and a grand- 
eon of William Gillmore, who was a native of 
Alabama. 

Jeremiah Gilmore accompanied his father 
from Alabama to Morgan County. Ky.. and there 
grew to manhood ; he was married in the latter 
State and remained there until about 1827-28. 
then moved to Graves County, where his father 
died, and about 18.32. Jeremiah Gilmore moved 
to the northwestern part of Marion Countj-. III., 
with an old team of horses and a primitive sort 
of wagon. Wlien the family first came to Illi- 
nois, there were Indians in that section, and 
William Gilmore remembers being so alarmed at 
their appearance that when their ugly features 



were seen he quickly crawled under the bed. 
In 1841 Jeremiah Gilmore moved to Fay- 
ette county and there he entered government 
land, and kept on ac-quiring more from the Gov- 
ernment and by purchase from other citizens, un- 
til at the time of his death he was the owner of 
about 600 acres. He died in 1865 and was sur- 
vived by his widow until 1872. To them were 
born fourteen children, thirteen of whom lived to 
maturity and the following .still survive: Julia 
Ann, residing in Effingham County, is the widow 
of Jac-ob Idleman ; Elizabeth, residing in Edge- 
wood, is the widow of John JIcKelvey ; Fran- 
cis M. and Judson live in Kansas; Jasper lives 
in Kentucky ; Mary is a widow and lives in Kan- 
sas ; Martha, wife of William Phillip.s, lives in 
Kansas; and William, who is the eldest of the 
family. 

William Gilmore was educated in the sub- 
scription schools of pioneer times and was his 
father's main helper on the farm. He was mar- 
ried in Ma.v, 1847. to Elizabeth Sealts, who was 
torn in Shelby County, 111., and died in 1854. 
After marriage he continued to live on the home 
farm until the following fall, when he came to 
West Township and entered land, building a log 
house 16 X 18, with lamcheon floor and stick and 
clay chimney, the picturesque and tj-pical dwell- 
ing of the pioneer. During this first year, Mr. 
Gilmore did not obtain one cent in money from 
his place, and when he was offered twenty-five 
cents in real money for driving a cow six milas, 
he readily accepted the offer. This illustrates 
how little money was in circulation at that time 
and how a man rich in land could be poor in 
pocket. During the following years he entered 
more land and by raising corn and fattening 
hogs saA-ed his first .$100 and paid for his first 
eighty acres at the rate of $1.25 per acre. In 
18.50 he entered 120 acres paying cash for eighty, 
and borrowing money at 25 per cent to pay for 
the other forty acres, in 1851, owning 200 acres. 
He made his home in the log cabin until 1862. in 
which year he built a new house on his land, 
which, at that time, was the best in West Town- 
ship. 

When the Illinois Central Railroad began 
building through this section. Mr. Gilmore ex- 
hibited his business acumen by taking the con- 
tract to furni.sh 1.50.000 ties for the road. At 
this time he had not more than .$10 in cash, but, 
in partnership with his brother .Tames, he so 
managed that the contract was filled on time, 
in less than a year, and from this he realized 
$4,700. His success in this transaction encour- 
aged him to continue in this line and for twen- 
ty-five years he followed contracting for South- 
em Illinois railroads. In addition to his varied 
outside interests he continued his farming op- 
erations which, as he kept on acquiring land, 
increased in volume and imjxirtance. He still 
owTis the first piece of land he purchased with 
so much effort and owns the patents for much of 
his other land. He has 2.800 acres in all. He 
continued to make his home on the farm imtil 
1888. when he left West Township and embarked 



764 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



lu the mercantile business in Edgewood, and has 
made his home in this village ever since. For 
the i)ast two years Mr. Gilmore has been con- 
stantly turning over more and more of his inter- 
ests to the management of his sou-in-lavi'. 
George I. Danks. 

It is not often that superior business qualities 
are found combined with a fitness for public life 
a.s in the case of Mr. Gilmore. He was the first 
man elected Supervisor of West Township, 
serving for three successive terms and then, on 
the Democratic ticket was elected three times 
Sheriff of Effingham County. He was twice 
elected a member of the Board of Equalization, 
serving eight years, and in 1874 was elected a 
member of the lower house of the State Legis- 
lature, during his term serving as a member of 
important committees. A man of public spirit, of 
wealth and influence, one whose business ac- 
quaintance covers a large part of the State, Mr, 
Gilmore, in the evening of life, is still a man 
of importance. He has numbered among his 
friends many of the illustrious men of Illinois. 

To the first marriage of Mr. Gilmore three 
children were born, two of whom died in in- 
fancy. One son. James Leroy. lives in Clay 
Count.v. 111. His second marriage was to Ann 
Seals, who died in 1888. His third marriage was 
to Xancy A. Turman and to this marriage one 
daughter was born. Maude B.. to whom every 
educational and social advantage was given. 
She is the wife o' George I. Danks. Mr^ Gil- 
more was reared in the Baptist faith and as 
long as a church of that order was maintained 
here he assisted in its support. For over fifty 
years he has been identified \\-ith the Masons 
and is a member of the lodge at Edgewood. 

GLADSON, John A. — Most intimately associated 
with the growth and character of any community 
are its business interests and the men who c-ou- 
trol them. They mold the life of its people, 
give direction to their efforts, and cr.vstallize 
the present and future possibilities of the local- 
ity into concrete form. The leading business 
men of a town are its greatest forces and bene- 
factors, who bring progress and prosperity, and 
to write of such is a pleasure, for the influence 
of their careers is ever helpful and cheering. 
Such a pian is .lohn A. Gladson, merchant and 
insurance agent, who was born in CarroUton. 
Carroll County, Ky., August 28, 1853, a son of 
Richard and Sarah (Scruggs) Gladson, he born 
in Fauquier County, Virginia. March 6. 1832. 

Losing his father when he was but a lad. Rich- 
ard Gladson went with an aunt to Kentucky, 
where be prew to manhood, and was married in 
Carroll County. His wife was born in Louis- 
ville, Ky.. and was brought by her parents to 
Carroll County. The marriage of these two 
took place about 1852. They lived on a farm un- 
til 18.59. when they went to Mason. 111., and 
lived a year. In 1802, return was made to Ken- 
tucky, where they lived until after the close of 
the war. Once more removal was made to Ma- 
son. Eflingham County, where the father rented 



land, and finally purchased a farm of 120 acres 
in Union Township. He farmed in this locality 
until 1004, when he retired, and now resides in 
Mason. His wife died April 23, 1895. Nine 
children were Ijoru to these parents, four of 
whom died in infancy. Of those living, John A. 
is the eldest, the re,st being: Lou, wife of J. L. 
Goddard of Mason ; Josephine Willis, of Etting- 
ham ; Allen, of the State of Washington ; Jesse 
E., of \'andalia, Mrs. Gladson died firm in the 
faith of the Baptist Church, of which she was 
a faithful member, \yhile her husband is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. While never de- 
siring public honors, he votes the Democratic 
ticket. Richard Gladson has always been highly 
regarded, and his life has been filled with good 
and honorable deeds. 

When he was eight years old. John A. Glad- 
son began his education in a school near JIason, 
and when the family returned to Kentucky he 
went to school there. When the family was per- 
manently located in Eflingham County, the lad 
worked on his father's farm, learning all about 
farming, and continued his studies as well, in 
this district. He remained at home until he at- 
tained his ma.iority, when, in 1ST4, he rented 
land, and began working on his own responsi- 
bility. So well did he succeed that he was able 
to buy 140 acres, from which he made a good 
farm, and lived on it until 1891. At this time he 
sold his farm and. bu.viug a stock of hardware, 
carried on that line of business very successfully 
until 1896. He then sold out his business and in 
the spring of 1898 he came to Edgewood and be- 
gan clerking in the general store of William 
Gillmore. with whom he remained until 1907, 
when, in company with H. R. Burton, he em- 
barked in a general store, under the firm name 
of H. R. Burton & Company, and the firm has 
built up a large business. Mr. Gladson is also 
the local agent for the American Insurance 
Company, and writes up a large amount of in- 
surance, not only in Edgewood. but throughout 
the surrounding country. 

On .\ugust 16. 1877. Mr. Gladson married Miss 
Eva Baker, torn in Petersburg, 111., March 2, 
1.857, daughter of Dr. Isaac and Elizabeth 
(Knowls) Baker, natives of Kentucky and In- 
diana, respectfully. Dr. Baker came to Mason. 
111., about 18.59. and for many .years was one of 
the leading druggists of that locality. Mr. and 
Jfrs. Gladson have the following family: Edith, 
wife of A. L. Abraham of Watson : Lulu, wife of 
J. B. Cherry: Catherine, wife of B. F. Wharton, 
a banker of Edgewood ; Guy A., and Edward 
Baker. The children have all been given a good 
education, and their parents have every reason 
to he proud of them. Mr. Gladson has always 
been a leader among his fellow men. and is ever 
ready to support public entei-prises he believes 
will work out for the betterment of his com- 
nnuiity. His efforts have not all been given to 
his business cares, for he has contributed freely 
of time and nionev towards the encouragement 
and maintenance of churches and schools. For 




SAMTKL P. RAMSEY 



EFFINGHAM COUXTY 



765 



some .years his daugliter Editb was a popular 
teacher of ilasou ami Edgewooci. Mr. Gladsou 
is a Mason, beiougiug to No. 484 Ro.vai Arcli 
Chapter. Kttiughaiii, and aiso belongs to 
the Modern Woodmen of America. The family 
belong to the Methodist Church. A strong Dem- 
ocrat, Mr. Gladson has been called upon to up- 
hold the principles of his party, has served four 
terms as Tax Collector, and is capable to dis- 
charge the duties of any public office to which 
he may be called. He is a man who stands high 
in his community, and is a very affable and 
pleasant gentleman, who. having once given his 
friendship, never recalls it. He has a fine fam- 
ily and his public as well as his private life is 
without a blemish. He is a good citizen, and an 
excellent business man. Such a man has the full 
confidence of his fellows, and is likely to be raised 
by them to high honors. 

GLOYD, Allen Perry.— Effingham County is emi- 
nently fitted for the raising of general farm 
products, stock or fruits. The progressive 
farmer of to-day has learned that he often- 
times secures better results by sijecializing, 
than if he continued along regular lines. 
One of the most successful farmers, dairy- 
men and fruit-growers of Summit Township, 
is Allen Perry Gloyd of Section 14. He was 
born in Allen County. Ind., April ft, 1S47. a son 
of Lorenzo D. and Elizabeth (Hildebrand) 
Gloyd, of English and French ancestry. Her 
parents had settled in Pennsylvania, where they 
died when Mrs. Gloyd was but a child, and she 
was reared by friends of her mother. They re- 
moved' to Licking County. Ohio, and there she 
met the man she afterwards married. He had 
come with his parents to that locality from 
Marjland. where he was Ixirn January 5, 1814, 
and educated in Baltimore County. The Gloyds 
were people of wealth, and William and Sarah 
(Schaggs) Gloyd. the parents of Lorenzo D. 
Glo.vd, were influential, and in the South owned 
slaves. Mrs. William Gloyd was a strong Ab- 
olitionist, and used her influence to induce her 
husband to embrace the principles advocated by 
the newly formed Republican party. He cast 
his first vote for John C. Fremont. 

Lorenzo Gloyd was married in Licking 
County, Ohio, Jiily 24. 1836. He was made War- 
den of the State Prison, and in 1S.S7 decided to 
leave Ohio. He went on horseback to Allen 
County. Ind., and bought government land, 
erected a log cabin, and clearing tsvo acres of 
heav.v timber, set out an orchard. In that little 
home" the following children were bom : C<:>lia, 
born July 20, 1867, died in Infancy; William, 
liorn April 20. 1840. died in May. 1001, in Terre 
Haute. Ind.. where he had been a merchant and 
commercial traveler for wholesale dry-goods 
houses : Sarah J., born October 21. 1841. married 
John E. Sullivan of Kansas, but is now de- 
ceased : Mattie E.. bom June 5. 184.S. second wife 
of John E. Sullivan : Elhridge G.. born .July 19. 
1844, came to Efiingham. became a merchant. 



H eut to I el re Haute, Ind., where he became a 
commercial traveler tor a dry -goods' house, ana 
died there September 25, 1889, his widow dy- 
ing iu 1895, leaving two children, — Walter D. 
aud Gertrude; Walter D., born December 22, 
1885, Is now on the homestead ; Allen P. ; An- 
drew J., born May 1, 1849, Is a carpenter for 
the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, with 
residence at St. Elmo, 111. ; Maggie M., twin sis- 
ter of Andrew J., wife of Ernest Feckler, a 
merchant of Kansas; Minnie A., born May 20, 
1851. is wite of Rev. J. E. Ripetre, a Methodist 
minister of Nebraska. 

On October 6, 1SG6, the family came to Eng- 
ham and located on the George W. Wright farm, 
and here on February 6, 1867, the mother died, at 
the age of fifty-four years. In 1880 Lorenzo 
Gloyd married Mrs. Melcenq, Johnson, and they 
resided on the farm. Mr. Gloyd was a man of 
energy who gave liberally to all religious and 
educational enterprises, believing that both did 
much to advance a community. His own re- 
ligious affiliations were with the Methodist 
Church. No one man did more to advance the 
Republican party in Effingham County than be, 
aud when he died his loss was deeply felt. 

Mr. Allen Perry Gloyd was educated in Allen 
County, Ind.. where bis boyhood daj-s were filled 
with exciting incidents relative to the war. His 
father's house was a station of the Underground 
Railroad, aud he remembers many a slave who 
was helped to escape. Coming to Effingham 
County with his parents, Mr. Gloyd remained 
on the farm until bis marriage. September 11, 
1877. he was married to Miss Mattie Hicks, 
daughter of Daniel and Leah (Frost) Hicks. 
She was born in Clinton County, Ind., April 30, 
1856. Her father was born January 8, 1817, and 
his wife was born ilarch 2, 1813. They were 
married Febmary 23, 1838, in Pennsylvania. 
Her death occurred February 6, 1866, and her 
husband sunived until July 23, 1S8S. They had 
eight children : Elizabeth, born November 24, 
1838, married Hiram Ghere and they live retired 
at Areola. 111. ; Ellen, born September 4, 1840, 
married William Pine, who died and she lives 
at Frankfort, Ind. ; JIargaret, born November 1, 
1841, married Alexander B. Sosbe, who died and 
she resides in Effingham ; Sarah M.. born June 
2. 1845. married Jesse McKinze.v, and they live 
at Denver. Colo. : John A., born November 27, 
1847. lives in Effingham ; Laura M., born De- 
cember 30, 1849. married Samuel Spalding; 
William H.. born November 19, 1852, married 
Maggie Ballard: Mattie May. Mrs. Gloyd. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd located 
on his farm on Section 14, Summit Township. 
Pie bad liought twenty acres on which was a log 
cabin, and this was their first home. Tliere was 
a .straw-covered shed for their stock. To them 
were born on this farm : Maggie Garfield, born 
November 19, ISSO. married November 21, 1900, 
Edgar Dennis, a farmer of Smnmit Township ; 
Anna Frost, liom March 2."). 1885. wife of John 
D. Means, married November 2, 1904, and has 



766 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



one child, — Margaret, born August 4, 1905 ; 
Glenn S., boru October 5, 1SSL>, at home, married 
Idesa Bock on July 29, IIXIS, and they have one 
child, — Ki chard. 

Mr. Gloyd now has 100 acres in one tract, ten 
acres of which is in orchard. He has 600 fruit 
trees, which are bearing heavily. Although he 
Is now prosperous, he can look back over many 
years of hard work and strict economy. There 
was a time when he paid as high as ten per cent 
interest. During the panic of 189G, he had a hard 
time getting along, but has overcome his dlfflcul- 
ties. It is his nature to be optimistic, and when 
his wife became discouraged, he would cheer 
lier up. and she would raise more chickens and 
bend all her energies to help along. He has a 
good herd of cattle, his orchard is a fine one, 
and his tields yield large crops, the result of 
hard work and good management. 

Mr. Gloyd has been one of the most energetic 
Republicans of his neighborhood, and for many 
years was County Central Committeeman for 
Summit Township. He and his family belong to 
the Van Tresse Chapel of the Methodist Church, 
in which he is a Deacon, and his wife belongs to 
the Ladies' Aid Society. The Gloyds are most 
excellent people in every way. and their home Is 
a delightful one which their friends enjoy visit- 
ing, for both Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd are the souls 
of hosiiitality, and welcome warmly all who en- 
ter their door. 

GLOYD, George D. — Many intelligent men of 
Illinois are taking a very active part in the Pro- 
hibition movement, believing that in it will be 
found the solution of many problems of the pres- 
ent day. Among those who have devoted much 
time and thought to the matter is George D. 
Gloyd, a farmer of Section 11, Summit Town- 
ship, who was born in Allen County, lud., De- 
cember 18, 1844. a son of Lorenzo D. Gloyd, a 
sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this 
work. 

The boyhood days of George D. Gloyd were 
spent in his native county, and he attended school 
and worked on the farm. Under his father's in- 
struction he soon learned to do a mar's part in 
the work on the farm, and thus became a prac- 
tical farmer himself. In 18t)G, when twenty-two 
he came to Summit Township. Effingham County. 
111., with his fatlicr's family, and bought 240 
acres of land. coin|irising a partly improved 
farm. In 1867 a house was finished. In the year 
1808 2,100 bushels of wheat were harvested from 
110 acres of the land : the grain was cut with the 
old fashioned Buckeye machine, and seven men 
were re<iuired to keoj) up with the machine. They 
also harvested 1,800 bushels of oats during that 
year. The threshing was done with an old 
horse power machine, and it took seven days to 
complete the job. Many have biwi the changes 
since those d.ays. new machinery taking the place 
of the primitive sort then in use. Combined with 
these advantages, are the rural free delivery of 
mail each day, the telephone service, the elec- 



tric street tar, and many others, of whicih Mr 
Gloyd did not dream when he located in the coun- 
ty. The old orchard which was on the farm 
when the Gloyds located there has all died out 
out a new one takes its place. There is one pear 
tree on the place that each year has produced 
a crop. In 1909, however, but one pear grew 
on the tree, so doubtless its days of usefulness 
are over. 

On February 3, 1877, Mr. Gloyd married Josie 
Surrells, born in Clay County, 111., January 30 
18.07, a daughter of Jes.se and Mahala (Alex- 
ander) Surrells. Mr. Surrells was a native of 
■\'irglnia. His wife died when Mrs. Gloyd was 
but a child, in 1860, so very little is definitely 
known about her, but it is thought she was borii 
in Tennessee. The family located in Effingham 
County about 18.59, and Mr. Surrells became very 
prominent in the eommmjity. filled several pub- 
lic offices of trust, and at the time of his death, 
in January, 1879, he was County Treasurer, hav- 
ing been elected on the Democratic ticket. While 
in Clay County he was elected Sheriff of that 
county on the same ticket, and was always a 
strong Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd became 
parents of two children : Georgetta. married 
Charles E. Thompson, a farmer of Marion 
County, 111., and they have five children, — Paul 
E.. Lionel Gloyd, Emma E., Terry and Thelma 
•M. ; and John Emery S., at home, working the 
farm with his father. Mr. and Mi"s. Gloyd have 
given their children a good education, an<l taught 
them to be useful in the world. For niany years 
they have been veiy active in the Missionary 
Baptist Church of Blue Point, Summit Town- 
ship. Feeling that he is right, Mr. Gloyd never 
hesitates to express his opinions, and especially 
with regard to temperance. ^\Tien the great re- 
form wave of 1908 swept Illinois, he took an ac- 
tive part in the good work. He is a Trustee of 
his church, and devoted to it. although he was 
reared a Methodist. However, as the Metho- 
dists had no church near his home, he and his 
wife affiliated with the Missionary Baptists, 
and now would not feel at home elsewhere. The 
Gloyd home is a truly Christian one, and the 
children have been carefulW reared according to 
religious faith. Wliile Mr. Gloyd sympathizes 
with the Republican party, he votes against the 
liquor traffic and uses his influence in favor of 
Prohibition. His life has been a busy one and 
he has accomplished much, his farm being one 
of the best in the township, his home comfort- 
able and his barns commodious. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gloyd have many friends throughout the coun- 
try, and are most highly esteemed. 

GOLDSTEIN, Henry. — Summit Township is the 
home of .some of the best farmers of Effingham 
County, whose efforts have ever been directed 
towards the development of their community and 
the betterment of existing conditions. Henry 
Goldstein, on Section 25 and who was l)om in 
Douglas Township October 19. 1864, a .son of Jo- 
seph Goldstein, belongs to this class. The farm 




MRS. SAMl'EL P. RAMSEY 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



767 



on which he was born is located on Section 17, 
and is now the property of Barney Goldstein. 
Joseph Goldstein was a native of Germany, as 
was his wife Katherine Lanlrhoeler, but he 
came to America with his parents, who located 
in St. Olair County, 111., while she was bi-ought 
over by some relatives, her parents having died 
when she was a child. These relatives also set- 
tled in St. Olair County, 111., and there the 
young people met and were married about 1S52. 

In 1S5S they came to Effingham County, where 
he bought 80 acres on Section 17, Douglas Town- 
ship, and built a small log cabin. The land was 
so swampy that it seemed as though it would 
be impossible to raise anything but duclis, but 
he persisted and developed a flue ijroperty. To 
his original purcha.se he added ten acres of tim- 
ber land, fenced all of his land and put up good 
buildings, becoming one of the successful men of 
his day. Mr. Ck)ldsteiu bought other land, even- 
tually owning 300 acres of land, all of which he 
brought into a high state of cultivation. His 
death occurred September 30, 1890, and he was 
laid to rest in the Catholic Cemetery north of 
Effingham. His widow survived him until 1907, 
when her death occurred, and she now lies by 
his side. They were both members of St. An- 
thony's Catholic Church of Effingham. Five 
children were born to them : a daughter who 
died in Infancy ; Barney ; Joseph, of Memphis, 
Tenn. ; Anna (now deceased), married Frank 
Hoffmann, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere 
in this work ; and Henry. Joseph Goldstein was a 
Democrat, but was not active in politics, al- 
though ever ready to do his part in public af- 
fairs. 

Henry Goldstein was educated at St. An- 
thony's College, Effingham, until he was four- 
teen, when he began the duties awaiting him on 
the farm, and remained at home until he was 
twenty-five. On May 7, 1889, he married Miss 
Theresa Schuette, who was born in Summit 
Township, daughter of Henry Schuette, who with 
his wife is now deceased. After marriage Mr. 
Goldstein and his wife located on their farm in 
Sunmiit Township, and began at once to rebuild 
their house and make other improvements. The 
farm originally con.^isted of sixty acres, but he 
has added to it until he now owns 100 acres. 
For the past ten years Mr. Goldstein has been 
interesting himself in the dairy business, and 
milks twenty-seven c-ows of the Holstein breed, 
which he believes is the best for dairy purposes. 
He has a flue regi-stered bull at the head of the 
herd, that is extremely valuable. Some of his 
oows have made records not only for the quan- 
tity, but the quality of their milk, and he is well 
satisfied with results. 

In iwlities Mr. Goldstein is a Democrat, and 
ha.s served ably as Highwa.v Commissioner. In 
1909 he was elected Secretary of the Effingham 
County Dairymen Association. The family all 
belong to St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Ef- 
fingham. The children bom to Mr. and Mrs. 
Goldstein are: John J.. Elizabeth Frances and 
Helena, all at home. Mr. Gk>ldstein is one of 



the most progressive of farmers and an e.\cellent 
business man. He holds the confidence and es- 
teem of his neighbors, and takes a pride in what 
be has acc-omplished. He belongs to the C. K. of 
Illinois. 

GOODELL, Frank Wise, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, Effingham, 111., was born in Marshall, 
Clark County, 111., March 1, 1859, a son of William 
S. and Catherine (Herrick) Goodell, his father 
becoming a leading physician of Central and 
Southern Illinois. The father was descended 
from Uoberte Goodelle, who came to America and 
settled in Salem, iVIass., in 1034. Dr. William 
S. Goodell was distinguished in his day as a 
man of letters, a widely informed scientist, jour- 
nalist and orator, while his wife, and mother 
of the subject of this sketch, was a lady of 
finely balanced domestic, scientific and literary 
tastes, and high Christian character. The for- 
mer died in 1877, aged sixty-five years and the 
latter in 1908 aged eighty -six years. (A more 
extended sketch of Dr. William S. Goodell will 
be found in a following section of this chapter.) 

In ISGl, when Frank W. was two years old. 
Dr. William S. Goodell removed with his family 
to Ann Arbor, Mich., but after remaining there 
three years, in 1804 returned to Marshall, 111., 
soon thereafter removing to Jasper County and, 
in 1867, to what is now the City of Effingham. 
Here Frank W. attended the German 
Catholic School (then Rev. Bissell's sub- 
scription school) for the purix)se of learning the 
German language. He later attended the pub- 
lic schools, and at borne received instruction in 
anatomy, chemistry, physiology, history and 
biograph.v. In 1877 he attended medical lectures 
at the Louisville (Ky.) Medical College, where, 
according to a city paper, he was the youngest 
and most popular student that ever attended the 
institution. Returning home in 1878, he soon 
had a large practice, under the care and assist- 
ance of his brother, Dr. William L. Goodell. 
Being only nineteen years of age at the time of 
beginning his practice, he was known for some 
years as the "lK>y doctor." In the spring of 
1880 he graduated from the medical department 
of Butler University, Indianajiolis, Ind.. just be- 
fore attaining his majority, and stood fifth in a 
large and unusually well-informed class. He 
was offered a position in the Indianaijolis City 
Hospital, and another in the State Insane Asy- 
lum, and was also invited by several prominent 
citizens of a small town near Indianapolis to be- 
gin practicing in their town. Refusing these 
flattering offers, he returned to Effingham, where 
he and his brother had agreed to occupy an of- 
fice together. They were to work for each oth- 
er's interests but were not to be partners pecun- 
iarily. This brother had educated him and 
helped him secure a foothold in his chosen work. 
This contract, which was entered into thirty-two 
years ago, has never been violated nor altered. 
The younger brother soon became a favorite in 
the community and stood high in his profession. 
His opinion and judgment were often sought by 



768 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



otber physicians who had not his intellectual 
qualities, or had not enjoyed such ample advan- 
tages for securing their education. He was a 
fine athlete, being straight as an arrow, gifted 
with abilitj- and fluency in speech, had a good 
voice and wrote a good hand, was able to nialie 
good sketches to illustrate his points, and was 
well equipped for his profession, as well as for 
the vocation of journalist, lecturer or scientist 
He is a fine singer and can sing tenor or bass 
with equal ease. 

Dr. Goodell has always enjoyed a very large 
practice from the first, and has frequently been 
called into court to give exijert opinions iu cases 
that hinged on medical knowledge. In these 
trying circumstances he has never grown con- 
fused or hesitated under the most exacting 
cross-examination. During thirty-one years he 
has never lost a ease nf childbirth, except that 
of one woman who died from hemorrhage of the 
brain, has never set a bone crooked or left a 
badly deformed joint, and has lost but three 
cases of tjiihoid fever. We copy the following 
from the pen of the late Henry Clay Bradsby : 
"In concluding these few lines to the medical 
profession, we refer to the shooting and re- 
markable recover?' of George Halliday. He was 
a barber in Eflingham, was well-known, and was 
shot early in the year 1S82, with a thirty-two 
caliber cartridge pistol. He was attended by 
Dr. Frank Goodell, who worked with him faith- 
fully, notwithstanding that older physicians pro- 
nounced his case hoiieless and his wound mor- 
tal : but after six months' faithful and patient 
care, he was dismissed on the .3rd of July, 
1882. — cured. No one believed it iKissible for 
Halliday to recover, not even the physicians; 
and for hours after the wound was inflicted they 
pronounced him dead. But, andd all discour- 
agements. Dr. Frank Goodell persevered, and 
enjoys the satisfaction of knowing that his ef- 
forts were crowned with success. The case of 
Halliday was pronounced by competent judges 
to be more serious than that of President Gar- 
field." 

Dr. Goodell has traveled extensively in his 
own country, his tours having extended from 
New York to San Francisco and from North Da- 
kota to New Orleans, from Louisville to Puget 
Sound and from Ijoa Angeles to St. Paul. His 
last tour la.sted six months and tlie trip took in 
every State and Territory in the Union ; he 
touched Canada, visited Havana. Cuba, and trav- 
eled four thousand miles in old Mexico. He 
made the trip for educational advantages as well 
as to see the country, in the meantime visiting 
hospitals, sanitariums, medical colleges and dis- 
tinguished surgeons. 

Since first engaging in practice, even before 
graduating from his medical course in Indian- 
apolis, Dr. Goodell has been writing articles of 
interest to his profession, and he has also writ- 
ten several poems that have been copyrighted, 
among which are: "The Old Rail Fence," 'Tears 
and Frowns." "The Old Clothes Line,'" "The 
Riches of Poverty," and "The Burden of the 



Blonde," the last being pronounced by many 
competent judges the finest lX)em ever written of 
a religio-Christian-missionary description. Each 
one of the poems mentioned above require about 
one hour for reading and are of about the i-ight 
length tor an evening's entertainment. 

"Dr. Frank," as he is familiarly called by his 
intimates, was apiwiuted special lecturer on Anat- 
omy in the College of Physicians and Surgeons 
of St. Louis, iMo., ten years ago, and is still lec- 
turing iu that institution, which is considered 
the best medical institution west of the Mis- 
sissippi River and second to none. We copy 
from a printed letter of (now) Dr. Calhoun the 
following: "Among the luxuries of the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, of St. Louis, are the 
lectures of Dr. Frank W. Goodell on anatomy. 
Many a student, years from now, will remember 
them, and consider it one of the pleasant events 
of his life to have listened to the eloquent and 
learned addresses delivered by the doctor, who 
is called the 'luxury of the P. & S.' " 

Dr. Goodell plays the piano and the cornet 
and is considered one of the finest performers on 
the guitar in the United States, and though he 
plays entirely by ear, he has comiwsed severa) 
pieces of music for each of these instruments. 

Dr. Goodell has been highly esteemed by his 
fellow-physicians, among whom he has been a 
leader since entering the profession. He was the 
first doctor to say consumption would attack any 
organ of the human body (now a demonstrated 
fact), and originated the (now so common) 
name, "grip-pneumonia." He was candidate for 
the presidency of the Effingham County Medical 
Society in 1908, against Dr. J. B. Walker; but, 
after the vote had been canva.ssed three times 
as a tie, he lost by the result of a friendly "toss- 
up" of a silver dollar. In 1904 he attended the 
meeting of the American Medical Association, at 
Atlantic City, N. J., the following year attended 
the meeting of the same Association in Portland, 
Ore., and also attended meetings of the National 
As.sociation of Medical Pension Examiners of 
Chicago and New Jersey, and read a paper on 
"Soldiers' Rheumati.sm." He has attended meet- 
ings of the State Medical Society for years, 
and in 1900 was a delegate to the meeting. In 
1904 he served as delegate from the College of 
Ph.vsieians and Surgeons, of St. I^ouis, to the Con- 
vention of American Medical Colleges. He re- 
ceived personal letters from Drs. Nicholas Senn. 
J. B. Murphy, Hunter, Gu.ver and many others, 
praising his compact little book on anatomy. 

Dr. Goodell has held, or is now holding, the fol- 
lowing posts of honor and trust : County Cor- 
oner. City Health Officer, local railroad surgeon, 
honorar.v Vice President and President of the 
Alumni of the College of Phy.sicians and Sur- 
geons of St. Louis ; President of Sydenham Med- 
ical Society, member of the Illinois State Medi- 
cal Societ.v, of tlie American Medical Associa- 
tion, National Association United States Exam- 
ining Surgeons, Medical Association of College 
of Physicians and Surgeons. St. Ix)uiR: member 
of the Pure Food IjCglslative Committee, the 




WILLIAM RAMSEY 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



769 



Southeastern Illinois Medical Association and 
the EtBugham County Medical Society (of which 
he is Secretary), Supreme Medical Examiner for 
the Modem American Fraternal Society, mem- 
ber of the Interstate Medical Society ; 
Local Board of State Charities, auxiliary 
to the State Board of Health ; Illinois 
Children's Home and Aid Society ; County Phy- 
sician to St. Anthony's Hospital. Poor Farm and 
Jail ; member of the National Board of Regents, 
American Alumni Association of the University 
of Indiana, Association for the Advancement of 
National Health of the Roc-hester (Miun.) Sur- 
geons' Club, and of the EtHngham Physicians 
And Deutists' Club ; Special Lecturer on Anatomy 
in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. 
Louis, and examiner for thirteen life insurance 
companies. Other imjxvrtant oflicial positions 
held b.v Dr. Goodell include that of Government 
Examining Surgeon for the Pension Board, first 
by apiMintment of President Cleveland, and later 
by appointment of President Roosevelt, now 
serving as President of the Board; also served 
as Coroner of Effingham County for six years 
and as Alderman of the First Ward City of 
Eflingham. 

In creed Dr. Goodell is a Presbyterian, in 
politics a Democrat, fraternally a Master Mason 
and a Royal Arch Mason, and professionall.v has 
a practice second to that of no other physician 
and surgeon in Southern Illinois. He became a 
Master Mason in 1902 and a Royal Arch Mason 
in IflOT. and in the former branch of the order 
has held the rank of J. W.. J. D., and Sr. D., 
and at the meeting of the Grand Lodge held in 
Chicago in 1906. introduced the resolution "To 
make the secret wording of Free Masonr.v con- 
form exactly with an established and adopted 
standard." He has a fine physique, fixed habits 
and good morals, and is fortunate financially, 
so that he is able to live in great comfort in 
the old Goodell home, a twelve room brick 
house, where he lives alone and has 
a stable of fine horses. All who know him be- 
come his friends, and he is considered very fortu- 
nate in every way. 

GOODELL, William Lott, M. D,, one of the 

oldest and most successful physicians of Effing- 
ham. 111., was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 
1S40. When twelve years of age he went with 
his parents to Marshall, Clark County. 111., 
where he attended the public school and entered 
Marshall College, which institution gave to the 
medical, legal and ministerial professions man.v 
distinguished men. We quote the remainder of 
this sketch from the pen of his brother, Frank 
W. Goodell. M. D.. his partner in practice: 

"During leisure hours and vacations he as- 
sistp<l his father. Dr. William S. Goodell. in his 
printing office, which Dr. Goodell conducted in 
connection with his practice, and the young man 
became proficient in type-setting, reading proof 
and setting up forms. He then went with his 
parents to Ann Arbor. Mich., where he pursued 
his studies three consecutive years in the medi- 



cal depai'tment of the University of Michigan, 
matriculating with his father. He then accom- 
panied his parents to Jasper County, 111., where 
his father went for the purpose of studying 'milk 
sickness' and malaria — what would now be 
called 'research work.' 

"The young man then went to Marshall, 111., 
and 'rode' with Dr. Williams, living at his house 
and riding with him day and night as he visited 
his patients. That was the best 'post-graduate' 
course ever given on the face of the earth, 
though now abandoned. He then formed a medi- 
cal co-partnership with Dr. Garner, of Salisbury, 
111., and in June, 1867, came to Effingham and 
opened an office for practice in partnership with 
his father. Dr. William S. Goodell. He an- 
nounced he would practice medicine and surgery 
and arranged to give a course of medical lec- 
tures. He has continued from the da.v of his 
arrival until now. in a c-ontinuous. arduous day- 
and-night, 'all round' practice of his profession. 
His physique has never changed ; he is six feet 
three Inches tall and weighs one hundred forty- 
four pounds, has a fine nervous s.vstem and a 
heavy heart, and has not a superfluous pound of 
flesh on his body. He is a great worker and did 
more actual labor in riding long distances, going 
without sleep, and visiting numbers of cases, 
than possibly any other man in the good State of 
Illinois could have done, and only a sacred few 
would have done if they could. He took an ac- 
tive part in bringing about higher education in 
medicine, and doctors were examined in his 
oflice for their fitness to practice medicine, after 
the first 'medical laws' were passed. In those 
days doctors rode on horseback in their practice, 
and a 'topped buggy' was as much a curiosity as 
a 'red devil' automobile was a few years ago. His 
cases were frequently twenty miles distant and 
not infrequently further, and were visited just as 
the twent.v-four hours in the da.v. human power 
and horseflesh would allow. Land was then 
cheap, and. while nobody was rich as we now 
have riches, almost everybody had some money, 
and, if anyone really wanted it. it could be ob- 
tained, for the small amount existing was in 
circulation and few made an effort to accumu- 
late it : but it was a day of opportunities, gone 
to return no more. Farms were frequently sold 
for five dollars an acre, but there was no demand 
and the .subject of our sketch practiced medi- 
cine, he said, as a profession and not for a busi- 
ness, but accumulated a wealth of love among 
his patients and the poor that is richer than 
houses and lands. He owned fine horses and 
carriages, a fine home, lived well and had a 
little surplus. I have known him to 'book' by 
riding to see cases at fifty cents a mile, and a 
dollar and a half the first mile, and sixt.v dol- 
lars a day for sixty days, and collect just enough 
to keep comfortably going, and yet if he wished 
to attend a medical meeting he could go out and 
collect fifty dollars almost any day. Exposures 
only seemed to add to his health and make him 
stronger to withstand more exposure. But con- 
ditions have changed ; patients pa.v better than 



770 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



they once did ; land is 'scarce' and higli ; the 
roads have been improved ; the bad hills have 
been levelled and the low places filled in, and 
creeks and rivers are crossed by safe and fre- 
quent bridges ; the malaria and milk sickness 
have passed away, with the pioneers and the 
beloved in the past tense. The practice of medi- 
cine is not now, and never will be, what it was 
in an early day. 

"Dr. Cioodell joined the Esculapian Society of 
the Wabash Valley and organized the first medi- 
cal society in the county, naming it the Inter- 
state Medical Society, and it was well attended 
for some time, holding two sessions at Altamout, 
the others in Effingham. lie joined the Illinois 
State Medical Society and was once a delegate 
from that organization to the American Medical 
Association. He has performed many difficult 
surgical operations and practiced considerable 
in the way of instrumental obstetrics, and his 
counsel has been sought many times during the 
forty-tAvo years of his practice, by many physi- 
cians and surgeons. He had control of St. An- 
thony's Hospital and gave it the impetus in its 
infancy that put it on its feet. He used to keep 
eight horses, one of which, at least, was a 'sad- 
dler.' He now has a team of round, fat, pretty 
ponies, which he keeps on a little trot as many 
hours as they can keep it up, and at the age of 
sixty-three, he is in fine health, with all his char- 
acteristics and ambitions, working day and 
night, and living the ideal life of a real doctor. 
He was the first Secretary of the Effingham 
County Medical Society. He was offered the 
position of local surgeon on the Illinois Central 
and Vandalia Railroads, but declined, as he 
thought being hired by a company was too near a 
business to be professional. 

"Dr. Goodell was never known to refuse giving 
diagnoses and medicine to a person because he 
was poor, nor fail to donate to a worthy cause. 
He is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and the Encampment, al.so of the 
Knights Militant. He was an active member of 
the famous 'Knights of Cuba".' a serio-comic ridi- 
cule and paraphrase on secret societies and par- 
ticular conditions of the times. It was entirely 
charitable in object, and all money not economic- 
ally spent was given to the poor. When finally 
abandoned, the members dug a well on Banker 
and Jefferson Streets and donated it to the City 
of Effingham, to be forever known as the Cuba 
Well. Dr. Goo<lell has been twice and is now 
City Health Officer, served one term as City 
Clerk and was twice elected County Coroner. 
He is a member of the Red Men and belongs to 
the Presbyterian Church. Take him in all his 
parts — mentally, charitably, physically and pro- 
fessionally — he is the most remarkable man, 
probably, in Illinois. He still works as hard 
physically as he does mentally and profession- 
ally, and his place, once vacant, will never be 
filled." 

GOODELL, William Sherman, M. D., was bom 

in Weathersfield, Windsor County. Vt., in 1813. 



We quote the following from the pen of his son, 
Frank Wise Goodell, M. D., of Effingham, 111.: 
"He was educated in his home school, at home 
and by private tutorage a'ud although I have no 
knowledge of his preparatory and collegiate 
education, he was most thoroughly, elegantly, in- 
clusively and masterfully equipped in science, 
music, literature, history, and similar subjects 
of higher education, was conversant with Greek 
and Latin, was master of oratory and rhetoric, 
and, in his common conversation, was absolutely 
correct and characteristically eloquent, the only 
misfortune being that he was frequently mis- 
understood by the laity. He wrote a grammar 
and compiled an arithmetic, the manuscripts for 
which disappeared and were never published. He 
came to Indiana to practice medicine and sur- 
gery, and meeting Catherine, the beautiful six- 
teen-year-old daughter of Judge Lott Herrick, 
who lived on a farm near Newville, they were 
shortly afterward married. After practicing 
there one year, he went to Green Spring, Ohio, 
and was engaged in practice there three years, 
and later at various points in that State, in 
Indiana. Michigan and Illinois, finally coming 
to Effingham. 111., in 1867. He practiced his 
profession successfully at all these places, and 
while living in Marshall. 111., purchased two 
printing presses and established the 'Marshall 
Journal.' also edited a newspaper at Martins- 
ville, Clark County, 111. These papers were ed- 
ited rather for the good they might do than for 
financial gain. While living in Midway he 
owned a farm in the rich woods, now worth 
.$75,000. and a general store in the town that 
was valued at .$10,000, besides a large flock of 
sheep, some of which cost $2.5 apiece. 

"While living in Ann Arbor, Mich.. Dr. Good- 
ell practiced his profession and attended lec- 
tures in the Medical Department of the State 
Universit.v, where he was considered the equal 
of the combined faculty, knowing more of anat- 
omy than the anatomist, more of chemistry than 
the chemist, and so on. He lectured in that city 
on medicine, jwlitics and on various scientific 
subjects. He corresponded with Gov. Wise, of 
Virginia (for whom he named his youngest 
child), with Moses Gunn, the great surgeon and 
lecturer ; Agassiz, the greatest comparative an- 
atomist the world has ever known, and many 
other learned men. Four times he met Abra- 
ham Lincoln in joint debate. He was a splen- 
did parliamentarian, and was considered by 
capable authorities to be the best 'all-round' 
man in a p<5litical convention in the State of Illi- 
nois. He was tendered nominations to Congress 
and to the Legislature, but always declined the 
honor. Instead, he sent James C. Robinson to 
Congress and Judge John Schol field to the Su- 
preme Bench, and looked out for Judges James 
O. Allen, Samuel Marshall, and several others. 
He wrote the statute law on 'Waterways in Illi- 
nois.' besides several others. He wrote 
'.speeches' that made other men a reputation, 
composed theses for medical students and com- 
posed lectures for public men. He also wrote 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



771 



articles for newspapers, solved difficult questions 
in arithmetic, algebra, geometry aud differential 
calculi, settled differences in gi-amuiar aud rhet- 
oric, and was proficient as a Master Masou. 

"In the spring of ISOT Dr. Goodell began to 
practice his protessiou in Effingham, taking his 
sou, William L., into partnership. He built two 
substantial houses iu the northern part of the 
city, one of which has never passed from the 
bauds of the family. His practice extended over 
several counties, he was a fine surgeon, an accu- 
rate prescriber, and a magnificent all-round 
doctor. 

"He took a considerable sum of money and 
started to Texas to invest it, leaving his son 
to look after the practice, property and family. 
He invested in cattle and practiced his profes- 
sion, aud accumulated $75,000. While making 
arrangements to retire and live at ease in Effing- 
ham for the remainder of his life, he developed 
pneumonia, the result of visiting a sick Indian 
chief and being caught in a severe rainstorm, 
as a consequence of which he died after a sick- 
ness of five days. His money was then stolen 
from a box under the floor where it was kept, 
and droves of his fine cattle and horses were 
driven into the Indian Nation and distributed 
along the Rio Grande. Prominent citizens as- 
sisted in the theft, and nothing from bis estate 
was recovered ; the family for whom it had been 
accumulated realized nothing. So termiuated 
the life of William Sherman Goodell, one among 
the highest learned men in America. He was an 
orator, a splendid equestrian, expert swimmer, a 
polite gentleman, gifted with rare intuition, a 
Christian, a Democrat and a Master ilason. He 
was an accomplished musician, a flrie singer, and 
able to take any part by ear or note, being a 
'sight reader.' and was also a comiwser of music 
and song. His body rests near Bonham, Fan- 
nin County, Tex., where he sleeps the long 
sleep." 

GRAVENHORST, Albert.— Germany has given 
to America some of its best and most intellec- 
tual citizens. From the Fatherland lias come 
much that is great and good, and although our 
German-Americans cherish in their hearts a ten- 
der love for their fatherland, tbe.v have ever 
proven themselves among our best and most loyal 
patriots, and encourage iu their offspring the 
same devotion to their adopted land. Albert 
Gravenhorst, of Effingham, 111., is one of the best 
representatives of this cla.ss to be found In the 
country. He was born in Neuhaus, Province of 
Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia. German.v. March 
8. 1839, a son of Theodore and Louise (Oelkers) 
Gravenhorst, the former born in Wustrow, Prus- 
sian Germany, and the latter in Verden. Prussian 
German.v. Theodore Gravenhorst was a lawyer, 
and furnished his son a good education. 

When he was nineteen years old (in 1858) 
Ml'ei-t (Jravenhorst came to America and for 
two years lived In Chicago, but in 1860 located in 
Effingham, which has been his home ever since. 



His service in the Civil War was very valuable, 
and he proved himself a loyal American in Com- 
pany F, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana 
Volunteed Infantry, under General Thomas. In 
1S78 Mr. Gravenhorst established the '■Effingham 
Yolksblatt," and is the senior member of the 
firm of A. Gravenhorst & Son. In addition he is 
Presideut of the Wildi-Eddy Lumber Company ; 
President of the Washington Loan aud Building 
Company; President of the Efimgham County 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, aud Vice Presi- 
deut of the John Boos & Co. Meat Block Factory, 
President Old Settlers' Association, bringing to 
all these concerns the ripe experience of his 
years, the clear insight into business methods, 
and the conservative policies which have resulted 
iu his attaining success in every enterprise with 
which he has associated himself. 

Mr. Gravenhorst has been very prominent in 
the Democratic party : for six years was a mem- 
ber of the City Council and for three terms was 
Chief of the Fire Department of Effingham. In 
church affiliations he is a Lutheran. On Jan- 
uary 3. 1871. Mr. Gravenhorst married Barbara 
Blattner, of Edgewood, 111., a daughter of Samuel 
Blattner. who served four years in the Civil 
War. Mr. aud Mrs. Gravenhorst became the pa- 
rents of the following children: Theodore S 
born October 20, 1871 ; John W., bom May 16, 
1875 ; Charles F., born April 30, 1877 ; Edith B., 
born March 13, 1880, and Albert H., born Jan- 
uary 31, 1883. 

Thoroughly conversant with the requirements 
of his town. Mr. Gravenhorst is naturally a 
power in Effingham, and his as.sociation with 
many of its leading business concerns, as well as 
his prominence in the political and newspaper life 
of the county, have given him a wide-spread pop- 
ularit)-. During the nearly half a century of his 
residence in Effingham, he has built up" an en- 
viable reputation as a business man of sound 
judgment and unquestioned integrity, a good 
manager and a friend of progress, and Is recog- 
nized as a shrewd and tactful leader of the 
Democratic forces of his count.v. 

GRAVENHORST, Albert H.— Among the repre- 
sentative young men of Effingham Countv is Al- 
bert H. Gravenhorst, who was born in Effingham, 
111.. January 31, 18S3, a son of Albert A. and Bar- 
bara (Blattner) Gravenhorst. whose biography 
appears in a preceding section in this volume. 

Albert H. Gravenhorst was graduated from 
the Effingham High School and later from Austin 
College in the class of 1902. After serving as 
"printer's devil" on his father's paper for a time, 
Mr. Gravenhorst has risen through various posi- 
tions to that of member of the firm of A. Graven- 
horst & Son. the firm taking its new name as 
successor to A. Gravenhorst in 1907, when Albert 
H. became a member. 

In April, 1903, Albert H. Gravenhorst entered 
the Illinois National Guard as a member of Com- 
pany G. Fourth Regiment, and has given the 
organization his faithful service ever since, now 



772 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



being First Lieutenant of his company, to which 
office he was elected in 1907. He has always 
been interested in pul)lic affairs and for the past 
four years has been Secretary of the Volunteer 
Fire Department. He is a member of the Etfiug- 
ham High School Alumni Association, having 
served two terms as its President, cue term as 
Secretary and one term as Vice President. He is 
a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, of 
which his father is also a member, in politics is 
a Democrat, and has been one of the leading fac- 
tors in his party since he cast his first vote. 

Mr. Gravenhorst is an excellent example of the 
enterprising, progressive young business men of 
today, alive to every chance, eager to advance his 
community, and to progress with it. 

GROBENGEISER, Wilham H. (deceased).— 
When a uiau has resided in a comnuniity for a 
number of years and has proven biui.self always 
industrious, energetic, responsible and public 
spirited, his death is keenly felt in the commu- 
niti-. and his place is not readily filled. Such a 
man was the late William IL Grobengeiser, who 
was born in Hanover, Germany. January 29. 1823, 
and died in Mound Township. Effingham County, 
111.. July 30. 1894. 

Mr. Grobengeiser's parents emigrated from 
Germany to the United States and settled in 
Mound Township, where the remainder of their 
lives was si)ent, but their son William did not 
accompany them, as he was liable for service in 
the Germany army and had to steal out of the 
country to escape. He had gone to school in Ger- 
many until fourteen years of age, and after com- 
ing to the United States attended a Lutheran Col- 
lege at Buffalo, N. Y., for four years. For seven- 
teen years he taught school in >Lartinsville. N. Y., 
and while there he was married to Augusta Gold- 
beck, who was born in Leipsic. Germany. March 
1. 1830, and came to the United States in 1845. 
She came to this country with a sister, her mother 
being deceased, sailing from Hamburg on the 
sailing vessel "Braveno," which took forty-five 
days to make the journey, landing safely at Xew 
York City, they went to Martinsvile, where for 
four years Mrs. Grobengeiser was employed as a 
domestic. In 1.SG6 Mr. and Mrs. Grobengeiser re- 
moved to Effingham County, 111., with their sis 
children, going by wagon to Niagara. N. Y.. thence 
by rail to Chicago, and from there to their des- 
tination. Mr. Grobengeiser purchased what is 
now the G. V. Grobengeiser farm of seventy acres 
in Mound Township, but in 1881 he sold that 
farm and purchased IfiG acres in the same town- 
ship, two and one-half miles west of Altamont. 
He had built a fine home and settled down to the 
enjoyment of a happy life, but met with aa acci- 
dent in a runaway, in which he received inju- 
ries to his spine which prevented bis ever work- 
ing again, and he died thirteen years later, being 
buried from the Lutliernn Church, of which he 
was an official member for years. In politics he 
was a stanch Democrat. Mrs. Grobengeiser sur- 
vives her husband, and has reached the advanced 
age of eighty years, but is in the best of health 



and spirits and in possession of her full faculties. 
She is as well known in this vicinity as was her 
estemed husband, and has many friends and ac- 
quaintances. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Groben- 
geiser were as follows: Augusta Helen, at 
home; Martha, deceased, who was the wife of 
Augustus Sy ; William, of Mound Township, who 
married Tina Goers; Beata, who married Frie- 
bert Schwerdtfeger. of Mound Township ; August 
v.. of Altamont. who married Bertha Milleville; 
Paulina, who died in childhood; Paulina (2), 
who married Charles Dietrich, of St. Louis ; Mal- 
vina ; and Emily, who married Fred Goers. 

GROVES, John Edward, M. D. Among the pro- 
fessions the one making the most demand upon 
time, experience and study, is probably that of 
medicine, and to make a success of his vocation 
the doctor must at all times be willing to sacri- 
fice everything else for it. Effingham County 
can boast of many successful men of medicine, 
and one of these is John Edward Groves, of Alta- 
mont. He was born at Marion, Williamson 
County, 111., April 11, 1865, and comes of an old 
and honored family. 

The Groves family was founded in the United 
States by three brothers who came from Hol- 
land, one settling in the East, one in Kentucky, 
and the other in the Middle West, and from the 
last-named Dr. Groves is descended. His grand- 
father. George Groves, was a resident of Me- 
chanicsburg. Champaign County, Ohio, was mar- 
ried three times and had a family of twenty 
children. One of these children he named Simon 
Peter, saying ue should be the preacher of the 
family, and the young man really adopted that 
occupation after graduating from Ohio Wesleyau 
University, being for fifty years a member of the 
Southern Illinois Conference, and one of its old- 
est preachers, being now superannuated. Rev. 
Groves married Mary Jane Mitchell, of Cave in 
Rock. Hardin County, 111., and they now reside at 
Nashville, III. There were seven children born 
to Rev. and Mrs. Groves, but four are deceased, 
those surviving being : John Edward, M. D. ; 
Rhoda. wife of Dr. J. H. Oakley, of the United 
States Marine Hospital Service, now stationed at 
Port Townsend, Wash. ; and C. Coo|ier. a teacher 
in Science at the High School at K<hv.'UMlsville, 111. 

John E. Groves received his early e(hiration at 
different points in the circuit where his father 
was preaching and when he had reached the age 
of seventeen years he entered McKendree Col- 
lecre. at Lebanon, where Governor Deneen. of 
Illinois, was his college mate. He next attended 
Bennett Medical College, of Chicago, from which 
be graduated March 29. 1887. and at once began 
practice at Greenville. 111., going thence to East 
St. Louis, then to Effingham, in January. 1803. 
after wliich for two years he was a partner ot 
Ills cousin. Dr. J. N. Groves. In March. 1895, 
Dr. Groves came to Altamont. where he has 
since been in a continual and successful practice. 
On January 29. 1902, he was appointed to the 
medical staff of the Illinois Southern Hospital 




MR. AND MRS. JOHN C. RIEMANN 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



773 



for tbe Insane, and he was one of the founders of 
the Bond County Medical Societj-. He has been 
exceedingly active in lodge work, being a mem- 
ber of Altamont Lodge No. 533, A. F. & A. M. ; 
Maple Tree Lodge, K. of P., in which he has 
passed through the chairs ; and a charter member 
of the Court of Honor (an insurance order). He 
is a stanch Republican, and served lor four years 
as Chairman of the County Central Committee. 
His religious connection is with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

On August 22, 188S, Dr. Groves was married, 
in Greenville, 111., to Miss Winora Norman, 
daughter of Isaac and Lydia E. (Walker) Nor- 
man, the latter of whom is deceased, and three 
children have been born to this union : Myra Mae, 
Clarence S. and Mary Edna. Dr. Groves is one 
of the few who have had the novel experience of 
reading tneir own obituary notices. He went to 
St. Mary's Infirmary, St. Louis, to have an opera- 
tion performed for a complication of troubles, 
from the effects of which he was supposed to 
have died, but from which he recovered, making 
the printing of obituary notices, as well as ac- 
counts of his death, seem rather unnecessary. 

GWIN, George Washington. — The realty inter- 
ests of any progressive, wide-awake community 
are very valuable, and those engaged in promot- 
ing tbe development and up-building of various 
sections are not only advancing their own affairs, 
but are proving public benefactors. One of the 
live men of Altamont, 111., is George Washington 
Gwin, .who was born in .Jefferson County, 111., 
January 22, 1S49, a son of Simeon and Elizabeth 
(Henson) (3win, natives of Pope County. 111., and 
Kentucky, respectively. The parents were mar- 
ried in Wayne County, III., December 13, 1847, 
settling on a farm in Jefferson County, where 
they remained until the spring of 1862, then 
moved to a farm near Ramsey, Fayette Couutj', 
111., and from the farm to Ramsey when both 
father and mother died and are buried in Ramsey 
Cemetery. The father died in 1881. and his wife 
in 1882. He was a Democrat and had held 
township offices. Liberal in religious views, he 
inclined toward the Baptist Church. Of the 
five sons and one daughter born to them. George 
W. Gwin was the eldest, and he has a brother. 
F. M. Gwin. of Vandalia. and a sister living in 
Ramsey. The Gwin family is of English ex- 
traction, the forbears who came to America set- 
tling in Virginia. The Henson famil.v seems to 
have originated in Tennessee and Kentucky. 

George Washington Gwin received a limited 
education in the district schools of Fa.vette Coun- 
ty, and after leaving school served a three years' 
apprenticeship in Vandalia and Ramsey at the 
plasterer's trade, which he followed in Altamont 
sixteen years, having come to that city April 17. 
1871. He then embarked in a hardware and im- 
plement business, which he conducted thirteen 
years, when he took a course in embalming, in 
the Clark School of Embalming, at St. Louis. Mo., 
in 1892. After graduating in embalming and 
funeral directing, he established the fir.st em- 



balming establishment in Effingham County, and 
also laid in a stock of furniture. In 1900 Mr. 
Gwin sold out rfud went on the road as traveling 
salesman for furniture and undertaking estab- 
lishments. After eight years spent in this line 
he returned to Altamont, and is now conductmg 
an undertaking establishment. He is also one 
of the leading real estate, loau and insurance 
agents in the city. 

In November, 1871, Mr. Gwin helped organize 
the First Methodist Church of Altamont, with 
four families, the congregation of this church 
now averaging 325. Mr. Gwin and Mrs. Max- 
himer are the only resident survivors of tbe orig- 
inal membership. The former is a trustee of the 
church, which office he has held twenty -eight 
years, and for twenty-three years was Superin- 
tendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday 
School. He is very active in all church work, is 
also a Blue Lodge Mason, being Chaplain of his 
lodge, is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. A stanch Repub- 
lican, he has held many township and city 
offices, having served as Police Magistrate, Presi- 
dent of the City Council, for several years a mem- 
ber of the Village Board, in which he served as 
President. He has also served as member of 
the Board of Education for the Altamont Schools. 

In addition to other business enterprises, Mr. 
Gwin was instrumental in establishing the tile 
and brick factory, the Altamont Creamery, and 
assisted in organizing the Altamont Building & 
Loan Association, of which be is a Director. 
When the furniture factory and flouring mill 
were burned, he assisted in raising the money 
for their rebuilding. He was instrumental in 
securing the necessary financial bacldng to estab- 
lish tne Altamont Fair Association, one of the 
best in the State, being elected its President. 
This association cleared $1,180, net, the first year. 
Mr. Gwin was also associated in the l3uilding of 
a $25,000 canning factory and was Chairman of 
the committee that had it in charge. Probably 
Mr. Gwin has been more largely interested in 
promoting various industrial enterprises than 
any other man here, and has erected more 
houses in Altamont than any other citizen. He 
is the only adult male resident of Altamont who 
was here in 1871. 

Mr. Gwin was married, October 1, 1871, in 
Greenville. 111., to Sar.ah E. Plant, who died April 
28, 1883, leaving two sons and one daughter, all 
living. Mr. Gt^-Iu married (second), in Alta- 
mont, November 15, 1S83, Margaret E. Hipscher. 
by whom be had no children. He married 
(third), at Windsor, III., February 9, 1892, Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Stephens) Anderson, who by her first 
marriage had a daughter, Agnes, who married 
George Combs, a jeweler of Villa Grove, 111., and 
thev have one daughter, Marie. By his third 
marriage Mr. Gwin had one son, George W., Jr., 
born October 5, 1803. His other children are: 
Walter, who died at the age of three years ; John, 
a railroad man of Springfield, Mo. ; Dora B.. mar- 
ried Charles Switzer, a farmer and stockman of 
Farina, 111. ; Samuel B., married Ida Vincent, 



774 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



daughter of Frank Vincent. Samuel B. Gwln is 
in the undertaliiug and furniture business at 
Farina, III., and he and his wife have one child 
— Gwendolin. George W. Gwin. .Tr., is attend- 
ing school in Altamont, and will succeed his 
father and conduct the business left by him. 

HABING, Joseph G. — Germany, that hardy, 
vigorous country that has given this land so 
many noble men, has placed us under heavy ob- 
ligation, and those of our citizens who have de- 
scended from German stock are proud of the 
fact. The dominant personality of some men is 
certain to prevail, no matter what their position 
in life. They come to the head of affairs in one 
way or another. Politics offer a. field for earnest 
endeavor for many of our most progressive men, 
who seek to advance the interests of their com- 
munities, and to raise the general moral and ma- 
terial standards. 

In EtHngham opportunity is offered for ad- 
vancement iu civic affairs, and there are certain 
of its people who have profited and produced ex- 
cellent results. Joseph G. Habing, one of the 
representative men of the city, is an example of 
what can be accomplished by one man for the 
good of his locality. Mr. Habing is a native of 
Teutopolis, born December 15. 1862, a s.on of 
George G. Habing. born in Oldenberg, Germany, 
and Maria (Thoele) Habing, born in Covington 
Ky. 

A shoemaker by trade, George G. Habing 
learned his trade in Cincinnati. Ohio, to which 
city he was brought by his grandparents in 1841, 
when he was eight years old. There he re- 
mained until 1854, when removal was made to 
Evansville, Ind.. and in 1857 the family settled 
at Teutopolis, 111. In 1873, another change was 
made to Altamont, 111., and there the father died 
May 31. 1886. 

Joseph G. Habing was educated at Teutopolis, 
111., and worked at the trade of a shoemaker 
until 1888, since which time he has been either 
a clerk or a salesman. In 1888 he went to 
Brownstown, 111., then to Vandalia. 111., thence to 
Quinc.v, 111., and Chicago, 111., and for a year was 
in St. Louis. The next year was spent in Hanni- 
bal, Mo. and for five years he was in Cincin- 
nati, returning to Altamont in 1808. In 1900 he 
moved to Teutopolis, and in 1904 located in Ef- 
fingham. 

Mr. Habing has alwa.vs been a Democrat, and 
has done yeoman service for his party, being 
Police Magistrate in 1901. Township Supervisor 
in 1902 and 1903; Deputy County Treasurer in 
1903 and 1904, and in the latter year was elected 
Circuit Clerk on the Democratic ticket, and re- 
elected in 1908. He is an efficient party worker, 
and an able, conscientious public official, whose 
future is verj- brilliant. Since 1892 Mr. Habing 
has been a meniber of the D. R. K. V. V.. and 
since 1905 a member of the Knights of Columbus. 
In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic. 

HALL, Hon. Z. Lester, who is serving a second 
term as Mayor of Edgewood. 111., and is promi- 
nently Identified with the business interests of 



the place, bears an honored name, one that has 
been held in high esteem in Effingham County 
for generations. Mayor Hall was born in the 
village over which he presides with such tact, 
ability and good judgment, September 11, 1868, 
and is a son of Dr. Joseph and Laura O. 
(Tourje) Hall and a grandson of Dr. Joseph 
Hall, founder of the family in Effingham County. 

The grandfather. Dr. Joseph Hall, was born 
in the State of New York and there engaged In 
the practice of medicine until his health failed. 
In 1859 he came west, in order to release him- 
self from professional life, settling in West Town- 
ship, Effingham County, where he became a prom- 
inent and useful citizen, and died February 14, 
1861. 

The late Dr. Joseph Hall, father of Mayor Hall, 
was born at West Bloomfield, N. T., July 14, 1840, 
and died at Edgewood, 111.. March 13, 1902. On 
February 4, 1864, he was man-led in Wayne 
County, Mich., to Miss Laura O. Tourje, who 
survives him. She was ix)rn at Clifton, N. T., 
December 9, 1841. In the spring of 1864 Dr. Hall 
and his wife came to Edgewood, where he began 
the practice of medicine. In 1866 he established 
his drug store, utilizing the upper part of the 
two-story building as a residence and the lower 
part as store and office. The building is yet 
standing, but somewhat changed, the upper story 
having been taken down and the drug business 
continued at the same place. In 1870 the late 
Dr. Hall was appointed Postmaster by President 
Grant, resigning the office in 1873, but in 1881 
he was again appointed Postmaster by President 
Arthur, and served as such for the four succeed- 
ing years. He continued his drug business and 
also his practice until the time of his death. He 
Is remembered as one of the most useful citizens 
and best beloved and most highly respected 
men of Effingham Count.v. In his profession he 
was skillful and successful, possessing in large 
degree those natural qualities which supplement 
the profeslonal ability of a physician. He gave 
largely of his services to charity, and In answer- 
ing calls in his professional capacity was never 
known to hesitate one moment to consider the 
financial aspect of his worli. He was notably 
public-spirited and took a deep interest in all 
measures of an uplifting nature. With his es- 
timable wife, he was active in the upbuilding of 
the Christian Church at Edgewood and the last 
amount of indebtednes.s resting on the edifice 
was paid out of his own pocket. Dr. Joseph Hall 
and wife were parents of four children, namely: 
Joseph, who was born June 10. 1865. died in the 
following October : Z. Lester ; Lawrence L., born 
In June, 1871, is engaged in a drug business at 
St. Joseph. 111. ; and Cadv H., born Mav 8, 1873, 
died July IS. 1875. 

Z. Lester Hall attended the schools of Edge- 
wood Village until 1885, then entered the High 
School of Marshall. Mien., in 1887 returning 
home and taking charge of the store for his 
father. In March, 1889. he entered the employ 
of the Illinois Central Railroad and in different 
capacities continued with that system for thir- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



775 



teen years, being recalled to Edgewood by the 
death of his father, in 1902. He then resumed 
charge of the drug business and has conducted 
the same ever since. Mayor Hall is one of the 
progressive, thoughtful, capable young men that 
. modern civilization is developing, and after his 
return to Edgewood he became Interested to a 
large degree in questions of public importance. 
In 1907 he was first elected mayor of the place 
and his administration brought forth such ex- 
cellent fruits that he was again made the candi- 
date of the Citizens' party, and was re-elected in 
the spring of 1909. He took a firm stand when 
the temperance wave went over the country in 
ltX)8, and, after some local difficulties, his whole 
board of aldermen now belong to the "Drys." It 
has been a boast that the Hall Drug Store has 
never dealt in intoxicants and the whole neighbor- 
hood is aware of this consistency. During Ma.vor 
Hall's incumbency a number of pulilii' improve- 
ments have been brought about, including the 
putting in of concrete walks. Schools are flour- 
ishing under good laws and the well kept ceme- 
tery is a credit to the village. The late Dr. Hall 
was one of the founders of the cemetery organi- 
zation and he and William Gillmore did much 
to make the cemeter.v the beautiful place it now 
is. Ma.vor Hall is now Secretary and Treasurer 
of the association. He belongs to the patriotic 
order known as the Ixjyal Americans of the Re- 
public. 

On November 29, 1894, Mayor Hall was mar- 
ried to Miss Margaret C Preston, of Cairo, 111., 
who was born at Mounds, 111.. November 29, 
1874, a daughter of Richard and Lizzie (Kuhn) 
Preston. Her father was born in County Long- 
ford. Ireland, while her mother was of German 
ancestry. Mrs. Hall has great musical talent, 
was educated accordingly, and has taught music. 
She is now choir leader of St. Anne's Catholic 
Church at Edgewood. 

HANKINS, Lewis J., was born near Vandalia, 
Payette County, 111.. January 1, 18.31, son of Wil- 
liam J. Hankins. a native of Tennessee. The 
father was married, in his native State, to a 
native of Virginia, and three children were born 
to them while they lived in Tennessee, namely : 
Presley C, John E. and Samuel F. In the year 
1828 Mr. Hankins emigrated to Illinois, .settling 
near Vandalia. He became engaged as a bridge 
carpenter in the con.struction of the National 
Road, then being built by the Government. Mr. 
Hankins and his wife walked most of the wa.v 
to their new home, bringing their household 
goods and three children on two pack horses. 
In 1831 the family moved to the Little Waba.sh 
River, near Ewington. where the Government 
was then constructing a bridge, and the follow- 
ing year Mr. Hankins took an active part in the 
organization of Eflingham County, becoming the 
first Judge of the new county. He became a 
very popular and prominent citizen and held va- 
rious offices under the new organization. He was 
a soldier in the War with Mexico and held a 
First Lieutenant's commission. Mr. Hankins 



died in the early fifties and was buried in Effing- 
ham County. His children are all dead except 
two : Lewis J. and Elizabeth. 

Like all pioneers of his day, Lewis J. Hankins 
had very few educational advantages. He at- 
tended a subscription school for a time. In Sep- 
tember, 1854, he married Sarah M. Kelly, and of 
this union eleven children were born, all of whom 
reached maturity, and ten of whom still survive. 
Mr. Hankins has always been active in promoting 
public improvements. He is a Democrat of the 
old school and always took an active part in 
political campaigns. 

In early life Mr. Hankins was a great hunter 
and trapper, being an unerring marksman, and 
atwut his house and premises were always to be 
seen many trophies of the chase. In later life 
he tooK up farming and became a successful 
agriculturist, but he is now broken in health and 
feels the weight of years resting heavily ufjon 
him, yet he still likes to go to the river, which 
runs close by his home, where he takes great de- 
light in fishing. He has ever been an honorable 
and upright citizen, most willing to assist the 
needy or help those in distress, a kind friend and 
obliging neighbor. His little home on the banks 
of the Little Wabash has been the family resi- 
dence for many years and there he and his wife 
have reared a family to honorable man and wo- 
manhood, of which they may well be proud. Mr. 
Hankins has always lived a moral, upright life, 
and is loved and respected by all who know him. 
He Is not a member of any church or other 
society. 

HARDIEK, Herman H.— The banking interests 
of any community are so important and play 
such a prominent part in the financial life of the 
people, that naturally the greatest care is taken 
in ;he selection of tho.se in whose hands the af- 
fairs of the banks are placed. Teutopolis, Effing- 
ham County, III., located as it is in the midst of 
a rich farming section, handles a large amount 
of mone.v, and its bank officials must be men of 
experience as well as of unblemished business 
records. The Bank of Teutopolis is to be con- 
gratulated for the record of its Cashier, Herman 
H. Hardiek. 

Mr. Hardiek was born May 6. 1842, in Ger- 
many, a son of Herman and Gertrude (Wernke) 
Hardiek. The parents were born in Hanover, 
Germany, and there married and their six chil- 
dren born and reared to maturity. Herman H. 
Hardiek was the first of the family to leave the 
mother country, coming to the United States in 
l>ecember, 1860, and locating on a farm in Teuto- 
polis Township, Effingham County, 111. During 
his first year he received ?60, but in 18G2 he 
rented 120 acres of land in this township. Owing 
to debts incurred in bringing over his family, he 
had a hard struggle for some time, but with Ger- 
man persistency and strict economy he managed 
to buy this 120 acres, which later he sold at a 
profit. 

After selling his farm, Mr. Hardiek rented land 
and entered into stock-raising extensively. In 



776 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



1875 he moved to Teutopolis and bought a hard- 
ware and tin shop, paying $400 iu part settle- 
ment for a business valued at $2,000. Six months 
later he sold this business, but retained the own- 
ership of the shop. He then formed a partner- 
ship with Clem Uptmore, under the title of Upt- 
more & Hardiek, general merchants. They did a 
business handling merchandise, grain and live 
stocli. During the third year of this connection 
Mr. Uptmore died. About 1883, having taken his 
sons iu with him, Mr. Hardiek added a lumber 
yard and coal business. As he bought and sold 
merchandise of every description, Mr. Hardiek 
did a large business, but sold the general merchan- 
dise part in 1903. In October, 1905. he assisted 
in establishing the Bank of Teutopolis, and was 
made its Cashier. B. H. Wernsing is the Presi- 
dent. J. L. Runde Vice President and H. J. 
Weber Assistant Cashier. Owing to the financial 
and business standing of the men who are its 
officials and on its Board of Directors, the Bank 
of Teutopolis is one of the strongest banking con- 
cerns in Effingham County. In addition Mr. Har- 
diek, with several other representative men, 
founded the Teutopolis Mutual Fire and Benefit 
Association. During his connection with this 
companv he has managed to reduce the cost of 
polices "fifty per cent from the standard rate, and 
the surplus of the company is about $10,000. He 
also assisted in establishing the creamery at 
Teutopolis, and so excellent is the product of this 
concern, that it commands one cent more a pound 
than any other. In iwlitics Mr. Hardiek is a 
Democrat and, in religious faith, a Roman Cath- 
olic. In addition to other Interests, he owns 600 
acres of land in Effingham County, 1.000 acres 
In Norton County, Kan., and thirty-eight town 
lots in Teutopolis. Without doubt be is one of 
the richest men in the county, while his name 
has always been associated with fair dealings and 
honest enterprises. 

In September. 1863. Mr. Hardiek was married 
to Catherine Buenker, who was born March 30, 
1844, on a farm in the south part of what is now 
Teutopolis Township, the daughter of Dieterich 
and Elizabeth Buenker, who were natives of 
Germany. For eleven years Mr. and Mrs. Har- 
diek lived on a farm with her uncle, Henry 
Buenker, whence they moved to Teutopolis, 
where Mr. Hardiek engaged in general merchan- 
dising and grain and stock-buying business. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hardiek had thirteen children bom to 
them, only four of whom survive, namely : John, 
a farmer of Teutoiwlis Township: .Toseph, a 
farmer in St. Joseph Township; and Anna and 
Leo, at home. Mrs. Hardiek died at the family 
home in- Teutopolis. April 2. 1910. She was a de- 
vout member of the Catholic Church and a mem- 
ber of the Third Order of St. Francis, and her 
death was deeply deplored l\v a large circle of 
friends. 

Mr. Hardiek has always taken an active part 
in securing the promotion of enterprises calcu- 
lated to build up his beloved city, and has never 
been sparing of either time or money to effect 
such improvements. He is one of the soundest 



business men this locality has ever known, and 
displays that German sense of values and ability 
to economize that bring success iu almost every 
case. Mr. Hardiek has made every ceat he pos- 
sesses through honest endeavor. When he came 
to this country he could not speak a word of 
English, but in later years labored earnestly for 
the benefit of his family, assisting them to Join 
him in America. Such men are few, unfortu- 
nately, but when they are found they are truly 
appreciated. 

HASDIN, Stephen, was born in Washington 
County, Ind., Septemljer 18, 1818, a son of John 
and Ellen (Colclasure) Hardin. He was raised 
on a farm and attended school but a few winter 
terms. He was married in 1841 and, two years 
later, located in Clay County, 111., where he 
served as Sheriff, and for two years kept a store 
in Georgetown. He removed to ilason in 1855, 
bringing with him a stock of goods, and the nest 
year removed his family to that town. He .sold 
out his stock in 1858. at which time he was elect- 
ed Representative from the Counties of Fayette 
and Effingham, on the Democratic ticket. Dur- 
ing the session of 1858-59 he introduced the bill 
providing for the removal of the county-seat from 
Ewington to Effingham. About ISOO he again en- 
gaged in mercantile business, with a branch store 
at Winterrowd. Some two years later, he turned 
his attention to farming and stock-raising, in 
which he was very successful. His farm was on 
the northern border of the Town of Mason, and 
he platted sixteen acres, which became known 
as Hardin's Addition. Mr. Hardin's death oc- 
curred January 25, 1907. 

HARRAH, (Hon.) Rufus C— A man who is 

well versed in the laws of his State and country 
is always a recognized power. As a class they 
are depended upon largely to conserve the best 
interests of the people, and without them and 
their practical judgment the work done by the 
business man and the mechanic, as well as the 
efforts of the statesman, would be inc-omplete. 
The professional lawyer is not the creature of 
circumstance, as the profession is open to talent, 
and no definite prestige or success can be attained 
save b.v indomitable energy, perseverance, pa- 
tience and strong mentality. At the same time, 
the lawyer is well fitted to occupy positions of 
public trust, as his legal training, his ability to 
concentrate his puiixise and his wide knowledge 
of men fit him to discharge his duties faithfully 
and well, and so it is that men of this profession 
are so often chosen to represent the people. A 
notable case is presented in the career of Hon. 
Rufus C. Harrah. present State's Attorney of Ef- 
fingham County. 111. 

Mr. Harrah was Ijom in Putnam County, Ind., 
October 10. 1846. the son of Daniel F. Harrah, 
and comes of an old and distinguished family. 
His paternal grandfather, Daniel Harrah, was 
with Gen. Scott at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, 
Canada, and saw other active service during the 
War of 1812. Daniel F. Harrah was born in 





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JOSEPH P. SCHWERMAN 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Sloutgomery Coimty, Ky., moved to Putnam 
County, Ind., and in 1858 brought his family to 
Jasjjer County, 111., where he located on a farm. 

From early boyhood Rufus C. Harrah sho\yed 
a determination to secure better educational ad- 
vantages than those afforded the average farm- 
er's son of the times. After leaving the district 
school he entered Westtield College, and fol- 
lo\ying his course in this instinition he taught 
school three years. March 10. 187J. he located 
in Effingham, and soon began the study of law in 
tne office of J. N. Gwnn. In June. 1874. he was 
admitted to the bar, since which time he has been 
in active practice, and is recognized for his abil- 
ity as a Iaw.yer and for the fidelity with which 
he adheres to the Interests of his clients In the 
courts. 

Mr. Harrah has always been an active Demo- 
crat and his value was soon recognized by his 
party. He has been called upon to hold a num- 
ber of offices since locating in Effingham, being 
elected in 1873 to the office of Police Magistrate, 
which he held until 1881. In 1880 he was hon- 
ored by being elected to the office of State's At- 
torney for Effingham County, serving until 1896, 
being successively re-elected. In 18',>7 he was an 
unsucessful candiaate for the office of Circuit 
Judge, although heartily endorsed by the pro- 
fession. In 1898 he became Master in Chancery, 
serving until 1904, and made a remarkable rec- 
ord, there being not a single exception on tile 
against any of his reiwrts. In 1902 Mr. Harrah 
was placed before the celebrated dead-lock con- 
vention, the first in the newly constructed Twen- 
tj-thlrd Congressional District. He received the 
nomination at Xewton, but as the vote of Jasper 
County was challenged before the result was an- 
nounced, the convention was adjourned to meet 
at Centralia. After two days of exciting bal- 
loting, the convention was adjourned sine die. 
Later the same delegates were called back to a 
new convention at Mount Vernon, where Mr. 
Harrah received enough votes to nominate, but 
as the vote of Jasper County was once more 
challenged, he failed of nomination, the nominee 
being Hon. J. B. Crowley, of Crawford County. 
In 190.3 Mr. Harrah secured the endorsement of 
his party for the office of Circuit Judge, and in 
1900 carried the county in the primary election 
for endorsement as a candidate for Circuit Judge, 
to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Judge 
Farmer to the Supreme Court. In 1908 Mr. Har- 
rah was nominated and elected State's Attorney 
of Effingham County, and is now serving his fifth 
term in that office. He was also for many years 
Chairman of the Democratic County Central 
Committee. 

In 187.3 Mr. Harrah married Mrs. Ellen War- 
ren, of Jasper County. 111., and they have had 
three sons, Leonard H., Robert B. and William F.. 
only one of whom is now living. William F.. of 
Chicago. In 189.3 Mr. Harrah joined the Chris- 
tian Church and since then has been a prominent 
and consistent member. 

During the many years that Mr. Harrah has 
served the county as State's Attorney, he has 



established a record which is recognized and ad- 
mired by almost every lawyer in the State of Illi- 
nois. His administration of the office has won for 
him a reputation as a man of far more than ordi- 
nary ability. As a prosecutor he has been re- 
lentless and fearless, but at all times just, and no 
one can say of him that he was ever influenced 
by prejudice, nor can any one ixilnt to a single 
instance where he has shown personal favor. In 
tulfilling the duties of his office he has been pre- 
eminently fair to all parties with whom he has 
had to deal, and no shadow of dishonesty or 
weakness rests upon him. That he has served 
the people of the count}- five terms without the 
slightest blot to mar his record is an achieve- 
ment which should be most gratifying to him, 
and of which his family may justly speak with 
pride In years to come. 

HARRELL, Jacob.— No mere words will de- 
scribe the privations endured by the pioneers of 
Effingham County or their bravery in attempting 
to blaze a path for civilization. To understand 
what they did one must have lived as they did. 
However, while not entirely appreciating, the 
country gives them due honor and accords them a 
high place in its history. Jacob Harrell of Jack- 
sou Township is one of the sturdy old pioneers 
of this locality, having been born in Shelby Coun- 
ty, Ind., May 13, 1837, a son of Jethrow and 
Effie (Noe) Harrell, the former born in Xorth 
Carolina, July 4, 1800, and the latter In Ohio, 
April 13. 1812. They were married in Shelby 
Cbunty, Ind., but in 1840 moved to Effingham 
County. 111., and soon thereafter, the father en- 
tered land from the Ckjvernment in Jackson 
Township at $1.2.5 per acre. This land was 
mostly timber. After making some improve- 
ments, the father .sold and moved on the present 
farm of Mr. Jacob Harrell, which consisted of 
28(! acres. Here they lived until their death, that 
of the father occurring In 1806, and the mother's 
In 1867. Both are interred in the New Hope 
Cemetery, in Mason Township. They were the 
parents of eight children, five of whom are now 
living : Jacob. William H.. John W.. Sarah J. and 
Frances H. Prior to his marriage with Effie 
Xoe. the father had been married to Hannah 
Harrell, who died In North Carolina, where the 
marriage took place. They were the parents of 
seven children, only two of whom are now liv- 
ing — Margaret Robertson, who resides in Effing- 
ham, and Hannah Hacklemau, who resides In 
Hancock County, Ind. 

Jacob Harrell went to school in the primitive 
log sehoolhouse desc-ribed in the general history, 
and used a quill pen in writing. He remained at 
home until his first marriage, which occurred in 
Effingham County, December 2.5, 1860, to Lathenia 
Brewster, who was bom in Ohio, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. George Brewster. Mr. Brewster 
died in Marion County. 111., while Mrs. Brew- 
ster died in Chicago, in 1864. and was buried in 
New Hope Cemetery. Tliey were the parents of 
two children, one of whom died in infancy, the 
other being Mrs. Harrell. After the death of the 



778 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



first Mrs. Harrell, Mr. Uarell married iu October, 
ISOo, jlartba KUeu Browu. boru iu Kimx Couuty, 
Oliio, iu Juue, 1S47, a daughter of William aud 
Naucy Browu, uatives of Oliio, where Mr. Browu 
died, while Mrs. Browu came Irom Ohio to llli- 
uois about ISUU, aud died iu Clay Couuty, beiug 
iuterred iu the Peuder Cemetery, Ettiugham. 
Seveu chilUreu were boru of the secoud marriage 
of Mr. llarrel, but ouly five grew to maturity : 
Ada, wife of Lewis OeFreece ; Stella, wife of 
Charles Ciuders; Grade, wife of Frauk Yates; 
Gertrude, wife of Frauk I'ultou, aud Blanche, 
wife of William Shoemaker. 

Jlr. Harrell has always beeu a Democrat and 
a loyal supporter of his party, takiug au active 
iuterest iu local politics. He has served four 
terms as Towushiij Commissiouer, aud is now 
Deputy Koad Boss iu Jackson Township. He 
served two terms as School Trustee, aud for 
many years has beeu School Director. Iu for- 
mer years, he was a member of both the Grange 
aud the F. B. M. A. iu Jacksou Township. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Harrell are members of the Metho- 
diset Episcopal Church, South. The father of 
Mr. Harrell was the oldest Methodist in his 
neighborhood, and was very liberal iu his sub- 
scriptions towards the support of the church, and 
Mr. Harrell has also beeu one of its liberal con- 
tributors. He has served as its trustee and is 
a member of the Board of Stewards, and is also 
Sui)erlnteudent of the Sunday school and a class 
leader. 

Mr. Flarrell has been a very successful man, 
and is greatly honored by his many friends. He 
did not serve in the Civil War, when he offered 
to enlist being afflicted with "milk sickness"' aud 
as a consequence the recruiting officers refused to 
accept him. He and his wife reside on their fer- 
tile farm of 286 acres in Jackson Township, 
wuere they are enjoying the fruits of their early 
labors, in a comfortable home. During Mr. Har- 
rell's early boyhood, he worked early and late on 
the farm for his parents. At times the swarms of 
flies were so numerous that farm work had to be 
done at night. In those early days it was diffi- 
cult to procure breadstuff. It was uec-essary to 
ride early to mill, aud wait a turn to get the 
grist ground. In addition to his farm. Mr. Har- 
rell owns property iu Altamont. III., aud is cer- 
tainly one of the substantial, reliable men of the 
county, in whom exiilirit confidence can alwaj-s 
be placed. 

HARVEY, Theodore H., whose ideal rural home, 
with its lie.inliful surroundings aud solid com- 
forts, is situated on Section .32, Douglas Town- 
ship, Effingham County, .seemingly has every 
reason to feel satisfied with his earthly lot. in- 
cluding as it does. home, ample means, friends, 
family and universal esteem. Mr. Harvey was 
born at Pine Grove. Pa.. April 2."?. lS.o.5. a son of 
George and Mary (Dentler) Harvey, who were 
natives of Pennsylvania, there grew to maturity, 
married and reared a family. 

In 1870 George Harvey came, first, to Effing- 
ham County, purchasing eighty acres which his 



sou, Theodore H., now owns. In 1880 he returned 
to I'enusylvania aud was accompanied back to 
Effiugham Couuty by his family. Formerly this 
farm had served as a kind of sporting grouud for 
people from many sections, game being abuudant 
aud a pond supplying good fishing. It required 
some firmness on the part of Mr. Harvey, at first, 
to keep the old visitors off his preserves. Like 
his sou, he was a progressive aud enterprising 
man, and started right in to improve his land 
aud, iu 1884, built a fine residence on the north 
eud of the property, which his widow now occu- 
pies. To his first eighty acres he added uutil he 
owned o(X) acres iu the county, 380 acres lying in 
Douglas Township, forty iu Watson Township 
and eighty Iu Jacksou Township. He was a man 
of much enterprise, but this quality he tempered 
with good judgment, aud hence bis undertakings 
usually proved successful. He gave liberally to 
charity aud to the building of schools aud the 
promoting of religious agencies. For forty vears 
he was a member of the fraternal order "of Odd 
Fellows and lived up to its principles. His death 
occurred October 14, 1908, iu his seventy-eighth 
year. His children were as follows: Theodore 
H. ; Isaac, a merchant at Harrisouville, Mo. ; 
Charles, a farmer in Watson Township; Anna, 
wife of Sephor Bushore, of Muncie, Ind. ; Amelia 
and Jane, both of whom died in infancy ; Esther, 
wife of W. B. Lyons, a machinist at Terre Haute] 
Ind. ; George, who died In 1904, aged thirty-six 
years ; Samuel, a railroad conductor, residing at 
Pine Bluff, Ark. ; Richard, who. like his brother 
George, died while being operated on for ap- 
pendicitis ; and Bessie, the wife of Harry Jones, 
who is yardmaster of the Vandalla Railroad at 
Effingham. The venerable mother is a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Theodore II. Harvey was educated iu the 
schools of his native State and before he came 
to Effingham Couuty he worked in the coal miues 
of Pennsylvania, aud then worked for his father 
by the month uutil 1881. when he rented a part 
of the farm, which he bought in 1884, securing 
110 acres. He immediately began to improve 
his property and has made it into one of the most 
jd-oductive farms of the county. He grows grain 
and fruit of all kinds and is largely interested In 
breeding fine cattle, his registered stock lieiug of 
the Red Polled variety. He also has a registered 
sire for his Berkshire hogs. Mr. Harvey has 
taken a great deal of pride in making the sur- 
roundings of his home attractive and his beau- 
tiful lawn, with its swings, hammocks and lawn 
seats is freijuently the scene of .social gatherings, 
for Mr. and Mrs. Harvey are very hospitable. 

On December 5, 1874. Mr. Harvey was mar- 
ried to Miss Martha Klahr. who accompanied 
her parents from Pennsylvania to Effiugham, 
where they still reside. Seven children have 
been born of this marriage, as follows : Emma, 
residing at home; Kate, wife of H. E. Crumm, 
residing .it Mishawakji. Ind. ; George Elmer, 
residing at home ; Maliel. wife of Leo L. Callahan, 
a merchant tailor at Charleston, 111. : and Carrie, 
Mary and Albert, all residing at home. Mrs. 



t 




«^ 



■'V-*-*.^ 



MRS. JOSEPH P. SCHWERMAX 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



779 



Harvey and older children are members of the 
Methodist Church, of which Mr. Harvey is an 
attendant and to which he llberrally contributes. 
Politically be is a Republican and fraternally is 
connected with the order of Jlodern Woodmen 
of America. 

HEIDEN, Henry.— Many of the leading men 
of Effingham County, 111., started out in life as 
IMjor boys, but through their owu efforts have be- 
come wealthy and prominent. The most success- 
ful men of this cxjuntry are not always those who 
are born to wealth and iuHuence. Tliere appears 
to be something in the necessity for exertion that 
develops a man's best ciualities and demonstrates 
what he is capable of accomplishing. Henry 
Heiden, of Section 9, West Township, is an excel- 
lent example of this fact, and is proud that all 
that he now owns has been earned through his 
owu efforts. He was born In Bergholtz, Niagara 
County, N. T., Decemlier 6, 1857, a son of Fred 
and Margaret A. (Alwertt) Heiden. The father 
was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1832, and 
grew up to be a farmer in his native country. In 
1857 he and his wife came to the United States, 
sailing from Hamburg to New York, and locat- 
ing at Bergholtz, N. Y., where for five years the 
father was a day laborer. He then came to Effing- 
ham County, 111., buying twenty acres of land in 
Section 8, West Township. On this he put up a 
little one-room log house, which was without a 
door for some time. Shortly thereafter he added 
forty acres to his holdings, and then another 
forty acres. Still later he bought two small tim- 
ber tracts, one of ten and the other five acres, 
finally becoming the owner of 11.5 acres. After 
a long life of hard work and frugal living, he 
died on his farm, January 2, 1908, his widow 
surviving until January 30. 1908. They were 
consistent members of the Bethlehem Lutheran 
Church during life, and were interred in Bethle- 
hem Cemetery. Fred Heiden was a strong Dem- 
ocrat and served the township for a time as 
overseer. He and his wife had six children: 
Tbeo. who went to Kansas, is now farming in 
Smith County, that State, and married Tina N.ve ; 
Henry ; Marj-, who is Mrs. Ferd Aderman, of 
Altamont ; Tina, who is Mrs. Charles Rath, of 
Fayette County ; Fred, who is on the home place, 
married Mary Banke, and Caroline, who is Mrs. 
Herman Krneger, of Mound Township. 

Henry Heiden was five years old when he was 
brought to Illinois, and there attended a paro- 
chial school and later the public school. Some of 
his early teachers were George Wolf, a Mr. Tay- 
lor and Amanda Spragg. From the time he was 
old enough, Mr. Heiden as.sisted his father in Im- 
proving the homestead, remaining at home imtil 
his marriage. This event took place October 30, 
1881, when he was united with Augusta Buth, 
daughter of Carl A. and Pauline Buth. After 
marriage the young couple locate<l on forty acres 
owned by him on Section 8. and conunenced 
housekeping in an old log house. There were no 
other buildings on the place, and Mr. Heiden had 



to supply what was needed. After twelve years, 
he sold this farm and bought ninety-two acres 
on Section 5, remaining there eleven years, dur- 
ing which time he made many improvements. In 
11(04, he sold out his first property and purchased 
his present farm, which is one of the most desir- 
able in the township, and on which he located 
during the same year. The land is highly cul- 
tivated and the buildings are of a superior class. 

Mrs. Heiden was born at Wolcottsburg, X. Y., 
November 12, 1802, was carefully educated in the 
parochial schools in her native State, and at fif- 
teen years of age came with her parents to Illi- 
nois. Her father, Carl A. Buth, was born in 
Brandenburg, Germany, sixteen miles west of 
Berlin, August 14, 1834, the son of Carl A. and 
Sophia Buth. The family came to Wolcottsburg, 
Erie County, N. Y., where the father was em- 
ployed at different times at the shoemaker's 
trade and in farming. On April 10, 1800, he 
was united in marriage with Pauline Schultz, a 
daughter of David and Elizabeth (Leppert) 
Schultz. The following children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Buth : Augusta, November 
12, 1802 ; Adolf, August 19, 1807 ; Johanna, Jan- 
uary 10, 1870 ; George, March 15, 1872 ; William, 
August 21, 1874 ; John, October 9, 1870 ; Bertha, 
July 8, 1881; and Sophia, August 9, 18&1— the 
first six being born in Wolcottsburg, N. Y., and 
the last two in Iliinois. Augusta married Henry 
Heiden, the subject of this sketch ; Adolf mar- 
ried Miss Jlinnie Schultz, and is living in Spring- 
field, 111. ; Johanna married Fred Ferchow, of 
Altamont, 111. ; George married Miss Emma Fell- 
wock, and is living in Evansville, Ind. ; William 
is unmarried ; John married Mollie Meierhaus ; 
Bertha. Joseph Leviuger, and Sophia. Gustav 
Ferchow, and the last three, with their famlhes, 
are all living in Springfield III. 

Mr. and Mr.s. Henry Heiden, with their chil- 
dren, are members of Bethlehem Lutheran 
Church. He is a stanch Democrat and .served 
as Tax Collector of the township for five years. 
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Heiden are: 
Sophia, born August 7, 1882, married William 
Shenke, of Springfield. 111. ; John, born August 
2 1884, is unmarried ; Louisa, born Feljruarv 21, 
1886, married Heui-j- Piper, of Springfielld,'lll. ; 
Henry, born December 17, 1887, is at home; 
Helen, born September 19, 1889, married Arthur 
Luck, of Springfield, 111. ; Rosa, born September 
24, 1891; Caroline, Iwrn October 10, 1893; 
Charles, born December 1, 1895; George, born 
March 23, 1898; Jennie, born April 19. 1900; 
Viola, born January 25, 1902 and Alma, born 
October 24. 1904. 

HENDERSON, James F.— The men who show 
them.selves capalile of handling their own af- 
fairs successfully are those chosen, as a rule, to 
handle the affairs of others, and no exception 
has been made in the case of James F. Hender- 
son of Jackson Township, who, proving himself 
a successful farmer, has been asked to accept 
positions of trust in public and fraternal circles. 



rso 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Mr. Heudersou was boru iu New Bruuswick, May 
18, 18(31, a son of William Melviu aud Jaue 
(McKiiott) Ileudersou. 

Williaiu M. Heudersou was boru iu New Yorli, 
aud bis wife iu Scotlaud, tbey beiug married 
about ISliU iu New Bruuswick, irom wbeuce they 
came to Illinois about 1807, settling iu Kttiugbam 
Couuty. Mr. Heudersou bad beeu a miller wbile 
a resident of New Bruuswick, but on locating iu 
Illinois, be took up agriculture as an occupation, 
aud bas speut bis life here as a tiller of tbe soil. 
He and bis wife now reside in Watson, Etliug- 
bam County, being sixty-ulue aud seventy years 
old, respectively. Tbey were tbe parents of 
eight children, of whom six grew to maturity. 
These were: William; James F. ; Maggie, Joseph 
aud Charles, who are deceased; George W. ; Al- 
bert ; aud Lewis. 

James F. Heudersou was educated in the 
County schools, although he never obtained a 
very thorough education in his youth. He re- 
mained on the home place until married, Jlareh 
21), 1883, to Kosie L. Mesuard, who was born in 
Effingham County, May 20, 180", daughter of Ad- 
dison E. and Mary A. (Mitchell) Mesuard. Ad- 
.disou E. Mesuard was born in New York State, 
in childhood lived at Pleasantville, Ohio, aud 
when about twelve years of age came to Illinois 
with his parents. His wife was born in Ken- 
tucky, removed thence to Tennessee, and came to 
Illinois with her parents when fourteen years of 
age, and she and Mr. Mesuard were married at 
Ewington, Effiugham Couuty. They became the 
parents of ten children, all of whom grew to ma- 
turity and eight of whom are still living, Mrs. 
Henderson being the sixth in order of birth. The 
father of these children died in 1902, aged sev- 
enty-three years, and was buried in tbe Baptist 
Church Cemetery, iu Jackson Township, while 
the mother, who is seveutj' years of age, still sur- 
vives, residing at Watson. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson 
bought land in Jack.son Township, where they 
have resided most of tbe time since. The pres- 
ent farm, which was purchased in I'.tW, consists 
of ninet\--eight acres of some of tbe best land 
In the township, aud is in a fine state of cultiva- 
tiou. Mr. Henderson made nearly all of tbe im- 
provements himself, and iu addition to carrying 
on a general line of farming, raises a great deal 
of high grade stock. He has lieen successful in 
his oi)erations, aud is looked uiwn as one or the 
solid, substantial agric-ulturists of his community. 
In his political belief he is a stanch Democrat, 
and has taken an active part in local matters, 
serving as Township Assessor during 1908, and 
being re-elected to that offlc-e in 1!W9 for a two- 
year term ; has also held the office of Post- 
master in Jackson Township, and School Director 
In every district in which he has lived since at- 
taining" his majority. He has also been promi- 
nent in fraternal circles, belonging to Watson 
Blue Lodge of Masons. No. ()02. in which he has 
gone through all the chairs except those of Tyler 
and Treasurer, and belongs to the Brotherhood of 
American Yeoman, having been appointed Dis- 



trict Manager of this order in both Cumberland 
and Coles Counties. He aud his wile are mem- 
bers of the Missionary Baptist Church and are 
active in church and Sunday school work. 

Mr. aud Mrs. Henderson have had thirteen 
children, eleven of whom are now living : Uoss 
E., a farmer of Dieterich. married Dosie Fields, 
aud they have three children, — Noble, Gernou 
and Gale; Delia, who married Charles Brown, 
in the hardware business at Arthur, has three 
children, — Kuth, James aud Esther; Kuby, mar- 
ried Frank Keplar, an operator of Dexter, 111. ; 
aud Arthur, Ernest, Lola, Frank, Fred, Dora, 
Donald and Vera, all single and at home with 
their parents. 

HENRY, Ehjah, was born near Lexington, Ky., 
and there learned tbe trade of blacksmith. He 
married iu that vicinity and several of his chil- 
dren were boru there. He removed from Ken- 
tucky to Indiana at an early day, settling on a 
farm, where he remained uutil about 1843, al- 
though the exact date is uot known. In conse- 
quence of business misfortunes he parted with 
his homestead there and removed to Effingham 
County, 111., then very sparsely settled. Here he 
began life anew and remained uutil his death, 
which occurred near the village of Mason, De- 
cember 4, 1867. 

Soon after his location in Effiugham County 
-Mr. Henry erected a blacksmith shop and built a 
mill, which at that day were greatly needed and 
uuich appreciated. He continued iu both these 
industries a number of years, until other work- 
men came in with better aud more modern ma- 
chinery. Mr. Henry turned his attention to the 
cultivation of fruit and especially 'the apple, and 
this business occupied the last dozen vears of his 
life. 

Mr. Henry served in the War of 1812, and was 
deterred only by his great age from serving in 
the war for the preservation of the Union. He 
often remarked during the war that he did not 
see how he could ever die without having, some- 
how or other, slain at least one rebel. He was 
a strong Republican and cast his last vote for 
that party when he was unable to leave the 
buggy but voted as he sat in the vehicle. 

HIGGINS, Calvin C— The standard of excel- 
lence among educators all over the country is 
being raised higher and higher, aud especially is 
this true in Illinois, where the people are so 
proud of tlieir public school system. Effingham 
County keeps well abreast of her sister counties 
in this, as in other things, aud one of the most 
successful and popular teachers of this locality 
is Calvin C. Iliggins, of Jackson Township. He 
was born iu Effingham County, April 9, 1800. the 
son of James and Anna (Xeaville) Higgins, the 
former boru in Indiana in 1830. but came to Illi- 
nois in young manhood, where he met and mar- 
ried his wife, in Watson Township. October 20, 
1800. She was born in Jackson Township. Oc- 
tober 3, 1835. They settled on a farm jn Jack- 
son Township, where they and their children 





^<>^U^^^ ^. J C(fT^ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



rsi 



lived, and where the parents siieut their mar- 
ried life. They were the parents of three chil- 
dren : John W., Mary (deceased) and Calvin C. 
The father met with an accident from a thresh- 
ing machine, receiving injuries from which he 
died August 29, 1866. His remains lie buried 
at Watson, III. His widow survives, and makes 
her home with her son, C. C. Higgins, ou the 
farm. 

Calvin C. Higgins attended the public schools of 
Jackson Township, and spent three months in 
what was then known as the "Hayward" School 
at Fairfield, 111. He then took a special course at 
the Austin College. Effiugham. 111., and thus ob- 
tained an excellent education. Finishing his 
studies, he began teaching, and has continued in 
this work for the past twenty years, and in which 
he is still engaged. During all this time he has 
taught in only four different schools and only 
one term outside of Jackson Township. In addi- 
tion to teaching. Mr. Higgins owns forty acres of 
fine farm land in Jackson Township, which he de- 
votes to general farming. He has been success- 
ful in his life work, although his youth was a 
hard one, for his mother was left a widow with 
three little ones, he being but five months old at 
the time of his father's death. She struggled 
along, brought up her children, and now is en- 
joying her honored old age, surrounded by lov- 
ing care. 

Mr. Higgins was married in Mason Township, 
April 5, 1890, to Anna Davidson, born in Effing- 
ham County, September 8. 1873, a daughter of 
James and Elizabeth (Ensley) Davidson, both 
natives of Illinois. Mr. Davidson is now de- 
ceased, but Mrs. Davidson resides in the State 
of Washington, where she has since remarried. 
Mr. and Mrs. Higgins are thg parents of the fol- 
lowing children : Albeit E.. born June 11, 1894, 
deceased : Walter, born July S. 1896 ; Grace, Ixirn 
July 22, 1898, deceased; Ethel Florence, born 
July 16, 1904, and Calvin Arthur, born August 
10, 1908. The two who died are interred in Wat- 
son Cemetery. 

In politics Mr. Higgins is a Democrat, and has 
always taken an active iiart in local affairs. He 
is a member of the M, W. A. at Watson. Camp 
No. 2705. He and his family belong to the Bap- 
tist Church at Watson, where thej; are active in 
all church work. Mr. Higgins is 'a man of de- 
lightful personality and a close student, not only 
of books but mankind. He tries to study the 
qualities and needs of each individual pupil, so 
as to adapt his teaching to the requirements of 
the young minds under his fostering and devel- 
oping care. and. that he is eminently successful, 
the host of his former pupils who are his warm 
personal friends, testify. 

HIGGINS, John Wright.— Perhaps no part of 
Effingham County. III., has more comfortable old 
homes or a more prosperous class of citizens, than 
has Mason Town.ship. and the farm of John 
Wright Higgins, which is situated in Section 4. 
offers proof of the statement. Mr. Higgins was 
born in Jackson Township. Effingham County, 



111., December 14, 1862, a son of James and An- 
nie (Neaville) Higgins. The father, James Hig- 
gins, was born in Indiana and came to Effingham 
County with his widowed mother when a lad. 
He was accidentally killed in 1866, while oi^erat- 
ing a threshing machine, leaving a widow and 
three children. John Wright was the oldest of 
these children. Mary the second and Calvin C. the 
third. Mary and her husband, Thomas Martin, 
are both now deceased. They left six children : 
Belle, James. Ellery, Anna. Mabel and Willie. 
Calvin C. Higgins is a teacher and farmer near 
the old homestead and with him lives the vener- 
able mother. She was born in Effingham County, 
October 22. 1836. and is still hale and hearty. 
She loves to tell of the old da.vs and her stories 
of people and events are very entertaining. She 
is a devoted and valued member of the Baptist 
Church. 

John Wright Higgins obtained his education iu 
the district schools, but from the age of five years 
being fatherless, he was not able to en.joy many 
educational advantages, his mother needing his 
help on the farm. He remained at home until 
twenty-one years of age. when he rented a farm 
near his birthplace and on November 26, 1884, 
was married to Alice Davidson. He later con- 
tinued farming there until the death of his wife, 
November 18. 1887. She left one child. Leslie, 
who died aged about eight years. On November 
30. 1889, Mr. Higgins married as his second wife 
Elsie R. Bailey, who was born February 18, 185.5, 
on her paternal homestead where they have since 
resided. Mr.s. Higgins' father. Henry P. Bailey, 
was born in Campbell County, Va., in 1809. and 
in youth came to Effingham County, 111., with his 
mother but later went to Indiana and there was 
married November 18. 18.38. to Susan Landers. 
In 1850 they came to Effingham County and set- 
tled, first, where Wilson Turner now resides, but 
in 1853 bouglit what was known as the Bradley 
farm, on Section 4. Mason Township. Henry P. 
Bailey who had been a soldier In the Black 
Hawk War. became a prominent citizen in Effing- 
ham County, serving as its fir.st Sheriff. He also 
conducted a blacksmith shop on his farm, which 
he operated until the outbreak of the Civil War. 
when he began to make arrangements to take up 
arms in defense of his country. In 1862 he en- 
listed in Company B, Thirt.v-eighth Illinois 
■Volunteer Infantry, for three years, at the ex- 
piration of his term of service, re-enlisted for 
the same period. He participated in many im- 
Iiortant battles and when, at the close of the 
struggle he was honorably discharged, the ef- 
fects of the long marches and man.v hardships 
he had endured w-as shown in his inability to re- 
sume his work in the shop and on the farm, al- 
ways afterward having to hire help for the same. 
To Henry P. Bailey and wife the following 
children were born : Eliza J.. Wyett, Tandy, 
Cassandra. Mary. William H.. James A.. Nancy 
F.. Essie R.. .John L. and Marie, who are twins. 
The eldest daughter, who is now deceased, was 
the wife of Calvin Austin. W.vett Bailey was 
born October 4, 1810, served three years in the 



782 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Civil War and was killed at the battle of CUick- 
amauga. Tandy Bailey was boru December 13, 
11^1, completed bis army service as a member 
of the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, and died at Mattoon, 111., waiting 
to receive his honorable discharge papers. Cas- 
sandra was born September 24. 1S42. and married 
John T. Martin. Mary was born December 31, 
1&45, and died in the following year. AX illiam H. 
Bailey was born January 18, 1&4T. and is a 
farmer in Jackson Township. James A. Bailey 
was born November 4. 1848, and lives at Dunlap, 
Mo. Nancy F. was liorii July 26, 1852, married 
Elijah Neavills, and ilifd Ausust 25, 1896. John 
L. Bailey was born September 9, 18.56, and died 
Januai-y'lS, 1895. Marie married Elisha Tucker, 
who is a farmer in Mason Township. 

After the marriage of Mr. and ilrs. Higglns 
they settled on the Bailey farm and after the 
death of her parents, bought the place which con- 
tains ninety-five acres of valuable land. The 
property has been well kept up and Mr. Higgius 
has spent a large amount of money in the pur- 
chase of fine stock. To his original purchase of 
laud he has added until he now owns 150 acres. 
While Mr. Higgius is interested In his cattle and 
other stock, Mrs. Higgius is equally so in her 
poultry. They have one daughter. Beulah, who 
was born December 14, 1882. She has been 
given e.xcellent educational advantages, includ- 
ing le.ssons in music, and will graduate from the 
town.ship schools in the class of 1910. Mrs. Hig- 
gius was reared in the Baptist faith and he in 
the Christian. They lioth contribute by their 
lives to the moral ut>lift of the community. Prior 
to 1892, Mr. Higgius was identified with the Dem- 
ocratic party but then the money and tariff 
questions caused him to think deeply on public 
matters, and since then he has voted the Re- 
publican ticket. In connection with his other in- 
dustries, Mr. Higgins operates a well equipped 
saw mill on his farm. 

HIGGS, George W., a leading representative 
of the successful farmers of Effingham County, 
111., is the second-oldest native-born citizen of the 
county, his friend and relative, Thomas B. Aus- 
tin, of Jackson Township, being the oldest. Mr. 
Higgs was born on what is now the Joseph Smith 
farm, in Jackson Township, March 11, 1832, a 
sou of Harrison and Mary (Martin) Higgs, na- 
tives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respec- 
tively. Their home was a rude log cabin, as they 
were among the early pioneers, coming to the 
State about 1828-29. Harrison Higgs laed at the 
age of forty-five years, when George was nine 
years old, his wife having died two years previ- 
ous. Their children were: John, who was Iwrn 
in Tennessee, married Mahala Ostini. and died 
in ■Effingham County; Benjamin Franklin, born 
in Tennessee, never married, but J^raveled all 
over the world, — went to California in 1858, 
found a fortune several times and lost the same 
by speculation, but died in San Francisco, at the 
age of seventy-two years in good circumstances ; 
Martha, ma'TJed .John McCoy, but is now de- 



ceased; Levi, dieil unmarried; Mary Ann. Mrs, 
Joseph Yales of Mound Township; and George 
W. The father of Harrison Higgs was of Eng- 
lish e.xtractiou and was supposed to be a native 
of North Carolina. He came with his family to 
Tennessee and died there. 

After the death of his father, George W. Higgs 
spent three years in the family of Samuel Win- 
ters and attended the primitive log cabin sub- 
scription school of the neighborhood. He spent 
the next three years in the family of John Brack- 
ett, where he was to work on the farm and to at- 
tend school three months of the year, also at the 
end of three years to receive a horse, saddle 
and bridle. The bargain was not fully kept, 
though at the end of his time of service he re- 
ceived a horse, which he sold for thirty-five dol- 
lars. During his boyhood the wild game was 
plentiful, the Indians roamed through the woods 
and the howl of the timber w'olf was a common 
sound. 

On March 10, 18.53, upon attaining his major- 
ity, ■ Mr. Higgs married Rachel Jane Beck, 
daughter of William Beck, and began farming on 
his own account. He purchased eighty acres of 
prairie land from his brother, B. F. Higgs, who 
had purcha.sed it from a Mexican War veteran 
who had received it for settlement of a land 
grant for his services. Mr. Higgs still owns his 
land. He began to bring it under cultivation, for 
several years using an ox-team for this work. 
He Ijuilt a log-cabin from timber on the farm, and 
because he put up a stone chimney his neighbors 
called him "high-toned." He lived in this home 
until 1890. when he replaced it with a modern, 
c-ommodious home. He had the misfortune to 
lose his faithful and devoted wife four years af- 
ter their marriage. She had borne two children : 
William Franklin, of Jackson Township, and one 
who died in infancy. 

Mr. Higgs married (second) in 1857, Adeline 
Ward, daughter of Charles Ward of Bond 
County, 111., who died alwut 1894, and is buried 
in the cemetery of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Salem, of which she was a devout 
member. They were parents of children as fol- 
lows: Mary Ann, Mrs. Frank Gillespie, of Bond 
County ; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of William U. 
Dowd. of Jaijkson Township ; George, married 
Tora Griffith, both now deceased ; Albert, of Ma- 
son Township, married Jennie Leonard ; Charles, 
died at the age of eighteen years ; John, of Moul- 
trie County, 111. : James, on the home farm, mar- 
ried Delia Thrasher. Mr. Higgs has always been 
a Democrat and is a consistent member of the 
Metliodist Episcopal Church. 

Mr. Hi.ggs is well known in the communit.v as 
a man of superior business judgment, energj' and 
thrift, as well as one who is kindly and charita- 
ble to all, being broad in his sympathies and 
views. He is a man of intelligence and vigor, 
who through his own efforts has attained a veo' 
fair degree of success. He is highly esteemed 
and revered. His father was a .soldier in the 
Black Hawk War, and though he died in middle 
age, had impressed himself upon his conununity 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



783 



and was regarded as a valuable citizen. At the 
time of his settling in Illinois Effingbam County 
was not organized and the Sberift' rode from 
house to bouse to collect tbe taxes. 

HIGHTOWER, John D.— In every branch of 
industry, the advance of Effingham County bas 
been remarkably rapid during tbe last few years, 
and its progress has been equal to that of any 
other section of tbe State of liimois. Tbe pres- 
ent prosperity of tbe county is well represented 
in Its stockmen and agriculturists, and among 
these may be mentioned John D. Higbtower. of 
Section 20, Watson Township. Mr. Hightower 
was born in Pickens County, Ga., November 1, 
1840, a son of John and Martha (Jordan) High- 
tower. 

John Hightower was a native of North Caro- 
lina and his wife of South Carolina, and both, 
so far as is known, were of German descent. 
They were married in South Carolina about 
1830, and removed thence to Pickens County, Ga., 
where their ten children were born. Of these 
nine grew to maturity, one dying in childhood. 
The three surviving members of the family are : 
John D. ; Angeliue. married (first) Aaron Liv- 
ingston (who died in Effingham County) and is 
now the wife of John Loy, a resident of Watson 
Township; and Marshall J., who was last heard 
from in Arkansas, and was then contemplating a 
trip to Indian Territory. About 184.5 the par- 
ents of John D. Hightower moved to Winston 
County, Ala., and there the father was killed 
about 1858, while serving as a Deputy in the ar- 
rest of a desperado. His wife had died in Mar- 
shall County, Ala. 

John D. Hightower received bis education in 
the subscription schools of Georgia and Alabama. 
At tbe outbreak of the Civil War the four High- 
tower brothers joined the First Jliddle Tennes- 
see Cavalry, United States Troops, in which he 
served until after the battle of Stone River, when 
they were transferred to the First Alabama Cav- 
alry. Just prior to the organization of the First 
Tennessee, John D. Hightower had been captured 
by tbe Confederates and taken, as a prisoner, al- 
though in citizen's clothes, to Tupelo, Miss., but 
after two months' confinement he managed to es- 
cape and hid in the woods, escaping from tbe 
scouts of the Confederate army in October, 18(33. 
when he joined the First Alabama Regiment, en- 
listing in Company I, in which his three brothers, 
Marion, Monroe, and Wilburn. were serving. 
The First Alabama Regiment was in the Fourth 
Army Corps. KiliMtrick's I>ivision,l and took 
part in all the hard-fought battles of the Atlanta 
camjiaign. when this company served as escort 
to General Sherman, ,Tohn D. Hightower serv- 
ing in the capacity of General Sherman's Orderly 
throughout the xiarch to the Sea. In 1864 Mr. 
Hightower .spent five months in scouting service, 
going first to Iluntsville, Tenn. He then re- 
joined his regiment. After the surrender of 
General Lee, at Apiximattox. Company I. First 
Alabama Cavalrv, was ordered back to Hunts- 



ville, Ala., and as the company was preparing to 
march, General Sherman presented Lieutenant 
David R. Snelling with a letter extending his 
heartfelt thanks to him and his company for 
their bravei-y and steadfastness to duty. The 
company remained at Huntsville until ordered to 
Nashville, Tenn., where they were mustered out 
of the service, July 21, 18G.5. John D. Higb- 
tower then came to Effingham County, III. His 
brother Monroe had died at camp In Nashville, 
Wilbm-n had died at Memphis, and Marion was 
honorably discharged and went to Arkansas, 
where he soon died as a result of the exposure 
and hard service of his army life. Mr. High- 
tower can relate many thrilling experiences of his 
army life, but none are so interesting, perhaps, 
as his recollections of his escape from the Con- 
federates at Tupelo, Miss., which he has often de- 
clared caused him more suffering and hardships 
than his army life. He could often hear the 
howls of tbe blood-hounds which were being 
used to track him down, and on one occasion his 
life was saved b.v a lady who struck up the gun 
of a soldier who was about to shoot him as he 
was making at attempt to get away. 

In 1865 Mr. Hightower came to Effingham 
County and l>ought a small farm on Section 20, 
Watson Town.ship. His wife, whom he had 
married after his escape from the Confederates, 
in 18(j3, had come to Effingham Count.v in 1864. 
She had been Mary C. Klevens. and bore her hus- 
band five children, namely : (icorge F.. born Jan- 
uary 1, 1867, now Superintendent of Schools of 
Coulterville, 111., married Catherine McCoy and 
has two children, — Lloyd and Earl : Wilburn C, 
died in infancy ; Martha Alabama. liorn January 
2. 1870. is the wife of George Percival, a farmer 
of Watson Township, and has seven children, — 
John O.. Lettie. Iva A.. Grace, Sadie and Lota 
and Lee ; Minta A., born January 23. 1872. mar- 
ried the Rev. Erwin McJInrry. minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Bethany, 111. ; and 
Effie M., born June' 5. 1S74, married Otto Le- 
Ci-one. of Watson, and has two children — - 
Walter and Lura Jane. The first wife of John 
D. Hightower died February 23, 1875, and was 
buried in tbe Loy Cemetery. On March 15. 1877, 
Mr. Hightower was married (second) to Harriet 
McCann, a native of Illinois, and they had three 
vnlldren : John E., Ixirn August 26, 1878, married 
Ella Lo.v, daughter of Henry Loy, and they have 
two children. — Howard and Noble : Noble, born 
March 11, 1881, manager of the Remington Type- 
writer Company, at Cincinnati. Ohio, married 
Rhea Hamilton, of Atchison. Kan., and they have 
one child, — Helen ; and Clark M., born November 
12, 1884, principal of the schools of Murdock. 
Douglas County, lU. Mr. Higbtower's second 
wife died January 7, 1002. and her loss was felt 
not only by her family and intimate friends, but 
by the entire community, wlio knew her for a 
woman of true Christian character and a loving 
and devoted mother. Jlr. Hightower never 
having had the advantages of a thorough educa- 
tion himself, gave his children every possible op- 
portunity, and the benefit of this action will b» 



784 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



seen in the high iwsitions in life in which they 
have i5laee(l tliemselves. 

Mr. Hightower has voted for every Republican 
president since the election of President Lincoln, 
although at that time he was in the South. He 
was for a number of years Chairman of the Re- 
publican County Central Committee, although he 
has never sought offices of a political nature. 
His religious affiliations are with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of which he is a liberal sup- 
porter. His honest and upright life has been 
such as to win the respect, esteem and confidence 
of the community in which he has spent forty- 
five years of a useful life. 

HILL, David Stanley, D. D. S.— The dental 
surgeons of Effingham County are represented by 
as fine a body of men as can be gathered any- 
where in the country. They have taken the 
present e.xhaustive course which has reduced the 
care, preservation rnd restoration of teeth, and 
the treatment of the various disorders attendant 
upon them, to an exact science. Among those 
who have built up a large practice and firmly es- 
tablished themselves in the confidence of the peo- 
ple of the community, is Dr. David Stanley Hill, 
of the city of Effingham, who has a well-ap- 
pointed suite of rooms in the Parlier Building, 
lOOli South Banlier Street. 

Dr. Hill was l)om at Calhoun, Richland 
County, 111,. October 30, 1878, a son of Titus and 
Flora Margaret (Bolingerl Hill. The great- 
great-grandfather and great-grandfather served 
in the Revolutionary AVar, the former being fallen 
prisoner and confined on a British prison ship, 
where he died. 

Dr. Hill attended the Calhoun public schools 
and then went for two years to the Southern Illi- 
nois State Xonnal University at Carbondale, 111. 
During his vacations, and while at school, he 
.studied medicine under a preceptor, intending 
later to enter a medical school. However, after 
finishing his studies at the'State Normal, he ac- 
cepted a position with the Northwestern Yeast 
Company of Chicago, remaining in tlieir employ 
for five years, during which time his travels ex- 
tended over the Central, Southern and Western 
States, visiting some twenty-six States besides 
portions of Canada. His ambition was toward 
some pi-ofession where he could be permanently 
located, so with this purpose in view, he re- 
signed this position and in 1904 entered the Ohio 
College of Dental SurgeiT. at that time the den- 
tal department of the University of Cincinnati, 
gi-aduating therefrom in 1907 with honoraiT 
mention. Following this. Dr. Hill practiced for 
H time at Xewton. 111., under Dr. George Franke, 
finally locating at Effingham in March, 1008. 

Dr. Hill is a member of the Masonic Order, 
Modern Woodmen of America. Modern American 
Fretemal Order, and is also a member of The 
Xi Psi Phi Dental Fraternity and of the Illinois 
State Dental Society. He is unmarried. 

HILL, Dr. J. Leslie, was bom at Calhoun, Rich- 
laud County. Illinois. He received his prelim- 



inary education in the schools of that place. 
Later, during his vacation, he carried on the 
study of medicine under a preceptor, he having 
a desire for a professional life, and intending 
later to enter a Medical College. 

However, upon the completion of his course 
at the Calhoun Schools, he ac-cepted a position 
with the Northwestern Yeast Company of Chi- 
cago, remaming with that firm four years, trav- 
eling in their interests over a territory extending 
over Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Kentucky, West Vir- 
ginia, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and other 
States. 

Dr. Hill gave up the intention of studying 
medicine for the profession of dentistry, entering 
the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, and graduating therefrom with hon- 
ors May 13, 1910. 

He is a member of the United Commercial 
Travelers of America and of the Masonic Lodge. 

HIPSHER, John F.— After a life of usefulness 
and hard work, John Hijisher, of Mound Town- 
ship, Effingham County, has now retired to the 
ease which he has earned. He was born in Fair- 
field County. Ohio, January 18, 18,3(5, being the 
second son of John and Elizabeth (Young) Ilip- 
sher, the former a native of Harrlsburg, Pa., who 
moved to Ohio with his parents at an early date, 
settling in Fairfield County. He was a son of 
Matthias Hipsher, while his wife's father was 
Robert Y'oung. 

In 1851, John Hip.sher moved to Illinois, locat- 
ing In Mound Township. Effingliam Count.v, and 
here his family was reared. The children were 
as follows : Margaret ; Robert M. of Ohio ; John 
F. ; Jane, now ilrs. Brown ; David, deceased. 

John F. Hipsher went to the subscription 
schools of his neighborhood, and made the most 
of the opportunities offered him. When only 
nineteen, he married, in 18,^55, Edith Jane Nevill, 
who died in 1858. His second wife, whom he 
married in 1860, was Catherine Steritt, daughter 
of Andrew Steritt and his wife Catherine, na- 
tives of Scotland. 

With the exception of two years spent in Mis- 
souri. Mr. Hipsher has spent his life, since com- 
ing to Illinois, in Effingham County. For many 
years he has lived upon his present farm or 80 
acres of rich land in Section 14, and he also 
owns thirty acres in Section 11, and 10 acres 
in Section 13, and ,32 acres in Section 24. His 
political views make him a Democrat, but he 
lilies to do his own thinliing. 

The children born to Mr. Hipsher and his sec- 
ond wife are as follows : Margaret. Mrs. G. W. 
Gwin of Altaniont ; William R. of Jackson Town- 
ship, who married Ella Kepler ; Lola B., de- 
ceased ; Annie N.. who married Dr. Baker of Al- 
taniont ; .John A., deceased : Allen Benton of In- 
diana, and Robert F., who is in Northern Minne- 
sota. 

For many years Mr. Hipsher cultivated his 
own land, but is now retired from the active pur- 
suits of his ordinary- life, and is enjoying the 
comfort his own liard work has earned. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



785 



HIRTZEL, George John. — vSorae men are nat- 
urally stroiifier mentally than others, and these 
are bound to rule. They understand men, know 
how to estimate motives, and to make due allow- 
ances for existing conditions. Such men when 
governed by sound motives are of benefit to the 
communities in which they are found. George 
John Hirtzel. a farmer on Section 19, Summit 
Township, is one of the influential citizens of his 
part of the count.v. He was born on a farm in 
Lake County, Ind., December 0. 1864. and when 
but a bab.y. was brought by his parents to Effing- 
ham County. 111., about iS64, when the family 
settled on the farm which Mr. Hirtzel now o^^tis. 
Here his boyhood days were spent, alternating 
hard work on the farm with such educational 
privileges as were offered by the district schools. 
He remained at home until he attained his ma- 
jorit.v, when he left the homestead on January 21, 
1885, and went to Yazoo City, iliss.. where he 
was In the employ of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road for a time, from there going to Tehula, 
Miss., where he remained until June 5. 18S.'i. 
He then went to Arkansas, working on the ex- 
tension of the Bald Knob Railroad. After this 
he returned home and. after a short stay, went 
to Chicago, to work in the Illinois Malleable Iron 
Works. From that establishment he went to 
work for the David Bradley Implement and .Ag- 
ricultural factory, remaining there until May 7. 
1SS7. when once more he returned home and 
worked on the farm until November 1. 1889. 
■when he went to Chicago to work for the Deering 
Harvester Company. On Ausnist 1. 1891. he came 
home, and on the 2.5th of that month was mar- 
ried to Louda F. De Vore. On September 1st. he 
and his wife returned to Chicago, and he contin- 
ued with the Deering people until April 8, 1893, 
when returning to the old home, he there took 
charge. On .\ugust l.S. 1893. Mrs. Hirtzel died, 
and her remains rest in Freemanton Cemetery. 
On November 8. 1894. he was married to Miss 
Mary Bernius. born in Effingham County. Janu- 
ary .31. 1868. the daughter of Matthew Bernius. 
and he and his wife are still livina on the farm 
where Mrs. Hirtzel was born, .\hout this time 
the elder Mr. and Mrs. Hiitzel retired to Shum- 
wa.v. and Jlr. Hirtze! assume<l full charge of the 
farm. Jlr. and Mrs. Hirtzel have had a family 
as follows : Herbert R.. born July 21. 189.5 : Ir- 
vin Clarence, born March 28. 1.897: I^eonard Ray- 
mond, born March 18. 1899: John TVillard. Iiorn 
August 5. 1902 : Josephine, born February 28, 
190,5, and Mildred May and Nellie Luella, twins, 
bom November 14. 1908. 

On Februarj- 1. 1905. Mr. Hirtzel bousrht the 
home farm, and now owns 200 afres on Sections 
19 and 16. His land is well stocked with high 
grade cattle, horses and hogs, his residence and 
barns in good shape, and he is one of the pros- 
perous men of his part of the State. His fra- 
ternal relations are with the Odd Fellows, be- 
lonzing to Dallas Txidge No. 8,5. Effingham. In 
politics he is liberal, preferrinir to vote for the 
man he thinks will best carry out the will of the 
people. He has served very acceptably as School 



Director, and in this capacity and in private life, 
finds his Judgment much strengthened and his 
ideas broadened by his contact with city life, al- 
though he prefers that of the farm. Mrs. Hirt- 
zel is very active in the Methodist Church, to- 
wards which he inclines in the matter of attend- 
ance, while he contributes to all. 

HIRTZEL, William, whose extensive farming 
Interests, combined with dairying, make him a 
representative agriculturist of Effingham County, 
has had many intere.sting experiences, having 
lived an eventful life. He was born at Deer- 
field, in Lake County, 111.. December 8, 1859, a son 
of George and Saloma (Ott) Hirtzel, George 
Hirtzel was born January 20, 1833, and his wife 
January 4, 1,8.32, in the village of Baldenelm, 
Alsace, then territor.v of France, but now of 
Germany, In 1855 the Otts came to America 
and settled in Lake County, 111., where the 
father and mother of Mrs. Hirtzel die^, about 
1878. George Hirtzel came alone to America; 
he also located in Lake County, in 1853, and was 
married to Saloma Ott April 28, 1858. 

.After marriage George Hirtzel and wife re- 
moved to Lake County. Ind.. bought a farm, 
built a comfortable house and lived there until 
1S64. At that time farmers had to haul their 
grain to Chicago, which was forty miles distant, 
and then sold It for twelve cents a bushel, there 
being no inflated prices as at present. .4.11 other 
farm produce was sold at low figtu-es. and when 
an opportunity came to Mr. Hirtzel to sell out 
and begin over again, in what appeared to him a 
better location, he did so. and in 1864 came to 
Effingham County and bought 200 acres, all 
prairie, situated in Summit Township. They en- 
countered pioneer hardships in tue new location 
and hard work was the rule of the day before 
the land was cleared and the soil put into condi- 
tion to produce bountiful crops. They remained 
on their Effingham County land until 1894, meet- 
ing with the success that attends industry and 
jirudeuce. and then moved to Shumway. where 
Mr. Hirtzel built a very' comfortable residence, 
which they occupied for fourteen years. While 
living there they celebrated their Golden Wed- 
ding, on .\pril 28, 1908. .\lthough this celebra- 
tion had been planned by their devoted children 
and came as a total surprise to the venerable 
couple, it was no less enjoyed. Relatives and 
friends came from Chicago and other cities to 
add to the list of guests, and each one brought a 
remembrance, in addition to their good wishes 
ana words of genuine affection. Their lives have 
been so blameless and so full of kindness and 
sympathy for others that whesever they have 
lived friends have kept them in the kindest of 
remembrance. After the festivities attending 
the (Jolden Wedding, they expressed a wish to 
retire again to the country and in the home of 
their son William find a comfortable haven for 
their declining years. To them seven children 
were born, namely : William : Emma, who died in 
infancy, in Indiana : George ,J., who lives on the 
old home farm in Section 19, Summit Township ; 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Edward P.. who was born in 1867. after the fam- 
ily came to Ethogham County, is a farmer in 
Oklahoma : Louisa, now deceased, who was the 
wife of Fred Ehlers, of Altamout, 111. ; Clara H., 
born May 17, 1875, who died June 3, 1901 ; and 
John, who was born March 30, 1877, and died 
April 14, 1905, a young man of brilliant parts, the 
valedictorian of his class at the Northwestern 
University and successfully engaged in the prac- 
tice of dentistry. Mr. and Mrs. Hirtzel were 
reared in the Lutheran faith but have been iden- 
tified with the Methodist Episcopal Churca since 
coming to Illinois. 

William Hirtzel was five years old when his 
parents brought him to Effingham County. As 
soon as old enough he began to attend the winter 
sessions of the Blue Point District school, of 
three months duration, and in the summers gave 
his help on the farm. By the time he was t\velve 
years old he could stack grain and help in the 
threshing, and before he reached manhood could 
do as large a day's work as any of the men his 
tather hii-ed. He remained at home until he was 
twenty-one years of age and then visited his un- 
cle, Simon Hirtzel, in Lake County, Ind., and 
during the winter of 1881 attended .school and 
made the most of his opiwrtunities. In the fol- 
lowing year he went west and traveled through 
Iowa and the Dakotas, and finding a good opening 
at Miller, S. Dak., he opened the first store 
there, was the pioneer merchant, and did a great 
deal to establish the busine.ss interests of what 
was then but a settlement. He took up a home- 
stead and erected a tent on his land before the 
town of Miller was platted. For six months the 
place was like an outpost of civilization, the set- 
tlers not having their wives or daughters with 
them. Mr. Hirtzel bought land for .$1.25 an 
acre, the same land now commanding $25 or 
more per acre. He remained in business at Mil- 
ler until 1885. when he sold to advantage and 
came east as far as Chicago, where he entered 
the employ of the Deering Company, as head 
time-keeper in the foundry depot, ' remaining 
with the great harvester company for ten years 
and resignfhg his position on account of failing 
health. In 1895 he returned to Effingham 
County and. believing that life in the open air 
in the healthful pursuits of agriculture would be 
beneficial, he took charge of his present farm, a 
valuable tract of 1.30 acres, situated in Section 
15, Summit Township. He has made dairying a 
main feature, keeps Holstein cattle and milks 
twenty head of cows. He is President of the 
Effingham Dairy Association and under his lead- 
ership this body has become an imirortant factor 
in the State. 

Mr. Hirtzel was married in South Dakota, on 
March 10. 18&3. to Miss Anna Miller, who was 
born .Tune 20, 1860, in Baden. Germany, where 
her father, John Miller, died. With her two 
children, Anna and Leoptina the mother of Mrs. 
Hirtzel came to America and settled in St. Clair 
Count.v. 111., where she died, in 1870. and the 
elder daughter also died there. Mrs. Hirtzel 
found a home in her uncle's household. After 



marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hirtzel lived In a claim 
shanty until they could prove up their land. 
Many interesting events were connected with the 
pioneer life they then led and the retailing of 
them would make most interesting reading if the 
limits of the present sketch permitted their re- 
lation. They have had eight children born to 
them, as follows : Clara L., who was born at 
Miller, S. Dak., December 31, 1885, a graduate of 
the University of Illinois, a talented young lady 
who has been chosen as teacher of the Blue 
Point School, the school which her father first at- 
tended ; Benedict, born July 31, 1887, died in in- 
fancy, while the family lived in Chicago ; Mamie, 
born in Chicago. January 13, 1893, is a student in 
the State Xormal School at Charleston, 111. ; 
Willie, born September 5, 1895, died in 1901; 
Howard H., born August 4. 1897 : Fritz, born De- 
cember 13, 1899 ; Verna. who died an infant ; and 
Theodore Br.van, born February 28. 1904. 

In politics Mr. Hirtzel has always been a Dem- 
ocrat and is a firm believer in free trade. He is 
a member of the Effingham County Democratic 
Central Committee. He is an intelligent, out- 
spoken man, one who has high standards of right 
and is not afraid to defend them. He is Presi- 
dent of Division 31, Shumway Mutual Telephone, 
and is Secretary of the general company. 

Mr. Hirtzel is a member of A. O. U. W., Alpha 
Lodge Xo. 19, of Miller, South Dakota, also of 
the I. O. O. F. of that State. 

KITES, David (deceased).— Effingham County 
has been called upon to mourn the loss of some 
of its best men, who have pased away in the very 
prime of life when it seemed that they c-ouUl ill 
be spared by their families and communities. 
Perhaps no more substantial or better liked man 
ever lived in this part of the State than the late 
David Hites, of West Township, who was born 
in Indiana February .", 185.5, and died on his 
farm May 27, 1902. Mr. Hites was a son of .John 
and Rebecca (Summerlot) Hites, who moved 
from Pennsylvania to Indiana after their mar- 
riage. John Hites was a Frenchman and his 
wife was a native of Pennsylvania of Dutch an- 
cestry. When David Hites was a small boy re- 
moval was made to Fayette County, 111., and 
when he was only eight years of age he had the 
misfortune to lose his parents. A relative by the 
name of Fisher, who lived on a neighboring 
farm, took the lad to rear, and brought his 
charge up to farm life, permitting him to attend 
school for a short juried each year when he 
could be spared from farm work. 

When he was twenty -one. David Hites left his 
foster father and began working for himself. He 
engaged in farm work among the neighbors and 
for two or three years was In northern Illinois, 
there working b.v the month. On February 17, 
1879. he married Nancy Woofers, daughter of 
John and Amanda (Tate) Woofers. Mrs. Hites 
was horn at Odin. Marion County, 111.. November 
14. 1859. Her father was a native of Virginia, 
but was taken in boyhood by his parents to North 
Carolina. Later the parents of John Wooters 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



787 



moved to the vicinity of Salem, 111., where their 
children grew to maturity. The elder Mrs. 
Wooters was born in Bond County, 111., a daugh- 
ter of Owen and Nancy (Bundy) Tate, and she 
and her husband, John Wooters, had seven chil- 
dren : Frank, Nancy (Mrs. Hites), Henry, Jolin, 
Esther, Walter and Arville. Mrs. Hites went to 
sch(X)l in Odin, but when she was fifteen years 
old her parents moved to Springfield, Mo., a year 
later went to Mt. Vernon. III., and thence to Sa- 
lem, 111., still later living In Fayette County. Mr. 
Wooters was a farmer all his life, and after some 
years spent in agricultural pursuits in northern 
"Illinois, he moved bis family to Custer County, 
Neb., where the Wooters now own a large ranch. 

After bis marriage, Mr. Hites rented a farm 
from old Johnnie Springer, located in Fayette 
County, and he and his wife lived on it for seven 
years. Following this Mr. Hites bought a home- 
stead in Section 33, West Township, Effingham 
County. This purchase was made in two tracts, 
the present farm containing 260 acres. After 
paying for this farm, he bought forty acres in 
Fayette Q>unty. Having but a meager start, he 
was forced to borrow money with which to pay 
for his land. When he began farming he had a 
horse, and only money enough to buy another, but 
he borrowed a wagon and commenced his work. 
For many years the family lived in an old frame 
house, but "in the fall of 1901. he built the present 
commodious one, unfortunately dying soon after 
its completion and before he was able to enjoy 
its comforts. He was highly resijeoted by his 
neighbors and loved in his home. His funeral 
was largely attended, those who knew him being 
glad to pay respect to his memory, and bis re- 
mains were interred in the Foike graveyard. Id 
political faith he was a Republican. 

Besides his widow, Mr. Hites left the follow- 
ing family to mourn his loss : Maud, married 
and living in Mason Township ; Edgar, of Mason 
Township, married Ella Greer ; Esther, Mrs. 
Matthew Derbolt. of Fayette County ; Earl, of 
Mason Township : and Winifred, CliffoiHl, Chloe 
and ,\lta. at home. 

HOFFMANN, Anton.— When it is said that a 
man is a typical German, high praise is bestowed, 
for those who come from Germany, or from Ger- 
man parents, inherit those fine traits of charac- 
ter, being industrious, law-abiding and thrifty. 
Such a man is Anton Hoffmann, who resides on 
Section 33, Douglas Township, who was born a 
son of Frank Hoffmann, Sr., on the farm now 
owned by his brother Charles Hoffmann. The 
boyhood days of Mr. Hoffmann were spent at- 
tending the common schools and St. Anthony 
College, Effingham. 

Having finished his education, he returned to 
the farm and began working upon it, remaining 
under his father's roof until he was twenty -seven. 
At that time. October 1.5. 18S8, he married Kate 
Hendelmyer. horn in Effingham. Her parents 
were natives of Germany, who came to the 
United States to establish a soda-pop plant. 
Later they sold, and went to a farm south of 



ElBngham, where Jlr. Hendelmyer developed a 
good farm, dying there since 1900. His widow 
survives, residing on the homestead. 

After marriage, the young couple settled on a 
portion of the old farm, in a three-room cottage, 
to which they have added until they now have a 
comfortable residence. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann 
have had a family as follows : Annie, Gertrude, 
Francis, Clara, Alice, Albert and Irene. The 
farm includes 1.38 acres of excellent laud, a good 
part of which Mr. Hoffmann helped to clear. He 
carries a good lot of cattle, horses and nogs, and 
for a number of years has been milking twelve 
cows. In politics he votes the Democratic ticket. 
He and his family belong to St. Anthony Catho- 
lic Church of Effingham. 

Mr. Hoffmann belongs to one of the pioneer 
farmer families of this locality, and has devoted 
himself to the cultivation of the soil. A full 
account of the Hoffmann family will be found 
elsewhere in this work. He has proven himself a 
good farmer, a kind neighbor and devoted to his 
family. 

HOFFMANN, Frank.— The Hoffmann family is 
intimately assoratted with the pioneer history of 
Effingham County, and its representatives are 
deserving of much credit for the part they have 
liorne in the development and improvement of 
this section of the State. One of the best-known 
members of the family is Frank Hoffmann, a 
farmer of Section 32," Douglas Township, who 
was boi'n on Section 31. of this to\\aiship. Janu- 
ary 23, 1S57, a son of Frantz Anton Hoffmann. 
Frantz Anton Hoft'mann located on Section 31 
about 1835, and established the family in Effing- 
ham Count} . This farm is now owned by Charles 
Hoffmann. 

Frantz Anton Hoffmann was a native of Ger- 
many, who in 18.33, at eighteen years of age. left 
the Fatherland and came to America, locating at 
Cincinnati, where be worked on the roads, then 
went to Kentucky and obtained employment in a 
distillery. When he came to Effingham Count}-, 
it was with the intention of becoming a farmer, 
and he secured land and cleared it off, develop- 
ing a good farm. The land was all raw prairie 
and timber, and wild game of all kinds was 
plentiful. In order to secure money to pay for 
entering his first forty acres and to secure a 
yoke of oxen to break the land, he walked back 
to Cincinnati and worked on the turnpilve road 
until he had enough. The land office was then 
at Vandalia. and he started out on foot to enter 
his land, and as the money, in gold pieces, was 
heavy he wrapped it in his red handkerchief, and 
hung it on the end of his umbrella. While 
trudging along, he was stopped by t^\'o men who 
asked him if he was going to pay for his land, 
but with keen wit he managed to divert sus- 
picion and was allowed to go on unmolested. 

Once he had oWained his land, he built a little 
log cabin. His first forty acres cost him .$.50. but 
he paid much more for the 260 be later added to 
his farm. It was difficult for him to get ready 
money, prices paid for farm products were so low. 



788 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Eggs sold for three ceuts u dozen, and other com- 
modities at a like rate. ^t. Louis and Vaudalia 
were the markets. Mr. Iloffmuuu remained ou 
his farm until 1895, during which time he saw a 
wonderful change come over things, and it was 
one In which he always rejoiced. He then bought 
a lot near St. Anthony's Church. Effingham, and 
moved to his new home, and there, surrounded by 
comforts his means had provided, he died in 1901, 
on the day his wife was buried, and they both 
lie in St. Anthony's Cemetery. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann had children as fol- 
lows: Frank; Clem, ou the old homestead; Tony, 
also on the homestead ; Mary, wife of Theodore 
Lang, a merchant tailor of Effingham; Katie, 
wife of John Harmon, a farmer of Watson Town- 
ship ; Anna, a sister in a convent. In politics, 
Mr, Hotfmaun was a strong Democrat, and no 
one could induce him to change his views. He 
was often solicited to accept nomination for of- 
fice, but stoutly disliked to allow his name to be 
used. All of the family are members of St. 
Anthony's Catholic Church, but when he first 
located here they had to go to Teutopolis for re- 
ligious services. Being a great hunter, he took 
pleasure in tne sport, and many deer were killed 
by him, some on the present site of the court- 
house. 

Frank Hoffmann attended school held In a lit- 
tle log house, and then went to St. Anthony's Col- 
lege at Effingham. As he was the eldest, he early 
was forced to do his part on the farm. While he 
was too young to shoot them, he remembers his 
father killing deer and wild turkeys for the table. 
He remained with his jiarents until he was 
twenty-three. In ISSfi. he married Anna Gold- 
stein, born in Douglas Township. After mar- 
riage, they came to the present farm, and began 
housekeeping in a log cabin. The farm con- 
tained 100 acres, which his father gave him, as 
he did to his other children. In this primitive 
home the following family was born: Henry, a 
policeman of Effingham ; Mary, wife of Lawrence 
Blchler. clerk in a dry-goods store at Decatur, 
who has one son, — Franklin : Allie, at home. 
Mrs. Hoffmann died in 1SS7. In 18.SS Mr. Hoff- 
mann married Maggie Hilgeforte, who was born 
in Germanv and came with her parents to Amer- 
ica. Mr. ,and Mrs. Hoffmann became the parents 
of the following family : Rosa, born .January 16, 
19.00 : Katie, born May 22. 1891 : Eddie, born Oc- 
tober 1. 18.9.",; Theodora and Ouy (twins), horn 
July 11. 189.=;, the latter rtving ,Tuly 20, 189.5: 
Frank, born June 11, 1897; Lawrence, horn Jan- 
iiarv 11 1899; Florence, born April 30, 1901; 
Adeline, born November 20, 1902, and Clarence, 
born Julv 10 190r.. 

Mr. Hoffmann's whole life has been devoted to 
farming and stock-raising, and he has one of the 
best farms in Effingham County. A strong Dem- 
orat. like his father, he has been active in the 
ranks of his party, but has never desired office, 
although he has served as Road Commissioner. In 
addition to his farming Interests. Mr. Hoffmann 
is a Director of the Teutopolis Fire Insurance 
Company which is one of the cheapest insurance 



comijanies in the country. Mr. Hoffmann was 
elected a member of the Board of Directors with- 
out his knowledge, but he nas given the stock- 
holders and iwlicy holders efficient and faithful 
service. 

HOGAN, Thomas E.— One of the most profitable 
and satislart<>i->- business c-onnections is that 
whicli exists between father and son when they 
are associated together in important ventures. 
The experience of the eldej- man and the enthu- 
siasm of the .vouuger are weldetl into a strong 
chain that binds them together and makes their 
efforts productive of remarkable results. Such a 
combination exists in the well-known mercantile 
house of M. E. Hogan & Son, of Altamont, 111., the 
junior partner, Thomas E. Hogan, being the son 
of the senior member, Michael Edward Hogan. 
Thomas E. Hogan was bom in Altamont, 111., 
December 1.3, 1S80, being a sou of Michael E. 
and Lucy (Dial) Hogan. the latter now deceased. 
Michael Edward Hogan was born in Albany, 
County, N. Y., August 19, 1849, being a son of 
Christopher and Helen (King) Hogan, His edu- 
cation was received in the district school of his 
native county, and in Fayette County, III,, to 
which his parents removed while he was .still a 
lad. He was married at St. Elmo, 111., on Au- 
gust 25. 1873. and he and his wife had the fol- 
lowing children : Jlary Ellen, now Mrs. JIurray ; 
Lucy Mabel, Florence Eugenia, Thomas Edward, 
John Jerome, Verena Angela, Madonna Laura 
and Cecilia Clara. 

The business life of Michael E. Hogan began 
in 18t)5. when he became a clerk in the store of 
Dieckmann & Bradley, at Vaudalia, 111, Here he 
learned mercantile business, so that he was able 
to embark in a similar line at Ramse.v! in 1872, 
with Dr, Sumner Clark, under the name of M. E, 
Hogan & Co. They continued together until 
1877, when Jlr. Hogan purchased the Interest of 
his partner, removing the stock to Altamont, 
where it has since been located. ^Tien he took 
his son into the business. Mr. Hogan changed the 
caption to the present one of M. E. Hogan & Son. 
Mr. Hogan is also a manufacturer of cross ties, 
and owns a store at St. Elmo. His banking 
house, conducted under his own name, is one of 
the best-known financial institutions of the 
county, and he is properly regarded as one of the 
representative men of his locality. 

Thomas E. Hogan was educated in the Alta- 
mont public schools. St. Joseph's college at Teu- 
toiX)lis, and the Christian Brothers College in St. 
Louis. After completing his education, he spent 
one year in the wholesale dry good.s business at 
St, Louis, in order to gain a practical training 
for mercantile work. Returning home he was 
taken into partnership by his father, where he 
has since remained. He is also his father's part- 
ner in other ventures, and displays an unusual 
amount of interest and special ability for hand- 
ling the affairs entrusted to his capable hands, 

A resident of Altamont, Mr. Hogan is very 
much interested in its progi-ess, and is ever 
readv to contribute time and money towards the 




MR. AND MRS. J. II. i-. .-:i: 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



789 



support of any measure wbich he believes will 
work for the ultimate good of nil concerned. 

HOLLOWAY, David H., a prominent merchant 
of Mason, 111., is a li.an of whom it may well be 
said that the foundation stone of his success 
has been business integrity. Beared to work, he 
was schooled in practical economy, and from boy- 
hood has attended to his business and saved his 
money. Yet he possesses a liberal public spirit, 
and participates in all the affairs of the com- 
munity ; his private benefactions are wide-spread, 
and in his store he shows unusual ability in 
catering to the wants of his customers. 

Mr. Holloway was born in Madison County, 111., 
July 21, 1847,' a son of James T. and Rebecca 
(Hoskiu) Holloway. He was the youngest of a 
large family, of whom but two are now left, Mr. 
Holloway and a brother, Thomas J., a farmer of 
Lucas Township. The father died when David 
H. Holloway was but a baby, in 1S47, and in 
1854 the mother removed in a wagon from Madi- 
son County to Effingham County. Mr. Holloway 
can vaguely remember the trip and the camping 
out at night. She located in Lucas Township 
and rented land, her sons taking charge of the 
farm. Thomas finally bought forty acres, the 
family separated, and the mother died in 1ST2, 
in Lucas Township. 

David H. Holloway was educated in the com- 
mon school of his neighborlwod, and remained on 
the farm until 1864, when he enlisted in Com- 
])any D. Fift.v-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
for three years or until the close of the war, and 
was at once sent to the front. The regiment had 
been on veteran furlough at Mattoou, where Jlr. 
Holloway joined them. As he was only sixteen 
years of age, and the rigors of the trip to Arkan- 
sas, to which his regiment was sent, had impaired 
his health, the lad was honorably discharged at 
Hickory Station, Ark., January 21, 1865, and re- 
turned home. 

In March. 1865, he began teaching and contin- 
ued teaching three years in Effingham County, 
during the winter terms. On August 5. 1868, he 
located in Mason, where he worked as clerk in 
the dry goods store of Isaac Baker, alternating 
this with his teaching. He then bought a drug 
store and continued in that busines.s until 1872. 
In that year he sold out and bought a general 
stock, forming a partnership with John Pullam, 
and the busines.s was conducted as Pullam & 
Holloway until Mr. Pullam died in 1875, when 
the business was closed out and the stock sold. 
Jlr. Holloway clerked for several firms and in 
1881 went to Clifton, 111., where for two years 
he operated a, general store. In 1883 he came 
back to Mason and thercs oiiened a general 
store. He finally disposed of all his interests 
and. because of ill health, rested for a time. In 
1885. however, he and John A. Gladson traded 
for a stock of goods and a house at Alma, 111. 
Mr. Holloway then traded some interests for a 
farm in Mason Township, but returned to :Mason 
. to engage in a real estate business, and was thus 
successfully engaged until 1901, when he em- 



barked in his present business, although he still 
deals in i-eal estiite and insurance, negotiates 
loans, etc. Mr. Holloway has the best store of its 
kind in Mason and carries a general line of 
staple and fancy groceries, enjoying an immense 
patronage from the people of JIason and the sur- 
rounding country. 

On March 15, 1874, Mr. Holloway married 
Emma Leith, born on a farm in Mason Township, 
in 1851. They had four children: Harold H., 
clerking in a clothing establishment in Chicago; 
Charles D., a groceiy clerk in Chicago ; Stella B., 
wife of Albert Paugh, clerk in the offices of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, at Chicago : Mabel, 
wife of Aden K. Gibson, a banker and merchant 
of Mason. Mrs. Holloway died August 11, 1901. 
On May 15, 1907, Mr. Holloway married Martha 
(LeCrone) Traxler. He is a self-made man and 
has won success through his own efforts. He 
has reared a fine family, educated his children, 
and taught them to be law abiding and God fear- 
ing. Mr. Holloway was elected Trustee of the 
Village Board in 1881, and for four years was its 
President. Nominated on the Republican ticket 
for Supe^^•isor he was elected by a large ma- 
jority in a Democratic township. He resigned 
this office when he went to Clifton. Upon his 
return, he was again elected to several offices 
of public trust. In 1006 he resigned the office of 
Justice of the Peace, which he had held for eight 
years, and that same year was nominated for 
Supervisor from Mason Township, again tri- 
umphing by a large majority, and he was re- 
elected to the same office in 1908. By his hon- 
esty and efficiency he has won public approval. 
For sixteen years he has been a Notary Public. 
While not a lawyer, he is so well informed with 
regard to legal matters, that his advice is often 
sought and never in vain, if he can help those 
who need him. Mr. Holloway has done efficient 
work in helping soldiers and their widows to se- 
cure pensions, and his motto seems to have been 
"Help those in need." Fraternally he is a Mason, 
having joined that order in 1869, and belongs to 
both Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and ttie 
Eastern Star. His religious affiliations are with 
the Christian Church, to whose support he is a 
liberal contributor. He is thoroughly conversant 
with all the details of his business and has gained 
an enviable reputation as a business man of 
sound judgment, unquestioned integrity and re- 
liability, as well as a good manager and a friend 
of progress. 

HOLMES, William Spencer.— When it can be 
truthfully said of a man that he has been at 
various times trusted with the management of 
business other than his own and has handled 
large sums of nione.y, many times without bond, 
and never had a complaint made against him ; 
when he malces a success of whatever he under- 
takes, because of his thoroughness ,ind realiza- 
tion of the rights of others : when he has tried 
to live up to a high standard and help others to 
do the same — then that man is a good citizen 



790 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



and auy community may well be proud to own 
him. William Spencer Holmes, of Efflugliam, 111., 
is one of the thoroughly reliable lawyers of Edjug- 
ham County, and a man who can be depended 
uiJon in auy emergency, tie was born in George- 
town, Vermilion County, 111., September 16, 1852, 
a son of William Bartholomew and Eliza 
(Wrenn) Holmes, the former born in Briming- 
tou. England, September 28, 1S20, and the latter 
in Bristol, England, October 4, 1820. 

The parents were married in England and 
came to America in 1848, settling in Wiseousiu, 
near Fond du Lac, but after nearly a year they 
moved to Georgetown, 111. This was the Holmes 
home until 1857, when removal was made to what 
is now i'ord County, 111., near the present site 
of Melvin. The father died in Melviu in 1897, 
and his widow in 1903, and both are buried in the 
beautiful cemetei-y there. The Holmes family 
were pioneers of Ford County and endured all 
the hardships incident to their day and locality. 
William B. Holmes was one of the tirst settlers 
in what is now Peach Orchard, Ford County, 
and was ten years trying to induce two other set- 
tlers to locate in his neighborhood long enough 
to get a district school established. On account 
of this struggle, William Spencer Holmes was 
thirteen years old before the counti-y school was 
established, with his father and two neighbors 
as directors. Mr. Holmes bought a box house 
for $50 from a man who was leaving the coun- 
try, and moved it to a iwint an equal distance 
from the three families, and here William S. 
Holmes started to attend school, and he was 
through with his course there before a better 
school-house was put up. 

The boyhood of William S. Holmes was spent 
in herding cattle and doing work on the farm, 
with an occasional hunting expedition. Mr. 
Holmes was a poor hunter, but succeeded well as 
a trapper. After leaving school he worked on his 
father's farm and studied law, for he was am- 
bitious, buying his own books, and reading them 
as he found time. As soon as he could he began 
studying with Mr. Wyman, an old friend of his 
father, and as the young man was allowed to 
recite in the lawyer's office, he had the advan- 
tage of listening to the e.xaminations conducted 
by Mr. Wyman, who was on the committee to 
examine law students before the Supreme Court 
Mr. Holmes attributes much of his success and 
his deep knowledge and keen insight into legal 
matters to this early training. 

When twenty-six yeai-s old. he left the farm 
and began practicing law at Altamont. 111., where 
he continued until 1885. when he was appointed 
Postmaster by President Cleveland, but when 
the administration changed, he was succeeded 
by a Republican. In 1874 Mr. Holmes and a 
friend, being in Texas, went 200 miles in order 
to join the Rangers, but the company being full, 
there was no need of their services. Mr. Holmes 
was defeated both for State's Attorney and for 
the Assembly, owing to his views on temperance, 
but be prefers to continue his practice, and earn 
his living in that way. He has always been in 



favor of progress, and has always done what- 
ever he could to make the community better, but 
has never been honored by any high office where 
he could serve the public, although he has been 
Alderman of his ward in Effingham. While he 
ran on the Democratic ticket, his personality 
was so strong that he received more Republican 
votes than he did Democratic, and was elected by 
an overwhelming majority. He is a Democrat, 
and will alwa.vs continue in that faith as long as 
the party stands by its principles, although he 
votes for any man in local affairs whom he be- 
lieves is best fitted for the office. During the 
prohibition movement he fought against his 
party and helped to wipe out the saloons of Ef- 
fingbam. He has never been affiliated with an.v 
church, having no preference for any, liking them 
all and giving them his heartv sui>ix)rt. 

On October 25, 1881, Mr. Hiihnes married Miss 
Lena Heiligenstein, at Altamont, 111. Mrs. 
Holmes was born in St. Clair County, 111.. No- 
vember 25. 1856. They have three children : 
Edith C born August 19. 1882. married John T. 
Lindsey and lives at Robinson, 111. ; Elizabeth 
F., born April 26, 1886, and William B., born 
May 10, 1890. 

HOMANN, William H.— Those who are fortu- 
nate enougli to come of German ancestr.v are sure 
to possess sterling traits of character that event- 
ually work for success, and this is true of Wil- 
liam H. Homann. former junior member of the 
grocery firm of Grubb & Homann, in the town 
of Moccasin, 111. Mr. Homann was born in Moc- 
casin Township. Effingham Count}-, February 5, 
1868, a son of William and grand.son of Fred Ho- 
mann. The latter came from his native land, 
Germany, locating in St. Louis, where he carried 
on his trade of a gunsmith, and later removed to 
Effingham Countyt III., where his death oc- 
curred in 1896, his wife passing away two days 
before. 

William Homann, the father of William H., 
was born in Hanover, Germany, October 7. 18.37, 
and came to America in young manhood, landing 
first in New Orleans, whence he came to Wash- 
ington County, 111., but a few years later re- 
moved to St. Louis, where he worked as a com- 
mon laborer. While living there he enlisted in 
the Union Army for three years' service in the 
United States Reserve Corps Cavalry, and was 
mustered out with his company at the end of 
his service. In political faith he is a Repub- 
lican. His fine farm of 400 acres shows that he 
has been able to accumulate a desirable property. 
The first wife of William Homann was Miss 
Hesse, and after her death he married a Mrs. 
Beckman. nrr Haase. He is father of nine liv- 
ing children, namely : Mary. Frederic W., Liz- 
zie. William H., Herman L., Dina, Henry, Riecki 
and .Tohn. 

William H. Homann was a farmer until 1907, 
when he and Mr. Grubb entered into partnership, 
which has recently been dissolved by Mr. IIo- 
mann's retirement. Mr. Homann's devotion to 
the principles of his party has resulted in mak- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



791 



ing him a leader of the Republican forces in 
Moccasin Township. He is now serving as Cen- 
sus Enumerator for his township. He has es- 
tablished a reputation as an upright and trust- 
worthy citizen entitling him to the confidence 
and respect of the community in which he lives. 

HOOKS, Sharon Q.— One of the leading indus- 
tries of Effingham County, 111., is the selling of 
hay and grain, as the county is in the center of 
the great agricultural district of Illinois. One 
of the representative men of the county, who is 
engaged in this business, is Sharon Q. Hooks, 
who has also been prominent in public matters, 
and is at present serving as Magistrate of Gil- 
more, 111. He was born in East Franklin Town- 
ship, Armstrong County, Pa., December 15, 1859, 
a son of Solomon and Susanna (Christman) 
Hooks. 

Solomon Hooks was born in Cambridge, Ohio, 
about 1825, and when twenty-one years old moved 
to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming 
and was married, spending the remainder of his 
life in Armstrong County, where his death oc- 
curred in 1900. He died in the faith of the Luth- 
eran Church, of which his wife was also a mem- 
ber. Their children were: William, a school 
teacher since the age of eighteen years, has now 
reached the age of sixty and is still teaching at 
Rammertoji, married Mary Wolf, now deceased; 
Chambers, came to Effingham County, 111., as a 
teacher, married a Miss Baker and went to Kan- 
sas, thence to Washington, where his wife died, 
and he is now a merchant ; Lydia, died soon 
after her marriage to Lige Mosher, an oil mer- 
chant ; John, for a long period a school teacher, 
now superintendent of a stone quarry at Mos- 
cow, Pa., married Mary Ritchie ; Sharon Q. ; Mag- 
gie, deceased, was unmarried ; Jacob, for many 
years a teacher, now a farmer in Armstrong 
County, Pa. ; Anne, a teacher for many years, 
married Cj-rus Elliott, and now resides in Pitts- 
burg, Pa. ; Laura, taught school for a time and 
married Amos Bowser, of Worthington, Pa. ; Ida, 
married David Wolfe, and resides on the old 
homestead : Mary, married Samuel Henry Bow- 
ser, and resides in Virginia : and Rebecca, mar- 
ried Nash Leisure, and resides in Pennsylvania. 

Sharon Q. Hooks attended the public schools 
until he was eighteen years of age. and then 
spent two years in Worthington (Pa.) College, 
after which he taught school for four years in 
Armstrong County, Pa. For the two years fol- 
lowing he was at Rammerton and then for two 
years taught at Watsonville. where in 1880 he 
was married to Miss Rella Stew-art, daughter of 
William and Mary (Eccles) Stewart. After his 
marriage he engaged in the lumber business 
in Dubois. Clearfield County, Pa., but in the 
spring of 1883 came to Welton, Effingham Coun- 
ty, 111., and purchased 100 acres of land three- 
quarters of a mile east of that town, which he 
still owns and cultivates. His wife died on this 
farm and two .vears later he was married, at 
Warrensburg. Mo., to Elizabeth S. Smith, born 
in Shelby County, 111., daughter of William and 



Dorothy (Salzman) Smith, and an excellent wo- 
man and a good wife. Soon after his second 
marriage Mr. Hooks removed to the home of his 
wife in Shelby County and farmed there two 
years, but subsequently returned to his own farm 
near Welton, and for fifteen years was engaged 
in mercantile business there. In January, 1908, 
he sold his store to Heth & Schoen. but has con- 
tinued business in the line of buying grain. In 
1001 he erected a large elevator. A life-long 
Democrat, Jlr. Hooks has been prominent in the 
ranks of his party in local matters and for about 
fifteen years has served as Justice of the Peace, 
being now Magistrate at Gilmore. He w-as reared 
in the faith of the Methodist Church. 

By his first marriage Mr. Hooks had two 
children, namely: Carl Chambers, educated in 
the public schools and Effingham College, is 
telegraph operator and station agent at Bridge- 
port. 111., and a first-cla.ss business young man ; 
and Roy L.. educated in the Effingham public 
schools, worked for a time as clerk in his fath- 
er's store, then became ticket agent at Spring- 
field, 111., held the same position at Washington, 
Ind., was assistant agent at Bridgejxtrt. and for 
the past year has been an agent of Swift & Com- 
pany in Ohio and Virginia. To the second mar- 
riage of Mr. Hooks one son was born, Glen 
Orville, March 12, 1890, educated in the public 
schools, at Lebanon College and a business col- 
lege at Flora, 111. ; worked some time as clerk in 
his father's store and now resides with his 
parents. He married Agnes Spragg and they 
have one child, Elinor Russell. He has reared 
a good set of boys and his home is always pleas- 
ant to both friends and strangei-s. 

JACKSON, William H., County Treasurer of 
Effingham Count.v, 111., and a man of prominence 
in Jackson Township, owes his success in life no 
more to his enterprise, energy and iierseverance 
than he does to his remarkable ability to make 
and keep warm friends Mr. Jackson was bom 
April 5. 1844, in Jlunfordville, Ky., a son of 
Andrew J. and Fanny G. (Crane) Jackson, na- 
tives of Kentucky, whose parents were from Vir- 
ginia. 

Andrew J. Jackson died when William H. was 
but four years of age, and was burled at Lebanon, 
Ky. His widow married again in 1855, becom- 
ing the wife of William Tolley, al.so a native of 
Kentucky. There were three children bom of 
the first marriage : William H.': Mary, the w-idow 
of Felix Sandefier. of Darlington. VPis.. and Net- 
tie, who married W. R. Tix>ney, of Ix)uisville. 
where she died and was buried. Mrs. Tolley died 
in 1868. and was buried at Darlington. Wis. She 
had two children by her second marriage: Ada, 
the wife of L. Metcalf, of Storm Lake, la. ; and 
Eli C., of Tolly. N. D. 

William H. Jackson was thrown on his own 
resources w-hen still a youth, and at the age of 
fourteen years he left his mother and step-father 
in Wisconsin, and returned to Kentucky, w-here 
he learned the trade of blacksmith, an occupa- 
tion which he followed until reaching his seven- 



792 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



teenth year, when he enlisted in the Southern 
Arujy, under command of Gen. Morgan, becoming 
a member of Company K, Col. Clukes Regi- 
ment, in September, 18U2, and serving until cap- 
tured in July, ISOS, at Bufflngton Island, Ohio. 
As a prisoner he was takeu to Camp Morton, Ind., 
and later transferred to Camp Douglas, Chicago, 
whence he made his escaije. Though not able to 
rejoin Iiis regiment, he avoided recapture by 
dodging around through Illinois, Indiana and 
Wisconsin until the close of the war, when he 
located in Effingham County, and has since re- 
mained. At the time of his coming to Effing- 
ham County Mr. Jackson did not have a dollar 
in the world, and at Urst began to work at any- 
thing he could find to do. He was later elected 
City Clerk of Effingham for three tenns, and 
afterwards engaged in the retail grocery busi- 
ness, and subsequently purchased laud and began 
the raising and breeding of fancy cattle. He 
retired on accumulating a competency, sold out 
and located in Effingham, and became a candi- 
date for the office of County Treasurer, to which 
he was elected by the largest majority and vote 
on the Democratic ticket. In iMlitics he has al- 
ways been a Democrat, but some of his stanchest 
friends are to be found among the Republicans, 
while he has a true friend in every Union vet- 
eran in the county. Mr. Jackson feels that his 
success is due in a large degree to the faithful- 
ness of his frieuds, but it is the personality of 
the man that has attracted those frieuds and 
made them faithful. 

On October 8, 1873, Mr. Jackson was man-led 
at Effingham, 111., to Amanda B. Myers, born in 
Effingham County, August 28, 1850, daughter of 
William T. and Ann Myers. 

JAKLE, IVIartin, Sheriff of Effingham County, 
has taken an active i)art in shaping piUilic senti- 
ment whenever the welfare of the i-ounty or city 
has been at stake, and is a representative of the 
best t.vpe of citizens In this part of the State. 
Mr. Jakle was born in Cleveland, Ohio., August 
28, 1854, and was educated in Terre Haute, Ind., 
and Effingham, 111. He is a son of Felix and 
Mary Aim ( Settle) Jakle, both natives of Baden, 
Germany, where they married. In 1854 they 
came to the United States, coming direct from 
their landing place in New York to Cleveland, 
and there their son Martin was born. In 18.55 
the family removed to Terre Haute. Ind., and in 
18C7 to Effingham Countj', 111. By trade the 
father was a shoemaker, but he conducted a 
brewery in Effingham for a year. The mother 
passed away in Effingham, in 1875, and the father 
in 1879, and both are buried in the City Ceme- 
tery. They were parents of nine children, eight 
of whom grew to maturity, but only four are 
now living : August, deceased ; Martin ; Charley 
and William, deceased; John, of Terre Haute; 
Lewis, of St. Louis; Edward, of St, Louis; 
Bertha, deceased, and an infant that died un- 
named. 

When he was only eleven years old Martm 
Jakle began earning his own living, and no one 



can tell him anything new about the hardships 
incident to .such a life as he had to endure at 
that tender age. He came to Effingham in 1881 
and started in a retail bakery business, which 
he sold in 1896. For eight years he was City 
Policeman, was Assessor two terms, and has ap- 
peared on the Democratic ticket for various of- 
fices a number of times, as he is very prominent 
politically. In 1906 he was elected Sheriff and 
is now ably discharging the duties of that office, 
being recognized as the best Sheriff the county 
ever had, and is given the cordial support of the 
people of Effingham County without regard to 
party lines. 

Mr. Jakle married in Terre Haute, Ind., on 
May 9, 1875, Catherine Klements, who was born 
in Mt. Carmel, 111., December 7, 1858, a daughter 
of John and Annie (Megnar) Klements, both 
natives of Bavaria, Germany, who came to the 
United States after marriage, and settling at Mt. 
Carmel, resided there many years. The burial 
place of the father is not known, but the mother, 
who died in Effingham, is buried in the Catholic 
cemetery in this city. There were three children 
in the klements family: Mary, deceased; Cath- 
erine and John, Mr. and Mrs. Jakle became 
parents of five children, namely : William, who 
married Emily Schmidt, resides in Effingha.n 
and has two children — Cleou and Leslie; Albert, 
uumarried, resides in Effingham ; Otto, unmar- 
ried, resides in Effingham, being Deputy Sheriff 
under his father ; John, who died in infancy, and 
Julia, who resides at home. 

Fraternally Mr. Jakle is a member of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen and w.is 
a member of the Knights of Honor, but with- 
drew. He and his family belong to the Sacreil 
Heart Catholic Church, and are active in its 
good work. Through the able management and 
good judgment of Sheriff Jakle, the affairs of the 
county which are under his care are well looked 
after, and the people owe him a heavy debt. He 
is a broad-minded man, sympathetic and kiid- 
hearted, and it would be difficult to find anyone 
to take his place satisfactorily. His succe.ss in 
life has been entirely due to his own courage and 
hard work, and that his hard struggle did not 
embitter him in the least is due to the natural 
cheerfulness of his disposition. 

JAMES, Oscar D,, proprietor of Oak View 
Stock Farm, Watson Township. Some of the 
largest tracts of farming land in Effingham 
County have, in late years, been converted 
into stock farms, and among these one of the 
best known and most favorably situated is 
the Oak View Stock Farm, owned by O. D. 
James, a breeder of registered Hereford cattle, 
standard breed horses, Duroc Jersey hogs and 
sporting dogs. In Watson. 111. Mr. James was 
l)orn August 3. 1865, in Watson Township, son 
of John G. James, a retired farmer of Effingham 
County. 

Oscar D. James was educated in the Franklin 
Prairie district school, W. F. Scott, now de- 
ceased, being his first and last teacher. His 




DAVID SWEAZY 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



793 



father was a practical farmer aud stoeknuin. and 
young James began to do his full share of the 
farm work under his tuition at the age of eleven 
years, remaining at home initil he was about 
twenty-two years of age. In 1SS7 he went to 
Shelby Couutj-, III., where he hired out at larni 
work by the month for one year, then renting 
land for three .rears. Achieving remai-kable 
success, in 1891 he bought 175 acres of laud on 
Section 8, Union Towuship, practically all in 
brush, on which was located a log cabin and log 
stable, and here he at once set to work to make 
improvements, including the building of a seveu- 
room residence, a large stock-baru, etc. Mr. 
James has always been a firm believer in thor- 
oughbred cattle and pure bred stock of all kinds, 
and it was he who introduced the Duroc Jersey 
hog into I'nion Township, as well as the im- 
ported French Coach hoi-se, which he purchased 
in Crawfordsville, Ind. In 1905 he engaged in 
breeding the Hereford pure bred cattle, and he 
now has a herd of fift.v-two cattle, at the head 
of which is Bellboy No. 214,505, a full registered 
animal. 

Mr. James' farm, which is located three and 
one-half miles southeast of Watson, on the Lit- 
tle Wabash River, is one of the finest tracts of 
this kind to be found in the State, and its sub- 
stantial buildings are fitted with every kno\\ii in- 
vention for the raising of pure bred stock. He 
is considered one of the best judges of stock in 
this part of Effingham County, always gets the 
top prices for his animals, and has a reputation 
for honesty and integrity in his business deal- 
ings which is far reaching. He has given quite 
a good deal of attention to the raising of hunt- 
ing dogs, having started this line from some 
fine registered pointers which he himself used 
while hunting quail. He is a Democrat in poli- 
tics, aud has served as School Director and 
Clerk Df the board for a number of years. Fra- 
ternally, he is connected with the Masons, the 
Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of the 
World. 

In Shelby Coimty, 111.. February 5. 1888, Mr. 
James was married to Laura Maude Wallace, 
who was born in that county, February 3. 1866, 
and to this union there have been born foin- chil- 
dren : Bessie D., John J.. Kenneth A. and Hazel 
D. ilrs. James died March 11. 1910, from a 
stroke of paralysis, and was laid to rest in the 
Watson Cemeter.v. 

JANSEN, Anthony Bernard (deceased).— There 
have been man.v instances in the life of Germans 
who have come to this county, to become thor- 
oughly Americanized aud regarded as some of 
OUT best citizens. They bring with them those 
characteristic German traits, honesty, industry 
and thrift, and soon acquire a standard in the 
connuunity where they reside. Such a man was 
the late Anthony Bernard Jansen, who was born 
in Lohne. Germany, February 20, 1822. When 
only twelve years old he came to America, going 
to Schuylkill County, Pa., where he remained 
two years, and then went to Cincinnati. Ohio. 



When he reached the latter place, at the age of 
fourteen years, he was apprenticed to learn the 
trade of carpenter, and for five yeare remained 
in this ijosition, when for a short "time he worked 
as a journeyman. In 1840 he came to Effingham 
County, 111., to visit his parents who had located 
there, and then returned to complete his term of 
apprenticeship. 

In 1841 Anthony B. Jansen returned to Effing- 
ham County and began working by the month 
on a farm on Green Creek. In April. 1842. he 
married Elizabeth, the only daughter of John B. 
Bruunner, his employer, and continued to live on 
the farm of his father-in-law about ten years 
longer. In 1852 he purchased 160 acres of" land 
in two tracts, the same being well-improved, 
and in 185.3 he moved to his o«ti farm. At that 
time there was much Congress land still to be 
obtained and he bought .several tracts, eventually 
becoming the omier of 227 acres in his home- 
stead aud 160 acres of the Brummer estate. Mr. 
Jansen was a very successful farmer and stock- 
raiser, and was one of the most prominent and 
influential men of the c-ounty. In politics he was 
a Democrat and filled many offices in Douglas 
Township, which was his home so many years. 
In religious faith he was a Catholic. 

Mr. Jansen and his wife had children as fol- 
lows: John B.. deceased: Anthony Bernard, de- 
ceased : William J., deceased : Anu'a JI.. who mar- 
ried Joseph L. Schmidt, but is now deceased; 
Malenia, married Clennnens Kaufmau. and later 
Joseph L. Schmidt : Philomiua C, married Jo- 
seph Fellhoelter ; Mary, deceased : John H., a 
farmer of Effingham County : and Elizabeth, mar- 
ried B. Husman, of Idaho ; Henry J., farmer, in 
Jasper County. Anton F. Jansen, whose sketch 
appears in a following section, is also a member 
of this family. 

Anthony Bernard Jansen died February 22, 
1888. highly respected by the many who knew 
and appreciated this hardworking German- 
American, who accomplished so much from a 
very small beginning. He had served a number 
of years as SupeiTisor of the township aud had 
been a Justice of the Peace. 

JANSEN, Anton Francis. — No longer does the 
traveler through Effingham County. 111., see 
neglected fanns and iX)or. unremunerative stock ; 
and this fact goes to show that the owners of 
the land are men of experience and foresight. 
However, it is not every farm that shows the 
same sleek and shining cattle, well nurtured and 
thoroughbred in appearance, that may be found 
on the beautiful estate which is owned by Anton 
Francis Jansen. In Section ,3.3, Douglas Township. 

On this farm .\nton F. Jansen was born. June 
3. 1868, a son of Anthony B. .lansen, a sketch of 
whom appears in a preceding section of this 
work. The education of Mr. Jansen was secured 
in the public and parochial schools of his neigh- 
borhood. but as soon as he was old enough to 
reach the handles of a plow, he was required by 
his practical father to help perform his share of 
farm work. This good father died wheu the son 



794 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



was nineteen years old, and as his brotliers had 
left home and were doing well on their own ac- 
count, Anton F. found himself the manager and 
operator of 227 acres of land. In 1890 he began 
making a specialty of breeding stock, and in 
partnership with his father-in-law bought the 
first thoroughbred Shorthorn bull ever brought 
to that section, and through this fine animal he 
has developed one of the best herds in the county. 
He entered into the dairy business quite exten- 
sively in 1903. beginning with common stock, but 
he has bred up to fine Holstein stock, which has 
the highest record in the world for quantity of 
milk. In 1906 he bought the first Dutch belte<l bull 
ever introduced into his part of tlie State, this 
breetl being exclusively dairy stock. One of the 
high-bred cows, "Echo the Second," while on exhi- 
bition at the State Fair in 1907. produced ninet}'- 
seven pounds of milk in one day. Mr. Jansen 
has his sensible reasons for preferring the stock 
he is breeding, for he is a thoroughly informed, 
practical dairyman and stockman, and well un- 
derstands the nature of his business, and .spares 
neither trouble nor expense in .securing valuable 
stock. In 1907 he bought from D. B. Wilson 
two heifers of the Dutch Belt breed at the State 
Fair held at Springfield, whence they were 
shipped to the National Dairy Show at Chicago, 
and after the close of that exhibition were 
brought to his farm, one of them having won the 
second prize. In 1908 he purchased a heifer 
from Frank Sanders, of Bristol. N. H.. which 
was exhibited at the Illinois State Fair the same 
year. In 19<^)8 he also exhibited his Dutch 
Belted herd and one heifer won the first pre- 
mium over all dairy breeds at the Effingham 
County Fair held at Altamont In acquiring 
this fine dairy stock Mr. .Jansen is conferring 
upon his section of the State a value<I benefit. 
His beautiful herds excite general admiration 
and enthusiasm among those whose knowledge 
enables them to appreciate their superior qualit.v. 

April 29, 1890, Mr, Jansen married Miss Eliza- 
beth C, Arnzen, who was born in Douglas Town- 
.ship, Effingham County, within one mile of Mr. 
Jansen's farm. December 28. 1S71. and who died 
June 1.3. 190.3. She was a daughter of Joseph 
and Catherine (Doettman) Arnzen, who are 
large farmers residing near Green Creek, Idaho, 
having removed to that place in 19<i.'^). Mr. .Tan- 
sen and his wife had three children, namely : 
Joseph A., bom October 20, 1892: Bernard J., 
born April 2.3, 1890; and Katie E., bom March 
19, 1899. Tlie late Mr.s. Jansen was a lady of 
beautiful Christian character, and was beloved 
far and near by all who knew and appreciated 
her fine disposition. Her presence was as sun- 
shine in her home and she imparted happiness 
wherever she went. She had taken much pleas- 
ure in contemplating the beautiful new home 
which her husband had provided, but was per- 
mitted to enjoy its comforts but one year. She 
was a devout member of the Catholic Church. 

Mr. Jansen is one of the most intelligent stock- 
men of his section and also one of the mp.st pro- 
gressive farmers. He has studied in a practi- 



cal manner the characteristics of the soli, and 
profits so well by his exi)erieuce and care as a 
farmer and stockman in the c-ouduct of his af- 
fairs, that he has won success above the average. 
Politicall.v he is a Democrat and has filled many- 
local offices, being now Justice of the Peace, For 
three years he was a Director of the State Board 
Dairy Association and Monthly Crop Reporter to 
the National Agricultural Etepartment at Wash- 
ington, many of his reports being doubtless based 
on results from his own highly-cultivate<l farm 
of 267 acres. He is a member of the Catholic 
Church. 

JONES, Joseph Benson. — The representative 
men of any community are generally those who 
have some years of experience back of them to 
serve as a guide in their judgments and actions. 
One of the men who have been intimatel.v asso- 
ciated with both Etfingham City and County is 
Joseph Benson Jones, who was born in Coshocton 
County, Ohio, April 22. 18.3.5, a son of James 
and Susannah (Dickenson) Jones, and grandson 
of Thomas Jones, who was born in Wales, about 
17.50. When but a small boy the parents of 
Thomas Jones came to the colonies, and settled in 
what was afterwards the State of Delaware. He 
served in the Revolutionar.v War, after which he 
married and moved to Western Pennsylvania, 
and in 1804 loc-ated in Belmont Countj-, Ohio, 
where his death occurred in 18.54. when he was 
in his one hundretl and fourth year. James 
Jones was bom at Fort Hill. Fayette County, 
Pa., in 1796, while his wife was born in the same 
county in 1798, and they were farmers. They 
were married in Harrison County, Ohio, near 
Cadiz, on March 21, 1821, and moved to Coshoc- 
ton County in 18-34. They were enthusiastic 
members of the Methodist Church, and most ex- 
cellent people. 

Joseph Benson Jones attended first the sub- 
.scription schools of his neighborhood, and then 
the public schools, finally finishing in the Ches- 
terville Academy. His childhood was passed on 
the farm and in school, and when he had fin- 
i.shed his education he became a teacher. In 
April. 1857. he located in Effingham Ctounty. 111., 
and has since spent considerable time in land 
surve.ving. being for several years connected ^^^th 
the land department of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road. In 1801 Mr. Jones was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff of the county, and held that office for tno 
years. He was elected Police Magistrate for the 
City of Effingham in 1864, and held the office four 
.years. He was elected County Judge in 1873, 
and continued as such for nine years. In 1892 
he was elected County Surveyor, was re-elected 
in 1896 and again in 1900, serving in all tn-elve 
yeavs. All his life Mr, .Tones has been a work- 
ing member of the Democratic pai-ts*. He joined 
the Free and .\ccepted Masons in 1800. and is a 
member thereof in good standing at this time, 
but has no membership in any other society. 

On October 19. 1871, Mr, Jones was married 
to Marj- K. McClelland, born in Lawrence Coun- 
tv. Ind., November 8, 18.54, of Scotch-Irish stock. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



795 



The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones are as 
follows: Ida. born August 8. 1873: Orville B., 
born August 27, 1875, and Pearl J., Iwru July 24, 
1877. Mr. Jones is a man of genial manner, in 
tensely social in his tastes, with liberal views on 
general subjects, and is well-known and popular. 

KAGAY, Hon. Benjamin F. (deceased), whose 
name was prominently identified with the early 
history of Effingham County, was a gentleman of 
the old school type and a fitting representative of 
the best class of American citizens. His demise, 
which occurred Februai-y 11. 1908, at Effingham, 
III., was deeply felt in the communit.v. He had 
been identified with the legal profession for more 
than fifty years and was the oldest practicing 
lawyer in Effingham. He rose to a position of 
honor and attained a leading place in his pro- 
fession through his earnest purpose and ability. 
Mr. Kagay was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, 
February 27, 1831, a son of A. B. and Sarah 
(Hall) kagay. his mother being of* Scotch-Irish 
extraction and his father of German descent, 
though his ancestry was traced farther back to 
Switzerland. 

The first of the Kagay family to come to Amer- 
ica was John Kagay, who emigrated to Pennsyl- 
vania in 1715. and subsequently located in the 
Shenandoah Valley. Va. Of his three sons, one 
remained in the Shenandoah Valle.v. a second 
was a citizen of Pennsylvania and the third 
moved to Canada. A son of the last-named took 
piirt in John Brown's raid near Harper's Ferry 
and was killed near there. The four emigrations 
of the family to America have been : John, 
above mentioned, who came in 1715; Johannes. 
who came in 1739 ; Rudolph, who came in 176-t, 
and Simon, who came in 1818. The original an- 
cestors in Switzerland spelled the name "Kagi."' 

The early education of Benjamin F. Kagay was 
acquired in the public schoods of Findlay. Ohio, 
where the family located in 18.32. In 1841 they 
located at Ewington. Effingham County. 111., 
where the father embarked in the saddler.v and 
harness business. In 184.3 he was elected Count.v 
Clerk. In 1853 Benjamin F. Kagay was ap- 
pointed a teacher in the schools of the "Lost 
Township," in Fayette County, in which many of 
his fiupils were older than himself. Those who 
attended this school were from Fayette. Clay and 
Effingham Counties, and the young teacher 
boarded aroimd with the parents of his pupils. 
Later he took special courses in penmanship and 
taught that branch in the nearb.v counties of Mar- 
ion, Fayette, Effingham. Clay. Bond. McLean and 
Sangamon Counties. At the age of eighteen he 
began the study of Blackstone under the direc- 
tion of Eli Philbrook. the second Iav\-j-er to locate 
in Ewington. In 1851-.53 he taught in the coun- 
ties of Fayette. Effingham and Shelby, and dur- 
ing the year 18.53. while teaching in the first- 
named county, continued his l^al studies under 
the instruction of Mr. Crump and William Camp- 
bell. So well did he carry on his studies that in 
August. lS-54, he was licensed to practice in the 
courts of Illinois, and the next year entered into 



the practice of his profession at Ewington, then 
the county-seat of Effingham County, where his 
father was located, occupying the office of 
County Treasurer. On the removal of the c-ounty- 
seat to Effingham, Mr. Kagay oi^ened an office in 
the c-ourt house in the latter place and in 1862 
he and William B. Cooper formed a partnership 
which lasted twelve years, during which time 
they handled some of the most important eases 
in the county. 

In boyhood Mr. Kagay had learned to play the 
tenor drum, and being always greatly interested 
in military tactics, his services were very valu- 
able in helping to raise volunteers at the time 
of the Mexican War, and also during the Civil 
War. He was also a prominent figure at all old 
settlers" reunions. 

Mr. Kagay had a natural aptitude and ability 
for public service, and his first office was as 
Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the old Town 
of Effingham, in 1855. He was elected Super%-isor 
of Douglas Towniship in 1864 and filled the office 
three terms, and was also President of the Town 
of Effingham from 1864-67, when it was incor- 
porated as a city. He then became the first 
ilayor of Effingham, and in 1870 was the choice 
of the people of liis district for Representative 
in the State Legislature. For four years he 
served as Police Magistrate, was City Attorney 
of Effingham four terms of two years each, and 
was Notary Public over thirty year.s. 

In political affiliations Mr. Kagay was first a 
Whig. In 1858 he was a supporter of James C. 
Robinson for Congress, in 1800 voted for Doug- 
las for President, and from then until his death 
supported the principles of the Democratic party. 
In early life he was a Jlethodist but in later 
.vears inclined toward the faith of the Unitarian 
Church. From 1857 he was an active member of 
Effingham Lodge No. 149. A. F. & A. M„ served 
several terms as its Worshipful Master, and was 
for several terms High Priest of Effingham Chap- 
ter R. A. M. 

While teaching school in Fayette County Mr. 
Kagay made the acquaintanc-e of his future wife, 
Martha J. Starnes. a daughter of Dr. Abraham 
and Ann S. Starnes. and after a short courtship, 
the.v were married on February 6. 1853. Her 
parents were pioneers of Illinois, locating there 
in Territorial days. Dr. Starnes was a native of 
Tennessee and his wife of Thompson County, Ky. 
Five children were born to Mr. Kagay and his 
wife, three of whom are now living, namely: 
Benjamin F., Jr., whose biography appears else- 
where in this volume ; Laura K.. widow of A. B. 
Judkins. of Springfield. 111., who died September 
23, 1897. since which time she has removed with 
her two children. Aline and Alvin Franklin, to 
St. Louis. Mo. : Mattie K., wife of O. P. Bray, 
of Indianapolis. Ind.. Orville P., a fourth child, 
is now deceased. 

KAGAY, Benjamin Franklin, Jr.— With supreme 

faith in the future of Effingham, with the ability 
to profit li.v present conditions and possessing 
a desire to aid others to do .so. Benjamin F. Ka- 



796 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



gay, of EtBughaiu, III., is one of the most pro- 
gressive and public-spirited meu of Effingham 
County, and to his influence and example is 
largely due the present activity shown in vari- 
ous lines of the city. Mr. Kagay was bom at 
Effingham, October 4, 1802, a son of Benja- 
min F. Kagay, Sr., bom in Fairfield County, 
Ohio, Febraary 27, 1831. and Martha J. 
(Starnes) Kagay, born in Fayette County, 111., 
April 5, 1832. His father, Benjamin F. Kagay, 
Sr.. whose sketch ap])ears in the preceding sec- 
tion, died Februaiy 11. 1908, and his widow lives 
with her sou, the subject of this sketch. 

Benjamin Franklin Kagay, Jr., received a com- 
mon school education, followed by a course at the 
Sprini;field (111.) Bu.siuess College. Mr. Kagay 
has filled a number of imiwrtaut office.'* and was 
Deputy Clerk from December, 1882. to December, 
1888. when he engaged in the real estate business 
and is now senior member of the Kagay Realty 
Company, composed of B. F. Kagay and his only 
son. They do an extensive business in the lines 
of real estate, loan and insurance business. Jlr. 
Kagay is also Secretary of the Illinois Guaran- 
tee Savings & Ix>an Association. A little pam- 
phlet recently issued by the Kagay Realty Com- 
pany, on Effingham, gives many interesting facts 
regarding the city and demonstrates the interest 
the company takes in this locality. Mr. Kagay 
was a member of the Board of Etlucation and 
Seeretai-j' of the Board for thirteen years. 

Fraternally Mr. Kagay is a member of the 
Knights of Pythins. is K. R. & S. of Venice. 
Lodge No. KiS, which he joined in 1SS8. and also 
belongs to the Medern Woodmen. Modern Ameri- 
cans. Royal Neighbors and to Lodge No. 1010. 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. While not 
a memlier of any church, his preferenc-e is for 
the Methodist denomination. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

July 21. 1886, Mr. Kagay married. In Fairfax 
County. Va., Bessie Harrison, born at Alexandria, 
Va.. November 6. 1864, a descendant of Thomas 
Harri.son. and a member of the Daughters of 
the American Revolution through that line. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kagay have two children, namely: 
Benjamin F.. III., born at Effingham. July 23, 
1887. a member of the Kagay Realty Company, 
and Bessie Pearl. lx)rn also at Effingham. De- 
cember 22. ISOO. 

KAUFMANN, John. — Practical scientific farming 
is taking the place of the old hit-or-miss style, and 
as a re.suit, land which at one time could be 
bought for almost nothing, is to-day worth hun- 
dreds of dollars per acre. Much of this has been 
brought about by the use of improved machinery 
and the application of scientific methods, as well 
as l)y general progress and increase In population. 
As a general nile. it is the younger class of 
farmers who incline most toward.s new ideas, and 
upon their farms are generally to be seen the re- 
sults of intelligent progress. .John Kaufman, 
fanner, stockman and dairyman of Section 10. 
Douglas Township. Effingham County. 111., is 
one of these progressive and successful men. He 



was born in Shelby County, 111., on the line be- 
tween Effingham and Shelby counties, April 20, 
1889, a sou of Ferdinand and Mai-j' (Dust) 
Kaufman, both natives of Effingham, 111., and of 
German descent, now living in Shelby County. 
Ferdinand Kaufman owns considerable land in 
Shelby County and is honored and resjjccted 
through his part of the .State. He and his wife 
had eight children, namely : Annie, wife of John 
Keukel. a farmer of Effingham County ; John, 
Sophia, wife of Joseph Hackman, a farmer of 
Douglas Township; Clem, a farmer of Douglas 
Township; Dora, wife of Joseph Fallert, of 
Shelby County ; Mary. Tony and Josie, at home. 
John Kaufman was i-eared on his father's farm 
and after receiving a good common school educa- 
tion in the district school, has spent his entire 
life in farm work. April 8, 1902, he married Miss 
Lizzie Custer, born near Effingham, 111., Janu- 
ary 1, 1880, a daughter of Clem Custer, Jr., a 
farmer of Douglas Township, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this work. Mr.s. Kaufman 
was educated at St. Anthony College in Effing- 
ham, and is a charming and refined woman. Not 
only is she well educated, but she is an excellent 
housekeeper and a deligbtfnl hostess, possessing 
the talent of making her guests feel at home 
through her warm, cordial welcome. Her beauti- 
fully managed household shows how well she 
understands its care, and she sets a table that 
would tempt the most captious. Afer his mar- 
riage Mr. Kaufman began farming on his own 
place in Douglas Township, where he has 220 
acres under cultivation. He is well sujiplied with 
modern machinerj- and appliances, not only for 
his farm work but for fitting out his home. He 
keeps high grade horses, cattle and hogs, and does 
an extensive dairy business. Wlieu he was seven- 
teen years old he began operating his father's 
threshing outfit, and continued to take charge of 
it until he bought a first-class outfit of his own 
with all modern improvements. 

Mr. Kaufman and his wife are members of the 
Catholic Church, and in politics he is a Demo- 
crat. They are numbered among the enterpris 
ing young married peojile of the locality, and 
their pleasant home is often the scene of delight- 
ful gatherings, over which Mrs. Kaufman pre 
sides with her customary dignity and hospitality 

KERSHNER, Joseph L., M. D., physician and 
surt'eon at r>ieterich. 111., is not only an eminent 
menilier of his nol)le profession, but is also a 
thoroughly representative citizen of his commu- 
nity and a wortbv descendant of .some of the best 
pioneer stock of Effingham County-. He was bom 
on his father's fann In Bishop Township, within 
six miles of Dieterich. and is a son of David and 
Llnaford (Handley) Kershner. His father was 
born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Ken- 
tucky. 

When the parents of Dr. Kershner first came 
to Bishop Township they occupied, as did other 
settlers, a log caliin in the woods, built near a 
stream. David Kershner was a skilled carpenter 
and .soon planned a comfortable frame house. 




fy^O^^^ ^^^Ct-u-^X^/ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



797 



wLich he hiid the foresight to build on a high- 
way, the old \Vatson and Newton mail route. At 
this time (1S52) the mail was still carried 
through the thinly settleil country on horseback. 
The lumber for Jlr. Kershner's house was all 
dressed by hand, and when it was c-ompleted, peo- 
ple came from miles around to see it, viewing it 
with admiration, as it was the tirst frame house 
in the eounti-y. At that time the surrounding 
tounti-y was so sparsely settled that the prairie 
wolves had not been driven away and fretjueutly 
visited the farmyards of the pioneers at uight, 
even being known to attack travelers. David 
Kershner lived in the house he had built until 
the Civil War, when he and five of his sons of- 
fered their services to their country. He was a 
brave soldier and one of his sous became one of 
the body-guard of Gen. Sherman after the anny 
left ,\tlanta, Ga., for the "March to the Sea." 
David Ker.shuer did not live to reach home, but 
died at Little Rock. Ark. His widow survived 
him many yeare, her death occurring December 
31, 1899, at sixty-two years of age. but three of 
her family then remaining on the old homestead. 

The children born to David Kershner and wife 
were : Daniel, who lived at Sheridan, Wyo. ; Da- 
vid C, before mentioned as one of Sherman's 
body-guard, now lives at Norcatur, Kan. ; George 
W.. lived at Shell, Wyo. ; John William, the third 
brother to march with Sherman to the sea, is 
now deceased and lies buried at East St. Louis ; 
Forniau, was a soldier and was injured at Fort 
McAlister; Henr.v, who was also in the service, 
died in Ai'kansas ; I. B., a farmer, is living in 
Kansas ; Mary L., is deceased ; and Joseph L., of 
Effingham County. 

•Joseph L. Kershner obtained his primary edu- 
cation in a log schoolhouse three and one-quarter 
miles from his home, and to reach it he had to 
follow a path across the prairie, through grass 
that grew higher than a man"s head on horse- 
back. Later a larger structure, of brick was built, 
but Dr. Kershner easily recalls the old building. 
I'pon him fell much of the responsibility of the 
farm work, but his natural inclination was to- 
ward a professional career, and he bent every 
energy to secure an education. When twenty- 
five years old he completed a satisfactory literary 
course at Fairfield. 111., and by that time was 
pre|iared to begin his medical education. He 
completetl a course of four years at the Marion 
Sims Medical College, now known as St. Ix>uis 
Universitj'. at St. Louis, and graduated with 
credit, April 2.o, 1882. Hq then returned to the 
old Kershner homestead and entered Into prac- 
tice. 

In 18f)f! Dr. Kershner had the foresight to real- 
ize that investments in land at Dieterich would 
be profitable, and he therefore bought thirty-two 
town lots in what is now known as the Ix>y .\d- 
dition, some of the lots being on Main Street as 
it was platted. At the time he purchased this 
land it was ver.v productive as a cornfield. He 
is not a man that anyone would think of accus- 
ing as visionary, but in the practical develop- 
ment of this land he has evidently followed ideas 



outside the orduiary line, for his beautiful home 
and Its charming surroundings, all after his own 
plans, prove that with him beauty has been re- 
garded as well as utility. Ills ornamental ti-ees 
and gorgeous flowers give a park-like appearance 
to his home, and in watching them grow and de- 
velop he has spent some of his happiest hours. He 
still retains ten acres of the old home farm which 
is yet in timber. Since he built his handsome 
residence much capital has been directed to that 
part of the village and many of the finest homes 
of Dieterich may be found in that part of town, 
called the central residential iwrtlou. 

Dr. Kershner was married, January 11, 1898, 
to Miss Florence Enmia Dueker, born at Bible 
Grove, Clay Cbunty, 111., her grandparents having 
come to this section of Illinois from Germany, 
One daughter and one son have been born of this 
marriage : Mary Louise, born March 19, 1907, and 
Joseph D.. bom April 10, 1910. Dr. and Mrs. 
Kershner are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, of which he was chorister for many 
years. 

It is not difficult for Dr. Kershner to recall hi>, 
older professional c-ontemporaries and their 
methods of practice, although in almost every 
particular his own have been different. He keeps 
thoroughly abreast of the times, takes all the 
latest medical journals, applies scientific methods 
in his treatment and has the satisfaction of at- 
taining a good degree of success in his efforts 
for the restoration of the health of his patients, or 
at least in the alleviation of suffering. He owns 
a laboratory, procures his drugs at wholesale, 
and as he compounds his own medicines, he can 
with certainty judge of their purity and esti- 
mate their potency and effect. He has been en- 
gaged in active practice In the vicinitj- where he 
now lives more then eighteen years, and among 
his patients are many who have known him from 
boyhood and unplicitly rely upon his skill and 
judgment. His field of labor is widely distrib- 
uted, and his more distant patients are visited in 
his automobile, being the owner of the first of 
these machines in his vicinity. In ix)litics he 
was au active Republican until 1902, since which 
time he has been closely identified with the Pro- 
hibition party. He has always taken an active 
part in the social life of the community and 
he and his wife, in possession of ample means, 
are most generously hospitable. Dr. Kershner is 
a member of both the State and County Medical 
Societies, and has served at times in township 
offices and as village Health Officer. 

KLITZING, George.— Some of the best farmers 
of Effingham County are those who have inher- 
ited their homes from their fathers, and are now 
operating the properties upon which they were 
born. Having spent their lives in clase connec- 
tion with these farms, they are able to give 
them intelligent attention and their success 
proves that they understand theii work. One of 
the prosperous farmers of Mound Township Is 
George Klitzing. who owns a fine farm of 125 
acres on Section 3, where he was l)om, August 



798 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



10, 1868, the youngest sou and sixth child of 
Charles F. and Miuuie (Sauder) Klitzing, both 
now residing at Altamont. 

Mr. Klitzing was reared on the homestead, and 
attended district school, and Altanumt IIit,'h 
School for two years. He pleasantly remembers 
Miss Satt, Henry Kubrick, Fred Loy and Philip 
Zimmerman among his teachers. While in High 
School he was fortunate enough to be under tne 
instruction of Prof. J. E. Smothers. Having 
c-ompleted bis studies, Mr. Klitzing resumed his 
farm work. On September 30, 1890, he was 
united in marriage with Emma Eblert, born in 
Missouri, March 0, 1SG8, a daughter of Charles 
Ehlert, a German Methodist clergyman. The 
young couple settled on the homestead, where Mr. 
klitzing has made all of the improvements and 
has now a very valuable property. He makes a 
specialty of blooded stock, and has had remark- 
able success with hogs and sheep. His farm is 
conducted according to the latest improved 
methods, and his premises and fields attest to his 
good management and thrift. He and Mrs. Klitz- 
ing are members of the German Methodist Church 
of Altamont. In politics, Mr. Klitzing is a Re- 
publican. 

Mr. and Mr.s. Klitzing have had children as fol- 
lows: Olga Augusta. Edgar Chai-les, Mildred 
Laura, Arthur George. Mr. Klitzing has never 
given much time to public matters, being ab- 
sorbed with his fann, but is always in favor of 
good government and supports whatever meas- 
ures he believes will work out for the best in- 
terests of the community at large. 

KUHN, LesUe A., M. D.— Probably no other 
profession has advanced so rapidly during the 
la.st half-century as that of medicine, and as this 
advance still continues, the physician who would 
win success must keep abreast of the discoveries 
and inventions of appliances. One of Effingham 
County's most successful young physicians and 
surgeons is Dr. Leslie A. Kuhn. David Kuhn, his 
father, resides at Greencastle. Pa., and is one of 
the leading farmers and influential citizens of 
that locality. 

After completing a course in the district 
schools, at the age of fifteen years Dr. Kuhn en- 
tered the Central State Normal School at Lock- 
haven. Pa., and after a course of four years there, 
took up his studies at the Pennsylvania State 
College. In 1901 he entered Jenner Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, and here took a four years' course, 
after which he siient two years in a jwst-graduate 
course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons 
in Chicago, in which city he began the practice 
of his profession in 1905. 

December 4. 1908, Dr. Kuhn became a resident 
of Watson. 111., where he has since been located, 
and has built up a large practice. He succeeded 
Dr. R. O. Broadway, and has been very success- 
ful in his work. He has his own laboratory, in 
which he carefully comi>ounds his own prescrip- 
tions, and his success in a number of serious 
cases has won him the confidence of the people 



of his conmiunity and served to increase his 
practice. 

Dr. Kuhn was married November 30, 1905, to 
Miss Leona Couch, who was born in Chicago, Au- 
gust 1, 1879, a daughter of James W. Couch. Dr. 
and Mrs. Kuhn became parents of two children : 
Elmer L., born October 3, 1900, and Leona, born 
January 21, 1908. Dr. Kuhn and his wile were 
married by Rev. Morton P. Hartzell, a Methodist 
Episcopal clergyman, of Chicago. Dr. Kuhn is 
affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, 
the Court of Honor, the American Yeomen and 
the Independent Order of odd Ft'lluws. His re- 
ligious faith is that of tlie Preshylcrian Church, 
and in political matters he is a Itepulilicau. 

LAATSCH, John F.— Probably there is no bet- 
ter example of what perseverance, hard work and 
enteri_)rise will do for a man than the career of 
John F. Laatsch, present Mayor of Altamont, 111., 
and one of that city's foremost business men. He 
was boru October 19; 1858, on a. ten-acre tract 
near Buffalo, N. Y., the son of John F. and Fred- 
erica (Ploeger) Laatsch. 

The parents of Mr. Laatsch came to the United 
States from Germany, bringing with them 
one daughter, Frederica, and Mr. Laatsch settled 
on the ten-acre farm betore mentioned, and 
worked out by the day. In 1804 he sold this 
property, and with fifteen other families moved 
west, locating at what is now Bethlehem, Effing- 
ham County, 111. Here the settlers erected a 
church and schoolhouse, and Mr. Laatsch con- 
tinued to live on his farm of 100 acres until his 
death, at the age of seventy-five years, his wife 
having passed away at the age of sixty-five. They 
were members of the Lutheran Church, in which 
he was a Deacon. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat. Mr. and Mre. Laatsch had eight children : 
three who died in early youth ; Frederica, Minnie, 
John F., Tennie, and William, who died at the 
age of forty yearsi 

John F. Laatsch was six years old when his 
parents came to Illinois, and his education was 
secured principally in the school built at Beth- 
lehem, although he secured much of his learning 
from home study. He was seventeen years of age 
when be began work for George W. Gwin, who 
was then conducting an agricultural implement 
store at Altamont. After eight years with Mr. 
Gwin, Mr. Laatsch formed a partnership with 
William i:yestone. the firm name being Ej-estone 
& Laatsch] but two years later Mr. Laatsch sold 
out to bis partner, and engaged in the implement 
business on his own account, later adding hard- 
ware, and he conducts these lines at the present 
time. At the age of fourteen years Mr. Laatsch 
was confirmed as a member of the Bethlehem Lu- 
theran Church, and he has lived up to his avowed 
faith. His family are also members of the same 
church in which they were brought up by their 
parents. 

Mr. Laatsch has been a lifelong Democrat, al- 
though he has received a great deal of support 
from the Republican party. For seven years ho 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



799 



was Alderman, then becoming Mayor of Alta- 
mont for six years, and after four years was 
again elected to tlie highest official incumbency 
in the city, in 1909. He also served for seven 
years as Town Clerk and for six years as Super- 
visor, and in each position has proved himself a 
faithful official and efficient executive. 

October 30, 1884. Mayor Laatsch was married, 
at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, to Miss Emilv 
Zahnow, of Bethlehem, daughter of Charles and 
Henrietta ( Loeven ) Zahnow, the former now de- 
ceased, while the latter is .still living at the age 
of ninety-three years. Four children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Laatsch : Delia, who mar- 
ried Fred Brockman, and is living at Altamont, 
111. ; Emma, who married Herman VonRenuer. .a 
Lutheran preacher of Germantown. Cal. ; and Ed- 
win and Lewis, at home. 

LAMMERT, Louis William, priest in charge of 
St. Anthony's Church, of Effingham, 111., was 
bom iu Iserlohn, Province of Westiihalia, Ger- 
many, April 10, 1852, a son of Louis Lammert, 
born in Arnsberg, Germany, in ISIO, and his wife, 
Caroline (Quitmaun) Lammert, born at Iserlohn, 
Germany, in 1817. They had eight children, 
seven of whom grew to maturity, and Father 
Lammert is the fifth in order of birth. Father 
Lammert is the only one of these children to 
come to America. But five now sun-ive. A 
nephew of Father Lammert is also a priest,— 
Father Frank Schnette, of Cologne, Germany. 

Blither Lammert studied at the parochial 
schools in Germany, where he was graduated. 
He took his classical course at different places, 
studying five years at the seminary at Fulda, 
Germany. Part of his theological course was ac- 
QUired in Germany and part in the United States, 
as he came to this country in 1874, landing in 
New York City. Ma.v 29. Soon thereafter he en- 
tered the St. Francis Seminary, at Milwaukee, 
Wis., where his education was completed. 

He was twenty-four years old when he was or- 
dained at Alton. 111., in Sts. Peter and Paul Ca- 
thedral, June 29, 1876, by the Right Reverend 
Bishop P. J. Baltes. now deceased. His first ap- 
pointment was to St. .loseph's Church, at Cairo, 
111., where he remained three years, from 1876 
to 1879. He was then sent to Decatur, 111., to 
take charge of St. James' Church, and continued 
there for sixteen and one-half years, when on 
January 1, 1896. he came to St. Anthony's 
Church, Effingham, and has since remaine<l there. 

Father Lammert is a scholarly man. widely 
read and deeply ver.sed in the faith of his church. 
His people all love him and among them he has 
done very effective work. His church is in a 
flourishing condition, and he is not only an efB- 
cient priest but an excellent business man. 

LANDENBERGER, John T.— Since the begin- 
nings of civilized government the possession of 
land has given prestige, and in the Ignited States 
thousands yet press eagerly toward the setting 
sun. in the hope that they will be fortimate 
■enough to secure land that the Government is 



still offering in the few unsettled sections of the 
West. Among those who need feel no such de- 
sire is John T. I>andenberger, of JIason Town- 
ship, Effingham County, 111., for he is the owner 
of 344 acres of well improved land, as well as a 
farm of 160 acres in Haskell County, Kan. He 
was born in Oldham County, Ky., August 15, 
1855, and is a son of Aaron and Susan (Foster) 
Landenberger. His Grandfatner Fo.ster was a 
native of South Carolina, whence he moved his 
family to Mis.souri. His Grandfather Landen- 
berger was a native of Germany, who on coming 
to the United States settled in Maine, where he 
lived until his death. 

Aaron Landenberger was apprenticed to a 
builder and contractor in his youth, and after 
completing his apprenticeship started out as a 
journeyman, and thus drifted to Oldham County, 
Ky., where he married Susan Foster, in March, 
1849, and they removed to Effingham County, III., 
in 1863. He bought 160 acres of land in Section 
30, Mason Township, and 320 in Fayette County. 
In the fall of 1864 he returned to Oldham 
County, hut as his wife's health was not so good 
in Kentucky, he returned to Illinois in the fall 
of the same year. He cast his vote for Presi- 
dent in the morning of the day he left Louis- 
ville for his new home in Illinois, and alMut three 
years prior had disposed of the slaves he owned. 
He did not live long after locating in Illinois, 
his death occurring in June. 1805. In his death 
Effingham Cbunty lost a man of true worth and 
u.setulness. His widow survived him many years, 
her demise taking place in December, 1905. He 
was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church and his wife was connected with the 
Christian Church. They had children as follows: 
Lavinia, who resides at Edgewood. III., the widow 
of J. L. Gillmore; William, who is a farmer in 
Mason Township; John T. : Fannie, deceased, 
was the wife of James B. Chase, of Ashland, 
Ohio, whose second wife is Lilly, youngest daugh- 
ter of Mr. Landenberger and sister of his first 
wife. 

John T. Landenberger continued on the home 
farm with his mother after his school days were 
over, and conducted the same from the time he 
was twenty-one until he was thirty years old. 
In 1887 he visited the West, and while in Colo- 
rado and Kansas he saw some tine land, which 
induced him to take up 160 acres in Kansas. 
While in Colorado he woiked for a time in the 
employ of the Rock Island Railroad and worked 
six months with a grading gang. In the fail of 
1889 he returned home and remained on the farm 
until a desire came over him to visit the West 
again and note the improvements that had been 
made. He went without capital, knowing he 
could always make an honest dollar at mining, 
and went as far as California, spending two 
months at Redwood City and Stockton, In De- 
cember, 1894, he returned to the old home neigh- 
borhood and Iwught eighty acres of land in Sec- 
tion 18. Mason Town.ship. In 1902 he added a 
tract of sixty-four acres in Section 19. To these 
purcha.ses he has added until he has a large 



800 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



acT'.-age. his land being in a fine state of eulti- 
v?ition and stocljed well. 

December lt». I'JOO, Jlr. Landenberger married 
Miss Mabel B. Winter, who was born in Mason 
Township, daughter of Fi-auk Winter. Two 
children have been born to them : Ada. born De- 
c-ember 16. 1907, and Aleda, born July 5, 1909. 
Politically Mr. Landenberger is a Democrat, and 
on this ticket he has been twice elected Super- 
visor of Mason Township, serving four years. 
He is identified with the lodge of Odd Fellows, at 
Mason. 

LARIMER, James. — One of the most sincere, 
substantial and honored pioneer couple of Ef- 
fingham County are James Larimer and his ex- 
cellent wife, who reside in Jackson Township, on 
the faiTU that has been their home for so many 
years. Mr. Larimer was bom in Fairfield 
County, Ohio. April 7, 1834, a son of Moses and 
Nauc.v (Blosser) Larimer, natives of Ohio and 
Virginia, respectively. They were married in 
Ohio at an early day. but came to Indiana in 
1837, and after a number of changes, finally set- 
tled in Miami County. Ind.. where they spent the 
remainder of their lives, the father dying at the 
age of forty-eight years. He is buried in tlif- 
Baptist Hill CemeteiT at Bunker Hill. Ind. His 
widow survived him many yeai-s, dying at the 
age of seventy-five years, and her remains are in- 
terred by his side. Eleven children were born 
to this couiile, namely : Sally. George, John, Ann 
Nancy, all deceased; James, living; Jacob W. 
Isaac, deceased; Moses. Rachel, deceased; Maiy, 
living and Jane det^eased. 

James Larimer received a scanty education in 
the subscription schools of his period, and grew 
up to work on the farm. On September 1. 1859, 
he married in Miami County, Ind., Catheriuft 
Pontious. born in Wayne County, Ind.. December 
3. 1841, daughter of George and Mary (Coffman'v 
Pontious. The father was a native of Ohio, and 
the mother of Pennsylvania. The latter secured 
an excellent education in the public schools of 
Miami County. In 1866 Mrs. Larimer's parents 
came to her in Illinois and settled on a farm in 
Effingham County. There the father died in 
1886, and his widow in 1894. and both are buried 
In tlie Baptist Church Cemeteiy. They were the 
parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to 
niaturitv. two dying in childhood. But four are 
now living, namely: Noah, Mollie, William H. 
and Catherine. 

After marriage, ilr. and Mrs. Larimer lived in 
Indiana for a few years, but in 1865 came to Ef- 
fingham County. 111., locating on the farm in 
Jackson Township which has since been their 
home. They have had ten children, only five of 
whom are now living. These children are as fol- 
lows: Sarah, wife of William Gardner, resides 
on a farm In Jackson Township; Rosa, wife of 
Benjamin Porter, resides in Effingham. 111. ; 
George, married Carrie Hughes, resides in Kan- 
sas: Scott, married Rena Hooten, resides in Ef- 
fingham ; James. John and Mary, deceased ; 
Clarence W., married Mollie Manuel, is now de- 



ceased ; Charles Hallie, deceased ; and Grover, 
unmarried, living with bis parents on the farm. 
The farm which has been the home of the Lar- 
imers for forty-six years, consists of 120 acres 
of land devoted to general farming. By indus- 
ti-y Mr. Larimer has been successful in his work, 
and is well satisfied with what he has acx-om- 
pllshed. On September 1, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. 
Larimer celebrated their golden wedding. In 
politics Mr. Larimer is a Prohibitionist and a 
strong advocate of temperance. He has never as- 
pired to public office, but has always taken an 
active part in local i»litics. Both he and his 
wife are devout members of the Baptist Church 
near their home in Jackson Township. Mrs. Lar- 
imer has been a teacher in the Sunday School for 
twenty-three years, and at sixty-eight years of age 
still retains her class, giving devoted attention to 
both church and Sunday school work. Mr. Larimer 
has been a deacon in his church for forty years, 
and also served as Clerk for some twelve years. 
The Christian atmosphere of this home deeiily 
impresses all who enter it and, by personal con- 
tact with its occupants, acquire a just conception 
of the faith and devotion which has characterized 
their lives. 

Le CRONE, Byron Kendrick, printer and pub- 
lisher, and present business manager of the 
'■Morning Record" and "Weekly Democrat," Ef- 
fingham, 111., was born in the city of Effingham, 
October 2. 1882, the son of George M. and Fran- 
ces (Xitchcr) Le Crone, both members of early 
and well known families of Effingham County. 
The father, George M. Le Crone, has been for 
more than thirty years identified with journalism 
in Effingham County, for the greater part of tliat 
period being connected with the "Effingham Dem- 
ocrat," of which, for the past sixteen years, he 
has l)een proprietor and publisher. (See sketch 
in an adjoining section of this volume.) 

Byron K. Le Crone began leanning the printer's 
trade as early as eight .vears of age. and later, 
but while still in his boyhood, was accustomed 
to furnish a column each week for "The Demo- 
crat," his father's paper, which was published 
under the heading, "Local Jottings." In the 
meantime he received his education in the public 

■ schools, the High School and at Austin College, 
Effingham. After completing his course In col- 
lege, he continued to give his attention to print- 
ing and newspaper work, remaining in Effingham 
until February, 1906, when he went to Cliaffee, 
Mo., where he established the "Chaffee Review," 
and. while there, served as City Clerk two suc- 
cessive terms, and was also the first Clerk of the 
new town. Two yeai-s later he returned to Ef- 
fingham, 111., and In May, 1908. became business 
manager for the Le Crone Press Company, jnib- 
lishers of the "Morning Record" and "Effingham 
Democrat," which position he has retained to the 
present time, establishing for himself a high rep- 
utation for efficiency and success in this capacity. 
Mr. Le Crone is a Democrat in political prin- 

' ciples an4 affiliations, is unmarried and a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church of Effingham. He 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



801 



Is associated witb a number of fraternal organi- 
zations, including the Order of Ellvs. Knights of 
Pythias, Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern 
American Fraternal Order. Modem Woodmen of 
America, and has entered uix)u a series of Ma- 
sonic degrees. 

Not afraid of worli. and of a mechanical turn 
of mind. Mr. Le Crone finds his duties in con- 
nection with the printing business of a congenial 
nature and takes pleasure in their performance — 
a condition which, in connection with integrity 
and high moral character, lies at the basis of 
true success. As may be inferred from his fra- 
ternal relations, he mixes easily with societj- and 
enjoys the acquaintance of a wide circle of 
friends. 

Le CRONE, George M., editor and business man 
of Effingham, 111., is a man widely Unown for his 
diversified activities and is a joumalist of long 
standing and marked abilit.v. Irle is one of the 
most influential men in Effingham Cbunty and 
has borne his part in its devlopment, both as a 
private citizen and as a represeut;itive of the 
press. He was born in Ewiugton. 111.. December 
23, 1858, a son of Dr. John Le Crone. Wheu he 
was seven years of age his father located in Ef- 
fingham, and here George attendetl the public 
schools until 1870. During the sunnner months he 
worked at farm work and various other occupa- 
tions. In the fall of 1870 he, entered the State 
Normal University at Normal. 111., from which 
he graduated in June, 187.3. 

Upon completing his education Mr. Le Crone 
taught in the district schools of Effingham County 
for one year, and in 187.5 became Principal of the 
Effingham East Side School, which jxtsition was 
offered him because of his proven efficiency. Af- 
ter teaching one year in Effingham he accepted 
the position of Deputy Circuit Clerk and held it 
two .years. In January. 1878. he purchased a 
half-interest in the "Effingham Democrat." and 
for three years was joint editor with John Hoeny, 
Sr., then continued with the latter's successor, 
Mr. Scott, until October 1. 1.S81. Mr. Le Ci'one 
then sold out bis interest and entered the em- 
ploy of Osgood & Kingman as book-keeper. In 
December. 1881. he started the "Altamont News." 
in company with C. A. Coleman, though he con- 
tinned but a short time with this paper. In Oc- 
tober. 1882. Jlr. Le Crone formed a partnership 
with N. D. Clutter, in a real estate and loan busi- 
ness, under the name of Clutter & Le Crone, 
which continued two years. 

Jlr. Le Crone purchased the "Democrat" in 
1884 and has since that time, been engaged in 
.iournalistic work. He now owns the "Daily 
Record" and the "Weekly Democrat." Mr. Le 
Crone was instrumental in securing the organiza- 
tion of the Modem American Fraternal Order 
in Effingham in 1897, and is now its Secretary 
and Manager. 

Not' only has Mr. Le Crone been active in busi- 
ness circles, but he has also been prominent po- 
liticall.v. being a stanch Democrat. In 1805 he 
was elected a member of the Lower House of 



the State Legislature and was further distin- 
guished by being appointed by G!ov. Altgeld 
Secretai-j- of the State Live Stock Commission. 
He has served in Effingham as Alderman from 
his ward and as a member of the Board of Educa- 
tion, having at all times given the best of service 
to the public aud working for improvements for 
his locality in many different ways. 

In 1879 Sir. Le Crone was united in marriage 
with Frances K. Nitcher, of Effingham, and five 
children ha^e been Iwrn to them, namely : Byron 
K. ; George and Humphrey ; Frances, who died at 
the age of twenty-two years, and Hugh, who died 
at the age of eight years. 

Mr. Le Crone's t«-o papers are recognized as 
the leading organs of the Democratic part.v iu the 
county. His editorials are forceful and clear, 
and are widely quoted in matters of national as 
well as local import. Personall.v he is a man of 
pleasing address, a firm friend of those who have 
shown him consideration and generous to his en- 
emies. He is strong in his opinions and princi- 
ples and ready to stand up for what he con- 
siders right. 

Le CRONE, John M.— It is a noticeable fact that 
the agriculturists of any section who have the 
best farms, are those who take the most pride in 
the prosperity of their community and the most 
active part in the upbuilding aud development of 
the section in which the.y reside, and this is true 
of the farmers of Effingham County. One of these 
representative men of Jackson Township, who' 
has always been in the leading ranks in any 
movement likely to prove of benefit to his locality, 
is John M. Le Crone, the owner of a well regu- 
lated farm of sixty-seven acres, who was bom 
in Missouri August 31. 1801. a son of Mathias 
and Sarah E. (Porter) Le Crone. 

The parents of Mr. Le Crone, who were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, came to Illinois early in 
life. The father was bom December 20. 1829, 
and the mother May, 5. 18.34, and they were mar- 
ried in Effingham Count}', where the.v spent their 
man-ied life. After a long and useful life spent in 
agricultural pursuits in Jackson Township. Math- 
ias Le Crone died June 21. 1894. his wife follow- 
ing him to the grave ilarch .30, 1890. Both were 
buried in the Turner Cemetei-y in Jackson Town- 
ship. They were the parents of ten children, 
four of whom died in childhood, while those who 
reached matin'ity were: John M. ; Mary and 
Elizabeth, deceased : William ; Samuel and Clara. 
Mathias Le Crone served throughout both the 
Mexican and Civil Wars, in the latter being a 
member of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and though he saw hard 
service, he came through both struggles without 
a wound. 

John M. Le Crone came to Illinois with his 
parents when but four weeks old. and he ob- 
tained a very good education in the free schools 
of Effingham County. He remained at home until 
twenty-six years of age. and on December 2, 1886, 
he was united in marriage with .\nna Harrell. 
who was born in Effingham Countv. December 31, 



802 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



1866 daughter of William and Sarah (DeFreece) 
Harrell, natives of Keutucli.v who caiue to Illi- 
nois as voung people and were married m Eftug- 
ham County, and are now residents of Jackson 
Township. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, of whom seven still survive, Mrs. Le Crone 
being the second in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. 
Le Crone have spent their entire married life in 
Jackson Township, and now reside on a fine tract 
of sixty-seven acres, on which Mr. LeOrone is 
carrj-ing on general farming in a very successful 
manner. 

Mr and Mrs. Le Crone have been the parents 
of six children: Walter E. ; Maytie F. ; ElHe, 
who died when twelve years old : Leslie H. ; 
Belva S. and Sarah L The family ai-e members 
of the Christian Church at Fairview. and both 
Mr. and Mrs. Le CTone are active in church 
work, he being a member of the Board of Ti-us- 
tees. In political matters he is a Republican, but 
although an active worker in the ranks of his 
party, he has never cared for iiublic office for 
himself. His fratenial connection is \vith the 
Brotherhood of American Yeomen. No. 2111. at 
Altamont. 

LEIBNITZ, John Frederick.— The Germans in 
America form an important class of good, reli- 
able, and industrious citizens, who can be de- 
pended upon to work hard, save what they earn 
and so invest it that it will afford excellent re- 
turns. One of the well-to-do farmers of Section 
20, Mason Township, is John Frederick Leib- 
nitz born in Germany, January 18, 1825, a son 
of John A. and Marie (Smidth) Leibnitz. John 
Frederick was the only one of his family to come 
to the United States. He lost his father in 18.39, 
when he was fourteen years old, but the mother 
lived until 1880. John F. is the only survivor of 
their four children, one son. Carrel, having died 
in Germany, October 7. 1000, at the home of his 
son Frederick. The others are Hannah and 
Minna, both of whom married and died without 
having had any children. 

.Tohn Frederick Leibnitz was educated in Ger- 
manv. and then served two and one-half years in 
the German armv. He had served as a waiter 
in a prominent family by whom he was well 
liked In 1854. however, he decided to come to 
the new country where he felt he conld find 
larger opportunities, and landed in New \ork 
City during a Fourth of July celebration. This 
patriotic demonstration filled the young German 
with wonder, and he felt glad that he had be- 
come one of the residents of this free land. For 
a year he remained in New York City, then went 
to' Whiteside County. 111., and for some time 
workefl on a farm for .$10 per month. Later, he 
rented land from his emplover and farmed on his 
own responsibility. His first presidential vote 
was cast in 1860. and shortly after the election 
he left Whiteside County and moved to Clay 
Countv. reaching there November 29th. 

Mr Leibnitz was married in 1860. to Wilhel- 
mina Henrietta Koss, l)orn in Russian-Pol.nnd. 
December 31, 1834, and came to America with her 



parents iu 1858. Her four brothers had already 
oome to this country, and two of them, Daniel 
and Michael, were killed in an explosion on a 
Mississippi River boat. John Koss died in Ettiug- 
ham County, in 1897. The other children were : 
Frederick, of Missouri ; Andrew, of Clay County, 
111., now deceased; Si'sauua, died in Chicago; and 
Louise, Mrs. Knispel of La Clede, Fayette 
County. Mr. Koss died in Clay County, 111., iu 
1869, and his widow in the same place, Decem- 
ber 3, 1881. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leibnitz lo- 
cated iu Edgewood, 111., and in 1S»33 bought forty 
acres of laud, at $11 per acre. This was wild 
land and on it they built a small frame house. 
They kept adding to the land until now they have 
140 acres. Tliey have had seven children : Emma 
L., born .September 13, 1861, died September 26, 
1862; Otilda, born February 5, 1862, died April 
22, 1864 ; Mary A., born September 17, 1864, died 
July 17, 1880 ; Ada Rosamonda, born October 1, 
1866, married Charles Durre, a farmer in West 
Township, and they had seven children, — Fred, 
George, Lawrence, ilary, aud three who died in 
Infancy ; Frederick William, born March 8, 1869, 
married Margaret Culley February 10, 1893, and 
they have one child — Clara ; John Andrew, born 
January 18, 1875, is now In charge of the old 
farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leibnitz are Lutherans and ac- 
tive in the good work of their church. They 
have a nice, comfortable home, with a goo<l or- 
chard set out by themselves. There is nothing 
that they more enjoy th.an social life, and those 
vi.siting them have a good time, for Mrs. Leib- 
nitz is an excellent housekeeper aud their guests 
are always ro.vally entertained. In 1010 will 
occur their golden wedding, and already plans are 
being made for a large celebration by their chil- 
dren and friends. 

LEITH BROTHERS.— James, David and Wilkin- 
son Leith came to Illinois from Fairfield County, 
Ohio, in 1840-41. together with a fourth brother, 
Hon. I. L. Leith, mentioned elsewhere. 

Wilkinson Leith, the youngest of the brothers, 
was sprightly and energetic, and soon after his 
location in Eftingham County was elected Jus- 
tice of the Peace. He was aftenvard elected 
Recorder, then the best ix)sition in the county. 
The latter part of his life was spent iu Ewington, 
whore he died during his second term of office. 

David Leith was the first Supervisor of Mason 
Township and was several times elected to that 
office. In 1870 he was elected to the Legislature 
and died while a member of that txidy, in July, 
1871. Mr. Leith was a progressive and enter- 
prising fanner, and every worthy improvement in 
the way of farm machinery and methods met his 
hearty sanction. He was very successful In a 
business way. 

James Leith owned a farm about a mile north 
of his bnither David's, and was equally wide- 
awake to advantages of having the most modern 
implements and appliances for carrying on his 
farm. His farm was a model of neatness and 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



803 



good mauageiuent and he was well rewaitied for 
the labor aud pains he expended in making a 
comfortable home. 

LEITH, Hon. Isaac Lowry, was born in Perry 
C'V)nnt.v, Ohio, December 10, 1814. When fifteen 
years old he removed with his parents to Fair- 
field County, same State, aud two years later 
started out by himself, traveling north to what 
is now Wyandot County, Ohio, where he traded 
with the Indians. In 1840 Mr. Leith removed to 
JIason, EtHngham County, 111., and opened up a 
farm a few miles northeast of town, in what was 
then a desolate looking place, where wolves and 
rattlesnakes were plentiful. In 1844 Jlr. Leith 
married and settled north of Ewingtou, where he 
lived a year and a half. In 1855 he located on 
a farm which he purchased aud developed into 
one of the best-improved aud largest farms in the 
county. 

lu 1S5S, in conjunction with R. H. McCann, 
who afterward sei^ved a term iu the Legislature, 
aud John S. Washfort. Mr. Leith was appointed 
Commissioner to lay out the county townships. 
He also served in various offices in Mason Town- 
ship. Politically he was a Democrat until the 
issues of the Civil War, when he voted for Lin- 
coln. He was elected to the Coustitutioual Con- 
vention which met in 1862. 

In IStiU Mr. Leith donated four acres of his 
farm for the erection of a schoolhouse, and was 
always one of the foremost of Mason's citizens 
to advance the cause of education. He was very 
successful as a farmer and ^vas extensively en- 
gaged in stock buying and selling. In 1843 he 
brought a drove of sheep from Fairfield County. 
Ohio, and sold them to the farmers of Effingham 
County. For years he spent a large part of his 
time iu the saddle, buying stock in Effingham and 
other counties, aud until the building of the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, drove them for marketing 
to St. Louis and Ohio. In 18G4 he raised the 
largest crop of wheat ever grown lu his section. 
Mr. Leith died in March, 1898. 

LIVINGSTON, John W.— The man who is forced 
to fight his own battles in the world, to educate 
himself and to force an entrance through the gate 
of Success, prizes more highl.v that which he wins 
than one to whom all good things come by birth 
or inheritance. JIaterial success is something 
worth seeking for, but there is a still higher aim 
than that, and the man wlio is able to draw 
others from sin aud righteousness becomes a po- 
tent factor for good in his community. John W. 
Livingston. farmer, stoekraiser and local 
preacher, of Watson Township. Effingham 
County, 111., was born In this locality. April 16, 
ISfifi, a son of Aaron and Angeline (Highta\ver) 
Livingston, natives of Alabama. 

Aaron Livingston was born in Winston County, 
Ala., in 1843, the son of a rich plantation owner 
who was a Union man and whose proi)erty was 
confiscated during the Civil War by the Confed- 
erates. Young Aaron also stood up for the Un- 
ion, and soon had to flee for his life, many of his 



fellow-towusmen having been hanged before he 
made his escape. Finally, after a long period of 
living as a fugitive he managed to join the First 
Alabama United States Cavalry, joining Com- 
pany I, with which he served throughout the 
war. In the meantime, his young wife had made 
her way north to Illinois and settled iu Watson 
Township, Effingham County, where Mr. Living- 
ston joined her, aud purchased five acres of land 
on Section 22, building a little home and estab- 
lishing his family. Soon thereafter, however, his 
liealth gave away, on account of exiwsure during 
his amiy service, having c-ontracted cousumi> 
tlou, from which he died in 1868, at which time 
his sou John W. was but two years old. His 
other child, a daughter, had died in Nashville, 
Tenu., while the mother was on her way north. 

For five years after the death of the" father, 
the mother and sou lived at the home of one of 
Mrs. Livingston's brothers, John Ilightower. 
Mrs. Livingston was married a second time, to 
John Loy, and young Livingston lived with John 
Loy until his twenty-first year, when he started 
to work out ou a farm by the mouth, and with 
the first $10 he earned bought himself a suit of 
clothes. He continued to work by the mouth for 
some time, hoarding his wages carefully, and 
finally had accumulated enough to purchase 
eighty acres of land in Section 23, and 27, Wat- 
son Township, a tract covered with heavy tim- 
ber and brush, but the young man had proved 
that he was not afraid of hard labor, aud he at 
once set about clearing it from its wild state 
and putting it into a state of cultivation. 
Throughout his life, he has been a hard and en- 
ergetic worker, and this accounts for the success 
that has come to him. He is now considered one 
of the substantial farmers of his disti-iet, has a 
pleasant home, aud is highly regarded through- 
out the township, where he has been elected to 
numerous public offices. He and his wife are 
members of the Jlethodist Episcopal Cihurch, be- 
longing to Loy Chapel congregation. 

On February 7.' 1801, Mr. Livingston was mar- 
ried to Cora M. Webb, who was born in Iowa, 
December 29, 1870, a daughter of Ervin Webb, a 
well-to-do farmer of Wat.son Township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Livingston have been the parents of eight 
children: Earl A., born September 28. 1893; 
Enin H., born December 25, 1894 ; George R., 
bom June 10, 1896; Aaron, born January 14, 
1898; Mary, born September 7, 1899; James H., 
bom June 10, 1901 ; Ida, born April 1, 1906 ; and 
Wilborn, born July 16, 1908. 

LLOYD, Michael (deceased).— Ireland has fur- 
nished the United States with some of its rep- 
resentative men. and they are to be found in ev- 
ery rank and walk of life. The sons of Erin 
IX)ssess those qualities which make for success 
and bring them into favorable notice, so that they 
are welcomed In any community. A notable ex- 
ample of the prosperous agriculturist of Effing- 
ham County was furnished in the life of the late 
Michael Lloyd, who was bom in County Lim- 
erick, Ireland, in 1825, a son of Captain William 



804 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Lloyd, an officer in the English army. Michael 
Lloyd was married in his native country to Mary 
Whealon, also a native of County Limerick. 
When their first child was a babe, the wife took 
him and came to the United States, binding in 
New Orleans, whence she came to Madison 
County, 111., and there the husband and father 
joined them a year or so later. For the suc- 
ceeding si.xteen years Madison County was their 
home, and they then removed to West Township, 
Effingham County. There Michael Lloyd bought 
eighty acres of land and operated it until his 
demise, which occurred in 1807. In religious 
faith he was a Roman Catholic, and his remains 
rest in the Catholic Cemetery at Edgewood. His 
e.xcellent wife died in 1884, when about seventy 
years of age. firm in the faith of the Catholic 
Church, of which she was a devout member. Her 
sons tenderly cherish her memory, for she was 
one of the best of mothers and a kind-hearted, 
true Christian woman. One incident will show 
the reverence in which her sons hold her memory. 
During her lifetime she planted a weeping willow 
tree by the side of the well, and in time this tree 
grew to such proiwrtious that its roots choked up 
the well, but they would not allow it to be dis- 
turbed and went to the expense of drilling an- 
other well rather than destroy the work of her 
hands. 

Michael Lloyd and bis wife had two sons, 
Thomas and .John. Thomas Lloyd was born in 
Ireland, in 184.o, and was brought by his mother 
to Madison County. 111., in infancy. He at- 
tended scliool and learned the details of farming 
on his father's farm in Madison County, and is 
now operating the family homestead in Effing- 
ham County, in partnership with his brother. 

John Lloyd was born In Madison County. 111., 
about 1856, attended school in both Madison and 
Effingham Counties, and was reared to farm life. 
Both he and his brother are excellent farmers 
and tliey have a valuable property, which yields 
them a "good income. They are intclligenr and 
public-spirited citizens, taking a proper interest 
in the welfare of their community and are rightly 
considered fit representatives of its agricultural 
element. 

LOHMANN, Herman H.— Eflfijigham County, 
111., has some of the best agricultural land in the 
State, and the men who own it are realizing this 
fact, as tliey are steadily improving their farms 
and reaping immense crops. One of the men who 
have made a success of farming is Herman H. 
Lohmann. a farmer of Section 28. Douglas To^^^l- 
ship. who was born on the farm he now occupies. 
September 24. \S5'j. a son of George H. and 
Mary Adelaide (Osterman) Lohmann. both na- 
tives of Germany. He came to America in young 
manhood, but she was brought by her parents, 
wlio located in St. Louis, whence they came 
to Effingham County. There George H. Lohmann 
and she met and married. They were among the 
first settlers in this part of the county. 

After marriage George H. Lohmann bought 120 
acres of wild land, and he and his wife located 



on it. and began making a home for them.selves 
out of the wilderness. Mr. Lohmann added to 
bis holdings until he owned 407 acres, of which 
he made a fine home, although all his children 
were born in a log cabin. They were : Ilerniau 
H., Henry, James, Canada ; Elizabeth, wife of 
John Dasenbrock, of Douglas Township ; George, 
deceased ; Borney, deceased ; Catherine, de- 
ceased. George II. Ix>hmanu died in 1894, aged 
eigthy-six. His wife died in 1902, aged seventy- 
six. He was a good, practical farmer, and great 
lover of his home. 

Herman H. Lohmann began his education in 
the primitive log school of his neighborhood, and 
continued it at Green Creek Catholic school. 
When he was thirteen he began to bear his part 
in the farm work, and remained at home. On Sep- 
tember 28, 188(1, be married Catherine Aulen- 
broek, a sketch of whose parents appears else- 
where in this work. After marriage Mr. Loh- 
mann continued on the old home and lived in the 
house in which be was liorn until 1902, then built 
a good re.sidence, and in it he and bis wife are 
now injoying life. He has also built a large barn 
for his stock, as he feeds fifteen cows. This barn 
Is .38x96 feet, one-half of it having a concrete 
floor, and is one of the best in Effingham County. 
Mr. Lohmann Iceeps Ilolstein cows and finds them 
a profitable investment. 

Air. and Mrs. Tx)hmann are the parents of 
seven children : Henry, died at the age of four 
years ; Mary, died in infancy ; Fritz, died at the 
age of eight months ; Annie, at home ; Herman, 
at home; Frank and Anton at home. Mr. Loh- 
mann has been one of the thrifty men of his lo- 
cality and now owns 2.37 acres of land in Sec- 
tions 20, 25. 28. 33 and 34 in Douglas Township. 
Politically he is a Democrat and is now serv- 
ing as School Director, but he has never sought 
honors, for his Interests have been centered in bis 
farm and church. He belongs to the Green Creek 
Catbolic Cburcb. 

LORTON, Samuel Clifford, M. D.— Effingham 
County is the home of some of the most skilled 
medical men in the State, who are laboring to 
minister to the sick and reduce the percentage of 
deaths in their vicinities. Their work is a noble 
one and deserves more praise than is ever ac- 
corded it. One of the most popular and success- 
ful representatives of the profession here is Dr. 
Samuel Clifford Lorton, of Shumway, 111. He 
was born in Tx)udon Township, Fayette County, 
April 23, 1879, a son of James and Josephine 
Hotz Lorton, a full sketch of whom appears else- 
where in this work. 

After a boyhood spent in attending the distric"t 
school and working on the farm. Dr. lorton went 
to Austin College at Effingham. Returning 
liome, he devoted himself to teaching school, dur- 
ing inoo and 1901. but in 1902, was able to enter 
Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, where he 
took a four years' course in medicine, being grad- 
uated with the class of 190G. During his vaca- 
tions, he assisted several physicians, including 
the celebrated Dr. F. Buckmaster of Effingham, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



805 



III., with whom he was associated in surgical 
work, and Dr. W. S. Jones of Redmon. Edgar 
County. After receiving his diploma. Dr. Lortou 
remained with Dr. Jones until November 10, 
190(5, when he located in Shumwa.v which has 
since been his home. Since then he has built up 
a large practice and has firmly established him- 
self in the confidence of his patients, winning 
their friendship by his kindly sympathy. Dr. 
Lorton has been very successful in general prac- 
tice and surgical work. He has all of the most 
improved appliances in his offices, and keeps thor- 
oughly abreast of the times in every particular. 
On June 12, 1907, Dr. Lorton married Even 
D. Snoddy, born in Coal Creek. Ind.. a daughter 
of E. O. Snoddy, the banker of Redmon, 111. For 
some years prior to her marriage. Mr.s. Dorton 
, was ca.shler of the Rodmon Bank. She is highly 
educated, being a graduate of the Westfield, 111., 
College, and proficient in music. One son was 
born to Dr. and Mrs. Lorton, Roland Clifford 
Kieffer Lorton. 

Dr. Lorton is a Mason, belonging to Beecher 
City Lodge No. 665, and a member of the Escula- 
pian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley, 
which was established in 1846. Dr. Lorton en.ioys 
outdoor sports and is fond of hunting and fish- 
ing. It would be difficult to find a man more 
highly respected or esteemed than Dr. Lorton. 
whose success has been earned by conscientious 
and persistent effort. 

LOWDER, Aaron H. — The raising and feeding 
of stock in conjunction with farming has alwa.vs 
lieen a profitable business, and especiall.v is this 
true now when high prices prevail and the agri- 
culturist can get an adequate return for all his 
hard work and frugality. One of the represen- 
tative farmers of Mason Township. Effingham 
County, is Aaron H, Lowder, of Section .36. born 
on the farm of his parents, on Section 25, the 
same township, July 3. 1854. He is a son of Gid- 
eon Lowder a sketch of whom is given elsewhere 
in this work. 

After securing a common school education in 
the district, Mr. Lowder helped on the farm until 
his father's death. His marriage occurred De- 
cember 19, 1880, when he was united with Zillah 
C. Turner, daughter of Wilson Turner, whose 
history is also given elsewhere. She was born 
May 5, 18G2. After their marriage they rented a 
farm, now owned by .Tohn Ready in Mason Town- 
ship. In 1882, they bought forty acres of land 
on Section 36, on which they put up a log house 
and began life on their own land. To his origi- 
nal forty acres Mr. Ijowder added until he now 
owns eighty acres. Although the original log 
cabin still stands in good repair, as a dwelling it 
has been replaced by a fine farm cottage, built 
in 1899, and the groves and brush have given 
place to nodding fields of grain and an excellent 
orchard containing all kinds of fruit. Mr. Low- 
der has been raising Duroc-Jersey hogs, as well 
as high-grade cattle and horses. He also carries 
on general farming and has made a success of his 



work. His well-kept premises indicate that he 
understands his business from the bottom up. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lowder have had four sons : Wil- 
liam H.. who died when only nine months old; 
John W.. born December 15, 1882. is a farmer 
and carpenter of Mason Township, married April 
15, 1909, Edna Smith, born in Clay County. 111., 
a daughter of Bloomer Smith, a farmer there; 
Walter H.. born April 15, 1885, married Grace 
Payton. April 4, 1909, and is a farmer in Mason 
Town.ship ; Owen G., born February 19, 1887, 
married Maggie Edwards, July 7, 1908, born in 
Clay County, November 4, 1889, and they have 
one son, Arthur, born April 28. 1909. 

All the family are active members of the 
Chri.stian Church of Mason, of which for many 
.vears Mr. Lowder was Deacon. He has alwa.vs 
been a Democrat in politics, serving as School 
Director. He never belonged to any secret orders, 
but his son. John W., belongs to the M. A. F. O. 
and Walter H. to the Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica. No enterprise looking towards the eventual 
betterment of the connnnnity need fear of not 
securing Mr. Lowder's support, for he is a friend 
of progress and lends his influence towards secur- 
ing all improvements possible. 

LOWDER, John Wesley.— There are many old 
and honored families in Effingham County that 
have descended from some of the finest stock in 
the country, and among them may be mentioned 
that of Lowder, representatives of which have 
been prominent in Effingham County, 111., for 
many years. John Wesley I,owder. an excellent 
farmer of Section 25. Mason To-miship. was born 
In that township. July 10. 1.8.50. a son of Gideon 
and Eliza fPendelton) Lowder. natives of Nofth 
Carolina. 

Gideon Lowder came from his native State to 
Effingham County when a young man of about 
twentv vears. fii-st. however, having located on 
Dismal Creek, in Clay County. In 1833 he en- 
tered land in Section 25. JIason Township, and 
here his first marriage occurred, his wife being 
Marv Bishop, daughter of Benjamin Bishop, one 
of the pioneer settlers of this part of the State. 
They had six children : Elizabeth, the wife of 
William McLean, had three children : William, 
married a Mrs. Randalls, whose maiden name 
was Bailey, and they left one son : Henry, a 
farmer in West Township : Nancy, was married 
Cfirst) to Sidney Neal. and (second! to Thomas 
Hollowa.v. the latter a farmer in Lucas Township, 
where jfrs. Holloway died ; Gideon, married Ann 
Baker, resides in Edgewood and has five chil- 
dren : and Celia. the widow of David Montgom- 
ery, residing in Missouri. The second marriage 
of Gideon Ijowder was to Eliza Pendelton. by 
whom he had children as follows : John Wesley ; 
Aaron, a farmer in Mason Tomiship ; George a 
f.ai-mer of Edmond. Okla. : Barbara, wife of 
.Tames Bingman. a farmer in Sinclair. Morgan 
Countv. III. : Preslev Funkhouser. of Mason 
Townshin; Charles, in the emplov of the Illinois 
Central Railroad, at Mattoon. 111. 

Gideon Lowder was one of the pioneers of 



806 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Effingham County, and experienced all of the 
hardships and privations of pioneer life. He 
fought throughout the Black Hawk War with 
signal bravery, but was known as a man of peace, 
and during the many quarrels that came up in 
those days in his vicinity, he was invariably 
known as the peacemaker. It is s:\id that on 
many occasions he risked his life in settling a 
dispute. On a number of occasions he was com- 
pelled to protect his stock from the raids of the 
wolves, and once lost some valuable sows in this 
■way. He saw the home of the wild red man 
blossom into the flourishing villages and cities 
of civilization, the wigwam replaced by the 
school and church, and the wild, uncultivated 
land change into orderly farms, fertile and well 
cared for. In religious faith a Uuiversalist, Mr. 
Lowder gave freely of his time and money to 
both church and educational movements. In po- 
litical matters he was a Democrat. One of the 
grandest figures of his day, his memory will 
long be kept green in the hearts of those who 
knew and loved him. He died March 30, 1877, 
his widow sun'iving until 1904. 

John Wesley Lowder was educated in the dis- 
trict schools, and on reaching his majority took 
up the work of handling the home farm. On De- 
cember 6. 1874. he was married to Adeline 
Wright, born October 18, 1851, in Jackson County, 
Ind., daughter of Rev. Clayburn and Charlotte 
(Clayton) Wright. They came in 1861 to Illi- 
nois, settling in Alason Township, where Mr. 
Wright followed farming and preached the faith 
of the Christian Church. This good man was 
called to his reward June 24. 1805, while his 
widow passed away September 17, 1005. They 
were the parents of these children : Erastus, de- 
ceased; Reason, of Colorado Springs. Colo.; 
Jonas, of Lamar. Colo.: John, of Mason, 111.; 
Frank, of Pueblo. Colo. ; Ellen, widow of William 
Sperland. of Edgewood ; Flora, wife of C. R. 
Brown, a Clav Ctounty farmer; Alice, widow of 
John Gwinn, of Chicago ; and Mrs. Lowder. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lowder have been the parents 
of three children: Oscar, born October 6, 1875, 
attended Austin College, and is now in the 
freight department of the Illinois Central Rail- 
way ; Everett, born December 11. 1877. a bright 
voiith with manv noble traits of character, died 
May 5, 1901 ; and Alma, liorn December Ifi, 
1883, at home. Mr. Ix)wder has been a Republi- 
can in politics, but has never cared for public 
preferment. The family are active members of 
the Christian Church. 

LOWDER, Presley Funkhouser. — Effingham 
County, 111., is noted for its men who have a 
thorough knowledge of agi-icultural conditions 
and the science of breeding stock. Probably the 
conditions In this part of the State are as near 
ideal as anywhere for the successful raising of 
huge crops of grain, and the fertile pastures are 
especially adapted to the needs of the stock 
raiser. Presley Funkhouser Lowder, a leading 
agriculturist of Section 25, Mason Township, 



was born in that tonmship, September 3, 1861, a 
son of Uideon and JDliza (Pendelton) Lowder. 

Mr. Ijowder was educated in the .listricl 
schools and reared to the life of a farmer. After 
the death of his father he took charge of the old 
home farm. Later his mother went to live with 
her only daughter, Barbara, now the wife of 
James iiurr, a farmer and stockman near Jack- 
sonville, 111. On December 11, 18 — . Mr. Low- 
der was united in marriage with Kate Bailie, 
who was born in Mason Township, June 12, 
1S(J4, daughter of Samuel H. and Martha (Da- 
mon) Bailie, the former of whom died in 1002 
and the latter about 1892. She was a native of 
Mas.sachusetts and came to Illinois with her 
parents, while her husband came originally from 
Pennsylvania, going thence to Ohio and from 
the latter State to Illinois. Of their seven chil- 
dren two are deceased : Clinton, F., Mrs. Low- 
der, and Agnes, the wife of Arthur Mason, of 
Watson, 111. After marriage, Mr. and Mr.s. Low- 
der settled on the old home farm In Section 25. in 
the log cabin, in which all of the children of Gid- 
eon Lowder were born except the eldest. They 
resided in that old pioneer home until 1900, when 
he built one of the best residences in this part of 
the county, on the Public Road, in Section 25. 
He owns 140 acres of excellent land, about fifty 
acres of which have been cleared of heavy 
timber. He has been successful in his under- 
takings and is numbered among the prosperous 
men of his community. His succe-ss has been 
well merited, as it has been gained through hard, 
unremitting labor and a perseverance that has 
overcome all obstacles. He has many friends in 
bis part of the county. 

Three children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Lowder : Zepher, November 27, 1896 ; Le- 
land. March 31, 1898; and Maude Estelle, Sep- 
tember 25, 1904. Mrs. Lowder and the children 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
while Mr. Lowder is a Universalist. Formerly 
a Democrat, he later became c-onnected with the 
Prohibition party, and although he has never 
ac'cepted public preferment, he bore an active 
part in the great temperance wave that swept 
Illinois in 1908. Fraternally he is connected 
with the Ma.sons, the Odd Fellows and the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America. 

LOY, Calvin C— Many farmers from Southern 
States sought homes in Illinois, where they could 
secure land and establish themselves far from 
the vexing problems which early distracted those 
who lived south of the Mason and Dixon line. 
Land in Illinois was to be had for a merely nami- 
nal figure and wild game was plentiful, which 
inspired hope in their breasts, and animated 
their actions. The pioneei-s came from all sec- 
tions of the country, felled the forests, con- 
quered the prairies, and within the past few 
years drained the swamps, making the wilder- 
ness into a fertile and valuable state. One of 
the very early settlers of Effingham County, 111., 
was John H." Loy. father of Calvin C. Loy, who 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



807 



is one of the prosperous farmers of this part of 
the State. 

Calvin C. Loy was born in Watson Township. 
Effingham Countj-. April 7. 1857. He is a son 
of John H. and Mahala (Slover) Loy. The for- 
mer was Ixirn in the State of Alabama and the 
latter in Pennsylvania. John H. Ixiy was born 
April 10. 1821, son of John H. I^y, who brought 
his family from Alabama in 1829, coming with 
teams and wagons, and settling in Effingham 
County in 18-30. He was the first Treasurer of 
Effingham County, being elected in 18.33. Both 
he and his son. John H. Loy. entered land and 
became large farmers and stockmen. 

The education of Calvin C. Loy was secured in 
the common schools of his neighlxirhood. and he 
was reared to work on the farm. He engaged in 
farming until his election to the office of County 
Clerk, in November. 1006. on the Democratic 
ticket, and he is still discharging the duties of 
that responsible office. Mr. Loy is a conscien- 
tious official, and under his active administration 
the work in his office is being turned out in a 
thoroughly business like and efficient manner. 
Mr. Loy is very popular. pos.sesses a pleasant, 
agreeable manner, and is likely to be called upon 
to justify the faith his party has in him by ac- 
cepting other and higher offices. 

January 12, 1887. Mr. Loy married Ina Beem, 
who was born at Effingham. 111.. February 9. 1867. 
daughter of David and Nellie (Golden) Beem. 
who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, re- 
spectively. The father of Mrs. Loy died in the 
early 'sixties, and her mother is still living in 
Effingham. To Mr. and Mrs. Loy have been 
bom fonr children : Raymond S.. Sible. Gladys 
and Byron. 

Mrs. Loy is a member of the Methodist Church. 

LOY, James H. — There was a period in the 
history of Effingham County when its agricultural 
interests were of small importance, when the 
farmer gathered from his fields only a mere sub- 
sistence, and when his few head of common, 
scrubby stock scarcely paid for their mainte- 
nance, but, through the intelligent efforts of a 
body of thoughtful, earnest men. such conditions 
have largely become a thing of the past. In this 
connection the citizens of the county- readily ac- 
cord to James H. Loy. farmer and dair.vman, of 
Watson Township. Effingham County. 111., who 
holds the office of State Food Inspector, a large 
amount of credit. Mr. Loy was born in Watson 
Township, February 17, 18.57. and is a son of 
James B. and Nancy J. (Tucker) Loy. 

James B. Loy was born in Shelby Counts*. 111., 
in 1829. and in 1830 came to Effingham Connty 
with his father, Joseph C. who was a son of 
John Loy. He was one of the first settlers in 
Watson Township and the progenitor of a large 
family, which traces back to .\lahania. James 
B. Loy was a soldier in both the Mexican and 
Civil Wars, serving two years in Company I.. 
FMfty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
after being honorably discharged, in 1865. re- 
turned to his home with impaired health, and 



answered the last roll call on earth, July 9. 1897. 
He is survived by his three children : Kev. F. W., 
Joseph and James. In iwlitics, James B. Loy 
was a stanch Republican and always took much 
intere.st both in National and local politics. He 
was prominent in all movements for good in his 
community and, with his wife, was very active 
in the affaire of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
His widow still survives, now being seventy-five 
years of age, and still in the enjoyment of excel- 
lent health. 

James H. Loy spent his boyhood days on the 
farm and secured a fair education in the dis- 
trict school. In 1876 he began teaching, in 
Jasjier County, 111., spending his winters in the 
school room and his sununers on the farm. On 
June 26, 1879, he married Miss Minnie B. Avery, 
who was born in Watson Township, October 4, 
1862, a daughter of Ezekiel .\verj-, who was one 
of the very prominent men of Effingham County. 
He came to the county in 1856 and was con- 
nected with the Illinois Central Railroad for a 
time and later ran a sawmill. He died In 1886. 

.\fter his marriage, Mr. Loy settled on the old 
home farm and taught school as formerly until 
1882, when he went to Burnet County, Tex., 
where he taught school and worked at the car- 
penter trade. In 1883 he returned to Effingham 
County and engaged in teaching and farming 
until is87, since which time he has given his at- 
tention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He 
owns one of the most valualile farms in this part 
of the eoimty. containing .300 acres, which he has 
well stocked, keeping Holstein cows for dairy 
purposes, for some of them paying as much as 
$1.30 a head. He has proved their value as milk 
and butter producers, getting as high as sixty-five 
pounds of milk a dav, and according to the milk 
test this would grade twenty-one ixiunds of but- 
ter a week. Tlie products of his herd of twenty 
full blood Holsteins are sold to the Condensary 
at Effingham. Mr. Ixiy has six acres of alfalfa 
and has cut three acres four times a year. His 
farm produces the feed for his stock. 

Mr. and Mrs. Loy have had nine children, as 
follows: Frank A., born .\ugust 1. ISSO. is in 
partnership with his father and has charge of 
tue farming operations : Clark, who is a hardware 
merchant at Effingham, marriefl .\nna Behrnes 
and they have one daughter — Dorothy ; Hilda E.. 
who is the wife of Clarence F. Bock, a farmer 
and R. F. D. mail carrier, of Shumway. 111., has 
one child — Florence; Bliss E., who is a school 
teacher : Alice E.. a graduate of the Belvidere 
Hi»h School, of the Class of 1909: and Nellie 
L.. Benson Wood. Bessie M. and Hazel E. As 
the children reach school age. Mr. Loy gives them 
advantages which prepare them for any position 
they may be called upon to fill in after life. The 
family is identified with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr. Loy stands high in the esteem of his fel- 
low citizens and they have frequently testified 
to this by electing him to offices of responsibility. 
In politics he is a Republican. In 1884 he was 
elected from a Democratic township to the Board 



808 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



of Supervisors and held that office for two years, 
iu that tittle looking carefully after the best in- 
terests of Watson Township. In IS'JO he was 
appointed Census Enumerator under Col. J. S. 
Lord, of Spriugfield, III., and worked through 
Effingham, Fa.vette, Shelby and Jasper Counties 
and fluished the contract satisfactorily. In 1901 
he was elected on the Republican ticket a mem- 
ber of the Forty-fourth General Assembly from 
the Fort.v-second District, comprising Effingham, 
Clay, Marion and Clinton Cbunties. and served 
two years with fidelity to the interests of those 
he represented. In 1907 he was appointed by 
Governor Deneen to the office of State Pure Food 
Inspector, operating in any part of Illinois, and 
he has been actively concernd in the enforcement 
of the Pure Food Law. In addition to the inter- 
ests mentioned. Mr. Ix)y is President and a stock- 
holder of the Effingham County Republican Print- 
ing Company. He is a man of social instincts 
and is a member of the Masons, the Elks and 
the Woodmen. 

LOY, John H. — In looking for a reason for per- 
sonal success, the seeker invariably finds that the 
men who rise above their fellows are those who 
have kept everlastingly at whatever they started 
out to accomplish, through sheer perseverance 
surmount the obstacles in their way and finally 
reach their goal. These are the kind of men 
who have brought Fffinghiim County to its pres- 
ent state of prosperity, and among them may be 
mentioned John H. Loy. of S'ection 21. Watson 
Township, who is now living retired after a long 
life spent in agi'icultural pui-suits. Mr. Loy 
comes of an old family, that has long been well 
known in Effingham County, and was born April 
7. 18.39. within one mile of the spot on which 
he is living in Watson Township, son of Joseph 
C. and Rachel (Sharp) Loy. the latter a daugh- 
ter of Thomas Sharp, originally from Alabama. 

Joseph C. Loy was a son of John Loy. a native 
of Alabanaa and of German descent, and his wife 
was of Scotch extraction. Joseph C. Loy was 
boiTi in Alabama, in ISO.S. and in 1827 was mar- 
ried to Rachel Sharp, immediately thereafter 
driving to Illinois with a wagon and settling in 
Shelby County, where he lived until 1820. He 
then came to Effingham County and settled near 
old Ewington. but later moved to Watson To\^ti- 
ship and took up his home on Big Salt Creek, 
where the timber was heaviest, choosing this 
spot to begin his struggle in the new country. 
Later they were forced to seek a higher location 
and built a log cabin, which was eventually used 
as a fort to protect the family from the Indians. 
about .500 of whom had located in tliat vicinity, 
but they finally moved back to the ]irairie on ac- 
count of the outbreak of the Black Hawk War. 
Mr. Loy eventually entered Government land on 
Section 21. Watson Township, and built a hewed 
log cabin that was considered the finest home in 
the famous Lov Settlement. Joseph C. I^oy was 
one of the earliest settlers in Effingham County, 
and during a long and useful life became known 
throughout this section of the State as a leader 



among men. Kindly and charitable, he was a 
a true Christian, and was always the first to go 
to the succor of any one in distress. His charity 
was genuine, and its extent will probably never 
be fully known. He died in 1892, at the age of 
eighty-four years, his wife having passed away 
in 1883, when seventy -seven years old. They 
were members of the Christian Church and were 
instrumental in establishing Loy Chajjel, as well 
as the Loy School Disti'ict. "Uncle Joe." as he 
was affectionately known in his locality, was in 
his younger days a Democrat, but later acted 
with the Republican party. He and his wife had 
children as follows : Sarah Caroline (deceased), 
by a former marriage, was the wife of Andrew 
Parks, of Watson. 111. ; James B., deceased; Eliza 
J., widow of William Bryant, resides in Mason 
Township ; Thomas, a retired resident of Effing- 
ham, for forty years was a Justice of the Peace 
in Wat.son Township: John H. ; Harmon, de- 
cea.sed; Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Wilson, of 
-Utamont, 111. 

John H. Loy was reared and educated in his 
native town.ship, his first teacher being James 
Leavitt. Early in life he began to follow the vo- 
cation of farming, and purchased forty acres of 
land adjoining the farm he now owns. On July 
11, 1861, he was married (first) to Diantha Kish, 
a native of Canada, who came to Illinois with 
her parents. Her father, George Kish, was a 
soldier in the Civil War and a member of the 
Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteers. After their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Loy settled on the farm, 
which he continued operating until July, 1SG2, 
when he enlisted in Company I. Seventy-first 
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, whicli regi- 
ment was mustered into service at Chicago and 
from there sent to guard what was then known 
as Big Muddy Bridge, near Cairo. Three months 
later the regiment returned to Chicago and was 
mustered out of the service. In October of the 
same year Mr. Loy returned to his home and 
turned his attention to farming and stockraising. 
in which he has continued to the present time 
with much success. During his long residence 
in this part of the county Mr. Loy has seen 
many changes and was one of the men who helped 
to build the Illinois Central Railroad. He has 
been a member of the Methodist Epi.scopal 
Church from bo.vhood. and for a long i>eriod was 
Superintendent of the Sunday school. In iwli- 
tics he acts with the Republican party in State 
and National issues, while in local matters he 
easts his vote for the candidate he considers 
best fitted for the office. He has led an honest, 
upright life, and the moral influence of his con- 
duct has set an example that might well be fol- 
lowed by coming generations. 

The children born to Mr. Ix)y and his first 
wife were as follows : Samuel X.. who died when 
his father was in the army; Wallace, last heard 
from in Wyoming : one child who died in infancy ; 
CWe.stia. wife of Harrison Martin, of Effingham ; 
John, a resident of WHieeler. 111. : and Diantha, 
deceased, who was the wife of Alonzo McCallen. 
a farmer of Watson Township. The mother of 




MR. AND .^IRS. BKXJAMIX F. TrCKKR 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



809 



these childi-en died iu June, 1S72, iu the faith 
of her Master, having been converted just before 
her demise. In November, 1872, Mr. Loy was 
married (second) to Mrs. Augeline (Hightower) 
Livingston, and to this imion have been born 
children as follows : Ezra B., a farmer in Wat- 
son Township, married Cora (Tedrick) Hutch- 
ins ; Andrew C, now a resident of Seattle, Wash. ; 
and Fidellos B., born February 25, 1872, now in 
charge of the home farm, married Inez May 
Peters, and they bave four children — Mabel, 
Oliver John. Olive D. and Andrew. 

LUDWIG, John T. Q., one of the good, hard- 
working, honest farmers and stock-raisers who 
have accomplished much through their own ef- 
forts, lives on Section 22. Douglas Township, Ef- 
fingham County. He was born near Jacksonville, 
Morgan County, 111., July 17, 18(31. a son of John 
and Barbara (Wheeler) Ludwig, both natives of 
Germany. They were married in Morgan Coun- 
ty, about 1860, and in 1861 John Ludwig was 
one of those to enlist as a volunteer in the ser- 
vice of the Union. He was then living in Mor- 
gan County, and while absent in the defense of 
his adopted country, his young wife was taken 
sick and died, leaving her little son, John T. Q., 
when he was but six months old. He was cared 
for by his grandfather, John Frantz Ludwig. un- 
til his father received an honorable discharge, 
and returned home later in the same year. In 
18t>i John Ludwig moved to ShelbyvlUe. 111., and 
in lS6i married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Semer) Tegenkamp, ^idow of Barney Tegen- 
kamp, of Effingham County. They located in 
Shelby County after their marriage, later re- 
moved to Cumberland County, and iu 1885 set- 
tled permanently iu Effingham Count}-. Here Mr. 
Ludwig became owner of 100 acres of land, and 
here his death occurred in 1897. He is buried in 
Sigel Cemetery. 

John T. Q. Ludwig was reared to farm life 
and educated in the common schools. For two 
years he operated his father's farm, living alone. 
On September 3. 1880. he married Frances Stelte, 
of New Berlin. Sangamon County, 111., daughter 
of Ferdinand A. and Elizabeth Stelte. early set- 
tlers of Sangamon County. The mother died in 
1905, but the father survives and lives on his 
Sangamon County farm. In the spring of 1889 
Mr. Ludwig bought eighty acres of land in Sec- 
tion 22, Douglas Township, and they began house- 
keeping in a small house on this farm. They be- 
came parents of the following children : Eliza- 
beth, born May 30, 1890 ; Anna, who died when 
one day old ; George, bom June G, 1897 : Barbara, 
born Januar.v 25, 1899; Minnie, bom March 12, 
1902; Ferdinand, born September 17. 1905: John, 
bom May 8, 1907, and Gertrude, lx>rn May 12, 
1909. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig have improved their land 
and made a beautiful home, planting fruit and 
ornamental trees and in other ways adding to 
its beauty and attractiveness. For several years 
Mr. Ludwig has been School Director. His chil- 
dren have attended the Green Creek Catholic 



School. In politics he is a stanch Republican, 
and he and his wife belong to the Green Creek 
L'atholic Church. WhUe Mr. Ludwig is inter- 
ested in public affairs, his farming duties keep 
him fully occupied, and he has little time for out- 
side affairs. However, for the last twelve years 
he has served as Judge of Election, and is Judge 
of Election at this writing. 

MAHON, Robert Preston.— The agiiculturists of 
Ertinghani County are men of intelligent foresight, 
who understand the jxissibilities of their work 
and are developing their farms in a manner to 
reflect credit upon themselves and their county 
as well. One of the notable examples of this 
class of men is Robert Preston Mahon, of Sec- 
tions 11 to 13, West Township. Mr. Mahon was 
born on his present farm, July 5, 1856, being the 
only son of Isham and Nancy (Laney-Kagey- 
McCoy) Mahon. The ilahon family were estab- 
lished in this country by William Mahon. who 
came to the colonies with Lafa.vette, participating 
in the Revolutionary War. After the close of 
that conflict he located in Virginia. The Mahon 
family trace their ancestry back to William Ma- 
hon, the grandfather of Robert P. Mahon, a sev- 
enth son, who was known as "Doc'' Mahon, al- 
though not a professional man. 

Isham Mahon was born in Spottsylvania Coun- 
t.v, Va.. January 6, 1819. but came to Illinois in 
young manhood, settling in Fayette County. Here 
he married Elizabeth Loveless, a Southern lady, 
and following his marriage he came to Effingham 
Clounty, taking up a large tract of land iu West 
Township, to which he added until at the time of 
his death he owued 400 acres. By his flrst wife 
he had four children : .lohn C. deceased ; Eliza- 
lieth, deceased : James B., deceased, and Martha 
A., now Mrs. John McCloy. of West Township. 
After the death of his flrst wife Mr. Mahon mar- 
ried (second) Mrs. Nancj- MeCo.v. widow of John 
McCo.v, and the onl.v child of this union was Rob- 
ert Preston, jlrs. Mahon had been married twice 
before, her first husband being Christian Kagey. 
to whom she bore two children : Rebecca, the 
widow of N. T. Wharton, of Edgewood, and Lu- 
cretia. the widow of Joseph Pinckle.v. Mr. Ma- 
hon died at his home in West Township, in 1893. 
and his remains are interred in the family lot on 
the farm. His widow, who was bom in 1816. 
died at the house of her daughter, in Union 
Township, in 1895. 

Robert Preston Mahon attended the public 
scnools until he was eighteen years of age. some 
of his teachers l->eing Samuel Elder. N. D. Clutter 
and Frank lyovett. He alternated his school 
days by working on the farm, remaining with his 
father until the latter's death. In 1SS1 ne mar- 
ried Elizabeth Kelle.v. daughter of Harvey Kel- 
ley. of West Township, and to this union have 
been born the following children : Estella, Mrs. 
Hurley Morris, of Jackson Township; Dora. Mrs. 
Mitchell Reed, of Mason Township; Clara. Mrs. 
Cl.vde Kavanaugh. living with her father; Etta 
and Ben.iamin. at home. 

T'pon the death of his father Mr. ilahon took 



810 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



ciarge of the houiestead aud has oijerated it 
ever since, now owuiug 1-10 acres in Seetious 11, 
12 and 13. Tbe house is on Section 13 aud Is a 
c-omtortable one. Mr. Mabou has made his farm 
a valuable one aud is regarded as one of tbe sub- 
stantial aud reliable men of tbe township. He is 
a staucb Democrat and cast his flret vote for 
General Hancock. He has filled the offices of 
Town Clerk, Assessor aud Supervisor, aud has 
given the people valuable service in all of them. 
Fraternallv he is a Mason aud is interested in 
the work of the order. Wliile successful in his 
farm work, he has held progressive views of lite 
and kept well abreast of tbe times, so that he is 
recognized as an authority upon current events. 
He holds the office of Supervisor at the present 
writing. 

MANA. Engelhart (deceased).— In the death of 
Eugelhart Mana, of Beecber City, Effingham 
County lost one of her patriotic and public- 
spirited citizens. A veteran of the Civil \\ ai, 
Mr Maua was also a zealous worker for the good 
of his country and State In times of peace aud 
was a representative of the highest type of citi- 
zens. Mr. Mana was born in Urmieu. Switzer- 
land. October 12, 1835, a son of Jonah and Anna 
Mana and when two days old was baptized lu 
the German Lutheran Church of his native place, 
being confirmed in the church at tbe age of six- 
teen years and all his life a devout member of 
the Lutheran faith. His father and mother de- 
parted from this earth when he was but an in- 
fant aud the orphan boy took up his residence 
with an uucle, where he lived most of tbe time 
until he came to America. In common with 
other voung men who reach manhood in Euroiie, 
he served his allotted time as a soldier, being 
three years in the German Army and receiving 
an honorable discharge. tt •► /i 

In 1859 Mr. Mana emigrated to the United 
States spending forty-two days upon the water. 
The vessel encountered several storms and was 
repeatetUv driven from its course. At one time 
it was driven near the coast of Xewtfouudland 
aud enwuntered icebergs, but finally reached 
Xew York Harbor little tbe worse for its expe- 
rience The first persons tbe passengers met 
were -confidence men.'- who tried to get posses- 
sion of their valuables, and did succeed in obtaiu- 
iu" all that one of the party possessed. However, 
the othe.s of the party made up a purse tor the 
unfortunate one, and brought him wnth them 
to their destination, Watertown. \\ is. Mr. Mana 
was emploved as a farm band for a time, but 
later took a iwsition driving a team for a brewer 
in the city of Watertown. 

Three years later he answered his adopted 
countrv's call for troops at tbe time of the Civil 
War on .\ugust 15, 181-.2. enlisting in Company 
E Twentieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, un- 
dCT Captain Alfred F. Bahn, and during Ws Pe- 
riod of service participating in a number of bat- 
tles including Prairie Grove, Ark.: Mcksburg, 
Miss.; Atchafala.va, La.; Spanish Fort. Ala.: 
Van Buren, Ark. ; Yazoo City, Miss. ; and Fort 



Jlorgau, .\la. At one time his company was or- 
dered to a point near the Gulf of Mexico aud 
were to make tbe trip in a flat-boat. When they 
were well on their way a storm overtook them, 
and as their boat was not very sea-worthy, they 
were in dire distress. They were ordered first 
to throw off the heavy guns to l.ghten the boat, 
then their own guns aud ammunition and finally 
the live stock — mules, horses aud donkeys. The 
IX)or animals swam after the boat for miles, but 
finally perished. All supeiiluous weight had to 
be thrown overboard, aud among the belongings 
of Mr. Mana was a Bible which had been given 
biui by his mother, and he said this sacrifice 
seemed to him like parting with his last and only 
friend. After a terrible struggle the men reached 
shore aud thanked God for their deliverance. Mr. 
Maua was au exemplary soldier and acquitted 
himself bravely in his defence of his adopted 
country. On the 1-lth of July, 1865, his regiment 
received their discharge at Galveston, Tex. 

After the clo.se of tbe war Mr. Mana returned 
to Watertown. Wis., aud resumed his previous 
occupation of teamster, soon after taking up the 
trade of a carpenter, which he followed in vari- 
ous parts of Wisconsin. He erected several 
buildings for sale and several in partnership with 
others. At one time he took a trip down the 
Mississippi River from MinueaiX)lis to St. Louis 
on a raft, and one day when he bad been sleep- 
ing, he awoke to see a large negro standing over 
him with a rock raised over his head. Mr. 
Mana was a man of considerable strength and 
presence of mind and jumping up, fioored his 
assailant with a blow. He and his companions 
ran the raft to shore at a point near Mu.scatine. 
Iowa, and forcibly put the negro ashore. In 1872 
Mr. Mana moved to Vandalia. 111., and there 
formed tbe acquaintance of Fred Schneiter, who 
operated a saw-mill seven miles west of Beecber 
City, Fa.vette County, with whom Mr. Mana ac- 
cepted a position. 

July 2, 1873, Mr. Mana was united in mar- 
riage' with Miss Liiretta Spurgiu. daughter of 
George W. and Susanna (Riley) Spurgin, of 
Fayette Cbunty, who was born November 6, 18.50, 
in Knox County. Ohio, and was six years of age 
•wlien her parents brought her to Illinois. She 
received her early education in the district 
sdiool and was reared on a farm. After marriage 
Mr. Maua and his wife lived one year with her 
parents, then moved to Watertown, Wis., 
where he became engineer and fireman in the 
flour mill of a Mr. King, working two years in 
that capacity. He then accepted a similar posi- 
tion for Miller & Way, of Watertown, after which 
he began working in a planing mill conducted by 
a Mr. Myers. Mrs. Mana's father having died 
.^prill, 1S77, thev moved to Mrs. Mana's former 
home in Favette County, and there continued to 
reside on this farm until 1898. when they moved 
to Beecher City. Mrs. Spurgin died at Urbana, 
111.. April 2, 1902, but her body was brought to 
Beecher Citv for burial, the funeral taking place 
.\pril 5th aiid conducted by the Black Eagle Wo.- 
man's Relief Corps. Mr. Spurgin and his wife 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



811 



were Missionary Baptists. Mrs. Maua laas ttiree 
brothers and one sister living, namely : George 
R., born in 1853, married Nancy Taylor, daugh- 
ter of William and Rebecca Taylor, of Fayette 
County, and they have eight children living — ■ 
Stella, Hester, Ivy, Nellie, Myrtle, Ira, Orin and 
Lillian ; Sarah, deceased, wife of Theophilus 
Schneiter of Fayette County, also deceased, and 
survived by seven children — George. Sam (died 
at the age of twenty-two). Edward, Rose, Fred, 
William and Charles; Maggie, wife of Charles 
Diehl, lives in Havana, 111. ; William G.. born In 
1867, married Anna McCloud, of Urbana, where 
they now reside ; Isaac M., borri in 1800. unmar- 
rietl, a carpenter, lives in Havana with his sis- 
ter, Mrs. Diehl. 

December 6, 1898. Mr. Mana started a draying 
business at Beeeher City, beginning with a single 
wagon and one horse ("Prince," which had an 
interesting history), and built up a good business 
in this line, which he continued for several years, 
but on account of failing health he was com- 
pelled to retire and sold his business to Rudolph 
Bandalow. His illness lasted four years, during 
the last two of which he was confined to his bed. 
He was very patient during his illness, though at 
times a great sufferer. On Decoration Day in 
1908 he made the trip to the cemetery, drawn 
by his faithful old horse. "Prince." driven by Ru- 
dolph Bandalow, and this was the last time the 
horse had the honor of drawing his old master, as 
it was his last ride in life. Mr. Mana departed 
this life November 20. 1908, and a short time be- 
fore his death expressed a desire to hear once 
more the song beginning: 

"Wrap the flag around me, l)oys. 
That I may die more sweet. 
With Freedom's starry emblem, boys. 
To be my winding sheet." 

The flag that covered his remains was made 
by Mrs. Rudolph Bandalow. and the funeral ser- 
mon was preached by Rev. William Boone, who 
tooli as a text. "How are the mighty fallen." 
Mr. Mana was all bis life a devout Lutheran and 
died firm in the faith. He is survived by his 
widow and three children, the latter all born in 
Fayette County. Mrs. Mana has the sincere sym- 
l)athy of a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. Mr. Mana was a man who had the abll- 
it.v and desire to form warm personal friendships 
and his loss has been Iveenly felt by many. He 
had established himself in the respect and esteem 
of his community and was regarded as a desir- 
able citizen. 

The children born to Mr. Mana and his wife 
were : Anna, born September 1, 1879, wife of 
Charles MeCollum. son of Harvey and Elizabeth 
McCollum, of Effingham County, who is employed 
in telephone service at Beecber City, and they 
have three children — Lola, Bernice and Mabel ; 
Maggie M., born February 9. 1882. married Lon 
Armonstrout. of Stonington. 111., at St. Louis. 
Mo., in July. 1909: George, born July 22. 1885. 
learned the carpenter trade, is a jeweler at 
Beeeher City and resides with his mother, who 



is a resident of that city. Mrs. Mana is at pres- 
ent a member of the Christian Church in Beeeher 
City and a member of the Modern American Fra- 
ternal Order and of the Rebekahs. 

MARKS, Elias A., general merchant and lead- 
iUK citizcii of Diefi-ich, 111., has an interesting 
pfrs(.iial history, leading back to the time when 
accident took from him a protecting father and 
left him almost a burden on his widowed mother, 
on through his brave attempts at self-supix>rt and 
the final success which has crowned his efforts. 
He was born in Greene County, Ind., November 
8. IS."!;:!, a son of Jesse and Polly A. (Dobbins) 
Marks. There were two sons in the family, 
Elias A. and his brother. Reuben H., who is now 
a merchant at Charleston, 111. About 1854 Jesse 
Marks went on horseback to Jasper County, III., 
where he bought land and then started for his 
home in Indiana, but when crossing a stream in 
which there had been a sudden rise, he lost his 
balance and was drowned. Perhaps it was in 
IS.^'iO that the widow, with her two little boys, 
made her way to the Jasper County land and 
managed to live on it until 1861, when he went 
back to Indiana and made his home with his 
uncle. Jacob Dobbins, until December, 1871. His 
mother died in 188.3. having moved to Cedar 
County. la. Elias A. continued to live with his 
nncle until 1871, attending the district schools. 
Mr. Marks was then a youth of eighteen years 
and when he left his uncle's house to go out into 
world, he went with no capital except courage 
and good habits. He returned to Jasper County 
and for eight years after that worked on farms 
liy the month. In 1878 he rented a piece of land, 
bought a team and went to farming for himself 
and continued until the close of 1883. From 
there he went to Wheeler, 111., and entered the 
employ of an implement firm and remained there 
until 1887, in which year he came first to Dieter- 
ich. Here, in association with his father-in-law, 
D. L. Johnson, he went into a general store busi- 
ness, under the firm name of Johnson & Marks, 
which was continued until November, 1899, when 
Mr. Johnson died and was succeeded by his sou, 
Andrew B. Johnson, and tlie old name continued 
until lf»01, when Mr. Marks and his wife bought 
the other interest and the firm name became E. A. 
Marks & Co. T\venty-three years have passed 
since Mr. Marks cast his lot with the good peo- 
ple of Dieterich. He started into business with 
a small "apital. one that he had accumulated by 
hard work and provident saving. He has stead- 
il.v prospered, his honest efforts and fair busi- 
ness propositions having gained him the full con- 
fidence and .support of his fellow citizens. In 
1899 he erected a brick store building with di- 
mensions of 28 by 102 feet, with basement. He 
carries a large and carefully selected stock, in- 
cluding dress goods and fittings, clothing, hats, 
caps, lioots and shoes, together with a full line of 
staple groceries. He gives full measure and run- 
ning over, and in dealing with his fellow citizens 
applies the Golden Rule. He is one of the town's 
oldest merchants and a leading one. 



812 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



In May, 1880, Mr. Marks was married to Miss 
Sax-all C. Jolausou, aud they liave the following 
children: Ella Maude, born January 11, 1881, is 
the wife of Dr. William H. Trimble, of Dieter- 
ieh ; Be.ssie Pearl, bom November 2, 1884, is the 
wife of George Adams, a traveling salesman for 
a firm iu Terre Haute, Ind. ; .John E., bom July 
14, 1888, is employed iu his father's store; Jessie 
May, died iu infancy ; Alfred Don, born ilay 21, 
1894, is a clerk in his fathers store; and Paul 
Johnson, born September 3, 1899. Mr. Marks 
has given his children good educational advan- 
tages aud they have proved receptive and appre- 
ciative. For fourteen years he has been an elder 
In the Christian Church, of which both he and his 
w'ife have been long-time members. Mr. Marks 
is liberal in his benefactions, whether to his fam- 
ily, his church or in aid of public enterprises. In 
politics he is a Republican and fraternally is an 
Odd Fellow. 

MARSH, Floyd Leon, one of the younger busi- 
ness men of Effingham, 111., is well established in 
the jewelry business at No. 202 West Jefferson 
Street. He was born at Farina, Fayette, County, 
111., September 23, 1S8G, a son of James and Car- 
rie (Dralie) Marsh, and grandson of James 
Marsh, the latter of whom was a Lieutenant in 
the Kevolutiouary War and fought in the Bat- 
tle of Lexington. The father of Mr. Marsh was 
also a brave soldier, serving three years in the 
Civil War as a member of the Eighty-sixth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, and received a serious 
wound at the Battle of Peach Tree Creek. His 
wife was able to trace a long ancestral line, even 
back to Sir Francis Drake, of Spanish Armada 
fame aud one of the greatest seamen that ever 
lived. To James Marsh, Jr., and wife were bom 
seven children, namely : Lewis E., who is identi- 
fied with railroad work and is an office employe 
of the Illinois Central Railroad at St. Louis; 
Lillian, deceased, was the wife of A. L. Wade, 
now Postmaster at Farina, 111. ; Randolph Drake, 
a prominent politician of Illinois, a survivor of 
the Spanish-American War and formerly editor 
of the "Neoga Record," at Neoga, 111., is a State 
official at Lincoln ; Roy V., engaged in the mer- 
cantine business at Farina ; Pearl, wife of Stew- 
art Thompson, a merchant at Sullivan, Ind. ; 
Ellis A., foreman in an iron foundry at East St. 
Louis; aud Floyd Leon, the youngest of the 
family. 

At the close of his military service James 
Marsh returned to Illinois and engaged in farm- 
ing, also for a time in milling, aud then went to 
California, where he was more than usually suc- 
cessful in mining enterprises. When he started 
for home, as a business undertaking he decided 
to take a herd of western cattle with him to 
Kansas City, where he finally succeeded in de- 
livering them, although on the way he had a 
great deal of troulile with the Indians. After he 
reached Illinois he embarked in mercantile busi- 
ness and continued it until his health failed, 
•when he began farming and stockraising, and 
continued in that line until he was apjiointed to 



the Rural Free Delivery Route out of Farina. 
He has very acceptably filled a number of town- 
ship offices and is a citizen in vvhom his neigh- 
bors have full confidence. He has always been 
an active Republican. He is prominent in Ma- 
sonry and also in the Grand Army of the Re- 
public. Both he and wife are members of the 
Seventh Day Baptist Church at Farina and ac- 
tive workers in its interest. 

Leon Drake Marsh was reared in his native 
place and was educated in her public schools, 
graduating in the class of 1902. He spent three 
years at Farina learning the jewelry trade, and 
in 190.5 accepted a i)osition with the firm of Hess 
«& Culberson, one of the largest jewelry firms of 
St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until 19013. 
Meanwhile his health failed and he returned 
home, where he remained about a ,vear. then 
came to Effingham, where he underwent an ojier- 
ation for white swelling. During his recovery 
from this successful surgical treatment he took 
for watch inspector, and passing fourth out of a 
class of thirty applicants, was appointed to a 
iwsition. Watches have to be inspected once a 
week and he does this for the employes running 
between Effingham aud Indianajwlis. In 1907 he 
ac<-epte<l a position with M. Cramer, a jeweler 
of Effingham. September 1, 1909, Mr. Marsh em- 
barked in the jewelry business on his own ac- 
count. He has a stock worth about $2,000 and 
is meeting with success. 

On March 20, 1909, Mr. JIarsh was married 
to Miss Bessie Freud, a native of Farina, 111., 
daughter of Charles Frend, who has been identi- 
fied with the Illinois Central Railroad for years. 
Mr. JIarsli is a member of the order of Modern 
Woodmen. He is Secretary of the Effingham 
Athletic Club and is Ijugler in Company G, Fourth 
Illinois National Guard, and was called out dur- 
ing the riots of 1908, at Springfield. 

MARTIN, Charles F.— Effingham County has 
its full quota of manufacturers, financiers, pro- 
fessional and business men and statesmen, but 
particularly Is it noted for the high standard set 
by its agriculturists, who have done so much in 
the past few years toward making this county one 
of the garden siwts of Illinois. One of the sub- 
stantial farmers of Mason Township is Charles 
F. Martin, of Section 3, who was lx)rn in the 
township April 25, 1861, son of Isaac H. and 
Mary Jane (Bradley) Martin. 

Charles F. Martin was reared on his father's 
farm and secured his education in the district 
schools of his locality. He remained at home, 
working for his father, until his marriage, March 
11, 1880. to Julia McArdle. who was bom Octo- 
ber 17, 1862. in Jackson Township, a daughter of 
James and Hester (Van Winkle) McArdle. 
James McArdle was a native of Pennsylvania, 
from which State he removed to Oliio with his 
parents, locating near Sandusky, and later mov- 
ing to Effingham Comity, 111. He became one of 
the earliest settlers of Jackson Township, and 
there followed agricultural pursuits until 1870,- 
then moved to Ma.son To^^^lship and died there 





;»w* «»»»^ ^,s 


d 




<r^ , 


i 




3 


1 



JAI\1I';S 'ITRNER 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



813 



February 10, 1888, when seventy-nine years old. 
His wife was born January 24. 1819, and died 
December 17. 1897. Only one child was born to 
them — Mrs. Martin. After marriage Mr. Martin 
carried on the old home farm until 1882. and then 
went to the farm of his wife's parents, in Sec- 
tion 4, but in 1886 he purchased forty acres of the 
home place in Section .3, Mason Township, and 
has since added to his property until he now 
owns 360 acres of some of the best farming land 
m Effingham County. He has always conducted 
his farm scientifically, and has made a careful 
study of soil conditions and crop rotation. He 
has also been quite active in cattle raising. 

ilr. and Mrs. Martin have had three children : 
Delbert, born April 20. 1882, a merchant in Ma- 
son, married Jessie Wright : Nora, horn January 
15, 1883, married Harry Cully, a farmer of Mason 
Town.ship: and Randall, born March 6, 1897. 

In political matters Mr. Martin has always 
acted with the Democratic party, but he has been 
too busy looking after his property to accept any 
public office. He is public-spirited, however, and 
can always be found in the front ranks of any 
movement which has for its object the better- 
ment of the community. 

MARTIN, Columbus Clinton.— The fertile fields 
of Ettinghaui County have furnished some of its 
best citizens with the means of working out their 
life's destiny, and of laying up for themselves a 
comfortable provision for later years. Farming 
requires hai'd. unremitting work, and to carry it 
on successfully requires good management and a 
knowledge of all its details. One of the best 
farmers and stock-raisei-s of Effingham County is 
Columbus C. Martin, who was l)orn March 15. 
1843, in Martinsburg. ■S\'etzel Cbuuty, W. Va., a 
son of Dr. Presley M. and Eliza M. (King) 
Martin. 

The grandfather of C. C. Martin was a native 
of England, whence he came to settle in Virginia, 
and there became a plantation owner and promi- 
nent citizen, the town of Martinsburg being 
named in his honor. Presle.v M. Martin and 
Eliza M. King were married in Wheeling. Ya.. 
and settled in Martinsburg. where Mr. Martin 
was elected County Clerk, a capacity in which 
he served until going to Washington. D. C. where 
he graduated from the Medical College. He was 
for a time a member of the Department of the 
Interior, under the administration of James Buch- 
anan, and while a resident of Washington, fur- 
nished the vehicles for Gen. McCook to carry the 
wounded from the field after the first Battle of 
Bull Run. In 1861 he left the city of Washing- 
ton and came directly to Effingham County, 111., 
buying a farm in what was known as Loy Prairie, 
and later turning the land over to the manage- 
ment of his sons in order that he might follow 
his profession. He was a skilled physician and 
surgeon, and became one of the leading men of 
his c-omraunity. His death occun'ed at Watson. 
111., in February. 1876. his widow surviving him 
until 1891. To them were Ixjrn six children: 
Solomon, for a number of years a resident of Chi- 



cago, went later to Salt Lake Citj-, where he 
died ; Columbus Clinton ; Corinua, married Mer- 
man McCann, and both are deceased; Eliza, mar- 
ried George McCann, and both are deceased ; Hat- 
tie, is the wife of George Nevils, a liveryman of 
Watson, and they have two children — Presley 
and Edna : and Presley N., who is a merchant of 
Watson. In polities Dr. Martin was a Democrat, 
and he was fraternally connected with the Ma- 
sons and the Odd Fellows, being treasurer of 
Masonic Lodge No. 602. at Watson, at the time of 
his death. He and his wife were Episcopalians 
in their religious belief. 

The principal psirt of C. C. Martin's education 
was secured in the schools of Washington, D. C, 
and he accompanied his parents to Illinois in 
1861. After being rejected as a soldier, Mr. Mar- 
tin went to Chicago, where he was again rejected, 
meeting with the same experience at Joliet, 
whence he returned to Chic-ago, and, in 1865, his 
determination to serve his country was finally 
successful, being then aeceptd to seiwe three 
years in Company H, First Battalion, United 
States Infantry. He joined his regiment at 
Nashville. Tenn.. and remained there until after 
the assassination of President Lincoln, when the 
Thirteenth was sent to Montana to suppress In- 
dian uprisings. After three years spent on the 
frontier, Mr. Martin was discharged from the ser- 
vice. January 24. 1868, and returned to Eflingham 
County to take charge of his father's farm. He 
was united in marriage with Miss Molly Park- 
hurst, by whom he had three children : Columbus, 
who died aged sixteen years ; George and Owen. 
The mother of the.se children died in February, 
1884, and Mr. Martin was married (second) to 
Mrs. Ella (Cunningham (nee James), who was 
born in Watson Township, September 28, 1859, 
and married Mr. Martin in November. 1884, her 
first husband having died on March 5th of that 
year. By her first marriage, Mrs. Martin had 
three sons : Charles F., a farmer of Watson 
Township ; Fred, of Elremond, Okla. ; and Harry, 
of lUiopolis, III. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Martin 
came to the farm on Section 28. Watson Town- 
ship, where they have since made their home. 
They have had these children : Maude. Ixirn Oc- 
tober 29, 1SS6, (lied April 5, 1887 : Edith L.. born 
June 21, 1888. In politics Mr. Martin is a Dem- 
ocrat, and his recognized ability and widespread 
popularity have caused bim to be elected to vari- 
ous positions in the township, including those of 
Tax Collector, Highway Commissioner and 
School Director. Mrs. Martin is an active mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while 
her daughter Edith has been prominent in Chris- 
tian Church circles. For many years Mr. Mar- 
tin was a prominent member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and is a popular comrade of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has 
filled all the chairs. He is the owner of forty 
acres of land, with a beautiful home located on 
a handsome site, which commands a fine view of 
the surrounding country. His well cultivated 
farai is in the finest condition, his Holstein and 



814 



EFFINGHAM COUxNfTY 



Jei-sey cattle are of the purest breed, and he is 
considered one of the good, reliable farmers and 
stock-raisers of Watson Township. 

MARTIN, David A.— Among the names of those 
intimately associated with the pioneer history of 
Effingham County, 111., is that belonging to the 
Martin family, members of -nhich located here 
at a day when the most primitive of conditions 
prevailed and through tlieir work developed ex- 
cellent farming property out of raw prairie and 
timber. David A. JIartin, who is farming on 
Section 29, Watson Township, was born on a 
farm in the township. November 10, 1854, and is 
a son of John and Nancy (Parks) Martin. 

John Martin came to Effingham County with 
his father in 1840. and settled first in a little 
log cabin on the banks of the Little Wabash 
River, in Jackson To\\iisliip, later moving to a 
farm near Watson, where the mother of David 
A. Martin now resides, at the age of seventy- 
four years, and is affectionately known as 
"Grandma" Martin. The five children of 
John and Nancy Martin were : James, a farmer 
of Mason Township ; Robert, who is farming in 
Watson Township ; Fannie, wife of Amos Mor- 
rell, of Hotchkiss, Cblo. ; Johnny, who died at 
the age of five years ; and David A. John Mar- 
tin was one of the successful farmers of his lo- 
cality, and an excellent judge of horses and cat- 
tle. In his political views he was a stanch 
Democrat, and was .ihvays found fighting in the 
front ranks of his party. In November, 1872, 
while he was loading a new wagon box on his 
wagon, his horses became frightened and r.m 
away, causing injuries which later resulted in 
his death at the home of a relative in Effingham. 

Da\id A. Martin was reared on the farm in 
Jack.son Township and there educated in the dis- 
trict school, doing his share of work on the farm 
during the sunmier months from the time he was 
old enough to reach a plow handle. He was his 
father's companion on many trips to shoot wild 
geese and turkeys in the early days of the county, 
and can relate many interesting reminiscences 
of those days. In 187(5 he was married to 
Amanda H. Martin, daughter of Isaac Martin, 
and for ten years thereafter rented land in 
Jack.son Township. In 1S82 he purchased sev- 
enty-two acres of land in Mason Township, 
which was very heavily timbered. He built a 
two-room frame building and began to clear away 
the timber, soon erecting a splendid home and 
having a fine farm, on which he resided until 
January. 1004, when he purchased 100 acres in 
Section 29, Watson Township, where he has 
since lived. Like his father Mr. Martin is a 
good judge and great lover of fine hoi-ses and 
cattle, and is one of the best breeders in Effing- 
ham County, having carried off many prizes at 
fairs held at various times throughout the coun- 
ty, both with his horses and Jersey cattle. A 
Democrat in politics, Mr. Martin has served on 
various occasions as School Director, and has al- 
■wa.vs been a leader in any movement that prom- 
ised for its object the betterment of the com- 



niunit}-. While not a member of any church, he 
gives his financial support to the Christian de- 
nomination, of which his wife and family are 
members. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin are as 
follows : Charles Bert, born in Jackson Town- 
ship, July 22, 1878, married Sophia Pereival, 
November .30, lf)02, and died March 2.5, 1904. 
leaving one child, Albert ; Roy. born July 7, 1880, 
in Jaek.son Township, is now in the employ of the 
Illinois Central Railroad and resides in Cham- 
paign ; Ola, born September 16, 1882, is a tele- 
graph operator and lives in Chicago ; Bell, born 
June 24, 1884, is also a telegraph operator ; John, 
born Januai-y 7. 18.SS: Ituna. born .\ng>ist 7, 18.89, 
a telegrapher with tlic Illinois Central Railroad; 
Ethel, born March 20, IS'.Mi; Ilonicr, born July 
20, 1892; Glen, born December 20. 1898; and 
Earl, born June 4, 1901. 

MARTIN, William Henderson, a general mer- 
chant at Watson, Elbnghani County. III., and an 
extensive livestock dealer, is a worth.v i-epresen- 
tative of one of the old pioneer families whose 
progress can be traced step by step as one of the 
civilizing influences that changed the wild prairie 
and heavily timbered tracts into the fertile fields, 
bounteous orchards, rich pastures and happy 
homesteads that now make this section one of 
the richest and most desirable in the State of 
Illinois. William Henderson Martin was born 
in Mason Township, Effingham Ctounty. 111.. Au- 
gust 27, 1850, a son of Isaac H. and Mary J. 
(Bradley) Martin. 

Both the Martin and Bradley families came to 
Illinois from Tennessee. The paternal grand- 
father, John Martin, brought his famil.v to Illi- 
nois in 1829, settling on land that is now covered 
by the capital city. On account of an outbreak 
of what was then known as "milk sickness" 
which attacked his children, he decided to move, 
traded his land for an old prairie scliooner 
and a yoke of oxen, and in that primitive way 
reached what is now Mason Township, Effing- 
ham County. In leaving behind the dreaded 
"milk sickness" the travelers had not escajied 
all dangers, for they found the new section so 
overrun by wild hogs that the family had to 
remain for some time in the wagon for protec- 
tion. Game was abundant, particularl.v deer, 
droves of forty not being an unusual sight, and 
as .John Martin and his sons were good liunters, 
the larder was well suitplied. John Martin died 
in Mason Township, but he left descendants who 
perpetuated his name, his courage and his vir- 
tues. 

Isaac H. Martin was born in Tennessee, in 
1828, and died aljout 1902. aged seventy-four 
years. In 1847 he married Mar.v J. Bradley, and 
to them were born four sons and four daughters, 
namely : John Heur.v, who for twelve years 
served as Couutj- Clerk of Effingham County and 
died in April, 1907 ; Elvira, deceased, who was 
married Wade Brown, of Effingham, and left five 
sons, all living ; Mar.v A., who was accidentally ' 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



815 



burned to death when sixteen years of age ; 
Amanda E., wife of David Martin a farmer in 
Watson Township ; Charles F., who follows farm- 
ing on the old homestead ; Allen Clinton, in the 
Western Union offlc-es at Chieago, who won the 
gold medal in the World's contest of exi)ert teleg- 
raphers in 1900 ; Alice, who died in infancy ; and 
William Henderson. John Martin was one of 
the first County Commissioners and sen-ed when 
the board was made up of three members and 
there were but three voting places in the county, 
his home being one of these. For twenty-one 
years he was Road Commissioner of Mason 
Township and was one of the thoroughgoing act- 
ive and reliable men of his day. He was fond 
of social Intercourse and in his younger days at- 
tended the rural sjwrts that promoted acquaint- 
anceship and good fellowship. In his religious 
views he was a "Hardshell" Baptist. He sur- 
vived his wife many years, her death occurring 
In 1878. Their burial was in the Martin Ceme- 
tery near the old home in Mason To^A^lship. 

William H. Martin attended the district school 
winters and helped on the honje farm in the 
summers, remaining at home until he was mar- 
ried, in March, 1871. to Miss Mary C. Loy. Her 
parents, Edward and Mary J. Loy, were among 
the first settlers in Watson Township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin continued to live in the c-ountry 
until 1889. when he built a comfortable home on 
what is now Main Street, in Watson, and entered 
into trading. He bought 160 acres of land ad- 
joining the village and from his timber he sold 
5.000 cords of wood besides a large amoinit of 
soft wood that he and his son hauled to the saw- 
mill. When the whole 1(50 acres had been 
cleared, he converted it into a blue grass fai-m, 
which is not excelled in all the famous Blue 
Grass region of Kentucky. He raises fine stock 
and his son is a successful breeder of Duroc Jer- 
sey hogs. Mr. Martin has built up half of the 
village of Watson, erecting business blocks and 
residences in all parts of the tomi. He has 
added to his first purchases of land until, in 
1909, he owns 900 acres. In 1902 he purchased 
a farm of 212 acres, which he since sold for 
$11,000. About 50O acres of the land he yet 
owns was heavily timbered, but this has been 
cleared in the last four years and Mr. Martin 
has put downi 20,000 tile. He has been one of 
Effingham County's most successful, far-seeing 
citizens and has been devoted to her best inter- 
ests. In 1909 he built a store building and em- 
barked in a mercantile business, mainly as head- 
quarters for his many business deals, for he still 
contiiuies his large stock business in which he 
has been more or less interested for most of his 
mature life. Formerly he Iwught and shipped 
stock, but more recently has bought and fed cat- 
tle, dealing also in other stock and doing a large 
business in shipping -wheat, oats, corn and hay, 
as well as tile. He is familiarly known to his 
neighbors and friends as "Budd" Martin. His 
interests are so large that he is accused of work- 
ing both day and night. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have, been born four 



children, two of whom died in infancy, the two 
survivors being: Ro.ss Ellsworth, bom Decem- 
ber 21, 1873, married Delia White, born in Jack- 
son Township, Effingham County, and they have 
two children — Myrtle and Forest; and Laura 
Belle Martin, married Jesse A. Humes, and 
they have one child, Russell. Mr. Humes is 
also engaged in the stock business, and Ross 
Ellsworth Martin is an extensive stock dealer 
and breeder. To each of his children Mr. Mar- 
tin gave a farm of 110 acres, near Watson. He 
started out in life with a capital of ,^2.50, but, 
in his own language, "assistance means more at 
the start than in the wind-up." In iwlitics he is 
a Democrat, but has never been ■willing to accept 
public office. He holds to the old Baptist faith 
of his parents, but his wife belongs to the Metho- 
dist Church, of which she has been a lifelong at- 
tendant. Jlr. Martin is a man of charitable im- 
pulses and has been generous to his family, 
friends and community. 

MATTHEWS, James Newton, M. D. (deceased), 
for many years an active member of his profes- 
sion at Mason, Effingham County, III., was bom 
near Greencastle. Ind.. May 27. 1852, a son of 
Dr. William and Deborah (Sharp) Matthews. 
Dr. Matthews was a lineal descendant of Samuel 
Matthews, one of the early Colonial Governors of 
Virginia, and a cousin of the noted historian. 
John Clark Ridpath. 

In 1858 Dr. James N. Matthews was brought 
to Mason, III., by his parents, and had the dis- 
tinction of being the first student to enter the 
University of Illinois, at Urbana, III., the date 
of his entrj- being March 2, 1808, and was grad- 
uated from that institution in March, 1872. In 
1878 he was graduated from the Missouri Jledi- 
cal College and received the degree of JI. L. 
from the University of Illinois in 1894. He be- 
gan active practice at Watson, 111., in 187(5, and 
rapidly rose in his profession, having been Presi- 
dent ot the United States Board of Pension Ex- 
aminers, at Effingham, III., for tvventy years, and 
a member of the State and County Jledical So- 
cieties. He was well known to the readers of the 
leading magazines as a writer of verse and 
prose, and in 1888 published a volume of poems 
entitled "Tempe Vale." In 1896 and 1897 he de- 
livered lectures of a literary nature throughout 
Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. Dr. Matthews was 
one of the founders of the Western Writers' As- 
sociation, and was connected with the Delta Tau 
Delta fraternity. In politics he was a Repub- 
lican. 

Dr. Matthews was married (fir.st) June 2, 
1878. at Mason, III., to Luella Brown. His sec- 
ond marriage occurred at Xenla, III., December 
80, 189C, when he was united with Madaline 
Wright. Three children were born to Dr. Mat- 
thews : William Vivian and James Riley by his 
first wife, and Courtland Wade, by his second 
marriage. Dr. JIatthews' death occurred March 
7, 1910, and he is deeply mourned by a large 
circle of friends. 



816 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



MATTHEWS, William, M. D., formerly a highly 
esteemed citizen i>f Mason, Eflingham Cbuuty, 
111., and a physician of ability and popularity, as 
well as a writer of no small merit, was bom in 
Montgomery County, Va., July 27, 1810, and in 
1827 emigrated with bis parents to Putnam 
County, Ind., where he remained until his twen- 
tieth year. He then entered upon the study of 
medicine -with Dr. William Talbot, of Green- 
castle, Ind., where he finished his course and 
prepared for practice of his profession. ^\Tiile 
practicing in Stilesville, Ind., he met Miss Ruth 
Ann Jessup, whom he afterward married. He 
later matriculated in Rush Medical College, Chi- 
cago, where he graduated with honor. He then 
went to Putnam Count}-, Ind., where he re- 
mained until his second marriage in 1848 to 
Deborah S. Hopwood, of Belleville, by whom 
he had three children, of whom one was the late 
Dr. J. N. Matthews, of Mason, 111. 

In 1858 Dr. Matthews removed with his fam- 
ily to Mason, Effingham County, 111., where the 
remainder of his life was spent. He was ver.v 
successful in his profession and did a large 
amount of work with no prospect of financial re- 
muneration. As a literary man he became well 
known and his contributions to the pre.ss cov- 
ered a multitude of sub.1ects, upon which he 
wrote with great force and accuracy, investing all 
with interest. His last literary labor was the 
jireparation of a work on Domestic Medicine, 
consisting of some 700 pages of manuscript, 
which he had prepared during the leisure mo- 
ments of one year, but died before sending it to 
a printer. H^ died in the village of Mason, 
January 1.3, 1874. 

Dr. Matthews was a strong Republican and a 
zealous worker in the interests of his party. In 
religious views he was most liberal-minded, and 
a firm believer in the doctrine of Universalism. 

MAUTZ, Louis P., a successful farmer of Sec- 
tion 29, Watson Township, Is an example of the 
class of agriculturists of Effingham County. 111., 
who started out in life in other vocations but 
fina!l,v settled down to farming and have since 
become leaders in this line of endeavor. Mr. 
Mautz was born on Blue Rock Creek, Muskin- 
gum Count.v, Ohio, Januar.v 1, 18.58, son of John 
and Margaret (Udenhoffer) Mautz, natives of 
Gemiany, the father of Baden and the mother 
of Auelshine, Alsace. 

John Mautz was born November 11, 1821, and 
came with his parents to America in 1829. His 
wife, who was born February 15. 1824, came to 
America with her parents in 1840, settling near 
Zanesville. Ohio, where the Mautz famil.v had 
alread.v located, and here the young people met 
and were eventually married. They settled on 
Blue Rock Creek, Muskingum County, where 
Mr. Mautz followed farming and operated a saw 
and grist mill, and here both spent the remainder 
of their lives, he passing away March 3, 190G. 
He was one of the prominent men of his locality, 
a .stanch Democrat in politics, and filled various 
township offices. He and his wife were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church. They had the fol- 



lowing children : John F., born August 24, 1848, 
a farmer, contractor and builder near the old 
home ; George W., born August 3, 1850, an en- 
gineer in the Masonic Temjile, at Columbus, 
Ohio ; Jacob, born October 26, 1852, superintend- 
ent of a brick yard at Somerset, Ohio ; Charles 
C, born April 1, 1854; William H., born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1856, a resident of Columbus, Ohio ; 
Louis P. ; Elizabeth, born February 19, 1860, of 
Duncan Falls, Ohio, widow of Dr. J. O. Ward; 
Benjamin, born October 20, 1862, a resident of 
Columbus ; Albert, born February 24, 1864, died 
December 21. 1876; Joseph, born July 19. 1866, 
died December 6. 1888; and Alva, bom March 
14, 1870. married a daughter of W. T. Jaycox. 

Louis P. Mautz was reared on the home farm, 
on which be remained until 1880, In which year 
he accepted a position with the bridge carjjen- 
ter's gang on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 
with which road he continued until 1883, then 
went to Chicago to accept a position with the 
Illinois Central Railroad, and In 1885 was made 
foreman of the bridge gang. He continued in 
this ix)sition until 1893, when failing healtJi 
caused him to resign. He then moved to Wat- 
son Township, Effingham County, where he pur- 
chased 180 acres of land in Section 29, a well 
cultivated property, on which be raises good 
crops. For several years past he has also en- 
gaged in raising Aberdeen Angus cattle and 
Poland China hogs, and in this venture he has 
also been .successful, ranking among the leading 
cattle breeders of his .section of the township. 
He is considered one of the substantial, public- 
spirited men of his locality, and his business in- 
tegrit.v has never been questione<l. 

December 26, 1886. Mr. Mautz was married 
to Aldora Bail, who was born in Watson. Novem- 
ber 6, 1863. daughter of John V. and Annah 
(Cllne) Ball. This union has been blessed b.v 
one son — Charles B., born December 12. 1887, 
a graduate of the Watson schools, now a student 
in civil engineering at the University of Illinois, 
Mr. Mautz is a Mason, a member of the Eastern 
Star Lodge and of the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and has been very prominent in fra- 
ternal work. In political matters he is a Re- 
publican, and he and his wife ar£ members of 
the Presbyterian Church at Watson. 

John V. Bail, father of Mrs. Mautz, was bom 
in 1822, in Booneville, Pa., and on December 24, 
1845, was married to Annah Cline. who was born 
Febmary 11, 1822, in Lancaster, Pa. They had 
seven children, of whom but three are now living : 
Lenora E.. wife of W. T. Jaycox. of Watson. 
111.; Henry P.. a blacksmith of Watson; and 
Mrs. Mautz. John V. Bail died In January, 
1892, his widow surviving until February 6. 1894, 
both dying in the faith of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Ball located In Watson. 111.", about 
1858. and for many years was the village black- 
smith and a man prominent in town affairs. 

McCABE, George W.— The selection of any indi- 
vidual to fill an Important office Is naturally an 
evidence of that person's ability and efficiency, ' 



EFFINGHAM noUNTY 



817 



and when he has capably filled that office for 
eight consecutive years, it is generally conceded 
that his worthiness for the position is sustained. 
George W. McCabe, Superintendent of the Ef- 
fingham County Poor Farm, was bom May 7, 
1859, in Summit Township, Effingham County, 
111., a son of David J. and Lucretia (Maxfield) 
McCabe. 

David J. McCabe was born in 1824, on a farm 
in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he learned the 
trade of cooper, and on coming to Effingham 
County, III., in 1845 he engaged in worliing at 
that trade and shoemaking in Ewington, then 
the county seat. The Maxfield family, which 
came from Tennessee, also settled in Ewington, 
and thece David J. McCabe and Lucretia Max- 
field were married, and were among the first to 
settle in Summit Township. The maternal grand- 
father of George W. McCabe was one of the 
prominent citizens and large land owners of this 
section, and was the first to be elected Super- 
intendent of the County Poor. Later, when Mr. 
Maxfield was elected to the office of Sheriff, 
David J. McCabe became the Superintendent of 
the County Farm, filling that jMsition with 
credit until removing to another farm in Summit 
Township, when he resigned. Politically a 
strong Democrat, he was always active in the 
councils of his party, and for years served with 
the utmost efficiency and fidelity as Justice of 
the Peace. For many years he was a prominent 
member of the Masonic fraternit)-, and he and 
his faithful wife were consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred 
on his farm, March 12, 18SC. and his wife is also 
deceased. They were the iiarents of eleven chil- 
dren, of whom nine are still living: Sarah, the 
wife of Miles Greenwood, of Shelby County, 111. ; 
John, of Sherman. Tex. ; Charles, of Oklahoma ; 
William, who died at the age of thirty years ; 
Joseph, of Sullivan, 111. ; Seth. a merchant of 
Moultrie County. 111. ; Vina, wife of David 
Brown, of Sullivan ; Frank, of Alton, 111. ; Emma, 
who is married ; and George W. 

George W. McCabe was reared on the home 
farm, and educated in the public schools of the 
county, remaining at home until eighteen years 
of age. In 1877 he went out to work by the 
month on farms in the vicinity of his home. In 
18S5, he was married to Annie E. Kepner. who 
was horn and reared in Fayette Ctounty, 111., and 
a daughter of John Kepner, a native of Ohio 
who came to Illinois at an early date, settling 
in Fayette Count?-, where he was several times 
elected Supervisor of Wheatland Township. 
After their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe 
rented land in Fayette County and there fol- 
lowed farming for seven years, moving about 
1892 to Effingham County. They .settled on a 
farm in Summit Township, and in 1900 Mr. Mc- 
Cabe was selected by the Board of Supervisors 
to fill the office of Superintendent of the Effing- 
ham County Poor Farm, a tract of 160 acres be- 
ing put under his management. Mr. McCabe has 
filled this position to the present time, and under 
his incumbency the product of the land has been 



nearly enough to support the twenty-two in- 
mates. Conditions on this farm are in the best 
possible shape, and it is probably one of the most 
productive in Effingham County. Mir. McCabe is 
a stanch Democrat, keeps abreast of local and 
national political conditions, and on election days 
can be always found working strenuously for the 
principles which he believes to be right. So- 
eiall.v. he is connected with the Odd Fellcrws. 
Mrs. McCabe is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and while he is not a member, Mr. 
McCabe is alwa.vs ready to give of his time or 
money in forwarding any religious or educa- 
tional movement. 

Mr. and Mrs. McCabe have had six children : 
Robert, deceased ; John, who died in infancy ; 
Susan, deceased ; and George W., Erastus N. and 
Emma H. 

McELROY, Jackson M. — Many and great are 
the changes that have taken place in Effingham 
County since Jackson M. McElro.v and his es- 
timable wife have lived in Mason Township, 
where she was born in 1851, and which has been 
his home since he was six years of age. They 
are among those who can easily recall pioneer 
times in what is now one of the most highl.v cul- 
tivated parts of Illinois. Jackson M. McElroy 
was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1845, and is 
the only suiTivor of a family of ten children 
born to his parents, Peter and Susan (Winter- 
wringer) JIcElroy. 

Both parents of Mr. McElroy were born in 
Knox County, the father of Irish and the mother 
of Pennsylvania German ancestry. They mar- 
ried there and. after the birth of their fii-st five 
children, moved to Effingham County, 111., where 
five more were born. In 1851 they settled in 
what is now Mason Township, although the town- 
ships had not yet been organized. The children 
attended the subscription schools, their educa- 
tional opportunities being very meager. The 
family endured many pioneer hardships, but also 
enjoyed many pleasures, which, while different 
from those of the present day. at that time were 
considered an aid to comfortable living. Nothing 
more interesting can be read than are the ac- 
counts of the old time social gatherings, the 
hunting and fishing excursions and the hospita- 
ble entertainment of neighbors, some of these 
traveling miles to be present. 

The mother of Mr. McElroy died In 1881 and 
the father in 1889. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat. They had the following children: George, 
James, Thomas, Jackson M., Sarah Catherine, 
Wilson, Peter, Andrew M., John and Charles. 
George, enlisted at the beginning of the Civil 
War in Company D, Fiftj'-fourth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, for three years or during the war 
and died in the service, at Humboldt, Tenn, 
James was also a member of Company D. Fifty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but died at 
Cairo, III., his remains being brought home and 
buried in the Wabash Church Cemetery. Thomas 
die<1 when aged forty years. Sarah Catherine 
married Hugh .\gens. 



818 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Jackson M. McElroy assisted on the home 
farm until the opening of the Civil War, when, 
with his two brothers, he enlisted iu Company 
D, Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, fon 
three .vears or during the war. He accompanied 
the regiment to Jouesboro, 111., where he was 
prostrated with measles and was left behind un- 
til he recovered, when he rejoined his regiment 
at Cairo before it departed for Columbus, Ky., 
and from there to Humboldt, Tenn. At the lat- 
ter place he was honorably discharged on ac- 
count of disability and returned home. In 
August, 18()4. he reenlisted, entering Company 
F, One Hundred Forty-third Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, for lOti days, and accompanied that 
regiment to Helena, Ark., where It remained 
during its period of enlistment, when he was 
sent to Mattoon, 111., and honorabl.v discharged. 
He was again taken sick on his way back and 
could not resume farming until he had recovered. 

On December 25, 1868, he was married to Miss 
Sarah A. Minton, who was bom in Effingham 
County, March 27, 1851, a daughter of Joseph 
and Mary J. Minton. There were thirteen chil- 
dren in the Minton family, live of whom grew to 
maturity and three yet suivive, namely: Mrs. 
McElroy ; Jane, who is the wife of Arthur Fort- 
ner. of St. Louis, Mo. ; and Albert, also of St. 
Louis. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. McElroy 
settled for a time on the McElroy homestead. In 
ISSO he bought forty acres of land in Mason 
Town.ship. which had been fenced and was im- 
proved with a partly built log cabin. This cabin 
he completed and it is a very comfortable home, 
one in which their children have been lx>rn and 
reared and to which the latter, from their distant 
homes, look back many times with affection. 
Their children were : Susan, who is the wife of 
Charles Adams, a farmer in Minnesota, and 
they have one child, Ethel ; Lemuel, a farmer 
near Hagarstown, III., married Mary Zempter 
and they have two children ; Lilly, who married 
•John Burke, a farmer near Oilman, 111., and 
they have five children ; William, who is a mer- 
chant at Ramsey, 111., has two children ; John, 
who married Iva Edwards, has one son, I>eslie, 
and is a farmer in Mason Towmship; and Delia, 
Marvin and Edward, living at home. Mr. and 
Mrs. McElroy are leading members of the United 
Brethren Church. In politics he is a straight 
Republican and belongs to the G. A. R. 

McGUIRE, John Wesley.— The pioneers of Ef- 
fingham County lived in a i>eriod of stirring 
events of local histoiy, and were fearless strivers 
towards the securing of better conditions. The 
dangers they encountered made them all the more 
zealous and anxious to develop their part of the 
country and to bring into it the advantages of 
civilized life. John Wesley McGuire belongs to 
a pioneer fnmil.v, and although born in the town- 
ship in which he resides, endured many of the 
privations incident to early days. He was born 
in West Township, April 28, 1848, his four older 



sisters al.so being natives of that township. He is 
a son of John and Letha Ann (Seals) McGuire 
the latter of whom came from Tennessee to Illi- 
nois and made it her home until her death on 
what is now known as the Nelson farm, iu West 
Township, at the age of sixty years. 

John McGuire is believed to have located in 
West Township in the late 'thirties, although 
there is no record of his settlement there. He 
farmed some, owning eighty acres in the town- 
ship, forty acres of which are now included in 
the J. P. Gilmore homestead, and the other forty 
the property of William Gilmore. In addition to 
farming, John McGuire worked on the Illinois 
Central road when it was being built, and met 
his death in its employ. He was working on the 
Dismal Creek bridge cut, and was buried under 
a mass of stone and dirt, dying fi-om his injuries 
about 1854. He and his wife were consistent 
members of the Baptist Church, and they had the 
foUownig children : Martha, Mrs. A. G. Gilmore, 
who died in Mason Township in 1902 ; Matilda, 
Mrs. William Reese, died in Effingham County ; 
Samantha, married George McElroy, and after 
his death, as her second husband, George Gil- 
more ; Angeline, Mrs. Gordon ; John Wesley ; 
Eliza. Mrs. George Gilmore, of Missouri. 

Losing his father at a tender age, Mr. McGuire 
was taken b.v his sister. Mrs. A. G. Gilmore, who 
was then residing in Fayette County, just across 
the county line. Here he went to school, attend- 
ing one held in the little log house of the i>eriod. 
When but seventeen, he began working in a flour 
and sawmill, but two years later returned to 
his brother-in-law's farm and worked for Mr. Gil- 
more until he was twenty-one .years old. 

On March 18, 1871, he was married by Rev. 
Gentry to Mary M. Hinkle, of Indiana, daughter 
of Isaac Ilinkle, After marriage, Mr. McGuire 
l)ought his pi-eseut farm of ninety acres on Sec- 
tion 34, We.st Townshi]). one and one-half miles 
west of Gilmore, which was formerly the Mc-Coy 
farm on Fulfer Creek. He replaced the build- 
ings on this farm by others of a more substantial 
nature, and now has one of the best properties 
in the county. Mr. McGuire is a modern, up-to- 
date farmer, and is making his work pa.v. In 
ix>litical faith he is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat 
and served for many years as Pathmaster. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. McGuire 
were : Cora, born August 27, 1872, married 
Henry Hawley, of JIason Township: Thomas 
W., born June 20, 1875, at home: Alson R.. born 
September 2, 1877, died September 12, 1878 : Dora 
E., born June 12, 1879, married George Dietolt 
of Fayette County ; Charles E., born December 28, 
1880, a railroad man ; Vester H., and twin sister, 
born Ma.v 15, 1882, former married Bessie Kep- 
ner of Fayette County ; Laura M., Ixirn Felniiary 
22, 1884, married Charles Hawley of Mason 
Township ; Bertha, born July 4. 1886, married 
John Roedel of Fayette County : Nellie E. and 
Vellie X., twins, born May .50." 1889: Emma L., 
born October 4, 1891. Vellie N. died January 26, 
1892, and Emma L.. Febniary 26, 1892. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



819 



McKINNON, John T.— The McKinnon family has 
always exliiliited its patriotic spirit wheuever 
occasion tleniaiuled. aud iu both war aud peace 
its members have been true, loyal citizeus. They 
are associated with the early history of Effiug- 
ham Couuty aud have nobly bonie their part iu 
its ui)buildin{; and development. One of the rep- 
resentatives of this well-known aud honored 
family is John T. McKinnon, a farmer of Sum- 
mit Township, on the Schuttie farm of niuety- 
six acres. He was born iu Watson Township, 
December 29, 1SJ4, a son of William and E. 
Sarah (Gillespie) McKinnon, both the families 
being prominent pioneers of Ethngham Couuty. 
William MeKlnuon was born iu North Caro- 
lina iu ISll and his wife in Alabama iu 1807. 
Wni. McKinnon's father died in North Carolina 
aud he came with his mother to Illinois about 
1S35. They settled in what is now knowu as 
Watsou TOTvnship, Effingham Count.v, where he 
entered land and improved a farm of eighty 
acres. This he later sold and was preparing to 
go to Texas, evei-jthiug being packed iu the 
wagons awaiting the start, when he was taken 
ill and died, March 10, 1856. He and his wife 
had five children : Mary H., widow of Thomas 
Sharp, who was a farmer of Watson Township ; 
Elizabeth, wife of Jlariou Campbell, of Effing- 
ham ; Susan, deceased ; John T. ; aud Joseph, a 
farmer and dairyman of Watsou Township. 

Like many other farmer boys, John T. Mc- 
Kinnon spent bis .vouthful days attending the 
district school and working upon his mother's 
farm. He remained at home until the outbreak 
of the war, when he enli.sted, July 4, 1802. in 
Company I, Sevent.v-flrst Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantr.v, for three mouths' service. The raiment 
was sent to Jackson County. III., and assigned 
to guard duty. September 28. 1862, Mr. McKin- 
non was discharged and returned home. In 
April. 1863, he enlisted for 100 days' service, iu 
Company D, One Hundred Thirty-fifth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, aud was sent to Pilot Knob, 
Mo., and again a.ssigned to garrison duty until 
his di-scharge, September 18. 1863. February 4. 
1864, he enlisted in Cbmpau.v H, One Hundred 
Fift.v-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for one 
year, and being sent south, was at Murfreesboro, 
Tenn.. when the news arrived of the assassina- 
tion of President Lincoln. The regiment was 
kept in Tennessee imtil October, 1865, when he 
was mustered out, being discharged at Spring- 
field. 111. 

At the close of his service in the army Mr. 
McKinnon returned home aud resumed farm 
work. During his service he had lost his mother, 
who died in 1863. March 11. 1866. he maiTied 
Electa Levitt, born in Summit Township, daugh- 
ter of Fabian Levitt, one of the pioneers of Ef- 
fingham County, who died in 1864. After his 
marriage Mr. McKinnon purchased fort.y acres 
of laud in Watson Township and commenced im- 
proving it. It was covered mostly with brush, 
but he kept at work until he had evolved a good 
home, where his children were born. Here the 
family lived until 1876. when Mr. McKinnon sold 



out aud moved to Jasper County, III., renting 
eighty acres, where he lived until 1800, when he 
bought 100 acres of good timber land. He sold 
this in 1SS)5 aud rented land iu Jefferson County 
three years, but returned to Jasper Couuty iu 
1808 and in 18'.)9 to Effingham Count}-, He 
rented a fanu of 120 acres in Watson Township 
until 1902, and then bought forty acres in the 
same township. In 1906 he sold this farm and 
rented land iu Douglas Township, remaining on 
it until 1909, when he rented ninety-six acres in 
Sununit Township, where he now resides. 

Children were born to Mr. McKinnon and his 
wife as follows: Captain William McKinnon of 
Newton, who was a member of Company B, 
Fourth United States Infantry, and was Color 
Sergeant of his company under General Fitz 
Hugh Lee during the Spanish-American War, is 
now Ciiptaiu of Company B, Fourth Regiment 
Illinois National Guard; George F., foreman of 
the Morton docks of Chicago, where he has lived 
the past ten years, having served three years In 
the regular army ; Ross, of Effingham ; Sadie, 
wife of Steve Webb, a farmer of Watson Town- 
ship : Daniel, who was for five years a member 
of Company G. Fourth Regiment Illinois Na- 
tional Guard, now in partnership with his 
father ; Bertha, wife of G. G. Cohea, night .yard 
clerk for the Illinois Central Railroad at Effing- 
ham ; Libbie aud Ethel, at home. 

The McKinnon famil.v has always been loyal 
from the time William McKinnon sen-ed in the 
Black Hawk War down to his grandsons, three 
of whom have proven their braver.v iu recent 
years. John T. JIcKinnou has always been a 
strong Democrat and has served as Township 
Commissioner and Trustee, as Deputy Sheriff 
under Sheriff Dobbs, and as Assessor of Wat- 
son Township. At all times he has done his full 
dut.v and has endeavored to serve his country 
faithfully and well. The Methodist Church has 
always l>een his religious home aud he is de- 
■voted to it. Hard-working, loyal, devoted to his 
family and counti-j*. Mr McKinnon is a fine ex- 
ample of true American citizenship. 

MEANS, Thomas D.— The real history of the 
Civil War is written most deeply on tlie hearts 
of those who participated iu that mighty con- 
flict. The sacrifices of the volunteers did not 
cease when peace was declared, for none of them 
came out of the war as they euterefl it. If a 
few were fortunate enough to escaiie bullets, 
shell and imprisonment, there still lingered seeds 
of disease, shattered nen-es aud other ailments, 
which will cling to many as long as life lasts. 
For this and many other reasons, the survivors 
of the Civil War are regarded with such venera- 
tion and given the honored respect of the nation 
they bellied to save. One of the veterans of Ef- 
fingham County who is deserving of special men- 
tion, is Thomas D. Means, now living on Section 
18. Summit To^Tiship. who was bom in Hamil- 
ton. Ohio. February 11. 1,847. a son of Josiah G. 
and Rosauna (Shaffer) Means, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and North Carolina, respectively. They 



820 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



met in Darke County, Ohio, wiiere they married, 
and then went to Hamilton County, Ohio. 

For some years Josiah Means worked for the 
Henrj- Lewis Packing Company, before the 
period of great trusts and combinations. In 
18(50 he brought his family to Effingham County, 
locating in Banner Township on a 200-acre 
farm. When they came the hmd was all raw, 
but it is now one of the best farms in the county. 
Mr. Means added to his holdings until, at the 
time of his demise, he owned 330 acres. In his 
early days he had been a teacher, and always 
took a deep interest in educational matters, giv- 
ing his children an oriportunity to secure a good 
education. He and his wife had eight children, 
five of whom were daughters, and four of them 
taught school for man.v years in Ohio. One was 
also a teaiher for twenty years in Effingham. 
The childen were as follows : William Jackson, 
was a merchant in Ohio, where his widow now 
lives : Thomas D. : John W., Is on the home place 
in Banner Township ; Sall.v, wife of J. C WTiit- 
lege. grain inspector at St. Paul, Minn. ; Eliza- 
beth, deceased ; Margaret, wife of Judge L. P. 
Gilmore of Effingham ; Emma, wife of J. C. 
Greenwaldt, a merchant of Montgomery County, 
111. The father of this family died in January, 
1801, at the age of eighty-six years, having been 
bom in 1805. His widow, born in 1816, died in 
Ma.v, 1001. aged eight.v-flve. Both were devout 
members of the Presliyterian Church. Josiah 
Means was first a Whig, then a Democrat, but 
not being able to endor.se the Democratic plat- 
form, he voted for Fremont, and ever afterwards 
was a stanch Republican. At one time he was 
Road Commissioner, and for .vears served as 
School Trustee. He was always active in pub- 
lic affairs, and did his best to maintain a high 
standard in the schools. 

Thomas D. Means was only thirteen years old 
when the family came to Effingham, where for a 
time he continued his studies, but. was so stirred 
by patriotism that it was difficult to keep the 
boy at school. In 1863 he enlisted as a recruit 
in Company H, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, for 
three years, and was mustered in at Centralia, 
III.. February 10th, and joined his regiment at 
Memphis, being then just sixteen years old. He 
saw .some hard fighting, being at Corinth. Frank- 
lin, Campbellville. Cashville. Columbia, and 
many other engagements and skirmishes. He 
had no fear of being wounded, but the thought of 
being captured was always a menace, and he had 
a number of narrow escapes. On one occasion 
four of his company confronted forty of the en- 
emy, fighting almost single-handed until relief 
came. During the second day's flight at Nash- 
ville, he was captured, but escaped almost im- 
mediately. His regiment was ordered from 
Huntsville. Ala., to Nashville. Tenn.. where they 
were mustered out, and discharged in Novem- 
ber, 186.5. 

Returning home after his brave career as a 
soldier, Mr. Means engaged In farming and re- 
sumed his interrupted studies, going to school 
in his district and spending a year at the college 



at Fulton, 111. Then returning home he resided 
with his parents until March, 1873, when he 
married Miss Viola Randall, who was born and 
educated In Effingham County. Tliey settled on 
the farm which has since been their home, con- 
sisting of 160 acres, to which he added until at 
one time he owned 478 acres. Of this he sold 
eightj-six acres, now has 26G acres, all of which 
is in a high state of cultivation. 

Mr. and Mrs. Means have had a family as fol- 
lows : Julia, wife of Jacob H. Wallace, a resident 
of Boulder, Colo. ; John D. married Anna Gloyd, 
born in Summit Township, daughter of Mrs. 
Pen-}- Gloyd, and they have one daughter, Mar- 
garet Julia : one child died in infancy. John D. 
Means has charge of the homestead, his father 
having partially retired from active labor. 

Mr. Means has spent his married life upon his 
farm with the exception of five years when he 
lived in Effingham in order to give his children 
the advantages offered by Austin College. After 
they graduated, he returned to the farm. He has 
always been active in local politics, being a 
sti'ong Republican. When_he ran for Sheriff, he 
reduced the Democratic majority from 1,300 to 
400. He is often sent as delegate to County Con- 
ventions, and for many years has been a member 
of the Republican County Central Committee. 
He laid out the first Rural Free Delivery route, 
and platted the entire routes for Effingham 
County. Whenever he has taken anything up, 
he has carried it to a successful conclusion. He 
Is active in the Methodist Church of which he 
has been a member many .years, and also in the 
G. A. R. Post of Effingham. This sturdy, suc- 
cessful, patriotic soldier-citizen is one of the 
leading men of the county, and deserves evei-y 
good thing that has come to him. 

METZLER, Henry.— The German-Americans of 
this country are regarded as among the most re- 
liable and esteemed citizens of the land, and 
where they live there is sure to be found a num- 
ber of substantial homes. They usually take 
great interest In the development of the re- 
sources of a conmiunit.v and make for good gov- 
ernment. Among the men of this class who re- 
side at Shumway, 111., is Henry Metzler, who 
has now retired from active business life. Mr. 
Metzler was born in Harbarthaneon, Hesse- 
Darmstadt. Germany, October 1. 1838, a son of 
Philip and Catherine (Starpt) Metzler, both na- 
tives of the same place. The father was a shoe- 
maker by trade and followed this occupation 
after emigrating to America in 1851. In Decem- 
ber of which year the family .sailed. They 
landed in New York and, as they had a relative 
in St. Clair County, 111., they set out for that 
place, going down the Ohio River to Cairo and 
thence to St. Louis. Tliey met with disaster 
on the wa.v. their Iwat being frozen in the river, 
but they eventually reached St. Louis and from 
there walked to the farm of Valentine Metzler. 
who had purchased an eighty-acre farm, forty 
acres being in timber. He was not mariMed and 
had been living with a cousin, but after the ar- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



821 



rival of his relatives he and they erected a 
cinide building where they all took up their resi- 
dence. Another eighty-awe tract was soon added 
to this farm, and Philip Metzler was vei-y apt 
in learning the customs of the new land. He 
was robbed of a part of his holdings and had a 
hard fight to get clear of legal complications. 
He was wealieued and worried by his struggles 
and in 1859 died of lung fever, being laid to rest 
In St. Clair County. 

The Metzler family continued to live in St. 
Clair County until 1869, when Mrs. Philip Met- 
zler and Valentine Metzler sold their interests 
there and removed to Effingham Ctounty. Henry 
Metzler purchased 370 acres of laud in Banner 
Township and thirty-five acres of it are included 
in the corporate limits of Shuuiway. He had 
one brother and four sisters, namely : Adam, a 
resident of St. Clair County ;. Catherine, widow 
of Ix)uis Engel ; Margaret, widow of William 
Lowe, of Banner Towuship ; JIary, deceased 
wife of John Bergeler ; Christine, wife of Frank 
Hesse, of Altamont. The mother of these chil- 
dren died in 1883, and is buried near Shumway. 
After locating in Shumway Mr. Metzler built 
a store on the corner of Main and Fourth 
Streets, the second business house to be erec-ted 
in the town, and he conducted a general store 
in partnership with a Mr. Appel. They carried 
a full line of general merchandise and continued 
in business three years, when their stock was 
sold out at auction. At the time this sale was 
going on some of the leading citizens of the 
county asked Mr. Metzler to stop it and go into 
bu.siness again by himself, as they had confi- 
dence in his business ability, and he purchased 
the remainder of the stock himself, relying upon 
their supjxjrt. During his entire business career 
he has ben actuatefl by the highest principles of 
honor and he stands high in the confidence and 
esteem of his fellow.s. He has retired from busi- 
ness life and his former business is now carried 
on by his sons. 

In 1859 Mr. Metzler married Mary Gruenewald. 
who was born October 3, 1838. in the same city 
as her husband. Eleven children have been born 
to them, namely : Mary, married Fred Quast, a 
farmer of Shelby County ; August, who is a mil- 
ler at Strasburg; Annie, wife of Charles Schaf- 
fer, a coal and hay dealer at Shumway ; William, 
a merchant at Champaign : Ferdinand and Her- 
man, members of the firm of Metzler Brothers, at 
Shumway : Ida. wife of .John E. Webber, of 
Strasburg: Edward, of Marshfleld ; Louisa, wife 
of Dr. W. E. Tennant. of Fond du Lac, Wis. ; 
and two who died in infancy. 

Mr. Metzler has been connected with the Dem- 
ocratic party for many years and was elected 
Supervisor of Banner Township for one term, 
representing his township on the County Board 
with universal satisfaction. He is a devout Lu- 
theran and has held several offices in the church. 
Prominent in educational matters, he has served 
as School Director and has always favored good 
schools. During the sixty years he has been a 
resident of Efl3ngham County he has been closely 



identified with its progress and is justly recog- 
nized as one of its most influential men. 

METZLER, Herman D., of the firm of Metzler 
Brothers, leading merchants of Shumway, 111., 
and one of the enterpri.siug business men of that 
city, has been associated with the business with 
which he is now c-onnected since he was eighteen 
years of age, and fully understands every de- 
tail of it. He is the present manager of the con- 
cern and in his capable hands the amount of 
business has greatly increased in the past few 
years. Mr. Metzler is a native of the county 
born April 20, 1872, the son of Henry and Mary 
(Gruenewald) Metzler, the former of whom 
engaged in business in Shumway in 1878 The 
parents are natives of Marissa, 111., and were 
married in 1859. 

The education, of Herman D. Metzler was ac- 
quired in the public schools and he has gained 
most of his education by his efforts and in the 
school of experience. He has always had his 
own way to make and has been successful to a 
large degree through his ambition and energy 
He began his mercantile career by working in 
his brother August's store as cierk and also 
driving a wagon in 1890. Herman D. Metzler 
was then eighteen years old, and in 1892 August 
sold his store to his father and brother William 
the firm then taking the name of H Metzler & 
Son In 1893 the father sold out his interests to 
Wi.liam and Herman, and retired from active 
business life. The firm then became Metzler 
Brothers, and in 1895 a third interest was sold 
to Ferdinand Metzler. In the fall of 1906 Wil- 
.lam Metzler and his nephew, W. H Shafer 
embarked in the wholesale grocery business in 
Champaign, 111., since which time the manage- 
ment of the business of Metzler Brothers has 
been in the hands of Herman D. The members 
of the firm at the present time are Herman Wil- 
liam and Ferdinand Metzler, and they carry a 
good stock of general merchandise. In 1893 they 
had a capital stock of ab(yit $3,000 and since that 
time have been able to purchase the building in 
which they carry on their retail business, and the 
property, together with their stock, now aggre- 
gates upwards of $20,<XX). The members of the 
firm are recognize,^! as men of strict integrity 
and governed by the highest business principles. 
Mr. Metzler has always made the best use of 
his opiwrtunities for advancement, and even as a 
boy. began to earn and save his money. His first 
business enterprise was hunting up rags and tak- 
ing them to sell, in this way being able to earn 
about fifty cents a day. He was unable to find 
any work that so small a boy could do, but was 
desirous to earn money, and at that time gave 
promise of the good business judgment and 
acumen he has shown in his more mature year.s. 

Politically. .Mr. Metzler is a Democrat, al- 
though he takes no active part in public affairs, 
as his time is fully occupied by his business af- 
fairs. He is a member of the Modern W<x)dmen 
of America. He was reared in the Lutheran 
Church, and although not now a member of it or 



822 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



anv other church organization, is a firm believer 
in "the doctrine of the Savior, accepting the the- 
ory that everj- follov.er of Him has the same 
power for good as had the Apostles. 

September 23. 189C. Mr. Metzler was married, 
at the Lutheran Cliurch in Shumwa.v, to Luvina 
Elizabeth Kuff. a daughter of Fred and Carolina 
Ruff born in Shelbv Couut.v. To this union have 
been' born children as follows: Virgil Everett, 
born August 28, 1897 ; Leland Cleo, Ma.v lb, 1899 ; 
Floyd Herbert. May 0, 1901: Harold Henry, 
February 20, 1904; George Eugene. March 26, 
190T, and a daughter, Geneva, born February 18, 
1910. 

MILLEVILLE, Ferdinand. — One of the best 
known families of Eliingham County. 111., is that 
of Milleville, members of which have distin- 
guished themselves in various walks of life, but 
who are probably best known as agriculturists. 
The lives of the four Milleville brothers, Wil- 
liam, Gustave, Philip George, and Ferdinand, 
sons'of Philip and Augusta (Shultz) Milleville, 
are worthy of mention in this connection. 

Ferdinand Milleville was born at New Berg- 
holtz. Niagara County, N. T., February 25. 1849, 
and in 1866 accompanied his parents to Effing- 
ham County, 111., settling on 160 acres of land 
southwest of Altamont. His education had been 
secured in a German school in New York and he 
was reared to the life of a farmer, assisting his 
fatlier on the home farm until he was twenty- 
seven years of age. In March. 1876, he was 
ijarried to Fredericka, daughter of Frederick and 
Dora (Sehultz) Zellien, and after his marriage 
he settled on bis presnt farm, a fine tract lying in 
Section 17, Mound Township, where he has 
ei-ected substantial modern buildings, and has 
been engaged in cultivating his land. He is a 
member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, a stanch 
Democrat in ix)litics and one of the good and 
useful citizens of his locatlity. To Mr. Milleville 
and his wife have been born three children: 
Adolph. of Mound ToVnship. married Emily 
Sehultz; Henry, of Moccasin Township, who 
married Malvina Goers; and Edward, at home. 
Mr. Mllleville's first wife died in June, 1904, and 
he was married (second) to Albertiue Groben- 
gieser. Fred Zellien, a brother of Mr. Mllle- 
ville's first wife, who has been a member of his 
household for a number of years, was born in 
Niagara County, N. T., in 1847, and came to Ef- 
fingham County in 1866, when seventeen fami- 
lies made the trip from the same starting point, 
with the same destination in view. Mr. Mille- 
ville is a Democrat. 

Philip George Milleville, the owner of 160 
acres of good land in Section 15. Mound Town- 
ship, was the fourth son and sixth child of Philip 
Milleville and wife, and was born in New Berg- 
holtz, N. T.. August 19. 1847. He went to the 
German schools of his native locality and to 
English night schools, and at the age of fifteen 
years was engaged in cutting eordwood in the 
timber belt. He was eighteen years old when the 



family emigrated to Illinois, and he worked at 
home until his marriage, October 25, 1872, to 
Minnie Walk, of New Walmou, N. Y.. daughter 
of Gottfried and Cliristina (Shultz) Walk. After 
his marriage Mr. Milleville bought land and lo- 
cated on his present property, the house on which 
was partly completed, and here he has since car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits with gi-atifying 
success. He is a Democrat and has been active 
in the ranks of his part.v, serving as Commis- 
sioner of Highways for two years. School Trus- 
tee for one term, and Road Supervisor for a long 
period. He is now Secretary of the Bethlehem 
German Mutual Fire Insurance Association, 
which he helped to organize. He and his wife 
have been the parents of five children, of whom 
but two are living: Louisa Geraldine, born on 
the home place, August 31, 1874. married George 
Duckwitz. resides in West Township and has four 
sons — George, Edgar, Albert and Martin ; and Al- 
bert Henry, born September 25, 1880. married 
Louisa Mliler and they have two children — Wil- 
ber and Adelia. 

Gustave Milleville. the second son of Philip 
and .\ugusta (Shultz) Milleville, was bom in 
Bergholtz. Germany, in November, 1843, and was 
about four years old when his parents emigrated 
to America. He spent his earl.v life in New 
Bergholtz, N. Y., receiving a common school ed- 
ucation and working on his father's farm. He 
came with the family to Effingham County and 
later became one of Altamout's first store-keep- 
ers He had previously kept a store about half 
a mile south of the present town, and when Alta- 
mont was laid out he located his store on the 
present site of the Laatsell Implement estab- 
lishment. He moved to Cliicago about 1902 and is 
now janitor of a Lutheran Church there. Mr. 
Milleville married Johanna Wendt, and seven 
children were born of this union : William, Lena, 
Delia. John. Martin, Philip and Edward. Gus- 
tave Milleville served three years as a soldier 
in the Civil War. 

William Milleville. the oldest sou and child of 
Philip Milleville and his wife, was born in Berg- 
holtz, Germany, in 1841, was six years of age 
when the family came to the United States, and 
spent his early days in Niagara County. N. Y.. 
recei\ing a common school education. He moved 
with the rest of the family to Effingham County 
and there commenced working on a farm. He 
made a trip to the Fatherland in 1864, and on 
his return to the I'nited States enlisted in a 
New York Regiment for service in the Civil war. 
spending one year in the countr.v's service. Later 
he formed .i partnership with August Wurl. in a 
milling business near Altamont. and was suc- 
ces.sfully engaged in that line at the time of his 
death, caused b.v a boiler explosion at his place 
of busine.ss, in 1869. Mr. Milleville married 
.\inelia Bechue. and they had one son. William. 
now a resident of Buffalo, N. Y., but the mother 
is now deceased. 

MILLEVILLE, John. — A striking instance of 
what can be accomplished through sheer energy 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



823 



and painstaking effort is shown In tlie career of 
Jolin Miileville. a pros] lerous farmer of Section 
17. Mound TownsLiip. EtJlugham County. He was 
born on a farm at New Berglioltz. Niagara 
Count.v. X. Y., being a son of Pliilip and WillieJ- 
mina (Krull) Miileville, who moved to Illinois 
when John was a lad of ten years. 

When John Miileville reached Mound Town- 
shJi), he had already attended school in New 
York State, but he went to a German school here 
for four years, and then to the public school, and 
afterwards worked for his father on the farm, 
■with the exception of two years spent in St. 
Louis, where he was in a millwright shop. Find- 
ing that he was better fitted for agricultural life, 
he returned to Mound Township and settled on 
his present plac-e of eighty acres, in addition to 
which he owns forty acres In Fayette County. 
By hard work and untiring effort he has brought 
his farm into a satisfactor.v c-onditiou. 

Mr. Miileville was married at Howard's 
Grove. Wis., June G, 18S2, to Lillie Hillemann, 
a daughter of the Rev. Martin J. Hillemann, now 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Miileville have had the 
following children : George, Clarence and EI- 
frieda at home. 

Mr. Miileville and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Church and are loyal in its support. 
In politics Mr. Miileville is a stanch Republican, 
ever working for the success of his party. Al- 
though as yet he has not had time for public 
office, his interest in public matters is keen and 
he is a good, reliable citizen and excellent 
farmer. 

MILLS, George T. — In studying the lives and 
characters of prominent men. we are naturally 
led to inquire into the secrets of their successes 
and the motives which have prompted their ac- 
tions. Success is a matter of the application of 
experience and sound judgment at the right time 
and in the right manner. In almost eveiT in- 
stance the successful men of an.v profession or 
line of business, have attained their positions 
through persistent individual effort. George T. 
Mills, one of the leading merchants of Mason, 
III., is a familiar instance of this. He was born 
in Charleston, Coles Cbunty. 111.. July 11. 1S56, 
son of Judge Robert S. and Caroline M. (Chap- 
man) Mills, a sketch of whom is to be found 
elsewhere in this work. The parents located in 
Coles County, 111., in 1S40, and about sixteen 
years later George T. Mills was bom. He there 
began his education, but in 1863. when removal 
was made to Mason. Effingham Countj'. he was 
given better opportunities and finished his edu- 
cation in the schools there. His father was then 
engaged in merchandising, and as soon as the 
lad was big enough he was placed behind the 
counter. When he was fifteen he began learn- 
ing the trade of jeweler and became very expert 
in that line. 

^M:en Grover Cleveland was elected Mr. Mills, 
being a prominent Democrat, was appointed 
Postmaster of Mason, and made man.v improve- 
ments in the service, but was replaced by a Re- 



publican when there was a change at Washing- 
ton. In balancing his account he found that the 
Government owed him one cent, and on July 7, 
1800, rec-eived a draft for that amount, which he 
carefully preserves. While acting as Postmas- 
ter Mr. Mills carried on his jewelry business, 
and eventually added a stock of notions, having 
his place of business in the Odd Fellows Build- 
ing for a number of years. As his trade grew 
he kept adding to his stock, until he finally 
drifted into a general merchandise business, and 
in 1904 erected a fine, modern, two-story brick 
building, 25x80 feet, and his large and well-se- 
lected stock fills both rooms, and meets the 
wishes of all his customers. In it may be found 
nearly all kinds of goods carried in the large 
stores of the leading cities of the State. As he 
always buys for cash he is able to take advan- 
tage of discounts and is, therefore, enabled to 
compete successfully with and undersell any mail 
order house. The people who patronize him run 
no risks for his long e.xperience has taught him 
that the square deal wins and holds custom. 
Many who began trading with him when he was 
but a lad are still his customers. 

March 28. 1878. Mr. Mills was married to 
Rowena Herrick. daughter of S. J. Herrick, of 
Switzerland County. Ind.. where she was born 
in 1854. but her parents later moved to Mason 
where the father died. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have 
Had children as follows : Jlinnie C, wife of J W 
Vandeveer. of Athens. Texas; William B.. travel- 
ing freight claim agent for the Illinois Central 
Railroad, with office at Chicago. 111. ; Lora. wife 
of John Rote, of Mason ; Ella, who is in charge 
of the milliner}- department of her father's 
store and each year goes to the larger cities to 
study the latest designs; and Ralph, now in 
school. 

For forty-four years Mr. Mills has been a 
resident of Mason and has been identified with 
Its growth and progress. He has helped to 
build churches and schools ; has filled various 
offices, among which was that of Township 
Ti-easurer, which he held a number of years 
In 1905 he erected a beautiful residence.' Mr. 
•MllLs is now President of the Village Board and 
is doing a great work in improving Mason. Fra- 
ternally he is a Mason, belonging to the Chap- 
ter at Effingham. He is a large stockholder in 
the Mason Produce, Hay & Ice Company of 
Mason. 

It is a pleasure to Mr. Mills to look back and 
see the changes which have taken place in Ef- 
fingham County during his residence there, es- 
pecially as many of them have been inaugurated 
and carried through by him. He is in the very 
prime of life, with many plans for the future, 
and anxious to effect as much good as possible 
before his declining years. 

MILLS, Judge Robert S. (deceased).— The ven- 
erable Judge Robert S. Mills, who for so many 
.years was a prominent figure in his locality and 
one of its best known men. was born in Hamilton 
County, Ohio, February 28, 1813. and when a 



824 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



child was brought by his parents to Vevay, Ind. 
Later the family removed by flat boat to Charles- 
ton, Clark County, lud., and still later to Orange 
Count}-, Ind. There he married. In June, 1S:!I), 
Caroline M. Chapman, daughter of Thomas 
Chapman, of English ancestry. The progenitor 
of the Chapman family in this country was 
among the veiy earliest settlers in America and 
came of fine old English stocli. George Chapman 
was a poet, contemporary with Shakespeare, and 
by that great bard regarded as a dangerous rival. 
In 1^0 Robert S. Mills moved to Charleston, 
Coles County, 111., where he was elected Justice 
of the Peace, and served for one term. He 
served as County Judge two terms, holding that 
position from 1845 to 1848. During the admin- 
istration of President Fillmore Mr. Mills 
served as Postmaster at Charleston, 111., and then 
conducted a drug store for several years. His 
next undertaking was to go down along the line 
of the Illinois Central Railroad and establish the 
little town of /Etna, of which he was the first 
Postmaster. He was a strong Mason and was 
instrumental in carrying through the plans for 
the erection of the Masonic Hall at ^Etna. He 
built a grain elevator, embarked in a grain busi- 
ness, and engaged in other entenjrises there un- 
til 1863, when he disposed of his holdings, and 
went to Alason. Effingham County, where he em- 
barked in a general merchandi.se business, in 
which he remained for ten years. In 1873 he 
disposed of this, once more entered the drug busi- 
ness, and was thus engaged for many years. He 
was one of the most energetic of men, and one 
who always knew how to make and retain 
friends. In politics he was a Democrat and was 
well informed as to the principles of his party, 
both past and present. 

Judge Mills had the following children : 
Ophelia, who married Henry Moore and both are 
deceased ; Hattie, married Henry Hoxsey ; Clar- 
ence S. ; George T., a sketch of whom appears 
elsewhere in this volume; Alline. married George 
Wade, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
this work ; and May. Judge Mills lived to pass 
his ninety-first birthday, dying August 22, 1902, 
while his good wife died May 10, 1886. 

Few men were more intimately a.ssociated 
with the history of this section than Judge Mills, 
and certainly none left behind more friends of 
all ages than he, when he went to his long rest. 

MITCHELL, Claudius E., County Superintend- 
ent of Schools of Effingham Countj', now resid- 
ing in the city of Effingham, is a man of marked 
ability, scholarly in his tastes, and thoroughly 
effieient as a teacher. He was born in Illinois 
October 20, 1856, and educated in the common 
schools of the co nty, and he also attended the 
State Normal at Carbondale, 111., and the Central 
Normal College at Danville, Ind. Perhaps the 
greatest training Mr. Mitchell has received comes 
from the school of experience, and he is there- 
fore more practical in his work and methods than 
others who have been taught what they know 
Instead of wresting it from daily life. He is a 



son of Calvin and Eliza A. Mitchell, who spent 
a long and useful life in Effingham County and 
were well and favorably known. 

On August 29, 1886, Mr. Mitchell was united 
in marriage with Rhue E. Donaldson, who was 
born in Indiana, a daughter of Dsivid M. and 
Matilda Donaldson, both natives of Indiana, who 
were married at Periysville, Ind.. December 
24, 1868, and came to Illinois in 1875, locating 
in Effingham County, where they have since re- 
sided. Mrs. Mitchell is their only surviving 
child, another having died in infancy. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mitchell have had seven children, namely : 
Mabel F. and Daniel P., both teachers; Claudius 
E., Jr. ; Ruby E. ; Gladys M., Melba, and Nellie 
who died in infancy. 

After marriage Mr. Mitchell remained in Jack- 
son Township for twelve years, but in 1898 
moved to Mason Township, and lived on a farm 
there until November 9, 1901, when removal was 
made to Effingham in order that Mr. Mitchell 
might take charge of the office of County Super- 
intendent, to which he had been elected, on the 
Democratic ticket. He has always been active 
in party work, and served as Supervisor of Jack- 
son Township, Town Clerk and School Treasurer 
one term, and was re-elected to the latter office, 
but resigned it to move to Mason Township, 
where he was made School Director. Mr. Mitch- 
ell has been associated with educational work 
since 1876. Since taking charge of his present 
office, Mr. Mitchell has made some remarkably 
successful changes and improvements. For 
years he has been working along lines of the 
State Course of Study, and with remarkable re- 
sults. There never was a SuiJerintendeiit of Ef- 
fingham County who was on more friendly terms 
with his teachers, for he possesses tact and good 
.iudgment as well as learning and skill in teach- 
ing, and makes friends everywhere. He has re- 
vised the school register of the county, making 
it the most complete ever used in the schools. In 
every department of his work he has displayed a 
keen" insight in details, combined with splendid 
executive ability. He knows how to choose good 
teachers and to get satisfactory results from 
them, and as a reward of his efforts, the grade 
of the pupils graduated from the county schools 
has been advancing each succeeding year. 
Teachers and pupils alike are interested in their 
work, and the results of this are shown on every 
side. 

Mr. Mitchell is a Mason, belinging to Watson 
Loflge. No. 602 : the Watson M. W. A. No. 2705 ; 
the Effingham Lodge K. of P. No. 168, and he is 
prominent in all. Both he and his wife subscribe 
to the faith of the Baptist Church. Their beau- 
tiful home in Effingham is supplied with modern 
conveniences, and is surrounded by an acre of 
ground, filled with shade and ornamental trees, 
that make it one of the most pleasant residences 
in the city. 

MITCHELL, Sylvester Greely.— The farmers of 
Effingham County are as a class prosperous and 
contented, living independentl.v upon their fertile ■ 




EDWARD N. rPTOX 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



825 



farms which their energy has developed to the 
presient high state of cultivation. One who has 
been more then usually successful is Sylvester 
Greely Mitchell, who owns 122 acres of excellent 
land in Sections 1 and 12, Mound Township. 
He was born in Mechaniesburg, Ohio, January 5, 
1846, Ijeing a son of Erasfus and Clarissa (Smith) 
Mitchell, both of whom are now deceased. 

Mr. Mitchell attended the public school of his 
native place during the winter mouths, and in 
summer worked in a brick yard, ^^^len little 
more than sixteen, he enlisted from Hardin 
County, O., in Company I, Forty-fifth Ohio Vol- 
unteer Infantry, Captain Stanley and Colonel 
Runkle commanding, on June 19, 1SC2. He was 
the second youngest in the regiment. The regi- 
ment was assigned to the Army of the Tennes- 
see, and he participated in all the battles of the 
Atlanta campaign, being discharged at Camp 
Hooker, Tenn., June 19, 1865. Returning home, 
he worked on a farm for a few years. On No- 
vember 15, 1872, Mr. Mitchell was united in mar- 
riage with Lizzie Shilling, of Hardin County, 
Ohio, daughter of John Shilling and Catherine 
(Stake) Shilling. Until 1895. Mr. and Mrs. 
Mitchell made Hardin County their home, but in 
that year removal was made to the present loca- 
tion. " Mrs. Mitchell was bom in Hardin Couuty, 
Ohio, March 2, 1855, and was there educated in 
the public schools. Her father was a native of 
Germany, and settled first in Strasburg, Ohio, 
but later moved to Hardin County. Still later 
he went to Indiana, where his death occurred. 
He was a man widely known and universally 
liked for his many excellent qualities. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have had children as 
follows: William, died in infancy; Margaret, 
now Mrs. H. E. Wilcox of Omaha ; Stella, now 
Mrs. William Crowther of Nebraska : James of 
Montana, married Miss Smith ; Sylvester, died in 
infancy ; John of Nebraska ; and Guy and Clara 
at home. 

In politics, Mr. Mitchell is a Republican, but 
has never been very active in public matters, his 
farm demanding all of his attention. He is a 
good business man, an energetic farmer, and a 
public-spirited citizen wtio has many friends in 
the county. 

MUNDAY, Amos B., an extensive farmer and 
stockraiser located in Section 19, Watson Town- 
ship, Effingham County, III., is a native of the 
township, bom May 11, 1864, sou of John and 
Eliza (Steckoffer) Munday. John Munday was 
born in Virginia, March 7, 1822, and when he 
was two years old his parents moved to Ohio, 
where the father died. The mother came on into 
Illinois and settled in Effingham (?tounty, where 
she lived ro be ninety-three years old. .lohn Mun- 
day remained In Ohio luitil the gold fever struck 
the West, and in 18.50 made his way to Califor- 
nia, where he remained until about 1858, then re- 
turned as far as Illinois and located in Watson 
Township. 

After purchasing 200 acres of land In Watson 
Township he boarded for a time with the man 



of whom he purchased it, and then erected what 
was considered the best dwelling In all that sec- 
tion. In 1860 he was married to Eliza Steck- 
offer, who died in 1870. Of the six children 
born to this marriage two died in infancy and 
those who survive are : Clarence, who is a mer- 
chant and leading citizen of Altamont, 111. ; 
Amos B. ; Rufus C, who is a merchant in Chi- 
cago ; and Mary C., who is the wife of Frank 
Loaps, who is connected with the Standard Oil 
Company, at Independence, Mo. In 1882 John 
Munday was married (second) to Eliza J. 
Stroud, and two children wer born to this union : 
Oscar and John. Oscar Munday, who is a 
farmer in Mason Township, served four years 
tn the United States Navy before settling down 
to agricultural pursuits, and during that time 
visited many distant countries. John Munday, 
the younger brother, is a telgraph operator, at 
Altamont, 111. The mother of these two sons is 
now the wife of John Meliska, and resides in 
Mason Township. 

In the death of the elder John Munday, which 
took place March 3, 1889, Effingham County lost 
one of her best citizens. He was a leading man 
of Watson Township and was the first to be 
elected to the office of Supervisor when the county 
was organized. In polities he was a stanch Re- 
publican and was always ready to do his part In 
advancing the interests of the organization. He 
was a man of natural intelligence and kept him- 
self well informed concerning current events in 
his own countiy and other lands as well, and in 
his own community was ever willing to con- 
tribute time and money to enterprises of public 
benefit. 

Amos B. Munday"s boyhood and youth was 
typical of that of most farm boys of the day. 
He alternately worked on the farm and attended 
school a part of each year until his marriage. He 
then started out for himself, in 1886 renting 
land in Lucas Township, where he remained un- 
til 1881. He then moved to Jackson Town.ship, 
where be followed farming about a year, then 
bought his first piece of land, the one oh which 
he now lives in Watson Township, containing 
fifty-five acres. In 1889 he rented 180 acres in 
Watson Township and in the fall of that year 
built his present residence and moved into it. 
From time to time he has purchased other tracts 
until he now owns, in addition to the first fifty- 
five acres, 380 acres adjoining, in Jackson Town- 
ship, also 435 acres and a half-interest in 220 
acres, also in Jackson Township. He thus has 
545 acres of land, which is well stocked. He 
does a large amount of feeding and shipping of 
hogs and cattle. He has displayed a great 
amount of business ability and is one of the 
to«Tiship's successful and substantial men. He 
has not, however, given all his attention to his 
own interests, large as they are. but has taken an 
interest in public matters, especially those con- 
cerning his own township, in which he has capa- 
bly filled most important offices. In 1893 he was 
elected Supervisor and served until 1897, when 
he was re-elected, serving until 1901, and has con- 



826 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



tlnued ia the office, through subsequent re-elec- 
tion's for ten years. This was something of a 
test of his iwpiilarity, for he is a Republican in 
a well-orgauized Democratic stronghold. He has 
frequently been sent to both State and National 
Conventions as delegate, and the proudest act in 
his political career was when he east his vote, 
In 1896, for John R. Tanner for Governor and 
William McKinley for President. 

On January 13, 1886, Mr. Munday was mar- 
ried to Miss Ella Loy, born May 21, 1863, a 
daughter of Edward Loy, who was one of the 
early settlers of what is known as Loy Prairie, in 
Watson Township. The Loy family has a 
yearly reunion and the old pioneer greatly en- 
joyed" them up to the time of his death. May 4, 
1902. To Mr. and Mrs. Munday three children 
have been born, namely : Oeo, who was born De- 
cember 12, 1886, uuuried Nicholas Rives, and 
they reside in Chicago; Leo Jackson, who was 
born November 28, 1891, assistant cashier and 
bookkeeper of the Watsou Bank; and Beulah, 
who was born September 12, 1898. These chil- 
dren have enjoyed excellent educational advan- 
tages, also those of social life. Mrs. Munday and 
the children belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and are active in its work. In 1891 Mr. 
Munday joined the Masonic fraternity and is a 
member of Lodge No. 602, A. F. & A. M., of Wat- 
son, and belongs also to Camp No. 2705, M. W. 
A., also of Watson. While he is not a member 
of' the Methodist Church, he is a liberal con- 
tributor in the cause of its good work. 

MUNDAY, Oscar H.— Undoubtedly travel and 
experience are helpful in the successful pursuit 
of any calling, for in this way the mind is broad- 
ened," new ideas are introduced and unknown 
methods are given a trial. Few young farmers 
and stockholders of Mason Township have en- 
joyed better opiwrtunities in this line than has 
Oscar H. Munday, who is cultivating the old 
home farm of 103" acres, known as the old Judge 
Broom farm, which produced the first crop of 
wheat ever sown in Effingham County. Oscar H. 
Munday was born on a farm north of Watson, 
Effingham County. 111., October 12, 1882, a son 
of John Munday. He was reared on the home 
farm and received a good eounnon school educa- 
tion and remained at home until he was eighteen 
years of age. 

A desire to see something of the world outside 
tlie environment of his native surroundings made 
Mr. Munday leave the farm, as many another 
farmer boy has done, and go to Chicago. There 
he secured employment and remained there until 
1903. Again an ambition to see more of tbe great 
world than his city connections permitted, in- 
duced him to enlist in the United States Marine 
Corps, continuing for four years. After the 
usual period of instruction, he sailed with his 
companions from San Francisco, Gal., on the 
U. S. Army Traiisiiort "Buford." Five days 
were spent at Honolulu, and then the long trip 
over the Pacific Ocean followed to Manila. Dur- 



ing his two years' absence he visited, with his 
command, the Philippine Islands, Hongkong, 
Korea, Australia, together with the important 
ports of all countries on the way, and then turn- 
ing took up the return voyage. From Nagasaki, 
Japan, the vessel sailed to San Francisco and 
the Marines were then sent by rail to Washing- 
ton, D. O. When the insurrection occurred in 
Cuba, the command to which Mr. Munday be- 
longed, was the first to be landed at Havana 
and did duty there and also at Cienfuegos, re- 
maining three mouths and then leaving affairs 
in the hands of the army. At Havana Mr. Mun- 
day and his fellow soldiers went on board the 
U. S. S. "Prairie," and from there proceeded to 
Norfolk, Va., and to Annapolis, Md., where he 
was honorably discharged and recommended for 
a medal of honor for his brave and faithful 
service, and was promoted to the rank of a Non- 
commissioned Officer. 

Mr. Munday reached his old home on Novem- 
ber 20, 1907, and took charge of his mothers 
farm, where he has been usefully and busily em- 
ployed ever since. He has displayed the practi- 
cal qualities which have brought a large amount 
of success in his farm industries. He keeps an 
excellent grade of stock and cultivates the grains 
which are best suited for his land. 

On December 11, 1907, Mr. Munday was mar- 
ried to Miss Bertha McManaway, who was born 
in Mason Township, Effingham County, May 27, 
18S2, a daughter of Anthony McManaway, one of 
tbe honored pioneers of the county. They have a 
bright little son, Orville, who was born March 
10, 1909. Mr. Munday is not formally connected 
with an.v religious body, but he is a man of rep- 
utable life and exerts an influence for morality 
which years of church membership alone might 
not encompass. He has always been a supporter 
of the principles of the Republican party. 

NAUMER, Fred, one of the representative citi- 
zens of Altamont. 111., manufacturer of and 
dealer in cigars, is Secretary of the Altamont 
Agricultural B\iir Association. Mr. Naumer was 
born at Rheinfals. Bavaria, March 21, 1864, son 
of Fred and Eva (Byers) Naumer. 

Tbe Naumer family came to the United States 
in 1806, on April 1 of which year they landed at 
New Orleans, then proceeded up tbe Mississippi 
River to St. Louis, whence they made their way 
to Lebanon, 111. The father was a cooper by 
trade, an occupation which be followed until his 
death, in 1878, while his wife survived him un- 
til 1905. Fred Naumer was tbe eldest of a fam- 
ily of six children, all of whom are living, and 
he was educated in the schools of Lebanon, which 
he attended until fourteen years of age. At the 
time he started to school (at the age of eight 
years) he could not speak a word of English, 
and the majority of his education is the result 
of his own unaided efforts, being gained by 
much studv. For the first year of farm work he 
was given" .$100. which he changed into five 
twenty-dollar gold pieces and took home to his 
mother. Later he learned the trade of cigar 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



827 



making with Julius Hoffman, of Lebanon, re- 
maining witii liim for nine years. In the 
spring of 1889 he came to Altamont and began 
tne manufacture of cigars, starting in ver.v small 
quarters, and graduall.v built up his business un- 
til he is a leader in his line in the citj-. His lead- 
ing brands are well-known and there is a con- 
stant demand for "Fred"s Extra," "In Demand" 
and "Five Brothers." 

Mr. Xaumer was one of the organizers of the 
First National Bank, which was opened Jul.v 
15, 1907. and of t'le Public Library, of which he 
was the first President. During the twenty-one 
years he has been in Altamont he has served as 
Alderman seventeen years. Ma.vor one term, and 
six years on the Board of Education, being a 
member of the Construction Committee which 
built the new .$20,000 school building. He was 
one of the organizers of the Altamont Agricul- 
tural Fair Association, of which he is now Sec- 
retarj-. and was also active in the organization 
of the First Presb.vterian Church, of which he is 
senior Elder. He has been prominent in frater- 
nal circles, belonging to the Slasons. and for 
many years serving as Master Mason of Alta- 
mont Lodge Xo. 5.33. He was the organizer or 
Maple Tree Lodge Xo. 420. Knights of Pythias. 
In 1893. and has been through all its chairs, be- 
ing its Repre.sentative to the Grand Lodge for the 
past fourteen years, and now holding the posi- 
tion of State Deputy Orand Chancellor for this 
part of Illinois. In 1905 he erected a fine brick 
structUTe on Main Street, known as the Xaumer 
Block. Mr. Naumer has been a life-long Demo- 
crat. 

On October 11, 1888. Mr. Naumer was mar- 
ried, at Lebanon. 111., to Augusta X^emeyer, 
daughter of Louis X'emeyer. a leading merchant 
of that place. Five children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. X^aumer. namely : Laura. Gladys. 
Louisa. Fred Louis and Claarles. Gladys is now 
attending school at Lebanon, where she is taking 
a course in music, of which she is very fond. 

NEWMAN, Jesse, came to Effingham Coimty. 
III., from Tennessee in 1838. a young man and 
unmarried. He settled on a farm in the western 
part of the county and remained there until Ma- 
son was laid out. when he moved to that town 
and embarked in business as a merchant, in 
partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Ridaie. 
continuins in this business for a number of years 
with great success. 

Mr. Xewman was elected the first .Tustice of 
the Peace in Mason Township, and filled the of- 
fice with credit and abilitv. He was a man of 
tall, statel.v figure, who always had a pleasant 
word for everybody and took a personal interest 
in the welfare of his neishbors. Although never 
very fortunate in financial affairs, he was an en- 
terprising man and a useful citizen, and is re- 
membered bv all who knew him as an esteemed 
friend. Although he had a limiterl education. 
he possessed a practical mind and accomplished 
considerable in furthering the progress and well- 
being of Mason. During his last years he was a 



great sufferer, and died of consumption May 9, 
1868. He was married three limes and his two 
sons, promising young men, Alfred and Lewis, 
preceded him to tlie grave by a short time. 

NIEBRUGGE, Anton.— There are very few 
Germans in this country who have not succeeded 
in life, for there is something in the German 
character that makes for success. They know 
how to work, save and invest, and in a short 
time have generall.v accumulated a comfortable 
competencj-. Often where an American-born 
man would fail, the German succeeds. This is 
true in many kinds of work, but especially is it 
so In farming, for the German understands the 
work and develops his land until it .yields him 
large returns, and this is done through constant 
hard work, oftentimes in the midst of discour- 
agement that would defeat those less persever- 
ing. Anton Xiebnigge, of Section 12. Summit 
Township. Efiingham County, 111., is now a suc- 
cessful dair.vman and farmer, but there was a 
time when it seemed as though fate would crush 
him. He was bom in Hanover, Prussia, Ger- 
many, March 15, ISfiO, a son of William and 
Mar.v Xiebrugge, both also natives of Hanover. 
They were farmers and the father died in 1869, 
the mother in 1897. They had six sons who 
lived to maturity, one dying young, and one 
daughter. The daughter married William Lepe, 
and died, though her husliand survives; Joseph, 
died at the age of twenty-nine : Theodore. Wil- 
liam and Henry, remained in Germany; Bern- 
hardt is a farmer in Douglas Township, having 
come here in 1875 ; Anton and Louis came to Ef- 
fingham Count.v in 1884. 

Anton Xiebrugge had married Annie Wilhel- 
mina Fellhoelter. and the.v. with her brother 
Joseph and Louis Xiebrugge. located in Doug- 
las Township, in the Green Creek settlement. 
Anton X'iebrugge had learned the carpenter trade 
in Germany, and for several years after coming 
here worked at it whenever he could find em- 
ployment, and was engaged on some of the besf 
buildings in Effingham County. As soon as he 
could he bouiiht twent.v acres of land, on which 
he put up a little house and log barn, and he and 
his wife soon- had such a neat, comfortable 
home as is characteristic of the Germans. From 
time to time he has added to his farm until he 
now owns 208 acres. He paid $15 per acre for 
some of his land, and has refused $75 per acre 
for it. He has a fine barn. 45x60 feet, that will 
hold seventeen cows and eleven horses, and a 
cattle shed that will hold from 30 to 50 head of 
cattle. He breeds the Hol.stein brand, and milks 
forty-two head. His other stock of varied brands 
is good, and he takes a pride in keeping his farm 
up to a high standard. 

Mr. Xiebrugge has been twice married. His 
first wife bore him the following children : Bern- 
bnrdt. born Mav 4. 1885. is a farmer of Douglas 
Township; Anne, born .July 7. 1887, married Jo- 
seph Bloemer, a farmer of Summit Township ; 
Joseph, born April 5. 1890, at home: Anton, bom 
December 11. 1801. lives with his mother's 



828 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



brother Joseph ; John., born December 24, 1893, 
is also with liis Uncle Joseph ; Frances, born 
June 6, 1896, died September 10, 1896. The 
mother of these children died June 22, 1896. On 
January 26, 1897, Mr. Xiebrugge married Miss 
Mary Strucker. Their children are as follows : 
Francis, born October 26, 1897 ; August, born 
May 25, 1900; p:dward, born Januarj- 18, 1903; 
Clara, born November 16, 1907, and Clemens, born 
May 3, 1909. Mrs. Niebrugge was born in Shelby 
County, Ohio, October 22. 1869, daughter of Henry 
Strucker. Mr. and Mrs. Niebrugge and those 
of the children who are old enough belong to the 
St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church of Effing- 
ham. In politics Mr. Niebrugge is a Democrat. 

Coming here a stranger, with little knowl- 
edge of the English language, Mr. Niebrugge has 
succeeded remarkably well. He has not only 
earned himself a fine farm, a comfortable house, 
big barns and other buildings, but he has firmly 
established himself in the confidence of his 
neighbors, and has shown that he is worthy of 
all trust. As a carpenter he is a fine workman 
and always gives satisfaction along this line of 
work, for he understands his trade thoroughly, 
as do most of those who are taught a trade in 
Germany, where their training is more thorough 
than in this country. Men like Mr. Niebrugge 
are CHsnstant examples of what can be accom- 
plished by those determined to succeed and 
should inspire others to like endeavors. 

NIEMEYER, Barney. — Some men attain suc- 
ce.ss through h.-inl. inTsisteiit effort that leaves 
its traces on mind and liody. They overcome 
terrible obstacles by i)aying a heavy price, and 
.vet if their succe.ss be honestly attained, they can 
look back with satisfaction upon their struggles. 
Barney Niemeyer. of Teutopolis Township. Ef- 
fingham County, is a man whose success is cer- 
tainly well merited. He was born In Effingham 
County, November -5, 18.51, and received an excel- 
lent education for his time, in the district schools 
of his neighlwrhood. He is a son of Henry and 
Catherine (Clark) Niemeyer. txith natives of 
Germany. In young manhood, the father came 
to the United States alone, settling in Cincinnati, 
while the mother was brought here by her par- 
ents who also located in Cincinnati, where Mr, 
and Mrs. Nieme.ver were married. 

In 1845, Mr. Niemeyer brought his family to 
Illinois, and located on a farm in Effingham 
County, which was mostly in the timber. They 
cleared off this land, and improving it, made it 
into a home. During the winter the father 
worked in a pork packing hoijse for Mr. Washfort. 
When Henry Niemeyer's death occurred, he was 
seventy years old. for he was bom in 1820. and 
died June 16, 1890. His wife was born in 1828. 
and still survives, living in Teutoiwlis, aged 
eighty-two years, and enjoying good health. 

During the early pioneer .vears in Illinois, the 
parents had a bard struggle. Their only means 
for grinding their grist was afforded by an old 
wind mill at Teutopolis, and at one time when 
there was a dead calm for a considerable pe- 



riod, they were forced to grate com by hand on 
a tin grater. The meal thus obtained was made 
into corn cakes, the only bread the family had. 
Oxen were used for all farm purposes, and the 
wagons were home made, with blocks cut from 
trunks of trees for wheels. 

Eleven children were bom to Henry Niemeyer 
and wife, six boys and five girls, namely : Jake, 
John. Barney, Henry, Mary, Harmon, Minnie. 
Carrie. Ro.sa and Frank. Of these two, John 
and Harmon, are deceased. Eventually Henry 
Nieme.ver became successful, and at his death he 
owned 240 acres of fine farm land in Effingham 
County. 

Barney Niemeyer remained at home with his 
parents until he was twenty-three years old, 
and then began life for himself, first working as 
a foreman in the packing house of Mr. Washfort, 
where he remained for two years and eight 
months. He then accepted a position as en- 
gineer in a flour-mill in Effingham, and remained 
over a year. He then went to Danville, 111., but 
soon returned to the former position as engineer 
in the mill at Effingham. After some time there, 
he took charge of the flour-mill at Teutoiwlis, 
where he was employed for two years. His next 
venture was in the wholesale and retail liquor 
business with a butcher .shop in connection. 
This occupied his attention for twent}--two years. 
By hard work he prospered, and Is now able to 
live retired in a modem home, surrounded with 
all the comforts of life. His son Edward now has 
charge of his business interests. A sketch of 
Edward Niemeyer appears below. 

Mr. Niemeyer was first married in 1880 to 
Elizabeth Rickelman. who was bom In Germany, 
but was brought to the United States by her 
mother, the father having died In Germany. 
They came to Effingham Countj-. where she was 
married. She died December 17, 1898, and is 
buried in the Teutopolis Cemetery. Seven chil- 
dren were born of this marriage, namely : Ed- 
ward. Louis. S.vlvester. Allie. Charley, Mealy and 
Gertrude, of whom Allie and Charley are de- 
ceased. On December 17, 1891. Jlr. Niemeyer 
married Catherine (Miller) Flack, widow of 
Lambert Flack, who died March 31. 18.98. aged 
seventy years. Mr. and Mrs. Flack were the 
parents of six children, namely : Charley. Eliza- 
beth. Agnes. John, Frank and Albert, of whom 
Agnes is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nletneyer 
have no children. 

Mr. Niemeyer is a Democrat in pollt'cs. but 
had never taken any very active part in public 
affairs, although he did serve as Constable for 
two years, having tieen elected to thit office 
without his knowledge, but discharged the duties 
of the office faithfully and well. He and his 
family all belong to St. Francis Catholic (thurch 
of Teutopolis. where they are active in i-hnrch 
matters. Mr. Niemeyer owns 200 acres if Ef- 
fingham County land, in addition to his town 
projierty. and is also a stockholder in the local 
Bank of Teutopolis. 

NIEMEYER, Edward. — Some of the most 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



829 



enterprising business men of Efdnghani County 
belong to tbe younger generation who bring to 
their woric tbe enthusiasm and ambitions of youth, 
while they profit by the experienc-e of those who 
have preceded them. Edward Niemeyer, son of 
Barney Niemeyer, of Teutopolis, is an excellent 
example of what can be accomplished by tbe 
infusion of new blood into a business. He was 
born in Teutopolis Township, Etflngbam County, 
May 10. 1885, and was educated in the Teuto- 
polis public schools and St. Joseph College. He 
worked for his father until he was twenty-two, 
when he found work in establishing tbe Rural 
Free Delivery Routes out of Teutopolis. being the 
first to do this. Alter he had arranged them, he 
secured tbe approval of the United States Gov- 
ernment on bis work. There are two of them, 
and he owned and operated the routes for two 
years and eight months. On December .31, liKXi, 
he resigned to take charge of the saloon and 
meat market which his father had owned for 
so many years, and these he still conducts with 
marked success. 

On September 13, 1904, Mr. Niemeyer was 
married to Minnie Wegman, born in Teutopolis, 
May 4. 1882, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 
liam Wegmen, both natives of Effingham County, 
who reside on a farm in St. Francis Township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nieme.ver have two children, 
namely : Emma, bom January 8. 1007 ; and Ed- 
ward, born Februai-y 4. 1900. Mr. Niemeyer is a 
Democrat, but has never aspired to office hold- 
ing and takes no active interest in politics. He 
and his wife are both members of St. Francis 
CVitbolie Church of Teutopolis. where they are 
active in church work. Mr. Niemeyer owns the 
business he conducts, having bought it from his 
father upon the latter's retirement. 

NOLLER, Charles W., whose combination of 
business enterprises has made him a leading and 
useful citizen of Effingham, belongs to an old 
German family that was established here in 1860. 
He was lX)m at Effingham, October 17, 1863, a 
son of Gotlieb F. and Amelia (Schmidt) NoUer. 
The father was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, 
and possessed tbe sterling qualities as well as 
the nuisical talent of his race. The mother of 
Mr. Noller was bom at Baltimore. Md., a daugh- 
ter of George H. Schmidt, who was a goldsmith 
in Germany. After coming to America he soon 
established himself in Teutopolis. Effingham 
County, 111., and finally died in Watson. 111., in 
1889. 

Gotlieb F. Noller was born in 18.33 and in Ger- 
many leamed the sboemaking trade. In 1855 
he settled at Evansville. Ind., where his brother 
soon died of cholera, and in 18.17 he moved to 
Teutopolis. Effingham County, and went into 
partnership in a factory owned by a Mr. Wash- 
ford. Then he married and came to Effingham. 
After coming to this place he erected a brick 
store-building on Jefferson Street, the present 
site of tbe Willenborger shoe store, and there 
manufactured a fine grade of shoes, bis patrons 
coming from the most cultivated and particular 



families of this section. He was not only suc- 
cessful in business through his industry and in- 
tegrity, but was recognized as a man of intellect- 
ual capacity by his fellow citizens. They elected 
him a member of their City Council and relied on 
his advice and judgment in public matters. He 
was instrumental in building up the Protestant 
Lutheran Church, served as leader of the choir 
for years and was church organist from 1871 
until his death in 1877. He had eight children : 
Rosa, now Mrs. Sweeny, a widow, living at In- 
dianapolis, Ind.; Charles W. ; Augusta, wife of 
W. H. Whitsley, an engineer of the Vandalia 
Railroad, residing at Terre Haute, Ind.; Carrie, 
died in 18!XJ ; Gotlieb P.. is engineer and inspector 
of the Vandalia Railroad, and also lives in Terre 
Haute; Paul J., an engineer on the Vandalia 
Railroad residing at Terre Haute like his broth- 
ers ; Fred, wood carver, living at Indianapolis ; 
Emma, wife of Jacob Souson of Chicago. 

ilr. Noller was educated in the public schools 
of Effingham and also in German at the Lutheran 
school. In 1879 be began learning tbe barber's 
trade, and when he bad completed his appren- 
ticeship with George HoUiday, in October. 1880, 
opened a shop of his own. The young man had 
heavy responsiblities upon his shoulders, for he 
had to care for his widowed mother and sisters. 
His mother died in 1880 and ue still mourns her 
loss. 

On October 4. 1888. Mr. Noller married Anna 
Heemann, born in Germany in June, 1870. When 
Cincinnati, but finally came to Effingham Cbunty, 
•wuere she married. 

Since earliest lioyhood Mr. Noller has been 
fond of music, and is a player of the clarionet. 
From 1902 to 1905 be was director of the Elite 
Orchestra, which was called upon for first class 
music upon all public occasions. In 1905 be was 
forced to give his whole attention to bis busi- 
ness, which has grown astonishingly. Mr. Noller 
takes a pride in having eveiytbing thoroughly 
up to date in his place, and he controls a fine 
trade. 

^\lien the temperance cause began to be 
brought before the public so forcibly, Mr. Noller 
espoused it and has cast his influence in its favor. 
He is a man of exceedingly strong convictions, 
and knows how to back them up with good argu- 
ments, although recognizing the right of every 
man to choose for himself. Reared in the Lu- 
theran Church, in June, 1906, he was converted 
to the Catholic faith and united with St. An- 
tbon.v's Catholic Church, of which he is now one 
of the most honored members. He is a man 
thoroughly honest in his convictions and always 
ready to demonstrate their truth. 

NOLTE, Charles Lawrence. — The most admir- 
ble feature of life in the United States is the 
possibility offered lo all of its native torn citi- 
zens, without regard to wealth or inherited rank, 
to attain to any position, no matter how lofty. 
The most influential of our statesmen, the most 
successful of our manufacturers, merchants and 
bankers, in fact, our brilliant, conservative and 



830 



EFFIXGHAM COUNTY 



intelligeut nieu in viirious professions, are largely 
self-uiade, and are justly proud of the fact that 
thev owe all they possess to their own individual 
effo'rts. Charles Lawrence Nolte, Assistant Cash- 
ier of the First National Bank of Etfingham, is 
one of these men who has accomplished much 
through his native ahility, untiring effort and 
sound principles. Mr. Nolle was born in Effing- 
ham 111 August 5, 18U5, a son of Casper and 
Catherine (Bernhardt) Nolte, natives of Ger- 

"^The father was a cabinet-maker who came to 
America in 1838, when he was twenty years old, 
in a sailing vessel, sixty days being occupied in 
the voyage. Landing at New Orleans, and soon 
securing employment with the Little Rock & 
southern Railroad, Mr. Nolte was engineer on 
the run between Little Rock and St. Louis. Later 
he went into partnership with Patrick Donavan 
an architect, and the firm constructed a number 
of important business and ™sidence building. 
Mr Nolte remained in St. Louis until 1863. when 
he 'came to Effingham, and was there engaged 
in business as a builder and contractor unil 
^874, when he was elected a Justice of tbe Peace, 
and held that office until his death, which oc- 
curred J ulv 18, 1803. His widow still survives 
and makes'her'home with her -"• Charles Law- 
rence Nolte. A Democrat in politics, Casper 
Nolte was prominent and sen-ed «« a ■^ember^ ^^ 
the School Board for nine years, was Alderman 
from 1876 to 1878, and ^^^^^''^'■■■'l'^}''''^^^'^, 
civic improvement. A member ot St. Anthonys 
Catholic Church, he was very active in chuTch 
work and societies, and belonged to the Ameri- 
can Legion of Honor. 

Charles Lawrence Nolte attended St Anthony s 
Catholic school of Effingham, the pub ic schools 
of Effingbam, and later St. Joseph's Co lege at 
Teutopolis, 111., and then studied law with J. N. 
S for two years. For the following two 
vears he tauglit school in Cumberland County, 
and then for one year was a commercial trav- 
eler His next employment was as a clerk m 
Charles Scholl's dry-goods store for two years. 
For a short time he was on the railroad, when 
in 1886 he enterd Joseph Partridge's bank which 
ater was merged into the First National Bank 
iMr Nolte becoming its Assistant Cashier, which 
position he still retains. He has f "ed ^ .^^^P" 
uty Countv Treasurer, Secretary of the A^ ashmg- 
ton Building & Loan Association, and is now 
Treasurer of the Illinois Guarantee & Loan As- 
sociation. 

Mr Nolte is a Democrat and has been very 
prominent politically, being elected a member of 
the Effingham Citv School Board in 190b. which 
office he still retains. He has always taken a 
deep interest in fraternal matters and belongs 
to the Knights of Columbus, being present Grand 
Knight of his Council. Other fraternal organiza- 
tions with which he is associated include the 
Knights of Illinois, of which he was Supreme 
Treasurer for two terms; the Knights of Amer- 
ica being President of the local branch for five 
years Adjutant General of the Uniform ranks. 



and for four years Quartermaster General ; the 
Modern Americans, of which he has been Secre- 
tary since its organization, and has been Treas- 
urer for nine years. He is a member of St. An- 
thony's Catholic Church, and e.xceedingly active 
in all kinds of church work, as well as liberal in 
his donations towards the church. 

On June 11, 1880, Mr. Nolte was married in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, to Mary Elizabeth Boedker, a 
native of Cincinnati, bom March 18, 1865, daugh- 
ter of Herman H. and Caroline (Schumacker) 
Boedker, natives of Germany. Mr. Boedker was 
a Democrat, served as Alderman of Cincinnati, 
and was Pre.sident of the Sargeant Building As- 
sociation. The family came to Effingham in 1881, 
remained until 188.5, when they returned to Cin- 
cinnati, where the parents died. They were 
Catholics, air. and Mrs. Nolte have been the 
parents of three boys and one girl, three of whom 
are living : Edward, Cletus and Cordelia. 

Mr. Nolte takes a deep interest in the cause of 
education, and all that tends towards the ad- 
vancement of the moral, physical, or material 
vi'elfare of his community. He has done much to 
bring about desirable results, and being in the 
very prime of life, has a promising future before 
him. 

NORRIS, Stewart. — The manufacturing, finan- 
cial and industrial interests of any community 
are the source of great pride to its citizens, but 
it is to the farms that the country must event- 
ually tuni for its support, and in the hands of 
the agriculturists lie the [lossiblity of the coun- 
try's prosperity or depression. One of the suc- 
cessful farmers of Effingham County, 111., is 
Stewart Norris, of Section .5. llnion' Township, 
who was bom in Carroll County. Ohio. April 4, 
1845, a son of Solomon and Elizabth (Stewart) 
Norris, also natives of that county. 

Solomon Norris was born in 1821 and he fol- 
lowed farming in his native community until 
1864, when he moved to Effingham County, 111., 
settling in Jackson Township, where he pur- 
chased fifty acres of land, on which he resided 
until the death of his wife, in 1001. After that 
date he made his home with W. Z. Norris in 
Mason Township, until his own death, which oc- 
curred June .■?. 1000. He was married in 1841 
to Elizabeth Stewart, who was born in 1817. 
and they had a family of seven children, all of 
whom still survive, namely: Margaret, widow 
of James Graham, of Jackson County, Ohio ; one 
not named ; Stewart ; Judy, widow of James Da- 
vidson, of Shelby County, Solomon, living in Los 
Angeles. Cal. ; Delia, wife of Thornton Reynolds, 
a farmer of Clay County, III. ; and John, of Jack- 
son Township ;" and W. Z.. a farmer of Mason 
Township. 

Stewart Norris attended the schools of Jack- 
son Ohio, in his vouth and worked on the home 
farm until June. isR2. when he enlisted in Com- 
pany E. Eighty-seventh Regiment. Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, for three months' service, being mus- 
tered in at Columbus. The regiment was first 
sent to Baltimore, Md., and thence to Harper's 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



831 



Ferry, Va., and participated in the Battle of 
Antietam, under the command of General Miles. 
The Eightj'-seventh was captured by the enemy 
and paroled on the tield. and later was sent to 
Delaware, Ohio, where Mr. Xorris was mustered 
out, his time having expired. Mr. Norris then 
returned to his home In Ohio, and in 1863 came 
to Effingham County, .settling in Jackson Town- 
ship, where he engaged in farming with his 
father, also teaching school for one year. On 
January 27, 1870, he was married to Onia C. 
White, who was iKwn in Jackson Township, 
daughter of Jesse White, and after marriage 
rented a farm of IGO acres. From 1870 until 
1802 he rented land in Union and Jackson Town- 
ships, and in the latter year purcha.sed 100 acres 
in Section 5, on which at that time there was not 
a cultivated six)t large enough on which to plant 
a garden. He erected a two-story frame house, 
and at once began to clear away the heavy 
timber, and has since that time converted sev- 
enty-five acres of his property into fine, fertile 
crop-bearing land. He has devoted his atten- 
tion to farming and stock-raising and his efforts 
have met with unqualified success. A Democrat 
in politics, Mr. Norris has always been active in 
the ranks of his party, as have been his sons, 
but he has never been au office-seeker, although 
filling various township offices. He has been a 
kind and liberal father, giving his children ex- 
cellent educational advantages, and is well known 
and highly respected throughout his part of the 
county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Norris have had the following 
childTen ; William F., who married Minnie 
Henry ; Oscar, who died in 1897 ; Delia, the wife 
of .Tohn M. Gwinn ; J. M., a brakeman on the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad ; Flora C. wife of Fred 
Percival ; Olan J. and Herbert, employes on the 
Illinois Central Railroad; Erasmus M.. a farmer 
of Watson Township ; Grover C, formerly a 
school teacher and n-ow in business on the Rural 
Free Delivery Route out of Mason, 111. ; Flor- 
ence, at home ; and Winnie Beatrice, also living 
with her parents. 

NUXOLL, Barney, one of the most successful 
farmers and dairymen of Effingham County, re- 
sides on his well-developed farm in Section 27, 
Douglas Township. He was born on his farm. 
May 17. 1856, a son of the late H. H. Nuxoll and 
Bernadina (Aumann) Nuxoll. both natives of 
Germany. H. H. Nuxoll was one of the bright- 
est and most successful Gei man-American citi- 
zens Effingham County has ever known, and the 
fact that he was known as "Squire" Nuxoll. 
gives some idea of the high estimation in which 
he was held by his neighbors. 

H. H. Nuxoll was born March 29, 1829, and 
during his long and useful life never wronged 
anyone or willingly took a cent he had not hon- 
estly earned. Upon coming to .\merica he lo- 
cated first in Cincinnati. Ohio, where he en- 
gaged in the lumber business, and was there mar- 
ried. In time he became one of the leading lum- 
ber merchants of Cincinnati, and there, as he 



afterwards did in Effingham, he established a 
wide-spread Teputatiou for his sterling honesty. 
In 1855 he sold his interests in Cincinnati and 
coming to Effingham County, bought eighty acres 
of laud (now the home of his son Barney), 
which he developed into a beautiful farm. His 
neighbors, rec-ogniziug his ability and sense of 
justice, elected him Justice of the I'eace, and he 
held that office for a quarter of a century, im- 
partially administering justice. As he was an 
educated man, among those less favored he was 
called uiwn to settle estates, write wills and 
attend to a great deal of legal business. For al! 
this he would never accept recompense for his 
work, gladly assisting his friends. Some of the 
wills he drew up were contested, but were so 
well drawn up they stood in the courts, for he 
well understood the laws of common justice. He 
was a man of the kindest heart, was ever ready 
to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate, 
and all through this part of the State was recog- 
nized as one of the best friends the people ever 
had. 

Mr. Nuxoll loved his native land but also gave 
his devotion to the country of his adoption, which 
he felt had so kindly used the young emigrant 
lad who landed without a cent. Others knew it 
was his inherent traits of character, kindly deeds 
and foTgetfulness of self, that made the adopted 
country appear such a land of promise to him. 
His first purchase of eighty acres expanded into 
many more, so that at the time of his death he 
owned 10,020 acres, and most of it was well im- 
proved. While often solicited to accept public 
office, he always refused, except in the case of 
that of Justice of the Peace, and he took the du- 
ties of that position upon his shoulders more to 
be of benefit to his neighbors and friends than to 
receive honor him.self. 

In 1895 Mr. Nuxoll went to Idaho, and lived 
there nine years, looking after his landed inter- 
ests. He was fond of drawing up maps, and 
these were so accurate they could always be de- 
I^ended upon. His health failing in Idaho, he 
went to St. Louis, and finally died there, Feb- 
ruary 14. 1904, at the Alexander Hospital, and 
his remains are interred in Green Creek Ceme- 
tery, Effingham County, beside those of his wife, 
who had passed away in 1877. His second wife 
was Mrs. Gerhard Ditters, whom he married Feb- 
ruary 29, 1888, and she died February 22. 1894. 
By his first marriage Mr. Nuxoll had the follow- 
ing children : Mary, wife of .John Uhlon, a farm- 
er of Idaho County, Idaho ; Ferdinand ; Cather- 
ine, wife of John Greenloh, a farmer of Douglas 
Township ; Barney : Christina, wife of Joseph 
Niemann, a farmer of Cumberland County. 111. ; 
Henry H.. a banker of Cottonwood. Idaho ; 
Frank, a farmer and stockman, of Green Creek. 
Idaho : John. Joseph, and Anton, farmers in 
Idaho County, Idaho : Dena. wife of Joseph I. 
Smidt. By the second wife he had a son. Wil- 
liam, who is a f.anner at Cottonwood, Idaho. 

Henry H. Ni:xolI was the first married man 
to go to Idaho Ctounty. Idaho, and afterwards a 
colony settled there, composed of people from 



832 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Douglas and Teutopolis townships. H. H. Nux- 
oU drew up a map of the new county and indi- 
cated the most desirable portions. Each home- 
seeker paid $20 to defray expenses, and then se- 
lected the land desired. 

Banaey Nuxoll was brought up in Douglas 
Township, and being the eldest child, began when 
a mere lad to help his father, but at the same 
time he was given all the educational advan- 
tages afforded by the district schools, and his 
father assisted him in his lessons. As the father 
had been a teacher in young manhood he under- 
stood how to impart his knowledge and the lad 
learned rapidly. As each one of the children 
grew up the father gave him or her a good 
farm but as Barney a-emained at home his share 
was the original eighty acres. He now owns 200 
acres of rich, well-improved land. 

On March 22, 18S1, Mr. Nuxoll married Sophia 
Waldmann, born in St. Clair County, 111., No- 
vember 1 ISOO. They became parents of ten 
children, two of whom died in infancy: Henry, 
born December 30. 1881, married Catherine Dust, 
and is a farmer of Douglas Township ; Christina, 
bom December 3, 1883, married Joseph Har- 
mann a farmer of Douglas Township ; Catherine, 
born '\pril 22, 1880. married Joseph Dust, a 
farmer and dairyman of Douglas Township; 
Anna. Joseph, George, Gertrude and Adolph, at 
home. All were born in Douglas Township. For 
over half a ceutuiT >Ir. Nuxoll has been identi- 
fied with the best interests of his locality, and 
has alwavs been interested in church and school 
work He is a Democrat, but while active in 
Dart%- interests, has refused to accept public 
office although a member of the Democratic 
Countv Centi-al Committee. All the family are 
members of the Green Creek Catholic Church. 

O'DONNELL, Michael.— Effingham County has 
some of the most learned members of both Bar 
and Bench to be found in the State of Illinois 
who are intimately engaged in some of tlie most 
important jurisprudence in county and State. 
One of the men who has attracted considerable 
attention to his career both as lawyer and judge 
is Michael O'Donnell. of Effingham, who was 
bora in West Township, Effingham County, May 
'>& 1868 a son of Michael O'Donnell. of Limer- 
Tck Ireland, and Maria (Brogau) O'Donnell, of 
Ro^mmon, Ireland. The parents were farm- 

^''judge O'Donnell was educated in the public 
schools of his locality, and became a telegrapher. 
TTntil 18SS he resided on a farm near Edgewooa, 
Effingham County, but June 1 of that year 
moved to Effingham, to enter the employ of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, as manager of the tele- 
graph office. While faithfully discharging his 
duties Mr. O'Donnell studied law and was ad- 
mitted to the Bar in 1896. His preceptor was 
Judge William B. Wright, of Effingham, for many 
venrs a prominent jurist of the county. 
" On Februarv 1. 180.5. Judge O'Donnell resigned 
his position to accept that of Deputy County 
Clerk which he held until December 1, lOOC. In 



November, 1906, he was elected Judge of Effing- 
ham County, on the Democratic ticket, which im- 
Ijortaut office he still holds. He is a member of 
the Order of Railroad Telegi-aphers and Knights 
of Columbus, sen-ing in the latter order four 
terms as Grand Knight of Effingham Council 
No. 665, and being at present District Deputy. 
In religious faith he is a Catholic, being a mem- 
ber of Sacred Heart Church, Parish Effingham, 
111. In politics Judge O'Donnell is a Democrat, 
and has been an efficient woiker for his party. 

On November 11, 1886, at Edgewood, 111., Judge 
O'Donnell married Evaline Baker, who was born 
in Clay County, 111., Febi-uai-y 8, 1871. Five 
children have been born to Judge and Mrs. 
O'Donnell, namely: John, aged twenty-one; 
May, aged eighteen ; Michael, aged sixteen ; Jo- 
seph, aged twelve, and Evaline, aged four. 

Judge O'Donnell is one of the most able jurists 
on the Bench and his work is such as to com- 
mand the admiration of the entire legal profes- 
sion. In the prime of life, with many yeare of 
u.seful activity stretching out before him, it is 
safe to say that Judge O'Donnell has not finished 
his work for the betterment of humanity, en- 
forcement of law and maintenance of order, for 
there is no doubt that the greater part of it is 
.still to be done, notwithstanding what he has 
already accomplished. Men oi his calibre do not 
stand still but steadily advance, and the people, 
appreciating his ability, his conscientious per- 
formance of duty and his wonderful legal acu- 
men, will call uixni him to 'represent them in 
higher offices than he has yet filled. The coun- 
try has need of the services of loyal men. In 
these days of corruption it is refreshing to meet 
a man who is above personal considerations ; one 
who is honestly and faithfully doing what he 
knows to be his duty, without first asking how 
it will affect his own interests. 

OLIVER, 'William, Sr.— In naming the highly 
respected citizens of Effingham County, many 
old soldiers of the Civil War are to be found, 
and it is also noted that those who fought in 
their country's defense made good citizens in 
times of peace, as they had made good soldiers 
in time of war. One of the veterans of that 
great struggle, who is now living retired after 
a number, of years spent in agricultural pursuits, 
is William Oliver, of Altamont, who was born 
near Millerstowu, Lebanon County, Pa., March 
27, 1831, a son of Nathan Nelson Oliver. 

Nathan Oliver was born in England, and when 
two years old his parents emigrated to America 
and settled in Lancaster C\)unty, Pa. Soon 
thereafter the mother died, and when seven 
years of age Nathan Oliver was put out among 
[strangers, and never saw his father afterwards. 
He was given a limited education, after which 
he fii-st worked as a distiller. His father was 
a soldier in the War of 1812. for his services dur- 
ing which he was given 160 acres of land in Mis- 
souri. Later he took up a farm in Center 
County, Pa., and there his death occurred, his 
widow' surviving for some years and dying at 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



833 



tbe home of a daughter, in Altamont. They 
were members of the Evaugellcal Church, and 
the parents of the following children : Jacob and 
John, who died in Effingham County ; Sally, mar- 
ried John Stover who was killed in the Battle of 
Spottsylvania, his wife dying in Altamont; 
Henry, who died in Effingham County ; William ; 
Jeremiah, who died at Stillwater, OUla. ; Mary 
Ann, who married William Schoenfleld of Alta- 
mont ; Rosa, who married Michael Bower, of 
Altamont ; and Irwin, who died in Moccasin 
Township. 

William Oliver started in his educational 
course by attending the subscription schools of 
Lebanon County, Pa., but later removed to Cen- 
ter County, that State, where he completed his 
education. He then worked on the land of neigh- 
boring farmers until October 13, 18.53, when he 
was maiTied in Center Ctounty to Sarah Rissel, 
born in that county April 7, 1833, the daughter 
of James and Elizabeth (Raven) Rissell. After 
his marriage, Mr. Oliver worked as a mason and 
bricklayer for twenty-two years in Pennsylvania 
and Illinois. 

During the Civil War Mr. Oliver enlisted in 
Company D, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to serve 
three years as a private from Center County, 
under Capt. Scott, and Cols. Ray Stone, Walton 
Dwight and John Irwin. This was one of the 
famous "Bucktail" regiments, and belonged to 
Doubleday's Division, First Corps, with which 
it participated in seventeen prominent battles 
and was present at tw'o others. Its total loss of 
killed and wounded was 613, sixty of its mem- 
bers dying in Confederate prisons. At Gettys- 
burg the One Hundred and Forty-ninth took a 
prominent and meritorious part in the battle of 
the first day, in which Ctol. Stone and Lieut.-Col. 
Dwight were seriously wounded, and at the bat- 
tle of the Wilderness, the regiment had eleven 
killed, 109 wounded and eight>--five missing. In 
February, 1865, they were ordered to Elmira, 
remaining at the prison camp until tbe close of 
the war. Mr. Oliver perfonned bis full share Jis 
a soldier, always brave, faithful and cheerful in 
the performance of bis duties. His war record 
will stand comparison with tho.se of any other 
old soldier. .\t the close of tbe war he returned 
to his home in Pennsylvania, where he was en- 
gaged in farming until 1868. when, coming to 
Illinois, he purchased a farm on Section 10. 
Mound Township, and erected on it a two-story 
log-house, with two rooms on each story, said by 
many to he the finest log-house in the county. 
He continued farming until 1905, when renting 
his farm he retired to the city of Altamont. 
where he has since been a substantial and pub- 
lic-spirited citizen. He is a member of Robert 
Anderson G. A. R. Post, No. 632, Altamont, of 
which he has been twice Commander and is now 
serving as Chaplain. He is a faithful member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in po- 
litical matters Is a Republican. 

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have been married for 
more than fifty-six years, and are one of the 



best known and most beloved couples in their 
locality, enjoying the high esteem and regard of 
all who know them. They have been the par- 
ents of the following children : Addle, born July 
0, 1854, died March 18, 1855 ; Agnes, born Octo- 
ber 16. 1S55, died December 20, 1855 ; Adam H., 
born December 29 1861, was educated in the pub- 
lie schools and graduating in medicine at St. 
Louis, Mo., began his practice at Glen Carbon, 
Madison County, III., from whence he went to 
Edwardsville, and there married Effle I'ates, 
by whom he has two children — Ila and Olga ; 
Elizabeth, bom May 15, 1866, died when seven- 
teen years old, and was the flrat one to be 
buried in the Union Cemetery at Altamont ; 
William K., of Clevelaind, Ohio, married May 
Both, March 5, 1009 ; and Sadie, who married 
Charles Steannau, of Stone Bluff, Ind. 

OSTENDORF, Rev. Francis J., priest-in-charge 
of St. Maiy's Catholic Church of Green Creek, 
is one of the intelligent exponents of his faith 
in Effingham C-aunty. Father Ostendorf was 
born in Effingham March 7, 1876, a son of Joseph 
and Rosa (Zank) Ostendorf. At the time of his 
birth his parents were residents of the State of 
Indiana, not removing to Illinois until 1880, 
when they settled in Newton, 111. 

The primary education of Father Ostendorf 
was secured in the parocliial school of Newton, 
which he attended from 1881 to 1889. In the 
latter year he entered St. Joseph's College of 
Teutopolis and pursued his studies there until 
1894, when he left to further continue them at 
Kenrtck Seminary, St. Louis, where he re- 
mained until 1899. On June 9, of the last named 
year, he was ordained a priest in Keuriek Semi- 
nary, and was appointed by his Bishop, the 
Right Rev. James R.van, Bishop of Alton, as.sist- 
ant rector of St. Anthony's Catholic Church of 
Effingham. He thus returned to the city of his 
birth in 1S99, and continued there until his ap- 
pointment as rector of St. Mary's Church of 
Green Creek, on July 1, 1903. Since that date 
be has coutinjied to administer the affairs or 
this parish, and has succeeded in accomplishing 
much in both a material and spiritual way. 

Father Ostendorf is not only a learned and 
zealous priest, but is an excellent business man 
and understands how to direct tbe affairs of his 
church as to insure financial prosperity. His 
kindly, sympathetic nature has won many 
friends for him among his people who honor 
and revere him. Among scholars Father Osten- 
dorf ranks high, for be is an earnest student and 
carefully read man who keeps himself well 
posted upon current affairs. 

OTT, Wilhelm. — ^Farming is a business that has 
always paid well in Effingham County and peo- 
ple have been attracted to this locality from 
other parts of the country because of tbe fertile 
soil and excellent climatic conditions. One of 
the older farmers, and respected residents of 
Mound Town.ship is Wilhelm Ott, who has been 
here since 1S72, having come to this locality from 



834 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Cook County, III. He was born in Prussia, Ger- 
many, March 25, 18;S4, a sou of Peter and Hen- 
rietta Ott, natives of Germauy, where the mother 
passed away, the father dying in Cook County, 

Until he was fourteen years old, Wilhelm Ott 
went to school, and then was hired out to work 
on a farm. He served three yeare and three 
months in the German army, and then in 1863, 
with his wife and two children, sailed from 
Bremen, and landed in Quebec. Canada, after a 
voyage of five weeks in a sailing vessel. From 
Quebec the family came direct to Chicago, where 
Jlr. Ott went to work as a section hand on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, being 
emploved in its construction for three years. 
Following this, he lived for four years in Cook 
Countv, renting land. The day of the great fire 
he was in Chicago, having hauled in some prod- 
uce, and has a vivid recollection of that excit- 
ing event. 

In Febniarv. 1872. he decided to make a 
change, and came to Effingham County, buymg 
seventv-two acres of land in Bishop Township. 
The pi-opertv had a log house on it and it was 
the family liome until two years later, when he 
hullt a more commodious one. Later he added 
to his holdings, until when he sold the farm in 
February. 1906, he owned 1"5 acres. In Feb- 
ruary 1907, he bought his present farm, which 
first "consisted of seventy-five acres, but is now 
100 in extent. Mr. Ott began his life struggle 
without a cent. He borrowetl .$100 from his 
wife's uncle to make the trip to America and 
this he paid back faithfully from his earnings in 
railroad work. Mr. Ott and his wife belong to 
the Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a 
strong Democrat. In 1859 he was married in 
Germany to Miss Henriette Holts, daughter of 
Henry "and Christina (Futhbrechtel) Holts. 
Their children are as follows : Herman, of Mis- 
souri ; Bertha, later Mrs. Fred Boners, but 
now deceased; Albert, died at the age of nine 
years; Lena, now Mrs. Fred Kopp. of Sigel, 
ill. : and William, at home. 

Mr Ott feels satisfied with the success which 
has rewarded his labors. Coming here in early 
life i^Tiorant of the language and in debt, he 
managed to rear his family and accumulate a 
fair competency, he later won for himself a rea- 
sonable success and a well-deserved reputation 
for honesty and Integrity. 

OVERBECK, Barney.— The appeal of the soil 
is verv strong to some men. who return to farm- 
ing as a means of livelihood after years spent m 
other pursuits, l>elieving it the best occupation a 
man can follow. Barney Overbeck. after years 
of successful operations, has settled down on his 
rich farm adioining the city limits of Effinghnm, 
111 and is giving his attention to the breeding 
of stock of registered grades. Mr. Overbeck 
was bom in St, Francis Township. Effingham 
Countv November 27. 1850. son of George and 
Elizabeth (Berghause) Overbeck, both born in 
Hanover Germanr. in 1806 and 1814, respec- 



tively. They were married in Germany, in 1838, 
and in September, 1845, they embarked on a sail- 
ing vessel at Bremen Haven for the United 
States, and spent fourteen weeks on the ocean. 
They landed in New Orleans, In January, 1846, 
and thence went via boat to Cincinnati, Ohio. 
They remained there a short time and then came 
overland to St. Francis Township, Effingham 
County. The father died in June, 1873, but his 
widow survived until 1908, being at the time of 
her death the oldest person in the county. 

Barney Overbeck attended the schools of Teu- 
topolis. 111., and learned the shoemaker trade, 
at which he worked until he was nineteen, when 
he went West and traveled and worked in Kan- 
sas, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri. He returned 
home the year of his father's death, and visited 
his friends and relatives, but again went West 
and was in business at Baxter Springs. Kan., and 
Joplin, Mo. In 1875 he came back to Effingham 
County, which place has since been his home. 
In 1876 he was elected Constable, and began 
reading law with B. F. Kagay, Sr. Since then 
he has filled many offices of trust and responsi- 
bility, including those of Chief of the Effingham 
Fire Department. Deputy Sheriff, Tax Ctollector, 
Assessor, and in 1886 was elected Sheriff of Ef- 
fingham County, which office he filled with 
credit to himself, and to the saitsfaction of the 
people. During all this time he continued his 
law studies, and at the end of his term of Sheriff 
continued in the office of Judge Rufns C. Har- 
rah. and was admitted to the Bar in 1891, and 
began practicing in Effingham. He now resides 
on his farm and is a thoroughly up-to-date auc- 
tioneer. There Is scarcely an International Auc- 
tioneers' Convention held in which he is not 
called upon to occupy a place on the program. 
Mr. Overbeck has always been an enthsuiastic 
Democrat, and has prominently supported all 
public measures that he believed would benefit 
the people he served. He is a member of Branch 
No. 58, Catholic Knights of Illinois, and a mem- 
ber of the State and International Auctioneers' 
Associations. In religious faith he is a Roman 
Catholic. 

On September 23, 1879, Mr. Overbeck married, 
at Effingham. 111., Maggie M. Bushue. born in 
Somerset. Ojliio. April 11, 1862. dsiug(hter of 
Michael and Barbara Bushue. natives of Ohio, 
who moved to Effingham County in 1865. 

Mr. Overbeck is one of the most geni.al of men. 
ready with story or joke upon every occasion, 
and his services^ both as an attorney and auc- 
tioneer, are always in demand. He has friends 
all over the county, whom he entertains royally 
at his delightful home, and is a power politically, 
being recosnized not only in the county, hut in 
State politics as well. 

OVERBECK, Dick.— Farming has drawn out 
the best efforts of some of the leading men of 
Effingham County and developed their abilities. 
Through their endeavors in an agricultural line 
thev have become well-to-do and prominent in 
their communities. Such a man Is Dick Over- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



835 



beck of St. Francis Township, boru in Hauover, 
Vieruumy, DecemLier 10, iS-tv, a sou ot Barney 
Ueruart UverUecli, a sketch ot whom appears 
eibewuere iu this work. When Ave years old, in 
1S45, he was brought by his parents to Etfinghaui 
county, 111., locating on the larm now owned by 
Jir. uverOeck, and tuis has always been his home 
since his parents came to Illinois. 

Ou JSovember i), ISUy, Dick Overbeck married 
Anuie Putter, born iu Cincinnati, April 11.', 1S19, 
a daughter ot lleury and Adeline (,Wilp) i'utter, 
both natives of Germany, where they were mar- 
ried. They came to the United States about 
IMU, locating iu Cincinnati, which was their 
home until ISoli, when removal was made to Kf- 
tiugham County. Here the father bought a farm 
and lived upon it until his demise iu 1S55. His 
wite survived, later marrying Henry Xandick, 
who also died. She passed away in lyOl, and all 
are buried in the cemetery at Teutopolis. Jlr. 
and Mrs. Putter had three children who grew to 
maturity, and of these Mrs. Overbeck was the 
eldest. 

When Mr. and Mrs. Overbeck married they 
settled on the home farm, aud this has been their 
residence ever since. They became the parents 
of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, 
although ouly five still survive : Lizzie, Annie 
and Barney, alive ; Harmon, Clemmy, Johnny, 
hienrj- and Minnie, deceased; aud Ferdie aud 
Carrie, still living. 

Mr. Overbeck is a Democrat, but has never 
taken a very active part in local matters. He 
has served as Road Commissioner, Pathmaster 
and School Director, several terms iu each ix)si- 
tion. His education was a limited one aud this 
makes him very anxious to secure good ones 
for the children of his district. He and his fam- 
ily are members of the San Franciscan Catholic 
Church at Teutopolis, aud they are very much 
interested in its good work. 

All his life Mr. Overbeck has worked hard, 
never shirking any duty, and giving to each oc- 
cupation his careful atteution. For this reason 
he now is a wealthy man, lives Iu a comfortable 
home, and can gratify his taste for comfort and 
enjoyment. In addition to his fanning activities, 
earlier in life Mr. Overbeck operated a thresh- 
ing machine for ten years. He holds the full 
confidence and esteem of his neighbors, and 
what he is able to do among them in the way 
of influencing public opiuion in the right direc- 
tion, he feels to be his duty. 

PARKER, Col. Harry S., attorney-at-law at 
Elfinghani. 111., was born at Parkersburg, Rich- 
land County, in the same State, January 3, 1871, 
the place having been named in honor of his 
grandfather, a man of sterling character and 
public spirit. His parents were Thomas and 
Emma E. (Moore) Parker, the former a native 
of Illinois and the latter of Kentucky. The 
maternal grandparents started for Effingham 
County with their ten children, but on the way 
the father sickened and died and thus early the 
mother of Colonel Parker was brought face to 



face with the sorrows and hardships which were 
fretjueutly her lot in later life. In spite of all she 
still survives, and is not only the object of her 
son's adoration, but is admired aud beloved by 
all who know her. She is a lady possessing the 
hospitality of her Southern ancestry, together 
with the other lovable traits and characteristics 
which so often adorn the gentler sex whose birth 
has been under Southern skies. She was the 
mother of two sons, one of whom died in in- 
fancy, but the other has survived to be an hon- 
ored citizen, both in public and private life 

Harry s. Parker is a .self-made man. His 
mother brought him to Effingham in ls7'> and 
took up her residence with her brother the late 
Samuel Moore, with whom she resided until his 
death The child grew to boyhood and started 
to school, where he continued until he was 
twelve years old and then gladly accepted a posi- 

Railroad \ards, aud was so faithful and efficient 
m his service that by the time he was tifteen 
years old he was made Yard Clerk. His salary 
of hfteeu dollars a month, all paid in silver 
dollars looked large to the boy and was earned 
by hard work. At that time J. P. Haselton was 
Station Agent and Yard Master and he fre- 
quently gave the ambitious lad a helping hand 
At the age of fifteen years Mr. Parker wfnt into 
the round house and machine shop where he 
worked until twenty-one, during a part of the 

Prp*"./'".!,"*^!;,'' '"^''* ^'■''°°'' ^^'J '° ^^'^ ^••■'y mas- 
Germa common branches and studied 

In 1802 Jlr. Parker left the railroad and went 
to Chicago, his object being to study law \8 
he was obliged to provide for his own support he 
became a collector, worked on a salary during 
the day and attended the Kent Law School at 
night, c-ontinuing thus for one vear After re- 
turning home he entered the law office of Wood 
Brothers, also took a course in Austin Colle-'e 
and continued his studies and self-supporting 
work until 1890. when he was admitted to the 
Bar. He remained for one year with Wood 
Brothers, but in 1807 opened an office of his 
own and had enjoyed some professional success 
when the Spanish-American War was precipi- 
tated. At this time he was Adjutant of the 
Fourth Illinois National Guard. He went to 
Springfield and enlisted in the Fourth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry. In May, 1S98. this regi- 
ment was ordered to Tampa. Fla., but their des- 
tination changed to Jacksonville, Fla. On June 
9. 1898, Adjutant Parker was sent back to Illi- 
nois to open a recruiting office, with headquar- 
ters at Effingham, and was very successful in 
his efforts, being able to organize four compa- 
nies. He was then sent back to Jacksonville and 
was then detailed as Acting Assistant Adjutant- 
General of the Second Brigade, Secventh Army 
Corps, and on August 8, 1898. was detailed as 
.\cting Assistant -idjutant-General of the Second 
Brigade. Third Division. Seventh Army Corps, 
under Gen. Barkley, and continued until Novem- 
ber 2.^. 1898. when he returned to his regiment 



836 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



and was then sent to Springfield and Mattoon on 
recruiting service, after whiich he rejiorted to 
his regiment at Savannah, Ga. January 3, 1S99, 
he sailed from Savannah for Havana, Cuba, with 
his regiment, on board the United States Trans- 
port "Mobile." The command was located alx)ut 
five miles out of the cit.v. In the following April 
he left Cuba on tue steamer "Whitnej-," tor Eg- 
mont Key. B'la., was quarantined there until the 
middle of the month, finally readied camp near 
Augusta, Ga.. and on May ::. ISl'J, the Fourth 
Regiment was mustered out and Col. Parker re- 
turned home. He there resumed the practice 
of his profession in which he has been more 
than usually successful. He has been identified 
with a number of important cases of litigation 
which have brought out his legal talents and his 
profound knowledge of law and jurisprudence. 

On September 19, IStO, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mary Stuart Rice, who was bom 
at Altamout, HI., a daughter of Dr. S. S. Rice, 
who was for many years a prominent physician 
there. Col. and Mrs. Parker have two children : 
Maurece, bom October 23, 1898. and Howard S., 
born December 21. 1903. In politics he has al- 
ways been an active supporter of the Republican 
party and during campaigns is one of the most 
forcible speakers for the cause. With his wife 
he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He 
is identified with several leading fraternal and 
beneficiary organizations. 

We give below copv of a letter received from 
Col Parker in 1901, from the Headquarters of 
the Mounted Battalion, Porto Rico Regiment, 
United States Volunteer Infantry : 

•'Henry Barracks, P. R., February 18, 1901. 
"The Adjutant General, U. S. A., 
Washington. D. C. 
"Sir • I have the honor to recommend for ap- 
pointment to a commission in the Porto Rico 
Regiment Harry S. Parker, of Ettingham. Illi- 
nois Mr. Parker was Adjutant of the Fourth 
Illinois Volunteers under my command. He also 
served as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of 
a Brigade of the Seventh Army Corps. He was 
recommended by General G. W. Davis for First 
Lieutenantcv in the first list of appointments to 
the Mounted Battalion of the Porto Rico Regi- 
men, but declined on account of business reasons 
He is one of the best Volunteer oflicers whom I 
know. 

"Very respectfully, 

"Eben Swift, 
"Major, Porto Rico Reg't, U. S. V. I.. 

"Commanding Mounted Battalion. 

PARKER, James A., one of the best known 
financiers of EftingUam County, is thoroughly con- 
versant with the banking business, and during 
his incumbency as Cashier of the Merchants' 
and Farmers' Bank, at Dieterich. which was 
converted into the First National Bank, Novem- 
ber 17, 1909. he has made an enviable reputation 
as a tjusiness man of sound judgment and un- 
questioned Integrity. He was born January 3. 
1875, at Lane, Dewltt County, 111., the son of 



David and Ellen (Lane) Parker, and grandson 
of Tillman Lane, after whom the town of Lane 
was named. David Parker is one of the leading 
farmers and stock-raisers of his part of the 
county and is now living on the home farm, on 
which James A. was born. His wife died about 
1883, having been the mother of five children : 
a daughter, who became the wife of R. T. Gray, 
but is now deceased ; Nathan ; Noble and Ira, 
who are on the home farm ; and James A. 

James A. Parker was reared on the home 
farm and rec«ived a common school education. 
At the age of seventeen years he went to St 
Louis, Mo., where he learned telegraphy in the 
Southwestern Telegraphic School, after which 
he accepted a iwsitioii with the Illinois Central 
Railroad, working at different points in that 
company's system, and while living in Vermilion 
County, 111., was twice elected Tax Collec"tor of 
Potomac, in that c-ounty. In 1903 he accepted 
the iX)sition of Cashier of the Merchants' and 
Farmers' Bank, at Dieterich. In 1901. when 
this bank was first established, H. C. Baldwin 
was Cashier, but in 1!X)2 it was reorganized un- 
der the presevt name, by a company of busine.ss 
men, and the officers elected were: A. T. Col- 
lison. President ; A. C. Grays, Vice President ; 
James A. Parker, Ciishier. This bank has a cap- 
ital of $10,000 and a backing of $200,000, and 
does business with some of the largest institu- 
tions in the State. In addition to being a careful 
and conservative banker. Mr. Parker has proved 
himself a citizen who always has the interest of 
his community at heart, and as a man of high 
moral character and recognized worth. He is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and is .seiTing as Superintendent of the Sunday 
School. In political matters he is a stanch Re- 
publican and has always taken an active interest 
in the success of his party. With his interest- 
ing faniil.v he resides in a beautiful residence in 
Dieterich. He is prominent in fraternal mat- 
ters, being socially connected with the Modern 
Woodmen of America. 

On October 11. 1899. Mr. Parker was married 
to Miss Ollle Crays. daughter of G. M. Grays, 
and sister of A. C. Grays. Vice President of the 
bank with which Mr. Parker Is connected. 
Three children have been born to this union : 
Emil. born August 18, 1900; Eugene, bom July 
21, 1903; and James A., born January 20, 1906. 

PARKS, Harmon B. — One of the most progress- 
sive business houses of Altamont. 111., is that of 
"The Real Estate Leaders." Messrs. Parks & 
Thomas, organized in 1905. by Harmon B. Parks, 
wliicli has since grown steadil.y in popularity 
and the amount of its business. Mr. Parks was 
born in Loy Prarie. Watson Township, Efling- 
hain Count.v. 111.. August 25. 1873. a son of 
David M. and Martha A. (Davidson) Parks. 
The Parks family came originally from the 
North of Ireland settling first in Virsinia and 
later In Ohio. The Davidsons were Pennsylva- 
nlans and removed thence to Kentuckv and later 
to Illinois. David M. Parks was born in Ohio 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



837 



and coming to Illinois in tlie early 'forties, set- 
tled in Effingham County, where he lived until 
his death in 1SS4, when fifty years old. His 
■ft-idovv still survives, being now seventj--nine 
years old. Mr. Parks was a soldier during the 
Civil War and spent most of his life in agricul- 
tural pursuits. His children were : James W., 
David L., Lawrence E., Rosetta N., Elizabeth A., 
Samuel S., Nellie and Harmon B. 

Harmon B. Parks was two years of age when 
his family located on a farm in Mason Town- 
ship, and there he resided until seventeen years 
old, his early education being secured in the pub- 
lic schools. He then went to Colorado where, 
with a c-ousin, J. L. McGee, he engaged in the 
portrait business, following it for eighteen 
months, when he decided to enter the High 
School at Rockville, Mo., and later entered the 
Normal School at Warrensburg. On completing 
his studies he again entered the portrait field at 
Hannibal, Mo., where he built up a large busi- 
ness, but in ISiM sold out and began a similar 
business at Pittsfleld, 111. At the end of a year 
he sold this business and located in Springfield, 
purchasing the business of the Illinois Potrait 
Company, which he managed eighteen months 
when he sold out in 1896, to return to Effingham 
County. He later accepted a position as trav- 
eling salesman for the Dayton Grocery Company, 
in which capacity he worked two years. He 
then engaged in mercantile business at Effing- 
ham and Robertson, but selling out iu 1902 en- 
gaged in the line of real estate at Duncansville 
and Strasburg. III., whence he moved to Altamont, 
and in 1905 founded the firm of Parks & Thomas. 
We quote from one of Altamont's papers, which 
in an article concerning this progressive firm 
says, in part : "It was during the summer of 
190.5 that Harmon B. Parks decided to enter the 
real estate business at this place. He secured 
office rooms over Pickett's hardware store and 
entered upon his work with enthusiasm and hope. 
It was not long, however, until he saw the need 
of a good, active helper, and thus it was that 
James Thomas began his career as a real estate 
man, the new firm being Parks & Thomas. These 
gentlemen handle all Icinds of real estate, mer- 
chandise, etc. Each member jwssesses an abun- 
dance of tact and energy, and each is a splendid 
.iudge of real estate values. For over two years 
Parks & Thomas have been quartered in their 
own building on Railroad Street. From the be- 
ginning thev have styled themselves 'Tlie Real 
Estate Leaders,' a title which they have right- 
fullv earned." 

In addition to his residence and other property 
in Altamont. Mr. Parks is the owner of the old 
homestead farm of 100 acres in Mason Township, 
wliich he purchased in 180,S. He is a Mason fra- 
ternally and also belongs to the Odd Fellows, 
the M.'iccahees. the Tribe of Ben Hur and the 
American Yeomen. He is a stanch Democrat in 
politics and his religious beliefs are in accord 
with the First Presbyterian Church. 

January 20. TWO. Mr. Parks was married, at 
Strasburg, 111., to Sarah E. Renshaw, daughter 



of James and Jane (Frizzell) Renshaw. Three 
sons have been born to this union : Merle E., 
Floyd M. and Ralph N., aged eight, five and 
three years, respectively. 

PFENNINGER, Werner Michael.— Some of the 
best farmers of Effingham County have come 
back to the soil after other business ventures, 
being persuaded that in agriculture is the most 
money obtained by those who know how to till 
the land. Werner Michael Pfenninger, of Sec- 
tion 29, West Township, belongs to this class of 
progressive farmers, and finds that his former 
e.Yperiences are of assistance to him in his pres- 
ent work. He was bom July 19, lSi9. in Perry- 
ville. Perry County, Mo., being the fifth child 
and youngest son of Casper and Julia (Negle) 
Pfenninger, a sketch of whom apijears elsewhere 
in this work. 

When Werner Michael Pfenninger was but 
seven years old. he had the misfortune to lose 
his father. Two years later his widowed mother 
took him and her one other surviving child to 
Highland, Madison County, 111., where the lad 
continued his studies in the public school until 
he was fifteen. By this time he was ambitious 
to earn his own living and began working as a 
clerk in the general store of Charles Kenney & 
Co. of Highland. Two years later he began 
learning the harness trade, and worked at it 
for three years as an apprentice. Following this 
he went to St. Louis and obtained employment 
with the wholesale harness factory of J. O. 
Ford C& Co. as a journeyman, remaining with 
them for eighteen months. Leaving this concern. 
Mr. Pfenninger returned to his boyhood home 
at Perryville, Mo., and worked for a year at his 
trade. Returning to St. Louis, he was looking 
for work when he met Fred Massberg, of Steels- 
ville. 111., who wanted to employ some one. An 
agreement was entered into, and Mr. Pfenninger 
returned home with Mr. Massberg. working for 
him two and a half years. Business becoming 
slack, Mr. Pfenninger found employment with a 
farmer near Chillicothe, Mo., but soon after re- 
turned to Highland. 111., still later removing to 
Edgewood. where he oi^erated a harness shop of 
his own for a year, then sold it and bought his 
present farm of 120 acres on the northeast cor- 
ner of Section 29. West Township. In addition, 
he owns eighty acres of land across the road to 
the north, which is farmed by his son Edward. 

On November 7, 1877. Mr. Pfenninger married 
Sarah Matilda Boyd, born January 27. 1845. in 
Edwardsville, Madison County, 111., a daughter 
of James and Sarah (Copeland) Boyd. She 
grew to womanhood there receiving a common 
school education, and for six years prior to her 
marriage, taught in Madison and Effingham 
Counties, one of her schools being the old West 
Point when it stood on Section 29. This build- 
ing still stands, but is at present used as a resi- 
dence. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pfenninger have had one son, 
Edward Werner, horn September 27. 1S81. This 
voung man was well educated in the public 



838 



EPFINGHAIM COUNTY 



schools, aud brought up to farm life. He mar- 
ried. Nellie Ragel of Wheatland Township, Fay- 
ette County, daughter of Johu and Eunice 
(Miles) Ragel. 

Although he recognizes the value of churches, 
Mr. Pfenuinger has not connected himself with 
any religious denomination. In political faith, 
he is a stanch Republican, and has served as 
School Director with faithful efficiency. For a 
number of years he has made his farming pay, 
and takes a pride in his home aud surroundings. 
Genial, pleasant, whole-souled, Mr. Pfenuinger 
has a host of warm, personal friends w'ho are ac- 
corded a hearty welcome by himself and wife. 

PINKLEY, Mrs. Mary L., better known as 
Mother I'inkley, whose maiden name was Mary 
h. Kagay, and one of the lovable, devoted women 
of Mason, 111., who for many years has stood 
very high in the affections of a wide circle of 
friends, was born March 24, 1843, and was 
educated in the primitive log school houses of her 
locality. She had no modern advantages, secur- 
ing a meager education through earnest endeavor, 
but she learned something much more important 
— Christian virtues and womanly compassion, 
which have gained for her such universal love 
and respect. She grew to womanhood in Effing- 
ham County, being a daughter of Christian and 
Nancy (Laney) Kagay, w-ho settled on a farm, 
which is yet the home of Mrs. Pinkley, and 
upon which she was born. 

In 1S40 Christian Kagay came with his wife 
from Fairfield Count>'. Ohio, -where they had 
been married December 10, 1S31. Their trip 
was the regulation pioneer journey, the house- 
hold effects being carried on a "prairie schoon- 
er." They made their way to Effingham County, 
and locating on Section 7, Union Township, there 
built a little log cabin, in which they began their 
pioneer life in Illinois. The cabin was put up on 
an elevated spot near the Little Wabash River, 
from which a beautiful view c-ould be obtained of 
the surrounding country. At first there were 
few acres of the land that could be tilled, owing 
to swamp and timber, but Mr. Kagay began clear- 
ing it off to make a new home in the wilderness. 
The land was purchased from the Government, 
and the deed, signed by President John Tyler, is 
one of the cherished jKissessious of Mrs. Pink- 
ley. The only transfer ever made of the land 
was that which conveyed it from her father to 
her. Christian Kagay was one of the county's 
most honored pioneers, and when he died in Oc- 
tober, lS4o, a wide circle of friends mourned his 
loss. His family consisted of two daughters, 
Mrs. Pinkley. and Mrs. Rebecca AAliorton. widow 
of Nicholas T. Whorton. during his lifetime the 
most influential man in the southeastern part 
of the county, and who filled many township 
offices with credit. 

Mary L. Kagay was first united in marriage 
with .\ndrew J. Kavanaugh. September 11. 1859, 
and the young couple made their home on this 
farm until his death, December 5, ISG.o. at the 
age of twenty -eight years. He was a native of 



New York City, where he was born in 1S37, and 
was one of the sturdy, industrious farmers of 
Effingham County. He had begun to improve the 
old farm and built the first frame house in the 
neighborhood. He split the lath from white oak 
timber, aud the shingles from black walnut. The 
weather-boarding was sawed at the old water- 
mill, on the Little Wabash River, run by Martin 
K. Robinson. There were three children by 
this marriage, namely : Emma, who married 
Henry A. Turner and is in charge of the old 
farm ; John S., who, Januarj- 31, 1884, married, 
Didemma Turner, daughter of Wil.son Turner, a 
prominent farmer of Mason Township, and is 
now residing in Effingham. 111. ; and Charles W., 
who is a contractor and builder at St. Elmo, 111. 

The second marriage of Mrs. Pinkley was to 
Joseph Siddens. and by this union two sons 
were born : Fidelas B., a farmer of Union Town- 
ship: and Rol)ert P.. a merchant of Mason. 111. 
Of the five children l>oni of her first and second 
marriages there are twenty grandchildren, sev- 
enteen of whom are now living. She was mar- 
ried October 9. 1879, to Joseph Pinkley, who 
die<l February 3, 1903, on the farm where Mrs. 
Pinkley was born, and where she has always 
lived. She has witne.ssed many changes in Ef- 
fingham County, and enjo.vs talking about them. 
She has been a devoted member of the Chris- 
tian Church for many years, and has been asso- 
ciated with the Eastern Star Lodge of Mason, 111., 
for a long time. Too much praise cannot be ac- 
corded this noble pioneer mother, who has lived 
through so much and to whom many owe count- 
less deeds of kindness and loving sympathy. In 
sickness or other trouble, she has always been 
in the front rank of those who minister, and as 
long as she lives she will be honored and loved. 

POORMAN, George W.— Effingham County, 111., 
is noted for the excellence of its farms, as well 
as for the imblic spirit and enterprise of the agri- 
culturists who till them. One of these success- 
ful farmers, a resident of the county for more 
than half a century, and still engaged in active 
pursuits, is George W. Poorman, who operates 
a fine tract about one-quarter of a mile north of 
.\ltamont. Mr. Poorman was born in Tuscara- 
was Township, Stark County, Ohio, September 
30. 1838. 

The Poorman family came from Germany to 
Pennsylvania, and settled in Franklin County , 
at an early day. There Peter Poorman, grand- 
father of George W., was born, and thence he 
emigrated to Stark County, Ohio, in pioneer days. 
Canton at that time was a village of only a few 
straggling houses, and near it he entered a half- 
section of land, where he settled down to farm- 
ing the remainder of his life. He married Marie 
Reiehert, and among their children was Peter, 
born February 28, 1809. 

Peter Poorman married Maria Warner, daugh- 
ter of George Warner, who was engaged in the 
iron business near Chambersburg, Pa., during the 
Revolutionary War. After his marriage Mr. 
Poorman took 100 acres of the home farm, but 



EFFINGHAil COUNTY 



839 



in 1861 moved to Mound Township, Effingham 
County, 111., and there he died in 1SS6. A Lu- 
theran in his early years, he died in the faith of 
the Reformed Church. His first wife died in 
1840 and he married (second) Susanna Loy, and 
(third I Elizabeth A. True.sdale. His children 
were: Orlando, who married Caroline Hott and 
died in Mound Township ; George W. ; Theo, who 
died in Mound Township ; Rebecca, married 
Jo.seph B. Kent, and died in St. Loui.s ; Eliza- 
beth E.. married Jacob Lentz. and died in Terre 
Haute, Ind. : Melissa, Mr.s. Jacob Ingling, of Ida, 
111. ; and Susan. Mrs. ^yilson Kirkpatrick, of 
Neoga, 111. 

In his youth George W. Poorman had only 
the advantages of a subscription school, taught 
in a log school house, but left school at the age 
of sixteen .vears to begin teaching. On coming 
to Etfinghani County he worked at any kind of 
employment he could find, cutting cord-wood, 
working for the Illinois Central Railway, and 
finally beginning to teach school. He became 
well known as an e<lucator, having been the 
teacher of Mrs. Harvey Jones and Jlrs. Parker, 
of Effingh.am. Daniel Sy and his two sisters. John 
Milleville and his two sisters. William Ashton. 
the Brooms of Effingham, and the Wrights of 
that city, as well as many others. 

Mr. Poorman married. September 20. 1S67, 
Eliza Jane Watson, of Fayette Countj-, 111., who 
was born January 20. 1S4?!. daughter of Alfred 
and Christiana (Dial) Watson. Mrs. Poorman 
also attended the old-fashioned schools, her first 
teacher being A. J. (known as "Jack'') Hogge. 
At eighteen years of age she began teaching In 
Fayette County, where she remained four years, 
then spent one year in Mound Township, Effing- 
ham (i'ounty, teaching the Mound School, the 
first in the district. This school was kept In an 
old hut. with one hole for a window on the 
north and another on the .south, but without 
glass, so that when the wind blew from the 
north a piece of old carpet was hung over the 
hole, which was changed to the south when the 
wind blew too strong from that direction. The 
school was not furnished with a broom, and was 
swept with weeds gathered in the prairie. 

Alfred Watson came from Knox County. Ohio, 
in 1838, and settled in Fayette County, 111., where 
he died in lOfiO. aged eighty-three years, in the 
faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For 
twelve years he served as Justice of the Peace, 
and for forty years was a Township Tru.stee. 
He was married in 1842. in Fayette County, to 
Christiana, daughter of Philip and Rhoda (Shaf- 
fer) Dial. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Poorman pur- 
chased from the Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany forty acres of land where he now lives, and 
to which he has added from time to time until 
he now owns 200 acres. His present home was 
built in IS72, but he has remodeled it and added 
to it several times. In addition to owning his 
property. Mr. Poorman has been identified with 
various business enterprises and is now a di- 
rector in the canning factory. He is an elder in 



the Reformed Church, is a Democrat in polities 
and for years has served as School Trustee and 
Treasurer. Mr. Poorman was once defeated for 
the office of Ciount.v Superintendent of Schools, 
by Owen Scott, who later was a member of Con- 
gress from the Bloomington District. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Poorman 
are as follows : Lucy, Mrs. John Geiger, of Osh- 
kosh, Wis. ; Mary, Mrs. Albert Pearson, at home ; 
Clara Maria, at home ; Alfred Peter, a graduate 
of the Univereity of Illinois, and now Assistant 
Professor of Engineering at Purdue Univer- 
sity, Ind. ; and Amy, a graduate of the Illinois 
State University, now a teacher in household 
science in the Ceutralia Township High School. 

PRATHER, Charles E.— It is not possible for 
every son of an illustrious father to attain suc- 
cess, but in the case of Charles E. Prather, City- 
Clerk of Effingham. 111., it appears as though 
his father's mantle had fallen ui^on his shoulders. 
Mr. Prather was born in Clark County, Ind., 
May 21, 1857, a son of Hon. William and Augusta 
(Woodard) Prather. William Prather was a 
son of Simon Prather, who was of English ex- 
traction. 

William Prather was also born in Clark 
Ctounty, Ind.. where his father bad settled at a 
very early day, on a farm which his father con- 
ducted for many years. William was educated 
in the district schools of his neighborhood, and 
grew up into an industrious man. He married 
Augusta Woodard. who was born in Clark 
County, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah ( Strick- 
land ) "Woodard, also natives of the same county. 
After marriage William Prather farmed and 
raised stock in Clark County until 1864. In that 
year he was nominated by the Democratic party 
for the office of County Treasurer, and was 
elected by an overwhelming majority. He left 
his old farm, moved into Charlestowm. and dur- 
ing the time he held office did effective work. 
^Tien he was nominated for County Clerk he 
again carried the county, and after his term ex- 
pired was re-elected Countj- Treasurer, being re- 
garded as the best possible man for that respon- 
sible office, and for a number of years was the 
leader of his party in Clark County. About 1872 
he moved to Meade County. Ky.. where he was 
again honored by his party, being elected a Mem- 
ber of the State Assembly, and died while be- 
longing to that body. July 22. 1.875. He had 
bought a farm In Meade County and was living 
upon it at the time of his demise. His widow 
disposed of her Interests the same year and came 
back to Clark County. Ind. In 18S0 she moved 
to Lucas Township. Effingham fonnty. 111., and 
rented a farm from Benson Woods. She kept 
her familv toeether and was comfortably situ- 
ated in the midst of her children at the time of 
her death, in inoi. She and her husband had 
children as follows: Louisa, who died in in- 
fancy: Rosslyn. died, aged two years; Charles 
E. : Clara, married Crawford Hiitrin. and is de- 
censed : Emma, married Asa Higgin, and is de- 
ceased : Effie. married E. E. Gnuiwalt, a farmer 



840 



EPFINGHAII COUNTY 



in the vicinity of Gregoria, S. D. ; Campbell, 
died at the age of nine ; Michael Kerr, died in 
infancy ; Herbert L., a farmer of Union Town- 
ship. 

Cliarles E. Prather, who inherits his father's 
political ambitions, as well as his ability and re- 
liability, was born on a farm and reared to hard 
work. When he was taken by his distinguished 
father to Charlestown he had the educational 
advantages offered by that citj', and was nearly 
ready to graduate from school when the family 
migrated to Kentucky. After the death of his 
father, as he was the eldest child then living, he 
felt it his duty to care for his widowed mother 
and devoted himself to her and her comfort. 

On October 18, 18S4, Mr. Prather married Etta 
M. Higgins. born in Effingham County, June 9, 
1867, a daughter of Barlow and Elizabeth (Cre- 
gor) Higgins, natives of Indiana. After his 
marriage Mr. Prather's mother made her home 
with the young couple, who tenderly cared for 
her until her death. He remained on the farm 
until moo, when he sold his interest and moved 
to Etlinghani, where he secured a position in the 
butcher block factory of that city, and there re- 
mained until 1907, when he was elected on the 
Democratic ticket to the office of City Clerk and 
was re-elected in the spring of 1909. This is the 
first time in the history of the city that a City 
Clerk has succeeded himself. He had the larg- 
est majority of any candidate on the ticket, ow- 
ing to his personal popularity. He has been a 
very efficient official, patient, painstaking and ac- 
commodating, while his probity is beyond ques- 
tion. He is noted as a man who, once having 
made a promise, never goes back on it. 

Mr. and Mrs. Prather became the ]iarents of 
the following children : Bessie, cashier of Hogan 
Brothers, having the largest dry goods store of 
Effingham, is a graduate of the city high school, 
Class of 1903; Bertha, operator of a linotype ma- 
chine in the office of the Effingham Democrat, a 
graduate of the city sigh school. Class of 1904; 
Amy, Robert and Verna. at school. 

The family all belong to the Christian Church, 
of which Mr. Prather is an Elder and Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school. He and his wife 
have always taken an active part in church 
work and he is very strong in his advocacy of 
temperance. Fraternally he is a Modern Wood- 
man, Modern American, having organized the 
latter association in Effingham, and takes a 
warm interest in lodge work. Mr. Prather is 
vers- ixipular and no doubt he will be called upon 
to fill offices far beyond the one he now fills with 
such general satisfaction. 

PROBST, Joseph H. — The profession of teaching 
is a noble one and enlists the best qualities in the 
nature of the instructor. In the hands of the 
teachers are entrusted the molding of the plastic 
natures and minds of the younger generation, and 
on their shoulders rests a heavy responsibility. 
Joseph H. Probst, professor in St. Anthony's 
Catholic College at Effingham. 111., is one of the 
best known educators in his part of the State. 



Mr. Probst was born in Bishop Township, Effing- 
ham County, April 2.3, 1852, a son of Theodore 
and Anna Maria (Rieman) Probst. 

Until 1871, Mr. Probst vrorked on a farm for 
his parents, and attended elementary school till 
he was thirteen years old. From April, 1871, 
until July, 1873, he attended St. Joseph College, 
then taught school at Murphysboro, 111,, from 
September, 1874, until July, 1876; at Sigel, 111., 
from September, 1876, to July, 1879; at Effing- 
ham, from 1879 until the present date, and is 
now teaching in the .seventh and eighth grades. 
He has also been organist and director of the 
church choir for the same period. 

On August 3. 1875, Mr. Probst married Eliza- 
beth Huslege, at Teutopolis, 111., and they have 
had children as follows : Mary, Lizzie, Clara, 
Annie, Aloisius, Agnes (who are now living), 
and Henry, Joseph, Annie, John, Theodore, Her- 
man and Joseph H., who are deceased. 

In politics Mr. Probst is a Democrat ; frater- 
ally he belongs to the C. K. of A. and the C. K. 
of I. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic, 
having been reared in that Church. He is a 
conscientious teacher, and has given their pre- 
liminary training to many pupils for a useful, 
active life, many who became doctors, pharma- 
cists, editors and bookkeepers having graduated 
from his school. He possesses a pleasant man- 
ner of imparting learning, and is a great favor- 
ite with his pupils. Being a lover of music and 
highly trained, he is very valuable as organist 
and director of the choir, and takes much 
pleasure in this branch of his work. Mr. and 
Mrs. Probst have many friends in Effingham, as 
well as at the other places where they have 
lived, and with their children enjoy a happy 
home life. 

QUATMAN, John F. — After years of strenuous 
activity, many citizens of the smaller towns and 
cities retire from business and enjoy the fruits 
of their labors. They then have more time to 
devote to civic development and improvenient. 
and are always regarded as a decidedly desir- 
able addition to any community. John F. Quat- 
man of Teutopolis. belongs to this class. He was 
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 27, 1842, and at- 
tended the subscription schools in Effingham 
County, but owing to the then existing condi- 
tions, received but a meager education. He is 
a son of Joseph and Mary (Dress) Quatraan, 
both natives of Germany, and the father came to 
the United States when twenty-six years of age. 
His parents were very poor in Germany, and he 
had to borrow the money to pay for his passage, 
making a voyage which occupied eleven weeks in 
a combination freight and passenger boat. Af- 
ter encountering several severe storms the boat 
finally landed at Baltimore. Md., and soon 
thereafter, he came to Cincinnati. In 1841, he 
married Mary Dress who had come to the United 
States with her parents, when she was about 
twenty years old. Tliey settled in Cincinnati 
and her parents died there. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



841 



After man-iage, Mr. aud Mrs. Joseph Quat- 
man remained iu Cincinnati, wliere tbe mother 
died in 1843, and is buried there. John F. 
Quatman was only a year old at this time, and 
was the only child of this marriage. Mr. Quat- 
man later married Mary Otton, and iu 1S46 
moved his family to Illinois, locating iu Effing- 
ham County about two miles north of Teutopolis. 
Here he lived on a farm until his death, which 
occurred in 1889, when he was seveuty-uine 
years of age. His widow survived him several 
years, and both are buried at Teutopolis. Five 
children were born of the second marriage, four 
of whom, viz : John, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, 
grew to maturity. John and Elizabeth and one 
infant are deceased. Elizabeth entered a con- 
vent in Cincinnati as a Little Sister of the Poor, 
and later lived in Hoboken, N. Y. 

John F. Quatmau remained at home with his 
father until he became of age. On May 12, 
1868, he was man-ied in Oldenburg, Ind., to Jo- 
.sephine Wesling, born in Cincinnati, May 6, 
1847. Her parents were natives of Germany, 
who came to the United States, and located in 
Cincinnati, where Mrs. Quatman was born. 
Later they removed to Nashville, Tenn., where 
they died. They were the parents of two chil- 
dren, Mrs. Quatman's brother, William, being 
a cigar manufacturer of Nashville, Tenn. 

When Mr. and Mrs. Quatman were married, 
they came to Illinois and began their married 
life in Teutopolis, where they have since resided. 
Mr. Quatman is a carpenter by trade, to which 
lie has devoted most of his life. Teutopolis was 
barely a village when he settled here, and he has 
seen it grow, and has assisted in the erection of 
some of its best buildings. He put up his own 
house, which is a good modern structure. His 
property has been acquired chiefly from the 
threshing business and the mill which he has oi> 
erated for about twenty-eight years. At the pres- 
ent time he is engaged as a dealer in lumber and 
other building material. He is also the owner 
of town lots and buildings. 

Mr. Quatman and wife have been the parents 
of seven children, of whom four — Elizabeth, 
John, Kate and Edward — are living with their 
parents. John is associated with his father in 
the lumber yard and saw-mill, while Edward is 
interested in a retail clothing business in Teuto- 
IK>lis. The children deceased were Frank, Mary 
and Joseph. 

In politics Mr. Quatman is a Democrat, and 
in past years took an active part in local affairs, 
holding the various offices of the town. He has 
been Supervisor for four years, was a member 
of the Town Board, Mayor of the town. Asses- 
sor of Teutopolis, School Director and School 
Trustee. He and his family are members of St. 
Francis Catholic Church of Teutopolis, in which 
they are active workers. 

RAMSEY, Samuel P.— Effingham County has 
many fine farms and they are owned, to a large 
■extent, by members of old families of that sec- 



tion, in a number of cases the land having been 
acquired by heritage. A wide stretch of 4S<J acres 
of Effingham County land belongs to Samuel P. 
Ramsey, one of the county's well-known and 
most highly respected men. No good fortune 
provided him with a farm in his early manhood, 
and forty years jigo he probably would have 
thought it the wildest of dreams to anticipate 
his present large possessions. All of these he 
has earned through honest effort, ordinary pru- 
dence and the exercise of natural good judg- 
ment. 

Mr. Ramsey was born in Banner Township, 
Effingham County, 111., August 18, 1850, a son of 
Alexander and Elinor (Dunham) Ramsey. 
Grandfather Ramsey came to Effingham Cbunty 
in 1828 and was the first man to oi)erate a mill 
iu Douglas Township. His mill was located on 
the Wabash River. His death occurred in 1851. 
His son Alexander had five children, of whom 
four survive, namely: John, who makes his 
home with Samuel P.; James, a farmer in 
Shelby County, 111.; Vestio. wife of John M. 
Webb, and lives near Medford, Ore. ; and Sam- 
uel P. 

WTien fourteen years of age Samuel P. Ram- 
sey was left alone with his mother on the home 
farm. His education mainly consisted of what 
learning he could pick up for himself, his school 
attendance being limited. He remained with his 
mother until her second marriage in 1867, and 
she survived until 1882. The boy's first work 
on his own account was as sheep-herder, on 
prairie land that is now the site of the Village 
of Stewardson, then a wilderness and known 
as "Dead Man's Grove." He herded 3,700 sheep 
in this wild and lonely spot, and this was his 
main occupation up to 18G9, when he went to 
work for William Harrison, on his farm not far 
from Stewardson. His wages here were $14,50 
per month, and during the nine months he 
worked for Mr. Harrison he took care of sev- 
enty-five acres of corn. In 1870 he rented land 
from an uncle for half the profits, and had 400 
bushels of com for his share in the fall of that 
.year, being able to purcba.se his first team of 
horses. Then, in partnership with his brother- 
in-law, he rented a farm four miles east of Stew- 
ardson. and here he remained until 1873, when 
he rented land nearer the village and lived 
there until 1875. In 1876 Mr. Ramsey pur- 
cha.sed his first forty acres, located in Douglas 
Township, which he cleared, and when he 
erected his frame house nixjn this land, it was 
about the first house of that kind in that sec- 
tion. To his first purchase he has added until 
he had 160 acres in that farm, and here he lived 
until November 28, 1904, when be bought seventy- 
one acres in Section 16. In 1805 he bought 135 
acres west of his first farm and now owns 486 
acres of valuable land. Since February 3, 1903, 
he has been engaged in the dairy Ijusiness, 
which he conducts along modern lines with suc- 
cess. He has thirteen head of pure-blooded Hoi- 
stein cattle, and for two of his cows he paid 



842 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



$100 each. It is his inteiitiou to devote liis en- 
tire atteutiou to Uis ilairy interests at au early 
date. He keeps only tlie best stock of all kinds, 
including thoroughbred Poland China hogs. He 
is well iut'ormed on the subject of dairying, in 
which he takes great interest, and is a member 
of the Holsteiu Friesian Association. He has 
erected a silo 10 by SI feet, which has a capacity 
for lOU tons of ensilage. 

February 8, 1872, Mr. Ramsey married Miss 
Louisa Webb, who was born in Banner Town- 
ship, and they have had thirteen children. An- 
nie is the wife of Jacob Bales, a farmer in 
Shelby County ; James died in infancy ; Edgar 
is a farmer in Banner Township; Delos lives on 
the old home place, where all the children were 
born ; Tell assists Delos ou the old farm ; Cassie 
and Ira both died iu infancy ; John assists his 
father on the present home farm ; William is a 
member of the Third United States Infantry, 
and is now serving in the Philippine Islands; 
Emma, died aged one year and one month; Sarah 
is the wife of William Rentfrow, a farmer in 
Banner Township; Margaret is at home; and 
Dolly died at the age of seven years. In this 
connection a few facts concerning the illustrious 
Third United States Infantry may be of inter- 
est. The oldest regiment in the army, it is 
known as the "Fighting Third." It was organ- 
ized under Act of March 3, 1792, and came into 
being September 4, 1792, under the direct charge 
of General Anthony Wayne, then Commander- 
in-Chief. A week later it was given its mark — 
yellow bindings to the caps, yellow plumes and 
black hair, which colors are borne iu the regi- 
mental insignia. It has existed as the Third 
Sub-Legion and went with General Wayne ou his 
successful campaign against the Indians as far 
back as 1784. Many itromiuent names have 
been identified with this regiment, among them 
being that of Zebulon Pike, of Pike's Peak fame, 
who was once a Captain in it. In 1815, Zach- 
ary Taylor, later President of the United States, 
was its Major. In 1873 the regiment came under 
the command of Ool. Beujamln L. E. Barnes- 
ville, whose adventures were made famous by 
the writings of Wa.shington Irving. During the 
Mexican War the Third was prominent at the 
Battle of Cen-o Gordo, and during the Civil War 
it was used to cover the retreat of McClellan's 
panic-stricken army from the vicinity of Rich- 
mond, and It was conspicuous in the Grand Re- 
view at Washington in 1865. It was then sent 
to the frontier, from there took part in the 
Spanish-American War and helped in the cap- 
ture of El Caney ; then came bacii ro the Unltefl 
States, where it suppressed the uprising of the 
Indians at Leech Lake, Minn., and then set sail 
for Manila Bay. by way of Suez, under Gener- 
als McArthur and the unfortunate Lawton. It 
was In the islands for three years and again re- 
turned to the United States, and in 1904 was 
sent to .\laska, where two years of hard work 
awaited it. It was sent from Alaska to Fort 
George Wright and from there, August 5, 1909, 



sailed for the Orient. In this notable regiment 
William Ramsey has proven himself a soldier 
whose actions will never dim its luster. 

For sixty years Samuel P. Ramsey has been 
identified with the development of EtHngham 
County. He helped cut logs for the building of 
the first school-house in his section and has ever 
been the friend of education and progress. In 
politics he is a Democrat and has filled local 
offices at times, and for nine years served as 
Road Commissioner. He and his estimable wife 
are members of the Christian Crurch. 

RANKIN, Robert, was born in Lawrence County, 
Ind., February 7, 182U, and spent his youtn ou 
his father's farm. He was maiTled October 3, 
1839, to Martha J. Foster, and became the owner 
of sixty acres of laud in his native county, 
which he sold in 1849, removing to Mason, Ef- 
fingham County, 111., where he engaged in farm- 
ing. Subsequently he located in town and 
opened the first hotel in the place, where he was 
one of the original proprietors. About a year 
after opening his hotel he abandoned this euter- 
jirise and embarked in the mercantile business. 
In 18G1 Robert Rankin, with three of his sons, 
enlisted for service in the war and w'as made 
First Lieutenant of Company B. Thirty-eighth 
Illinois Volunteers, accompanying his regiment 
in all its marches and engagements until the 
fall of 1862, when, on account of feeble health, 
he was forced to retire. During his tenn of 
service he contracted the disease which caused 
his death. June 20, 1871. During the last years 
of his life he usually walked with a cane and 
was in very poor health. He was a man of ster- 
ling worth, who did his duty unostentatiously 
and used his influence to improve the morals of 
the community and increase the respect of all 
for religion. 

READY, Charles M. — Many of the farmers of 
Effingham County are specializing, having found 
that this is more remunerative than following a 
general line of agriculture. Among those who 
have fallen into the more modern methods is 
Charles M. Ready, farmer and breeder of fine 
coach horses. He was born in Mason Township, 
one mile west of Mason, June 29, 1866, a son of 
William and Sarah (Bittle) Ready. His par- 
ents were married in the vieinitj' of Cincinnati, 
later moved to Indiana where Mr. Ready en- 
gaged in a mercantile business, but eventually 
came to Effingham County, renting land in Ma- 
son Tow-nshlp, and there he and his wife spent 
the remainder of their lives, he passing away in 
1876. and she in 1906 at the home of her son, 
Charles M. Ready, having lived with her chil- 
dren after the death of her husband. Both par- 
ents were Methodists. For some years Mr. 
Ready was a teacher of the Wilson school dis- 
trict, and alwa.vs was interested in educational 
matters. He was a truly good man, whose 
mind was never soiled by evil thoughts or 
his lips stained by profane words. His wife was 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



843 



as good a Christian as he, and whenever trouble 
or sickness came to her neighbors, she was to 
be found among them giving consolation and ma- 
terial help. They had four children, namely : 
Anna, wife of James P. Ahl, a farmer near Syca- 
more, Ind. ; John, a farmer of this township ; 
Charles JI. ; and Homer, who lives at Mason. 

Born on a farm and educated in the district 
schools, Charles JI. Ready is a true product of 
the farm. As soon as he was able, he began as- 
sisting his father, and remained at home until 
he attained his majority. In 1887, he went to 
Piatt County, 111., and for four years worked 
by the month on farms there, but in 1891 came 
back to Effingham Cbuuty to take charge of the 
farm of Alexander Craver, thus eoutiuuiug until 
the latters death in 1892. 

On April 11, 1897, Mr. Ready married Alberta 
Chamberlain, born in Fayette County, February 
6, 1877, a daughter of Alonzo and Sarah (Max- 
field) Chamberlain, who now reside on a farm 
near Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Ready have had 
four children : William Alonzo, born June 27, 
1899; Clarence, born January 22, 1902; Glenn, 
born January 3, 1900, and one other. After mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Ready begau life on the 
Craver farm, where they lived until 1900. and 
then txjught twenty-five acres south of Mason, 
which contiuued to be their home imtil 1903. 
In that year Mr. Ready sold his property, and 
purchased his present farm of eighty acres on 
Section 11, and in December located upon 
it. They have rebuilt their house and now have 
one of the most comfortable farm residences in 
the township. Mr. Ready has always been a 
jjrogressive farmer and believes in high grade 
stock. His first horses were of the Morgan 
stock, but he now owns "Allen." a German coach 
stallion, sired by old "Generator." 2131, a hand- 
some imported black animal. This horse was 
bought from J. Crouch & Son, of La Fayette, 
Ind.. iu January, 1909. Mr. Ready also owns 
"Blackhawk Jack" bred at Lanford. Ky., which 
he purchased in 1903. He is a recognized au- 
thority with regard to horses and mules, and has 
done much to raise the standard of excellence In 
stock raising iu his locality. 

In State and National affairs, he ca.sts his 
vote with the Republican party, but in local mat- 
ters prefers to use his judgment as to the fitness 
of the man. He has served as School Director 
and has done all he could to improve condition.?. 
A member of the Methodist Church, he liberally 
supiwrts it with time and money. Fraternally 
he is an Odd Fellow, belongs to the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and his wife is a member 
of the Royal Neighbors at Mason. 

READY, John L. — Nothing is more certain than 
that thrift industry and perseverance will even- 
tually accomplish great results, and this state- 
ment has been proved by John L. Ready, who, 
through his own efforts, has developed one of the 
finest farms in >Iason Township, from the wil- 
derness and has improved and stocked it until 



it has lew equals for its size, in all this section 
of Effingham County. He was born In Monroe 
Cbuuty, Ind., October 7, ISGO, and is a son of 
William and Sarah (Bittle) Ready. 

The parents of Mr. Ready were natives of 
Hamilton County, Ohio, where they were reared 
and married, and where the father taught school 
iu his earlier manhood. When he settled on 
Big Salt Creek, iu Monroe County, Ind., on the 
farm on which his son, John L., was born, he 
purchased land, but in 1804 brought his family 
to Effingham County, 111. He later rented land 
In Masou Township turniug his attention to 
farming, while teaching during the winter sea- 
sons for some year.?, but continued his agricul- 
tural pursuits up to the time of his death in 
the fall of 1876. He was a man well versed in 
all public affairs and was a stanch supporter of 
the principles of the Republican party. Both 
he and his wife were consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He had read the 
Bible through a number of times and justly re- 
garded it as the fount of wisdom. His excel- 
lent wife survived him a number of years, her 
death occurring on January 1, 1906. They had 
four children : Annie, wife of James Ahl, a 
farmer in Indiana ; John L. ; Charles M., a 
sketch of whom will be found in this work ; and 
Homer, a resident of Mason, 111. 

When four years old the parents of John L. 
Ready brought him to Effingham County and he 
was reared on the Masou Township farm, begin- 
ning farm duties as soon as old enough to fol- 
low the plow-. After his mother contracted a 
second marriage, with Alexander Craver, he 
left home and worked on different farms by the 
month, being careful to sa verbis earnings and in 
this way accumulated some capital. After he 
married he rented a farm in Masou Township 
until 1887, when he bought sixty acres iu Sec- 
tion 25 and of this has made the fine farm men- 
tioned. There was nothing then on the land in 
the way of improvements with the exception of 
a small log cabiu. The land was wild and 
mainly covered with timber, but Mr. Ready was 
in no way discouraged but went right to work 
and, iu a reasonable time, had it all cleared. 
One Improvement after another followed, and 
in 1900 the old log cabin was given up and the 
comfortable cottage took its piac-e which later 
gave way to the spacious frame residence of 
the pre.sent. He has taken much pride in his 
surrouudings and his buildings of all kinds are 
attractive as well as substantial. His idea is 
that none but first class stock is worth the rais- 
ing, and on his farm is found Hambletonian and 
Morgan horses, Poland China hogs. Shrop.shire 
sheep and his large dairy is operated with Dur- 
ham, Jersey and Holstein cows. 

In 1880, Mr. Ready married Miss Emma Wil- 
son, born in Union Township, a daughter of C. 
D. Wilson, now a resident of Mason. 111. He 
served in the Civil War and was a member of 
Gen. Wilder's Brigade. To Mr. and Mrs. Ready 
four children have been boni, as follows: Dollie, 



844 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



boru July 28, 1887; Arthur, boru April 21, 
1889; Grace, born October 3, 1897; aud Lyuii, 
born September 2, 1900. Mr. and Mr.s. Ready 
are active members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, aud he is a member of the order of 
Modern Woodmen of America, while Mrs. Ready 
belongs to the Royal Neighbors. In ixjlitics he 
is a Republican. 

RETZ, Albert, who is numbered among the suc- 
cessful agriculturists and representative citi- 
zens of Ettlngham County, is the owner of 280 
acres of excellent farming land in Section 13, 
Jackson Township. He was born in Banner 
Township, Etlingham County, 111., March 2, 
18t!9, a sou of William and Amelia (Page) Retz, 
natives of Germany, who came to this country 
with their parents, both families settling in St. 
Clair County, 111., at a very early day. where Mr. 
and Mrs. Retz were man-led. About 1864 they 
located iu Banner Township, Effingham County, 
and here the father made a home for his family 
and cultivated an excellent farm of 130 acres. 
His death occurred May 17, 1900, and his widow 
survived him until March 17, 1907, both dying 
in the faith of the Lutheran Church. In politics, 
William Retz was a Democrat, and held the of- 
fice of Highway Commissioner for several term.s. 
The children of William and Amelia Retz were: 
Alvenia, wife of Jacob Pilger, a retired farmer 
of Clover Leaf, now residing at Ramsey, 111.; 
Henry, a farmer near Shelbyville; Albert; Min- 
nie, wife of Charles Mann, a grain and stock 
dealer of Beecher City ; Mary, deceased, was the 
wife of Edward Ratloff, a resident of Clara. 
111. ; Ida, wife of George Wagner, a farmer of 
Shelby County ; and Herman, who resides with 
his brother Albert. • 

Albert Retz attended the schools of his native 
locality and was reared on the home farm, on 
which he remained until reaching the age where 
he could command wages, when he commenced 
work on the farm.s near the home place, and also 
spent one year as a member of a railroad section 
gang between Altamont and Shumway. turning his 
earnings over to his father. On April 7, 1896, he 
was united in marriage with Lena Wagner, a 
native of Effingham County and the daughter of 
Adam Wagner, a pioneer of this county. After 
their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Retz rented land 
from Mr. Wagner in Watson Township until 
1903. when they moved to a tract of 140 acres 
in Jackson Township, which had l>een purchased 
by Mr. Retz the year previous. On this tract, 
which is located in Section 13, was a small 
frame house, which Jlr. Retz so<3n replaced 
with a two-story, seven-roomed residence, one 
of the handsome ones of the township, in which 
Mr. and Mrs. Ret7, have made their home to the 
present. In addition to increasing the extent 
of his farm to 280 acres, Mr. Retz has made 
many fine improvements, including the setting 
out of shade and orchard trees and the laying 
out of lawns and hedges, and his farm is one 
of the most attractive in this part of the county. 



lie has been a successful agriculturist and has 
been interested in the breeding of Duroc-Jersey 
hogs, I'oland-China hogs and Short Horn cattle, 
having a herd of twenty-six of the latter at the 
present time. 

In ix)litics, Mr. Retz is a Democrat, and has 
always been identified with the success of his 
party in this section. With his wife he attends 
the Lutheran Ctiurch iu Watson. Two children 
have been boru to Jlr. aud Mrs. Retz, — Selman 
aud Lizzie. 

REYNOLDS, John C— The visitor to Effingham 
County, 111., viewing for the first time its fer- 
tile lands, well-regulated fanns and general air 
of prosperity, finds it hard to believe that but a 
comparatively few years ago this s'ction of the 
country was a wild waste, principally swamp 
and timber land ; yet such is the case, and the 
Ijresent excellent condition of the country has 
only been attained through the untiring labor 
and persistent endeavor of men of energy and 
Ijei-severance, whose lives have been spent in for- 
warding the development of this section. One 
of these men, John C. Reynolds, a retired farmer 
of Watson, 111., was born in Jaclwon Township, 
Effingham County, November 14, 1848, son of 
Doslah T. and Martha M. (Brown) Reynolds, 
both of whom were born in 1818, in Franklin 
County, Tenn., of Irish ancestry. 

I>osiah T. Reynolds was married in Tennessee, 
where he remained until 1840, in the meantime 
taking part in the Black Hawk War. and in the 
year mentioned loaded his household goods into 
a prairie schooner and with his two children, — • 
Martin Van Buren and Samuel A., — and his wife, 
came to Illinois, making a short stop at a ixjint 
in Shelby County, aud in the fall came to Effing- 
ham County. Settling on Section 14, Jackson 
Township, he entered 160 acres of land in what 
is now known as the "Effingham Orchard," lo- 
cated his little family iu the log cabin home, and 
here started to cultivate his land when the Mex- 
ican War broke out, and he enlisted in Company 
C, Second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
being discharged September 27. 1847, at Tam- 
pico, Mexico, on account of disability received in 
the service. He was sent from Tampieo to St. 
Ix)uis, and from there walked to his home. His 
wife had received no news of his home-coming, 
and his son Samuel often relates how his 
mother, working in the yard, recognized her hus- 
band and was so overcome with joy that she ran 
and jumped the fence to throw herself into his 
arms. She it was who alone had borne all the 
struggles for the protection of the family 
during his absence. The other six children of 
this noble pioneer couple were born on the Jack- 
son Township farm, and were : D. W., now liv- 
ing near Mitchell. Ind., was a soldier of Com- 
pany A. Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, aud was captured with his regi- 
ment at Corinth ; James R., a resident of Wat- 
son, was a member of an Illinois Regiment; 
Elizabeth J., married R. C. Le Crone, and both 
are now deceased ; John C. ; L. F., a farmer of 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



845 



Clay County. III. ; and Charles E., died Decem- 
ber 12, 1904, and was buried in the Watsou Cem- 
etery. Some time after the birth of the young- 
est child, Dosiah Reynolds sold the old family 
home and removed to Union Township, but sub- 
sequently purchased 107 acres in Watson Town- 
ship, Section 31, and there made bis home until 
his death, September 26, 1877. Throughout his 
lite he was a stanch Democrat, and socially was 
connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. 
Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of 
the Baptist Church, and to the teachings of that 
denomination they clung throughout their long 
and useful lives. They were typical pioneers, of 
the brave, noble character that overcame all ob- 
stacles and blazed the trail for the following 
generations. Kindly and ho.spitable, they never 
refused assistance to one who was worthy and 
in need, and their memories will remain green 
in the hearts of all who knew them. Jlrs. Ke.v- 
nolds survived her husband until January 15, 
1001, when she passed away, at the age of 
eighty-four years. 

John C. Reynolds received his education in 
the primitive log school houses, and at the age 
of ten .vears began to as.sume his share of the 
duties of the home farm, on which he resided un- 
til his marriage, April G, 1871, when he was 
united with Sarah E. Trexer. who was born in 
Jackson County, Ohio, daughter of Jonathan 
and Rosella (Foster) Trexler, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, who came to Efflugham County at an 
early day and settled in Jackson Township. Af- 
ter his marriage. Mr. Reynolds purchased forty 
acres of land, going into debt for every dollar of 
the purchase money. On this land, which was 
situated on Section 14, Jackson Township, was 
a little slab board house, with a cla.v and wood 
chimne.y. He later sold this land and in 1876 
removed to Jasper County, where he lived for 
one year, then buying 120 acres in Section 6, 
Union Township, and subsequently settled on 
107 acres in Watson and Union Townships, on 
which farm his father died. To this farm he 
added eighty-seven acres, and still owns the 
entire propertj-. Later he took charge of his 
father-in-law's farm and bought out the heirs 
to his estate after the latter's death, and here he 
and his family resided for sixteen years. In 
1904 Mr. Reynolds bought a piece of property on 
West Main street, Watson, on which he erected 
a beautiful cottage, where he has since made his 
home. He and his wife now own 420 acres of 
land in Jackson and Watson Townships, and 
considering that they started their married life 
without a single pos.session in the world, it will 
be seen that their example is one to be em- 
ulated. Mr. Reynolds has always voted with the 
Democratic part.v, and on that ticket has been 
elected to various township offices, being now a 
member of the Board of Trustees of Watson. 
He belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church 
and his wife to the Christian denomination. 
Socially Mr. Reynolds is c-onnected with Watson 
Lodge of Masons, Xo. 602. 



To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds there have been 
born these children : Cora B., born March 4, 
1872, the wife of Robert Martin, lives on the 
home farm in Watson Township and has had 
four children, — Vera, Beulah, Noble and one 
other ; and Winnie E., born March 26, 1877, wife 
of V. C. White, resides on the home farm in 
Jackson Township, and has one son, — Russell 
Reynolds White, 

REYNOLDS, Samuel A., now living retired after 
a long and useful lile spent in agricultural pur- 
suits in Effingham County, 111., is a native of 
Franklin County, Tenn., born December 10, 1837, 
a son of Dosiah T. Reynolds. At the age of 
three years Jlr. Reynolds was brought by his 
parents to Illinois, and after a short stay in 
Shelby County the family came to Jackson Town- 
ship. Effingham County, where the youth re- 
ceived his education. He uemaiued on the 
home farm until his marriage, May 10, 1859, to 
Hannah M. Thomi)Son, who was t)om December 
25, 1837, in Fairfield County, Ohio, a daughter 
of Robert and Jane (All) Thompson, of Dutch 
and Irish ancestry, the former of whom was 
born in Ohio, and the latter in Pennsylvania. 
They came to Illinois in 1850, buying a fann in 
Jackson Township, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. After Mr. Reynolds" 
marriage he settled on the old home farm until 
the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted 
in Company A, Twent.v-Sixth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during 
the war, and the regiment immediately entered 
the field, taking part in the battle of Island 
Number Ten. This regiment took part in fifty- 
seven engagements during the war, and Mr. Rey- 
nolds participated in all except that at Jackson, 
Miss. The regiment marched with Sherman to 
the sea. and Mr. Reynolds re-enlisted with them 
at Scottsboro. Ala., for three years more. Al- 
ways a good and faithful soldier, Mr. Reynolds 
made an enviable war record and after his dis- 
charge, at Louisville, Ky.. returned home, where 
he took up the duties of citizenship, and has 
since become one of the honored residents of his 
district. He followed farming with much suc- 
cess until the fall of 1S81, when he purchased 
property in the Village of Watson, where the 
family has since become well known. Mr. Rey- 
nolds Is a Democrat in polities, and has been 
called upon to fill ix)sitions of honor and trust, 
including those of Mayor and member of the 
Board of Village Trustees of Watson. He and 
his wife are members of the Baptist Church, 
and have alwa.vs been active in church and 
charitable work. They were to have celebrated 
their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1909, but 
as .some of the family could not lie present, the 
occasion was postponed. Mr. Reynolds is con- 
nected with Watson Post. Xo. 418. Grand Army 
of the Republic, in which he is a popular com- 
rade. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds there have been 
born cbese children: James A., born February 



846 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



9, ISCO, married, February 17, 1885, Victoria 
Tuclier, and is farming in Oklahoma ; Samuel S., 
boru March 2, 1862; William F., born Septem- 
ber 2G, 1866, a resident of Watson Township; 
Martha J., born July 28, 1868, is the wife of 
Charles J. I.oy, a farmer of Oklahoma ; Eudorah, 
A., Ixirn March 26, 1870, is the wife of Robert 
Hardsock. of Mason, 111. ; and Etoile O., born 
September 18, 1874, wife of Benjamin Oliver, of 
Baton Rouge, La. It is interesting to note that 
there has not been a death in Mrs. Reynolds' 
family for over half a cenury. 

RICHMOND, Miss Nettie, one of the most suc- 
cessful business women of Effingham County. 
111., now editor and proprietor of the "Mason 
News," at Mason, was for many yeai-s a well- 
known educator in Fayette and Effingham 
Counties. Miss Richmond Is a native of Cham- 
paign County, 111., born in 1858^ a daughter of 
Thomas C. and Mary (Wadams) Richmond, na- 
tives of Connecticut and New York respectively. 
Thomas C. Richmond and his wife were parents 
of six children, the subject of this sketch being 
the only one of the family still living. 

Miss Richmond received her education in the 
public schools of Fayette and Effingham Coun- 
ties, and at the age of sixteen years began teach- 
ing in St. Elmo, 111. She was successful in this 
profession and continued in it eighteen .rears, 
giving it up in 180.3 to assume the duties of 
Postmistress at Mason, II!., which position she 
held one year, after which she taught two years. 
She has built up her present business from a 
small beginning, establishing the "Mason News'' 
in 1Sfl6, with four subscribers. The paper has 
a regular subscription list of five hundred names 
at the present time and the plant, where it is 
edited and printed, is also used for job printing. 
In addition to these interests. Miss Richmond 
conducts a stationei-j- and book store at Mason, 
and enjoys the same success in this enterprise 
as in the others. She is a bright, capable busi- 
ness woman, and looks after all the details of 
her work herself. 

In religious views Miss Richmond is a Metho- 
dist and served sixteen years as Superintendent 
of the Sunday School at Mason. She is much 
interested in public affairs and espouses every 
good and charitable cause that comes within her 
notice. She is unmarried. 

RIEMANN, John C. — To some men is given the 
power to judge properly and correctly of human 
nature. Such men can pick out the honest from 
the dishonest, the capable from those who will 
never amount to anything, and when such are 
placed in positions of public trust, such a faculty 
comes into good play and serves the people ad- 
mirably. John C. Riemann, who for years was 
County Treasurer of Effingham County, and con- 
trolled the interests of that resjwnsible office, 
has done more for his constltutents in his selec- 
tion of bis assistants than any other man here. 
Mr. Riemann, a farmer, dairyman and stock- 



raiser of Section 1, Teutopolis Township, was 
born in Bishop Township, February 26, 1859, a 
son of Diedrich and Mary (Thoele) Riemann, 
who were among the pioneers of Effingham 
County, settling there in 1846. 

Diedrich Riemann was a native of Germany, 
but his wife was boru in Cincinnati, and her 
people came to Effingham County in 1841. They 
were married in 1857 and went to the Bishop 
Township farm. Christian Riemann, the 
father of Diedrich. took up land in Bishop 
Township, becoming an extensive landowner. 
He brought his eleven motherless children to 
America, having lost his wife just before sail- 
ing, and in 1846, with but twenty-five cents in 
his ix)cket, began life in the new home. Being 
an honest, industrious man, he secured credit, 
entered his land, bought a cow and oxen, the 
latter of which he traded for forty acres of 
land. At one time he worked for twenty-five 
cents a day breaking the raw prairie, and never 
hesitated to do anything that would assist In 
caring for his family. Only five of his eleven 
children grew to maturitj-, and all of them are 
now dead. Christian Riemann was a remark- 
able example of a sturdy, hard-working German, 
who attained prosperity and prominence in the 
land he had adopted as his own. 

When Diedrich Riemann and his young wife 
began housekeeping it was in a tiny log cabin. 
They worked hard, and in time Mr. Riemann 
l>ecame the owner of 200 acres of good land. His 
wife inherited 157 acres, so that they owned, at 
the time of their death, 357 acres. Their last 
days were spent in Teutopolis, where she died 
in 1896, and he in 1809. They had eleven chil- 
dren, of whom three (two boys and one girl) 
died in infancy, while Susan died at the age of 
twent.y-two years. Those living are : John C. ; 
Regina, who married Henry Hatke, of Idaho ; 
Theresa, married Ed. Sonnen, of Idaho ; Henry, 
a farmer of Teutoiwlis Township ; Caroline, 
married Henry Dust, of Idaho ; Diedrich, a 
farmer of Idaho, and Bernard, a farmer in the 
same State. 

John C. Riemann was brought up on the home- 
.stead, remaining there until 1861, when he lo- 
cated near the Green Creek Catholic Church, 
where he lived until 1864, when he moved to Teu- 
topolis and there attended the common schools, 
and later the St. Joseph College, of Teutoiwlis, 
receiving a good, practical education. On ilay 2, 
1882, Mr. Riemann married Catherine Hatke, 
born in Teutoix)lis, March 7. 1862. They took 
charge of the farm and the father and mother 
moved to Teutopolis. Jlr. Riemann was the 
purchaser of the shares of the other heirs, and 
now owns 157 acres in Teutopolis Township and 
260 in Douglas Township, making a total of 417 
acres in Effingham County, as well as some town 
IJToperty. 

Mr. Riemann has always been prominent in 
the ranks of the Democratic party, and has 
filled all the township offices. For two .years he 
was on the Board of Supervisors, and In 1902 



EFFINGHAJVI COUNTY 



847 



was elected County Treasurer, while filllug this 
office serving under a bond of $132,000, which he 
had no difficulty in securing. He has always 
been active in the Roman Catholic Cliurch, of 
which he is a devout member. Mr. Riemann 
has always been in favor of good schools, good 
roads, and good government, and has done far 
more than his part towards securing and main- 
taining them. 

Mr. and Mrs. Riemann have had children as 
follows : Katie and Johnnie, at home ; Anna, 
married Joseph Schneiderjan, a farmer of St. 
Francis Township ; Mary and Henry, at home ; 
Josephine, died at the age of one year ; JosejJhine 
(II) and D:edrich, at home; Bernard, died in in- 
fancy ; Rosa, Bemardina and Eugenius, at home. 

Among those whom Mr. Riemann selected to 
assist him in the Countj' Treasurer's office were 
the following: John Thies, now Cashier of the 
State Bank of Effingham ; Joseph G. Habing, 
now Circuit Clerk of Effingham County ; Philip 
Miller, now Cashier of the Bank of Ilo, Idaho ; 
C. L. Nolle, was Assistant Cashier of the First 
National Bank of Effingham, but is now holding 
a responsible iX)sition in Decatur. This list 
shows the class of men chosen by Mr. Riemann 
to assist him in fulfilling the duties of the re- 
sponsible position to which he was elected by 
the voters of Effingham County. He gave the 
affairs of the county the same careful consider- 
ation he has always given his own affairs, and 
his valuable services were appreciated by the 
people he represented. Mr. Riemann is a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Knights of America and 
other life and accident insurance companies. 

RILEY, Eli Bruce, who has been a well knowt 
business man of Altamont, 111., for more than 
twenty-one years, was born March 27. 1846, on a 
farm near Millwood, Knox County, Ohio, the 
seventh child of William and Susan (Cum- 
mings) Rile.v. Nicholas Riley, the grandfather 
of Eli B., removed from Maryland to Knox 
Count.v, Ohio, at a very early date, the journey 
being made overland, he traveling on foot while 
his wife rode horseback and carried William in 
her arms. On locating in Ohio Nicholas Riley pur- 
chased several hundre(J acres of land on Owl 
Creek, and here he and his wife spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. Their three sons were : 
George, who died in Knox County : Nicholas, 
who also passed away there ; and William. 

William Riley received but a limited education 
in the primitive .schools of pioneer Ohio, and 
grew up a farmer boy. being engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits all his life. In 1853. he took 
his large family of children, with an ox-team 
and three horse-teams, to Illinois, being twenty- 
one days on the journey. He purchased 120 
acres of land in Louden Township. Fayette 
Count.v. Here he settled down to clear and cul- 
tivate his property, forty acres of which was 
timber land, and spent the remainder of his life 
there, his death occurring in 1889. and that of 
his wife in 1876. They had the following chil- 



dren : Maria, who married Cochran Sproat ; Har- 
riet, who married John Clayton ; George Wash- 
ington, of Shelby County, who married Martha 
Jane Sapp; William, who married a Miss Clay- 
ton; Nicholas Jackson, of Fayette County, who 
married Polly Ann Spicer; James Marion, of 
Fa.vette County, who married Phoebe Angel ; 
Eli Bruce ; and Lewis Tellis, of Fayette County, 
who married Phoebe Hogg. 

Eli Bruce Riley was seven years old when the 
family came to Illinois. He attended the log 
schoolhouse in the wild prairie near his home 
and spent the time not given to his studies in 
working with his father and brothers in clear- 
ing the home farm, on which he remained until 
just before his twenty-first birthda.v. He was 
married, January 17, 1867. to Miss Ann Rhodes, 
daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Ott) Rhodes, 
and from that time until 1874 he lived on rented 
farms. He then purchased a farm in Liberty 
Township, Effingham County, on which he lived 
for four .vears, when he sold out and located in 
Louden Township, Fayette County, where he 
had a tract of 120 acres, to which he later added 
eighty acres. He remained on this lattei- prop- 
ert.v until November. 1888, when he came to AJ- 
tamont and engaged In the saloon business with 
John Rhodes, at the corner of Railroad and Third 
streets, where he has successfull.v continued to 
the present time. He is a stanch Democrat in 
iwlitical matters, and is considered an influen- 
tial man in the work of his iiarty in this locality. 

Mr. Riley's first wife died in August, 1881, 
having been the mother of three children : John, 
of Altamont. who married (first) Alice Barr and 
(second) Amanda Logue ; Mary Elizabeth, who 
married RudoliA Flugey, of Chicago ; and Jesse 
Clarence, of Fayette County, who married Lola 
Logue. Mr. Riley was married (second) Octo- 
ber 24. 1883. to Mrs. John Roe (nee Jennie Hor- 
ton), and there were five children born to this 
union : Carrie Myrtle, Ivy L., Ada Lee. Curtis 
Glen and Velnia Ruth. 

ROBINSON, Martin K., who erected the mill in 
Effiu'^'ham County that still bears his name, was 
born in Kentucky in 1805, and at the age of 
twenty-nine years located in Effingham County, 
settling on the Wabash, four miles northeast of 
Mason. He opened up a farm and carried it on 
until 1858. During this time he went south and 
worked at boat-building on Pensacola Bay sev- 
eral winters, returning to spend his summers 
upon his farm. He was a man of great ambition 
and was never idle. In 1857-58 he erected his 
mill, which was once known throughout a large 
territory for the excellence of its flour. He was 
married three times and was the father of seven 
children. His third wife was the widow of Wil- 
kinson Leith. Politically Mr. Robinson was a 
strong Republican. He died March 22, 1868, and 
his death was mourned by a large circle of 
friends. 

The personal appearance of Mr. Robinson was 
striking and he was well remembered by anvone 



848 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



who made his acquaintance. He was tall and of 
comniaudiug stature, and although in youth he 
had lost one eye, the other was dark and pierc- 
ing. He was a man of unusually quicli percep- 
tion and good judgment. He was actively in- 
terested in all topics of general interest and able 
to speak fluently and convincingly on them. 

RUFF, Albert A., who is proprietor of the Oak 
Ridge Stock Farm, which is situated on Section 
18. Union Township, Effingham County, is one of 
that class of citizens who contribute faithfully 
to the advancement of the section in which they 
make heir homes. This class is the one to fur- 
ther public improvements, to establish perma- 
nent enterprises and, in an agricultural region, 
they are pretty sure to own the best grade of 
stock and make the most profit out of farming. 
Such is undeniably the case with Albert A. RufC. 
He was born on a farm in Shelby County, near 
Strasburg, 111., April 8. 186G, and is a son of 
John and Caroline (Kull) Ruff. 

Both parents were born about 1838 in Fair- 
field County. Ohio, and were married in 1861, 
their parents being natives of Germany. Both 
families were fanning people in Fairfield 
County. From there, in 1805, John Ruff moved 
to Shelby County, 111., and became a well known 
and respected man there. In 1906 he retired 
and settled in Strasburg, where he and his wife 
still reside. He has four brothers living in 
Shelby County, and one sister iu Chicago; one 
brother, Solomon, lives at Lima, Ohio. Mrs. 
Ruff has one sister, Emma, who married Chris- 
tian Brunne, and they live at Springfield, Ohio. 
To John Ruff and wife the following children 
were born : Clara, who is the wife of Lewis 
Kircher. a farmer near Strasburg. 111. : Hannah, 
who is the wife of Fred Hartman, a farmer in 
Shelby County : Albert A. : Martin, who is a 
farmer near Strasburg: Matilda, who is now de- 
ceased, was the wife of Robert Zimmer. a 
teacher and farmer near Neoga, 111. ; Emma, who 
is the wife of AUiert Vogel. a farmer near Stras- 
burg : John G.. now deceased, married Maggie 
Kincade. who later married John F. Turner, a 
farmer in Mason Township; Daniel, who is the 
Rural Free Delivery carrier out of Strasburg; 
Alice, who is the wife of Nelson Spurgeon, a 
farmer near Strasburg; and Lewis, who lives on 
the old homestead. John Ruff was a man of 
local prominence where he lived in Shelby 
County. He reared his large family carefully, 
and when his sons were twenty-one years of age 
he gave each a colt off the farm, and to each 
daughter he gave a cow. They all became well- 
to-do and respected residents of their several 
neighborhoods. They were reared in the Luth- 
eran faith, their parents lieing prominent in the 
Lutheran Church in Shelby County. 

Albert A. Ruff attended the district schools 
and helped in the duties on the farm, remaining 
■with his good parents until of age. In 1887 he 
started out for himself, working by the month, 
and spending four months of the first two years 



in Minnesota. He already owned the horse his 
father had given him, and with his first earn- 
ings he bought another and rented a farm in 
1889, which he and his brother-in-law, Fred 
Hartman, operated together. On September 3, 
1800, he was married to Miss Virginia M. Zim- 
mer, who was born in Tuscarawas County, 
Ohio, January 21, 1864, a daughter of Philip and 
Margaret A. (McBride) Zimmer, the former a 
native of Germany and the latter of Ohio. In 
1867 they moved to Shelby Cbunty, 111. In Ohio, 
Mr. Ziumier was a shoemaker, but when he set- 
tled in Illinois he liought a farm which he oper- 
ated until his death, in 1902. His widow sur- 
vived until 1906. They had ten children : 
Amanda, wife of Reuben Swengel. a merchant 
of Neoga. 111. ; Emma, wife of John Coen, a 
farmer near Neoga; Mrs. Ruff; Jul.vla, wife of 
Huston Clawson, a nurseryman and County Sur- 
ve.vor, of Cumberland County ; Robert H., a 
teacher near Neoga ; Nellie M., wife of Thomas 
Clawson. a farmer near Windsor, 111. ; Ernest, 
a farmer and teacher near Neoga; Antoinette, 
wife of Sylvester Clawson. a teacher and 
County Surveyor of Shelby County ; and Byron 
O.. a farmer near Neoga, 111. The father was 
an educated man and gave all his children edu- 
cational opportimities and a number of them be- 
came teachers, Mrs. Ruff being a teacher for six- 
teen .vears. in Shelby. Cumberland and Effing- 
ham Counties. She is a lady of much talent and 
many accomplishments. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ruff are the parents of three 
daughters : Eva Faye. born September 27, 1896, 
and at the age of thirteen years has passed the 
final examination of the eighth gi-ade in the com- 
mon schools and is eligible to admission into the 
High School ; Ruth Alberta, born December 23, 
1898, who is in her seventh .vear in the com- 
mon school ; and Gladvs Violet, born January 23, 
1905. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ruff located for 
a few months in Watson, but in the spring of 
1891 they settled on their farm of eighty acres 
to which they have added until they now own 
177 acres of most excellent land. This profierty 
has been carefullv improved and intelligently 
cultivated. Mr. Ruff has always been inter- 
ested in fine stock and has done much to raise 
the standard in his neighborhood. During the 
past two .vears he has given special attention to 
Perchernn horses and Hereford cattle, and he 
has a fine herd of the latter though not all 
registered. He also has five head of Pereheron 
horses and an imported stallion. "Frimas." F. N. 
61646. A. N. .50957. weight 1850. He also has 
a beautiful lilack mare, also imported, with 
others equally valuable. In 1909 he bought 
"Vesta" No. 45275, bred by Frank G. Besgrove 
of Fairbury. 111., and with this mare and his 
others in 1909. he won the first premiums at 
three county fairs — in Effingham. Richland and 
Jasper Counties. He won fourteen first pre- 
miums and three second. It is probable that the 
public will have further opportunity to see the 




o\vi:n wricht 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



849 



magnificent prodiicts of this stock farm at fu- 
ture exhibitions. 

In politics, Mr. Ruff is a Democrat and is 
School Treasurer in Union Township. He be- 
longs to the M. A. F. O. Mrs. Ruft" is active in 
the work of the Methodist Church. Socially 
they are widely kuown and their hospitable 
Lome Is frequently opened to their many 
friends. 

RUFFNER, Edward W. — The young farmers of 
Effingham County are taking advantage of the 
opportunities offered by recent discoveries and 
improved machinery and are reaping excellent 
results from their land. Among those thus rep- 
resentative of the class of modern agriculturists 
is Edward W. Ruffner of Section 2G, Union 
Township. He was bom on his present farm, 
May 11. 1872, a son of Harrison N. Ruffner, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 

After a boyhood spent in attending the dis- 
trict schools and assisting on the farm, in 1894, 
when twenty-two or twenty-three years old, he 
went to Denver, Col., and for a .vear was en- 
gaged in dairy work. From there he went to 
Pre.scott, Ariz., where for a time he had cliarge 
of the livery stable owned by his brother George. 
For a year he was employed in a copper mine, 
the Crown King, and for another year he worked 
in a mine owned by Senator W. A. Clark. In 
lOTO, he returned home and took charge of the 
homestead, buying 100 acres of it upon his 
father's retirement in 1902. He now owns 173 
acres in Union Township, and has brought his 
land into excellent condition. In 1909 he 
branched out into the dairy business and now 
has eighteen head of Jersey cattle, and at the 
head of the herd a registered bull of the finest 
breed. He is one of the leading .voung farmers 
of his locality and one who thoroughly under- 
stands his work. 

On December 3, 1902, he married Macy Ander- 
son, born in Mason Township, July 17. 1878, 
daughter of J. H. Anderson, a prominent man 
and successful stock buyer and shipper. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ruffner have three children : Ray, 
born December 26. 1903 : Clare, born February 
2, 1908, and Neva, bom March 10, 1910. He 
is a Democrat, being active in the party, and is 
a member of the Democratic Central Committee 
of the county. Fraternally he is a member of 
Masonic Lodge No. 217, and Camp 1202 of the 
M. W. A. of Mason. Both he and his wife be- 
long to the Eastern Star. They are Methodists 
and are active in church and Sunday school 
work. Mr. Ruffner is active in the Masonic 
lodge, having been sent as a delegate to the 
Grand Lodge meeting held in Chicago, October 
12, 1909. 

In all of his farming operations he has been 
eminently successful. For a number of years 
he has been raising Duroc-Jersey hogs, and aver- 
ages eighty per year. He ships his own stock 
and does some buying. He also buys and ships 
hay. 



RUFFNER, Harrison N,— One of the venerable 
citizens of Mason. 111., now living retired after 
a long life si)ent in agricultural pursuits, is 
Harrison N. Ruffner, who was born in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, January 10, 1834, a son of Andrew 
and Elizabeth (Leith) Ruffner. 

The great-grandfather of Mr. Ruffner on the 
maternal side was an Englishman by birth, and 
when a lad was left an orphan, being bound out 
to a farmer who later came to America and set- 
tled in Virginia. Being ill-treated, at the age of 
eighteen .vears the youth ran away and went to 
Ohio, where he was captured by the Wyandot 
Indians and held a prisoner until adopted by 
the chief of the tribe. With this tribe was a 
white girl who had been with them from the time 
she was two years old. The white girl being the 
same age as John Leith, they concluded to get 
married, but the old chief objected and wanted 
him to marry his own daughter. He then left 
them and joined another band of Indians on the 
Mississippi, near where St. Louis is today. He 
traveled on horseback as far as the Pacific 
Ocean (or "Osean," as he spelled it when writ- 
ing of his travels). The chief of the Wyandot 
Indians with whom he had previously lived sent 
him word that, if he would return he would be 
allowed to marry the white girl they had with 
them, to which the chief had beeu formerly 
bitterly opposed, and the youth went back and 
did .so. They settled in a log cabin and cleared 
a small farm, and here there were bom two 
children, one of whom became the grandfather 
of Harrison N. Ruffner. Later the Indians be- 
came angered at Mr. Leith and appointed a 
night when he should be killed, but a friendly In- 
dian informed him and he managed to escape 
with his wife and children and returned to the 
scene of his youth, in Virginia, where his wife 
was recognized by her mother by a birthmark. 
H. N. Ruffner, the subject of this sketch, can re- 
member seeing his great-grandfather, who lived 
to be ninety years of age. 

Andrew Ruffner was a native of Virginia, and 
in 18.32 married Elizabeth Leith, who was born 
in North Carolina. In 1841 he came to Illinois 
and entered land in Marion County, then re- 
tuming to Fairfield County. Ohio, where he died 
January 16, 1842. In the fall of the same year 
the widow, with her five children, came to Illi- 
nois and settled on the land the father had en- 
tered the year before. The children were : Sam- 
uel L., now a resident of Louisiana, has fol- 
lowed teaching throughout his life : Harrison N. ; 
Andrew, who died in Arizona in 1897; Margaret, 
wife of Charles Wilson, a resident of Mason ; 
and Dorothy, who became the wife of Lafayette 
Warner, and moved to Oregon, where both died. 
About 1847 Mrs. Ruffner married a second time, 
her husband being Joseph Morgan, and they had 
two children : Mary, widow of Aaron Henry, a 
resident of Redlands, Cal., and Sarah, who mar- 
ried Reason Wright, but is now deceased. 

Reared to the vocation of an agriculturist and 
educated in the district schools of his locality. 



850 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Harrison N. Rufifner grew to manhood and in 
1S4S, came to Efflngiiam County to work on dif- 
ferent farms. Of liis earnings from tliis time 
until he reached the age of twenty-five years he 
saved $800, with which he purchased fifty-seven 
acres of laud on Section 30, paying $200 on the 
land and devoting the remaining $600 to build- 
ing a two-room frame dwelling and the buying 
of a span of horses. July 19, 1859, he was mar- 
ried to Catherine White, who was born in Bond 
County, 111., September 2, 1836, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Agnes (Johnson) White, the former of 
Tennessee and the latter of North Carolina. Mr. 
and Sirs. \Miite were married February 28, 
1822, in Bond County, 111., where he died Sep- 
tember 28, 1845. In 1857 the widow came to 
Effingham County, 111. But three of their eleven 
children survive : Mrs. Ruffuer ; Ellen, the 
widow of Dr. William Duncan, residing in Clay 
County, and Frank, of Florida. The mother 
died in Mason, 111., February 23, 1893, when 
eighty-six years of age. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ruffner 
located on the farm in Section 30, Union Town- 
ship, and there they resided for forty-three 
years, making a splendid home and adding to 
their property until they owned 340 acres. In 
1902 Mr. Ruffner bought a beautiful cottage in 
the Village of Mason, where they live retired 
from active labors, in the comfort and repose 
that follow long years of useful endeavor. On 
July 19, 1909. they celebrated their golden wed- 
ding anniversary, on which date two to three 
hundred friends called at their home and man.y 
handsome and appropriate gifts were presented 
to this much-beloved couple. Their voyage 
through life has been a happy one, and they en- 
joy the respect and esteem of all who know 
them. Mrs. Ruffner is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church and her husband of the 
Christian denomination. Fraternally he is con- 
nected with Lodge No. 217 and Chapter 87, of 
the Masonic Order, in which he is now acting 
In the capacity of High Priest. Politically a 
Democrat, he served for many years as a mem- 
ber of the Board of Supervisors in Union Town- 
ship. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ruffner are 
as follows: Alma, born July 9, 1860, married 
Samuel Riggs, of Denver, Colo.; George, born 
November 16. 1862, of Prescott, Ariz.; Ellen, 
bom September 7, 1865. died September 19, 1872 ; 
Andrew, born March 12. 1870, on the farm in 
Union Township, married Rosa Turner ; Ed. W., 
bom May 11, 1872, married Macy Anderson; 
Walter, born March 25, 1876. was killed in a 
mine explosion in Arizona, May 20, 1900 ; Flor- 
ence, born February 7, 1879. deceased, was the 
wife of Gary Paugh ; and Lester, born May 28, 
1885. residing in Prescott^ Ariz. 

SCHMIDT, Joseph L. — Effingham County not 
only possesses some of the best farms in the 
State, but also some of the most progressive 
farmers who are taking advantage of every op- 



portunitj- offered by improved machinery and sci- 
entific methods. Joseph L. Schmidt, farmer, 
stockman and dairyman of Section 29, Douglas 
Township, is a good example of what a man can 
accomplish through energy and economy. He 
was born in St. Clair County, 111., November 5, 
18.56, a son of Henry H. and Catherine ( Bertke) 
Schmidt, both natives of Germany. They came 
to St. Louis, Mo., when young and there were 
married, about 1848. Later they removed to St. 
Clair County, 111., and rented land. In 1861, 
they moved to Effingham County, where Mr. 
Schmidt bought eighty acres of land in Douglas 
Township, which he developed into a permanent 
home for the family. 

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry 
H. Schmidt ; Catherine, widow of Herman Doedt- 
man, lives on the homestead ; Elizabeth, de- 
ceased ; Johanna, deceased ; Henry H. moved to 
Idaho, married, had a large family, and died in 
1905 ; Bernardine first married John Doedtman, 
and later George H. Meyer, a farmer of Doug- 
las Township. The father of this family died in 
1863. and his remains are interred in the Green 
Creek cemetery. After his demise, his widow 
married Clemens Albers. but died in 1907 at the 
age of seveutj--seven, outliving her second hus- 
band b.v only one year. 

Joseph L. Schmidt was only five years old 
when the family came to Effingham County, and 
he attended the Catholic school at Green Creek. 
At the age of sixteen, he went to Teutopolis, and 
for two and a half years served an apprentice- 
ship in the cabinet making trade, but on ac- 
count of his health transferred to the carpenter 
trade. After working for a number of years as 
a journeyman, he flnall.v embarked in business 
as a carpenter and builder, going first to Effing- 
ham, and then to Adrian, Minn., where he built 
up a large trade. Eighteen months later he re- 
turned to Effingham, and carried out some large 
country contracts. 

On November 20. 1883. he married Anna H. 
Jansen. daughter of Anthony Bernard Janseu, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, 
and they had five children : Elizabeth M., at 
home; Cecilia K., married Bernard Wesselman, 
a farmer of Douglas Township; Kathie V. mar- 
ried Henry Hoene. a farmer of Douglas Town- 
ship ; Anton H., and Laurence J. are at home. 
Mrs. Schmidt died October 20. 1895. In April, 
1901, Mr. Schmidt married Melania (Jansen) 
Kaufman, widow of Clem Kaufman. Mr. 
Schmidt continued in business as a carpenter 
until 1900, when he began farming on 240 acres, 
and now owns 586 acres, all in one body. He has 
a fine residence, and a large barn. .32x92 feet, and 
has made many excellent improvements, owning 
one of the be.st farms in Effingham County. His 
dairy barn has all the latest appliances, and is 
floored with cement. He feeds and milks twenty- 
three cows, and has a good grade of stock. He 
is one of the most successful men of his locality, 
not only as regards material matters, but has won 
for himself the confidence of all who know him. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



851 



Politically, lie is a Democrat. He and his family 
belong to the Green Creek Catholic Church. 

SCHRAM, Louis J., who is a practical farmer 
and stockraiser, operating 200 acres of land sit- 
uated ou Section 11. Mason Township, Effingham 
County, bears an old and honorable German 
name and with it the sturdy honesty and com- 
mendable thrift which are associated with the 
German people. He is one generation removed 
from Germany, however, having been born in 
Mason Township, Effingham County, 111., March 
12, 1S77, but both father and mother came from 
Gennany, the former born at Byron, October 9, 
1S26, and the latter at Wurtemberg. February 24, 
1847. Their names were Jacob and Frederika 
( Federschmidt ) Schram. 

In early manhood Jacob Schram left his na- 
tive country and came to America, settling first 
in Ohio. The Federschmidt family came to the 
same place and there the parents of Louis J. 
Schram became acquainted and were married 
August 4, 1865. To them six children were born : 
Eliza, born in Ohio in 1866, and married Frank 
Redding in 18S5. who died on the farm ou which 
he was born and where his widow and children 
still live; Rosetta, who was born in Effingham 
County, In 1868, married J. B. Stead : Josephiue. 
born in 1871 and married Robert Rheinhart, a 
merchant of Effingham ; Martha R., who was 
born in 1874 ; Louis J. ; Allie M., who was born 
In 1883, and Herman C, born in ISSS. The two 
last named still reside on the old homestead, on 
which all were born except Mrs. Redding. The 
father of the alx)ve family died October 9, 1902, 
and the mother November 7, 1906. 

On settling in Effingham County in 1866, Jacob 
Schram bought an unimproved forty-acre farm 
and immediately started to make a comfortable 
home for his family, later adding sixty more 
acres. He reared his children in comparative 
comfort and lived to see them all settled near the 
old homestead. He was respected by all and 
highly esteemed by many. 

Louis J. Schram attended the West Union 
district school and remained ou the home farm 
until he was about t^\-enty-three years of age. 
On November 8. 1899. he was iniited in marriage 
with Miss Glendora Turner, a daughter of Wilson 
Turner. They remained on the Schram farm 
until March, 1900, when they moved to the 
Wilson Turner farm and lived there until after 
the death of Father Schram, when he again took 
charge of the homestead for his mother. In 
1903 he rented 200 acres of land on Section 11, 
Mason Township, and has been unusually suc- 
cessful in his farming operations and raising of 
cattle and other stock. He has some fine Clydes- 
dale and Percheron horses, noble looking animals, 
and his hogs are of the Poland-China breed, while 
his cattle ore of the Red Durham variety. He 
owns an interest in a thorough-bred Percheron 
stallion, which was imported by Gibson and 
Crampton, of Greenup, 111. 

Mr. Schram is a Democrat in politics, and be- 



longs to the order of Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica, while Mrs. Schram is an interested member 
of the Royal Neighbors. She is also a member 
of the Christian Church, and in addition it may 
be said of this estimable lady, that she is a house- 
wife of such excellence that she not only makes 
a happy atmosphere for her husband, but makes 
her home inviting to others by her hospitalitj'. 

SCHWERMAN, Joseph P.— The business of con- 
ducting a dairy is one of the most profitable a 
farmer can have, provided he knows how to caiTy 
it ou proi^erly. Joseph P. Schwerman, of Section 
9, Douglas Township, Effingham County, is a 
man who has won success in all his enterprises, 
and now is an extensive farmer, stock raiser and 
dairyman. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
March 25, 1851, a .son of Joseph P. and Elizabeth 
(Eppke) Schwerman, both natives of Germany, 
who came to America before their marriage, and 
were married in Cincinnati. Joseph F. Schwer- 
man was a contractor for canal building and rail- 
road work, and had some very large contracts in 
both lines of work while he lived in Ohio and 
aLso a contract for three miles of the Illinois 
Central Railroad at Effingham. 

After coming to Effingham Couuty he bought 
laud in Teutofwlis Township, which he farmed 
for three years, when he bought a farm of 200 
acres on Section 30, west of Effingham, and this 
he developed into one of the best farms in 
that part of the county. No man stood higher in 
public esteem than he, and for twenty-five years 
he served as Highway Commissioner, and under 
his administration many improvements were 
made. He also served for many years as School 
Director, and being well educated himself, he be- 
lieved in giving the children good schools and 
capable teachers. He was a public-spirited man, 
full of energy, and had the ability to secure good 
service both in public and private life. In poli- 
tics he was a Democrat and in religious faith a 
Catholic, but respected the views of others. 

Beginning his pioneer life in Effingham County 
in a log cabin, Mr. Schwerman worked hard to 
develop his home. In time he built a beautiful 
brick residence, and spent his last years in com- 
fort and plenty, which he had earned himself. 
Coming to this counhy a Iwy of eighteen, he soon 
found work and sent for his mother, caring for 
her tenderly until her death. As his own family 
grew up. he gave his children a good education, 
and started them in life. His death occurred in 
March. 1905. bis wife having died in 1899, both 
passing away after well-si^ent, happy lives. The 
children born to these parents were : Joseph P. 
Scuwerman : Anton, a farmer of Summit Town- 
ship : John, on the old farm ; Mary, wife of Clem 
Hoffman, a farmer of Douglas Township ; Tracy, 
wife of Herman Vogt. of Watson Township; and 
Clem, in the old home. 

Joseph P. Schwerman was only four years old 
when his father and mother came to Effingham 
County, and he was educated in the district 
school and in Effingham, later attending the 



852 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Normal School at Normal. III., and for three years 
was a teacher in St. Anthony's Catholic School 
at EfHngham. In lS7(i he rented land and oper- 
ated 12.3 acres. During those days he cut his 
crops with a cradle, and was successful. In 
June. 1878. he married Mary Ungrund, also born 
in Cincinnati, and brought to Effingham County 
by her parents, who located on a farm in Summit 
Township, west of Effingham, but both are now 
deceased. After their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schwerman settled on ICiO acres set aside for 
him by his father and mother. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schwerman put up a house, and then commenced 
housekeeping in it. To this he has added until 
he now owns 350 acres of splendid farm land, 
and has always maintained a leading place among 
the farmers of his neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schwerman have had four children : Lawrence, 
who died April 5, 1888 ; Lizzie, died at the age of 
five years April 19, 1888 ; Tracy and Mary, both 
at home. 

Mr. Schwerman is a Democrat, and for ten 
years was the successful candidate of his party 
for the position of Supervisor. While on the 
board Mr. Schwerman did all in his power to 
secure a just and honest administration, and 
looked carefully after the interests of the people. 
He served on all the committees during his long 
term of service, and was a strong, conscientious 
member of the board. Probably no man of Effing- 
ham stands any higher in the counsels of the 
party than he, and his endorsement of a man or 
measure is all that is needed. He and his family 
belong to St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Effing- 
ham, and Mr. Schwerman is prominent in it. He 
has been permitted to witness man,v remarkable 
changes in the count.v since his arrival here 
fift.v-four years ago. and many of them have come 
about through his personal influence and public- 
spirited activity. 

SCOTT, Emmett, — The agriculturists of twenty 
or more years ago, as a general rule, gave their 
entire attention to the growing of crops and the 
cultivation of their fields, but the later generation 
of farmers have combined their farming opera- 
tions with those of daii-j-ing and cattle-raising, 
and have found that this method, if properly 
managed, brings success. Enmaett Sc-ott, a pros^ 
perous young farmer and dairyman of Section 20, 
Watson Township, ^as born on the farm he now 
owns. October 27, 1876, a son of the late Dr. Wil- 
liam F. Scott, a sketch of whose life and achieve- 
ments is to be found in another part of this pub- 
lication. 

Emmett Scott was reared on the home farm 
and given a good education in the district schools 
of his native localitj-. and has .spent his entire 
life on the old family homestead, with the excep- 
tion of three years spent in Oklahoma. He took 
charge of the farm while still a youth, his father 
being in poor health, and under his management 
it has bec-ome one of the best cultivated farms 
in the Watson district. For many years he car- 
ried on general farming, but in 1905 took up 
dairying as a side line, and now has fourteen 



head of fine Holstein and Durham cattle. The 
farm, originally comprising 120 acres, now con- 
sists of 180 acres of land, and Mr. Scott has made 
numerous improvements in the way of buildings, 
fencing, etc. Mr. Scott's reputation among his 
fellow townsmen is an enviable one. and their 
confidence in his ability and integrity has been 
evidenced by his election to the office of Highway 
Commissioner on the Democratic ticket. Fra- 
ternally, he is connected with the Odd Fellow 
and Yeomen Lodges of Watson. 

On November 12. 1905, Mr. Scott was united in 
marriage with Nora Pontius, who was born in 
Jackson Township, Effingham County, 111., Jan- 
uary 22, 1882, and to this union there have been 
born two children : Lee Douglas, born November 
14, 1906, and Walter Franklin, born May 10. 
1908. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Baptist 
Church and is prominent in church and social 
circles. 

SCOTT, James R., M. D., the Nestor of the med- 
ical profe.ssion in Effingham County, and for years 
a prominent and useful citizen of Edgewood, is 
one of the representative and interesting men of 
his section of Illinois. He is a mine of knowledge 
concerning people and events for years back, and 
has held such intimate relations with all that 
has contributed to advance both city and county, 
that a brief personal record of him cannot fail 
to interest readers of this work. He was born 
in Kentucky, near Brunerstown, September 13, 
1840. a son of Warner L. and Malinda (Decker) 
Scott. 

Warner L. Scott, who for many years followed 
merchant tailoring, at one time worked in the 
same shop as did Andrew Johnson, who later be- 
came President of the United States. Mr. Scott 
married Malinda Decker, a native of Bruners- 
town, K.V.. at which place three of their five chil- 
dren were born. The two survivors are James R., 
of Edgewood, and Taletha J., who married E. P. 
Thorp and now resides at Centralia, 111. In 1841 
the Scott family moved to Petersburg. Ind., where 
the father embarked in a mercantile business, re- 
maining until 1860. when he removed to Centralia. 
From there, in 1806. he movd to Jackson, Tenn., 
and it was in that section that he made his first 
experiments and proved the value of the Goodell 
Strawberry. He also was the founder of the 
fruit and vegetable shipping Industry in that sec- 
tion, and supplied many southern cities. He 
died In the South in 1869. and was laid to rest 
near Duquoin. 111. His widow made her home 
with her daughter at Centralia, where she died 
in 1895. 

In his boyhood. Dr. Scott accompanied his par- 
ents to Petersburg. Ind., where he was educated, 
his teacher in the High School being A. T. Hen- 
dricks, a brother of Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, 
who was Vice-President of the United States dur- 
ing the administration of President Grover Cleve- 
land. From the High School, Mr. Scott went 
into the office of Dr. J. K. Adams and then 
worked for a time at the printer's trade, in the 
meanwhile keeping up his medical studies under 




?i(^^.yy^Y^ 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



853 



the direction of Dr. Adams. In 1860 he entered 
the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, 
from which he was graduated in the class of 1SC2. 
His ambition was to secure a medical appoint- 
ment in the army as an aid to his practice, and. 
after being examined by the Medical Board at 
Louisville, Kj., he was made first assistant sur- 
geon and sent to the Third Kentucky Infantry, 
U. S. A. The commander of his regiment was 
Colonel (afterwards Governor) Thomas E. 
Bramlette. Dr. Sc-ott remained with that regi- 
ment until October, 1804, leaving it at Joues- 
boro, Ga., when he was sent to Louisville and 
honorably discharged. He then returned to Ceu- 
tralia, where his sister was living, but in the 
following winter returned to Louisville. He then 
accepted an appointment as contract physician 
in the Jeffersonville (Ind.) Hospital, under Dr. 
Goldsmith, taking charge of Wards 19 and 20, 
where he remained until March, 18(55. Then he 
was sent to Nashville, Tenn., and put in charge 
of a hospital there, and was iu that city when 
the assassination of President Lincoln occurred. 
Dr. Scott then returned to Centralia and, on 
May 12, 1865, located in Mason Township. Effing- 
ham County, where he entered into partnership 
with Dr. G. W. Cornwell. In 1867 the latter was 
elfited to the State Legislature and Dr. Scott 
carried on the work of the firm until 1870, when 
it was dissolved. Dr. Scott then coming to Edge- 
wood, opened up an office there. For forty-four 
years he has been one of the live men of Efling- 
ham County and, in the early days, when he an- 
swered the call of duty over many miles of un- 
broken prairie, in his mind's eye he saw the 
country as it is to-day. He realized better, per- 
haps, than would many with less chance for ob- 
servation or with less desire for the general wel- 
fare at heart, that energy, patience and industry 
were the levers ■which would turn the wild re- 
gions into cultivated lands and busy cities in a 
comparatively short time. These changes have 
come about, and he has been an active partici- 
pant In promoting many of them. His political 
bias has been Democratic and. had his profes- 
sional duties permitted, he might have been 
elected to almost any county office, so high has he 
always been held in public esteem. During the 
first administration of President Cleveland, he 
served as Postmaster at Edgewood and has been 
twice elected County Coroner. 

Dr. Scott was married (first) in 1866 to Mi > 
Mary Jacobs, who died in 1867. as did their i - 
fant child. In 1868 he was married (second) | 3 
Amelia Perren. who died in 1869. In 1871. 3 
married Mi.ss Maggie Gillmore, who survives at :, 
with him, enjoys the comforts of a beautif 1 
home, one of the finest in Edgewood. Dr. Scott 
owns considerable realty in this cit}'. together 
with his drug store, and for the last five years 
has devoted much of his time to his drug busi- 
ness, feeling that the hard practice of his younger 
years was better attended to by the later day 
physicians. There are those, however, who still 
feel that they must rely upon his strength and 



knowledge and experience, and this is hardly to 
be wondered at when the record shows that he 
has been present at the birth of 2,000 children in 
Effingham County, and in turn has waited on 
their children and their grandchildren. For forty- 
three years he has been identified with the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. Both he and wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

SCOTT, Dr. William F. (deceased).— On June 8, 
r.i(i7. when occurred the death of the venerable 
Dr. William F. Scott, soldier, farmer, optician, 
educator and township official, Effingham County, 
111., lost one of its representative men, and oiie 
who, during a long and useful life, had always 
been prominent in important movements and 
innovations. Dr. Sc«tt was born in Jack- 
•son Township, Effingham County, April 20, 1841, 
a .son of Dr. John O. Scott, a native of Virginia. 
The latter was born iu 1805, emigrated to Ten- 
nessee in 1823 and to Effingham County, 111., in 
18.30, settling in Jackson Township, where he 
became acquainted with Miss Martha Parkhurst, 
a native of Tennessee, who became his wife and 
l)ore him five children : Owen, of Decatur, 111. ; 
Thomas and Elisha of Missouri ; Dr. AVilliam F., 
and Samautha Ann, who became the wife of Mat- 
thew Gillespie, and died leaving about nine 
children. Dr. John O. Scott was a man of 
wonderful endurance, and followed his chosen 
profession until within a few years of his death, 
which occurred in 1892, at the home of his son, 
Dr. W. F. Scott. 

William F. Sc-ott was educated in the district 
school.s. also attending a normal school for a 
time, and en his return to his home local- 
ity became a teacher, continuing this in connec- 
tion with farming until the outbreak of the Civil 
War, when he enlisted in Company E, Seventy- 
first Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with 
which he went to Columbus, Ky. The hardships 
of a strenuous campaign soon broke down his 
health and he became disabled for duty in the 
ranks, finally being sent to the Marine Hospital 
at Chicago. On his return to his regiment, he 
was made Quartermaster Sergeant, and as such 
his duties were the caring for the horses bought 
for use in the army. On receiving his honorable 
discharge from the service of his country, he re- 
turned home and again took up teaching as a pro- 
fession. 

In Jasper County, 111., Mr. Scott was united 
in marriage with Melissa Blackford, born in 
Jefferson County, Ind., November .30, ia52, a 
daughter of Martin and Mary (Crawford) Black- 
ford, natives of Jefferson County. For ten years 
after his marriage Dr. Scott continued teaching, 
but finally settled down to farming, only still 
later to become an optician, and as such he 
gained an enviable and widespread reputation in 
Effingham County. Dr. Scott continued to carry 
on this occupation until the time of his death, 
and his success in cases of a complicated nature 
won him the respect, confidence and esteem of 
the people throughout this section. He had been 
a brave and faithful soldier, a noted and popular 



854 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



educator and a successful farmer, and in his 
last effort he reached the goal with as much suc- 
cess. Politically a Democrat, he was one of the 
leaders of his party in Effingham County, and 
served in the capacities of Trustee. Justice of 
the Peace, School Trustee and Highway Commis- 
sioner. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge at 
Watson. While not a member of any particular 
religious denomination, he was generous in the 
promotion of all worthy movements, and was 
kindly and charitable to all who sought for aid. 
To Dr. and Mrs. Scott were born a family of 
eight children, namely : Lola, born September 7, 
1S72, now the wife of Henry Lane of Shuuiway ; 
Ninta G.. born August 2, 1S74. wife of George 
Austin of Effingham ; Emmet R.. born October 
27, 1876, a farmer of Watson Township; Ethie 
E.,' bom February 19, 1870, wife of Arthur Miles- 
worth of Effingham; Worley F., born July 11. 
ISSl. a business man of Johnson Creek. Mich.; 
AVorten. born March 11, 1S84, was last heard 
from when in Montana ; John Owen, born No- 
vember 27, 18S(J. a teacher In the schools of Ef- 
fingham County; and Tressa M., born October 
25, 189.S, living at home with her widowed 
mother on the old homestead. 

SHEA, John. — No man can attain the honor of 
occupying the highest office within the gift of a 
municipality unless he is iwssessed of more than 
average ability and knows how to make his work 
count for something. When he leaves the 
office after a successful occupancy, he has every 
reason to be proud of what he has accomplished. 
John Shea. Mayor of Effingham, 111., whose 
eound, business-like administration is meeting 
with universal approbation, is a native of Day- 
ton, Ohio, born April 12, 1854, a son of Timothy 
and Ellen (Marriety) Shea, natives, respectively, 
of County Kerry and County Kildare, Ireland, 
who were married in America. After marriage 
they located in Crawfordsvllle, Ind., and ten 
years later moved to Vigo, Ind., where the father 
"lived until his death, in 1888. the mother having 
died in 1859. By occupation he was a farmer 
and a worthy, good man. Ma.vor Shea is the 
eldest in the family of three children born to his 
parents, all of whom are living. 

Mr. Shea was educated in the district schools 
of Vigo County. Ind., but the greater part of his 
learning was obtained in the school of experience. 
Working on the farm until he was twenty. Mr. 
Shea came in the spring of 1874 to Effingham, 
and became employed in the Vandalia Railroad 
shops, where he worked three years. In 1877 he 
went to Bell County. Tex., and engaged in mill- 
ing, but two years later came back to Effingham 
and embarked in butchering business, in which 
he has since continued with marked success. As 
one of the live Democrats of Effingham County. 
Mr. Shea has been very active, and has been a 
member of the City Council since 1885. with the 
exception of two terms. In 1907 he was hon- 
ored by election to the office of Mayor, and has 
been one of the best officers the city has ever 
known. An excellent business man himself, Mr. 



Shea has endeavored to conduct the city's affairs 
upon business lines, and his success has been re- 
markable. Like all his family, Mr. Shea is a 
Catholic in religious belief, and is one of the 
church's most liberal supporters. 

On December 22, 1879, Mr. Shea was mar- 
ried, at Effingham, 111., to Carrie Reinhardt, born 
in Jacksonville, 111., March 29, 1858, daughter of 
Fied Reinhardt (born In Germany) and his wife, 
Anna (Bergiman) Reinhardt (born in St. Louis). 
Mrs. Shea died March 30, 1889, leaving three 
children : T. J., who married Catherine Sheets, 
and they reside in East Chicago, where he is en- 
gaged in railroad clerical work, has one child ; 
Leonard, died when four years and six months 
old ; and J. C. who is employed as an operator 
on the Vandalia Railroad. On November .3, 1902, 
Mr. Shea married Josephine Sauer, and they have 
two litle ones: Madeline and Eugene T., both at- 
tending school. 

Mr. Shea is an excellent example of the self- 
made man. Successful in business affairs, prom- 
inent politically, popular among a wide circle of 
friends, beloved by his family, Mr. Shea is a man 
to be envied, and when it is remembered that it 
was a poor boy with but a limited education 
who attained his present position, some idea may 
be gained of what he has accomplished and a 
proper amount of credit be given him. 

SHUBERT, William H.— One of the most notable 
examples of self-made men to be found in Effing- 
ham County is William II. Shubert, of Altamout, 
111., who, beginning as a stable-boy, has (at the 
age of thirtj--flve years) risen to the position of 
President of the First National Bank. Mr. Shu- 
bert was born February 5, 1875. at Holton. Rip- 
ley County. Ind., the fifth child and third son of 
the ten children born to Daniel M. and Abigail 
(Cox) Shubert. the fonner a native of Ken- 
tucky and the latter of Indiana. The father now 
resides at Neoga, 111., where the mother died. 
He comes of German stock, while the Cox family 
(formerly siwlled Ctoke) were early settlers of 
A'irginia, where they were extensive slave-own- 
ers, but freed their slaves prior to the Civil War. 

William H. Shubert was a child of three years 
when his parents removed to Neoga, Cumberland 
County, 111., and there he attended the public 
schools, later entering the Central Normal Col- 
lege, and finally taking a course at the Gem City 
Busine.ss College, from which he was graduated 
with the degree of Master of Accounts. He had 
not been able, however, to secure his education 
without some trouble, as his finances were low, 
and when seventeen years of age he had taught 
school for a time and worked in a livery stable 
for seven sunmiers at ,$15 a month. When but 
twenty -one years of age he was elected Tax Col- 
lector of Cumberland Ctounty, which enabled him 
to finish his education at the business college. 
His first banking experience was in the Cum- 
berland County National Bank, at Neoga. from 
which he went to Greenup, 111., as Cashier of 
the Feltner Bank, in 1899, continuing in that 
capacity for two years, and assisting in consoli- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



855 



dating that institution with the People's Banlj, 
also of Greenup. 111., a private institution, the 
name being changed to the First National Bank, 
of which he was Cashier and Director, holding 
a Directorship until 1909. He is connected with 
the Coles County State Bank, at JIattoon, 111. 
In 1007 Mr. Shubert came to Altamout, and in 
that year organized the First National Bank, 
with himself as President ; H. Scbwerdtfeger, 
Vice-President ; J. L. Brummerstedt, Assistant 
Cashier, and the following Board of Directors : 
Messrs. W. H. Shubert, H. Sehwerdtfeger, R. H. 
Osborne, G. M. Baker (M. D.), Edward Lauge 
and J. E. Rhodes. In two and oue-half years 
this enterprise has grown from a small begin- 
ning to a business approximating $200,000 in de- 
posits, and is located in its own handsome, sub- 
stantial structure. 

While a resident of Greenup Mr. Shubert was 
successful in drawing Andrew Carnegie's atten- 
tion to the town, and the latter donated a public 
librai-y, Mr. Shubert acting in the capacity of 
Director and President of the Library Board for 
three years. He was the organizer of the Green- 
up Broom Company, of which he is still a Direc- 
tor, and of the Greenup Machine Company, of 
which he is Vice President. He is the owner of 
considerable farming land in Ettingham County, 
a cotton plantation in Arkansas and laud In the 
Dakotas and Oklahoma. Politically a Republi- 
can, he served as Census Enumerator in Neoga, 
Cumberland County. He is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. 
Shubert is connected with the Masons, the 
Knights of Pythias, the Order of the Eastern 
Star, the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Modern Wood- 
men, the Sons of Veterans and the Odd Fellows. 
He is Vice President of the Altamont Public 
Library. 

On September 28, 1904, Mr. Shubert was mar- 
ried, at Mulberry Grove, III., to Bessie Osborne, 
daughter of Rev. Ralph H. and Sarah (Catlin) 
Osborne, residents of Mulberry Grove. 

SHUMAKER, David.— Effingham County has 
had the privilege of honoring many of the veter- 
ans of the Civil War, some of whom still survive, 
although the ma.iorlt.v have alread.v answered 
the last roll call. Among the latter of this class 
of whose record the people of Effingham County 
had reason to be proud, was David Shumaker, of 
West Township, a fonner successful farmer and 
honored citizen, but who passed away May 17, 
1910. Mr. Shumaker was born on a farm eight 
miles east of Lancaster, Fairfield Ctounty, Ohio, 
September 3, 1844, a son of John and Mary (or 
Polly (Friesner) Shumaker. The grandfather 
of the latter was an officer in Washington's army 
and spent a winter at Valley Forge. His son, 
Frederick C, the maternal grandfather of Mr. 
Shumaker. was a Virginian by birth, and was 
the youngest of his father's children. Frederick 
C. Friesner moved to Fairfield County. Ohio, 
where his death occurred. John Shumaker, the 
father of David Shumaker, was born in Penn- 
sylvania, and moved to Ohio with his parents 



when eighteen years of age. He began farming 
in Fairfield Count.v, and before he was married, 
hauled lumber with a five-horse team and built 
one of the first mills in that county. His wife 
lived but a short time after the birth of David, 
Fbo was her second child, her death occurring 
In 1845. The second wife of John Shumaker was 
Mrs. Rebecca (Brery) Turner. John Shumaker 
died iu Fairfield County, when fifty-four years of 
age. He had two children by his first marriage, 
and eight by his second, as follows: Malinda' 
Mrs. Daniel Everett, of Ohio; David; Mary' 
Mrs. John Seifert of Fairfield County; Eli, a 
Methodist minister of Crawford County, Ohio; 
Martha. Mrs. Aaron Lutz of Fairfield 'County ; 
John W., of Allen County. Ohio; Sophia Hester 
Mrs. O'Hare of Fairfield County: William h' 
on the home farm in Ohio; Annie, Mrs. Frank 
Seifert of Somerville. Kan., and Clara. 

David Shumaker attended public school until he 
was sixteen years old. at the same time working 
on the farm. In 1S62 he enlisted as a private 
at Lancaster, Ohio, in Company A. Seventeenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain B. F 
Butterfield and Colonel John McConnell, the lat- 
ter being succeeded by Colonel Durbin Ward. 
They first went into camp at Cincinnati, but later 
were sent to join the Army of the Cumberland. 
The first battle in which the regiment partici- 
pated was that at Crab Orchard, Kv.. but in all 
Mr. Shumaker took part in tbirtv-five engage- 
ments, and after a brave and loval service w'as 
discharged at Louisville, Ky., at the close of the 
war. 

Returning home the young hero resumed his 
farming operations, and on October 4, 1866 was 
married to Sarah Ann Seitz, who was born in 
Fairfield County, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel 
and Catherine Seitz. She died in 1S74 a con- 
.sistent member of the Methodist Church. Their 
children were: Edward S. of Indianapolis; Cora 
Belle, Mrs. Charles Caldwell of West Township; 
George W., of Ma.son Township; Katv Ann Mrs' 
Bert Caldwell of Nebra.ska ; Willie," of Jackson 
Township. The second wife of Mr. Shumaker 
was Maria Smith of St. Elmo, 111., daughter of 
the late Leonard Smith, and they became the 
parents of three children: Charles A at home- 
Jennie F., Mr. F. S. Lovett, of Mattoon. 111., and 
Raymond Alva, of Mason Township, a mail car- 
rier. 

Some time after his first marriage. Mr. Shu- 
maker moved to Darke County. Ohio, where he 
was engaged in farming operations until his re- 
moval to West Township. Effingham County, III 
in 1873. Here he bought lOO acres of land which 
continued to be his home until his death. In 
addition he owned forty acres in Mason Town- 
ship. This land was partly improved when he 
bought it, but he still further improved it, becom- 
ing in his later .vears the owner of an excellent 
farm. Mr. Shumaker was a member of Ran- 
some Post, No. 99, G. A. R., which was organized 
twenty-six years ago, and of which at the time 
of his death he was serving his eleventh year as 
Commander. He was also a member of the Gil- 



856 



EFFINGHAIVI COUNTY 



more Methodist Churcb, and had been one of its 
Trustees from the time It was built. As may 
naturally be inferred from bis war record, he 
was a life-long Reiiublicau. During his last 
years he served as Justice of the Peace, his death, 
as already explained, occurring May 17, 1910. 
He was widely known and universally resi>ected 
for his many excellent traits of character. 

SMITH, John Henry Clay.— After many yeara 
siient in cultivating the soil in any one vicinity, 
the average Illinois farmer is loath to turn over 
his life work into other hands, but on coming 
to a realization that the time has come for him 
to retire from active pursuits and settle down to 
the enjoyment that bis years of toil have earned 
for bim.'he invariably moves to the nearest town 
or village and there becomes one of its best 
citizens. John Henry Clay Smith, a highly es- 
teemed resident of Altamont, 111., now living 
retired was born on a farm near Laurel, Frank- 
lin County, Ind., April 20. IS-'ll. a son of Sum- 
ner G. and Sally (Buckley) Smith, and a grand- 
son of James and Elizabeth (Tanner) Smith. 

Sumner G. Smith, who was a soldier of the 
War of 1812, under Colonel Strattou, came to 
Franklin County, Ind., after bis marriage, and 
took up government land, on which he resided 
until be was more than eighty years of age, when 
his son John H. C. Smith, brought both his par- 
ents to' his home In Illinois, and here they spent 
the remainder of their days. They were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. 
Smith was a Whig and later a Republican in 
politics. The children born to this worthy 
couple were: Hannah, who died young; James 
B who died in Iowa ; Sarah, who married Ben 
Pa'rtlow and died In Effingham County: John 
Henry Clav : Nathan B., of Avena. 111., who mar- 
ried Miss Toolev ; David, a store-keeper, who was 
killed by the Indians in New Mexico; and Eliza- 
beth who married Samuel Smootz, of Joplin. 
Mo ' Only three of these are now living, namely : 
John Henry Clay, Nathan B. and Elizabeth (Mrs. 
Smootz). . ,.,,.. 

John Henry Clay Smith received his education 
in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse of his day, 
with its open fireplace, puncheon seats, slab desks 
and greased paper window, and when not at 
school he was busy with the duties of the farm 
such as fell to the share of any pioneer boy of 
his time. A poor boy, he came to Illinois m 185.3, 
and -settled in the Devore Settlement in Summit 
Township, Effingham County, but later pur- 
chased eighty acres in Moccasin Township. On 
July 16 18.54, he was married to Mary Ann De- 
vore. daughter of Judge James Devore, and re- 
sided on the Devore place until 1856, when he 
removed to Moccasin Township. Here he re- 
sided until 1893. with the exception of three 
years spent in Iowa, near Indianola, and his 
ifarming operations were so successful that the 
original eighty acres had grown to 216 at the 
time he was ready to retire. He was for many 
years a breeder of blooded horses and cattle, and 
lie has bred some of the finest animals that ever 



came from this State, Including ''Adonis," the 
famous coach horse, and "Armstrong," a noted 
I'ercherou .stallion, the latter of which he still 
owns. In addition to being well known as a 
farmer and stock-raiser, Mr. Smith has been 
prominent in public affairs, and during his resi- 
dence in Moccasin Township he served as (Don- 
stable, during which time there were but three 
arrests, he being an advocate of peaceful meth- 
ods in .settling an argument. For fifty years he 
has been Class Leader in the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, haying joined that denomination 
at the age of eighteen years, and he has also 
served as Steward, Trustee and President of 
the Board. He is a Republican in political mat- 
ters. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born four 
children : William H., a farmer of Dexter, III., 
•who married Annie Taylor ; Rachel, who died at 
twenty years of age ; Nathan Albert, of Ne- 
braska, who married Nancy Blackwell ; and Da- 
vid, a farmer of Dexter, who married Katy Tay- 
lor. January 17. 1900, Mrs. Smith died, and was 
buried at Dexter January 29, 1901. Mr. Smith 
married as his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth (Car- 
penter) Turner, widow of W. W. Turner, ojt 
Fayette County, 111. Mrs. Turner's first hus- 
band was a veteran of the Civil War. She had 
one daughter, who died August 2, 1904, and has 
four grandchildren, all living, and one grandson, 
a soldier in the Regular Army, now stationed 
at Monterey, Cal. 

SMITH, Serela R. (Kirby). — One of the venerable 
ladies of Jackson Township, who has seen many 
changes take place in Effingham County since 
her arrival here many years ago, is Mrs. Serela 
R. (Kirby) Smith, who is now living on her ex- 
cellent farm in Jackson Township. She was bom 
in Smith County, Tenn., January 6, 1837, the 
daughter of Shepherd and Elizabeth (Good) 
Kirby. 

Both Shepherd Kirby and bis wife were born 
in Tennessee, the former in 1805 and the latter 
in 1807. and they were married and spent their 
lives in that State. She died in 1847 and was 
buried in Defeated Creek neighborhood, having 
borne her husband nine children, eight of whom 
grew to maturity, one dying when fifteen years 
of age, w-bile four are now living. After the 
death of his first wife Mr. Kirby married again, 
his second wife being Almire Clark, by whom 
he had two children. Shepherd Kirby died in 
1885. his widow surviving him several years. 

Serela R. Kirby was educated In the subscrip- 
tion schools of Macon C\mnty Tenn.. and was 
there married, October 2, 1853. to Joseph A. 
Smith, who was born in Limestone County, Ala., 
November 11. 1831, a son of Ezekiel and Mary 
(Shank) Smith, the former a native of Virginia 
and the latter of Georgia, both of whom died 
in Tennessee. They were the parents of nine 
children, he being" the youngest in order of 
birth. Mr. Smith resided at home until eigh- 
teen years of age, when he came to Tennessee, 
and "after marriage, settled on a farm there 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



857 



until 1866. He was drafted for service in the 
Confederate army, but enlisted in tlie Union 
cause, October 28, 1863, as a member of Com- 
pany E, First Regiment. Tennessee Volunteer 
Mounted Infantry, serving one and one-half 
years successively as Second and First Leuten- 
ant. and being discharged January 22. 1865, at 
Gallatin. Tenn., by reason of expiration of ser- 
vice. The company was commanded by Capt. 
James S. Bonham. After the completion of his 
service, he returned to his family and, in 18*36, 
came to Illinois, settling in Effingham County, 
soon thereafter purchasing the farm on which 
his widow now resides. He made numerous im- 
provements on the place, and at the time of his 
death owned 190 acres. Mr. Smith died on this 
farm September 10, 1905, and was buried at the 
Jackson Church, in Jackson Township, of which 
he and his wife were members. He was a 
stanch Republican in politics, and served as As- 
sessor of Jackson Township, as well as Postmas- 
ter at Osker Post Office. He belonged to Alta- 
mont Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. 
Smith carried on a general line of farming, and 
in his efforts was very successful. He was 
known as a successful farmer and good citizen, 
and in his death the county lost one of its rep- 
resentative men. Mrs. Smith, who is respected 
and esteemed througbout Jackson Township, is 
now living a quiet, retired life on the farm 
where she has spent so many years. 

Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith, and the eleven survivors are now all 
married. The order of birth was as follows : 
Frances M.. born August 19, 1854: Harriet E., 
born April 20. 1856; Cicero C bom May 7. 1S58; 
Cj-dney S.. born September 17. 1860; Eli S.. de- 
ceased, born October 19. 1862 ; Jincy C, born 
December 16, 1864; .Joseph E.. deceased, bom 
November 4. 1867 ; Owen S.. born February 1.3, 
1870; .John M.. hom July 13. 1872; Lou R.."born 
December 24. 1874; Edward G., born February 
17, 1877; Royal L.. born November 3. 1879: and 
Rosie D., born June 2. 1883. 

SNOOK, John R., who has held the position of 
Postmaster of Altamont, III., for the past ten 
years, is one of the best known citizens of his 
part of the State, and is honored as a veteran of 
the Civil War. He was born April 23. 1847. at 
Greensburg. Decatur County. Ind.. a son of Wil- 
liam H. and Sarah B. (Robbins) Snook, both 
well known families of Decatur County. 

The son of a successful merchant tailor, young 
Snook attended the district schools of his day. 
and at the age of fifteen years became self-sup- 
porting, working as a helper in a blacksmith 
shop. When but sixteen years of age he en- 
listed as a private. May 16. 1864. in Company A. 
One Hundred Thirty-fourth Regiment. Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry. Capt. .Joseph Drake and Col- 
onel .James Gavin, commanding, which was as- 
signed to the Army of the Cumberland under 
General Thomas. After some hard and vigorous 
fighting, during which he proved his bravery as 
a soldier, Mr. Snook was honorably discharged 



at Indianapolis, at the expiration of his term of 
service. His father fought in the Seventh and 
Seventy-second Indiana Volunteers, and his 
brother. William L.. was a musician in the Sev- 
enth Regiment. After his return from the army, 
Mr. Snook learned the galvanized iron and cor- 
nice business, which he followed for many years, 
and then moved to Chicago, where until 1886 he 
was engaged in a produce commission business. 
In the .vear mentioaed he came to Altamont, and 
with his brother founded a commission business, 
which was successfully carried on until 1900, 
when Mr. Snook received his .appointment as 
Postmaster, from President McKinley, and has 
continued to act in that capacity to the present 
time. 

Mr. Snook is a stanch Republican, and has been 
an active worker for the interests of his party. 
He has served as Mayor and Alderman, as a 
member of the School Board, and was elected by 
his congressional district doorkeeper of the con- 
vention nominating McKinley in 1896. He Is 
Vice President of the .\ltamont Canning Com- 
pany. He has been iirominent in Grand Army 
of the Republic matters, first joining at Emmets- 
burg and, in 1888. removing his membersbip to 
Robert Anderson Post, No. 6:32, Altamont. in 
which he has served as Commander, and for the 
past twelve years has been Adjutant. He is a 
member and trustee of Altamont Presbyterian 
Church. 

Jlr. Snook was first married in 1878 to Miss 
Elizabeth Robbins. of Greensburg, Ind., who died 
eighteen months later, one child having been born 
which died in infancy. Later Mr. Snook married 
as his second wife Minnie P. Stevens. They have 
no children. 

STALLINGS, Henry, one of the oldest residents 
of Effingham County, 111., was born in Posey 
County. Ind.. June 8. 1821, a son of Benjamin 
and .\nna Stallings, who emigrated from In- 
diana to Effingham County. 111., in the year 1825. 
The Stallings family settled on a tract of gov- 
ernment land in Town 8 North, Range 7 East of 
the Third Principal Meridian, and their nearest 
neigbbors at first were at least twelve miles dis- 
tant. Here Mr. Stallings, surrounded by a few 
skulking Indians, a goodly number of wolves and 
other wild animals, could truly exclaim. "I am 
monarch of all I survey. My right there is none 
to dispute." He built a primitive house and es- 
tablished a home for his family. He was a na- 
tive of North Carolina, moved from his native 
State to Posey County, and a few years later 
niade the trip to Illinois, taking with him his 
wife and three children — Jackson, Henry and 
Susan. He brought his household goods and his 
children on one pack-horse, and he and his wife 
walked most of the way. After they left Vin- 
cennes they were without any guide except the 
old Indian trails and those made by the Govern- 
ment surveyors. In their new home in Effing- 
ham County the family endured all the hard- 
ships and privations incident to i)ioneer life, 
their nearest trading point of that day being 



y 



858 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Vincennes or Vandalia. Mr. Stalliugs had prac- 
tically to support his family with his rifle, as 
their main food was venison and other wild 
game. It is recounted by his son Henry, who was 
of an age to remember their trials, that for one 
wuole year the family subsisted on venison and 
wild honey. Thus surrounded by difficulties and 
hardships! this sturdy pioneer reared his family 
of eight children, four of whom survive, viz. : 
Henry. Susan. Telitha and Amanda, the young- 
est born in 1830. 

For some years after Benjamin Stalliugs first 
settled in Illinois it was impossible to raise any 
kind of grain for bread, as the deer, wild tur- 
keys, squirrels and prairie chickens would eat it 
up or destroy It before it could ripen. He never 
owned any land In Illinois, raising his family 
on government land, and when the neighborhood 
became more settled, he sold his claim and moved 
to a point where there were few settlers. He 
died in Effingham County, in 1851, his wife sur- 
viving him but a short time. 

Henry Stalliugs grew to manhood under all 
the privations, adversities and hardships above 
mentioned, and had no chance to attend school 
in his boyhood, as there was no teacher or school 
in the neighborhood of his father's home. As a 
young man, he learned the carpenter's trade and 
worked at it and at blacksmithing. becoming a 
useful man in the neighborhood. He also devel- 
oped a talent for music and became a good per- 
former on the violin, being much in demand at 
the eountiT dances. 

In 1846 Mr. Stalliugs married Mi.ss Louisa 
Masquelette, and to this union six children were 
born, two of whom are now living, namely : John 
and Francis Joseph. Mrs. Stalliugs died in I860 
and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Teu- 
topolis. Mr. Stalliugs married (second), in 1871, 
Mrs. Cresentia Hipp, and to this luiion was born 
one son. who died in early manhood, leaving a 
widow. 

Jlr. Stalliugs was always fond of hunting and 
all outdoor pioneer sports, and In early days kept 
his table well supplied with the choicest wild 
meats. He has always been a kind, obliging 
neighbor, a respected citizen and a peaceable. 
Christian gentleman. He is a member of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and politically Is a 
Democrat. He now lives retired in his quiet, 
comfortable home, on a little farm about three 
miles from the City of F.fflngham. having a life- 
interest In the estate. He is active for his age. 
does considerable light work looking after his 
home interests, and everj- few days drives in his 
huggv to the city. He is cared for by the widow 
of his deceased son. 

STETTBACHER, Hermann. — After spending 
long years in the hard and unceasing work of 
the .igriculturist and accumulating competen- 
cies sufficient so that they may relinquish active 
labor, many of the citizens of Effingham County 
have turned over their property to the care of 
others, and are spending their declining years in 
nearby towns and cities, retired from activities 



and enjoying the fruits of their early labors. One 
of the highly esteemed retired citizens of Alta- 
mont. 111., is Hermann Stettbacher, who was for 
many years a farmer of Ma.son Township. He 
was born March 31, ]}?H4, in Zurich, Switzerland, 
where his father followed the vocation of 
teacher for forty-five years. In his native coun- 
try the young man formed the acquaintance of 
the American Consul, Mr. Fay. He had at- 
tended the schools of his native city until six- 
teen years of age. one of his schoolmates being 
Charles Riemenschueider, son of the first mis- 
sionary .sent to Switzerland by the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. A ueighbor, Henry Bosshart, 
a man of letters, had spent two years In the 
United States, and returned with glowing ac- 
counts of the c-ountry. Young Stettbacher be- 
came enthused with the Western spirit, and In 
1860 came to the United States with Mr. Boss- 
hart, landing at New Orleans, the first week In 
the year 1861, after a voyage of si.xty-three days. 

The war fever was at that time at its height, 
and feeling ran high as was evidenced when one 
of the sailors on board the vessel threw hot cof- 
fee into the face of a negress cook who was 
serving him. They were compelled to remain In 
Xew Orleans for a time, as at first they could 
get no lx)at, and finally stole aboard a boat laden 
with cotton, but were discovered by the captain, 
who threatened to put them off at Natchez. An 
arrangement was made, however, that they were 
each to pay him four dollars, and that Mr. Stett- 
bacher was to help unload cotton at the different 
ports. At Natchez the little party had to re- 
plenish their rations. Mr. Stettbacher left the 
vessel at Memphis, having one dollar left of the 
five with which he had left New Orleans. He 
decided to buy twenty-five cents' worth of 
bread and in payment for the same handed the 
old German baker from whom he was making 
the purchase his dollar bill, which was refused. 
The only other money possessed by Mr. Stett- 
bacher was a silver dime, which the good-hearted 
old German said would do. They finally reached 
Cairo, where they secured fi^e passage on a boat 
to St. Louis, and at this city Mr. Stettbacher met 
a friend who was working In a drug store and 
gave bini assistance on his way to Trenton. 111. 
From there he walked nine miles through rain, 
slush and snow to Highland. Madison County, 
where he met his uncle, Solomon Stettbacher. a 
gardener, in whose employ he remained two 
years. He then spent three and one-half years 
as laborer on a fann of 720 acres, at Marine. 

On September 20. 1866. Mr. Stettbacher was 
married to Rosalie Faers, who was born in 
Schoftland. Argan. Switzerland. .July 21. 1846, 
and came to the United States in 18.54. landing 
in New Orleans with her parents and coming 
thence to Highland, 111. Her father. Samuel 
Faers. was a school teacher for twenty-two .vears 
in Switzerland, and her mother was Ro.sa!ie 
(Haldeman) Faers. After marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Stettbacher resided on a rented farm two 
years, and he then came to Effingham County 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



859 



and purchased 118 acres near Edgewood, very 
little of which was then imjiroved. Forty acres 
were iu timberland, and the only buildings 
thereon were an old log house and a stable. The 
rest of Mr. Stettbaeher's active life was spent 
on this place, and iu liXI9 he retired and moved 
to Altamont, where he now makes his home. 
Both he and his wife joined the Evangelical As- 
sociation in West Township, and he was Sunday 
School Superintendent for sixteen years, and 
Trustee for a long ijeriod. In politics a Repub- 
lican, he served some years as School Director. 
The children born to Mr. and Mi-s. Stett- 
bacher have been as follows : Edward, a mail 
carrier of Altamont, married Ella Lieb ; Anna, 
who died young, married Edward Madge ; 
Charles, is an Evangelical minister in Minne- 
sota ; Samuel, of Mound Township, married 
Emma Deugoleski ; Dena, married Harve.v 
Young, of Effingham County ; Conrad, of Mocca- 
sin Township, man'ied Lillle Harrison ; Rosa, a 
teacher in Mahomet, 111. : Dora, married Frank 
Gillespie, of Mason, 111. ; Emelia, of Gibson City, 
111. ; and Marie, at home. 

STETTBACHER, Samuel S.— Effingham County's 
history has been develoiied by the men who first 
settled in it, and more pages are constantly be- 
ing added by those whose lives are now being 
enacted. The agricultural sections of this 
county are extensive and productive, so that 
many of its residents are engaged in farming, 
with iirofit to themselves and benefit to their 
communities. Samuel S. Stettbacher, of Mound 
Township, is an excellent example of the pro- 
gressive, up-to-date Illinois farmer of to-day. 
He was born in the county. April 12. 1872, being 
a son of Herman M. and Rosalie (Faers) Stett- 
bacher, both natives of Switzerland, who were 
brought to the United States in youth. 

As a boy Sanmel S. Stettbacher attended the 
West Union School and had the advantage of 
studying under such teachers as Amanda Spragg, 
Charles Thrasher, Jennie Sites, John Thompson, 
Lillie Landenberg, Fanny Landenberg jind 
George Hightower. He; left school when nine- 
teen, and for five years devoted all his tune to 
working on the home farm, where he had been 
reared. On October 4, 1899, Mr. Stettbacher was 
united in marriage with Emma Denn. born in 
Madison County. 111.. February 18. 1877. daugh- 
ter of Edward and Christine (Ketter) Denn, 
both now living in Highland, 111. He was born 
in Prussia and sjie in St. Charles, Mo., where 
they were married. 

After marriage Mr. Stettbacher located on his 
present farm, which he rented three or four 
.years, but flnall.v bought eighty acres of it, on 
which he built a new eight-room house, in 1907, 
and the same year put up his present commo- 
dious barn. He is an extensive sheep raiser and 
has some of the finest stock in the State. Mrs. 
Stettbacher was educated at Marine, 111., and 
taught school there five years prior to her mar- 
riage. She and Mr. Stettbacher are consistent 
members of the First Methodist Church, of Alta- 



mont. They have both taken an active part in 
the Prohibition movement. They have three 
children : Hazel C, Emmett Wayne and Gladys 
Rosalie, the two oldest attending school. 

Mr. and -Mrs. Stettbacher are hardworking, in- 
dustrious, thrifty people, who have honestly 
earned the prosperity which they have attained. 
Duiing their residence in Mound Township they 
have won many friends and their home Is the 
scene of many pleasant gatherings, where they 
extend to their guests the liberal hospitality . 
which they are famed. 

SULLINS, Thomas B., Superintendent of the 
City Schools of Effigbam. is a man of scholarly 
tastes, highly educated and one of the best edu- 
cators of this part of the State. Under his ef- 
ficient management the schools of Effingham 
have attained a standard of excellence hitherto 
unknown in the educational history of the 
county, and the pupils under his jurisdiction, as 
well as the teachers and patrons, all appreciate 
the value of his work and fostering care. Mr. 
Sullins was born in Doniphan, Mo.. July 16, 
1870. a sou of William Polk and Caroline (Huff- 
man) Sullins, the former born November 8, 1844 
in Ripley County, Mo., and the latter in the 
same place, February 22, 1849. 

William Polk Sullins enlisted in a Missouri 
regiment of infantry in the Southern army and 
served for about a year, when the war ended. 
He was a prominent man, having been Sheriff 
of Ripley Cbunty for several years, and by occu- 
pation he was a farmer. The parents were mar- 
ried in Ripley County. July 21, 1866, and in 1878 
moved to Illinois, bu.ving a farm in Madison 
County, where the father died March 14, 1906. 
The mother survives, living at Trenton, 111. 

Prof. Sullins attended the public schools of 
Madison Count.v. and later went to the Western 
Normal Ctollege at Bushnell, 111., and still later 
was graduated from the Austin College of Ef- 
fingham. It was always his ambition to become 
a teacher, and he worked steadily towards that 
goal, and on leaving school began teaching. For 
seven years he was a teacher in the public 
schools of Madison County, when he accepted 
the position of Principal of the West Side School 
of Effingham. His work there attracted .such 
attention, that, in 1907, he was made Superin- 
tendent of the City Schools, which position he 
has since filled with marked ability and distinc- 
tion. 

For fifteen years Prof. Sullins subscribed to 
the Presbyterian faith, but later joined the 
Christian Church and is very active in church 
work. For a number of years he has been a 
teacher in the Sunday school, and has an inti- 
mate knowledge of the Bible and church doc- 
trines. Fraternally he is a member of Effing- 
ham Camp. il. W.'a. 

At St. Louis. Mo., August 22. 1902. occurred 
the marriage of Prof. Sullins and Daisy Louise 
Gullick. She was born May 21. 1880. at Sebas- 
topol. 111., a daughter of William and Frances 
(Berthoux) Gullick. both born near Highland, 



860 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



111. Prof, and Mrs. Sullins are the parents of 
two children : William Perry and Hattie Fern. 
Prof. Sullins has al\va.vs been too much en- 
gros.sed in his profession to find tinie for many 
social duties, but is possessed of a pleasing man- 
ner, is courteous to all. and has many friends 
wherever he has been employed. He is not con- 
tent with the progress he has made, but is con- 
stantly studying and reading, and keeps abreast 
of all new methods in his work. Such a teacher 
as he cannot fail to rai.se the standard of excel- 
lence, not only among the pupils, but among 
teachers as well, and future generations will 
profit by the work he is now aceomiilishing. 

SURRELLS, Jesse R. (deceased). — In these days 
when so many public officials are dishonest, the 
memory of those whose public characters were 
untainted, who held office as a .sacred trust, and 
took the responsibilities laid upon their shoul- 
ders as debts they owed their community, is very 
dear. The late Jesse R. Surrells, father of Mrs. 
George D. Gloyd, of Summit Township, Efflng- 
ham County, 111., is remembered as such a man. 
He was born in Virginia, January 10, 180.3, and 
died January 21, 1879, aged seventy-six .vears. 
Mr. Surrells came of excellent French stock 
and his father was one of the noble French who 
assisted LaFayette in supporting the American 
cause. 

When Mr. Surrells was eleven years old the 
family migrated tn Kcntiiokv. anil from there 
they moved to Indiana, whlcl) continued 
Surrells' home until 1S:U. when he came to Clay 
Countj', 111., in search of wider fields and a new 
home, and this continued to be his abiding place 
the rest of his life, with the exception of a short 
time, spent in Effingham County. Mr. Surrells 
was a raftsman going back and forth between his 
home and New Orleans, and upon one of these 
trips was stricken with cholera, but fortunately 
recovered. 

Having met with serious losses, he started 
out in 1850 for California, hoping to discover a 
fortune, and was successful, for he returned in 
185.3 with plenty to settle his debts, and began 
his life .struggle anew. Wliile in Effingham he 
clerked for C. P. Falley and then for J. Mette, 
but after six .years in that city he returned to 
Clay County. The people there realized that in 
bim they had a thoroughly honest man, and one 
who could not be swerved from what he deemed 
to he right and .lust, so he was often called upon 
to fill public office. He .served as County Treas- 
urer for six terms, his death occurring while he 
was still in office; for twelve .vears was Sheriff 
of Clay County, and for many years v\as Justice 
of the Peace. During the Mexican War he 
raised a company, but as the quota was full, he 
was not allowed to serve. If he had then not 
passed the age limit this brave, loyal man would 
have enlisted during the Civil War. and he 
greatly regretted his inability to fight for the 
Union he loved so dearly, even while he was 
contributing generously of time and money to the 
cause. 



Death seized Mr. Surrells in the midst of a 
happy, useful life, although he had attained 
an age when most men are beginning to think 
of their own comfort. His time on earth was 
full of kindness and usefulness. His unfailing 
loyalty, his love of country, his ideal goodness 
and unflinching honesty, his capacity for work, 
have seldom been equalled. He always acted 
from the purest and best of motives, and his 
death was a public calamity. 

Mr. Surrells was three times married, had five 
children by his first wife, five by his second, and 
one by his third, who survived him. 

SWEAZY, David. — Although now retired from 
the more active duties of life, David Sweazy 
has borne an important part in the development 
and upbuilding of Effingham County. 111., and 
his forbears were prominent in national mat- 
ters. His fine farm in Liberty Township is one 
of the best In his locality, and its e.Kcellent con- 
dition testifies to his energy and thrift. Mr. 
Sweazy was bom iu Ohio, November 12, 1833, 
a son of Rev. Anthony and Susanna (Clark) 
Sweazy, of Green Township, Hocking County, 
Ohio. 

Anthony Sweazy was a native of New Jersey, 
born in 1800, a .son of Henry and Mary (Cramer) 
Sweazy, and received a limited education in his 
native State, though he became veiy proficient 
in writing and arithmetic. When thirteen years 
old he removed to Ohio, that State being then 
but little settled and white neighbors being far 
apart. He worked on his father's farm and 
helped clear it. At the age of twenty years he 
was united in marriage with Susanna Clark, a 
daughter of William and Susanna Clark. 

The Clark family, from which Susanna Clark 
was descended, came from England to America in 
Revolutiouar.v times, and William Clark was 
captured by Washington's force at Long Island 
while .serving as a drafted recruit in the British 
Army. Upon discovering the nature of the col- 
onists and their cause, he saw the justice of 
their side of the question and fought on their 
side until the end of the struggle. At the close 
of the war William Clark accepted the iwsition 
of overseer of Gen. Washington's estate. Two of 
his own sons were drafted into the army during 
the War of 1812 and Mrs. Clark followed her 
sons on horseback, and being a splendid horse- 
woman, overtook them the second day. She did 
all she could do to make them comfortable and 
was one of the many noble women of whom her 
countrymen were so proud. 

After their marriage, Anthony Sweazy and his 
wife continued to live in Ohio, where he and 
his brother-in-law took a conti-act for building 
part of the Ohio Canal. For a time they were 
successful, but they struck such hard cla.v after- 
ward that their former profits were eaten up by 
their loss. Later Mr. Sweazy returned to Hock- 
ing County, where he acquired IGO acres of land, 
which he cultivated and improved. He and his 
wife had children as follows: Henry, who mar- 
ried Ruth .\nn Miller, was a carpenter by trade 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



861 



and enlisted for service iu- the Civil War but 
was taken sicli and sent home, being afterward 
a cripple for years, served for years as Justice 
of tbe Peace, and died in 1SS2, at the age of 
flfty-nine years, and was tbe first person buried 
in Beeeher Oity Cemetery ; Catberiue Jane, mar- 
ried Andrew O'Hare, and Is deceased, leaving 
tbree cbildreu ; William, married Eleanor Kep- 
ler, served iu tbe Tbirty-fiftb Infantry and died 
February 19, 1908, after having been couflned 
to his room twenty-six years, was a farmer and 
merchant of iJeecber City; Melinda, married Ja- 
cob Kepler, a farmer of Effingham County, and 
she and her husband are both dead, she having 
jiassed away at the age of seventy -five years ; 
Hannah, married John Kepler, a farmer of Ef- 
fingham County, and both she and her husband 
are deceased ; Henderson I)., married Mary Wil- 
son, was a farmer of Effin;;ham County, later 
became a veteriuaiy surgeon and died at the age 
of seventy-three years ; Anthony, was an expert 
in the line of plastering and brick-laying, at one 
time had charge of the erection of 300 houses in 
Wichita, Kan., died in 1898 ; John, died iu In- 
fancy ; Susanna, married Charles Hubbard, a 
farmer of Effingham County, and she and her 
husband are both deceased ; and Lewis, was a 
soldier in the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, but was taken sick and returned home, 
living only ten days after his arrival. 

William and David Sweazy were the first of 
their family to locate in Effingham County and, 
at first, took charge of a farm their father had 
purchased. Here the father died in September, 
186-1, his wife haviug passed away in April, 1860. 
When twenty-three years of age David Sweazy 
received forty acres of his present farm and all 
but one of the trees on his place were planted 
by him. He now owns .590 acres of rich, fertile 
land and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passes 
through a portion of his property. His house is 
erected on a natural elevation and well sur- 
roimded by shade and ornamental trees. It is 
one of the most comfortable residences in the 
neighborhood. 

March .5, 1856, Mr. Sweazy married Mary E. 
Miller, daughter of John and Susan (Want- 
land') Miller, of Fayette County. 111., who came 
to the State in 1852. After their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Sweazy settled on his forty-acre farm. 
Their children were: Cliarles M., married Delia 
Kier. of Fayette County, 111., and they have two ■ 
children and live in Ouray County. Colo.; 
Amanda J., wife of George E. Reynolds, of Or- 
leans, Neb., and they have five children; Al- 
verda V., wife of James P. Stevenson, and they 
have six children and live in Fayette County, 
111.; Eliza I., wife of B. N. Miller, and they 
have four children and live in Nebraska ; Jesse 
W. and Emma F. live at home; Flora and 
Viola M. died in infancy; Mary Ann died in 
young womanhood; Lilly May died in infancy; 
Lewis E. married Bessie M. Field of Missouri, 
and they have two children and are living jn 
Colorado. Mrs. Sweazy died September 21, 
1896. deeply mourned by her family. Mr. Sweazy 



married (second) March 1, 1899, Mrs. Louisa 
Hanks, widow of Jesse Hanks. 

Mr. Sweazy has been a consistent member of 
the United Brethren Church since he was eight- 
een years old. He has served several times as a 
member of the Grand Jury and has faithfully 
discharged all the duties pertaining to the posi- 
tion. He has been elected .several times to the 
office of Township Assessor. He is possessed 
of a genial disposition and the many friends he 
has made are welcomed to his home with a gen- 
erous hospitality. 

SY, Daniel. — Some of the leading farmers of 
Effingham County are carrying on operations on 
property that has been brought to a state of cul- 
tivation from wild swamp, prairie and timber- 
land by members of their own family, and take 
a ju.stifiable pride in that fact. Among these 
may be mentioned Daniel Sy, a succe.ssful agri- 
culturist of Mound Township and member of a 
prominent iiioneer family. Mr. Sy was born 
near the village of New Bergholtz, Niagara 
County, N. Y., December 21, 1849, a son of Dan- 
iel Sy. 

Daniel Sy, the grandfather of Daniel of this 
sketch, was born in 1777, in Prussia, Germany, 
near the City of Stettin. He was a soldier in the 
Pru.ssian Army that fought against Napoleon, 
and came to the United States with his son 
Daniel in 184.3, settling in Niagara Cbunty, N. 
Y., where his death occurred, his wife having 
passed away in Germany. His children were: 
John, who came to the United States and lives 
in New York ; Daniel and Philip. Of this family 
Daniel, father of Daniel of Mound Township, 
was born September 5, 1812, in Prussia, where 
he went to school until fourteen years of age and 
then served three years in the Army. In 1840 
he came to the United States with his wife and 
two children, and settled in Niagara County, 
N. Y., on a tract of land in the timber belt, 
where the/ family resided in a log cabin. In 
186G his son John came to Effingham County, 
and located on the farm now owned by Daniel 
Sy, erecting a small building, in which the rest 
of the family located on coming to this county 
later iu the year. The first winter was a hard 
one, the home being insufficiently heated and .so 
flimsily built that the snow would sift in through 
cracks in the roof and walls. One room served as 
kitchen, bed-room and living room, and the 
present comfortable home was not built until 
the following year. Daniel Sy, the head of this 
family, spent the remainder of his life on this 
farm, a tract of 100 acres, and here his death 
occurred, in 1904, his wife having passed away 
a few years before, and both are interred in the 
German Lutheran Cemetery, he having been a 
member of that church and for many years a 
Trustee. 

The children of Daniel and Charlotta (Goers) 
Sy were as follows: Fredericka, who married 
Christian Goers, and now lives in Altamont ; 
John, who now resides in New York ; Philip, de- 
ceased ; August, deceased ; Daniel ; Maria, who 



862 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



married Eruest Rehwakl, of Altaiuout; and Au- 
gusta, who inaiTied Philip Wurl, of Mound 
Township. 

Daniel Sy, whose name heads this sketch, at- 
tended a German school in New York until thir- 
teen years of age, and then spent three years in 
an English school. He accompanied his parents 
to Effingham County, for two winters attended 
school there, and was reared to the life of a 
farmer. On Febmary 8, 1877, he was married 
to Emily Grobiugieser, daughter of August Gro- 
biugieser. After the death of his father, Mr. 
Sy took charge of the home farm, and he haS' 
continued to operate it to the present time with 
such success that he is now ranked among the 
leading agriculturists of his township. He has 
made a study of soil conditions, rotation of 
crops and other subjects necessary to scientific 
farming, and the result is that he raises large 
crops. 

Mr. Sy is independent in his political views. 
He is a member of the Gennan Lutheran Church, 
in the faith of which his wife died in 1901. 
They were the parents of these children : Ida 
Louise, who married Adolph Meierhaus, of Alta- 
mont; Emma Augusta, at home; Julia Emily, 
•who married Albert Aderman. living with Mr. 
Sy ; and Maria Magdalena. of Springfield, 111. 

TAPHORN, Henry, M. D.— The medical practi- 
tioner of 1!»10 is a man widely different from 
the practitioner of ISIO or ISOO. The science 
of medicine has advanced more in the last half- 
century than it had in all the ages up to the be- 
ginning of the nineteenth century. While it has 
progressed the requirements of a physician have 
grown abreast, and the doctor of to-day ap- 
proaches his work only after years of earnest 
effort and careful training. Dr. Henry Taphoru 
of Effingham, is one of the most representative 
men of his class in Effingham County. He was 
born in Carlyle, Clinton County, 111., August 1, 
1871, a son of John Gerhard and Elizabeth Tap- 
horn, the former Iwrn in Germany, in April, 
18.30, and the latter in the same country about 
18.36. 

John Gerhard Taphorn and his wife came to 
Illinois about 1855, and settled on a farm in the 
.southwestern part of Clinton County, where he 
became one of the leading Democrats of his 
section and was elected to a number of town- 
ship offices. Five sons and two daughters were 
born to Mr. Taphorn and wife, namely: Peter 
W., of Tracy, Cal.; Gerhard, a physician of Al- 
ton, 111.; Catherine, of Alton, 111.; Anna, a Sis- 
ter of Charity in Chicago; Henry, a physician of 
Effingham. 111. ; John G., Jr., a farmer of Becke- 
meyer. 111. ; Bernard N.. a merchant of Becke- 
meyer. and Henry, the subject of this sketch. 

After receiving a common school education. 
Dr. Taphorn left Clinton County, at the age of 
twenty-three years, and took a coui-se of three 
terms at Shurtleff College. I'pper Alton. 111. 
Deciding to study medicine, he left college there, 
to enter Washington fTniversity, at St. Louis, 
from which he graduated with degree of M. D.. 



in 18U8. In IttOO he moved to East St. Louis, 
111., where he received an appointment as Firsi 
Assistant Physician in St. Mai-y's Hospital, 
where he remained four years. Following this 
he entered into general practice, in which work 
he has been remarkably successful. H e is 
ranked among the most efficient and skillful 
physicians of Effingham County and has earned 
the confidence and respect of his patients. Aside 
from farming with his father. Dr. Taphorn has 
not engaged in any business outside his prac- 
tice. He has always been fond of books, and also 
takes an interest in out-of-door sports. He is a 
thoughtful, studious man, whose absorption in 
his profession is remarkable. 

Dr. Taphorn is a member of the Knights of 
Columbus, which he joined in .lune, 1901, and 
the Catholic Knights of America, which he 
joined March 15, 1908, being Medical Examiner 
for both. He is a member of the International 
Congre.ss of Tuberculosis, Effingham Countj 
Medical Society and the Illinois State Medi- 
cal Association. In religious faith he is a 
member of the Roman Catholic Church, while in 
politics he has always been a Democrat. 

June 4, 1902, Dr. Taphorn married Genevieve 
M. Morrissey, who was born at Alton, 111., Au- 
gust G 1874 and they had one child, Genevieve, 
torn July 15, 1904. On April 20, 1907, Dr. Tap- 
hom's first wife died, and on July 15, 1908, lie 
married (second) Miss Elizabeth Eversman, of 
Effingham, 111. 

TAPSON, Mrs. Julia, of Altamont, 111., conducts 
one of the largest business establishments of the 
city, and has done her share in building up the 
community and forwarding movements of pub- 
lic benefit. Mrs. Tapson is a native of Madison 
County, 111., and daughter of John Jasper and 
Julia (Xaegalie) Pfeninger, natives of Switzer- 
land, who came to the United States about fifty 
years ago, on a sailing vessel which took three 
months to make the trip. Landing at New Or- 
leans, they went up the Mississippi River and 
fir.st settled in Missouri, but on hearing that 
there was a Swiss settlement at Highland, Mad- 
ison Count.v, 111., they removed to that place in 
order that their children might be educated in 
the Swiss language. They had left three chil- 
dren In Switzerland, who joined them later. 
Mr. Pfeninger was the son of a wealthy doctor 
and the hardships in the new country were too 
much for his health, which soon broke down, and 
he died, leaving his young widow with five chil- 
dren : Julius, Sophia, Walter, Werner and Julia, 
all living. 

Mrs. Tapson grew to womanhood in her na- 
tive county, where she attended the public 
schools, as well as Elmlra College and the school 
at Greenville, Bond Count}*. She then taught 
school for a time, giving this up in order to learn 
the millinery business. She was married in 
Madison County, 111., to John Tapson, who was 
twrn in Plymouth, England, in 1840, and came 
to .\merlca at the age of nineteen years. He fol- 
lowed his trade of milling in Michigan and MadI- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



863 



son County, 111., and after retiring from that busi- 
ness gave his attention to farm worli. In the 
spring of 1S76 Mr. and Mrs. Tapson came to Al- 
tamont and purchased the Tapson residence, 
which they rented for a time, and soon Mrs. 
Tapson had converted one of the rooms into a 
millinery store, where she began, on a small 
scale, a business which since then has grovv'n to 
be an enterpri.se of gigantic proportions and has 
drawn trade to Altamont from the adjoining 
towns and from a large country district as well. 
A few years after entering business Mrs. Tapson 
erected her present store room, which has since 
been enlarged, and it is now one of the largest 
business houses in Altamont. Mrs. Tapson al- 
ways carries a complete stock of everjthing in 
the millinery line, and in addition her room is 
well filled with dry goods, notions and jeweliy, 
making it one of the leading business centers of 
Altamont. Mrs. Tapson owns a quarter block 
right in the heart of Altamont. In 1904 she 
erected the postotfice building, a substantial two- 
story brick structure, 28x60 feet, and she has 
now started building a two-story structure 
25x70 feet, adjoining the postofiiee on the east. 
She is the largest stockholder in the canning 
factory, o\^-ns a great deal of stock in the Fair 
Association and also has a farm of 120 acres ad- 
joining the town. Mrs. Tapson inherited about 
five thousand dollars from her parents and 
from this made her start. 

Mr. Tapson' death occurred December 5, 
1906. He and Mrs. Tapson had no children, but 
reared several children, three of whom are now 
married, and one, an adopted daughter, Mildred, 
is living with Mrs. Tap.son and assisting her at 
the store. Mrs. Tapson belonged to the Re- 
formed Church for years but the last two years 
has attended the Presbyterian Church. 

TAYLOR, George F., a prominent member of the 
legal profession, in Effingham, 111., where he is 
connected with large business interests, was born 
in Watson Township, Effingham Coimty, Novem- 
ber 10, 1862, a son of John and Elizabeth H. 
(McKlnnon) Taylor, the former born in Ricli- 
land County, Ohio, January 10, 1834. and the 
latter in Effingham County, 111., August 16. 1840. 

In early boyhood John Taylor moved to South 
Bend, Ind., and in 1850 to Jasper County, 111., 
living near Island Grove until 1852, when he 
moved to Bishop Township, Effingham County. 
He lived in Effingham County at the time of his 
marriage to Elizabeth H. McKinnon. a daughter 
of William E. McKinnon, one of the pioneers of 
Effingham Countj-. Four children were lx)rn of 
this union, the only survivor of whom is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. John Taylor was killed in a 
runaway accident. August 31. 1866, and his 
widow continued to reside in Effingham County 
till her death on February 14, 1910. He was the 
first Assessor of Bishop Township, and the book 
he kept while holding that office was preserved 
by Peter T. Johnson, for many years Town Clerk 
of Bishop Township, and in 1887 was given to 



George F. Taylor, who values it among his most 
prized ixissessious. 

George F. Taylor's preliminary education was 
obtained in the public schools of Watson Town- 
ship and in the \'illage of Watson, and later he 
attended the University of Illinois, which he 
left before taking a degree. He remained on 
the farm where he was born until eighteen years 
old, when he began teaching school, his first 
term being in Watson Township. After leaving 
the University he taught one term in West Town- 
ship, two in Bishop Township and his last term 
In Mason Township, all in Effingham County. 
From early childhood he had determined to take 
up the study of law and, in March, 1S8G, entered 
the office of Judge S. F. Gilman, of Effingham, as 
a student, being admitted to the bar at the June 
Term of the Supreme Court of Illinois in 1888, 
since which time he has practiced his profession 
in Effingham. He is a Democrat in politics and 
has always stood for the best interests of his 
community, having been a leader in social, 
benevolent, educational and religious enterprises. 
He was City Attorney of Effingham three terms 
and has been attorney for the Effingham Build- 
ing & Loan Association since its inception ; has 
also been President of the Effingham County Tel- 
ephone Company since its organization in 1906. 
Fraternally he is connected with Effingham 
Lodge No. 149 A. F. & A. M. He joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Loy Chapel when 
a boy, changed his membership to Effingham on 
locating in that citj-, and has been one of the 
pillars of the church since. He is a member of 
the Board of Trustees and served as Secretai-y 
of the Building Committee when the present 
beautiful edifice was erected. 

November 30, 1893 (Thanksgiving Day), Mr. 
Taylor was united in marriage, by Reverend B. 
R. Pearce, of the Methodi-st Church, to Miss 
Flora Phillips, who was born in Linn County, 
Kan., September 5, 1868, and came to Effingham 
County, 111., in 1877. Her father, John Phillips, 
was a native of Illinois and her mother, So- 
phronia (Robertson) Phillips, was a daughter 
of Duke Robertson, one of the pioneers of Effing- 
ham County. Mrs. Taylor was educated in the 
public schools of Effingham (Ttounty and gradu- 
ated from Altamont High School in 1885, being 
from that year until her marriage engaged in 
teaching, the last four years in the city of Ef- 
fingham. Two children have blessed the union 
of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. Harold John and Helen 
June, tivins, born June .30, 189!>. 

THOMAS, James Rober, junior member of the 
well-known and reliable real estate firm of 
Parks & Thomas of Effingham, 111., is one of the 
progressive business men of his city, and belongs 
to a family that has been connected with the his- 
tory of the county for a number of years. Mr. 
Thomas was born October 8. 1877, in Fayette 
County, 111., a son of John D. and Mary ( Flem- 
ing) Thomas. John D. Thomas was a physician 
and farmer, practicing while engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. His birthplace was Cincinnati. 



864 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Ohio, but he moved to Indiana and there mar- 
ried his wife who was a native of Evansville, 
tliat State. In 1877, the family came to Illinois, 
locating on a farm in Fayette County, near St. 
James, and here Dr. Thomas resided for fifteen 
years. Removal was then made to Effingham 
County, the family settling on a farm terf miles 
south of Altamont. Here Dr. Thomas died in 
1S9S, being survived by his widow, now a resi- 
dent of Altamont. For five years, he served as 
a member of Company C, Eighth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, and proved himself a gallant and 
loyal soldier. Mrs. Thomas has been the object 
of her son James' tender solicitude for many 
years, he recognizing her claim u[X)n his affec- 
tion, and her goodness to him all his life. 

After attending the country schools, James R. 
Thomas went to the Altamont public school, 
spending his boyhood on the farms owned by 
his parents in Fayette and Eflingham Counties. 
When his father died, Mr. Thomas operated an 
apple business for a year, then conducting a res- 
taurant in Altamont, until he entered a bakery 
in Montrose where he remained for two years. 
Following this, he went to Chicago and worked 
in a bakery there for one year. He then was 
employed on the Union Railroad, from which he 
retired in 1904, returning to Altamont. He later 
located in Etfiugham. becoming a member of the 
now well established realty firm of Parks & 
Thomas, which is the largest firm of its kind in 
Etfingham. and has charge of all the important 
realty transactions in that city. The partners 
are sound, reliable men who can always be de- 
pended upon to carry out their promises and to 
live up to their agreements. 

Mr. Thomas was married in 1904, at Alta- 
mont, to Elsie M. Rhodes, bora and reared at 
Altamont, whose parents came to this locality 
from Pennsylvania at a very early date. Mr. 
Rhodes was the first manufacturer of Altamont, 
his product being tables. This same business is 
now carried on by his son, although the output 
of the factory is now egg-cases. 

The fraternal affiliations of Mr. Thomas are 
with Altamont Lodge No. 5.33, A. F. & A. M. ; 
Altamont Lodge No. 420, K. P. ; the Maccabees, 
Ben Hur and the Yeoman Mutual A. C. Asso- 
ciation. Both he and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Church. Although he leans to- 
wards the teachings of the Republican party. 
Mr. Thomas likes to do his own thinking, and 
is very liberal in his political view.s. The Thomas 
family endured many hardships upon first com- 
ing to Illinois, for they were poor, but they 
worked and saved and now are numbered among 
the prosperous citizens of their several localities. 
No one member, however, has accomplished more 
than Mr. James R. Thomas, and much credit is 
due to his energy and foresightedness. 

TIBBETTS, Oliver Siegel.— Eflingham County 
owes to its agriculturists a debt of gratitude for 
its present prcsperous condition, as the farming 
interests of the county are by all means Its 
most important asset, and it has been the ener- 



getic and intelligent work of the farmers that 
has kept the county's agricultural standard so 
high. Oliver Siegel Tibbits, who is operating 
a finely cultivated tract of land In Section 29, 
West Townshij), is one of the representative men 
of the county. He was born at Old Manchester, 
Dearborn Count}-, Ind., February 22, 1S02, a son 
of George and grandson of Benjamin Tibbetts. 

Benjaniiu Tibbetts came from the State of 
Maine and settled in Indiana in pioneer days, 
but later went to Olathe, Kan., where he diedat 
the home of his son Oliver. George Tibbetts re- 
ceived a limited education in the schools of In- 
diana, but was a zealous student, and became a 
very well educated man. He learned the cooper's 
trade iu Indiana and. in 1868, emigrated to Illi- 
nois, engaging in farming in Madison County, 
buying eighty acres of land located one-half 
mile from Marine. One year later he came to 
Effingham County and purchased a section, less 
eighty acres, on Section 29, in West Township. 
On first coming to his farm, he found things in 
such a wild state that he located his family at 
Edgewood for a time, and while cari>euters were 
finishing his hou.se, he secured permission to live 
in the old West Point sehoolhouse. He started 
in to farm the wild prairie land, which had never 
before been cultivated, and worked hard and 
faithfully, but duing the first few years little was 
accomplished. Energy and faithfulness had their 
reward, however, and he eventually succeeded. 
Seven years later, realizing the importance of 
giving his children the advantages of an educa- 
tion, he moved to Edgewood. and while there en- 
gaged with Hank Newberry in the butchering 
business for two years, at the end of which time 
he returned to the farm and continue<l there until 
1901, in which year he retired and went to Alta- 
mont, dying there in his seventy-fifth year in 
August, 1904, and being buried in Edgewood 
Cemetery. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, was a strong Republican and 
a prominent Mason. His widow still survives 
him, residing in Altamont. They had children 
as follows: Mabel, who married (first) Stephen 
Smith and (second) M. D. White, residing at 
Pana. 111. ; .Serelda, who married S. A. Nelson 
of Johnson County, Kau. ; Gershom Sparks, of 
Engleton, Okla.. who married (first) Ollie Mor- 
ris ; Oliver Siegel ; Ella, who married Thomas 
Ferrel of Edgewood, now deceased ; Calvin 
North, and Maggie May, who died in infancy ; 
Mary Lou, who married P. A. Wilheild, of 
Litchfield, 111. ; and Saldie, at home. 

Oliver Siegel Tibbetts was six j-ears of age 
when the famil.v came to Effingham County. III., 
and he attended the old West Point school, 
which he left when about seventeen years of 
age. He started to work on the home farm, on 
which he continued until twenty-one years old, 
when he went to .Johnson County, Kan., and 
worked by the month on various farms for five 
years. He then returned to the home farm for 
one year, when his brother, Gershom S., started 
with his family, in a wagon, for Seward County, 
Neb., and Oliver accompanied him, the journey 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



865 



taking twenty-two days. For two years he 
farmed in Nebraska and then returned to the 
home farm, continuing with his father until his 
marriage, after which he rented a part of the 
"section farm," for one year, and then bought 
eighty acres, which later he traded with his 
father for the homestead of eighty acres. This 
he has farmed to the present time and, in addi- 
tion, rents eighty acres from the heirs of his 
father's estate, thus having 160 acres under cul- 
tivation. His land is finely taken care of and 
the farm presents an excellent appearance, be- 
ing improved with fine, substantial buildings, 
proper fencing and farm accessories. Mr. Tib- 
betts is considered one of the good, reliable farm- 
ers of his locality, and a good judge of matters 
agricultural. 

On March 7, 1897, Mr. Tibbetts was married to 
Lulu Baldwin, who was born in Pleasant Mound 
Township, Bond County, 111., February 3, 1875, 
and was educated in the public schools and Aus- 
tin College, Eflingham, and later taught two 
years in Bond County, and one year in West 
Point School, Effingham County. She is a daugh- 
ter of John W. and Mary K. (Andrews) Bald- 
win, the former of whom was bom in Maryland 
In 1S46, and when three years old, was brought 
by his parents to Illinois, his father. Sam- 
uel, having taken up land in Bond County. 
He and his wife still reside on the tract originally 
settled by the family. They are faithful members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the pa- 
rents of these children : Minnie, who married 
Joseph Elam ; Ira Oliver; Lum ; Otis; Lizzie, 
who married Lewis Morley ; and Dallas. Mr. and 
Mrs. Tibbetts have had three children : Gladys 
Thelma, born December 11, 1S97; Nellie Fay, born 
May 4, 1899; and George Curtis, born March 4, 
1905. Mr. Tibbetts and his wife are c-onsistent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
he is a Republican in politics. 

TOLCH, Samuel F. — Some men are distinguished 
by their strict integritj' and the honorable meth- 
ods they use in the conduct of their business 
affairs. Such men are respected by all who are 
brought into contact with them, for their asso- 
ciates know they can be trusted to give everyone 
a fair deal. Samuel F. Tolch is one of the 
young business men of Dieterich. and its leading 
merchant, who has won universal esteem for 
these very qualities. He was born in Teutopolis, 
October 2d, 1875. a son of William Tolch, the 
latter born in Germany. November 27, 1823. and 
there reared and educated. After learning the 
harness-making trade in his native country. 
William Tolch came to America in 1851, and for 
a short time worked at his trade in New Jersey, 
but in 1852 removed to St. Louis. During the 
same year he came to Effingham County, and 
locating in Teutopolis, embarked in the harness- 
making business. On April 28, 1856, he married 
Rebecca McElhiney, born in Ireland, a daughter 
of John McElhiney. Her parents, who were also 
natives of Ireland, came to the United States, 
and for some time resided in Philadelphia, but 



finally emigrated to Cumberland County, 111., 
where they both died soon after locating there. 
Mr. and Mrs. William Tolch had ten children, 
eight of whom survive. His death occurred in 
May, 1891, but his widow survives, being now 
seventy-three years old. William Tolch was 
one of the successful business men of Teutopolis, 
and while interested in the city's progress, gave 
the most of his attention to his private affairs. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. William 
Tolch were as follows ; John H., of Spring Point 
Township, Cumberland County ; Mary, wife of 
Charles F. Mascher of Clarinda, la. ; Nancy, 
widow of William McLain of Spring Point Town- 
ship, Cumberland County ; Lizzie, wife of A. W. 
Bigler, a banker of Sigel, 111.; Carrie, wife of 
George Eckjau, engaged in the creamery business 
in Teutopolis ; William C, of Teutopolis ; Samuel 
F. ; and Alice, wife of Leo Fuller of Teutopolis. 

Samuel F. Tolch was reared in Teutoiwlis and 
attended its schools and St. Joseph College. 
After finishing his school course in 1892, he en- 
gaged as a clerk in a general store conducted 
by Uptnior & Webber. The partnership was dis- 
solved. Mr. Uptmor purchasing the entire store, 
and Mr. Tolch remaining with him as an efB- 
cient and trustworthy as.sistant. The latter as- 
sociation continued until 1900. when Mr. Tolch 
left to engage with James Adam*, with whom he 
remained one year. Then, in 1902, he came to 
Dieterich and, buying a stock of goods from H. 
M. Fritscher began business as a general mer- 
chant in a room 28x70 feet. From the very 
start he has been successful, and as his trade 
warranted, he iucreased his stock, and finally in 
1906, he txiught and now owns a double store- 
building. 46x70 feet, and two stories in height, 
which he has reconstructed, and now occupies 
the entire building. His stock embraces dry- 
goods, boots and shoes, groceries, glass and 
queensware. and he is also a wholesale dealer in 
flour and feed. As he is accustomed to buy for 
cash, he has been able to take advantage of dis- 
counts, and those who trade with him get tne 
benefit of this policy. His stock would do credit 
to any store of a large city, and its service is 
very satisfactory to customers. 

In addition to other interests, Mr. Tolch was 
one of the leaders in the organization of the 
Prairie State Creamery and for the first two 
years was its manager, but after it was well 
started, he withdrew from active participation in 
its affairs, though still a heavy stockholder. He 
is also a stockholder in the First National Bank 
of Dieterich, and is always found among the 
front of those who have the best interests of 
the town and county at heart. 

In April, 1902, Mr. Tolch married Emma 
Mascher, born on a farm in Jasper County, 111., 
daughter of E. J. Mascher. a successful farmer 
of Jasper County. Mr. and Mrs. Tolch are the 
parents of four children : Mabel. Emery, Gil- 
bert and Myron. They are active in the Lu- 
theran Church, to which both Mr. Tolch and his 
wife belong. Mr. Tolch is a Republican and, 
while not an office seeker, has filled several of 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



the village positions of public trust, discharging 
his duties in the same faithful uiauner that he 
exhibits iu his private business. His trade is a 
large one, not only iu Dieterich, but iu the sur- 
rounding country for a radius of twenty miles, 
and his store is also a market for the produce 
of the farmers, who appreciate his liberal meth- 
ods as to prices and a "square deal." 

TOPP, William. — One of the public-spirited and 
enterprising farmers of Summit Township, Ef- 
fingham County, 111., is William Topp, who was 
born iu Cook County, 111., February 5, 18G3, the 
son of Henry aud WiUielmina (Prell) Topp, 
both natives of Germany. Ileni-y Topp came to 
the United States as a young man, locating in 
Cook County, 111., where he met and married his 
wife, about 1854. They engaged in farming for 
some years in Cook County, but about 18(34 re- 
moved to Effingham County, aud settled near 
Watson. There they engaged in farming on 120 
acres of laud in Section 15, Summit Township, 
which Mr. Topp purchased, and there began 
their life in a little log cabin. Only forty acres 
of this laud could be tilled at first, but he began 
clearing the remainder and finally became one 
of the wealthy men of his locality. His faithful 
wife was gored by a bull, dying a few hours 
later. She had borne children as follows : Fred, 
a farmer in the Ozark Mountain District, Mo. ; 
Minnie, wife of Nicholas Weingart, a farmer of 
Summit Township ; Henry, a farmer of Lamar, 
Okla ; Lena, a resident of Chicago ; and Will- 
iam. In 1S91 Mr. Topp married Elizabeth Eden, 
and later retired from his farm and settled in 
Effingham, where he remained until his death, 
March 1, 1899. He was a strong Republican 
and served a number of years as School Di- 
rector, and was also an active member of the 
Lutheran Church. His second wife died iu 1905, 
and both are interred in the Lutheran Cemetery 
at Effingham. 

William Topp was but a year old when the 
family came to Effingham County, so that his life 
has practically been spent here. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools and learned farm- 
ing from his father. In 1887 he went on a trip 
through Mis.souri and Arkansas, and finally lo- 
cated in Chicago, where he entered the employ 
of the Thompson & Taylor Coffee Company, but 
in 1890 he returned to the old home and took 
charge of the farm. He bought the interests of 
the other heirs and now owns the old home farm 
of 120 acres, which he helped to put under cul- 
tivation. He has a fine orchard which he him- 
self planted, and many changes effected in the 
neighborhood have beeu projected by him. He 
was the first to sign for and receive a mail box 
on the rural free delivery route. For the past 
seven years he has been extensively engaged in 
the dairy business and has been gradually add- 
ing Holstein cattle to his stock. One of the best 
springs in the county is located on his farm. 
He is a most practical farmer and appreciates 
the value of modern inventions, never failing to 



take advantage of improved machinery and appli- 
ances when he considers them useful. 

October 22, 1893, Mr. Topp married Miss Eva 
Beaver, who was born in Summit Township, a 
daughter of Peter Beaver, aud they became par- 
ents of three children : Carrie, born November 2, 
1891 ; Clarence, born July 7, 1902, and Walter, 
born August 24, 1904. A stanch Republican in 
politics, Mr. Topp has been called upon to fill the 
office of Highway Commissioner and has also 
acted as School Director. Fraternally he is a 
member of the M. W. A., of Shumway, 111., and 
Dallas Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F. He was reared 
in the Lutheran Church and has ahva.ys given 
it his full support. A better farmer or citizen 
than Mr. Topp would be hard to find and, with 
his success, he has retained the friendship and 
confidence of his neighbore. 

TUCKER, Benjamin F.— The occupation, of stock 
breeding is a profitable one if carried on in a 
scientific manner, and as it is so closely allied 
to the business of farming, the two are con- 
ducted together by many of the agriculturists of 
Effingham County. One of the leading stock- 
raisers of Jackson Township, as well as the 
owner of one of the most fertile farms of this 
section of the county, is Benjamin F. Tucker, 
who was born May 19, 1865, in Eflingham 
County, 111. He is a son of Joseph A. and Mar- 
garet (Rubins) Tucker, both natives of Illinois, 
Mr. Tucker having been born iu Effingham 
County and Mrs. Tucker in Lawrence County. 
They were married in Effingham County. Joseph 
A. Tuclvcr iiurchased land in Jackson Township, 
where the family remained until the spring of 
1887, then they moved to Valley County, Neb., 
in which State the parents have since made their 
home, now living retired at Arcadia. They were 
the parents of nine children, the order of birth 
being as follows : Benjamin F., Theodosia, Clara, 
Mary ; Willie, who died in infancy ; Charles, John 
O., Arlie and Ernest. 

Benjamin F. Tucker received a very good edu- 
cation in the public schools of Jackson Town- 
ship. He remained at home on the farm until 
twenty-two .years of age, when he started on 
an extensive trip through the Southern States, 
finally locating in Valley County, Neb. He 
was married at Loup City, Sherman County, 
Neb., December 20, 1888, to Enmia Reiman, who 
was born in Evansville, Ind., in 1868. After 
their marriage they remained in Nebraska for 
fourteen years, when Mr. Tucker traded his Ne- 
braska land and stock for his present farm of 
153 acres, located in Jackson Township. He was 
successful on this property from the start, and 
made improvements, tilling his land until It be- 
came one of the best tracts in the township. In 
addition to carrying on a general line of farming, 
he has engaged extensively in stock breeding, 
raising thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, Here- 
ford cattle and Percheron horses, all of which 
bring the highe.st prices in the stock market. He 
also makes a specialty of buying Western draft 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



867 



horses, which he ships to the various marlcets of 
the Aliddle Western States. 

Five children have been boru to Mr. and Mrs. 
Tuclier: Mabel, who died at live and a half 
years of age ; Eluora, who is teaching school in 
Effingham Ctounty ; Albert H. ; Nellie, a teacher 
near Farina ; and Floyd, at home. Mr. Tucker 
is a Democrat in politics and has been active in 
the ranks of his party. He is a popular member 
of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 321, at Watson, 111., 
and of the Modern Woodmen of America, 
Camp No. 2705, also at Watson. With his wife, 
he attends the Missionary Baptist Church in 
Jackson Township, Mrs. Tucker being an active 
worker in Sunday school and missionary labor. 

TUCKER, Henry Estus.— Hard work, intelli- 
gently directed along legitimate lines generally 
results in success. Perhaps, however, few em- 
ployments pay so well and so safely for wisely 
expended effort as does farming, as men of Ef- 
fingham County have long since discovered. 
Henry Estus Tucker, of Jackson Township, is 
one of the most representative of the farmers of 
his locality. He was born in the county, March 
12, 1850, and educated in the common schools 
and secured a good education. He is a son of 
James P. and Martha (Robinson) Tucker, both 
bom in Effingham County, the former March 
25, 18.31, and the latter April 2, 1831. The 
grandparents on both sides came from Ken- 
tucky to Illinois, and located in Effingham 
County. The Robinson grandparents are in- 
terred in New Hope Cemetery, while the Tuck- 
ers are buried in the Porter Cemetery. For sev- 
eral years Mr. Tucker operated a water-mill on 
the Little Wabash, while the Grandfather Rob- 
inson was a hatter by trade. 

James P. Tucker was a farmer and a soldier 
in the Mexican War, serving under General Tay- 
lor. In 1849 he married and settled on a farm in 
Jackson Township. After the Mexican War he 
entered land on his warrant as a soldier, secur 
ing a farm near Watson. Effingham County 
which he sold. In 1S64, he lx)ught 160 acres in 
Jackson Township, sold this fann, and bought 
land in the northern part of Jackson Township. 
His wife died May .S, 1008, aged seventy-seven, 
and is buried in Dexter Cemetei-y. She bore 
her husband thirteen children, ten of whom are 
now deceased, eight having died in infancy. 
The three surviving are : Obadiah B., Sally E., 
wife of John H. Davis of Jack.son Township, and 
Henry E., who is the eldest of those surviving. 

Henry E. Tucker remained on the farm until 
his marriage, on September 10, 1871, to Elizabeth 
Ramsey, born in Wytheville, Va. In 1809 Mr. 
Thicker moved to Effingham and embarked in a 
retail grocery business, in which he remained 
something over three years, when he sold out 
and in 1902 returned to his farm, where he now 
lives. Prior to moving to Effingham, he kept 
the post office at Osker. and conducted a country 
store. The farmers first formed a stock company 
and placed Mr. Tucker in charge, which he con- 



tinued a year, when he bought the others out 
and conducted the business for eight years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have been the parents of 
six children, five of whom grew to maturity, 
but only four now survive. The family is as 
follows : Alma, married Lawrence D. Phillips, 
now deceased, to whom two she bore two chil- 
dren — Gertie, boru September 30, 1898, and 
Clyde, bom July G, 1899; James Otis, married 
Hattie Terring, and lives on the farm which he 
is conducting for his father ; Roy M., married 
Alta Kelley, and they have three children — 
Doland H., Murrell and Inez ; Iva Murrell, died 
August 9, 1908, and is buried in Dexter Ceme- 
tery ; Charles Wright, died in infancy and is 
buried in Dexter Cemetery ; Elisha W., married 
Edith Boland, and resides near Dexter, where 
he is employed as an operator on the Vandalia 
Railroad. They have one child, Eugene Keith. 

Mr. Tucker is a Democrat and has always 
taken an active part in local politics. He has 
held local offices, having been Supervisor for 
four years. Town Clerk for two years. Assessor 
for two years, and member of the Court House 
Board at a time when many improvements were 
being made. He formerly belonged to both the 
Grange and the P. M. B. A. He and his wife are 
members of the Missionary Baptist Church of 
Jackson Township, in which he is Deacon. He 
joined the church in 1873, and was baptized iu 
Second Creek near the church. Formerly he was 
very active in church work, and his family have 
taken his place, so they are well represented 
there. He is an earnest advocate of temperance, 
and one of the leaders in this cause in Jackson 
Township. In addition to his farm, he owns a 
house and three lots iu Effingham, which are valu- 
able. 

TUCKER, James Portlock, was born on a farm 
in what is now Union Township, Effingham 
County, 111., March 21, 1831, a little more than 
a year prior to the organization of the county. 
His father, Henry Tucker, was a native of Ken- 
tucky and emigrated to Illinois while a young 
man, locating first in White Count}', where he 
married Miss Boyle Malinda Parkhurst. To 
this union one sou, Jonathan, was boru In White 
County. Mr. Tucker, with his wife and son, 
moved from White County in 1829, and settled 
about a mile and a half north of where the vil- 
lage of Mason now stands. While residing in 
Effingham County Henry Tucker and his wife 
had five children, viz : James P., Nancy J., Jo- 
seph A., Benjamin F. and Jesse. Mrs. Tucker 
died in 18-12 and was buried in Porter Cemetery. 
In 1845 Mr. Tucker married (second) Miss 
Sarah Ward, and to this union two children 
were born, namely : Mary and Martha. Mrs. 
Sarah Tucker died soon after her second child 
was born, and Mr. Tucker married (third) Mrs. 
Mary Carpenter, a widow. He died in 1870 and 
was buried at the Porter Cemetery, by the side 
of his first wife. Only three of his children are 
now living, namely : James P., Nancy J. and Jo- 
seph A. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



In 1847 James P. Tucker enlisted in r.impany 
C, Second Regiment Illinois Volunteer lnfaut:-y, 
for tbe War with Mexico, being mustered into 
senice at Alton, 111., whence he went by steam- 
boat to New Orleans, from there to Tamjjico, 
Mex., and thence by ship to Vera Cruz, irom 
which the regiment proceeded on foot to the City 
of Mexico, where they remained a few days, thft 
war being ended. They were sent back to Alton 
and discharged, being mustered out of service in 
the latter part of August, 1S4S. 

June 26, 1849, James P. Tucker married Miss 
Martha Robertson and they settled on a farm. 
He owned good laud upon which he and his faith- 
ful wife lived and prospered, until he was coin 
pelled by old age and infirmities to retire. Ihir- 
teen children were born to them, ten of whom 
died in infancy. Three are still living in Ef- 
fingham County, namely: Henry E., O. B. and 
Sarah E. Mr. Tucker and his wife spent a 
happy married life of a little over flfty-niue 
years, both solicitous for the comfort and we'l- 
being of the other and working hard to rear 
their children to honorable man and womanhood. 
In May, 1908, Mrs. Tucker died, and was buried 
In Freemanton Cemetery, in Eflingham County. 

Mr. Tucker has lived a long and useful l.fe, 
and while living in Jackson Township won the 
confidence and respect of his neighbors, being 
elected to the office of Asses.sor, and three times 
to that of Commissioner of Highways for the 
township. Though quiet and retiring, he has al- 
ways been ready to uphold the right, as he un- 
derstood it. In 1890 he moved from his farm to 
the city of Effingham, and has since served his 
ward as Alderman. He enjoys fair health, but 
at the same time feels the weight of old age and 
infirmity. He has a comfortable home, his house- 
keeper being a widowed sister. He had provided 
for his old age in the days of youth and health, 
and his wants are further supplied by the pen- 
sion he receives from the Government. He is a 
Democrat in polities and in religion adheres to 
the faith of the old regular Baptist Church. 

TURNER, James (deceased).— It has been given 
to some to help to develop the countrj-, to shape 
their surroundings according to their needs, 
and to bring forth the present high degree of 
civilization. Effingham County, 111., became the 
home of many a sturdy pioneer who did not ask 
for anything more than raw prairie land to work 
upon. Bravely, uncomplainingly, these fore- 
runners of civilization went to work, and many 
of them have laid down the burdens of life, but 
not until they saw in some measure what they 
had accomplished. One of those who gained 
honor and material reward from this locality was 
the late James Turner, whose many descendants 
are scattered over many parts of the United 
States. He was born in Buckingham County, 
Va., July 29, 1799, son of a Revolutionary soldier 
who cast his fortune and his life with the col- 
onists. After the war was over the father re- 
turned home, and toiled to support his family of 
three children. His death occurred in 180G, after 



long years of suffering as the result of a fall from 
a building, where he was at work, and from an 
attack of rheumatism. He left two sons and 
one daughter, and of these children James was 
the youngest. He was only seven years old at 
the time his father died, and from then on 
worked on his mother's farm and had no edu- 
cational advantages. 

On December 16, 1818, when but nineteen years 
of age, he married Elsah Pendleton, of Bucking- 
ham County. For three years he managed dif- 
ferent plantations, and then in 1823 he moved 
to Wilson County, Tenn., taking his mother with 
him. There he purchased a small farm, -which 
he hired operated w-hile he worked at the carpen- 
ter's trade. At this he was moderately successful 
and managed to save a little, but was not satisfied, 
and as he had friends and relatives in Illinois, 
resolved to try his fortunes in the newer State. 
Therefore, in 1829, he came to Eflingham County, 
selected the site of his permanent home, and, 
going back to Tennessee, sold his property there, 
and in November, 1830, came back to Etiingham 
County, having made the trip of over 3t)v miles 
in two weeks, by horse and wagon. He built 
on the spot that remained his home until his 
death. This little log cabin was finished March 
14, 1831. He was a very industrious man and 
not only farmed but worked alsg in a blacksmith 
shop he built or at his trade of carpentering. 
He did such good work that he was sent for from 
places as far away as Vandalia and Shelbyville, 
and even as far as Paris, III. 

His first attempt to raise wheat was in 1832. 
He planted four acres and fanned it through a 
sheet, then pounded it. This slow process dis- 
couraged Mr. Turner, so he went back to Ten- 
nessee and purchased a fanning mill, the first 
brought into the county, and afterward he was 
kept busy hauling it all over the neighborhood, 
and it was finally worn out. He al.so raised 
several crops of cotton, on the southern slope of 
a hill, but did not find it successful. From time 
to time he went back to Tennessee after various 
things he found lacuing, making five trips in all. 
On one of these trips he brought his mother, who 
made her home with him until her death, April 
26, 18.39. Mr. Turner had entered eighty acres 
of government laud, but added to it until he 
owned at least 1,000 acres in Jackson Township, 
and became one of the most successful farmers 
of this part of the State. 

Mr. Turner was called upon to serve the 
county and in 1834 he was elected County Com- 
missioner, filling the office faithfully and effi- 
ciently. His wife's death occurred October 5, 
1858. He and his good wife had the following 
children : David, born in Virginia, June 21, 1822, 
was a farmer in Mason Township ; Robert, born 
in Tennessee, August 21. 1823, died at the age 
of twenty-one years ; James S. B.. twrn in Ten- 
nessee, October 21, 1824, became a prosperous 
farmer of Shelby County, where he died ; Lo- 
renzo, born in Tennessee. May 14. 1826 ; Mary 
Jane, born July 12, 1827, married Samuel Win- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



869 



ter, and both are deceased; John J., born Octo- 
ber 5, 1828, died November 11, 1832; Henry, born 
December 28. 1830; Nathaniel, born April 14, 
1832 ; Nancy E., born February 6, 1834, married 
Charles Klnsey ; Abram P., born February 1, 
1836, died July 29, 1856; Wilson, born October 
2, 1838, the only one of the family now living, 
a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 

On January 20, 1860, James Turner married 
(second) Mary E. Qulgley, who died December 
10, 1874, leaving no issue. For many years Mr. 
Turner was a consistent member of the Old 
School Baptist Church. His first vote was cast 
for General Jackson and he ever supported the 
Democratic party. In addition he was a strong 
temperance man, and when prohibition was made 
a national issue, he supported it from principle. 
His death occurred when he was eighty-eight 
years old, in 1888. He had thirty-five grand- 
children and fift.v-two great-grandchildren born 
during his lifetime, and (remarkable, indeed) 
two great-great-grandchildren. 

There have been few men of his caliber. He 
was strictly lionest in everything, striving to do 
what he believed his duty, no matter what the 
cost. From the time he located in Effingham 
C!ounty until hia death, so many years later, he 
was ever striving to advance its best interests 
and to make it the most desirable place in the 
State. His memory is cherished as that of one 
of the most tj-pical of the pioneers of Illinois. 

TURNER, William MarshaU.— Many of the more 
progressive farmers of Effingham County are 
turning their attention towards specializing in 
their work, having demonstrated that there is 
more money in this method than in carrying on 
general farming. Many of them are making suc- 
cessful experiments in the breeding of high grade 
stock, and the product of these rich Effingham 
County farms is eagerly sought in the big mar- 
kets. William Marshall Turner, of Jackson 
Township, is one of the men who have adopted 
modem methods in carrying on his business. He 
was born in Mason Township. Effingham County, 
October 16, 1857, and was educated in the public 
schools of Shelby and Effingham Counties, ob- 
taining a good education. He is a son of Na- 
thaniel C. and Sarah K. (Wilson) Turner, the 
former of whom was born and reared in Effing- 
ham Countj'. The parents of Nathaniel C. Tur- 
ner were natives of Tennessee, who moved to 
Illinois in 1830. and located in Effingham County, 
where they spent the remainder of their lives. 
Sarah K. Wilson was born in Licking County, 
Ohio, and was eleven years old wlaen her parents 
came to Illinois. Her Grandfather WiLson and 
his wife also died in Effingham County. 

Nathaniel C. Turner m.arried in Effingham 
County in 1853, and there settled on a farm, but 
later moved to Shelby County, where he lived 
eight years. Then returning to Effingham 
County he located on a farm in Jackson Town- 
ship, where his son William M. now lives. From 
then (1875) until his death, January 10. 1908. 
at the age of seventy-five years, he made this 



farm his home. He is buried in Jackson Town- 
ship. His widow still survives at the age of 
seventy-three years, making her home with her 
son William. Three children were born to this 
couple, namely : Robert W., who resides at Wind- 
sor, III., a carpenter by trade, married Sarah 
Stevens, and they have three sons — Delbert C, 
Ernest L. (deceased), and William Earl; Wil- 
liam M. ; and Mollie B., wife of William B. 
Wenter, of Chicago, has two daughters — Ada V. 
and Sarah Katherine. 

William Marshall Turner was married April 
7, 1897, to Flora J. Price, born in Shelby County, 
April 28, 1862, daughter of John W. and Mahulda 
(Williard) Price, both natives of Tennessee. 
They were married in Shelby County, where they 
still live. Mr. Price (who is a farmer) being 
seventy-four and hi^ wife seventy-two. They 
became parents of twelve children, eleven of 
whom reached maturity, namely : Franklin, Jo- 
seph, Mrs. Turner, John. Mareellus, Otis, Clara, 
Linus, Patsy, Benjamin and Maude. Clara is 
the wife of Frank Rodgers and Maude the wife 
of Benjamin Kiefer. 

Ever since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Turner 
have lived on their present farm in Jackson 
Township, which contains 200 acres, of which 
120 acres is under cultivation and eighty acres 
in timber. Mr. Turner has made all the im- 
provements ; he has a barn .30 by 50 feet, besides 
a large two-story residence, with thoroughly mod- 
ern appliances. He owns one of the best equipped 
and most fertile farms in the county, and 
has made a si^ecialty of breeding Poland-China 
hogs for the market, receiving a fancy price for 
his product. 

Mr. Turner and his wife are parents of two 
sons : Donald, lx)rn January 23, 1898, and Percy, 
born March 19, 1900. .Mr. Turner has always 
been a Democrat and, while taking an active in- 
terest in local affairs, has never aspired to pub- 
lic office, this having also been the policy of his 
father. His father was a member of the Blue 
Lodge of Masons and tlie Royal Arch Chapter, 
but William M. belongs to no fraternal organiza- 
tion. His parents were strong church workers and 
belonged to the Baptist Church, and though Mr. 
Turner and his wife are members of no religious 
organization, they are faithful attendants of the 
services of the Baptist Church. He has been 
successful in all his undertakings and is highly 
honored, having a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. Owing to failing health, Mr. Tur- 
ner will soon retire from active farm work. 

Mr. Turner comes from a long-lived family, 
his Grandfather Turner having lived to be eighty- 
eight years and four months of age. His de- 
clining years were passed in Jackson Township, 
at the home of his son Nathaniel C, who, with 
his wife, tenderly cared for him from 1875 until 
1889, the date of his death. He was a strong 
temperance worker and a truly Christian man, 
taking an active part in all good works, and few 
men accomplished more good or have left more 
tender memories behind them. 



870 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



TURNER, Wilson. — Pre-eminently courageous 
and resourceful, the struggliug settlers on the 
Illinois fi-ontier displayed a wonderful readiness 
in adapting themselves to conditions and meeting 
emergencies. The pioners displayed hardihood 
and energy, upbuilding and preserving a happy 
home life, with the passage of time, and their 
reward is now given those who still survive in 
the 'realization of what tJaey achieved. One of 
the pioneers of Effingham Cbunty deserving of 
more than passing mention is Wilson Turner. 
He is a native of the county, born in Jackson 
Township, October 2, 1838, a son of James Tur- 
ner (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
work), who came to the county in 1829, settling 
in Jackson Township in 1830. 

Wilson Turner was reared on the pioneer farm, 
but in his time there were no troubles with the 
Indians. Work was hard on acc-ouut of priva- 
tions endured. Men married early in those days, 
and when he was but twenty he was united in 
marriage, on November 27, 1858, with Mary A. 
Poe, born near Windsor, Shelby County. Mr. 
Turner originally purchased fifty acres, to which 
he added until he now owns 220 acres, 180 of 
which is in a high state of cultivation. He has 
made many improvements on the farm to which 
he and his wife came in 1860. at a time when 
it was wild prairie and many have been the 
changes they have witnessed. They are now the 
last of those brave souls who first located in 
Jackson Township. For seventy-one years Mr. 
Turner has lived in Jackson and Mason Town- 
ships, and is one of the best known men of that 
region. 

Mr. and Mrs. Turner have had the following 
children : Henry A., born September 25. 1859, 
married Emma Kavanaugh, lives on the home 
farm, and they have two children — Clarence and 
Charlie: William B.. born December 19. 1860, 
died September 7, 1877 : Zilla K., born May 5, 
1802, wife of Aaron Lowder, has three children — 
John W.. Walter and Owen ; Deidamona Y., born 
December 11, 1863, married John Kavanaugh and 
they have three children — Chris, Lawrence and 
Wilson ; Elsie M.. born December 29, 1865, widow 
of Nel.son Randall, has one child — Etfie ; James 
W.. born December 10, 1867, of Colorado, married 
Amanda Peterson and they have two children — 
Glen and Gladdies ; John F.. Iwrn February 5, 
1870. a farmer, married Mr.s. Ruth (Kincade) 
Magee, and they have three children — Orval, 
Artie and Frank ; Theodora N.. born April 8, 
1872 : Oscar H.. born September 1, 1875, died 
September 14, 1876 ; Anna Laura, born September 
6, 1877, married Edman Faes, a merchant of 
Farina, 111., and they have one son — Elmer; 
Glenn Dora, born March 12, 1881. married Lewis 
Schram, a farmer of Mason To«-nship ; and 
Grace, born October 26, 1886, died August 31, 
1887. The children were all educated in the 
township, !ind those now living are the pride of 
their parents' hearts, while the memory of those 
who are passed into the beyond are tenderly 
cherished. 



On November 27, 19<18, Mr. and Mrs. Turner 
had a delightful celebration of their golden wed- 
ding. Eighty-three persons attended and made 
the occasion a joyous one. They received many 
tokens of remembrance, given with deepest love. 
Mr. and Mrs. Turner have always looked on the 
bright side of life, even when for thirteen months 
Mr. Turner was disabled with a broken leg. 
Aside from this accident, however, they have not 
had much sickness personally. Mrs. Turner is 
a consistent member of the Christian Church and 
lives out the teachings of the Master in her daily 
movements. He has always been a Democrat, 
serving for fifteen years as School Director, nine 
years as School Trustee, and has been Highway 
Commis-sioner since 1873. Many years ago he 
joined the Masonic Lodge and has filled all the 
offices. Both he and his wife are members of 
the Eastern Star at Mason, 111. He belongs to 
Golden Lake Chapter, No. 143, and regularly at- 
tends the meetings. 

In the evening of a well-spent life, these two 
who have been so closel.v associated all their mar- 
ried years, are able to look back with satisfaction 
upon their actions, for they know they were al- 
ways actuated liy the highest of motives. They 
are well provided with this world's goods, are 
fiiTn in their religious faith, surrounded by the 
love of children and friends, and happy in the 
companionship of each other. 

UPTON, Edward N.— Those who have been en- 
gaged in the dairy business will readily recognize 
the fact that more satisfactory results can be 
secured from the pure grade of cattle than the 
common variety, and this has been demonstrated 
by the experience of Edward N. Upton, one of 
the leading dairymen of Effingham County, III., 
whose farm is situated in Section 5, Watson 
Township. Mr. Upton was born in the house in 
which he now lives. February 3, 1870, a son of 
Col. Edward N. Upton, who was born in Auburn, 
N T., September 27, 1837, and there given his 
early education, later removing to Columbus, 
Ohio, where he learned the printer's trade. In 
1857 he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked 
at his trade for about one year, and then came 
to f]wington, at that time the county seat of Ef- 
fingham Ctounty, as journeyman, working on the 
old "Pioneer," of which Colonel Fillers was then 
editor. After working about a year on this paper 
he went to Henderson, Ky„ where he assisted 
his brother-in-law in erecting a gas-plant, and 
six months later returned to Ewington, and there 
resumed his trade. Later he again went to St, 
Louis, where he was working in tlie capacity of 
compositor at the time of the outbreak of the 
Civil War, and then going to Columbus, Ohio, he 
helped to raise a company, which became part of 
the Fort.v-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infan- 
try. He was mustered into service September 10, 
1861, as First Lieutenant, later serving under the 
eommand of Gens. W. T. Sherman and John A. 
Logan, the regiment being assigned to the Fif- 
teenth Army Corps. On April 6, 1862, he was 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



871 



appointed Captain of Company G, on account of 
meritorious service ; was commissioned Major of 
ttie Regiment August 19. 18C4; as Lieutenant- 
Colonel December 22, 1864, and for bravery on 
the field of battle, was promoted to the rank of 
Colonel of his regiment, July 16. 186.5. after 
three years and nine months of service. During 
tills time he participated in thirty-two hard- 
fought battles, and was honorably di-scharged 
and mustered out of the service at Louisville, 
Ky., in July, 1865. when, returning to Effingham 
County. 111., he bought land on Section 5. Watson 
Township. On March 21. 1864. he was married 
to Emma E. Rlnehart. daughter of Daniel Rine- 
hart, one of Effingham Cbunty's pioueer.s, and 
later he and his wife began life on the farm, 
where they remained until 1875. in which year 
Mr. Upton entered the sersMce of Hay dens & 
Allen, manufacturers of saddlery and hardware, 
at St. Louis, and was engaged by that firm as 
travelling salesman in Southern Illinois, until 
his death, in 1898. He and his wife had the fol- 
lowing children : Daniel X.. who died October 4, 
1900 : Hayden R.. a minister of Meade County. 
S. D. : Martha R.. wife of Thomas S. Purriugton, 
with the Mott Brass & Iron Company, of Tren- 
ton. N. J. ; Mary L., wife of Cyrus J. Dixon, a 
merchant, stock and grain dealer, of Scotland, S. 
D.. and Edward N. 

Edward N. Upton was educated in his home 
district school and remained on the farm until 
1887. when he went to St. Louis, later going to 
St. JIai-ys. Ohio, where fi-om 1888 until 1890 he 
was first engineer in a chain factory. In the lat- 
ter year he again went to St. Louis and engaged 
in the transfer business until 1896. when he re- 
moved to the old home farm and took up general 
agricultural pui-suits. In April, 190.3. Mr. Upton 
purchased nine head of thoroughbred Holstein 
cattle, all registered stock, the individual at the 
head of the herd being "Captain Aconeth Fair- 
mount." Registered No. .31910. which he kept un- 
til March 13. 1906. when he sold to Henry Gech- 
ner. of Watson. The next head of the herd was 
"Hount.i'e Butter Boy." an animal which Mr. 
Upton had raised, but which on December 22. 
1908. he exchanged with James H. Loy. of Wat- 
son Township, for "General Bock Dekolb." He 
became the owner of a herd of twent>--five head 
of fine bred Holstein cattle, which he endeavored 
to keep up to the standard of highest breeding, 
believing in this way he would have animals that 
would produce fully tn-ice as much as mixed 
breeds. He is one of the most successful dairy- 
men in the county and his judgment in this line 
is considered excellent. He has recently sold 
his entire herd, however, with a view to replac- 
ing them with better ones. 

Mr. Upton was married. March 20. 1898. to 
Mary A. Walker, who was born in W.itson Town- 
ship, December 22. 1877. daughter of Adam L. 
and Elsa (Hillis) Walker, and to this union 
there have been born two children : C. Allen. 
born December 17, 1898, and Marj- E., June 1, 
1907. 



Mr. and Mrs. Upton are active members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he 
Is a Democrat, and since 1905 he has been serv- 
ing as Justice of the I'eace. He is combining his 
farming operations with his dairy business, and 
is making a very successful dairy farmer. 

VOELEER, Gustave R. — Some men attain to 
more than ordinary prominence through the 
recognition by their associates of their abilltj- to 
discharge certain duties, and this is undoubtedly 
the case of Gustave R. Voelker, a prosperous 
farmer of Sections 17 and 20, West Township, 
and one of the leaders of his locality. He was 
bom on his father's homestead in West Town- 
ship, June 13, 1869, being the third son of Will- 
iam and Louisa (Scholwin) Voelker. Between 
the age of seven and thirteen years, he was sent 
to the Lutheran parochial school of his neigh- 
borhood, and following that when his father 
could spare him spent two terms at the public 
school. In those days the farmers depended 
upon their children's help in clearing and devel- 
oping the land, and Gustave from the time he 
was 13 years old did a man's work. He drove 
teams, felled timber and i)erformed all other 
kinds of farm work, learning thoroughly how to 
operate property of this kind. 

When he married Ida Jagow on April 5, 1894, 
he left the home farm and settled on the one 
which he now owns, up to that date having 
worked for his father. Mrs. 'Voelker Is a daugh- 
ter of Samuel Jagow who, at the age of seventy- 
eight, is now living in Mound Township, which 
was the girlhood home of Mrs. Voelker. Seven 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Voelker, 
two of whom, Louis ( I ) and Hugo, are deceased, 
while others are: David, a sturdy lad of four- 
teen; Albert. Carl. Hilda and a second Louis. 
Mr. Voelker owns 100 acres of land on Sec- 
tion 17. which is his home place, and eighty acres 
on Section 20, which he purchased on January 
22. 1902. and April 15. 1903. and forty acres in 
Section 17. His house was built twenty years 
ago. but Mr. Voelker has entirely remodeled it, 
made additions, and it is now one of the most 
c-omfortable homes in the township. All of the 
outbuildings have been replaced by thoroughly 
modern ones, and Mr. Voelker takes a pride in 
the appearance of his premises. 

A stanch Democrat, his seiwices and ability 
have been recognized by his associates and he 
has been called upon to fill a number of offices, 
being elected School Director in 1899; Town- 
ship Clerk in 1901 ; re-elected School Director in 
1902 and Township Clerk in 1903. He was made 
a member of the Democratic County Central Com- 
mittee in 1902. again in 1904, and again in 1906, 
serving as chairman of the same in the last 
named vear. In 1907 he was re-elected School 
Director, and in 1907 and 1908 served as Judge 
of Election. In all of these offices Mr. Voelker 
has served his constituents faithfully and honor- 
ably, and all his neighlwrs, independent of party 
lines, have great confidence in him. 
In addition to his farming interests. Mr. Voel- 



872 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



ker is connected with several enterprises of im- 
portance, being one of the organizers of the Gil- 
more Telephone Company anil is now its Secre- 
tary, having been elected to that office in 1901. 
He was a director of the Gilmore Creamery 
Company for three years (1905 to 1908) ; was 
elected a director in the Altamont Agricultural 
Fair Association in November, 1907, and through 
his personal efforts made the meetings of the 
following years a great success. Mr. Voellier 
possesses a marked degree of ability, and his 
success in life may be attributed to this and to 
the fact that he has never shirked hard work, 
but has been willing and glad to do his full duty. 

WADE, George. — A brave defender of his flag, 
always ready for dutj' whenever his ser\'ices 
have been needed in either war or peace, George 
Wade, a retired merchant and one of the most 
desirable citizens of Mason, 111., sets an exam- 
ple of noble-minded living and true patriotism 
that the rising generation will do well to follow. 
Mr. Wade was born In Patriot, Ind., February 7, 
1841. a son of Alfred and Esther (Campbell) 
Wade, and grandson of George Wade, one of the 
soldiers of the War of 1812, under General Hull. 
George Wade was a native of Virginia, but 
moved to Middletown, Ohio, and there Alfred 
Wade was born. 

When Alfred Wade was still a boy the family 
moved to Switzerland County, Ind.. and located 
in Patriot, where the son finally married and 
where still earlier he became owner of a farm. 
He sometimes went to New Orleans on a flat-boat 
"and walked back. He engaged in farming and 
died in Patriot about 1885. His widow survived 
until 1908, when at the age of ninety-three years 
she died at Kokonio, Ind.. where she was residing 
with her daughter. The following children were 
bom to Alfred Wade and wife : Mary, widow of 
Jabez Van Doran, resides at Indianapolis, Ind., 
with her son Harvey: George; Elijah, of Rising 
Sun. Ind. ; Melvina, died at the age of fifty 
years at the old home in Patriot : Charles, on the 
parental farm in Switzerland County, and has 
four children ; JIargaret, married Greenberry 
Leaver, a farmer near Kokomo, Ind., and has 
two children ; Oma, wife of Asa Mott. The pa- 
ternal grandmother's maiden name was Gamble, 
and this family was also from Virginia, while the 
Campbells came from Scotland. Harvey L. Van 
Doran has the old Scotch family Bible, that is 
one hundred-fifty years old. 

George Wade spent his boyhood on the farm, 
and attended the common schools. He entered 
the Normal School of Lebanon College, but when 
the war broke out, like many other students of 
that time, he was fired with patriotism. Finally, 
in August, 1862, he enlisted for three-years' ser- 
vice in Company C, Ninety-third Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, and the regiment was ordered to 
Memphis. Tenn., and placed under command of 
General Grant. He participated in the Vicks- 
burg campaign, but in the Guntown raid, when 
General Sturgis was beaten by Forrest, Mr. 
Wade was captured and confined in Anderson- 



ville Prison. He was one of those who dug the 
tunnel through which .so many escaped, but was 
not among those thus fortunate. It would be 
impossible to give in full all of the agonies this 
brave man suffered while incarcerated in this 
awful place. Through privations his weight was 
reduced until he weighed only seventy pounds. 
He and a comrade. Dave Pelery, tried to escape 
at night, when the firing of a gun was the signal 
for the prisoners to go into the inside den. They 
were caught and were forced to endure added 
miseries. From Andersonville he was taken to 
Camp Laughton, but as General Sherman was 
advancing, he was sent to Savannah, and there 
was paroled and sent to Fortress Monroe. From 
there he was sent to Annapolis and given a much- 
needed furlough. His family was shocked by 
his terrible appearance when he reached home. 
When he had entered the sen-ice he had weighed 
one hundred forty-five pounds, and when he re- 
turned his weight was not more than seventy. 
On June 10^ 1865, he returned to his regiment at 
Gainsville, Ala., just a year from the time he 
was captured, and was sent to Memphis, Tenn., 
and mustered out, being honorably discharged at 
Indianapolis. 

The brave young soldier, broken in health and 
spirits after three years of terrible suffering, re- 
turned to Patriot. There he began buying and 
selling stock and remained there until 1871, 
when he came to Mason. 111., and bought a hard- 
ware stock, and for some years conducted this 
business. He then sold out and bought a grist- 
mill, and for some time opei'ated it. His next 
venture was in the mercantile business. Selling 
all his other interests, he established a general 
store in LaCIede, 111., which he conducted from 
1894 to 1900 with marked succes.s. In the latter 
year he sold the business and came back to Mason. 
111., where he has since lived retired, with the 
exception of three years. 

Mr. Wade was married, at Mason, 111., October 
25, 1876, to Aline P. Mills, who was born in 
Charleston, 111.. December 6, 18.54. A history of 
the Mills family is given elsewhere in this work. 
One son was born to them, Alfred St. Clair, a 
clerk in the post-office in Indianapolis, Ind., who 
was born at Mason, June 9, 1878. 

From time to time Mr. Wade has inve.sted in 
land, and now owns 709 acres in Effingham and 
adjoining counties. He has been one of the pro- 
gressive men of Effingham County, and one of the 
most honored veterans in his part of the State. 
He has been very successful in his business un- 
dertakings. In 1906 he built a beautiful home, 
where he lives retired from his former strenuous 
life. Adjoining this home he has forty-five acres, 
which he takes pleasure in overseeing, and on 
it he raises small fruits and has a young orchard 
of pears, peaches and apples. He cans tomatoes 
from his tomato patch, which he ships to the 
Chicago market, receiving fancy prices for his 
product, which is all canned by hand. Socially 
he belongs to the Masonic Lodge of Mason, and 
is also a member of the Association of the Pris- 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



873 



oners of the War at Decatur, 111. He and his 
wife are members of the Christian Church. They 
are noble people, loved and esteemed by all who 
have the pleasure of their acquaintance. In ix)li- 
tics Mr. Wade is a strong Republican. Happy in 
his declining years, he can never forget what he 
.suffered during the war, nor can those who 
know and admire him. If ever a man suffered 
for his country, it was George Wade. 

WALKER, James Arthur. — The occupation of 
fanning is a profitable one to those who know 
how to properly couduc^ their business, and who 
combine the various branches of the industry to 
the best advantage. James Arthur Walker, one 
of Effingham County's successful farmers, makes 
a sijecialty of the dairy business and has found 
that it pays well. Mr. Walker, who is operating 
on Section 20, Watson Township, was born on a 
farm northeast of Watson, October 20, 1873, and 
is a son of Adam L. and Eliza A. (Hillis) 
Walker. 

Adam L. Walker was born September 14, 1829, 
in Muskingum Coimty, Ohio, and when nineteen 
years of age came to Effingham County, 111., with 
an uncle, with whom he worked until the out- 
break of the Civil War. Ou the first call for 
three-year men Mr. Walker enlisted in Company 
B, Thirty-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, was soon promoted to the rank of Ser- 
geant, and later to that of Captain, serving 
throughout his term with the gi-eatest bravery 
and the utmost fidelity to duty. After serving 
three years and eight months he went to Texas, 
where he assisted in calming the turbulous out- 
break in that State, and then returned to Watson, 
where he was variously occupied until his mar- 
riage, November 30, 1871, to Miss Eliza A. Hillis, 
who was l>orn in Lancaster, O., April 6, 1848, 
and came with her parents to Illinois in 1852. 
Six children were born to this union : William, 
who died in infancy ; James Arthur ; Samuel T., 
editor and owner of the "Atwood Herald," at At- 
wood. 111.; Mary, wife of Ed. N. Upton; Libby 
K., on the old home farm in Watson Township ; 
and William Vinton, who has charge of the old 
home farm. Captain Walker spent the last days 
of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
became one of the township's mo.st highly re- 
spected men. Kind and benevolent to a fault, he 
was ever eager to assist the needy, and no 
worthy person who applied to him for aid was 
ever refused. He was always ready to be at 
the bedside of some sufferer and the extent of 
his private philanthropies probably will never 
be known. A stanch Republican in politics, his 
popularity was so great that he was elected to 
various township offices in a township strongly 
Democratic. He was a Mason and a member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic. His religious 
connection was with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, in which he was very active. 

James Arthur Walker was born on his Grand- 
father Hillis' farm in Watson Township and 
was educated in the school at Watson. As his 
father's health began to fail from his long and 



arduous service during the war, the duties of the 
farm fell to the shoulders of the two eldest 
sous, and as Samuel took up the profes,sion of 
teaching, James A. .soon found himself in charge 
of the property. He continued to carry on the 
farm after his father's death, and embarked in 
the dairy business, remaining on the land until 
his marriage, February 26, 1008, to Minnie Beh- 
rens, who was born in Chicago. 111., and came to 
Effingham County with her parents. Mrs. Walk- 
er s two brothers, Robert and Frank, are residents 
of Chicago, 111., and her sister Annie is the wife 
of Clark Loy, a hardware merchant of Effingham. 
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walker moved 
to the Campbell farm, on Section 20, where he 
is now operating IGO acres and giving a great 
deal of attention to the dairy business, now hav- 
ing twelve cows, all grade-blooded Holsteins. He 
also owns 70 acres in Section 27, which he rents 
out, and forty acres on Section 20, and is con- 
sidered one of the substantial men of bis com- 
munity. 

Mr. Walker has always taken an active Interest 
in political matters and, like his father, has been 
very popular. In addition to being a member of 
the Republican County Central Committee he has 
held various township offices, including those of 
Assessor and Tax Collector. Fraternally he is 
connected with Lodge No. 321, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, and the Yeomen. Mr. Walker 
and his wife are leadinp- members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church at Watson. 

WALKER, James Hamilton, M. D.— The records 
of Effingham, III., show that the physicians of 
that locality are fully abreast of modern scien- 
tific progress and discovery, and that the men be- 
longing to this most important of all learned pro- 
fessions rank with the foremost in the land. 
They are skilled and carefully trained, not only 
by general practice, but by years of study and 
preparation, and in their hands the bodily wel- 
fare of those under their charge is furnished 
means of protection. Dr. James Hamilton 
Walker, of Effingham, one of the representative 
men of his profession, was born in Jackson 
Ctounty, Ohio, August 2, 1866, a son of Alexander 
and Martha (Smith) Walker, the former bom 
in County Wexford, Ireland, and the latter in 
Washington County, Pa. 

Alexander Walker came of an old English fam- 
ily, his grandfather having emigrated from Eng- 
land to Ireland. The Smith family here men- 
tioned traces its ancestry back to some of the 
same stock as President Buchanan of the United 
States and Robert Bruce of Scotland. Alexander 
Walker was eighteen years of age when he came 
to America, coming alone and landing in New 
York. He went at once to Philadelphia, where 
he had relatives, thence to Washington County, 
Pa., where he met his future wife. After his mar- 
riage he removed to Jackson. Ohio, and when the 
Civil War broke out. like so many of his countr.v- 
nien. Mr. Walker quickly responded to the call 
of his adopted country, serving it four years. 
His militarj- career ended, he moved with his 



874 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



family to Crawford Couutj-, HI., where both he 
and his wife died. He was a Keimblieaii in poli- 
tics and iu religious faith was a member of the 
United Presbyterian Church, acting for years as 
a Trustee of that body. 

Dr. Wallier attended the Lamotte School in 
Crawford County, also the Robinson High School, 
and then first entered St. Joseph's College at 
Teutopolis. taliing courses in Latin. German and 
mathematics, after which he attended Austin Col- 
lege, taking the preparatoiy branches of medical 
chemistry, anatomy and physiologj', at the same 
time studying medicine with his brother. Dr. J. B. 
Walker. His preparatory course for the profes- 
sion covered a period of three years, and con- 
sisted, in addition to the branches already men- 
tioned, clinical diagnosis under the tutelage of 
his brother. He also studied pathology and bac- 
teriology, and finally entering the Barnes Medical 
College "at St. Louis, graduated from that institu- 
tion March 17, 1S9C, and was appointed clinician 
in the college, where he remained six mouths, 
then beginning practiie at St. Louis. Later he 
moved to Mechanicslmrg, 111., where he practiced 
three years, when in 1S'J9 he returned to Effing- 
ham, there forming a partnership with his broth- 
er. Dr. J. G. Walker, local surgeon of the Illinois 
Central and the Vandalia Railroad Companies, 
and this partnership has continued to the present 
time. 

Dr. Walker has sen-ed iu the Illinois National 
Guaid thirteen years and is now Assistant Sur- 
geon of the Fourth Regiment. In the spring of 
1907 he was elected Alderman of the City of Ef- 
fingham for the Third Ward, serving one term, 
has also served as Health Commissioner and is 
now Chairman of the local branch of the State 
Board of Charities. Naturally lie is much in- 
terested in medical societies, belonging to the 
Effingham County Medical Society, Illinois State 
Medical Association, American Medical Associa- 
tion, the National Guard Surgeon Association and 
the .llsculapian Society ; is also prominent as a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows 
and Modern American Fraternal Order. 

While accustomed on most public questions to 
supiwrt the principles of the Republican party, 
and reared iu the faith of the United Presbyte- 
rian Church, on both ix>litical and religious issues 
he tends strongly to radical liberalism, believing 
that general prosperity, as the great issue for 
the whole people, can only be secured and con- 
served by improving the condition of the labor- 
ing classes. He maintains that prosperity should 
begin at the bottom round of the ladder, and 
that, to the accomplishment of this end. every 
able-bodied citizen should work and be rewarded 
for his toil to a degree that, with proper economy 
and temperate habits, will enable him to live in 
comfort and pay all his obligations; that if the 
laboring man is prospei-ous to this extent, he will 
be able to provide for the future and thus one of 
the most dreaded evils of human life will be 
avoided. He looks upon poverty and intemper- 
ance as the most fruitful sources of crime. Be- 



lief in a Supreme Being he recognizes as an ele- 
ment of human nature common to all races of 
men, and has a respect for all religious faiths 
which tends to elevate the mental, moral and 
physical standard of humanity. 

June 22, VM'.'>, Dr. Walker was married, at 
Chicago, to Miss Aldula Sadorus, of Sadorus, 
Champaign County, 111., daughter of Henry and 
Sarah (Fields) Sadorus, the former born in Rush 
County, Ind., and the latter iu Fountain County, 
Ind.. but both now deceased. Dr. and Mrs. 
Walker have no children. 

The work accomplished by Dr. Walker, both 
in his profession and as a public official, can 
scarcely be overestimated. While Health Com- 
missioner he secured the enactment of some very 
desirable health regulations. As an officer of the 
Illinois National Guard he is deservedly popular, 
and socially he and his wife enjoy the respect 
and esteem of a large circle of friends. He is 
one of the most reliable physicians of the county 
and his success is well merited. 

WALKER, Joseph Buchanan, M. D.— The physi- 
cian is a man who necessarily comes very close 
to the lieart of a family, holding, as he does at 
times, the issues of life and death largely in his 
hands, and to him those in trouble from this 
cause instinctively turn. The members of this 
profession are broadened and ripened in expe- 
rience through their contact with humanity in 
their natural characters and dispositions. Dr. 
Joseph G. Walker, one of the valuable citizens of 
Effingham, 111., is an excellent example of this 
class of physicians, and for years has carried on 
general practice, w-inning the affection, as well 
as the confidence, of his patients, by his skill and 
ready sympath,v. Dr. Walker was born in Por- 
terville. Butler County, Pa., September 17, 1856, 
the son of Alexander and Martha (Smith) 
Walker, the former born October IS, 1820, in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, and the latter in Wash- 
ing County, Pa„ in 1818. 

Alexander Walker, who was a dry-goods mer- 
chant, served in both the Mexican and Civil 
Wars. During the latter he enlisted in October, 
1861. in tbe Fifty-third Ohio Volunteers, but was 
afterward transferred to another regiment. His 
death occm-red June 20, 1880, his widow surviving 
him until Ndvcniber 17, 1903. Both are buried in 
the United Presbyterian Cemeter.v in Crawford 
County, III., to which county they removed in 
1868 and there sjient the rest of their lives. 

Dr. Walker was educated in the public schools 
of his locality and later attended a private school 
at Robinson, 111., also the Roliinson High School, 
from which he graduated in 1876. He then 
taught school for a time, and was, at one time. 
Superintendent of Schools at Palestine. 111. He 
followed his school teaching during the winter 
months and during the summer studied medicine 
with Dr. Isaac L. Firebaugh, of Robinson, 111. 
Later he entered Miami Medical College, of Cin- 
cinnati. Ohio, now the Medical Department of 
the I'niversity of Cincinnati, from which he grad- 
uated in 1882. He also took a post-graduate 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



SVO 



course in Xew York City. He taught school to 
earn luoiiey in which to pursue his medical stud- 
ies. He has been for years a general praetl- 
( tioner in Effingham. He is local surgeon for the 
Illinois Central, the ludiauaiwlis Southern and 
Vandalia, and the Pennsylvania Railroads. 

Dr. Walker has always been verj- active in po- 
litical matters, served two years as President of 
the School Board and has also served as Mayor 
of Effingham. In modern days there is a great 
demand for advanced methods in dealing with 
civic affairs and the people look largely to the 
services of followers of the learned professions 
to carry on public business, tinding in this way a 
marked improvement may Ije made. Dr. Walker 
is President of the Commercial Club, a member 
of the Blue Lodge No. IGS, A. F. & A. M., of 
Effingham Chapter R. A. M., and the B. P. O. 
E. He subscribed to the faith of the Presbyte- 
rian Church and belongs to the Brotherhood. 

October 30, 1883, Dr. Walker was married, in 
Palestine, 111., to Alice C. Maxwell, born at Hut- 
sonville. 111., in 1802, daughter of James A. and 
Mary (Harper) Maxwell, natives of Tennessee 
and Illinois, respectively. Dr. and Mrs. Walker 
became parents of one daughter, Alice Florence, 
who died at the age of seven years. 

Dr. Walker is a man of broad outlook on life, 
is thoroughly versed, not only in his profession, 
but also upon matters of general interest, and has 
done much for Effingham as a public official. 
Under his administration of the affairs of the 
city many improvements were made and econo- 
mies inaugurated, and the effect of his business- 
like methods are to be noticed everywhere. As a 
physician Dr. Walker has no peer in the county, 
and he is often called into consultation in sur- 
rounding counties in serious eases. 

WALLACE, James K. — Every veteran of the 
Civil War commands our respect and honor, in 
memory of what he accomplished and what he 
risked during these dark days. If he happens to 
have been a member of one of the regiments or 
divisions that made famous certain struggles in 
the history of the war, then he is better remem- 
bered, and as a result, more highly .honored. 
James K. Wallace, a retired farmer of Altamont, 
HI., is a veteran of the Civil War. through which 
he fought as a member of the famous Wilder 
Brigade, and in the Ninety-eighth Regiment Illi- 
nois Volunteer Mounted Infantry. 

John Wallace, the grandfather of James K. 
Wallace, was twrn in 1796, in Pennsylvania, 
whence he emigrated to Ohio and later to Put- 
nam County, Ind., settling near Greencastle, but 
died in 1843 near Martinsville. Morgan County, 
Ind. He married Jane Nelson and they reared a 
large family, among whom was Nelson Wallace, 
born near Chillieothe, Ohio, in 1821. and who ac- 
companied his parents to Putnam County, Ind. 
He was a harness-maker by trade, but failing 
health caused him to go to farming and he con- 
tinued this occupation until his death in 1807. at 
the age of seveut.v-six years. He married Zillah 
Mills, who was born at Lawrenceburg, Ind., and 



she still survives at the age of eighty-six years 
They had a family of eight children, of whom 
James K. is the eldest living. 

James K. Wallace was born on a farm near 
Greencastle. Ind., January 10, 1845, and in 1858 
accompanied his parents to Effingham Cbunty, 
III. He secured his education in the subscrip- 
tion and public schools of Indiana and Illinois, 
and remained at home until 1862, when on 
August 12th of that year he enlisted at Effing- 
ham, for three years as a member of Company 
K, Ninety-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, under Captain O. L. Kelly, Col. John J. 
Fuukhouser c-ommanding. The regiment joined 
Bueir.s Army of the Ohio, at Louisville. Kv., 
and with that division saw some of the hardest 
fights during the war. .Mr. Wallace participated 
m the Battle of Hoover's Gap, June 24, 186.3, and 
from there the Confederates retreated to Chatta- 
nooga, from which time until the Battle of 
Chickamauga. the regiment took part in some 
heavy skirmishing. After the Battle of Chicka- 
mauga. Mr. Wallace took part in the battle at 
Fanniiigton, Tenn., October 7, 1863, and then 
did picket duty along the Tennessee River be- 
low Bridgeport, Ala., until taking part in the 
Battle of Missionary Ridge, being then in ad- 
vance of Sherman's Army and in raising the Siege 
of Knoxville. He next fought at Buzzard's 
Roost, and all through the Atlanta campaign at 
Selma, Ala., April 2, 1865, and elsewhere, in all 
taking part in twenty-eight battles and heavy 
skirmishes, and was wounded five times, one 
bullet entering his right thigh and one the right 
groin (both of which bullets he still carries), 
one passing through his right arm, a part of 
which was removed : one entering the right side 
of his neck, near the jugular vein, which has 
never been removed; and one below his nose, 
which knocked out several of his teeth — the lat- 
ter being received at the last battle the regiment 
was engaged in. He was sent to the hospital at 
Selma and eight days later was removed to a 
hospital at Montgomy-y. Ala., which he left June 
4. 1865. He weiit to Mobile, then to New Or- 
leans, and finally to Na.shville. where he re- 
joined his regiment, June 10. 1865. was mus- 
tered out June 28. and paid off and discharged at 
Springfield. HI.. July 6. 1865. reaching home the 
following day. It was some time before he was 
able to work, but he finally purchased forty acres 
of land, three miles east of Altamont, .and has 
added thereto from time to time, until he is now 
the owner of 320 acres of fine farming land, 
which he rents, having retired from active labor 
in 1906. He is a member of Robert Anderson 
Post No. 6.32, Department of Illinois, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of which he was at one 
time Commander. He has been a lifelong Re- 
publican : is not a regular member of any church, 
but contributes towards the Methodist Episcopal 
denomination, of which his wife and children are 
members. 

January 13, 1876, Mr. Wallace was married to 
Margaret Baker, sister of Dr. G. M. Baker, of 



876 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Altaaiout, ami seven children have been born to 
this union : Jacob II., of Boulder, Colo., married 
Julia Means; Zillah Maud, of Plymouth, Mass.; 
Mattie B., at home ; Bertha, died in 1S85 ; Anna 
Laura, Mrs. E. A. Young, of Mattoon, 111. ; Mai-y 
Logan, at home, and Ida May. 

WEBB, Frederick W. — Farming, with all its 
branches, ha.s been considered a good line of busi- 
ness since the beginning of the world, but within 
the fiast quarter of a century it has been devel- 
oiied in a remarkable degree. In these days 
farmers are farming along scientific lines and 
are reaping result.s in a very gratifying degree. 
Frederick W. Webb, of Section 30, Douglas Town- 
ship, Effingham County, 111., Is one of the pros- 
perous fanners of the county. He was born in 
the City of Effingham, May 3, 1859, a son of 
Henry and Ann (Mason) Webb, he a native of 
Blakenell, Willenall, England, and his wife of 
Wednesday, near Wolverhampton, England. They 
were reared and married in their native country. 
The father was a mechanic, and manufactured 
bridle bits, and was also a locksmith. Frederick 
W. Webb now owns a bridle bit made by bis 
father, which he cherishes highly, and which 
was forged for use on the English horses. The 
parents of F. W. Webb liad two sons — himself, 
and Judge John H. Webb, of Vandalia, who was 
born in England and was brought to America in 
1857, and twin daughters, Eva Ann and Elizabeth 
Maria, both deceased. 

Upon c-oming to Illinois Henry Webb entered 
land on the site of the canning factory of Effing- 
ham, and commenced his new life in a log cabin. 
Later he went to Jasper County, 111., where he 
bought forty acres of land, but returned to Effing- 
ham and for some time worked in a packing 
house. Eventually he bought forty acres in Sec- 
tion 19, Douglas Township, and lived in the slab 
house on the place until he had paid for his land, 
which he turned Into a nursery and became a 
large nurseryman, adding to bis farm until he 
owned 110 acres. When he died the f.ann was 
in excellent condition, and he had one of the fin- 
est orchards in Effingham County. His death 
occurred June 17, 1887, but his widow still sur- 
vives. She later married Christian Bock, a 
farmer of Banner Township. In politics Mr. 
Webb preferred to cast his vote for the man he 
believed would best fill the office. He was a de- 
.vout member of the Methodist Church, was for 
many years a local preacher, and was a close 
student of the Bible. He not only preached to 
the people of his own church, but also to the 
Presbyterians when they had no clergyman of 
their own. Mr. Webb was an eloquent m,an and 
a powerful preacher, and his good work cannot 
be overestimated. He was a self-educated man 
and his abilities were natural. 

Frederick W. Webb was educated in Effing- 
ham and worked on the farm from the time he 
could reach the plow handles. On March 21, 
1888, he married Mary E. Sutton, who was bom 
en a farm In Watson Township, on February 20, 



ISGtj, daughter of George and Mary D. (Koso) 
Sutton, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
this work. The day they were married the 
young couple came to their farm on Section 30, 
Douglas Township, which has since been their 
home. The following childi'en have been born 
to them : Frederick William, born May 2, 1889 ; 
George H., born Februai-j' 19, 1891, died October 
21, 1890; Samuel Edward, burn March 10, 1894; 
Mary E., born April 13, 1898; Harry Lee, bom 
November 28, 1899; Anna A., born Febinary 15, 
190.3, died April 14, 1903; Nellie P., born July 11, 
1907, and her twin, vi-ho died at birth. The chil- 
dren are being well educated. . They have a re- 
markable school record, as only one was ever 
tardy. 

Tlie old orchard Mr. Webb's father set out has 
withered and died, but he has replaced it with 
650 apple trees.. He has always taken an active 
part in public affairs, but while voting with the 
Republican party he declines political honors. 

In 1903 Mr. Webb became interested in the 
dairy business and began raising Durham Jersey 
cattle, but now jirefers the Holstein Jer.sey. He 
feeds six head of cattle, and from them clears 
about .$25 per month, in addition to providing 
milk and butter for the family from the dairy. 
He has always been liberal in his views and, 
while a typical Englishman, is proud of his coun- 
try. The.v have one of the most pleasant homes 
in this part of the State. The parents are jolly 
and do everything they can to keep their children 
contented and at home, and are succeeding be- 
yond their greatest expectations. 

WEBB, William Franklin, who is engaged in ex- 
tensive agricultural operations, including farm- 
ing and dairying, resides on Section 12, Summit 
Township, Effingham County, 111., where he has 
been located since his birth, which took place 
June 12, 1846. His parents were Uriah C. and 
Mary (Fairleigh) Webb, the mother born in 
Missouri and the father in Maury County, Tenn., 
March 18, 1822. Coming to Effingham County 
about 18;i8. the latter started to work for farmers 
by the month. In 1842 he married and then rented 
land in Banner Township and, in 1843, made a 
trade by which he acquired forty acres, situated 
in Section 12, on which he built liis log cabin. To 
this first forty he added other tracts and, when 
he died, he left 200 acres of good land to his 
family, all situated in Summit Township. The 
first little log cabin had been replaced with a 
comfortable frame dwelling and the land all 
showed much improvement. In his political 
views he was a Democrat and at times was 
elected to township offices, his fellow-citizens 
having learned to place confidence in his judg- 
ment and ability. He was first elected to the 
office of Supervisor when the township was or- 
ganized and served as such for many terms, ever 
showing the public interest which brought about 
l)etter conditions when his advice was acted upon. 
He was a member of no particular church but 
was a generous giver to all and a liberal con- 
tributor to benevolent enterprises of all kinds. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



877 



His home was one of hospitality and many vis- 
itors often gathered about his board. 

Uriah Churchill Webb was married in 1842 to 
Mary Fairleigh, who was born in Jlissouri and 
was brought by her parents to Effingham County 
in 1827, when six years old. John Fairleigh set- 
tled in Section 12, Summit Township, and then 
returned to Dallas County, Missouri, where he 
died and his widow soon also passed away. To 
Uriah C. Webb and wife were born ten children, 
namely: Elizabeth, John M., William Franklin, 
Malinda J., James P., Uriah. George William, 
Sarah E., Uriah B. and Alphonso. Elizabeth 
died in 1907. She was married (first) to N. 
Doyle and at his death he left four children. She 
was married (second) to W. L. Hensley, a 
farmer in Summit Township, and they had two 
children. John M. Webb lives in Oregon. Ma- 
linda J. was married (fnrst) to John Ping and 
they had four children, and (second) to John 
Locard. and she now lives in Payette Ctounty. 
James P. Webb, born in 1850, died in 1885. 
Uriah Webb died in Infancy. George William 
Webb, born June 19, 1855, died at the age of six- 
teen years. Sarah E. Webb, born in 18.5.3, mar- 
ried and lives at Terre Haute. Ind. Uriah B. 
Webb, bom June 12, 1857, died in 1874. Al- 
phonso, born August 2, 1862. resides at Spring- 
field, Til. The father of the above family died 
February 14. 1875. and his widow, in 1898. 

William Franklin Webb gained his elementary 
education in a school held in Ebenezer Church, 
on Section 2, Summit Township. Later, when a 
log school house was built on Section 10, better 
accommodations were afforded and he attended 
that whenever he could be spared from work at 
home, sometimes only two days in the week. 
Boys on pioneer farms had no very easy times, 
but neither did their parents and Mr, Webb can 
remember his mother spinning by the light of 
the eluniney fire in order to make enough cloth 
with which to fashion clothes for the family. 
When she obtained a lard-oil lamp she thought 
nothing could excel that in convenience, but she 
lived into the days when electric light came into 
use. Other convenierces to which Mr. Webb has 
become accustomed she did not live to enjoy, 
notably the telephone and the daily mail de- 
livery. 

In June, 1874. Mr. Webb was married to Miss 
Araminta Gamble, a native of Summit Township, 
and a daughter of John Gamble, one of the pio- 
neers. To this marriage the following children 
have been born : Isabella, who married Clement 
McKinstry. of Mattoon, 111. ; Frank, born March 
9, 1878, who is a farmer in Summit Township, 
married Lola Hankins ; Edith Cecil; Samuel; 
Jesse O., born August .SI. 1885 ; Bertie Walter, 
who was born October 20. 1887, died November 
25, 1902, from a gunshot wound, accidentally 
received. All the children were born on the pres- 
ent farm except Isabella, who was born In Shelby 
County. 

Mr. Webb has 160 acres in his farm and has it 
all well improved. He raises excellent stock and 



is largely interested in dairying. In politics he Is 
a Democrat and not only takes an interest in the 
success of his party, but he gives attention to ad- 
vancing the general condition of affairs in his 
township, desiring it to retain its reputation for 
a law-abiding, prosperous and desirable part of 
Effingham County. When elected to public office 
he has done his duty faithfully and during the 
six years that he served as Highway Commis- 
sioner, he opened up new roads and succeeded in 
building good bridges. Mr. Webb has not ac- 
cepted any religious creed, but he is a liberal 
contributor to all the church bodies and there are 
few people who have more carefully studied the 
Bible or who can more intelligently discuss its 
teachings. 

WENDT, Martin. — The German clement is an 
important one in any communit.v, for natives of 
the Fatherland possess those excellent traits of 
character which go so far in the making of good 
and prosperous citizens. Many Germans have 
come to this country and it has benefited from 
their presence and efforts, and they have trans- 
mitted to their offspring the habits of industry 
and thrift which have aided them so materially 
in the attainment of success. Martin Wendt. a 
successful grain dealer of Dieterich, Effingham 
County, is a son of such parents. He was born in 
Niagara County, N. X., September 2, 1801, a son 
of Fred and Mary Louisa Wendt. Both were na- 
tives of Germany, the father being born near Ber- 
lin, .\pril 25, 1828, and the mother in the same 
vicinity, February 29, 1829. 

In 184.3. the father came to America with his 
mother, one sister and three brothers, and lo- 
cated in Niagara Ctounty, N. Y. The mother's 
family came ic) the same locality about the same 
time, and there the grandparents died. The par- 
ents of Martin Wendt were married in a little 
village called Martinville. N. Y., in 1850. In 
1865. the family removed to the vicinity of what 
is now Altamont and settled near Moutville, 
Mound Township, Effingham County, where the 
father bought eighty acres of prairie land. At 
this time Altamont had not even been platted. 
This farm w-as the family home until 1875, but 
in that year removal was made to St. Francis 
Township, where 20.3 acres of land were pur- 
cha.sed, three miles north of Dieterich. This 
property was well developed and made into a 
fine farm b,v her father, who, after seeing his 
family well located about him. died January 17, 
1892, his widow sun'iving until October 17, 1893. 
They had fourteen children, four of whom died 
in infancy. The others were : Ferd William, 
died at the age of thirty-seven, being then a grain 
merchant of Altamont ; August, a merchant of 
New Y'ork ; William, who was for a number of 
years a grain merchant of Dieterich, but died 
January 16, 1890; Christopher, a retired mer- 
chant of Martinsville. N. Y. ; Paul, a farmer of 
Bishop Township; Martin; Amelia, married 
William Krause, a farmer of Bishop Township; 
Rachel, is the deceased wife of Fred Moellen- 
kamp, a farmer of St. Francis Township ; John 



878 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



p., who died February 16, 1907, was a lumber 
dealer and for four years Postmaster of Diete- 
rich ; Henry died in 1897. The father of these 
children was one of the leading men of this part 
of the county, and took quite an active part in 
the political and religious life of his community. 
In politics he was a stanch Republican, and was 
well posted on the issues of his day. Like many 
Germans he was well educated in his own lan- 
guage, and was looked up to as a man of intelli- 
gence by his as.sociates. He and his wife were 
consistent members of the Lutheran Church and 
gave it liberal support. Mr. Wendt also gave his 
support to educational matters, and helped to 
build the schoolhouse of his district. 

The education of Martin Wendt was secured in 
the district school of Mound Township and the 
public school of Altamont. He remained on the 
farm until he was about eighteen, and then com- 
menced to learn the carpenter trade, at which he 
worked for a number of j'ears, assisting in the 
building of some of the best business blocks and 
residences of Dieterich and the surrounding coun- 
try. Following this he bought and operated a 
modern threshing machine, thus continuing until 
1887, when he sold his outfit, and embarked in a 
grain business. He dealt in liunber and grain un- 
til 1891, and then built a modern elevator with a 
capacity of 15.000 bushels of grain, in partner- 
ship with his brother. C. D. Wendt. In February. 
1909. he .sold his lumber interests, but continued 
in the grain business. In 1909 he erected a brick 
building on the corner of Main and Center Streets, 
in which he has his office, the First National 
Bank occupying the rest of the structure. From 
a small beginning his business lias developed to 
its present very large proportions, and he is rated 
as one of the substantial and reliable business 
men of his locality. 

On November 20, 189.'?, Mr. Wendt was united 
in marriage with Augusta Mundt. horn in Mound 
Township, September 18, 1800, a daughter of 
Christian Mundt, one of the pioneers here, and a 
representative man of West Effingham County. 
His death occurred in February. 1870. but his 
widow survives. Mr. and Mrs. Wendt have had 
the following children : Philip, born October 20, 
1894: Martin, born October 12, 1890, died Janu- 
ary IS, 1897; Mary, born March 19, 1898; Au- 
gusta, born May 4. 1900; Martha, born April 2, 
1902. and Annie, horn March 8, 1900. 

Mr. Wendt is a Democrat in politics, and he 
and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Wendt was one of the prime movers 
in the establishment of the Prairie State Cream- 
er.v, being associated in this work with James 
Krews and others. Mr. Wendt was also one of 
the organizers of the first bank of Dieterich. of 
which he was President for three years, and H. C. 
Baldwin, Cashier. At the expiration of that 
time he sold the bank then known as the Mer- 
chants and Farmers Bank of Dieterich. This 
bank, after several changes, was reorganized in 
1909 as the Fir.st National Bank of Dieterich. 

For many years Mr. Wendt has been to the 



front in all matters relating to the upbuilding of 
Dieterich. His business interests are large, and 
as he pays high prices for grain, the farmers haul 
their product to him, and marketing it in Dieter- 
ich, do their trading there, thus adding mate- 
rially to the prosperity of the town. His name 
is connected with many public enterprises, and he 
is active in the promotion of education, and in 
securing the best teachers pos.sible for the schools. 
It is such jnen as Mr. Wendt who build up any 
community and are valued accordingly by their 
associates and friends. 

WESTENDORF, John Henry, Jr.— The growth 
and development of Effingham County, 111., during 
the past thirty or forty years, have been remark- 
able, and the visitor to this fertile country, as it 
is to-day, could hardly believe that but compara- 
tively a short time ago .such excellent farming 
land was a wide expanse of prairie, timber and 
svi-amp. Such was the case, however, and one 
who has seen the changes take place here and has 
done his share in bringing about these changes 
is John Henry Weslendorf. Jr., the owner of 206 
acres of excellent farming land on Sections 2 and 
11, Bi.shop Township. He was born on Section 9 
of this Township, January 4, 1860, a son of John 
Henry Westendorf, Sr. 

The early bo.vhood of Mr. Westendorf was simi- 
lar to that of most boys of his time, and early in 
life he began to do his share of the work on the 
home farm, reclaiming the land from the wild 
things which grew upon it. He began to plow at 
the age of twelve years, and imtil he was twenty- 
seven years old he remained on the home place. 
On April 20, 1887, he was married to Anna Ka- 
trina Hartke, who was born August 30, 1806, in 
Bishop Township, whose parents were natives of 
Germany and earl.v .settlers of Bishop Township. 
Mr. Westendorf had made preparations for his 
marriage by erecting a splendid residence on his 
new farm of 106 acres, and here he took his young 
bride to begin their married life, and here they 
have since resided. Other buildings have been 
erected for the housing of grain and the care of 
tlie high-grade stock which Mr. Westendorf raises, 
and the farm has been added to until it now com- 
prises 200 acres of some of the best farming land 
in the township. Mr. Westendorf is considered 
one of the enterprising and up-to-date agricul- 
turists of his section, and an excellent .iudge of 
stock and farming conditions. He is a Democrat 
in political matters, but has never .sought public 
preferment, although he may be found supporting 
all movements that have for their object the bet- 
terment of the communit.v. He and his wife take 
an active interest in the work of the Dieterich 
Catholic Church. 

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Westendorf. as follows : Joseph Henry. November 
9, 1889; Lena. February 6. 1891 ; Bernhard Henry 
Alo.vsius. March 14, 189.? ; Katrina Veronica, Feb- 
ruary IS, 189.0 ; Anna Wilhelmina, June 26. 1890; 
Karolina Rosa. -November 12, 1897 ; Ida Cecelia. 
September 2, 1899; Bernhard Henry, March 20, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



879 



1901 ; and Auua Johanna Agues, December 3, 
1903. 

WESTENDORF, John Henry, Sr.— Effingham 
County owes a heavy debt to Germany because so 
many of her sous have located in the county and 
tJiere developed farms. The German is essen- 
tially a homemaker, being industrious and thrifty, 
never contented until he owns his residence. 
Germans flocked to Effingham County in the early 
days and, securing land, laid broad foundations 
for the present agricultural supremacy. Proba- 
bly no citizen of the county has done more to- 
wards building up his community than the vener- 
able John Henry Westendorf, Sr., a prominent 
resident and early settler in Bishop Township, 
who was lK)ru in North Asten, Oldenburg. Ger- 
many, May 13, 1818, a son of Frank Westendorf. 
In 1844 the family came to the United States and, 
landing at New Orleans, came up the Mississippi 
River to St. Louis, whence they made their way 
to Effingham County. The father entered forty 
acres of land in Section 9 and a like tract in 
Section S, Bishop Town.ship, at a time when he 
was forced to build a rude cabin of logs, the near- 
est mill being at Newton, Jasper County. He first 
cultivated his land with primitive ox-teams and 
thus began the development of the fine fertile 
farm of to-day, as did other pioneers. Frank 
Westendorf died about 1857, at which time the 
family owned 240 acres of land. He left two 
sons, John H. and George — both of whom became 
prominent citizens — and one daughter, Eliza- 
beth. 

John Henry Westendorf received his education 
in his native country and. on coming to the 
United States, at once went to work on his fath- 
er's farm, helping his father and brother reclaim 
the land from the wild prairie. In 1854 he was 
married on the home farm, to Katie Thoeley, 
also a native of Germany, and to this union one 
child was born, who died in infancy. Jlrs. West- 
endorf died in November, 1855, and in 1856 Mr. 
Westendorf married (second) Mary Ann Althoff, 
by whom he had thirteen children, four of whom 
died in infanc.v. Those still living are : John 
Henry, a farmer on Section 11, Bishop Township ; 
Mary A., born November 2, 1858, now the widow 
of Barney Hartke, residing on a farm in Bishop 
Township; William, Iwi-n June 26, 1861: Anna 
Coty, born October 22, 1862, widow of Theodore 
Goethas, lives in St. Louis, and has been the 
mother of ten children, of whom nine are now liv- 
ing : John B., born September 29, 1864, manages 
the old home farm of 200 acres ; Annie Mina. born 
February 10, 1870, wife of Tona Esker, of Teuto- 
ix)lis, has three children ; and Mary, born Sep- 
tember 13, 1878, wife of Joseph Vaunsing, a 
farmer of St. Francis Township. The mother of 
these children died May 15, 1905, 

For sixty-four years Mr. Westendorf has re- 
sided on his farm, having settled there when there 
were but three German families in the neighbor- 
hood, although at the present time the Germans 
are largely predominant in Bishop Township. As 
his children left their parental roof all were 



given good farms or the equivalent thereof in 
money, the father having increased the original 
eighty acres to 840 acres during his long and ac- 
tive life. He has been very active iu the ranks 
of the Democratic party, ^nd has represented his 
township on the Board of Supervisors, being on 
the Board with Henry W. Dust, during the time 
of the railroad bond indebtedness. At this time 
Mr. Westendorf proved himself to be a man of 
honor and Integrity and was steadfast in his re- 
fusal to take any other course than that whicli 
he believed would advance the interests of the 
public. Always taking a part in public enter- 
prises, he has ever been found an active partici- 
pant in any movement calculated to be of bene- 
fit to his community, and by his active and useful 
life has set a shining e.xample for the youth of 
the present generation. Throughout his life he 
has been a faithful member of the Catholic 
Church. 

WESTENDORF, William J.— Agricultural meth- 
ods in Etfingham County have changed to a re- 
markable degree in the last decades, and the suc- 
cessful farmer of to-day is the one who studies 
land conditions, pa.vs attention to crop rotation 
and brings into the operation of his property the 
latest power farming machinery. William J. 
Westendorf, who is successfully engaged in the 
cultivation of the soil in Section 7, Bishop Town- 
ship, was born on Section 9, this Township, June 
26, lS(il, a son of John and Mary Ann (Althoff) 
Westendorf. 

Mr. Westendorf received his education in the 
old Bishop Creek school, and at the age of eleven 
years began to do his share of the work on the 
home farm, on which he lived until his twenty- 
eighth year, when he took a trip to look over 
the country and stopped in Wakefield, Clay 
County, Kan. There he engaged in farming and 
well drilling until February 22, 1888, when he 
returned to his home. He then located on a 
farm of 203 acres in Bishop Township, which 
liad been given his wife by her uucle, Henry 
Goetke. On this property was located a small 
building, which had formerly been used as a 
dwelling, but is now used as a granary. A hand- 
some two-story residence has been erected on 
the premises. Mr. Westendorf has been one of 
the successful agriculturists of his section, and 
has given a great deal of attention to dairy 
farming. He has added 130 acres to his orig- 
inal tract, this land being situated in Watson 
Township. He is a believer in the value of 
bl(X)ded stock, and is the owner of ten full bred 
Holstein, Durham and Hereford cows, a num- 
ber of full bred Poland-China hogs, and pure 
blood Percheron horses. 

On May 15. 1888, Mr. Westendorf was mar- 
ried to Elizabeth Goetke, who was bora at Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, October 15, 1870, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. William Goetke, both of whom died 
in Cincinnati, the former in 1903 and the latter 
In 1909. Of their children but two are now 
living — Mrs. Westendorf and a brother William, 
of Cincinnati. At the time of her marriage, Mrs. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Westendoi'f was living with her grandfather, 
Dietrich Goetke, with whom she had come to 
Effingham County when a child of two years. 
To Mr. and Westendorf there have been born 
the following children : William H., May 17, 
1SS9 ; Therese, October 2, 1890 ; Mary, October 
10, 1892, died aged one year ; Frank, November 
15, 1894; Ferdinand, born November 17, 1896, 
died in 1897; George, born March 7, 1898; Ida, 
March 10, 1900; Anton, November 15, 1902; and 
Agnes, May 13, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Westendorf 
are hearty supporters of the cause of educa- 
tion, and all of their children as soou as old 
enough have been given the best advantages in 
this line. Mr. Westendorf has served as School 
Director, a position which he still holds, has oc- 
cupied other township offices, and always taken 
an active interest in the success of the Demo- 
cratic party. The family are members of the 
Bishop Catholic Church and among its liberal 
supiiorters. 

WHARTON, Benjamin F.— The financial inter- 
ests of every community are of so im[K)rtant a 
nature that they cannot be too carefully con- 
served. The Peoples Bank of Edgewood, while 
a new organization, is headed by men of ex- 
perience and high standing, and as Benjamin 
F. Wharton is its Cashier as well as one of its 
organizer.s, the people of Effingham County re- 
gard it as a trustworthy institution. 

Mr. Wharton was born in Welton. Effingham 
County. 111., April G. 1878, a son of Nicholas T. 
and Rebecca Jane (Kagay) Wharton, and his 
career furnishes an example of what can be 
accomplished by a poor boy provided he pos- 
sesses the proper spirit. He met with a severe 
acident in the injury of his knee in 1905. which 
necessitated the amputation of his right leg. He 
began his struggle in life as a poor boy, making 
his way by teaching school for two years, from 
1806 to 1898. when he took a position as sta- 
tion agent and telegrapli operator, and in 190.S 
was employed by W. P. Anderson and Lee Gra- 
ham as Cashier of the Bank of Edgewood. In 
1907, he bought out the interests of Mr. Graham, 
and in the following year, with Mr. Anderson and 
others, organized the Bank of West Union. 
Later, but during the same year (1908'). he pur- 
chased an interest in the Bank of lola, but still 
later sold out his interests in both of these in- 
stitutions, and with Abraham & Co., of Watson, 
III., organized The People's Bank of Edgewood, 
of which he has been Cashier up to the present 
time. 

Jlr. Wharton was married in Edgewood. 111., 
July 20, 1904, to Katliryn GIndson, and tliey 
have had three children, namely : Eva Rebecca, 
J. G. and B. F., Jr. In politics Mr. Wharton is 
a Democrat, has been School Treasurer for two 
years, and also has served as Village Treasurer 
and Village Trustee. Fraternally he is a char- 
ter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Edge- 
wood. 

Few men have achieved more in so brief a 
time than Mr. Wharton. He was one in a fam- 



ily of eleven children, and had but few advan- 
tages, but taught others until he secured enough 
to take himself through the Dixon Business Col- 
lege in 1897 and later through the Austin Col- 
lege at Effingham. He has never faltered in his 
upward course or allowed himself to become dis- 
couraged, even when he met with the misfor- 
tune that might well have daunted a braver 
spirit, but has pushed steadily onward, and now 
is connected with one of the most substantial 
institutions of its kind in the county, and is rec- 
ognized as one of the most progressive men of 
his part of the State. 

WILDI, Rudolph. — No better example of what a 
man can ;ic<,t>miilish through energj', enterprise, 
honest effort and square dealing can be found 
than the career of Rudolph Wildi, of the well- 
known firm of the Wildi-Leddy Lumber Com- 
pany, of Effingham, III., one of the best known 
establishments of its kind in this part of the 
State. Mr. Wildi was born in Niederlenz, Can- 
ton Aargan. Switzerland, April 27, 1854, son of 
John and Eliza (Briner) Wildi. 

John Wildi came to the United States in 1808 
and located at St. Louis, Mo., where he worked 
for a time at the trade of carpenter, and in 1872 
his family followed him to this country. They 
were reunited at Highland, 111., where the 
father was then located. John Wildi followed 
his trade at Highland for some time and then 
engaged in the manufacture of cigar boxes, 
which was the nucleus of the business which 
later proved so successful. Mrs. Wildi, who was 
born in 1827, died in 1895, and the father, born 
the same year, survived her until 1907. Both 
were members of the Reformed Evangelical 
Church, and Mr. Wildi was active and influen- 
tial in public and fraternal matters. He was an 
honest, reliable, public-spirited citizen, and was 
honored and respected by all with whom he 
came into contact. He gave his children liberal 
educational advantages, and with the help of 
his worthy wife, trained them so as to be fitted 
for their various stations in life, and all have 
been able to show themselves worthy of their 
parents' training. There were children in the 
family as follows : John, a resident of Highland, 
is one of the most influential citizens of the 
place, being engaged in banking and other ex- 
tensive enterprises ; Rudolph ; Jacob, connected 
with the Helvetia Condensed Milk Company ; 
Joseph, died in Ctdar Creek. Nebr. ; Eliza, twin 
of Joseph, is the wife of Fred Neubauer, a 
member of the firm of the Highland Store Com- 
pany ; .\lfred. a member of the firm of Highland 
Embroidery Works ; Mary, wife of Gottlieb 
Gerber. of Mt. Olive, 111. ; Eniil, a member of the 
John Wildi Condensing Company, at Marys- 
ville, Ohio; Fred, an electrician and photogra- 
pher, of Michigan ; and Bertha, wife of George 
Klipfel. in the confectionery business at East St. 
Louis. 

During the two years that he spent with his 
father in Missouri and Kansas Rudolph Wildi 
followed from time to time, whatever honorable 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



881 



occupation presented itself, and for a short time 
was a cowboy on a large ranch. On locating in 
Highland, in 1872 he started to learn the tin- 
ner's trade, spending an apprenticeship of two 
and one-half years, and in 1S75 went to St. 
Louis, where he remained until 1878, in the 
latter year establishing himself in business at 
Worden, 111., and being quite successful. He 
closed this busines.s in 1887 and in 18S8 came to 
Efflngham, 111., where for four years he served 
as manager of the C. B. Flinn Lumber Co., and 
in 1892 he established the Wildi-Leddy Lumber 
Company, which has since become one of the 
leading enterprises of the county. They deal in 
lumber, lime, lath, cement, sewer pipe, paints 
and oils, carrying a complete stock, and their 
main office is located at No. 200 North Bunker 
Street, although tHey have a separate building 
for carrying their stock. Mr. Wildi's motto is 
the Golden Rule, and this has been applied to his 
business with great success, the firm bearing 
the reputation for the strictest integrity. 

On iMay 22, 1880, at Worden, 111., Mr. Wildi 
was married (first) to Augusta Vogelsang, who 
was born in Madison County, 111., and to this 
union there were born two children — one who 
died in Infancy, and Adelheid, born October 2, 
1884, wife of G. E. Ziegler. a farmer iu Summit 
Township, has two children — Olga, bora Feb- 
ruary .S. IDOl, and a son born September .5. 1909. 
Mr. Wildi's first wife died in 1887. and he was 
married (second) in October, 1888. to Emma 
Hartman. who was born in South Bend, Ind., 
and to this union there were born children as 
follows: Carl R.. born October 8. 1889, engaged 
at the Marysville (Ohio) Condensory with his 
uncle: Ernest R., born .January 5. 1891. gradu- 
ated from Effingham High School with the class 
of 1900: Eleanor Helena, born May 29, 1892; 
Bertha Eliza, born November 28. 1894: Tx)uisa 
May, born March 25. 189.T : Ruth, born .July 17, 
1890: and George, born December 2, 1902. Mr 
Wildi is a firm believer in education, and all of 
his children have received or are receiving lib- 
eral advantages in this line. Mr. and Mrs. Wildi 
are active members of the Lutheran Church. In 
politics Mr. Wildi is a Rep\iblican. and is one 
of the progressive, wide-awake business citi- 
zens of Effingham, ever ready to do his share to- 
wards the development of bis community. 

WILLETT, Volney Howard.— The first line of 
business that was carried on in the history of 
the world was that of farming, and from then 
to the present day men have foinid it profitable 
to till the soil and raise stock U|X)n it. Efflng- 
ham County is no exception to this, and some 
of the most prosperous men within its confines 
are engaged in agricultural work. Volney How- 
ard Willett of Section 25. Union Township, is 
one of these. He was born in West Township. 
Effingham County, .Tune 11, 1872, a son of Vol- 
ney and Louisa (Wilburn) Willett. 

Mr. Willett was reared on a farm, but in 1895 
began working for himself, and since then, with 
no outside help, has acquired a good farm of 



sixty acres, with excellent improvements, well 
stocked. He spent eighteen months working at 
Danville, 111., in the car shops there, at his car- 
Ijenter trade, and he still engages at it in con- 
junction with his farming activities. In 190.3, 
he moved to Danville, but in 1904, returned to 
the farm. Two brothers of Mr. Wllletfs are 
Charles E., a canienter for the Chicago & East- 
ern Illinois Railroad ; and Frank, a dairyman 
living in Danville ; P, W. and O. L., two other 
brothers, are lawyers in Seattle, Wash. These 
brothers, with Mr. Willett, received a common 
school education, supplemented with a high 
school course, but aside from these advantages 
all their training came froai their own efforts. 

Mr. Willett is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, at Eberle, 111., which 
lodge he helped to organize, and also belongs 
to the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He is 
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter Day Saints, and a strong supporter of 
the temperance cause, being County President of 
the Y. M. T. U., in which he has been a zealous 
worker. 

In Union Township, on December 25, 1895, 
Mr. Willett married' Lena Weigel. and they have 
children as follows: George Ralph, bom Decem- 
ber 10, 1897; Lola Beatrice, born February 13, 
1900 ; Lelia Blanch, born April 6, 1902 ; Dorman 
Ellis, born November 25, 1905, and Alma Vir- 
ginia, born October 10, 1908. Mr. Weigel served 
four years and six mouths iu the Seventeenth 
Regiment Indiana Volunteer.?, and died at Dan- 
ville, June 7, 1909. 

Volney Willett, the father of Volney 11., was 
born March 8, 1837, in Columbia Ctiuntj-, Ohio, 
anTT removed with his parents to Wayne County, 
111., in 1841. After coming to Illinois, he re- 
ceived but a scant education iu the public 
schools, acquiring his mental training as a close 
observer of all that passed his way, and with the 
borrowing a few books, becoming conversant with 
law and political economy.. At the age of nine- 
teen years he was apprenticed to learn the 
blacksmith trade, but in 1859 he crossed the 
plains to California, where, for five years, he 
was engaged in mining and farming with a sat- 
isfactory degree of success. During a part of 
the war period he served as First Lieutenant in 
a company of California State Militia. In 1865 
he returned East by way of the Pacific Ocean, 
the Isthmus of Panama and the Atlantic, arriv- 
ing at New York Cit.v. and after reaching his old 
Illinois home, engaged in mercantile business for 
some years, later embarking in farming and the 
lireeding of fine stock, which he continued dur- 
ing the remainder of his life. In 1894, he re- 
visited California, his journey in a palace car 
this time, presenting a striking contrast to that 
of 1859 with a wagon and ox team. While cross- 
ing the plains in 1859 he met with some thrilling 
experiences, always managing, however, to win 
the friendship of the Indians whom he encoun- 
tered. One of these was the noted chief, "Old 
Red Cloud," who wished to make him a chief 



882 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



of his band. Voluey Willett's historic career 
was ended by his death, March 24, 1898. Fra- 
ternally he was a Master Mason and was re- 
garded in his community as one of the most 
honored and successful citizens of Etiingham 
County. A popular political speaker, he was 
never the tool of any mere political party, al- 
ways maintaining an independent ijosition and 
proving himself a firm supixirter of good meas- 
ures and true progress. 

Mr. Volney H. Willett is a leader in the 
Democratic party, always taking an active part 
in all of its work, and has served two terms as 
Town Clerk and one term as School Treasurer. 
He is one of the progressive farmers of his lo- 
cality, and one who is steadily forging ahead. 
His business record is excellent, he has every 
reason to be proud o£ what he has accomplished, 
while his neighbors respect and honor him as an 
honest, reliable citizen. 

WILLS, Mrs. Julia (Probst-Thompson), widow 
of the late Dr. .John Wills, resides on Section 31, 
Liberty Township, Effingham County, 111., and 
is a daughter of Mathias and Margaretta (Burk- 
hart) Probst. Mr. Probst was bom October 18, 
183-1, and died August 31, 1878, aged forty-three 
years, ten months. His wife was bom Novem- 
ber 22, 18.34, and died November 22. 1878, on 
her forty-fourth birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Probst 
came to America while they were young, being 
natives of Germany. They located first in New 
York City. They were married in that city 
May 3, 1856, and later came to Chicago, where 
he worked at his trade of wagon-maker. While 
living in Chicago they became parents of the 
following children : Anna, who died in infancy ; 
Jacob, a farmer of La Place, 111., twenty miles 
east of Decatur ; Mrs. Wills ; Minnie, wife of 
Isaac Bailie, a farmer of Shelby County, 111., 
who moved to Mt. Vernon, where she died In 
August. 1898. 

In 1862 the Probst family moved In a wagon 
to what is now Shumway, 111., locating in Ban- 
ner Township. Effingham County. They came 
with a large party and were detained in Effing- 
ham by a severe rainstorm, which wet them all 
and many of the children suffered from the ef- 
fects of this exposure, among them little Anna 
and .Tulia Probst. Anna did not recover, but 
died in the home of Mr. Leavitt, and was burled 
in a section intended for use as a burying ground. 
Mr. Leavitt died before the Probst family as- 
certained where the little grave had been made, 
although wide search was made for it. Mr. 
Probst found employment in erecting the primi- 
tive houses of the early settlers, and at the same 
time located on eighty acres on Section 32, 
where he carried on farming. He also drew the 
plans for and did most of the work on the Ger- 
man Methodist Church of Shumway, which Is 
still standing. He was also a local preacher and 
aided much in the religious work of the commu- 
nity. His doors were always open to the stran- 
ger and his house was usually full of company. 
Although Mr. Probst had formerly been a Catho- 



lic and his wife a Lutheran, both embraced the 
faith of the Methodist Church and worked hard 
to advance its interests. The children born to 
them in Shumway wei-e : Otillia, who was the 
wife of William McCtosh, a farmer living north- 
east of Beecher City ; Edward, married AUie 
Kornelius, but Is deceased, his wife surviving 
him but one year; Frank, a farmer of Bement, 
111. ; Emma, who married Charles Cecil and lives 
In Stewardson, 111. ; Otto, in the employ of the 
Standard Oil Company at Decatur ; Margaret, 
who was the widow of Henry Jansen, a wine Im- 
porter of Chicago ; Peter Louis, a farmer of La 
Place, 111. 

Mrs. Wills was born in Chicago, February 6, 
1860, and was only two years old at the time of 
the family migration to Effingham County. She 
was educated in the subscription schools of 
Shumway and well remembers many interest- 
ing incidents of pioneer life. The grass sur- 
rounding the house was so high that the children 
playing in it would become lost and have to be 
guided back home by their mother's voice. Once 
she stepped on a flock of prairie chickens hiding 
in the grass. When she was twelve years old 
she began working away from home, although 
prior to that time she had been kept busy help- 
ing her mother. For the first of her services 
her only remimeration was a calico dress, but 
later she began to be paid fifty cents a week. 
When her parents died she returned home and 
took up the responsibility of caring for the 
household. 

March 1. 1880, Julia Probst married John C. 
F. Thompson, and when she left for her new 
home she took with her her baby brother. They 
lived a year In Effingham, then moved to Shelby 
County, where Mr. Thompson took charge of the 
large estate of a Mr. Mitchell. Two years 
later they moved to Beecher City and purchased 
a house and five acres of laud. Mr. Thompson 
died May 26. 1885, when but twenty-eight years 
of age. He had formerly been a Methodist but 
at the time of his death had united with the 
ITnited Brethren. Four children were born to 
him and his wife, as follows : Clarence Edgar, 
who married Jane Dial and lives at Beecher 
City: Matilda Jane, born Februarj- 27, 1882, 
married C. E. McElroy, station agent at Saune- 
niin. 111.; Thomas Franklin, born March 1, 1884, 
died August 21 of the same year ; John Charles 
Thomas, born August 9, 1SS.5. three months after 
the death of his father, married Laura Grange, 
and they live at Alpine, 111., where his wife is 
station agent, while he is proprietor of a res- 
taurant, ice-cream parlor and is a telegraph oper- 
ator at Orland, 111. 

After the death of her husband Mrs. Thomp- 
son was obliged to work very hard for the sup- 
port of her children and to send them to school. 
She educated her daughter for a teacher. After 
caring for them six years, Mrs. Thompson mar- 
ried. May 28, 1801, Dr. John Wills, becoming 
stei>mother to five children. Dr. Wills had 
married, August 10, 1854, Josephine E. Metham, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



883 



daughter of P. and Eliza (Bowman) Metham and 
they had had nine children, five of whom were 
living, namely : Clarella Elizabeth Valeria Eliza, 
bom October 1, 1855, ^'ife of Joseph Dunsford, 
of Altamont, 111., where he is a real estate 
dealer ; Robert Pren Kirkland, born February 
24, 1862, married JIary Jennings, and they live 
on a farm in Fayette County ; Walter Parker 
Clifford, born March 23, 1872, married Nora 
Borer, and they live in St. Charles, Mo., where 
he is a stenographer ; Cecilia, born July 3, 1875, 
married William Harris, a farmer of Mulhall, 
Okla. ; and Ida Stella, born March 5. 1878, died 
August 31, 1898. Dr. Wills' four children, who 
were deceased at the time of his marriage to 
Mrs. Thompson were : Flora Bell Virginia, Will- 
iam B. Sherman, Beverly H. Edi-son and John 
Delman Metham. 

Dr. and Mrs. Wills began housekeeping in his 
two-story log house on Section 31, Liberty Town- 
ship, where he owned 180 acres of land. He 
practiced his profession and the care of the farm 
fell mostly to his wife's capable management. 
She was fully competent to keep up with a man 
in farm work. At one time they owned .517 acres 
of land In Effingham and near-by counties, as 
well as several lots in Beecher City, and these 
possessions were largely the result of the per- 
sistent and purposeful work end euergj- of Mrs. 
Wills. She has alwa.v.s believed in high grade 
cattle and hogs, and has raised Hol.stein, Gal- 
loway and Short-horn cattle and Poland-China 
hogs for many years. She still resides on the 
home farm and oversees the work of carrying it 
on. She owns a large and comfortable home, 
which is well situated on a natural building site, 
surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. The 
numerous outbuildings are commodious and 
substantial. 

Dr. and Mr.s. Wills had children as follows : 
Josephine Eveline, born June 22, 1S92 ; Lela 
Edna, born January 16. 180.5; Bertha Lillian. 
born April 30. 1896 : Julia Ennua. born February 
15. 1898. and Mabel Mildred, born August 4. 
1900. Mrs. Wills has reared fourteen children, 
nine of them her own, and never made any dif- 
ference among them. She is now their guardian 
and executrix of the large estate. Dr. Wills was 
kind and charitable to the poor and ministered 
to their needs regardless of their financial con- 
dition. He was a member of the Masonic Order, 
and both he and his wife early united with the 
Jlethodist Church. He died May 3, 1908. and is 
sincerely mourned, not only b.v his widow and 
children, but by a wide circle of warm and de- 
voted friends. 

Mrs. Wills is a member of Fraternal Aid 
Lodge No. 414. of Beecher City, being a charter 
member and now Vice-President ; is President 
and Trustee of Barker Union No. 19. of Beecher 
City, and a member of the Modern Americans. 
Lodge No. 23, of the same place. She has al- 
ways been an energetic, hard-working woman. 
From early childhood she has worked with her 
hands and has never spared herself, having 



every reason to be proud of what she has accom- 
plished. She is the mother of a fine family, has 
been an excellent and devoted wife, and has en- 
deared l.erself to a large circle of friends. 

WILSON, James Dallas. — There are some men 
who seem to be without selfish motives, who 
.spend their lives in working for others. They 
tenderly care for their parents and are ever 
ready to contribute of means and time towards 
the betterment of their communities. Such a 
man is James Dallas Wilson of Section 7, Union 
Township, Etflugham County, farmer and con- 
tractor and builder. He was born in Fairfield, 
Ohio, in 1845, a son of William M. and Mary 
(Snapp) Wilson. The family moved to Effing- 
ham County in 1847, and eventually located at 
Teutopolis, where his father erected a hotel. He 
began work as a builder and contractor in 
1861. and has continued in this line ever since, 
and he is also a farmer. Mr. Wilson had three 
brothers: Charlie of Mason, 111.; John, of Wat- 
son, 111., and Joseph, who is deceased. Two 
sisters are living, while Mrs. Sarah Turner and 
Jane Leith are deceased. 

Mr. Wil.son has always taken an active part in 
politics and was Road Commissioner of Union 
Township for twelve years, and School Director 
for atwut twenty-six years. Since 1901. he has 
been Justice of the Peace, and is now in his third 
term. Fraternally he is a member of the A. F. 
& .\. M., having joined in 1874. and he also be- 
longs to the Order of Red Men, No. 12. Mr. 
Wilson was reared in the Universalist faith, and 
still adheres to that belief. 

On April 10, 1SS3, Mr. Wilson married Carrie 
Voorhees. nnd the following children have been 
born to them : Hattie May. who man-ied John F. 
Winters, a cast-iron worker, and they live at 
Granite City, 111. ; Edward C, a railway mail 
clerk, at home; Daisy H., Ralph O., Ra.vmond 
E. and Geneva Pearl, all at home. Mr. Wilson 
has given his children good educations, and is 
very proud of these bright, intelligent .voung 
people, as he ought to be. 

As a carpenter and builder, Mr. Wilson ranks 
second to none in his locality, and he takes great 
pride in making his work perfect of its kind. 
Some of the most substantial buildings in Effing- 
ham County have been constructed by him. and he 
can point to them with pride. In all. he has 
built more houses and bams than any other 
contractor in the county, the number in one 
summer covering as high as thirty good houses. 
He does not erect any building during the win- 
ter season. At present (1910) he is erecting 
a brick block of five rooms, 100x100 feet. 

During the Civil War he enlisted as a Union 
soldier, but was discharged and returned home 
on account of age. 

He is an honest, hard-working man, an excel- 
lent neighbor, and one of the leaders of the Dem- 
ocratic party in his township. 

WILSON, John W. — Those travelers whose 
duties call them to Watson. 111., will generally 



884 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



find tbeinselves directed to the Watson House 
for their stay, and in John W. Wilson, the genial 
host, they will find one of the old citizens of Ef- 
fingham County, who can tell of pioneer days 
here, and of the many changes that have taken 
place. Mr. Wilson was born on a farm in Union 
Township. Effingham County, May 28, 1849, a 
son of William M. and Mai->' (Snapp) Wilson, 
natives of Frederick County, Va. 

William M. Wilson was born March 2'>, 1808, 
on a Virginia plantation, the sou of a slave 
owner, and his wife, who was bom January 21, 
1813, was the daughter of an owner of slaves. 
Before his marriage William Wilson was wnat 
was known as a teamster, driving a six-horse 
team to Baltimore, Wheeling and Richmond, 
and often making a trip to Savannah. Ga., be- 
fore the railroads were introduced. After his 
man-iage, in 18.3.3, he settled for a time on the 
home farm, but later removed to Fairfield 
County, Ohio, near Lancaster, and in 1844 sold 
out and came to Effingham County, 111., buying a 
farm in Union Township, on which he spent the 
remainder of his life, his death occurring Au- 
gust 2,^, 1888, and that of his wife March istn 
of the same year. Their children were : Joseph, 
born in Frederick County, Va.. grew to manhood 
and married in Watson, where he died June 10, 
1859; Sarah, tx)m January 1, 18.37, in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, is the widow of N. C. Turner, and 
resides on a farm in Jackson Township : Mar- 
shall, in charge of the home farm ; Mary J., born 
In October. 1841, in Fairfield County, Ohio, was 
the wife of David R. Leith, of Terre Haute, 
Ind. and died in 18.50. in Union Township; 
Charles D.. born in March, 18.39. in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, is a retired farmer of Mason, 111. ; 
James D., born April 4, 184.5, in Fairfield County, 
Ohio, is a farmer, contractor and builder of Un- 
ion Township ; and John W. The father of these 
children was during his life one of the well-to- 
do farmei-s. a man of sterling integrity, and one 
who was widely known and resjjected by all 
who came In contact with him. For a number of 
years he was a Justice of the Peace In his neigh- 
borhood, and decided all legal matters with the 
utmost impartiality. He was a lifelong Demo- 
crat, but never sought jwlitical honors, preferring 
to spend his time in the bosom of his family. 
He joined the Odd Fellows at Ewington, then 
the county seat of Effingham County. In relig- 
ious faith he was a Baptist and his wife a Pres- 
byterian, and both were ever ready to give of 
their time or means towards any movement of a 
religious or educational nature. 

John W. Wilson, the only member of his fam- 
ily born in Illinois, spent his early life on the 
home farm. and. like the other farmer boys of 
his day. attended the schools during the winter 
months and assisted his father and brothers in 
the duties of the home place in the summer 
months. On December 22. 1870, he was married 
to Mahala E. Nevil, who was boru in Effingham 
County. 111.. January 15. 1854, daughter of 
Elisha and Eliza (Forth) Nevll, the former of 



whom had died when Mrs. Wilson was a child. 
Her mother still resides at Watson. After his 
marriage Mr. Wilson took charge of the old home 
farm in Union Township, carrying it on and 
caring for his parents until their deaths, in 1888, 
when he rented a farm near the old homestead 
until 1892. then decided to retire from agricul- 
tural pursuits. At this time he purchased the 
hotel properay in Watson and has since made it 
one of the most popular establishments of its 
kind in this part of the State. The service and 
cuisine are excellent, and the host and hostess 
do everything In their power to make their 
guests feel at home. A good talker, Mr. Wilson 
can relate many reminiscences of early days in 
Effingham Cbunty, when the family would 
gather around in the little hewed-log cabin, or 
when with his trusty muzzle-loading gini he 
would go out and bring down the wild game. 
He speaks very entertainingly of those old days 
when there seemed to be plenty for all and hap- 
piness and good will were the main things in 
life, contrasting sharply with these days of hus- 
tle, bustle and graft, when it seems as though 
no man cared for any other than himself. So- 
cially, Mr. Wilson is connected with Masonic 
Lodge No. 602, at Watson. Mrs. Wilson and her 
daughters are active members of the Christian 
Church. While Mr. Wilson is not a member of 
any particular church, although his belief Is 
that of the Universalists, he is always I'eady to 
give freely of his means to any church or char- 
itable work. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat, 
and although never caring for public office, 
served as Town Clerk for some time while re- 
siding in Union Township. 

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Wilson, namely : JloUy E., bom November 2, 
1873, married J. W. Claar, station agent at Wat- 
son, and has had two children, — Bernice. Ixjrn 
April 17, 1897, died April 15, 1900, and Fae Wil- 
son, bom June 13, 1900; Jessie B.. born October 
21. 1877, married George Bailey, foreman of the 
Illinois Central Railway shops at Centralia, and 
has six children, — Urban S.. Ruby. Beulah, 
John W.. Kenneth and Robert ; and Nellie, born 
March 22, 1888. 

WILSON, Rev. Joseph A. M., one of the most 
esteemed clergymen of Effingham, 111., pastor of 
Sacred Heart Church, was born in Boston. Mass., 
September 17. 1864, a son of John and Mary 
(McCarthy-MacDonald) Wilson. John Wilson 
was born in England, and died June, 1864, a re- 
tired officer of the English Army. His wife was 
born in Quebec, Canada. They were parents of 
six children, three boys and three girls. The two 
other brothers became successful physicians. 
Mary AVilson died in 1885. leaving her six chil- 
dren to mourn her loss. She was a full course 
graduate of the celebrated Ursuline Academy of 
Quebec. Canada. 

Reverend Wilson received his early education 
In the public and parochial schools of Massachu- 
setts, afterward attended an English school, took 
a medical course, and finally went to Rome, 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



885 



wliere he received his training for the priest- 
hood. He spent five years studying at the Amer- 
ican College, and was ordained a priest m 
Rome May 25, lt)02, by Cardinal Respegi, In St. 
John Lateran Basilica. He was ordamed for 
the diocese of Alton, having pursued his ecclesi- 
astical studies under the auspices of the Bishop 
of Alton. 

The first charge given Reverend Wilson was 
as curate'in St. Joseph's Parish, at Springfield, 
III., where he spent three years, then became 
first pastor of Pawnee, Sangamon County, 111-, 
and South Fork, Christian County, where he 
spent nearly four years, when he succeeded to 
his present pastorate of the Sacred Heart 
Church, Efiingham. . . 

Father Wilson is sincerely loved In his parish, 
eniovs the fullest confidence of the members of 
his church, and is 'accorded the highest respect 
by all who know him. He has a deep sense of 
tiie high duties of his position and the responsi- 
bility he has assumed in caring for the needs of 
those who have been entrusted to his charge. His 
eloquence in the pulpit and his sincere interest 
In the welfare of his people have enabled him to 
accomplish much good, and he has administered 
the financial affairs of the church to the advan- 
tage of that organization. 

WOOD, David L.— Effingham County shows some 
of the best regulated and most valuable farms in 
that part of Illinois. They have been made thus 
desirable through the industry and thrift of the 
owners, who realize the advantage of using mod- 
em machinery and methods in doing their work. 
David L. Wood was born in Rush County, Ind., 
November 16. I&IS, a son of David Q. and Julia 
\ (Haves) Wood, the latter a native of New 
Jersev, but of Scotch and Welsh ancestry. David 
Q Wood was a native of Adams County, Ohio, a 
s<in of John Wood, a native of England, who 
settled in Ohio at a vei-y early date and was 
tuere married. 

David Q. Wood was born in Adams County, 
Ohio, but his parents afterward moved to Decatur 
County, Ind., where he was reared. John Wood, 
who became well-to-do for those days, and spent 
his life as a farmer, was the paternal grandfather 
of David L. Wood. After a long and useful life, 
filled with many important events. John Wood 
died in Rush County. Ind., about 1853, his wife 
having died several years previous. David Q. 
Wo<id was married in Decatur County, Ind., and 
then located In Rush County, where his children 
were born. Thev were as follows : John, died in 
infanev: Robert "m., married Elizabeth Short, in 
Indiana, then moved to Illinois and afterward to 
California where he died, but his widow sur- 
vives- B. F.. died in Clay County. 111., about 
ISnr.-Lydia A., married Jerome Percell, a resi- 
dent of "Clav County ; Thomas J., was a member 
of Company C, Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted 
Infantrv. as were his brothers. Robert M. and 
Benjamin F., and is now residing in Effingham. 
Thomas J. was wounded at the Battle at Selma, 
\la and lav on the field until midnight. 



In 1S50 the Wood family moved to Clay 
County, 111., and the father cast his vote for 
Fremont, being what was then called a "Black 
Abolitionisr." He was a Whig and later a Re- 
publican. While not a member of any religious 
denomination, he was strong in his support of 
churches, and followed the Golden Rule in his 
life transactions. His demise occurred at his 
home in Larkinsburg Township, Clay County, his 
wife having died about six months before him 
during the same year. She w-as an active member 
of the Presbyterian Church and strong in her 
faith in its teachings. The paternal grand- 
mother of David L. Wood spoke German. Her 
maiden name was Mary Query, and she was a 
typical pioneer woman. 

When he was eight years old, the parents of 
David L. Wood brought him to Clay County, and 
here lie was reared on a farm, receiving a coun- 
try school education, attending school in the prim- 
itive log cabin schoolhouse. David L. Vood re- 
mained upon the home farm until he was twenty- 
seven years old when he was then united in mar- 
riage with Alice C. Thrash, born in Larkinsburg 
Township, Clay County, which was named for 
her father, Lai-kin Thrash. They settled on the 
farm in Section 9, Lucas Township, Effingham 
County, wbhich has since been Mr. Wood's home. 
Twenty months after marriage, Mr.s. Wood died 
and for ten years ilr. Wood made his home with 
his brother, Thomas J. Wood, being engaged In 
shiiiping stock. On February 24, 1887, Mr. Wood 
married Maggie J. Parks, born in Effingham, Jan- 
uary 13, 1807, a daughter of Samuel L. Parks, a 
native of Lincoln County, Tenn., born there July 
15, 1S37. He was brought by his parents to 
Shelby County, 111., where he grew up, and re- 
mained a resident of that county until 1866, when 
he moved to Effingham County, and was a stock 
buyer in Summit Township until 1875, when he 
moved to Lucas Township. He was married in 
1859 to Emeline Ellis, born in Shelby County, 
111., a daughter of David Ellis, who died iu 1877. 
Mr. Parks resided in Lucas Township until 1895, 
then sold his farm there and moved to Bishop 
Township, where he died December 20, 1909, and 
was buried in Mt. Zion Cemeteo". He had been 
a leader in many moral uplift movements and an 
earnest advocate of temperance. During the 
campaign of 1908 he was very energetic in his 
efforts to secure the success of i>rohibItIon. Mr. 
and Mrs. Parks had eight children : Effle. who 
died at the age of two and a half years ; Walter 
L., died, aged six. and two In infancy; Henri- 
ette, married Jacob J. Bareus, of Broken Bow, 
Neb. ; Viola A., wife of George Dye, a farmer of 
Lucas Township : Mrs. Wood ; Mary E., wife of 
W. D. Lake, a farmer of Lucas Township. 

After their marriage Mr. Wood and his wife 
located on his farm, and here the following chil- 
dren were born to them : Harley B., born October 
27, 1888. is a student in the State University, tak- 
ing an agricultural course ; Raymond A., born 
September 1. 1892, at home; Benson, born Jan- 
uary 25, 1895; Ruth, born July 20. 1904. Mr. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Wood belongs to Delia Lodge No. 525, A. F. & 
A. M., and is a strong Heiiulilicau, but bus never 
been an aspirant for public office. 

WOODARD, Reuben, a resident of Montrose, 111., 
now practically retired from farm work, was 
born in Jasper" County, 111., on tbe line between 
Jasper and Kicbland Counties. July 7, 18C1, a 
son of James and Mary (Claston) Woodard, 
natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respectively, 
but both brought by their parents to Illinois in 
childhood. James Woodard was one of the pro- 
gressive farmers aud stoc4v-raisers of his locality, 
and after his marriage set to work to build up a 
eompetenc-j- for his family. Both parents are 
still living on their farm in Jasper County. 
Their seven (.-hikiren are also all living, there 
never having been a death in the family. Mr. 
and Mrs. Woodard have tbe sati.sfactiou of know- 
ing that all their children are well-to-do and 
honorable members of the several communities 
In which they reside. 

Reuben Woodard was born on the farm and his 
boyhood days were spent there, attending school 
la winter and working in summer. He re- 
mained at home until he attained to his majority, 
when he rented land and began farming for him- 
self. On February 24, 1886, he married Miss 
Hattie Crews, born May 28. 1857, on a farm in 
Is,land Grove. Jasper County, 111. She Is a 
daughter of James L. Crews, a sketch of whom 
will be found elsewhere in this work. After 
their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Woodard settled 
on a farm within sight of the old home of Mrs. 
Woodard, and from the windows of her new 
home Mrs. Woodard could see the lights of her 
old one. When her dear mother was called to 
her last reward, she took charge of the domestic 
affairs, striving to fill the place left vacant by 
that sad death. So devoted was she, that she 
well filled the place, and those who were left, 
owing to her faithful service, ceased to miss the 
mother's loving care. Jlr, and Mrs. Woodard 
were very successful in their farming endeavors. 
Mr. Woodard made a specialty of raising high- 
grade cattle, horses and hogs. In the fall of 
1899, he bought land adjoining his first farm. 
He then bought four acres adjacent to Montrose, 
on which he built a beautiful home, which has 
since been their abiding place. They rent the 
farm. He also owns 275 acres in Jasper County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Woodard well remember the 
early days of the county, when the wild prairie 
grass was as high as a man's head on horseback. 
They have seen the uncultivated land converted 
into' productive, farms ; have watched the log 
school house give way to the present modern one ; 
and yet they turn back in recollection to those 
happy early days, when the loved ones, now miss- 
ing, were still living. They have been very char- 
itable, and helped many to gain a start in life. 
None who have applied to them have been turned 
away empty-handed, although but few know half 
of their good deeds. Mrs. Woodard joined the 
Methodi.st Church in 1879. and since then has 
been verj- active in church and Sunday school 



work. Mr. Woodard was also reared in that 
faith, aud while not a member of any church, 
always gives liberally of his means towards the 
support of that denomination. He is a member 
of the Modern Woodmen of America, while Mrs. 
Woodard belongs to the Rebekah Lodge of To- 
ledo. 111. Jlr. Woodard was very active in tem- 
perance work during the spring of 1908, and can 
IX)int to what he accomplished during that won- 
derful crusade. For eight years he was Alder- 
man of Montrose, being elected on the Democratic 
ticket and he has always been anxious for the 
success of his party. 

Both Mr. and ilrs. Woodard are public-spirited 
and deeply interested in all that promises to 
prove of benefit to the community in which they 
are so imiwrtaut a factor. It would be difficult 
to find two people of their age and standing 
who have done more for humanity than Air. 
Woodard and his kind-hearted wife, and both 
not only inspire respect, but what is better, deep 
affection in the hearts of those who know and 
fully appreciate their many lovable traits of char- 
acter. 

WOODY, John Edwards. — There are many in- 
stances in the histoiy of our country where men 
whose educational advantages have been ex- 
tremely limited, rise above their associates 
through sheer native ability and strong will. 'A 
man who has attained much more than local 
prominence in agricultural and stock-raising mat- 
ters, is John Edwards Woody, of Union Town- 
ship, now one of the venerable residents of Ef- 
fingham County, and one of its most honored. 
He was born in Lawrence County, Ind„ near 
Bidford, August 27. 1829, a son of William and 
Sarah (or Sally) (Edwards) Woody, natives of 
Ashe County. N. C. 

The parents mentioned above were married 
in their native county, from which they removed 
about 1825, to Lawrence County, lud.. locating 
on a farm, which was their home until 1870. In 
that year removal was made by them to Wayne 
County. 111., where the mother died, about 1875. 
The father then came to Effingham County and 
made his home with his son, John E. Woody, 
for about five years. At that time he started 
back to Indiana, biit was lost on the trip, and 
being unable to write, passed from the knowledge 
of his .son. He and his wife had eight children, 
all of whom grew to maturity : Marj- J., John E.. 
Sarah M., Amanda, married a Mr, Henson and 
moved to Arkansas, where both died, leaving 
children ; Morris, died in Wa.vne Countj-, 111,, 
leaving children; Cllsb.v Alexander, also died in 
Wayne County, 111., leaving a family ; David and 
Sterling, twins. David married and died in 
Davis County. Ind.. leaving a family and his twin 
brother was a member of an Indiana Regiment 
under General Wilder, was captured and later 
paroled, after which he returned home, luit died 
from exposure endured during his service. 

.John Edwards Woody was educated in the sub- 
scription schools of his neighborhood, but owing 
to the poor quality of tliese .schools, secured but 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



887 



a limited education. When only sixteen years 
old he went to worlv by the month, for five dollars 
a month with board, and from then on was al- 
ways ready to perform any labor that was hon- 
est, no matter how hard it might be. For some 
years he worked on farms iu the summer and in 
a saw-mill during the winter, and thus made both 
ends meet, November 29, 1S4S, when only nine- 
teen years old, he married Charlotte Cox, in 
Martin County. Ind. She was a daughter of 
Isaac Cox and was born in Martin County, May 
15, 1S31, After marriage the young couple 
rented land and farmed it. Eventually they 
bought land in Lawrence County, Ind., but Mr. 
Woody sold it, intending to go to Texas, but 
changing his mind, again rented land in Law- 
rence County and continued there until 1862, 
when he bought eighty acres of land in Section 24, 
Union Township, Effingham County. There was 
a log cabin on this land and It was the family 
home until a better one was erected. During the 
terribly cold winter of 1862 they lived in its one 
room. Snow filled the little loft, and they en- 
dured many hardships, but became so attached 
to this primitive home that, when Mr. Woody 
built his frame house, it was around the old one, 
which is now used as the sitting room, and there 
iB not one more comfortable in the county. Mr. 
Woody has added to his original farm until he 
now owns 520 acres of the choicest land in Ef- 
fingham County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Woody became parents of the 
following children : Minerva Jane, born May 9, 
1851, married, February 20, 1870, John Murry, a 
farmer of Lucas Township, and has one child ; 
Tabitha, born February 24, 1854, died January 
17, 1882 ; John E., a farmer in Lucas Township, 
Is married and has one son living and has lost 
two ; Granville G., born March 18. 1856, is a 
farmer in Lucas Township ; Tillman C, twm 
August 15, 1857, is a farmer in Lucas Township ; 
Horton H., born October 1.3. 1859. is a farmer of 
Lucas Township ; Sylvanus G., born February 2, 
1862. died December 12, 1862; Davie G., born 
April 28, 1865. died December 15, 1889 ; Schuyler 
C, lives in Union Township, born Januar.v 8, 
1868; Samuel N.. born December 7. 1871. a 
farmer of Lucas Township ; Edith E., born April 
26, 1873, died in July, 1891. The family made 
the trip from Indiana to Illinois in large wagons. 
The wife and mother died March 29, 1875. and 
was mourned as a kind-hearted, Christian wo- 
man. On December 25, 1875, Mr. Woody married 
Martha E. (Cooper) Jacobs, born near Carroll- 
ton, Greene County, 111., September 2. 1852, 
daughter of Harrison Cooper, a native of Ken- 
tucky and during his bo.vhood a companion and 
fellow-worker with Abraham Lincoln, with w-hom 
on many occasions he split rails. Mr. Cooper 
came to Illinois in pioneer days and died there, 
honored and respected by all. as also did his 
wife. By the second marriage there were the 
following children : Stella G.. lx>rn 'September 
29. 1876. died November 9, 1890; Malvina Ann. 
born April 2, 1878, died April 9, 1879 ; James L., 



born June 2 1882. died October 1, 1895; Myrtle 
Ethel, born February 26, 1885, died September 20, 
1890; Ira May, boni August 27, 1887, married 
Theron Evans, a merchant of Eberle, and has 
two children ; Beulah M. and Malvina. 

For forty-seven jears Mr. Woody has been 
identified with the growth and development of 
this part of Etfingham County, and has been a 
witness of many of the remarkable changes that 
have taken place there. He has made a specialty 
of stock-raising and for thirty years has had a 
herd of 150 Hereford cattle, many Norman 
horses and Poland-China hogs. His farm is well 
stocked, his machinery of the latest pattern, and 
he does his farming upon improved methods, 
realizing that iu them lies the most profit. His 
home farm contains 480 acres, and he has the 
satisfaction of having his children about him on 
farms provided for them. All of them are a 
credit to him and their bringing up, and he Is 
justly proud of them. 

There are few men today who could accom- 
plish what he has done. Starting out In life, a 
youth of nineteen, with a young wife and no 
money, he has steadily advanced until he is now 
one of the richest men in Effingham County, and 
has brought up a family that is a credit to him, 
and his word is regarded as as good as another 
man's bond. While always interested in current 
Issues and well informed upon political matters, 
he has refused to accept public office, although 
nominations have been tendered him many times. 
Surrounded by his children, ministered to by 
them and his wife, this hale, happy farmer is 
enjoying his declining years, having every reason 
to be contented with what Ijis life has produced. 
It is such men as he whose lives jjoint a moral 
and make the present generation take notice 
and renew their endeavors to live uprightly, so 
that when they are passing down the slo[)e of 
existence, tliey may as peacefully look back over 
past years, with as little regret as can John Ed- 
wards Woody. 

WOODY, Tilhnan C— Some of the more pro- 
gressive farmers of Effingham County are realiz- 
ing the profits of fine stock growing and are de- 
voting themselves to this branch of agricultural 
enterprise. One of the farmers of Lucas Town- 
ship, who has been jjre-eminently successful along 
this line is Tillman C. Woody, whose fine fai-m is 
located on Section 31, that township. He was 
born in Lawrence County, Ind., August 10, 1857, 
a son of John Edwards Woody, a sketch of whom 
is found elsewhere in this work. In 1862. the 
family came to Union Township. Effingham 
County, and located on a farm, and here Till- 
man C. Woody was reared and attended the 
schools of his neighborhood. His boyhood days 
were spent in helping his father in farming and 
herding cattle in that region, continuing in this 
employment until he attained his majority. 

On September 10, 1879, Mr. Woody married 
Permelia Trees, and they located on Section 26, 
Union Township, in a log cabin erected by one 
of the first settlers of this part of the county. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



Here a little sou was bom January 10, 1880, and 
on the twenty-second of the month the young 
mother passed away. This son is now a con- 
ductor on the railroad from Ogden, Utah, to Salt 
Lake City. 

Mr. Woodv about this time began feeding stock, 
and during 1881 shipped 200 head. He then did 
considerable butchering for some thirteen months, 
and all the time did his own cooking and tried to 
get along by himself on the farm. March 18, 
1884, he married Lillie E. Mills, born March 18, 
1865, in Union Township, a daughter of William 
and Missouri (McCanial) Mills, natives of Ken- 
tucky and Illinois. They were married in Madi- 
son County, 111., about 1864, and afterwards lo- 
cated in Union Township, where five of their nine 
children were born, and of them but five survive. 
These children were : Emma, wife of Asa Lane 
of Dieterich; Mrs. Woody; Julia, wife of Ster- 
ling riensley, a farmer of Mason Township; 
Anna, wife of John Nester, of Cumberland, 111. ; 
Clara, wife of Xoah Smith of the neighborhood 
of Edgewood, 111. These are all still living, while 
Mary, James and Sarah died in infancy, and 
Tama, who became the wife of James Murray, 
died about 1895. The mother of these children 
died about 1875. but the father survives, living 
on his home farm, aged seventy-five years, al- 
though for several years past he has been in- 
capacitated for active labor, snfTering from the 
result of an accident. He was one of the pio- 
neers of Effingham County, and is one of its hon- 
ored residents. For many years he has been a 
member of the Christian Church, but liis wife 
belonged to the Baptist Church. He has served 
as School Director and has well borne his part 
In the upbuilding of his community. 

Mrs. Woody has but little recollection of her 
mother as she died when Mrs. AVoody was but a 
child. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Woody 
came to the farm which has since been their 
home, and located in a small frame building on 
Section 3, Lucas Township. Here their chil- 
dren have been bom, namely: Birdie M.. born 
January 8, 1885, and for five years has been one 
of the popular teachers of this part of the 
county ; Effie E.. born March 20, 1886, married 
Merl Rieheson, a farmer of Lucas Township, and 
they have one child— Florence; Vada M., born 
September 27, 1887, married Everett Dye, a 
farmer of Lucas Township, and they have two 
children — Vivian and Kenneth; Velva A., boru 
September 20. 1889. died January 30, 1891 ; John 
T., born September 5, 1892. at home; Ruth M.. 
born November 6. 1894 ; Marie R., born December 
20, 1896: .\rlin M., born March 14. 1899: Hazel 
C, born October 21, 1901, and Ross J., bom 
October 14, 1905. 

Mr. Woody owns a fine farm of 240 acres, and 
to him belongs the credit of being the first to in- 
troduce Hereford cattle in Effingham County, as 
he was also one of the first to br(>ed Tercheron 
horses. He has also been a breeder of Poland- 
China hogs for years. Some idea of the value of 
his product is shown in the fact that thirty-six 



head of hogs netted him $647.42. Mr. Woody has 
one of the best stock barns in the county, 47x102 
feet in dimensions. Having spent so many years 
in breeding stock, he is a recognized authority 
in that line of business, and his stock is all eligi- 
ble for registration. He takes a deep pride in 
his quality of stock, and is constantly improv- 
ing his equipment tor properly caring for it. 

A strong Republican, Mr. Woody has contented 
himself with upholding the candidates and prin- 
ciples of his party, utterly refusing any public 
preferment for himself. A splendid business 
man, an excellent farmer and stockman and a 
genial friend, Mr. Woody is a typical representa- 
tive of the best cla.ss of agriculturists in this part 
of the State. 

WRIGHT, George W. — In every large community 
every line of endeavor is likely to be represented, 
and all require different grades of ability to pros- 
ecute them properly. No line of work requires 
more tact, or consideration for the feelings of 
others, than does that connected with the under- 
taking business. George W. Wright of Dieterich 
is a leading representative in this line of busi- 
ness. He was born in Summit Township, Effing- 
ham County, 111., June 19, 1858, a sou of George 
and Thankful (Spauldiug) Wright. 

On both sides Mr. Wright can trace a long and 
honorable ancestry and the maternal one is par- 
ticularly interesting. His mother, Thankful 
Spauldiug, was born in the Western Reserve, 
Ohio, in May, 1826, came with her parents to Illi- 
nois in 1839, married George Wright November 
14, 1844, and died in 1892 at the home of her sou 
George, in Dieterich. She was a daughter of 
Phineas Spauldiug, who was born in Connecticut, 
November 7, 1790, aud in 1822 emigrated to Ohio 
and in 1839 to Effingham County, 111. He mar- 
ried Thankful Moses, in 1845 moved to Iowa, and 
died in 1847. Daniel Spauldiug, father of Phin- 
eas, was bom in >.'orl'oIk, Conu., July 25, 1750, 
aud was a noted Revolutionary patriot. He en- 
listed in Capt. Andrew Bucher's company, under 
command of Ctol. John Douglas, and while in the 
service, traveled 280 miles, canying the ai-my pay 
rolls. Daniel Spauldiug was a son of Jacob 
Spauldiug, who was born in Connecticut, De- 
cember 17, 1732, and his father. Edward Spauld- 
iug, was boru at Chelmsford, JIass.. in September, 
1693, a son of Edward, born September 16, 1663, 
a son of John, Iiorn ](i33, at Braintree, Maine, aud 
came to Cliehiisfunl with his father in 1694. 
The first Edward Spauldiug came from England 
to America in 16.30 and from him descended a 
long line. 

John Wright, the paternal grandfather of 
George W. Wright, eutered the first piece of land 
in Effingham County, but was accidentally killed 
while working as a brickmason on the State 
House at Vandalia, before he had paid for it. 
His widow, however, held the land aud succeeded 
in paying the Government for it and she received 
the deed. .John Wright came to Wayne County, 
111., from Philadelphia, prior to the birth of bis 
son, George Wright, on August 31, 1820. In 1834 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



the Wrights came to Effingham County and set- 
tled at what was then the county-seat. There, 
in 1844, George Wright married Thankful Spauld- 
ing and started to cultivate the wild land, mak- 
ing his tirst purchase of eighty acres by giving 
his note for $100. In those days an amount like 
that was a large one when it had to be earned 
out of a wild farm, but it was paid in the due 
course of time. George Wright was a man of 
fine parts, was elected County Surveyor and to 
other offices. He surveyed the land for the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad and became the agent in 
the transaction by which the State gave the rail- 
road every alternate section. In this connection 
his dealings were often very large, and at one 
time he bought 35,000 acres of land of the Han- 
cock Land Company, and it was said he bought 
and sold more land than any other man in this 
part of the State. He was widely known and 
universally respected. It was largely through 
his efforts that the Cburt House was removed to 
Effingham. He built the first three dwellings in 
the place, and when it was made the county-seat, 
he moved to Effingham, where he lived until his 
death, after which the family moved to St. Fran- 
cis Township. He believing the building of rail- 
roads to be a great civilizing agent, and in asso- 
ciation with J. J. Funkhouser, was instrumental 
in getting the survey made from Effingham to 
Palestine for the Indianapolis Southern Rail- 
road, which was built after his death. Having 
been County Surveyor he was thoroughly posted 
on all the topographical features of the country 
and was familiar with every section corner, 
every landmark and every building, and if there 
was to be a railroad or other route located, he 
could tell the cheapest and best path to build 
over. As a citizen he was ever active and was 
liberal with his time and means. In polities he 
was a Democrat. His wife was a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, but he had been 
brought up in the old Quaker belief and held 
strictly to that faith. He was liberal and chari- 
table and gave to all worthy enterprises. 

On July 15, 1871, Mr. Wright was suddenly 
taken sick and died after about twenty-three 
hours of intense suffering. His funeral was one 
of the largest ever held at Effingham, being con- 
ducted by the Masonic fraternity. To him and 
wife had been born the following children : 
Thomas X., Emma A., Millina, Hannah E., George 
W.. Mary A. and Mina. Of this family. Thomas 
N., born January 30, 1847, died July 12, 1880. 
On December 29, 1872, he married Rlioda Wiley, 
who is now the wife of James Tanner and lives 
in Cumberland County, HI. Emma A. married 
( first ■) William MePherson, once Postmaster of 
Effingham, who left one son. Samuel, now living 
in Colorado. She was married (second) to Wil- 
liam Baty and they had one daughter who re- 
sides at Leadville, Colo. William Bat.v was twice 
elected Sheriff of the county in which they lived, 
and both he and his wife are deceased. Millina 
and Mina both died in childhood. Hannah E., 
born August 26, 1856, died September 1, 1909. 



In 1885 she married Charles P. Woodard, of Jas- 
per County, 111., and they had four children — 
George W., Charles, Ralph and Annie. Mary A., 
bom October 7, 1860, was married (first) to J. 
D. Bradshaw, but is now the widow of Ferdinand 
Reugwitz and lives at Pueblo, (roio. She has 
one son, Oren W. Bradshaw, who lives with her 
at Pueblo, Colo. 

George W. Wright entered school after the 
family moved to Effingham in 1866, and accom- 
panied his mother, after the death of his father, 
to her farm of 400 acres, situated in St. Francis 
Township. There he again attended school and 
engaged in farming. He married Miss Clara 
Beard, who was born in that township, September 
10, 1867, and died November 7, 1891. She was 
survived by two sons : Arland B., born February 
8, 1880, who is the editor of the "Gazette," at 
Dieterich ; and James A., who was born Septem- 
ber 11, 1890, and died August 3, 1907. Mr. 
Wright was married (sec-ond] to Miss Nancy J. 
Woodward and they had two children : Burral R., 
who died October 9, 1900, and George B., who 
was born March 17, 1903. 

In 1887, Mr. Wright left the farm, and em- 
barked in a general mercantile business at Dieter- 
ish, selling out his stock of goods in 1899 in 
order to engage in the furniture and undertaking 
line. He carries a large stock both of furniture 
and of undertaking supplies, and has every equip- 
ment necessary for dignified and efficient funeral 
directing. He has been successful in his business 
enterprises because he possesses the qualities 
which bring success — good .ludgment, business 
faculty, a high sense of honor and a just appre- 
ciation of the rights of others. 

For over a half century. Sir. Wright has been 
a citizen of Effingham County and has taken a 
deep interest in all phases of development, par- 
ticularly in the progress made by the public 
schools. When twenty-one years of age he was 
elected School Trustee of his township and has 
held the office for thirty years. In politics he 
has always been a Democrat and. under the sec- 
ond administration of the late President Cleve- 
land, was Postmaster at Dieterich. He has been 
Village Treasurer and in 1903 was elected a mem- 
ber of the Board of Supervisors from Bishop 
Township, but retired from the Board in 1909, 
having served as its chairman and as member of 
the Board of Review. He has also served as 
President of the Business Men's Association of 
the village of Dieterich. In his religious conneC' 
tion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the 
Modern Americans and the Odd Fellows. 

WRIGHT, (Elder) Morgan.— The Church of 
Christ has gained several of its most distin- 
guished clergymen and earnest workers from the 
Wright family of Effingham County, and among 
them was the late Elder Morgan Wright. His 
birth occurred in Kentucky, November 20, 1800. 
In 1822 he was married to Miss Jane Allen o/ 
Greencastle, Ind., and lived in Indiana for some 
years, becoming well known as an extensive 



y 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



farmer and stock-breeder as well as a leader of 
the Whig party. In 1852, he migrated with his 
family to Illinois, and purchasing 1,400 acres of 
land, became one of the leading men of Effing- 
ham County. 

Mr. Wright was cue of the five sons bom to 
William Wright of Revolutionary fame, and was 
the founder of said family in Illnols. Lilte his 
distinguished father, Mr. Wright was a patriot 
and lover of liberty and country, and so trained 
his sons that six of them served in the Civil War, 
and but two returned in ordinary health. Of 
them, Dr. Wright of Mason is the best known. 
When the town of Mason was laid out, it was 
built on the north side of one of the farms of 
Mr. Wright, and his name is associated with 
many sections elsewhere in the county. 

Not only was Mr. Wright noted as a good busi- 
ness man, but he was equally prominent as an 
orator and preacher. His doctrine was a full 
and free salvation, and he lived up to his belief. 
He was a very powerful preacher in early life, 
and brought many into the church through his 
exhortations, and few men were more successful 
in his day as evangelists. After a long life of 
useful endeavor, Mr. Wright passed peacefully 
away on the nation's birthday, July 4, 1872, in 
his seventy-second year. Mr. Wright was thor- 
oughly convinced of the truth of the teachings 
of the Bible, and earnestly and efficiently set 
forth the faith of that book. He had the cour- 
age of his ctmvictions and declared them in vigor- 
our language that never failed to impress. 

WRIGHT, Owen, M. D., whose valuable services 
as a surgeon have made him one of the best- 
known men of his profession in Effingham County, 
is a man of integrity and Christian character. 
For a number of years he has been in practice at 
Mason, but his patients are scattered over a wide 
area. Dr. Wright was born February 16, 1836, 
near Greeneastle, Ind; is a son of Morgan and 
Jane (Allen) Wright. From 1839 to 1854 he at- 
tended the public school of his locality, and after 
the family migrated to Illinois, he completed his 
collegiate studies in science and the cla.ssics. 
Following this he entered Rush Medical College 
at Chicago, and was graduated from that institu- 
tion in 1858. Still later he took two post-grad- 
uate courses, one at St. Louis and one at Cin- 
cinnati. Dr. Wright believes in a thorough train- 
ing for the professional man. According to his 
belief all physicians and lawyers should have a 
thorough knowledge of Latin, and the clergymen 
should be learned in the Greek language. Some 
of these ideas are embodied in his orations, a 
volume of which were published by a St. Louis 
firm in 1882. Many of his brief works and es- 
says appear in pamphlets. The manuscript of a 
work of his on philosophy, designed for use as a 
text book, was stolen. Dr. Wright has served 
as President of Southeastern Illinois College of 
Arts and Sciences, and holds the degrees of 
A. M., D. D. and LL. D., In addition to his pro- 
fessional title. 

During the Civil War, he was commissioned 



as First Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred 
and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
was with General Sherman on his most celebrated 
March to the Sea. While on duty at the military 
hospital at Savannah, Ga., he met an old negro, 
who had belonged to George Washington, and 
claimed to be 122 years old. The man was fairly 
intelligent, and told many interesting historic 
incidents to the soldiers. 

In 1843, Dr. Wright joined the Methodist 
Church, and ever since has lived up to the teach- 
ings of the Master. While he is proud of his 
record as a surgeon. Dr. Wright is perhaps bet- 
ter pleased with the work he has accomplished in 
turning men from paths of wrong doing to a 
Christian life. He has been exceedingly active 
in all church work, and contributes liberally to- 
wards the supiwrt of his denomination, as well 
as to many charitable movements. He is a man 
of strong character, able in his profession, a de- 
voted Ctiristian, and beloved by many friends, 
Dr. Wright is a striking representative of the 
best ela.ss of Effingham County's distinguished 
residents. 

On September 13, 1860, Dr. Wright was mar- 
ried to Margaret Wallls at Salem, 111., Rev. T. F. 
Houts officiating. Mrs. Wright is a daughter of 
the late Rev. William Wallls, Sr., and was born 
April T, 1834. In 18.39, she was brought to Illi- 
nois by her parents. Prior to her marriage, she 
was a very successful teacher in the public 
schools of Illinois. Dr. and Mrs. Wright have 
had the following children: Ann Jane, Marga- 
ret D., Owen W., now deceased, and Owen, Jr. 

The Wallls family is a distinguished one. many 
of its members ijeing numbered among the 
orators, educators and authors of the country. 
.Joseph Wallls, A. M., D. D., was President of the 
Belfast Methodist College for twenty years. Rev. 
William Wallls, Sr., father of Mrs. Wright, was 
a minister for thirty-five years ; her brother, Wil- 
liam Wallis, was a Methodist minister in Illi- 
nois, and at the time of his death held the de- 
grees of A. B., A. M. and D. D. During young 
manhood he gave three years to his country, com- 
manding a company, and was spared to return 
to his family and his work. Mrs. Wright is a 
charming. Christian lady, and all through her 
married life, has been her husband's constant sup- 
porter, and to her influence and cheerful disposi- 
tion Dr. Wright attributes much of his success. 

WRIGHT, (Rev.) Owen, Jr., A. B., A. M., D. D.— 

The work of a clergyman is hard from a material 
standpoint, but to the conscientious minister, all 
his efforts receive ample compensation in the 
realization of their necessity. Effingham County 
has contributed some of its best and most bril- 
liant young men to the ministry, and none have 
given more faithful service than the Rev. Owen 
Wright, Jr., of the Xorthwestern Indiana Con- 
ference, of the Methodist Church. Mr. Wright 
was bom January 19, 1872, and is a son of Dr. 
Owen and Margaret (Wallis) Wright. Mr. 
Wright entered De Pauw University, where he 



J 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



891 



spent five years, and then returning home, he 
taught school for one year. 

In 1894 Mr. Wright joined the Conference of 
the Methodist Church and for two years preached 
on a circuit. Later he took a six-months' course 
in Northwestern University, and while there was 
appointed pastor of Vaudalia Station, a vacancy 
having occurred in consequence of the promotion 
of the incumbent to be the elder of a district. 
When McKendree College was opened in the fol- 
lowing September, Mr. Wright was admitted as 
a junior student, and two years later, was grad- 
uated therefrom with the degree of A. B. In 
1900, he took a post-graduate course in the Ohio 
Wesleyan University, and was graduated from it 
with the degree of A. M. The same year he was 
transferred to the Northwestern Indiana Confer- 
ence, and has since remained within its juris- 
diction. At the close of his second year's service 
at Terre Haute, Ind., the "Daily Tribune'' spoke 
of him as one who has succeeded wherever he 
has been stationed. Mr. Wright is a very unas- 
suming young man, and although the degree of 
D. D. has been conferred upon him, he will not 
accept the honor. He is an eloquent speaker, a 
finely educated minister, and one devoted to his 
work. Although still in the very prime of young 
manhood, he has accomplished much, and a useful 
life stretches out before him. His family are 
very proud of him. and his conscientious labors 
in the cause they all hold so dear. He received 
and accepted the u(hlcmli(in degree of D. D. dur- 
ing the year 1010. 

WRIGHT, (Hon.) William.— History has given us 
the names of many heroes who sacrificed much 
to the good of their c-ountr.v. They did not stop 
to think of personal loss or safety, but offered 
themselves to the cause of liberty and, through 
their efforts, the foundations of the present great- 
ness of this land were laid, .\mong those worthy 
of more than passing mention is this old hero, 
William Wright, the grandfather of the distin- 
guished Wright family of Mason, which has borne 
its part in the development of Effingham Coiiuty. 
William Wright was born about A. D. 1750, 
and served for seven years in the Revolutionary 
War. He was engaged in line of battle July 4, 
1776, and took part many times in other con- 
flicts. After the war was over, he returned 
home to spend sixty years in peaceful pursuits. 
His wife was a fitting helpmate to him, and a 
good, conscientious mother to their large family, 
which was reared to useful living. There were 
five sons in this family, all of whom grew to 
manhood estate, and died leaving families behind 
them. The death of William Wright occurred 
in 1842 when he was in his ninety-second year. 
Unfortunately more extensive data are not ob- 
tainable relative to his life. It is known, how- 
ever, that he was a devout Christian, and one 
who governed his life according to the Golden 
Rule. He was honored and respected by business 
associates, and beloved in his family. All the re- 
mainder of his life, following his service as a 
soldier, he took a deep interest in public affairs. 



and trained his sons to be as patriotic as himself. 
It was such men as he who made the struggling 
nation respected by foreign powers when it was 
still in its infancy, and compelled recognition of 
its growing strength from those who would have 
rejoiced in its complete failure. Dr. Wright of 
Mason, the eminent surgeon of Effingham County, 
is a grandson of this patriotic gentleman and 
grand old hero. 

WRIGHT, William Benton. — The profession of 
law is one that demands undivided attention, 
more than ordinary ability, and careful training. 
The lawyer of to-day, if he is engaged in active 
practice in all of the courts, is kept busy in keep- 
ing abreast of the various decisions that may es- 
tablish a precedent, and so change legal jurispru- 
dence. William Benton Wright, one of the ablest 
and best known attorneys of Effingham, 111., was 
born in Ewington, the old county-seat of Effing- 
ham County, June 7, 1860, a son of William 
Cleaver and Jemima (Rinehart) Wright, the 
former bom in Faireld, 111., June 14, 1832, and 
the latter in Ohio, in 1837. William C. Wright 
was a real estate agent and both he and his wife 
spent their lives in Effingham County from 1839. 
The latter died in 1872, and in 1874 Mr. Wright 
married as his second wife Mrs. Margaret Blair, 
who bore him two children, a son and a daughter, 
both of whom reside with their mother in Spo- 
kane, Wash., where the son is engaged in the 
practice of law. The father, William Cleaver 
Wright, died in Effingham County In 1892. 

.\fter completing his studies in the public 
schools of his native place, William B. Wright 
entered the University af Valparaiso, Ind., work- 
ing during the summer months and attending the 
University during the winter. He graduated in 
1882 and was admitted to the Bar the same year. 
He immediately began the practice of his profes- 
sion in Effingham, and has continued there ever 
since, building up a very gratifying clientage. 
From 1882-86 Mr. Wright served as Justice of the 
Peace, and from 1894-98 he was County Judge. 
During thirteen years he was member and Presi- 
dent of the Board of Education, and rendered 
very valuable service in thesQ capacities. He 
was once a candidate for Supreme Judge, but 
failed in securing the nomination. In October, 
1897, Mr. Wright was appointed a member of the 
State Board of Law Examiners, which office he 
still holds. He assisted in establishing the Su- 
preme Lodge of the Modern .\merican Fraternal 
Order, of which he is now President He is a 
Mason, being a member of the Chapter and the 
Eastern Star, and from 1903 to 190.5 he was 
Grand Master of the Masonic Order of Illinois. 
He is also a member of the Elks. In religious 
matters he is a member of the Baptist Church. 
Since casting his first vote, Mr. Wright has been 
a Democrat, and has seen no occasion to change 
his political views. 

On October 30, 1889. Mr. Wright married, in 
Effingham. Dora West, born at Mattoon, 111., Jan- 
uary 13 1866. youngest of the thirteen children 
of Henry and Neoma ( Dix ) West. Mr. West and 



892 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



his wife were natives of Indiana, and he died 
at Greencastle in that State. Mrs. West moved 
to Effingham County in the fall of 1879, and still 
lives in Effingham, having reached the age of 
eighty-seven years. The children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Wright are as follows : William Ben- 
ton, .Jr., born August 2.3, 1890 ; David Lester, born 
June 7, 1892 ; Robert Ehvin, born February 1.3, 
1895 ; and Branson, born December 4, 1898, all 
sons. 

Perhaps the highest type of character is dis- 
played by the judicial mind. He who can care- 
fully weigh evidence and dispense justice evenly, 
especially among his friends and neighbors, must 
possess that clear insight into the groundwork of 
human right, which sooner or later appeals 
strongly to the people, and to maintain the judi- 
cial poise and retain old friendships is the best 
evidence of worth and integrity. 

YOUNG, John W. — Some of the most enterpris- 
ing of the farmers of Effingham County- are devot- 
ing their efforts to the breeding of Hereford 
cattle, and to bringing their herd up to the high- 
est standard of excellence. John W. Young of 
Section 30, Summit Township, is one of these up- 
to-date farmers. He was born in Freenianton, 
Jaclison TownshiiJ, March 20, 1847, a son of Wil- 
liam and Maria (De Vere) Young. It is sup- 
posed that William Young was born in Fairfield 
County. Ohio, where his wife was born, and 
where they were married in 183.5. They settled 
in what was then called Freenianton, on the old 
National Road, when they came to Effingham 
County soon after their marriage. 

Mr. Young engaged in mercantile business with 
William Johnson, and as his health was poor, 
he did the hauling from St. Louis, a distance of 
100 miles. The trips used to consume about eight 
days. During the winter he had to cross on 
the frozen river, and he experienced many dan- 
gerous escapes. During the summer, the ferry- 
boat was brought into re<]uisition. As soon as he 
could, William Young entered land in Jackson 
Township to the extent of 300 acres, and after 
selling his store in 1849. he turned his attention 
to his farm, where he lived until his death. He 
and his wife are buried in the old Freemanton 
Cemeterv-. He strongly advocated the principles 
of the Republican party, and his sons all have 
followed his example with regard to politics. 
During the War of 1812 he served as First Lieu- 
tenant in an Ohio Regiment, and wore the old 
cocked hat, and it and his sword are still in the 
possession of the family. While i)leasant spoken, 
he was firm and adhered to what he believed to 
be right. During the Civil War he never failed 
to stand by his principles, and was a great ad- 
mirer of .\braham Lincoln. His wife was a 
dear, motherly woman, and their many friends 
loved to visit this hospitable couple. Their home 
was a stopping place for tho.se coming from the 
East to find new homes, and for those going east 
to return to their old homes. Mr. Young was a 
man of unflinching and stainless honesty, and 
when he made a promise he never broke it, no 
matter what the cost. His wife was a consistent 



member of the Methodist Church, which he loy- 
ally supported, although he was not a member of 
any religious body. All churches and educa- 
tional institutions found in him a firm friend, and 
he gave liberally towards their support, and to 
those who were in distress or need. Ten chil- 
dren were born to this couple, but of them only 
four remain : John W. ; Hamilton, a farmer of 
Summit Township ; Daniel, on the original home 
farm in Jackson Township; Ellen, wife of the 
Rev. Douglas Shouse of the Methodist Church, 
now resides near Springfield, 111. ; Robert, died 
in young manhood and is buried in Altamont 
Union Cemetery ; William died at the age of 
twelve ; Albert, twin brother of Ellen, is de- 
ceased, and three others died in infancy, and all 
but Robert are buried in the old Freemanton 
cemetery. 

John W. Young attended school in Jackson 
Township, and was early taught to work on the 
farm, remaining with his father until he was 
twenty years old. At that time he decided to 
marr.v, but had to borrow the money to pay for 
his license. On March 28, 1866, he married 
Louisa J. Baughman, who was bom in Summit 
Township, November 10, 1847, a daughter of 
Philip Baughman, a pioneer of Effingham County. 
In the spring of 1806 the young couple rented a 
farm in Summit Township, and began housekeep- 
ing. The following year they rented land from 
his father, and lived on it until 1868, when he 
bought eighty acres of a partly improved farm. 
On this he built a small oak board building, 16x 
30 feet, and they moved into it and began to im- 
prove their property. This prairie farm covered 
with wild grasses, has been developed into one of 
the best in Summit Township. Mr. Young set out 
an orchard, and as the trees have died, he has 
had others to replace them. A number of orna- 
mental trees have been planted in the yard by 
himself and wife, and wonderful changes have 
been effected during the forty years they have 
lived here. 

Mr. and ilrs. Young have five children : Ellen 
M., who is married and lives in Coles County, 
Ind. ; Clinton, married Molly Jones, born In 
Jackson Township, is a farmer and carpenter, 
and has built many of the best farm dwellings 
and barns, also manufactures concrete blocks and 
has a full equipment for making any kind and 
size of blocks required; Millie, wife of Henry 
Giesking, a dairyman and farmer of Moccasin 
Township ; Lilly, wife of Frank Thompson, a 
farmer of Summit Township; Stella, wife of 
Herman Garner, a resident of Windsor, Shelby 
County, III. 

Mr. Young has always kept the best grade of 
horses and is a fine judge of stock. For many 
years he has been breeding big horses, and has 
some of the best in the county. In 1894, he 
turned his attention to Hereford cattle, which 
he breeds successfull.v. his product being consid- 
ered the best in the county. At Altamont he won 
the first premium on this class of cattle, and 
has been awarded other first premiums on his 
stock. 



EFFINGHAM COUNTY 



893 



In politics Mr. Young is a Republican and has 
always taken an active part in party work. For 
nine years he served as Highway Commissioner, 
and during that time he helped to build ten of 
the eleven township bridges. He has always ad- 
vocated the making of improvements, and would 
not allow any poor work to be done while he was 
in charge of affairs. He is willing to pay for 
good work and is capable of seeing that he gets 
it. For sixty years Mr. Young has been identi- 
fied with the best interests of Effingham County, 
and is one of the most progressive men of his 
locality. 

YOUNG, Samuel Newton. — Among the promi- 
nent retired citizens of Altamont, 111., who have 
risen to prominence in various lines, may be 
mentioned Samuel Newton Young, ex-Justice of 
the Peace and Civil War veteran, who for a long 
period was engaged in farming and stock-raising 
in Effingham County. Mr. Young was bom 
March 19, 1829, on a farm near Mt. Sterling, 
Montgomery County, Ky., one of the ten children 
of Thomas R. and Sarah (McCann) Young, na- 
tives of Kentucky, who died in Indiana. 

Samuel Newton Young attended the subscrip- 
tion schools of the vicinity of his home in Ken- 
tucky, and when sixteen years old accompanied 
his parents to Putnam County, Ind., where he 
also attended school a short time. In 1S55 he 
came to Illinois and located on a 200-acre farm, 
five miles south of Altamont, later exchanging 
this for a smaller farm of sixty-six acres and a 
cash consideration, this property adjoining Alta- 
mont. Later he sold a part of this property for 
County Fair purposes, and in 1878 retired from 
farming and moved to Altamont. For some years 
he had quite a reputation as a stock-raiser and 
as a breeder of fine horses, cattle, hogs and 
sheep. For eight months Mr. Young was en- 
gaged in the stock and grain business in Alta- 
mopt. with Samuel Cooper, and then engaged in 
undertaking for twelve years, serving as a Jus- 
tice of the Peace for eighteen years. In 1862 he 
enlisted in Company I, Seventy-first Regiment 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Gil- 
bert, and during his three months' service was 
kept on guard duty. After his return home he 
organized a company of Home Guards, which 
was equipped by Governor Yates, and of which 
he was Captain. Mr. Young is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and has always taken an active interest in 
local political matters. 

February 1, 1849, Mr. Young married (first) 
Mary Jane LaFollette, and they became parents 
of two children, namely : Lucretla, married 
Charles Kershaw, of Indiana ; and Francis, a 
farmer of Missouri. Mrs. Young died in Indiana, 
in 1852, and Mr. Young married (second), Jan- 
uary 1, 1854, Harriet Yates, who was the mother 
of six children and died June 14, 1868. Of their 
children, one died in infancy, and those living 
are : Stephen A., of Alaska ; Mary Jane, widow 
of Fred Ensign, of Altamont, whose son Newton 
won the Rhodes Scholarship in the State of Illi- 
nois, in 1906 ; Emma, Mrs. Myers, of Indiana ; 
and Hattie, Mrs. Gosgrove, of St. Louis. Mr. 



Young married (third), April 8, 1869, Miss Sarah 
E. Paugh, of Effingham County, and no children 
were bom of this marriage. 

ZILLMANN, Ferdinand Gustave.— The farming 
interests of Effingham County, 111., are in the 
hands of skilled agriculturists, the majority of 
whom have made the cultivation of the soil their 
life work. Born on farms and taught from child- 
hood the work of a farmer, they are ably fitted 
to carry on their operations and to get the best 
possible results from their land. Ferdinand Gus- 
tave Zillmann, an excellent agriculturist of Sec- 
tion 16, Mound Township, who has a farm of 
fifty-five acres, was born near Bethlehem, Mound 
Township, September 2.3, 186.3, a son of Karl and 
Augusta (Schultz) Zillmann. 

Karl Zillmann was born in Germany, in 1825, 
and remained in his native country until 1863, 
being engaged in driving a team. After his mar- 
riage he emigrated to the United States and set- 
tled first near Buffalo, N. Y., but subsequently re- 
moved to Effingham County, 111., from whence he 
was drafted into the Union service during the 
Civil War, becoming a member of Company A, 
Forty-second Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, with which he sen-ed until the close of the 
war. He then returned to the farm which he 
had purchased and cultivated it for about one 
year, then moving to the property now owned by 
his son, which he continued to operate until his 
retirement. He is a member of the Lutheran 
Church, in the faith of which his wife died De- 
cember, 1908. Of the nine children born to this 
worthy couple, Ferdinand G., is the only sur- 
vivor. 

Ferdinand Gustave Zillmann attended a Ger- 
man school in his youth, and his present knowl- 
edge of the English language is self-taught. 
With the exception of two years spent in Spring- 
field, he has always resided on the home farm, 
of which he has had charge since his father's re- 
tirement, raising large crops and feeding cattle. 
He is considered one of the skilled farmers of 
his district, and is known as a good neighbor and 
public-spirited citizen, is a stanch Republican in 
political matters and he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the German Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Zillman was married (first) to Alvina 
Dorhiem, who bore him three children, but died 
in 1900. Only one of these children is now liv- 
ing, Anton, who is at home. He married Mary 
Bartslofif. The present Mrs. Zillman was Mrs. 
Gertrude Wanless, of Springfield, who was born 
in Germany in 18.56 and came to the United 
States when three years of age with her parents, 
landing in New York, whence the family came 
to Springfield, 111. Her father, Henry Barthel, 
died during his first year in the United States, 
and her mother, who Iwre the maiden name of 
Katrina Kelmer, was married (second) to Frank 
Kauney, and she died in Springfield in 1905. 
There have been no children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Zillmann. She, however, had four children 
by her first husband, three of whom are still 
living, namel.v : Arthur, Edward and Clara, one 
daughter, Gertrude, being deceased. - 



LbMyJi; 



